RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Wee lassie on Wednesday 31 August 11 17:19 BST (UK)
-
Does anyone have any information on the Invernesshire militia around 1805. I have an ancestor who was married in Edinburgh in 1805. His occupation was given as soldier Invernesshire militia. He was born in Boleskine in 1778. Why would he be in Edinburgh? He settled in Edinburgh and died there at ripe old age of 88. Any information would be wonderful
-
Militia Regiments at the time were basically the equivalent of our modern Territorial Army, a lot of these militias were known as Fencible Regiments, and there was an Inverness Fencibles as well as Ross-Shire Fencibles, though after formation in 1750s because of a need for home security a lot of them had been reduced in strength by 1802/3.
Try google "Scottish Fencible Regiments"
I seem to recall there was a lot of posts on here some time ago re the same subject.
James
-
The Inverness-shire Militia were 'regular' Militia. When they were embodied - called out in times of war - it was normal for them to serve away from their home county. The march there was part of the training, and it lessened the chance of men deserting to be with their families. Some Militiamen took their families with them, or as in this case, married where they were posted.
Fencibles were an extra Militia raised in wartime. The first fencibles served from 1793 to 1802. Apart from training they stayed at home, awaiting a call if the country was invaded - although some did serve in Europe. So basically a 'home guard'. New regiments were raised when war resumed in 1803 but most served overseas, particularly in Canada.
Ken
-
I am amazed that he would have marched from Inverness to Edinburgh! I wonder where they would be stationed in Edinburgh. Would it have been at the Castle?
-
My 4 x g.grandfather joined the Fifeshire Fencible Cavalry in 1795 which I understand was a unit recruited for home defence during the Napoleonic wars. Home defence did not just mean Scotland, as after spending 1795 in Thurso, by October 1796 they were in Carlisle and by April 1797 they were in Sheffield. In 1798 they were in Kings Lynn and Norwich, then they went to Boston where my 4 x g.grandfather married, the Fencibles then went to Hythe in Kent in 1799 amongst other place with 4 x g.grandmother accompanying her husband.
He returned to Boston, in 1800 when the Fencibles were disbanded and he and his wife and family stayed there. Not sure why he met and married my 4 x g.gran so quickly as their first child wasn't born for a couple of years.
Lizzie
-
WL, they could have been shipped from Inverness to Edinburgh. Skoosh.
-
I too have ancestors who served with the Inverness Militia - Donald McGillivray born 24 July 1772 Bochruben, Dores parish, and his son James McGillivray, b 1797, Kiltearn, Ross-shire, a shoemaker and musician. During the Napoleonic Wars, Scotland raised its first Militia. From 1798-1802 men were drawn from Sutherland, Caithness, Argyll, Dumbarton, Bute and Inverness to serve in Militia and Fencible Regiments.
The Inverness Militia was formed in 1802. Men were drawn from the counties of Inverness, Banff, Elgin and Nairn and were commanded by Sir James Grant of Grant, Bart, Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire.
The Inverness Militia was designated to the 10th Militia in March 1804. Donald was a cabinet maker to trade, but served as a Private in the militia from 1808 to 1814.
The regiment served on garrison duty throughout Great Britain during the Napoleonic wars - in 1808, the Inverness Militia was based at Ediburgh, as this is where Donald's son, also named Donald, was born. The militia also served in Portsmouth, as another son, David, was born there. the Inverness Militia returned to Inverness from Portsmouth in 1814, and was then disembodied. Thereafter it was called out periodically for training through 1833. During this period, Donald was a master house carpenter and mist probably was still involved to some degree with the Inverness Militia.
In 1833 the Inverness Militia was redesignated the 76th, Donald's son, James, is listed in the OPRs of his first three children, (Scotland's People) as a corporal and drummer in the Inverness Militia. The Inverness Militia was again embodied at Inverness during the Crimean War.
1855-1881 During the Crimean war the Inverness Militia came under the command of the Master of Lovat and was redesignated the 76th Highland Light Infantry. The uniform was changed to Highland Dress. In 1856, the Militia barracks were built in Telford Street, Inverness, to house the permanent staff and stores. In 1857 Donald's occupation was named as Bugle Master of the Militia on the death record of his son Donald.
From 1858 to 1871 the regiment carried out its annual training period at nearby Fort George and after 1872 in a tented camp at Muir of Ord.
Hope this helps.
-
Thank you AncesStory that is very helpful and helps to explain his move to Edinburgh. Amazing we are talking about Napoleonic wars!
-
I have also just discovered My 4xGreat Grandfather, David Jack was in the Inverness Militia and got married in Edinburgh in 1804 to Anne Robertson of Cairnie. I was left wondering what he (they) were doing in Edinburgh so this has helped clear up that little mystery! I still don't know where he was born though?
-
Militiamen were selected by ballot. So worth contacting the Inverness Record Office as some counties retain the 'census' they took of all eligible men and the men selected. Selected men could pay a substitute to take his place. The lists may tell you where the men came from. If he was a substitute he may not have been from Inverness-shire
The muster rolls are another source. These are in the National Archives, not online. So you will have to visit. The first and last entries give the best chance of giving additional information. The muster should say if the men marched to Edinburgh or went by sea. As there were marching allowances and deductions for being at sea.
Ken
-
I have a rare coloured print dated 1800 of an Officer of the Inverness shire Militia.
I've seen only a few and this is the only one that I can find in colour where you can see the uniform details.
It was framed by Taylors in Aberdeen many years ago.
I've tried and failed to attach an image !
Regards
Vic
-
Thanks for the info Ken. I have messaged the Archive Centre in Inverness and am awaiting a reply.
Sheila
-
Hi
Doing the family tree bit and came across what appears to be my 5th Gt Grandfather James Nicol, who was likely from Montrose. In 1803 he married a woman called Margaret Burnett in Cupar, which seemed strange. However when viewing the Marriage entry he is shown as a private in what appears to be the Third Inverness Militia and Margaret is shown as from the parish of Montrose.
My question is why would James be in the Inverness Militia and why would they marry at Cupar? Two years later they have their first child in Montrose and remain there until their deaths.
Any info would be appreciated
-
I have been researching James McGlashon from Nairn; he was in the Inverness militia. He married in Musselburgh in January 1808, although his bride was from Balgonie in Fife, suggesting that the militia came through there. I wonder if they sailed from Inverness to the port of Montrose and perhaps filled any blanks in their numbers with local recruits?
His first son Thomas was born in Trafalgar Inn in Collessie in Fife in October 1808. The next child I have traced is Alexander who was born in Gosport in the far south of England in 1811 so presumably the militia was based there. The only other children I have traced were born in Edinburgh in 1816 and 1822. The family remained in Edinburgh with James dying there in 1823.
-
Thanks for reply
Yeah, I suppose that is possible
I would understand it more if she had been from the Cupar area, but they were both from Montrose. I can only assume that she joined him there, got married and then returned to Montrose and a couple of years later had their first child.
-
Quick note to AncesStory - Donald MacGillivray of Bochruben, born 1772, was my four times great grandfather. His parents were James MacGillivray and Ann Cameron; just for good measure, Donald also had a brother called James MacGillivray, who also married someone called Ann Cameron! All the info I have on the family is at http://chrispatonscotland.tripod.com/id30.html
Chris Paton
-
Thanks Chris - your information is phenomenal! You may not know that Marjory McGilivray, daughter of James McGilivray (1/8/1781 - 27/2/1866) and Ann Cameron, married Adam Brown in Aberdour, Fife, May 30th 1834. I am not sure how Marjory ended up in Fife from Inverness by 1834, when her siblings were still at home in Wells St, Inverness. The Brown family were woodworkers and their daughter Marjory McGillivray Brown, who married my G Grandfather Lewis Duffus, a cabinet maker, in Edinburgh, was a mantel maker. The name Marjory remains in our family.
-
No probs, glad it was of some help, and thanks for the new info! FYI, Highland Archive will soon be placing its catalogue online, which may help further. I was there about 2 months back and found a great deal of info on the MacGillivrays on that visit, with plenty more still to do! :)
Chris
-
Ancestory - I have just made another discovery, thanks to the Portsmouth parish records going online at FindmyPast. My three times great grandfather, David MacGillivray, was said from various records to have been born in Portsmouth in about 1815, with Donald his father serving with the Inverness Militia, and his mother as Isabella Munro. However, it seems the Inverness Militia actually returned to Inverness in 1814, having been serving in Portsmouth on garrison duty, meaning David was unlikely to have been born there in 1815 (certainly not with his father on military duty). On doing a search in the parish registers, no David MacGillivray is listed - however, upon browsing the registers, it looks very much as if he might in fact have been recorded under his mother's maiden name of Munro. There's a record from 3 JAN 1813 noting the baptism at Wymering Church of a David Munro born to Donald and Isabella Munro, with Donald noted as a private in the Inverness Militia, based at Hilsea Barracks.