Genealogy Chat

I have been searching for ages for information about my ggggrandfather who was said to be a soldier when he married in S Mary's church, Warwick in 1825. There is no identifying information on the mariage entry. He must have been in the area for a few years as there were 2 sons born 1826 and 1827 and a daughter buried 1831. He then vanishes and his widow remarried in Warwick in 1839. I thought that if I found out what regiment was stationed in that area at the time, maybe I could use that info to find out more. So far I have not found anyone who can help. I have checked out the soldiers discharge info at the archives and although there are 2 men with the same name in the army at that time I am sure that he is not one of them. Does anyone have any ideas how I can identify the regiment?

Hello Chris I've had similar problems even though I know where most of mine were in Royal Artillery - there's dozens of battalions. There's a website www(.)army(.)mod(.)gov(.)uk, may be of some use, I found some links there. Also all the military records are held at Kew. Do you know whether he attended The Duke of Yorks Military School at all. They used to be in Chelsea but are now at Whitfield Dover and they are very helpful with providing copies of any records they have. Good luck. Jan

Thanks for that, I will try there. Without the regiment I am stuck, and no one seems to know what regiment was there then. Surely somebody must, but so far I have not managed to find that person! I have tried emailing several Warwick sites, army sites without any luck. It is so difficult from the other side of the world! Christine in NZ

Christine, He may not necessarily have been in a local regiment. He could have come home on leave from time to time, hence the births of his children in the same area. Regiments were not necessarily stuck in the same place, and could well have gone overseas. I guess he might have died between the birth/death of 1831 and his wife's second marriage in 1839? I am assuming it more likley he died rather than divorced. Local regiments were usually county based - so for Warwick try the Royal Warwickshire Regt or the Warwickshire Yeomanry. Both have museums and you can Google under the names to find them. Ian

Hi Christine, I live in Warwick almost next door to the Royal Warwickshire Regiments museum . I can go in and ask, if you would like. Give me your ggggrandfather's name etc. Can also go to the other Regiment's museum...the Royal Hussars I think. Any connection with horses with your ancestors?...Clue if he was cavalry or foot. Joan

Thank you Joan, I have sent you a message with all of the details that I have, reply here if you don't get it. As far as I know there was no indication that his sons had anything to do with horses, but him, I don't know. Christine

I can't help with the reg of your relly but this might explain what happend to him. After the napolionic wars most soilders were sent abroad to protect the empier. As most of these places were in the tropics thing like Yellow fever ect killed over 40% of all troops sent abroad. few were recorded in any detail, normaly just "died on service in ........"

Try looking in the Regimental Baptismal/Marriage Index which book is in the FRC in London but which some people have now said is online at 1837. These records go back to the very early 1800's and I have found details of my own soldier's marriage and 3 children here. The only problem with the Kew records is that pre 1876 you really need to know the regiment. It can be done not knowing the regiment but I spent all day there looking for one and found him and I spent 2 whole days there looking for another and still have not found him so it will be hit and miss. Knowing the regiment will find him a lot quicker. Janet