Help needed please!

[purplemoon]

I didn't have any luck with the 1861 details for Ann and the children or for John's and Ann's marriage, hopefully somebody else will have better luck, if not I will have another go when I get chance

Regards,

Kath

Hi Kath

I don't think we're going to find any census records in 1861/1871 for them as I'm not entirely sure they were even in England at that time. Certainly in 1871 it's likely they were still in Gibraltar.

The 1861 entry I'd found for John turns out to be wrong as the John I found was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers and my John was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery - same name, age and right area, but the wrong John! 

I also think the John in 1841/1851 is wrong too as I've just had a discussion with my nan and she now informs me that he joined the army in Ireland prior to coming over here (why do people withhold such important bits of info LOL! ) so it's quite possible John and Ann were married in Ireland too, hence not finding any marriage details here.

It seems the only way I'm going to be able to get any more info on this family is to try and locate his army records and go from there, but thanks very much for all the help you've given me so far

Regards

Paula

PS I've not had chance to check out those Gallagher's yet but they certainly look promising at first glance

[katherinem]

Hi purplemoon,

Thanks for letting me know, before I did anymore looking up

Have you considered contacting the Royal Artillery Museum?  I contacted a regimental museum, once and they very kindly let me know where the regiment served for a particular period.  The Royal Artillery Museum are at www.firepower.org.uk.  They tend not to hold soldiers details though, but it may help to know where 10th Battalion were serving in 1861.

You must let me know about Gallaghers, as that is quite a coincidence.

Kath

[purplemoon]

Hi Kath

I did as you suggested and contacted the RA museum and have already received a very helpful and informative reply!

I've been given details of a couple of publications, one of which is a guide to the Battery locations of the Royal Artillery 1859-77, and should prove to be very useful indeed in locating John during his army career.

It's likely that I will also find details of Ann in army records on the Battery Muster Roll (WO10 series) as it appears she may well have been classed as an "official wife" and allowed to live in barracks and travel with John to wherever he was based (evident from the birth places of their children).

Apparently, only 6% of soldiers were "allowed" to marry and have their wives/family living on base and the rest had to live independantly and support themselves!

Thanks for suggesting this to me as it's proved to be very useful indeed

Cheers

Paula