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Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: mermaid-nl on Tuesday 15 November 11 18:26 GMT (UK)

Title: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: mermaid-nl on Tuesday 15 November 11 18:26 GMT (UK)
Hello everyone,

Does anyone know where St Helena is?  On FamilySearch an ancestor is listed as being born in St Helena and the only referience as to where this is from the system-origin 'Atlantic_Islands-ODM'  I am guessing this is somewhere near India as other siblings were born in Madras, India.

Hopefully I have included a direct link to the entry in question.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/9SC3-82T/p1 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/9SC3-82T/p1)

Thank you in advance.
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: TomRees on Tuesday 15 November 11 18:34 GMT (UK)
It is indeed in the Southa Atlantic, a few weeks sailing from India   :P

http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/maps/StHelena-Ascension.gif


http://www.sthelena.se/
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: mermaid-nl on Tuesday 15 November 11 18:38 GMT (UK)
TomRees, thank you very much!  I've been floating all around the atlantic (on google maps) and couldn't find it!  Brilliant! :-)
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 15 November 11 19:11 GMT (UK)
Findmypast has 15 images from the discharge papers of Private Isaac Dodd of 20th Foot, born around 1786 in Hadfield Essex, who served in many battles in the Napoleonic wars and was "in St Helena and East Indies from 12th June 1819 to 28th April 1837"
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: mermaid-nl on Tuesday 15 November 11 19:23 GMT (UK)
Hi ShaunJ,

Sounds interesting but not sure if it is 'my' Isaac Dodd, as mine was born in Halstead...I think.  Right I'm going to check it out  :D  Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: mermaid-nl on Tuesday 15 November 11 20:08 GMT (UK)
Hi again ShaunJ,

It is my 3rd Gr Grandfather!  I'd forgotten all about it but I ordered his daugher Emma birth certificate years ago from India and he was stated as being in the 20th Foot Regiment.  She and her older brother James William (my 2nd Gr Grandfather) were both born in Cannanore India.  Oh thank you so much!  loving this  :D
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: Redroger on Wednesday 16 November 11 11:21 GMT (UK)
Volcanic island situated in the South Atlantic between South America and South Africa. Well known as the exile place of Napoleon Bonaparte after his defeat at Waterloo. Access is still only by sea, but the British Government has now agreed to build an airport there. I don't think it was used as a coaling station when much communication was by steamship, and as a result it has always been an isolated outpost.
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: mermaid-nl on Wednesday 16 November 11 11:36 GMT (UK)
Hi Redroger,

Thank you for the info.  Been reading up on it and it would seem that my 3rd Gr Grandmother was there in 1820  :D

Fascinating stuff!
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 16 November 11 11:56 GMT (UK)
Just to confirm that the father was Isaac Dodd of 20th Regiment of Foot:
 http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/FullDisplay.aspx?RecordId=014-000075322
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: mermaid-nl on Wednesday 16 November 11 14:40 GMT (UK)
Thank you ShaunJ

It's so frustrating, been clicking on that link now for over an hour but the site is under maintenance!  Feel like a child on Christmas morning not being allowed to open my presents until everyone is ready!  :(
Title: Re: St Helena but where? Help identifying an Island please.
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 16 November 11 15:03 GMT (UK)
It's just a slightly more detailed transcription (in the India office records at the British Library)