RICHMOND, John - 1811 - Quarter Master, Scots Greys

[ShaunJ]

I'm now wondering what the relationship was (if any) between James and John Richmond and why the former named his daughter after the latter's wife.

[MaxD]

Pretty fine bit of detective work ShaunJ

maxD

[ShaunJ]

Scotlands People has an 1808 will and inventory for James Richmond, Major of Royal North British Dragoons, spouse of Janet Smith. Also a James Richmond/Janet Smith marriage at Loudoun in 1784.

Hmmm so who was the mother Mary in that 1801 baptism ?  Or was that really a child of John and Maria ? That would make more sense, and there is a 4-year gap between the 1800 marriage and the first child listed on the army record.

[Tambrisha]

Thank you so much ShaunJ and MaxD – this information is fantastic.  I’m always blown away by the helpfulness and knowledge of the RootsChat people.

The 1811 baptism I found in Lancashire fits for my ancestor, as she lived long enough to appear in census records and her place of birth was listed as Blackburn, Lancashire.  The 1801 baptism, especially listing the child as a boy, is confounding and has certainly got my interest.  I wonder if James and John were related and/or their wives.

ShaunJ – the “Huntingdonshire Marriage” record that you reference, is this the listing you are referring to (http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-images/huntingdonshire-marriages-1754-1837) or are their images of the original parish records available that I have not found?

Now, I’m wondering how impossible it may be to find when and where John Richmond and Maria Watts were born.

Thank you!
Tambrisha

[ShaunJ]

There's a death for a Maria Richmond in Huntingdon in 1840 which seems a possible for Maria Watts. Aged 68 so born circa 1772.

[Tambrisha]

My Maria Watts Richmond married a Charles Freeman, Innkeeper and I have found a death record for a Maria Freeman in 1871 in Huntingdonshire; I'm also reasonably confident of having found her in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census returns... of course, it looks like she missed the 1871 census by a couple of months.

[Tambrisha]

Perhaps someone with a better grasp on the military practices/history of the time could shed some further light on this for me... Is it likely that John Richmond joined the Scots Greys at a location where they were encamped?  Or would he have been from Scotland and joined their ranks at their home location?

Thank you in advance.

[MaxD]

He had enlisted in 1787 and served in the ranks, being appointed Quartermaster in 1799.  In 1787 the regiment were in Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire (in June 1787 they arrived in Winchester and remained for the summer) and my inclination would be to suggest he came from that part of the country and joined them somewhere in that neck of the woods. 

maxD