17th Regiment

[jsturner]

My g grandfather was part of the 17th in Quebec.
Thomas Mitchell born c 1840 in Halifax West Yorkshire, married Margaret Kerr in Quebec 20.6.1862 in Quebec had two sons Thomas c 1863 and John c 1864.

The family then moved to Devon England - James born c 1866 and then to Curragh Camp - Charles born c 1869.

They then moved back to Bradford, West Yorkshire

Does anyone know if the 17th were based in Devon and Curragh around the birth dates of his sons. Can anyone tell me anything about his army record or where to find more information. Thanks

[shinglma]

The dates you mention are consistent with the whereabouts of the 1st battalion 17th Foot. See this link

http://www.regiments.org/deploy/uk/reg-inf/017-1.htm

for confirmation.

As regards taking this further you should search the discharge papers in WO 97 at the National Archives at Kew. It might also be useful to track him via the muster rolls for the 17th Foot - also held at Kew.

Regards


Mike Shingleton

[Geoffers]

Can anyone tell me anything about his army record or where to find more information. Thanks

Army records are held at The National Archives (TNA) at Kew, their web-site is here (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm)

From the home page, look to the left of the screen, click on the relevant link for Military History and follow the links from there. This will take you to their research guide.

Altenatively, all TNA this is where you will find all TNA research guides (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp?j=1)
scroll down to 'B' and look at the links preixed 'British Army'

[Forrest Anderson]

My g grandfather was part of the 17th in Quebec.
Thomas Mitchell born c 1840 in Halifax West Yorkshire, married Margaret Kerr in Quebec 20.6.1862 in Quebec had two sons Thomas c 1863 and John c 1864.

The family then moved to Devon England - James born c 1866 and then to Curragh Camp - Charles born c 1869.

They then moved back to Bradford, West Yorkshire

Does anyone know if the 17th were based in Devon and Curragh around the birth dates of his sons.

Yes, the 1st Battalion of the 17th Regiment was based in these places at these times.

From Aug 1866 to April 1867 the regiment was at Devonport, and was at The Curragh from Jan to Oct 1868. After more time at other stations in Ireland, the battalion left for India in Jan 1870.

Forrest

[jsturner]

Forrest
Thanks for your reply and for confirming what I suspected, that he was indeed in 17th. Will have to keep searching for info about the birth dates of his sons now.

[suedent]

If it's any help, I had a relative with children born in Dublin & at Curragh Camp whilst he was in the Army. Their births were listed in the GRO Regimental Birth Indices 1761-1924. I used findmypast to find them.

[jsturner]

Thanks Sue, will give it a go

[Phred]

Hi List,

I'm researching Thomas Cambridge, a Serjeant of the 17th, who served in Québec from 1856 until 1865 when he retired from the Army. Thomas stayed in Québec when the 17th left for England in 1865 and he became a Warder at the Citadel Military Prison in Québec City. About 1870 he joined the Montréal police force and rose to the rank of Lieutenant.

Does anyone know where the 17th were stationed before embarking for the Crimea War.

Pete

[neil1821]

"Does anyone know where the 17th were stationed before embarking for the Crimea War."

Pete,
To answer that particular question, Ireland from 1850-54, then Gibraltar briefly in 1854 before sailing for the Crimea.

[Phred]

"Does anyone know where the 17th were stationed before embarking for the Crimea War."

Pete,
To answer that particular question, Ireland from 1850-54, then Gibraltar briefly in 1854 before sailing for the Crimea.

Neil,
Many thanks for the information, this is really useful.

[Phred]

Neil, Would you happen to know where the 17th were stationed in Ireland prior to the Crimea. Pete

[yorkies]

To jstturner
We share the same g-grandfather! Thomas Mitchell b 8 April 1843 in Bradshaw Lane, Halifax, the son of Jonathan & Hannah (formerly Mann) (birth cert).

I am descended from William Henry Mitchell, (b. 24 June 1880, Bengal St Bradford) son of Thomas' second wife, Hannah Bellerby.

1881 census shows Thomas (age 38), Hannah (age 23), John (b Canada c 1865), James (b Devonport, Devon c 1867), Charles W (b Camp Curragh, Ireland c 1869) and my grandfather, William Henry aged 10m b. Bradford.
Thomas died Dec Q 1897 N Bierley, Bradford (ref 9b 108)

1871 census shows Thomas (b abt 1840) married to Margaret (b Montrose, Canada abt 1839), together with Thomas S, Charles W, James and John. The family lived at Buttershaw Rd, N Bierley, Bradford.
Would appreciate any further info you have.

[Geoffers]

Unfortunately JSTurner hasn't been on the forums since August 2008 so may not pick up your reply.

Try clicking on the username above the first post of this thread and using the option to send an e-mail.

[jmduke]

Pete: Your post caught my eye because my GGF was also a Sergeant in the 17th in Quebec and Montreal. In any case, I have some parish register entries related to your Thomas Cambridge: specifically his marriage (1860), the baptisms of three children (1864, 1867, 1868) and his burial (1894). If you don't have this information already, I would be pleased to send it along.

jmd

[Phred]

JMD,

Many thanks for your reply.

I would appreciate the information that you have, as some appears to be in addition to what I have.

Thomas Cambridge b. abt. 1826 Ireland d. 05 Dec 1894 Montreal
m. Catherine Brown, we think/thought in Dublin, Ireland, in 1853 (but I have no confirmation of this fact).

Children of Thomas Cambridge and Catherine Brown:

1. Sarah Jane b. 06 Jun 1857 Quebec
2. Mary Ann b. 08 Jul 1858 Montreal
3. Thomas b. 19 Sep 1860 Quebec d. before 22 Sep 1868 (see Thomas Herbert below)
4. Agnes b. 26 Jan 1862 Quebec
5. Esther b. 16 Jul 1863 Quebec d. 21 Aug 1864 Quebec
6. John James b. 29 Mar 1865 Quebec d. 28 Jul 1932 New Westminster B.C.
7. Catherine Isabella b. 06 Jan 1867 Quebec
8. Thomas Herbert b. 22 Sep 1868 Quebec d. 23 Oct 1956 New Westminster B.C.
9. William b. 1869 Quebec d. 1851 ?


I'm assuming the births you have for 1867 and 1868 may be those for Catherine Isabella and Thomas Herbert. I do not have a birth of a child for 1864.

But the really intriguing record you have is going to be the Thomas Cambridge marriage 1860. Could it be he didn't get round to marrying Catherine Brown until then, in Canada, and therefore not in 1853 in Dublin, Ireland?

Private Thomas Cambridge, 17th Regiment of Foot, served in the Crimea War. After the conclusion of hostilities the 17th Regiment was ordered to Quebec and Thomas was recorded as a Serjeant of the 17th Regiment on his daughter Sarah Jane's baptism record in St Patrick's, Quebec, in 1857

Serjeant Thomas Cambridge, 17th Regiment, was discharged from the British Army after 1864 and was then a Warder at the Military Prison, Quebec. Between 1868 and 1872 Thomas took himself, Catherine and their family off to Montreal to be a policeman, rising through the ranks to Lieutenant shortly before his death in 1894. Catherine died on 26 July 1904 in Montreal and she is buried with Thomas. Catherine is recorded on their headstone as Catherine Taft Brown, as yet we do not know where "Taft" came from.

And my research interest in Thomas? I'm trying to find the link between Thomas and my great great grandfather, Master Gunner Daniel Cambridge VC, Yeoman of the Guard. Was Thomas Danny's younger brother, or were they cousins? There is definitely a link between Danny's line and Thomas' line. I am working closely with descendants of Thomas in British Columbia, but we are not there yet. If Thomas' marrage record names his father, and more particularly if Thomas' father is Archibald Cambridge, then we may just have it . . . .

For interest I have a website dedicated to my great great grandfather Danny Cambridge VC:

//crossforvalour-vc.webs.com/danielcambridgevc.htm (Put http: at front)

Excitedly awaiting your reply . . . . .

With very best wishes to you and yours,

Pete

peter_howell<at>btinterent.com