Meakins - 86th Regiment - Pensioner in 1871

[Elizabeth Virginia]

This is my 1st posting.  Hope to learn along the way.
From 1871 England Census discovered Williams Meakins (Meekins/Meakings) (my gggrandfather), b. @ 1806 in Worcestershire, was a Col Sergeant 86th Regiment on a pension.  Assume this is Colour Sergeant?   I have also found info in Historical Records of the British Army: Historical Record of the Eighty-sixth, or the Royal County Down Regiment of Foot 1793-1842.  Published in London, John W. Parker, West Strand taking the Regiment up to 1842. 

Need help finding info from 1842 - 1857 (believe they were in India).   He and wife, Mary (?) had one child born in 1842 "Cape of Good Hope", three born in India (1844 - 1851), then a child born back in England in 1857.  Appreciate any suggestions about what to do next.  Thanks.  Pat

[AMBLY]

Hi Pat


Welcome to Rootschat 

http://www.fibis.org/
The FIBIS databases could be a place to start searching - site is  down for maintenance at the mo tho 

I see them in England in 1861 - do you have (need) this Census details?

Cheers
AMBLY

[Elizabeth Virginia]

Ambly -- Thanks for the response!

I've been able to track them through the various England censuses (1861, 1871 and his widow in 1881), but now would like to fill in some of the military details.  Many of my extended family has served their country and it would be interesting to know where/what Col Sergeant William Meakins did.   I will definitely try the FIBIS link when it is back up.  Reading the census reports certainly makes the cotton mill/coal mining links of my family come alive.

Cheers from North Carolina! (I just retired here from a Harrogate, Yorkshire posting)

Pat

[jorose]

http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html

having a look at the 1861 I think I can see possibles:
Matilda Jane Meckins, b/c 1845 Kurrachee, Bombay, parents William/Mary (Matilda aged 17 b. Bombay in 1861)
John Merkins, b/c 1848 Deesa, Bombay, parents William/Mary (John aged 12 b. Bombay in 1861)
Harriet Meekins, b/c 1850 Deesa, Bombay, parents William/Mary (Harriet aged 10 b. Bombay in 1861)

At http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/ there is a William Henry Meakin aka William Henry Mekins, b. Worcester, served in the 86th foot from 1829 to 1854, discharged in 1854 aged 49.

[Elizabeth Virginia]

Thank you!  This has given me a number of follow-on leads.  I am new to this, so am very grateful to the pointers.  Especially since I want to be able to source my info properly! 

[waterlil]

Hello Elizabeth Virginia,

I am new to this , but see that you are also rsearching the same family as I am. I am descended from this William Henry Meakins through his eldest son William Henry Meakins, then his son George Harry Meakins.

I would be very interested in comparing notes some time to see if what I have found can be verified. Did you get any information through the FIBIS site?

Cheers
Nan

[garstonite]

Hiya ...if either of you can connect to the Meakin family in Liverpool , there are still Meakin family here in Garston ,Liverpool....allan

[waterlil]

Hi Allan,
Thanks. I don't know if I have direct Meakins connections there in Liverpool, but my family certaily lived around the area. My Dad was born in Bolton, but came to Australia in 1913.

His father was born in Staffordshire, but his uncle was born in Liverpool. Most of the family were col miners.

Cheers, Nan

[johnxyz]

You might find it helpful to look at the National Archives research guide on soldiers of this era, http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/british-army-soldiers-discharge-and-pension-records.htm

Images can be downloaded via findmypast.co.uk if you happen to have a subscription or are prepared to go pay-per-view  - I'm not sure of the exact cost.  That should give you an outline of his service record.

If you really want to get into detail, it's possible to start grinding through the muster rolls - they record who was where in each regiment. Unfortunately that can only be done at Kew!