Chelsea Pensioner 1851 - can I track his service?

[suek2075]

Thomas Currie b abt 1787 in Roxburghshire was a Chelsea Pensioner in 1851 and 1861. From his year of birth I reckon he must have been part of the Napoleonic Army (or possibly fought in Canada?) and I've found a number of military records for Thomas Currie/Curry but how do I narrow them down to my man?

I have a possibility on Find My Past, a Sergeant Thomas Currie of the 2/21st Foot who signed up in 1804, when my man would have been 17 or 18 I think - not 100% sure of his birth date. What other records can I find that may give me more details?

He was out of the army by 1841 and back in Scotland as an ag lab.

[km1971]

It looks as if this Thomas was born in Co Down, Ireland in abt 1765

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10532310

The only man I can find born in Roxburghshire abt 1789, and was in the 43rd Foot - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8755631

The only thing I can find on FindMyPast is that he was awarded a medal for the French/USA war. You had to be alive in 1847 in order to receive this. Which is encouraging. His medal has 12 clasps.

These old NA indexes should match with FindMyPast records, but I cannot find a record on FindMyPast.

Ken

[suek2075]

Thank you Ken for your help -  I realised after posting that the man in the 21st Foot was wrong. The man in the 43rd Foot was the only one I could find after a few hours of searching. He is the right age, given that I'm not sure of my man's exact birth year, but it says he is from 'The Parish of Careen' in Roxburghshire  - I think Careen is incorrect but I can't think what parish it is likely to be. Thomas was from Cavers I think.

Also I've just realised that he had children born in 1812 and 1814 - the 1812 might be possible depending on when he left in 1811, but the one in 1814 seems less likely.

[ShaunJ]

Careen

I think that should read Creenan. Possibly a corruption of Coatgreen or Crealling (Crailing).   I can't find any other reference to a place called Creenan in Roxburghshire.

[suek2075]

You're right Shaun that should have been 'Creenan', really should read what I've typed! But I can't make 'Creenan' into 'Crailing' with all my imagination. Maybe I just don't have the right accent 
Maybe it's something someone can confirm.

I have him coming from Whitrig, Cavers, on a census, but don't know for sure. Not sure what else I can do to confirm he's my man. I've checked for any other military records but so far haven't found any on ancestry or findmypast.

I'd really like him to be the right Thomas Currie because then I would know so much more about him, including a physical description, which I'm not going to get anywhere else. But maybe he'll just have to remain a mystery, like so many others.....

[ShaunJ]

he had children born in 1812 and 1814 - the 1812 might be possible depending on when he left in 1811, but the one in 1814 seems less likely

It is possible that his wife travelled with the regiment. Some did.

[suek2075]

Shaun - I thought of that too but all his children were born in Scotland, so it seems unlikely. Although there is a big gap from his second child born 1814 to his next child b 1820, which might suggest he was serving in the army in that period. I just can't find anyone else that might be him     If this was him I have to wonder what he was doing between 1816 and 1820...

The other strange thing is that he was a coporal for 3 years, a sgt for over a year but he was discharged as a private. He did about 9 months as a private, which I assume means he must have been promoted quite quickly and then lost his stripes before he was discharged, but I can't see any reason for it on his discharge.

[rhona67]

Hi,

Pleased to see this chat about Thomas Currie of Creenan as he is my 4th great-grandfather. As you have discovered, he was born about 1788 in Cavers. He served in the 43rd Foot Regiment (Light Infantry) from May 1811 to April 1816, when he was discharged due to frequent attacks of opthalmia. I have more information about him too.

What is your interest in Thomas?

Rhona

[DiGi]

Something to remember - in the 18th and 19th centuries people often didn't know how old they were. On joining the army, the army would think they looked a certain age and give them that age plus the day they enlisted as their birthday. And then when you find them in the Census records people lied about their age.  If you visit The National Archives at Kew you can view the Muster Rolls for his regiment during the time he served but it's very time consuming.