William Kirkland of 80th Foot

[janda2050]

Am trying to trace records for William Kirkland of the 80th Foot.  My ancestor is his daughter, Jane Ann Kirkland who was born around 1842.  Her marriage & death records show her parents as William Kirkland (Corporal, 80th Regiment of Foot) and Priscilla Munn.  Both are deceased by the time she marries in Scotland in 1864.  Searches in IGI finds a marriage for the parents in NSW Australia and I've since found that the regiment was over there at the time of her birth.

Please can anyone tell me how to find her birth records and when or how she came back to Scotland. 

Thanks for reading this post.

Cheers

Anna 

[Dazey999]

Hi Anna,  You can purchase a copy of Jane's birth certificate from NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages
V18421643 26A/1842
Jane A Kirkland
Parents William & Priscilla
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/search?event=births

[Dazey999]

I think this little piece from the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW) might refer to your William:

4 April 1846
ENSIGN KIRKLAND - It may not be uninteresting to many of your readers to know that the gallant young man, alluded to in last Saturday's Herald as being appointed Ensign, was for a considerable time residing in Maitland with a detachment of his regiment, the 80th, as a private and corporal, and in the capacity of clerk at the East Maitland Stockade, under the brave and lamented Captain Sutlej.  Kirkland is a native of the city of Glasgow, and entered the army about the year 1835.  He was generally respected by his comrades for his good conduct amongst them, and many of his old friends will be happy to hear of his promotion - Correspondent

[Dazey999]

And did you also spot on the Family Search website the marriage of a Priscilla Kirkland (widow) to James Laurie - 6 Aug 1844, Sydney, NSW

The only death of a William Kirkland in NSW at that time was registered in 1844.  He was 27.

[janda2050]

Thanks a million - you've given me lots of information in such a short time - I will follow up on the birth certificate and all the rest and this sorts out yet another twig!!

Thanks once again.

 

[km1971]

I think care is needed here. According to the LG the Ensign promoted from the ranks was called Matthew - http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/20589/pages/1181

Ken

[janda2050]

Thanks once again, I had noticed that the article was for 2 years after William's widow remarried - so presumably was for someone else with the same surname.

I have held on to the information and notice that 2 W Kirklands died in NSW in 1844 (one in Sydney and the other in Albury) - so presumably one of them would be William as his widow's second marriage on IGI is in mid 1844 in Sydney.  She married James Laurie on 6 Aug 1844 in Sydney according to IGI and the Ancestry record shows the location as Liverpool Plains, Tamworth, NSW.  Her daughter Jane Anne Kirkland married in Scotland in 1864 and died in 1877.  So far, I haven't been able to find any details of her return to the UK.

The 80th Foot was all over the world but in the 1840s was engaged in convict transportation to Australia, according to various historical sites.  Details as below.

1835   Liverpool. Dets.
1835-36   Chatham
1836-37   Sydney, N.S.W. Convict escort duty to Australia

1837-41   Windsor, N.S.W. Dets. including Norfolk Island
1840-44   Det. in New Zealand
1841-45   Parramatta, N.S.W. Dets.
1845   Agra



Once again, thanks for all your help and I hope this information helps someone else

Cheers

Anna 

[janda2050]

Hi all

Just to update you all - I spent a day at the National Archives in late November last year and found William's record in the original muster books of his regiment.  It gives details of his death - and his wife's second husband is also shown as a member of the same regiment.

I took photos of the relevant pages and enjoyed my day at the Archives.  I would recommend it to anybody who has the chance to visit.

Thanks to all who responded to my first request, both on the forum and by personal message.

Cheers

Anna