Cannot find a Soldier, William Fordyce

[kicksfour]

Hi, another request for help millitary wise!

I have an ancestor - Mary Jane Scott (nee Fordyce), on her Marriage certificate it states Father as William Fordyce, Occupation - Soldier.

Thinking this is a rare surname and he would be easy to track, but I've found nothing! Tried all the obvious sites (NA, FindMyPast, Ancestry etc.). Where else can I look??

The only clues I have was Mary Jane was born in Hull c1823 and Hull had a working Fort at that time, Mary can be found in 1841 in Hull but with no parents. Mary also had a Brother (George Fordyce) who served with the Navy and is fairly easy to find.

Can anybody help? I have a hunch he may be Irish due to reading about Irish soldiers being staioned in Hull around that time.

Many thanks in advance!

Iain

[genechaser]

Hi

Mary Jane Fordyce was Christened, 9 September 1823, Hull.

He parents were William Fordyce and Jane, (no maiden name given)   
   

 
 

[km1971]

Hi Iain

You say you have looked on FindMyPast, but does that include the regimental BMDs on that site?

You should also research other military BMDs in Hull around the same time to try and discover the regiments in the area when Mary was baptised. Once you have the regiment you can check the muster books in the National Archives.

Ken

[kicksfour]

Yes this is Mary Jnae, I'm pretty sure her mother is Jane Burton

Thanks

[kicksfour]

Ken

Ive searched the regimental BMD's but found no Fordyces'. The site tells me there is records but once you've bought the credits and look through there isn't ANY Fordyce recorded births/marriages! His son George is so easy to find but this guy doesn't seem to exist!


Cheers, Iain

[LizzieL]

Fordyce is a more common name in Scotland. Have you tried looking there?
As well as Mary Jane and George, there are 3 other Fordyce children baptised in Hull to William and Jane according to IGI, have you tried to track them down?
The IGI has a marriage for a William Fordyce to a Jane Burton in Sculcoates on 13 Jul 1814 and a William bapt 28 May 1821 in Ayr, Scotland parents William Fordyce and Jane Burton.
One of the Hull baptisms is also a William bapt 23 July 1822. So presumably the first one died.
Another of the Hull baptisms was Ann Horoe Fordyce, the middle name could be significant, although it would be advisable to try and get a look at the original, Horoe sounds like a mistranscription.

Hope some of these random thoughts might help and now back to my own missing soldier!

[kicksfour]

Thanks Lizzie!

Had all the Hull christenings but not the found the Ayr one, very grateful! Puts a new lead on the search!

Getting closer!