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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: 1lucybella2 on Tuesday 05 June 12 00:32 BST (UK)
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Hi there,
I'm fairly sure that my probable 4xGreat Grandfather John Armstrong was in the British Army as he is recorded as a Chelsea Pensioner in 1841/1851 censuses. I know his wife was Catharine Costeller and after a quick google it seems they may have married on Corfu during it's time under the Brits. I have no exact date, only sometime before 1838 and if I was able to search the index I would look from 1820 onwards.
Would any kind person out there with access to the GRO Ionian Islands records index (1818-1864) please be able to get me the reference numbers so I can order the record?
Many thanks,
Lucy
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Hi,,I have sent you the reference by pm....can you tell me when and where John was born? or tell me the references you have for him in the 1841/51 census ? ;)
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hi lucy &gb
there are 240 john armstrong,s in pension records so as gortonboy says we need year and place of birth to try and pin him down .
regards
trevor
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Gortonboy and t mo,
Thanks for your help!
All I know is John was born in Ireland sometime around 1798-1801 according to the census records I have for him. He is living in Hampton in Arden, Warwickshire in 1841 with Catherine and son William and then Harborne, Staffs in 1851 with Catherine, William and daughter Mary Ann. In both of these he is recorded as Chelsea Pensioner. The children were both born in England. The earliest record I have is for daughter Elizabeth's Baptism in Coventry in 1838.
He seems to have worked for the railway as I've found from kids' Christening records/censuses doing various jobs such as labourer, railway policeman and timekeeper. Catherine was also born in Ireland but slightly later in around 1806. They disappear completely after the 1851 census.
I'm afraid that's all the information I have. I googled John Armstrong Catherine Costeller marriage and it came up with a couple of unofficial sites listing the two of them separately as being married on Corfu. They both had 1 72 next to their names so I thought this might possibly link them.
Thanks again, Lucy
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Hi Lucy
If you order the marriage certificate using the references GB sent you it should give his regiment.
A man born in Ball, Co Mayo - served 51st Regiment 1816 to 1837, discharged aged 39 - fits. But there could be others as the service records (now on Findmypast) are not complete. The 51st Foot were in the Ionian Islands from 1821 to 1834.
Another man was in the 6th Dragoons, but they did not serve in the Ionian Islands.
btw... 1 72 refers to Volume 1, Page 72 - so they are on the same page. There are usually eight marriages per page.
Ken
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hi
looks likely ken,s got the best option for j armstrong as there are 3 good possibles for the year period you,ve posted what you need is confirmation of his place of birth in ireland what this record gives us is parish of birth , bale in co mayo year of birth 1798 attestation date of 18 sep 1816 he was in the ionian islands between 12 jun 1821 till 12 jun 1834 total service time 21 yrs 62 days it may be worth posting on the mayo board for a look up on his birth and any other detail they can find .
regards
trevor
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ps none of the other records have service in the ionian islands
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Fantastic! Thanks very much to all of you, you have been incredibly helpful. I'll follow-up on here with anything I find out :)
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Hello to everyone who helped me with this last year,
For various reasons I only just got around to getting the marriage certificate for John Armstrong and Catherine Costeller. Here is what I found out.
They got married on November 29th 1828 in Corfu. It gives John's Regiment as the 51st and he was a Colour Sergt at the time of marriage. Catherine was formerly of Drumhaire in Ireland.
There were three witnesses - Thomas Murphy, P.Wilson Qtr M Sergt and I.Conroy Sergt 51st Regt.
I'm sure that they were my 4x Great Grandparents and find it fascinating that they were on Corfu for so long. Next step is to find out some more about the 51st!
Huge thanks again to you all.
Lucy
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History of the 51st Regiment of Foot. http://archive.org/stream/arecordservices00willgoog#page/n140/mode/2up
Rex
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Thanks Rex, this is brilliant! :)