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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: msh on Sunday 07 May 06 20:31 BST (UK)

Title: British Soldier in Canada
Post by: msh on Sunday 07 May 06 20:31 BST (UK)

Need help.  I am trying to find my GGGrandfather b 1832 in Boxmoor, Hertfordshire, England.  Have found him in british census for 1941 & 1871.  As my Great Uncle tells it.  John Tomlin joined the army when a warrant was issued for his arrest.  He signed into the army using the name of John King.  He was sent to Canada with the army for several years and when re returned to England he signed his legal name.  This would be sometime between 1850/60.  He was in the 1871 census.  Any help would be appreciated.  I would like to track down his military records, out of interest and to prove or disprove story but it would explain him not being in 1851 or 1861 census.   Thanks

Title: Re: British Soldier in Canada
Post by: neil1821 on Sunday 14 May 06 15:26 BST (UK)

1866 was the year of the first Fenian Raid in Canada, is this too late for your man to be in Canada?
The medal roll shows a single John King of the regular British army (most units were Canadian militias), and he's an artillery driver:

3543 Driver John King, 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery

Not necessarily your man of course, but he was in the right place at least!

Title: Re: British Soldier in Canada
Post by: msh on Wednesday 17 May 06 06:42 BST (UK)

no, not to late for my John.  I found him again in the 1871 British census and family told me he was in Canada for 10 to 12 years.  But No one knows for sure.  Thanks

Title: Re: British Soldier in Canada
Post by: msh on Friday 19 May 06 17:15 BST (UK)

do you have any idea on where I could find info on the 1st Fenian Raid in Canada and John King?

Title: Re: British Soldier in Canada
Post by: liverpool annie on Friday 19 May 06 17:31 BST (UK)

Here's a couple of sites to give you background and maybe they'll give you some ideas !!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenian_Raids

http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~dbertuca/g/FenianRaid.html

Also if you "Google" you'll find quite a bit of information !!

Annie  :) :) :)

Title: Re: British Soldier in Canada
Post by: ClazyAunt on Sunday 21 May 06 00:56 BST (UK)

You might also want to check out details of the Trent Affair. It brought British troops to Canada also.  The time is also better if he was there for any amount of time, 1862. 

That is what I have been searching on. My gggrandfather also went to Canada in the 1860's but did not return to England.

Title: Re: British Soldier in Canada
Post by: msh on Sunday 21 May 06 02:59 BST (UK)

thankyou for the info.  May I ask what web page you have been searching on?

Title: Re: British Soldier in Canada
Post by: ClazyAunt on Sunday 21 May 06 18:43 BST (UK)

Quote from: msh on Sunday 21 May 06 02:59 BST (UK)

thankyou for the info.  May I ask what web page you have been searching on?

I have been checking out sites such as  Regiments.org   and the official RA site.  Also others.

Hope this helps some. I just noticed that the time you were saying he was gone to Canada fit into the timeframe of when my ancestor was there.