I am a volunteer at my local archive.  I am currently transcribing volumes relating to the napoleonic era.  I am finding regularly multiple entries for enlisted men.  They are appearing once as being put into, for example, the Royal Marines and then the same person appears again a couple of days later as being put into Col. French’s Levy.  I can find only scant reference to Col. French but he does appear to have been involved in some fraud relating to his activities in finding potential recruits (12 Guineas a man!) and I was wondering if Sharpe’s regiment is based on this activity.  If so may I be very cheeky indeed and ask you if you have any suggestions as to how to conduct some further research?  If you do recognise the name of col. French, can you help me to find out more?  I have not been able to throw any light on this using the internet other than some references in parliamentary papers from ca 1804.  Grateful thanks for reading this!

Very kind regards,

Kate Deans