Thanks for the offer Sandra, I would normally use the local library, but thought I'd make use of the free access from home.
The person I'm looking for is George COLTHORPE born Farnham, Suffolk in 1854.
I was actually looking on the new GRO index for the births of his children as the family moved around quite a bit and some had been difficult to find on FreeBMD. I've found his wife's maiden name - KENNEDY and all but two of the known children, Grace born ~1891 and Catherine ~1896 are still missing. There is a possibility they were born in Scotland though as that is where George's wife came from.
In 1881 George was a RA Gunner living in Woolwich, so I was hoping the military records (perhaps pension) might have some details on the children to narrow down the search.
I think I've found details for him on FindMyPast which suggest he attested on 29.8.1873 and had the number 13119, but I've not yet confirmed this is the same person as the one I'm looking for.
Ancestry appear to have two Chelsea records, one for a G Colthorpe and one for George Colthorpe which come top of the search if his birth year and possible army number are included. These were the ones I was trying to view, but I'm still getting the paywall
