Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Wars and ConflictsΒ  permalink

Army 1830

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Syljun (U3878472) on Wednesday, 20th July 2011

  Can anyone help me please? I have tried several web-sites to find out where the Army would have been 1830. I am trying if possible to get Army Records.
  George Harding was born if he is the right George 1804.
  I have a copy Baptism record of a base born son where the Father is named as George Harding - Soldier. I am surmising George was killed as the Mother never married.
  Date of Baptism being 6th June 1830.
  Any info. gratefully received.
  Syljun

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by dmatt47 (U13073434) on Wednesday, 20th July 2011

  The National Archives (TNA), Kew, have a number of records about George Harding but you will need to know which regiment he was in. TNA also have (as also does the Army List) detailing where each regiment was. Could you let us know where the baptism is from?.

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Syljun (U3878472) on Wednesday, 20th July 2011

  Hi, The Baptism of George was at St. Edwards Church, Stawell, Somerset and in the surname of HARDEN. 1st April 1804.
  Surname changed from time to time but seemed to settle later as Harding as all the Census had Harding for family listed.
  No George b. 1804 has been listed from Stawell on any Census to my knowledge. The baptism of child Henry Wilcox was at Butleigh, Somerset which is quite close to Stawell.
  George seems likely candidate as no info. on him after many years of researching. No death recorded in Stawell.
  Any ideas most welcome,
  Thanks,
  Syljun

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by colonelblimp (U1705702) on Wednesday, 20th July 2011

  George may not necessarily have been killed. Even later in the century, only 4% - 7% of private soldiers were allowed to marry 'on the strength' (i.e. contract a marriage sanctioned by their commanding officer, so that the wife would be provided with accommodation in barracks and have a chance, though not a particularly good one, of accompanying her husband overseas). If he couldn't get approval, a marriage would probably have been impractical. Also, an infantryman serving in the 1830s could expect to spend an average of 10 to 12 years overseas, and up to 20 if he was posted to India.
  
  If George did die, he was far more likely to have died of disease than to be killed in action. Death rates in insanitary UK barracks were bad enough; in the tropics, they were horrendous.

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Syljun (U3878472) on Wednesday, 20th July 2011

  Thanks colonelblimp.
  I did contact The Rifles Taunton back in March and was promised they would let me know where the Somerset Regiment was around 1830 but they never did get back to me with info.
  I would love to solve the mystery of what happened to George. I only know he was baptised 1804.
  Regards,
  Syljun

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by colonelblimp (U1705702) on Thursday, 21st July 2011

  Syljun,
  
  The Somerset Light Infantry was in the Indian subcontinent between 1823 and 1845:
  
  
  A ranker serving in India at that time certainly wouldn't have got home leave but of course the regiment would have received drafts of recruits during the 23 years it was overseas, and men would have been discharged and sent home when they became unfit to serve or came to the end of their enlistment. It's possible that George had just enlisted with the regiment in 1830 and was waiting to be sent out to India (at 26, he'ld be a bit young to be discharged, and anyway the record suggests he was a serving soldier). But I think a recruit due to be shipped overseas at that date would have been kept under close surveillance in case he deserted, and not given leave.
  
  I believe it's more likely George was serving in another regiment. Although some infantry regiments, like the 13th Foot, did have a county title in 1830, in reality their association with that county wasn't as close as you might think. That really only dates from the Cardwell reforms of the army in 1881, when infantry regiments were given depots in a fixed location and recruited primarily in that area. In 1830, the Somerset Light Infantry wouldn't have recruited exclusively in Somerset by any means, and equally other regiments would have sent out recruiting parties in the county.
  
  I know what you mean about George. I have a missing great-great-aunt who apparently disappeared off the face of the earth after the 1881 census, when she was in her early 20s. It really bugs me that I can't trace her!

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Syljun (U3878472) on Thursday, 21st July 2011

  Thanks colonelblimp, Very informative. I have several in my Family Tree that have disappeared. The truth is out there, but where I have no idea.
  I find History fascinating, particularly as to our relatives gone before us, the way they lived and how some survived against the odds. I was able to get War Records of another relative who served in India 1880. Fascinating reading. Unfortunately he ended up in Asylum where he died.
  Many thanks,
  Syljun

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message7

• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by raundsgirl (U2992430) on Thursday, 21st July 2011

  I'm going to suggest that you join Rootschat, a large family history forum which has a section dedicated to Armed Forces questions. It's free to join, you only have to register. Once you have done so, click on 'Forum' and scroll down the list of different boards, you will see 'Armed Forces' not far from the bottom in the 'Special Interests' section.
  
  

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message8

• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by MB (U177470) on Tuesday, 26th July 2011

  Just to reinforce the comments about county regiments.
  
  My Great Grandfather joined the army in Bury, Lancashire in the early 1850s. He joined the 85th which I think what was nominally a Shropshire regiment at that time.
  
  He was not with no long before transferring to the 72nd which was a Highland Regiment.
  
  I believe the recruiting sergeants roamed the country try to get recruits and got a bounty for each one signed.
  
  Also regiments going overseas to war would often get transfers from other regiments to bring them up to their correct establishment level.
  
  MB

  Link to this forum: Army 1830

  Report message9

Back to top