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Research in Other Countries => Europe => Topic started by: catwomyn on Saturday 23 August 08 19:14 BST (UK)
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Anyone know anything about this?
I have an ancestor who was born in Corsica in about 1797. Evidently of British parentage as she married in Leicestershire in 1816. Maiden name Jane Broughton.
All I know about Corsica is as a result of Googling, so I presume her father (at least) must've been in Corsica because of the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom in 1793-6.
Does anyone have any idea if it's possible to find out more? Anyone more in the know than me confirm if her father was likely to have been military?
Completely baffled by this, the family she married into were bog-standard frame work knitters so she can't have been that posh.
Cat
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I have just found out I am also descended from this lady and would also love to know more about why the family should have been in Corsica.
I was wondering if anyone could please tell me if there could be any other reason they were in Corsica besides the father possibly being in the military.
I have been unable to find any Broughton's on the Chelsea discharge papers who would have been discharged at around this time period. I have also found a John Broughton who served in the Navy, but as he was a Captain I think it is very unlikely that he could have been her father.
Thanks
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Not all men are in the discharge papers (for example, those who died in service). You would have to work out which regiments were there around this time (I can find references to the 51st, at least) and then look at the muster rolls to see if there was a possible Broughton there.
I would suggest you have a look for/try to obtain:
1. The actual marriage record for Jane, not an online index (witnesses may be some clue - did she sign or make her mark? etc.)
2. Any other Broughtons married or buried in the same location - potential siblings/parents etc.
Looking at the census, is she the one who married in Broughton Astley to John Shingles?
There is also an Elizabeth Broughton married there in 1823 to William Lawrence.
She may be the woman whose birthplace is listed in 1861 as "on the sea" in about 1801 - sounds like a possible for a military connection.
A military connection with the wife "on the strength" is often the most likely in terms of a bunch of children born around the place and then a return home with fairly "ordinary" occupations - in fact since the pension your average man got was not enough to raise a family on, it's quite possible he went back and continued in his old occupation - if possible.
If her father died in service, and her mother and the kids were out somewhere with the regiment at the time, a quick remarriage to another man in the regiment is a very likely scenario.
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Thank you for your advice. I have looked through the Army Regiments on the National Army Museum's website (Never realised there were so many!) and have come across five that were in Corsica at the time. I will have to look into them at the National Archives.
It is also a good idea to look at the two Broughton marriages in Broughton Astley. I will go to Wigston Magna next month - thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks for the advice re the discharge paper - I will try the muster rolls.
Thanks again