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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: anglostark on Friday 18 May 12 12:39 BST (UK)
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Sergeant Adolphus Greigson (SN:1899) served with the 50th from 1841-1858.
In his discharge papers it states that he was at "Punniar" in 1843, "Moodkee" 1845, "Ferozeshah" 1845, "Aliwal" 1846 & "Sobraon" 1846 and was awarded the bronze star (this would be for "Punniar" I believe) and a medal with 3 clasps (this would be for the other 4 battles).
His daughter Frances was born in Ireland in 1855 and I have found out that the 50th were stationed in Dublin in 1854 so that explains why she was born there.
Adolphus was discharged from the army in Colombo, Ceylon in 1858 and I see that the regiment were stationed in Ceylon from 1857, so that explains why his next 2 children were born in Ceylon.
Now, what I'm trying to find out is - Did he take part in any action in the Crimean War. It doesn't state that he did on his discharge papers. But the 50th did take part in several battles during this war. Or was part of the regiment stationed elsewhere during the Crimean War.
Hope someone out there can help with my query :)
Cheers Steven
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The discharge papers say that he only served 7.5 years overseas, being 6 years 7 months in the East Indies and 11 months in Ceylon. So he didn't serve in the Crimea.
Reports of "Stations of the British Army" in 19th century newspapers, reveal that the depot of 50th foot remained in Dublin when the main body of the regiment went to Turkey in 1854.
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Thanks Shaun for the quick response.
Do you know what would he have been doing in Dublin during this time ? would he have been recruiting ? or were there other duties that had to be performed ?
Cheers Steven
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Hi Steven
Usually one company out of the ten that made up the normal establishment stayed in the UK as a Depot while the nine service companies were overseas. As you say it was to carry on with recruitment. The service companies left for Malta in February 1854, before moving to Turkey and the Crimea. As no service in Malta is mentioned either he must have stayed in Dublin.
I take it you have him, plus wife and ten month old William J, with the regiment in Ashton (Lancashire) in the 1851 census?
What was Catherine's maiden name - I see they were married in March (qtr) 1850 1849 in Dover. The 50th Foot were there from July 1848 to April 1850.
Do you know who her father was?
Ken
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Thanks Ken, for the additional information on the regiment and the companies within it.
Yes, I have found him on all apart from the 1861 census, when he was serving overseas. I have him married to a Catherine Burke, but in the 2nd quarter of 1849 in Dover (I found this info on the free BMD index on Ancestry) Can I ask where you found the date of 1850? As I would like to update my info if it is incorrect. Along with the William you mentioned they had 8 other children (that I have found so far).
I believe the father of Adolphus was Thomas William Grigson b. abt. 1799 in Bencoolen, Sumatra, and the father of Thomas was probably John Grigson an Acomptant whom I found on a list of free inhabitants employed at Fort Malborough as monthly writers 1792.
Cheers Steven
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Familysearch.org has the marriage of Adolphus Henry Grigson and Catherine Burke in Dover on 18 April 1849.
The father of that Adolphus was William John Grigson (according to the transcription)
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This Adolphus was born Brackley Northants in 1822 and there is a Brackley baptism on Familysearch for Adolphus son of Thomas and Mary Ann, on 24 December 1822.
A Thomas William Grigson married Mary Ann Hawkes in Sulgrave Northants on 16 April 1816.
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It was a typo. I have corrected it. I was after Catherine Burke's father as being born in Chatham and marrying in Dover it would be worth looking for a military background for him.
Ken
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Thanks Shaun,
I'll have to try and get a copy of that marriage cert. and see if it has been transcribed incorrectly. On the 1841 census Adolphus's father is Thomas Grigson (correction the 1841 census does not list the realationship to the head of the household) and in later ones the middle name of William pops up, thus Thomas William Grigson.
Three things occur to me
1. Thomas William Grigson and William John Grigson are the same person and father of Adolphus or there are 2 Adolphus Grigsons born around the same time.
or
2.William John Grigson is the natural father, who has maybe died and by 1841 Adolphus has been taken in by Thomas William Grigson a possible brother of William John.
or
3. Adolphus was just visiting the household of Thomas William Grigson on the night that the census was taken.
Why is nothing simple ???
Ken, from the info that Shaun supplied I looked up the familysearch site and found Catherine's father listed as Edmund Burke. I will take your advice and search for a military background for him.
Thanks again Shaun and Ken.
Cheers Steven
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Just a wee update.
I now have a copy of Adolphus Henry Grigson and Catherine Burke's marriage cert.
They were married on the 18th April 1849 at the parish church in the parish of St. James, Dover, Kent.
Adolphus's father is William John Grigson and Catherine's father is Edmund Burke a sergeant of the 4th Regiment.
I have had a look on FindMyPast for Edmund Burke's service records but haven't been able to find anything that matches him. Any help on this would be appreciated :)
Note : The subject of the Adolphus Grigson is also being discussed on the Northamptonshire forum.
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I think I may have found a brother for Catherine Burke.
On the 1851 Census that Catherine and Adolphus are residing at Ashton Barracks, there is also a Edmund Burke, Private, musician in regimental band. Est year of birth 1833 and born at Chatham, Kent. Which is where Catherine was born abt 1831.
Might just be a coincidence but it does look promising