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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: kymbilly on Monday 09 February 15 00:22 GMT (UK)
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Hi! I am a first time user of RootsChat and I am hoping to connect with people who can help me fill in some gaps, trying to find the origins/ stories of ancestors.
I have a 4x grandfather, Angus McLeod, who came out to Australia, with the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers, to assist in looking after convicts. I know, through newspaper articles, that Angus was the bandmaster of the regiment, he was 'born into the regiment', which suggests his father may have also been in the regiment, Angus was also close to retiring age, having served for over 40 years. The regiment went onto India and Angus retired in 1830, choosing to stay in Hobart, Van Diemens Land (Tasmania), Australia. He was highly regarded in the regiment, he was also highly regarded in Hobart, and went onto raise a large family.
Angus was born 25th October, 1786,
I would dearly love to learn more about this interesting man, he has left his mark in Tasmania, a home was built for him, it still stands today and is lived in, called Fusiliers Cottage.
Any help on finding any information on Aungus, outside of Australia, would be greatly appreciated :D
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This is presumably his discharge record:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8731998
discharged 1830 aged 46 (so born about 1786).
Born "Kilarney, Kerry".
This would fit with his father being in the regiment, as it appears the 21st were in Ireland between 1783 and 1789.
http://www.archive.org/stream/historicalrecord00clarrich#page/24/mode/2up
What do you know about Angus' wife? Did he marry in Tasmania?
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His discharge record is on Findmypast. It is 13 pages (although the last is blank).
Where did you get his date of birth from? Are you sure it is not his baptism? His record says he joined when 14. This fits in with his father being a soldier, as after 14 a boy was considered grownup and would have had to leave the protection of the regiment if he did not enlist. It was 16 for girl.
The record strongly suggests he was born on 8th January 1784. This is confirmed when he ceased being underage on his 18th birthday.
His pensionable service was increased by 3+ years for service in the West Indies.
btw...the 21st Regiment did not proceed to VDL until 1833. So after McLeod was discharged.
Ken
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Thank you for you quick response.
I have gone back and reread the Obituary for Angus McLeod and I am confused as to when he retired. It appears there was a presentation on his retirement, in Kilkenny. This has taken place before the regiment was sent to Tasmania, Australia. I have been able to find information that they arrived in 1832, which is two years after the said retirement. It appears that he has remained with the regiment before fully retiring in 1839.
Do you think this could be the same man you have indicated in your response?
Are there any other sites you could suggest to me, I am very interested in learning of his story.
I have not got any confirmation on his wife, however, I believe he brought out a wife and daughter. Records show there was a Susan Kendall married to Angus McLeod, she passed away at aged 47 years. It is his third daughter Martha Barbara that I am a descendant of.
Please see below the obituary for Angus.
Sat 14th Feb 1863 The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954).
Our obituary to-day records the death of a very old and respected colonist of nearly thirty years standing. Mr. Angus McLeod formerly band-master of the 21st Regiment of Royal Scottish Fusileers, expired at his son- in-law's residence at Richmond on Thursday evening last, at the ripe age of 77. Mr. Mcleod was born on the 25th October 1786. He served in the 21st Regiment for a period of upwards of 40 years, during which he was for 25 years band- master. In January 1831 a very handsome silver snuff-box specially manufactured for the occasion and embossed with regimental and musical em- blems was presented to him in the presence of the whole regiment at Kilkenny. The presentation waa made by the present T.M. Lord Clive. The box bore the following inscription :.
Presented by the Colonel Lord Forbes, and the officers of the 21st or Royal North British Fusiliers, to Mr. Angus McLeod, master of their band on his retirement - as a mark of their high sense of his character and conduct during his long and faithful services in the regiment." .
Subsequently, on his final retirement from the regiment which was then stationed in Hobart Town, Major Deane, in 1839, issued a regi- mental order, expressing deep regret at the loss about to be sustained, and a copy of this order, which was couched in the most complimentary terms, was forwarded to McLeod by Major Dean himself in a letter in which he says- "I beg to en- close to you a copy of a regimental order I have thought it proper to issue. I have done so because I wish to be recorded in writing the opinion entertained (by me after an acquaintance of 20 years, and the whole of the officers at present serving in the regiment, as well as those who have left it) of your character and of your value." Mr. McLeod has left behind him a large family settled in the colony. His remains will be conveyed to the grave on Monday next, 16th inst., at 2 o'clock..
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Interesting in Trove it says Angus McLeod was born in the West Indies:
"He was born on the 25th October, 1786, in the 21st, or Royal North British Fusiliers to which regiment his father, a Highlander, belonged. His birth took place, we are informed, in the West Indies, and in early life he became a member of the profession of his father"
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/72193111
So that gives you a day, a year and a place (to double check)
Royal North British Fusiliers
1783 Ireland
1786 Angus McLeod born?
1789. Embarked for Nova Scotia
1793. Embarked for the West Indies
Ireland does seem possible as a place of birth
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Is this right Kymbilly?
Angus MCLEOD
Per Lord Lyndoch arrived VDL 10 December 1833
1/21st Regt Foot Royal North British Fusiliers
Later Superintendent probation station - Jericho, Launceston female factory,
Risdon hiring depot
Died 16 Feb 1863
Susan KENDEL
Wife of Angus MCLEOD
Per Lord Lyndoch arrived VDL 10 December 1833
Matron of the Launceston female factory
Died 2 December 1846
MCLEOD Angus, born 25 Oct 1786 St Vincent West Indies- Died 12 Feb 1863
Richmond
Arrived Tasmania 1833 "Lord Lyndoch" Member of 21st Fusiliers (Band Master),
Superintendant various Probation Stations around Tasmania
Married to
KENDEL Susan, born 1799 - died 02 Dec 1846 Launceston
Matron of Womens Factory Launceston
Had 4 Children; Louisa, Susan, Martha Barbara, Sarah Augusta
Matron of Womens Factory Launceston
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Thank you Whiteout7 :) Wow, wow, wow....
Thank you so very much for the link you provided, it answered a few of my questions. I only had a snippet from The Mercury (Hobart), which I found on Ancestry.com. This article is so much more detailed!
I have seen somewhere, on Ancestry.com, that both Angus McLeod and Susan Kendel were born in the West Indies. I have chosen to try RootsChat as well, as I am finding that a lot of information people provide on Ancestry.com is not correct. So now it is a matter of finding the sites to investigate further.
Where did you find the below information, re the ship etc? Now to find more out about him before coming to Australia!
Thank you once again.
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Retiring soldiers could get a free passage to a colony. Maybe he hitched a passage with the 21st when they sailed to VDL.
Another Angus McLeod served with the 21st about the same time. From memory he stayed as Private. I will post details when I am off the tablet
Ken
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Had you seen this digitised death record for Susan?
http://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/search/results?qu=susan McLeod
Sue
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There seems to be a Neville Kitchener from Hobart that has researched Angus McLeod he posted some information back in 2003.
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/AUS-Tasmania/2003-07/1057064368
I do think that Angus McLeod's birth in St Vincent, West Indies would need to be found (or you couldn't rule out Ireland as a possibility). I haven't been able to track it down for you.
Yes Ancestry user trees can be wrong, so you need to always get other evidence from census/ship passengers list/birth certificates/old books
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Martha Barbara McLeod marrying William Harrison
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8802953?searchTerm=Mcleod%20Harrisson&searchLimits=
11 Dec 1861 at St George, Tasmania, Australia - she was possibly born in 1835 (So in Tasmania).
Louisa McLeod married Reverend George Eastman 28 May 1845, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Possibly born 1826 (before parents came to Australia, so on the boat with them, 7 years old?)
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12721882?searchTerm=Mcleod%20Eastman%20Tasmania&searchLimits=
So trove au confirms both these women as daughters of Angus McLeod.
Neville Kitchener again:
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/AUS-Tasmania/2003-07/1057064368
Louisa McLeod born 30 Aug 1825 in St Vincent, West Indies
So a full passenger list for the Lord Lyncdoch 1833 would be interesting, you should have Angus, Susan and Lousia on board (Louisa might not be named though?)
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Hi Whiteout!
Thank you for your dedication!!
I am aware of the family, once they arrived in Australia. I do believe that Louisa came out with her parents, possibly making her a few years older than her siblings.
I am a descendant of William Harrisson and Martha Barbara McLeod, the 3rd daughter of Angus and Susan.
The link you gave me, on Trove, was most informative. It actually answered/ confirmed a few of my questions :) This extensive article is from the Launceston newspaper, whereas I only had a shorter article from the Hobart newspaper. I must say, I was immensely proud, beyond belief, when I read how high in regard Angus was held. I say this as I come from a family rich in military history, including my husband, so it makes it even more special :) Thank you!
I am currently putting am email together to send off to the Neville Kitchener you mentioned below. Again, thank you!
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British Army Service Records 1760-1915, West Indies (is on findmypast is it on ancestry? maybe you could look in there)
I guess your trail goes to St.Vincent in the West Indies. It will be interesting if you can get old parish registers from there. Yes Angus McLeod is quite interesting, maybe it will all lead back to the McLeods in Scotland.
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The second Angus Mcleod served in the 21st Regiment from 1800 to 1816 and was born about 1780 in Assent, Belgium.
You may have to research the muster books in the National Archives circa 1830 to confirm that your Angus was discharged then, as per his service record.
Ken