88th Foot, Edward and John Brennan

[Maggie64]

Help!!!!

My gggg grandfather Edward Brennan (Brannen/Brannan) joined 88th Connaught Rangers from May 1813 until he was discharged from army in October 1822 unfit and illness.   He was private soldier.

I just found out that there is another Brennan who also joined 88th Foot, his name was John Brennan.  John was discharged from army in 1818.    Both Edward and John born  same birthplace in Sligo, Ireland.  Both had same last name, and joined same regiment 88th Foot.  I do not know if they were brothers.   Please let me know if you know anything on both soldiers.   All I know that Edward was married to Scottish lady Isabella Rae and they settled down in Montrose, Scotland after the war.    Edward died in 1851 aged 55.   

I have completely no idea if John was related to my Brannen family.   Hope to hear from you soon. 

Also I am still waiting to receive some photocopies of Edward's army papers from the National Archives in Kew, England.

Also I am asking you to help me to find Edward's missing medal , 3rd class merit medal.   

Thank you
Cherrio
Margaret from Canada.

[neil1821]

Just looked at the Military General Service medal roll (Peninsular War essentially)
Pte John Brennan 88th Foot is listed as being awarded the medal with 4 battle clasps (Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Toulouse).
Likewise, Pte Edward Brennan awarded the medal with one clasp (Toulouse)
Also confirms award of regimental order of merit to both men.

[Maggie64]

Thank you for your reply and I appreciate that you replied.

Yes I got my gggg grandfather Edward's one clasp medal "Toulouse" from Irish coin dealer in Dublin Ireland.   So I am still looking for another medal order of merit but still unknown about this missing medal.

Do you have any more information on this soldier Edward?    I just found out that there is 4 other soldiers with same last name Brennan who joined the same regiment 88th Foot.  I do not know if they were brothers or cousins.  Their names are John, Andrew, Joseph, Henry.  I need any more information on these soldiers who might be related to my gggg grandfather Edward's family.   I finally got the photocopies from Kew, UK that stated that my gggg grandfather Edward was born in the parish of Currea (could be wrong spelling town) in or near the town of Sligo, Ireland.   Any information on Currea?  Please contact me thank you  Margaret from Canada.

[ktfitz87]

Hi Maggie,
I hope you are well, My name is Katie Fitzgerald (nee Brennen) I am 29 and been doing my famiy tree for a while now, all my ancestors go back to Ireland starting with the name Brennen but over the years somehow ending up as Brennen ? we have an Edward Brennan born 1795, he went to on have a son called Patrick. Ii have struggled to find a lot of info on  Edward due to the time period but I have a lot of other information on other family members maybe it could be the same family !!
please feel free to contact me if you would like to explore this further.
love from the uk,
Katie xx

[Maggie64]

Good morning Katie, wow, I have no idea about your side but it is very interesting, after 12 years I have been working on my family history, finally Ancestry came up with more war records, finally I knew that my 4x great grandfather Edward Brennan was born in parish of Curry ( it was written as Currea on his army discharged papers from KEW)"in about 1795-1796 but Ancestry came up with other war records they wrote down "Curry" Sadly, the parish church in Curry (south of Tubbercurry in County Sligo) don't carry any church records before 1860's.  All I know that he enlisted with 88th Regiment at 18 years old - private soldier with 3rd company from May 1813 in Sligo, and he ended up marrying Scottish lass named Isabella Rae (from Dunnottar not far from Stonehaven and Aberdeen) at parish of Drypool in Hull, England - Feb 1820 then 2 weeks later my 3x great grandfather James Brannen was born at Hull Garrison...  Edward was stationed at Aberdeen and Fort George during 1817-1819 while other 88th soldiers were stationed at Edinburgh Castle,  then in early 1820's 88th Regiment moved to Hull from Scotland for a bit later that year they returned to Ireland ... Edward was unfit and illness so he was sent to Dublin hospital to be discharged from 88th Regiment during October 1822.   The Brannen family decided to settle down in Scotland ..Sadly he died early at 55 years old from dropsy in April 1851 (too bad that Scottish Death entries did not process before 1855) if he died after 1855 I would know who was his parents... but no luck, and I have asked all my relatives out there in the world nobody know about his family in Curry, Sligo Ireland.    Have you taken DNA kits from Ancestry.  I did mine.   Please let me know thank you Cherrio Margaret