Regt of Guards

[vimira]

On a baptism for one of my ancesters in 1802 in Bucks, the father is described as being a Soldier in the 1st Regt of Guards.

Could someone more expert than me on the subject of the military tell me what this might mean?

Vimira

[jorose]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenadier_Guards
 - could be "1st Regiment of Foot Guards"?

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk - have a  look on the catalogue to see if the father's discharge papers are listed.  I think they'll be under "1st Foot Guards" if my guess is correct.

[vimira]

Many thanks Jorose

Had a quick look at the National Archives, but I couldn't see a way of directly accessing the records for a particular person. Do I have to visit Kew? or become a member of the Friends of the NA to carry out an online search?

Vimira

[jorose]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/default.asp?j=1
 - search here with the name (just surname if you can't find him) and under Department or Series code insert WO 97

It should say something like John Smith, born London Served in 1st Foot Guards discharged aged 40 and then a single date which is the year he was discharged, i.e. 1803, or a range of dates that were the years he was in the army i.e. 1800-1820.

If you then click on the correct entry, it should give you a summary page headed by 'Item Details, WO 97/(whatever the reference is). There will be a button labelled 'Request This'. You can then request a quote for what they will charge to make you a copy - depends on if you want it printed and mailed to you or sent digitally.

These records are currently being digitised but I'm not exactly sure when they'll be put online, and I suspect they'll be done through a pay site like findmypast or Ancestry.

[vimira]

Jorose
That is so very helpful, many thanks - I shall investigate

Vimira

[neil1821]

Or if you want to give us this soldier's name, you never know, perhaps we can tell you more.

1st Foot Guards (later to become the Grenadier Guards) has 3 battalions at the time, and all were heavily involved in the Napoleonic Wars in the years either side of 1802.

1802 itself was a peaceful interlude, the Peace of Amiens

[vimira]

Thanks for the offer

His name was James Smith (probably quite a few of those!), but he was born about 1754. He doesn't seem to be present at the baptism I mentioned, so maybe he could have away been serving at the time.

Vimira

[jorose]

That makes it harder! Do you know where he was born?

The closest match is James Smith b. Dalkeith, who was discharged from the 1st Foot Guards in 1815 aged 52 - ten years out...
It is possible he isn't listed in the discharge records (died in service or did not qualify for a pension), or is in the misfiles (not indexed on the catalogue).

[vimira]

No I don't know where he was born, may be Lancashire.

Vimira