Description
Military General Service, 3 bars, Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive, Cornet Edwin Stacey, 12th Light Dragoons.
Mayor, Town Councillor, Alderman & Magistrate of Maidstone, Kent, a most beloved character, whose father had refused a knighthood by the hand of King George III, upon Edwin Staceys death, the funeral procession passed through the town on the way to his burial, out of respect and as a tribute of respect, all the shops and private houses were closed along the path.
Cornet Edwin Stacey was future brother in law to Lieutenant Edward Penfold 12th Light Dragoons, they served together for Four Years in the Peninsula side by side, them both having lived in Kent.
Like Penfold, they joined the regiment at the same time and took part in the same actions during the Peninsula War, being reduced to Half Pay in 1814 during due to the reduction of the regiment.
During 1816 he married Maria Penfold.
The Staceys were a huge Brewing family, Edwin Stacey was a Master Brewer according to the census.
When his Father died, he inherited the Family Mansion, The Stacey Brewery and nearly 400 Public Houses, together with £50,000, a huge sum for the 1800’s.
Penfold, Stacey, Brenchley, Sringgate founded the Kentish Bank, which was later part of the National Westminster.
Stacey outlived Penfold, helping arrange his will after his death for his vast estate, which was likely when he acquired his Peninsula Medal, as it would mean most to him and how they ended up together over 150 years later.
His obituary in Broad Arrow 19th June 1869:
We have to record the death of Edwin Stacey, Esq, half-pay, late of this regiment, and Justice of the Peace for the Borough of Maidstone, who died at Maidstone on the 7th Instant.
The deceased officer was one of the few of that remnant of a great army which is associated with the most glorious episodes in the annals of England’s military fame, and whose “Muster Roll” in the flight of time is now diminished to a number rapidly decreasing. The brave spirits of those tdays, in which the subject of our memoir bore a conspicuous part, are one by one disappearing from the home circle into which they retired at the close of their active career; and the young soldier of the present day, and, indeed, many a one already grizzled by length of service, miss from amongst them now and then, as in the present instance, the honoured form and genial smile of brave men who fought under the ‘Great Duke’ in days long ere they were born, and who were veterans ere their lips could lisp named and events in which these noble warriors bore a distinguished part.
Mr Edwin Stacey was the younger son of the late Flint Stacey, Esq., a name well known in Kent, and especially in Maidstone, where in 1801 the latter declined knighthood at the hands of King George III.
He entered the 22nd Light Dragoons, in Spain. There amongst other less striking events, he was present at he general actions of Vittoria, Nivelle & Nive. At the close of the campaign he was placed on half pay. The stirring events of his younger days were succeeded by the quiet yet useful occupations of civil life, and in his native town of Maidstone he passed many years of a happy retirement, though occupying a leading local position as Town Councillor, Mayor & Alderman, which latter dignity he held for the long period of 24 years.
In 1852 he was appointed Borough Magistrate, which position he retained at the date of his death.
Conservative in politics, he for lengthened period acted as Chairman of the ‘Constitutional Association.’ and gained, by tolerance of views, the esteem and respect of men of every shade of political belief, and both in private life, in town and district, his name, like his father’s, will long be revered for amiability of character, and as a politician of unsullied honour and a citizen of great benevolence and unblemished worth. The remains of the deceased officer were interred on the 14th inst in a vault near the Episcopal Chapel in Maidstone Cemetery.
Along the route taken by the funeral cortege, the shops and private houses were more or less closed as a mark of respect to a gallant soldier, and a tribute of sorrow for an esteemed fellow-citizen. The funeral was, in consistence with the retiring character of the gallant dead, of a strictly private nature.
Amongst those present were Captain Edward Stacey (late 10th and 18th Hussars), and John C. Stacey, Esq, (his sons), Lt Col Catty, 46th Regt, and Corbet Stacey Catty, Esq
