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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: marshsparrow on Saturday 21 August 10 18:43 BST (UK)
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Trying to find ancestors of my 3grt Grandfather Richard Cragg of Mobberley, Cheshire. I have Richard's discharge papers listing his service in the 31st Regiment of Foot - 1805 - 1810 which included the ill-fated action at Rosetta, Egypt where Richard suffered a gunshot wound.
After his discharge in Felixstowe (Landguard Fort) in 1814, Richard mysteriously surfaced in Unst, Shetland where he "married" a local girl Margaret Fordyce. After the birth of their first child they returned to Mobberley.
We know that the Fordyce's are intermarried with the Bruce's in Shetland and that The Lieutenant that saved the day for the 31st in Rosetta was a Lieutenant Bruce.
Could this be the connection that drew Richard to Unst?.
To follow this lead we need to find out more info on Lieutenant Bruce.
I would really appreciate any help and if someone could point me in the right direction to find this information
regards
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Most information on officers at this time comes from army lists, and in the London Gazette for their promotions etc, but neither say where a man comes from.
I have found a Thomas Bruce in the 31st Regiment in this period -
= 1803 Gent to Ensign without purchase
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/15618/pages/1173
= 1804 Ensign to Lieutenant
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/15733/pages/1087
You may be better off looking for wills, entries in landed gentry references etc to find out more.
Ken