Gourlay

[kilconquhar]

Has anyone any more information on John Gaurlay (Age 19) Private Soldier who appears on the 1851 census in Portman Barracks Marylebone.

I believe His surname should be Gourlay and he is from Fife

Did he Marry or Die in the same area or does anyone know how i can track his whereabouts as a soldier

John

[Meliora]

Hello, John,

Will this help ?

Scottish 1841 census
HO107    Ed 1  parish no 436
Kilconquhar, Fife,  Scotland

James Gourlay   age 35
Elizbth. R. Gourlay   age 37
James Gourlay   age 12   
John Gourlay  age 9
Alexr.  Gourlay   age 5   
Eliizbth.  Gourlay age 3

There is a John Gourlay of the 71st Regiment of Foot in the Peninsular Medal Roll, 1793-1814, altho' this is too early for your John Gourlay.  Peninsular War was from 1808 -1814.

Try the National Archives for any info on John Gourlay/Gaurlay as you know where he was in Barracks in 1851.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/

I have not been able to find anything in any other census for John.  If he was discharged from the army his discharge papers would be at the Nat. Archives, Kew, together with his attestation (joining up) papers but if he died whilst in the army his attestation papers would be destroyed.

Good luck,

Meliora

[kilconquhar]

Can anyone tell me if there are Army records available anywhere which might reveal John's movements if he didn't remain in the London area (given he doesnt appear in other census's)

[Meliora]

If John survived army life & was discharged, all his records would be with his attestation & discharge papers, these would include details of where he was thro'out his army career, with all details of punishments, promotions, & medals awarded, place of enlistment, & physical description. These records are where I stated in my post., the National Archives, Kew.

He may well not have been in England for any census after 1851, the Crimean War was 1854-1856, if John was in a Scottish regiment he could well have involved as there were many Scots & Highland Regs. there.

I think the first thing to find from the Nat Arch. would be which regiment he was in, that would make it easier to track him thro' the years.

Meliora

[JAP]

Hi John,

It might perhaps be useful if, on each of your several GOURLAY threads,you were to provide cross-references to all the others?

Even if you just post that other threads about the family are on RootsChat at (various URLs) X, Y and Z ...

This might just help RootsChatters to find your people?

JAP

[kilconquhar]

Hello again

I'm cross posting various threads as suggested by JAP in the hope someone out there may have something

Fife - http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,264531.0.html
Glasgow - http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,247007.0.html
Durham - http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,260687.0.html