Brazil - Rio De Janeiro

[LEF]

I have a Maria Gant in my family tree born 1808 who states that she was born in Rio De Janeiro but a British subject.  She married an Isaac Burrell (can't find where though, maybe in Brazil?).  They lived in Lewes, Sussex. 

Anyone got any ideas how to trace Maria in Rio De Janeiro and her family?   

[jorose]

What was the occupation of Isaac?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_the_Portuguese_Court_to_Brazil
 - possibly connected? Was Maria's father perhaps connected with the Royal Navy?

The problem with "British Subject" on censuses for women is that it's often not clear whether this means British Subject via birth (father was a British Subject) or via marriage.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/
 - is her husband the Isaac Burrell who was in the 17th Dragoons? (born Sussex circa 1777).
This man was discharged in 1823 and the first child I can see for them was b. 1828 so it might help to look into where he was while he was in the army and where he was when he was discharged...

Do you know if Maria's name might have been spelt another way? There's a Thomas Gent aka Ghent b. Washington Sussex who was in the army 1804-1814 (and then another record for him in 1820?)

[LEF]

Many thanks for your reply, so quickly.  Maria's husband was - as she called him in the 1851 census after he died - a soldier / turnkey at Lewes House of Correction.  On the 1841 he states that he was born in Lewes but I can't find him at all.  However, the dates you mention do add up to my Maria and Isaac's family, i.e. first child, Eliza, my Gt3 grandmother, was born 1828.  However the census of 1841 gives Isaac as being born in 1787. 

thanks for the hint about Gent (Ghent) / Gant and the link between the soldier Thomas Gent in Sussex.  I shall of course further this line.  Although I sort of presumed Maria might have been a British subject by marriage with her first name. 

I am fairly novice at tracing and don't have much time either so have dabbled in the army history and I think came across Isaac Burrell in the 17th Dragoons, but sadly got no further with this.  I badly need to go to the archives in person but working full time, don't get much time to get there.

Many thanks again for your help and if you come across anything else interesting, perhaps you would kindly let me know.  You've given me much food for thought and research!
     

[jorose]

You can order Isaac's discharge record directly from the archives without having to go there by finding him in the catalogue and selecting "request this" (printed or digital copy).

[LEF]

thanks so much.  I will try this tomorrow.

[Roy G]

I take it you have already seen their son Isaac and 2 daughters all born Lewes on the IGI.
Roy G

[LEF]

Yes, thanks Roy,  I do have all the children and their children but not much on the parents!  Unfortunately Isaac and Maria are proving difficult, but it's a challenge trying to find the missing links.
Linda