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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: slaw on Friday 05 February 16 09:04 GMT (UK)
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Visiting Kew next week wanting help on we're to search for army records as listed below:
John Robertson Corporal Black Watch reg no.3/1752. He joined 1885/6 served 22yrs 327 days 3yrs
39days in special reserve. Was discharged 2nd Sep 1911.he served in the Boer War I have his medals.
Alexander Lawson joined Argyle Sutherland 91st Regiment February 1872 age 14yrs 1month reg.no.
1444. On his daughters birth cert born Farnham 1896 he was Quartermaster/Sergeant he was still serving in 1901 living in Sterling.
John Lawson Sergeant in 60th Rifle Regiment joined 1830/1 was born Alford Aberdeen 1807 married Elizabeth McBain 1828 alford Aberdeen. No other information other than his sons marriage cert 1856 states mother and father dead.
James Salmon born 1874 served 10th Hussars(Prince of Wales own Royal regiment) res no.3231 1899 5 years South Africa
Thank you for any help you may be able to give me. Sheila
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Have you checked FindMyPast and Ancestry to make sure these records are not online. A lot of Kew's forces records are. :-\
I have always found the people on the desks in Kew to be extremely helpful. If you have not been recently you may need an readers ticket.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/visit-us/researching-here/do-i-need-a-readers-ticket/
Rosie :)
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Thank you Rosie for your reply, two of the records I have listed I got from ancestry, but not much information only name regiment and reg.no. Looking forward to visiting Kew.
Regards Sheila
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There are some records for James Salmon on FindMyPast.
Jebber
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Also enlistment form for Alexander Lawson are on findmypast.
Josey
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Thank you Josey and Jebber will take a look at Find My Past.
Sheila
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I presume you have read this:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-soldiers-up-to-1913/
The records on findmypast are usually from the series WO97 but also include other series:
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/british-army-service-records-1760-1915
Militia service records 1806-1915 (WO96)
Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913 (WO97)
Royal Hospital, Chelsea: pensioners' discharge documents 1760-1887 (WO121)
Royal Hospital, Chelsea: pensioners' discharge documents, foreign regiments 1816-1817 (WO122)
War Office: Imperial Yeomanry, soldiers' documents, South African War 1899-1902 (WO128)
Royal Hospital, Chelsea: documents of soldiers awarded deferred pensions 1838-1896 (WO131).
Ancestry also have military records.
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Thanks once again Josey. Just going through your suggested links.
Sheila
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Hi Sheila
Once the records came available on Findmypast (for men discharged up to 31st December 1913) about six years ago they have not been available at the NA. But they do provide free access to both Findmypast and Ancestry. Although your local library may also provide the same facility.
On FindMyPast his time as a Regular will be listed as WO97 Series and the final years in the Special Reserve (but also known on FindMyPast as Militia Attestation Papers) are listed as WO96.
Robertson's 3/ number will be when he was in the Special Reserve - they were usually the 3rd Battalion. as a Regular (in the 1st or 2nd Bn) he would have had a different number.
They did not keep the records of men who died pre WW1 while still serving, as WO97 are pension records.
If you do go to Kew then check out the set of Army Lists they have on the first floor. These will tell you where the bulk of each battalion were stationed. Army Records will only say Home or India etc. You do not need a readers ticket to look at these.
More so for the next two you can look at the muster books in WO12/16. These will tell you month by month where each man was. He may have been on detachment and not at the main station. Also from the late 1860s they list the married establishment - approved families, giving name of wife and ages of each child. They also give details of promotions/demotions/when on furlo/if fined for drunkenness, plus remittances sent to families (very rare). Some of which is not listed on his service record. The first and last entry in the musters give the most information.
You need a readers ticket to look at the musters. As will anyone wishing to visit the Reading Room with you. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get the books. So you can look at the Army Lists while you are waiting. You can only order 21 items per day. So get there early, and maybe only look at musters every 2/3 year. The service record will tell you in which battalion he was serving. The 60th Rifles usually had four.
Ken
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Thanks Ken for the information. Have been to Kew today will be going again tomorrow so will take your e.mail with me.
Regards Sheila
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Hi Sheila
Yesterday I googled John Lawson, sergeant, 60th Rifle Regiment and up popped your RootsChat chat.
The John Lawson you are searching for is my 3 x great grandfather and is my "brick wall" at the moment. I knew he was married to Elizabeth McBain in the Parish of Auchterless 25th May 1828.
His son Robert was born 6th January 1831 and married to Jessie Ross 26th September 1856.
From Robert's birth and marriage entries we know he was in the 60th Rifle Regiment, a sergeant and deceased prior to Roberts marriage in 1856, as you mention John's wife Elizabeth was also dead prior to Robert marrying.
I have also seen the "Alford" born information second hand but as yet no direct proof.
The only other information I have for John Lawson was at the time of the 1841 Census where John was at New Windsor Infantry Barracks. He is recorded as sergeant, 1st Battalion, 60th Rifles, aged 30 (which in reality means he was between 30-34 years old).
I haven't been able to find any other information on John or his wife Elizabeth as yet but will continue searching.
The Alexander Lawson you are looking for information on is my great grandfather. As you mention, he was in the A & SH, 91st regiment, and eventually became QMS. He is buried at Ballengeich cemetery in Stirling which is directly next to Stirling Castle.
I don't have much military information for Alexander but am told he fought in the Zulu war for which he received a campaign medal.
Not sure if you need or want further family connections but I would be happy to help out.
regards
Danny
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Hello Danny, Good to hear from you. I have been researching the lawsons for years my husband is also the Great Grandson of Alexander Lawson and is also called Alexander Lawson, grandson of Robert Lawson, who was Alexanders son. Can i ask who you are descended from? I was at national Archives Kew back in February and found some information on John Lawson in the muster rolls, took some photographs will sort them out and send them to you. Also found Alexander of the 91st in the muster rolls will try and forward photos to you.
Regards Sheila
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Nice to hear from you too Sheila.
I am descended from William Rattray Lawson, born 8th July 1889, he was my grandfather and one of Alexander Lawson's sons, as was Robert Lawson your husbands grandfather.
William Rattray Lawson married Helen Comrie 1st May 1914 in Stirling (I was born there).
My Father, Lachlan Carruthers Lawson was the youngest of the 10 children of William Rattray Lawson.
Some other family history:
Helen Comrie's brother, Daniel Comrie was killed 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He is buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, France.
My fathers oldest brother, Daniel Comrie Lawson was named after a Daniel Comrie, not sure if it was the one killed in 1916 or his father who was also called Daniel Comrie.
I was named Daniel after my uncle Daniel Comrie Lawson who emigrated to Canada when he was 16.
I have photos of the gravestones for Alexander Lawson and my grandfather William Rattray Lawson, both buried in Balengeich Cemetery, Stirling, if you wanted them.
regards
Danny
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I would appreciate photos of the graves, have been to Ballengich but did not see a headstone for Alexander lawson. i have copies of the marriage of John Lawson and his christening record I can forward to you. if you send me one more message you can personal messsage me and send me your e.mail address. My husband had a Uncle killed July 1916 at the battle of the Somme he was from the Henderson side of the family my mother in laws brother. he is remembered on the memorial at Lochgelly Fife this is where my husbands family still live. I also have a copy of Alexandra Lawsons birth cert sister to your grandfather she was born in England when Alexander was stationed their.
Sheila
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Sheila
I also have John Lawson's OPR of marriage to Elizabeth McBain and their son Robert's baptism and marriage records.
I would appreciate a copy of John Lawson's christening record.
I also show Jessie Lawson, sister of Alexandra, as being born Military Lines, Aldershot.
Other siblings were Robert (as you know) William Rattray Lawson both born Stirling and Ivy Jane Lawson, born Edinburgh, probably Alexander was stationed at Edinburgh Castle at the time.
I will personal message you once allowed.
Danny
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Which is now Danny
Ken
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Hi Ken
Yes, took me a wee while to realise that, sent the personal message to Sheila.
regards
Danny