RootsChat.Com

OK so she was definitely born in Edinburgh then as Canongate is in Edinburgh.

Yes the Militia was a military reserve and they had to attend training for a number of weeks each year.  They used to hold a ballot to decide who must join but if you were chosen, you could pay a substitute to take your place if you didn't want to.   However, most people would be too poor to pay a substitute so would have no choice.

Yes they had to march everywhere and must have been exhausted.

During times of war, they would be permanently embodied.  Our ancestors were in the militia during the Napoleonic Wars and so would have been protecting the coastline from the threat of invasion by the French.  The miltia could not be sent abroad though.

In fact, my ancestor was persuaded to transfer from the militia to the regular army in 1813 and was then sent to fight at the Battle of New Orleans and later to France.  I was able to follow his movements throughout his life by looking at the records at Kew.  It took me on an interesting journey and was absolutely fascinating.  Something which I couldn't have done if he hadn't been a soldier.

Anyway, good luck with your research and I won't forget to have a look at the 1814 records next time I go to Kew.

Best Wishes

Ermin

Hi Barbara

I see why you can't get to Kew then!

I don't think the records are online.   If I ever go Kew again I will have a look at 1814 for you but it won't be this year though.

 I found my ancestor in the records but it is only a list of names for each quarter of the year showing how much they were paid.  However it does show exactly where they were stationed.  My ancestor transferred to another regiment at the beginning of 1814 so I only looked as far as 1813 when I went.

You say that John married Christian Fraser in Edinburgh.  Fraser is Scottish surname so perhaps she was from Scotland and they were married in her parish.

Is it possible, that if John was away with the militia in Ireland in 1814,  that Christian had perhaps gone to visit her parents which is why her child was born in Edinburgh?

Just a thought!

Regards


Ermin

Hi Nellie

Glad to have helped.

Don't worry, I have found the same thing in my family - numerous criminals - involving debt, sheep stealing and neglecting family !

I suppose it just shows what a struggle life was for people back then.  Nowadays they would get financial help and not have to resort to crime.

Regards,

Ermin

Hi

Thanks everyone for your help but Alfred Cooper was not killed in the First World War - he made through to the end! - so he wouldn't be in the Soldiers Died index.

I only live 40 minutes from the National Archives so I'm planning to visit in the next couple of weeks to view the medal rolls to see if they give anymore information as to the battalion.

Ermin

Hi MargP

That's a great idea. 

Unfortunately, two of his children were born in 1908 and 1910.  There was another born in 1914 but he hadn't joined the Royal Engineers by then.

Good advice for others with the same problem though as I have birth certificates for another branch of my family which show the father as "Corporal of 43rd Regiment" , etc.

Ermin