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Quote from: Caseygee on Monday 07 November 16 08:54 GMT (UK)

I have been trying for many years to obtain information relating to my GGF John Guinan

All I have managed to find is a copy of the Qtr 1 1860 muster for the 2nd Battalion in Preston. It is a poor image but it suggests he transferred from the 16th as a Sergeant and was promoted Colour Sergeant from March 1st. Pay for that quarter was two shillings for 60 days as a Sgt and 31 days at 2s 6d as a Colour Sgt. He also received 10 pence for a hot meal on a march. It was persumeably when he transferred to the 25th.

For the rest of the year all I have are details of recruits. This is the time that the 2nd Bn reformed (since disbanding in 1816). Which is why there were vacancies for Sergeants to be promoted to Colour.

Ken

Thank you Ken for your efforts.

I am pleased that you were able to find something from your records but must admit I had built my hopes up that there would be much more to find.  Does this mean that there are no other records available regarding my GGF's records for the time period involved? Or is it just that you yourself do not have the necessary records for his time in service? I was hoping that the Pay & Muster Records would reveal more than I already have and/or that they might lead me to his original attestation and/or particularly his discharge documents. Are you able to say if any of these records are in any way worth chasing for or would I just be wasting my time and hope?  If they are likely to be available, where would I go to obtain them?

Casey

I have tumbled across this website and forum and have found it fascinating to read through  the pages relating to my GGF's 25th Regiment of Foot. And particularly with the knowledge shared by Ken and other knowledgeable users of this forum.

I have been trying for many years to obtain information relating to my GGF John Guinan who I know to have enlisted in the 16th Regiment in 1855, but who then by 1859, had worked his way up through the ranks to become a Colour Sergeant before transferring to the 2/25th Regiment stationed at Preston in December of that same year. June 1860 saw him being stationed at Aldershot. I have a copy of his marriage certificate from when he married my GGM nearby there later that year and also Census information for him and his wife (for the entire Regiment actually) while at Farnham during 1861. Later that year he was stationed with the Regiment at Shorncliffe and by late 1862 he was stationed at Edinburgh Castle. Then during July 1863 he and my GGM embarked with the Regiment to Ceylon, where in late 1866 he took his discharge. He then owned or managed 2 Hotels there while having 3 children (including my GF) before passing away only 5 years later in 1871.

I have a copy of a letter that my Father received from the Public Records Office during the 1950s in which Sgt John's Service Number was quoted as being: 4066 Sergeant John Guinan with WO 12/3363-8, 4233-9 Regimental Musters and Paylists, Army lists also being quoted.

I would be most appreciative if Ken or anyone can provide me with any information related to him or anything relative to his time while in military service. Or for that matter provide me with guidance as to how I might be able to obtain as much detail as possible from his military records. I have researched Findmypast and aside from the Marriage and Census Records mentioned above I have not been able to find anything else from there and as I am not resident in the UK I am unable to attend for any personal research there.