Royal Monmouth Light Infantry

[2shea]

Does anyone have information on the above Regment's band and or bandmasters.
I am trying to trace a gt gt gt grandfather William Perry. He has been found in 1861 census living in Monmouth and shown as a professor of music. I have a piece of music which says he was bandmaster to the Royal Monmouth Regiment so wonder how long he was there, He is also supposed to have been a bandmaster for the Grenadier Guards. The odd thing is in 1841 and 51 his wife is Charlotte Lousia and their marriage is in LDS but in the 1861 census, his wife is Hannah Maria plus their is another child called Adelaide Alice. By 1871, he still has Adelaide living with him in Durham but the wife is back to Charlotte. The only WIlliam Perry in 1881 is living in a workhouse. From 1841 to 71 he is listed as Professor of Music. His son Frederick William Perry was also a proffessor of music.
Any assistance with the Regiment would  be appreciated plus ideas on the wife change ??  Could this be one of the dark family secrets or have I got the wrong William.

2shea

[scruth]

Dear 2shea,

I can't comment on the marriage situation, but the bandmaster bit is interesting.  Suggest you check his title on the music, whether its really Militia, Monmouthshire Light Infantry, Monmouthshire Regiment etc - picky I know but....

If he's living in St Mary Street, Monmouth, and was bandmaster to the Royal Monmouth anything, chances are it was the local Militia pre 1857, what is now the RMRE - allegedly the only unit with a double Royal in the title these days.  Seeing as your boy is in Southwark in 1851, its unlikely he'd be tied in to a Monmouthshire military unit before that

http://www.monmouthcastlemuseum.org.uk/militia.htm

If it was the Monmouthshire Regiment (or one of the other units who formed the South Wales Borderers), you may need to look at

http://www.rrw.org.uk/

There is probably a lot of Grenadier Guard Band  information out there

perhaps a good contact would be

http://www.grenadierguardsassn.freeserve.co.uk/ggaassoc.htm
rhqgrengds@yahoo.co.uk

You may be able to find a Victorian Military website, or something like Soldiers of the Queen (c.f. Rootschat or the Great War Forum) but I don't know of one.

http://www.vms.org.uk/fpage.html

Hope this helps,

Simon

[2shea]

Thanks for you help here. The music had Royal Monmouth L I so I assumed Light Infantry. William seemed to move around because by 1871 he was living in Durham - albiet with a different wife - a busy wee chap.

Thanks for the references to the other sites. Will have a look at them and see if anything matches.

Cheers

2shea