55th regiment of foot - John Evans

[mo_use]

Hi.
My 3 x great grandfather was William Smith. William and Margaret, nee Campbell, had 7 children who were baptised in St Helier, Jersey between 1817 and 1829. William Smith was listed as 'soldier' at 2 of the baptisms. Godparents of their first child, Jane (bap 3 Dec 1817) were Hugh and Ann Mitchell and John and Isabella Evans. William and Margaret, along with Hugh and Ann Mitchell, were godparents at the baptism of Margaret Evans, d/o John Evans and Isabella Skelton.
William Smith was baptised 7 May 1783 at St Ouen, Jersey. I can find no marriage between William and Margaret, but 1851 and 1861 census returns show Margaret as being born in Barbados and Jamaica, respectively. Margaret was down as a widow.
A Lucy Smith and an Ann Smith were godparents at baptisms of 2 of  William and Margaret's younger children. An Ann Smith was born in Colchester in 1814  a "British Nationals Armed Forces" birth, regiment the 55th Foot. A Lucy Smith was born in 1807 in Jamaica, again of the 55th Foot Regiment. I have no confirmation that these were children of William and Margaret, but it seems likely and also possible/likely that it was in Jamaica that William met Margaret?

[mo_use]

Hi.
My 3 x great grandfather was William Smith. William and Margaret, nee Campbell, had 7 children who were baptised in St Helier, Jersey between 1817 and 1829. William Smith was listed as 'soldier' at 2 of the baptisms. Godparents of their first child born in Jersey, Jane (bap 3 Dec 1817), were Hugh and Ann Mitchell and John and Isabella Evans. William and Margaret, along with Hugh and Ann Mitchell, were godparents at the baptism of Margaret Evans, d/o John Evans and Isabella Skelton.

William Smith was baptised 7 May 1783 at St Ouen, Jersey. I can find no marriage between William and Margaret, but 1851 and 1861 census returns show Margaret as being born in Barbados (1851) and Jamaica (1861). Margaret was listed as a widow on both censuses.

A Lucy Smith and an Ann Smith were godparents at baptisms of 2 of  William and Margaret's younger children. An Ann Smith was born in Colchester in 1814  a "British Nationals Armed Forces" birth, regiment the 55th Foot. There was an Ann Smith, born 1814 in Colchester, listed in local parish records with parents William and Margaret, so it seems likely that this is the same Ann Smith. A Lucy Smithwas born in 1807 in Jamaica, again of the 55th Foot Regiment. I have no confirmation that these were children of William and Margaret, but it seems likely and also possible/likely that it was in Jamaica that William met Margaret. The 55th Regiment was in Jamaica from 2802 to 1812/13.

[mo_use]

Apologies- I tried to amend my post but it's appeared as a new one. I'm new to posting and don't have the hang of it all yet...!

[eileendavid]

Mo_Use

Sorry I have only just seen the post.   Hugh Mitchell and Ann Bell married couldn't find Will and Margaret. Isabella was from Brampton and Ann Bell I think were related somewhere.  Reason being that Isabella was only 17 when she left Cumberland and John Evans who was a lot older.  Isabella married John Evan's in London and their first son was christened in Brighton.  The 55th foot headquarters were in Carlisle and I think that is were they met.  John and Isabella had children everywhere as she travelled with him his last posting was to Ireland and that is were my great great grandmother was born really good no record of Elizabeth.  When they left Ireland after the company was disbanded he settled in Liverpool and returned to being a shoemaker.  Isabella actually made it onto the 1851 census and her son John was still at home at the time.