Help with unusual name

[kiwipom]

Hi I'm new here and like many newbies, here 'cos I'm stuck. Any help would be appreciated.

I have a Gt Gmother with the maiden name of Chummings born Melbourne Australia 1859.
I have an 1881 census entry for her in St Mary Church, Devon and a marriage to Charles Algate in Newton Abbott later that year.

I have a record for, what I consider to be her younger brother, William, as "a boy" at the Royal Military Asylum for Children of Soldiers of the Regular Army, Chelsea, in the 1871 census, also born Melbourne Australia.

My understanding is that the Royal Military Asylum was a 'college' for the children of men serving in the armed services. So I assume that William and Mary Ann Chummings had a father serving in Australia and they were returned to England for Williams education.

From an Australian website, Australias Redcoats of the British Army,
I can find a William and Samuel Chummings in the 2nd Somersetshire 40th Infantry of Foot, as having been on garrison duty in Australia. There is some info to suggest, but not confirm, they may have left from Cork on HMSS Vulcan in 1851.

My question is, where can I find if they returned to England at the end of their tour of duty?
Where may I find birth/death info for them?
Searches for Chummings invariably come up empty and I have no idea where they were born or where they died even if they did return to England.

Thanks for your time

[Peter Goodey]

"I have...a marriage to Charles Algate in Newton Abbott."

What was the father's name (from the marriage certificate)?

"Where can I find if they returned to England at the end of their tour of duty?
Where may I find birth/death info for them? "

GRO indexes, censuses.

"I have no idea where they were born "

The 1891 census shows William Chummimgs in the parish of East Stonehouse, Devon, the brother-in-law of Matilda Bartlett, a widow b Stonehouse.

In the absence of any other pointers, that area might be a good place to start looking for their births.

Have you tried the overseas and miltary BMD records?

[kiwipom]

Thanks for the pointers Peter

[QUOTE=Peter Goodey]

"The 1891 census shows William Chummimgs in the parish of East Stonehouse, Devon, the brother-in-law of Matilda Bartlett, a widow b Stonehouse."

From the age of this William Chummings, I considered this to be the same 'boy' on the Chelsea Census of 1871.


"Have you tried the overseas and miltary BMD records?

Yes, I tried 1837 online but with no sucsess.
Have you any idea what I might recieve from Kew Military Records, if I contacted them? allowing for the fact I'm in New Zealand.

Thanks for your advice
Tony Evans

[Peter Goodey]

You'll need to know the name of the father first!

The usual starting point for miltary records is the discharge papers. You had better read http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=14

They would normally provide a potted history of his army career and tell you when and where he claimed to have been born.

You might have to engage a researcher.

[Wirral]

This site http://www.rma-searcher.co.uk/ gives the full details of William Chummings. He was admitted to the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea on 28/4/1869 age 9, discharged 1/1/1875, father William of the 40th Regiment of Foot (2nd Somersetshire), mother Margaret.
From the GRO: Death of Margaret Chummings March quarter 1867, Portsea Island (Hampshire) registration district volume 2b page 301, age 37.
Marriage of William Chummings June quarter 1872 Highworth (Wiltshire) vol 5a page 3 (Elizabeth Ockwell & Elizabeth Uzzell listed on the same page).
Birth of Albert Victor Chummings Sep Q Highworth vol 5a page 13.
Birth of Belinda Ellen Chummings June Q 1876 Highworth vol 5a page 6.
Death of Belinda Ellen Chummings March Q 1877 Highworth vol 5a page 5, age 0.
Birth of Lily Amelia Chummings June Q 1880 Highworth vol 5a page 5.
Marriage of Elizabeth Chummings Sep Q 1880 Highworth vol 5a page 43, possibly to William John Cavill.
Marriage of Elizabeth Chummings March Q 1883 Plymouth (Devon) vol 5b page 432 to Daniel Hayden.

[Wirral]

1891 census RG12/1739 folio 112 page 27, 75 Union St, Stonehouse, Devon
Matilda Bartlett, head, widow, 59, Stationer & bookseller, Devon, Stonehouse
Elizabeth Hayden, wife, M 29, Australia, Melbourne
William Chummings, brother in law S 32, Grocers porter, Australia Melbourne

The enumerator wrote a single dash between the names Matilda & Elizabeth, then a double dash after William. This indicates that all were living in the same house, but Elizabeth & William were one family unit. I think that Elizabeth & William are probably brother & sister. Matilda could be a widowed sister of Daniel Hayden.

1891 census RG12/626 folio 4 page 1, 53 Bromley Road, Beckenham Kent
Selina Webbis Chummings, servant, S, 26, Nurse, Winsleigh (?), Devon
1861 census Cornworthy Devon, Emma Chumming, serv, U 22, House servant, Stoke Gabriel, Devon.

[Wirral]

1850 White's Directory, Merton, Devon, Jno. Chummings, farmer.

Mariners & Ships in Australian Waters. Wonga Wonga of Sydney, David Walker, Master, Burthen 444 Tons, from the Port of Melbourne to Sydney, New South Wales, 30th June 1862, Chummings Wm, Passenger, Steerage.

I found this via Google.

[kiwipom]

Many thanks for your time and trouble in providing me with these facts.
I really appreciate your help.
Tony Evans

[HiFly]

This site http://www.rma-searcher.co.uk/ gives the full details of ......

Thanks for that link Wirral |hug| - (and to the compiler)

I found 2 of my VALLIS lot !!!! Whoopee - now just got to find out the correct parents!!!

HiFly

[LYNETTE]

hi kiwipom
i no u put this on the request on the forum a few years ago but i a a newcomer to this site .....i got this data of the australian vital records..hope you still need this info....william chummings married margaret daly in victoria in 1856 ref number 2716
they have listed 3 children they are ....elizabeth jane chummings born 1862 victoria ref number 5408..william harry or henry born 1859 richmond victoria ref number 18221....and mary ann born 1857 in richmond victoria ref no..14042...but your mary ann was born 1859 so hope this is the right family im giving you...there is no deaths or any other data about this family on my cds ....cheers lyn