Thomas Burrell, Private Marine, Kent

[Soubeyran]

Hi, returning to Rootschat after a few years, wondering if anyone can help me through a 'brick wall'? :-)

The above-mentioned Private Marine Thomas was my ggg grandfather, and ALL I have on him is that his wife was Elizabeth, they had a son, also Thomas, born December 1823, baptised in 1824 by H. Frazer, and they lived in Godfrey Street (now Godfrey Road), Kent at the time.

All of the above comes from Thomas junior's baptism record, but I've drawn a blank on all my 'usual' searches for marriage/siblings etc., also on initial online searches on the Marines records at Woolwich.

Any thoughts or possible leads very welcome! :-)

[km1971]

Here is the National Archives guide to researching Royal Marines - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/royalmarines.htm

There is a link to a search.

I cannot see a surname, unless he was Thomas Thomas. You also appear to have missed off the town in Kent.  There were two Divisions in Kent - Chatham and Deal. If you cannot find him online you will have to go to the National Archives and start with the records under the correct division.

I am not aware of the Royal Marine records they have in Woolwich, The museum in Southsea have some, but the NA has the biggest collection.

Ken

[rosie99]

I presume that this is the christening of Thomas Jnr in Woolwich 1824
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J3MY-G6T

[Soubeyran]

Thanks, Rosie, and yes: I have an image of the actual record.

Since posting I've discovered (on Rootschat) the possible reason why I've had difficulties finding other information about the marriage/siblings. Apparently only around 1 in a hundred non-officers marines were given permission to get married.

Unless I hear otherwise, I reckon success or failure will be entirely down to a physical search ..

Graeme

[rosie99]

Do you have any of them on census 1841/51 if so where.

I can see an Elizabeth Burrell in Greenwich in 1841 with Thomas Burrell 17 and Ann Burrell 12. In 1851 this could be the same Elizabeth
H0107/1587 f245 p35 Spring Gardens, Greenwich
Thomas Burrell Thomas Burrell age 66 Greenwich Pensioner bn Ireland
Elizabeth Burrell age 59 bn Plymouth, Devonshire
Ann Burrell age 22 bn Cripplegate, Middlesex

[Soubeyran]

Thanks SO much for this, Rosie!

All are interesting & I'll look deeper when I get to the library.. the only one I doubt is the Ann age 22, as I seem to remember an Ann Burrell born in Greenwich, but there was nothing to really tie her down..

The Elizabeth with son Thomas & Daughter Ann certainly looks promising..

I'll let you know how I get on. :-)

Graeme

[Soubeyran]

Thanks, Ken - nearly missed your reply!

I'm pretty certain it'll be the Woolwich Division, and suspect you're right about having to do a manual search, probably at the NA.

But experience tells me that ALL suggestions are useful, as everyone has their own methods/perspective, and sometimes just a slight remark leads on to a different approach!

Graeme

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

As Thomas is a Greenwich Pensioner in 1851 I wonder if these documents concern him,

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9966457

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9966459


I also found this Thomas transcribed as BARRETT but looks like BURRELL on the image, the other t's are crossed but not on the ELL and the UR looks like the ur in the word Surgery. 


1841  HO107/489/18  f.18  p.3  Greenwich
Infirmary Royal Hospital Greenwich

Thomas BURRELL  55  Surgery Mate Marine    I


(The Surgery Mate has been dittoed from an above entry)


Regards,
Daisy

[Soubeyran]

Hi Daisy,

thanks SO much for this! It certainly looks very promising, as it would make him around 40 when his son was born.. when I get to the library so I can view the census record I should be able to get a birth town ( then possibly birth/marriage records), which (by experience) was the most I was really hoping for! :-)

FYI I did search the census National Archive details, but I didn't have even an approximate birth date or location for the census & the only naval record I found for the name was the wrong era. Either I screwed up or you're more experienced than me!

I'll let you know if/when I confirm him as 'my' Thomas! :-)

Graeme