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Independent Islands => Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, Sark => Channel Islands Lookup Requests => Topic started by: debA on Wednesday 23 March 22 15:43 GMT (UK)
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Having trouble finding the Regiment(s) in Jersey around 1820's.
Irish born John Shields b1796, a soldier, had a son John b1820 in Jersey. Cannot find his Regiment nor the Regiments stationed there during that time.
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Was John Shields snr from Antrim? If so, FindMyPast has this service record with image:
British Army Service Records collection
Name: John Shields
Location: Antrim, Ireland
No birth or death date listed in the search result
The soldier above possibly served with the 18th Royal Irish - one of the regiments posted to Jersey c1813.
Hopefully you have access to FindMyPast to view this record. I've no idea what year(s) it represents.
The record might also be on Ancestry in the UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715-1925 collection, but you'd need Fold3 access to view it.
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The other regiments posted to Jersey circa 1813:
2nd Batallion 6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment
7th Royal Fuzileers
15th Yorkshire Regiment
22nd Cheshire
81st Royal Lincoln Volunteers
96th Manchester Regiment
3rd Royal Veteran Battalion
18th Royal Irish
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Catholic baptism on 17 November 1820; John Shields son of John and Mary (maiden name Cleeves).
http://search.jerripediabmd.net/BMD_User/BirthBaptism
"Stations of the British Army" in January 1821 newspapers placed the 7th Veteran Battalion in Guernsey and Jersey but there would no doubt have been artillery detachments there as well.
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There was indeed a John Shields in 7th Veteran Battalion. Had previously been in 81st Foot. Discharged to pension in April 1821 aged 42. Lived subsequently in London, died in June 1861. Born in Hanbridge, near Cartmel in Lancashire.
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Good find, Shaun. Although the OP states John Shields was born 1796 and was Irish. :-\
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This may be of use:
https://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/Main_garrison_regiments_1695-1916
Stewart
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Thank you for this very valuable and most appreciated information.
I'm fairly certain John Shields, the soldier, born about 1795 was Irish. His son John (jr) b1820 in Jersey lived with my great grandfather and family. My grandmother Daisy Shields said the Shields were Irish. Presumably, that info came via her father who as a young lad (13) when we heard stories from his grandfather.
The wife of John Shields, the soldier, was named Mary and on the 1851 census states she was born in America Canada. So I'm assuming she was the daughter of a soldier stationed in Upper or Lower Canada and may have been stationed in America prior to the War of 1812.
She could be the Mary Cleaves as it would all fit this jig saw.
I have FMY and Fold3. Just haven't mastered using it yet and find it daunting.
Deb
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Shaun... Thank you for finding the baptism. I clicked on the link but it won't connect. Will continue to sort it out.
You helped me a few years ago finding another great grandfather of mine that had been a brick wall.
Thank you again.
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I have FMY and Fold3. Just haven't mastered using it yet and find it daunting.
Actually the John Shields I mentioned above appears to be a WW1 soldier. So disregard him. I thought he might have been with the 18th Royal Irish, but it turns out the "18" was part of his service number.
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Found the Baptism entry for John Shields b1820 that confirms his mother was Mary Cleeves (Cleaves?) Also found Pallots marriage doc on 1823 between John Shields and Mary Cleeves.
However on 1841 Census, Mary (Cleeves) Shields is living alone and on 1951 Census, Mary (Cleeves) Shields is a widow and has 2 grandchildren at her address. They must have stayed overnight as they also appear on the 1851 census with their father and step-mother.
Therefore her husband John Shields could not be the one born in Handridge, Lancashire who died 1861.
I did find a John Shields d1830 in Westminster and would fit with Mary Shields 1841/1851 Census.
But cannot find yet which Regiment he was connected with as that might reveal the father of Mary Cleeves.
Perhaps Mary Cleeves was of Irish descent and thats the connection?
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Some jottings from the military records that I've been able to find for the John Shields who served in 81st Foot and various veteran battalions:
John Shields appears on the muster roll of 1st Battalion 81st Regiment for 1Q 1814 (then in the Peninsula). Regimental number 443. Had served more than 7 years.
Peninsula medal roll: present at battle of Maida (1806). This medal was only awarded to claimants still surviving in 1847. This would have been 1st Battalion, 81st Regiment.
7th Veteran Battalion: discharge records shows that he had served 13 years and 3 days with 81st; an out pensioner from 25 May 1817 to 3 November 1819. Attested for VB at Keith on 4 November 1819 and served with 6th & 7th. Discharged from 7th VB on 17 April 1821 as a consequence of its disbandment. Born Hanbridge, Cartmel, Lancs, circa 1778.
3rd Veteran Battalion: Discharge record shows “7th Service” from 18 April 1821 to 24 May 1824; 3rd VB from 25 May 1824 to 14 February 1825 (attested at Sheerness). Discharged in consequence of “chronic catarrh, increased since last brought up and unfitting him for guard duty”
81st regiment locations:
Assuming he was in 1st Battalion throughout his time with 81st regiment, he would most likely have served in:
Italy 1804
Sicily 1806-1812
Spain 1812-1814
Canada (Quebec) and USA expedition 1814-1815
France 1815-1817.
7th Royal Veteran Battalion: various online histories assert that this unit was disbanded in 1814 or earlier but contemporary newspapers locate it in Guernsey and Jersey in 1820/21.
3rd Royal Veteran Battalion: was in Jersey 1824/5.
Pension records:
1845 transferred from 1 Divi North London to 2 Western London
1849 South London
1855-1864 residence South London - there is an annotation in 1862 which I can't quite decipher
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO23%2F55%2F00161&parentid=GBM%2FWO23%2F55%2F00161%2F1217416
Although pension records place him in London until 1862, I haven't been able to find any census entries for him. Did he perhaps die earlier and his widow failed to notify Chelsea?
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Thank you for researching this as it is most helpful.
Did you find all of this on Fold3? I'm trying to figure it out to do thorough digging in order to get screen shots of those documents.
Researching the Maida medal, sources state only a handful of senior officers received that medal, which appears not accurate information. You have much better sources.
I so appreciate you taking the time to find all of this for me. THANK YOU!!
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I don't have a sub to Fold 3. Ancestry has the 1814 muster and the Peninsular War medal roll. FindMyPast has other records.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_General_Service_Medal re the medal awarded in 1847/8 to survivors of the Peninsular War.
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Thank you