Tracing regimental births

[Rina H]

Hello all!

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but can some kind (and hopefully patient) soul help me?

I am trying to find the birth certificate of hubby's g grandmother Martha Birch, born 1869 Newbridge, Ireland. Found her with her parents Leonard and Hannah in all the census returns with her 7 siblings. On her marriage cert and in most of the census returns Leonard is listed as a Blacksmith, but the children were born in some very strange places; 1865 - Aldershot Hants, 1866 - Hounslow M'sex, 1869 Newbridge Ireland, 1872 - Limerick Ireland, 1874 - Dublin Ireland, 1879 - Bangalore East Indies, 1882 Buckley Flintshire and 1884 Aintree Lancashire.

Mystery of why a blacksmith should be so far afield solved by entry in 1881 Wales Census - when Leonard is described as Pensioner Farrier Major 14 Hussars!

I cannot find the births of any of the earlier children or the marriage of Leonard to Hannah (from Tryddyn, Flintshire) and I've had no luck tracking down the GRO Regimental Indexes that I've read in the threads of people on similar quests (I did look, honest!) so can someone tell me where they are - pretty please!! I get the feeling it's right in front of my nose, but I'm not too proud to shout |help|!

Many thanks, Rina

[Jan1954]

I cannot find the births of any of the earlier children or the marriage of Leonard to Hannah (from Tryddyn, Flintshire)

Hello Rina,

Could this be the marriage?

Marriages Dec 1863
Birch Leonard Manchester 8d 450
Cunliffe Henry Manchester 8d 450
Hoyle Isabella Manchester 8d 450
Jones Hannah Manchester 8d 450

Manchester is not a million miles from Wales.

Only the certificate will tell. It may be £7 wasted, as he could have married Isabella, but then again... :)

[Sue Mackay]

I cannot find the births of any of the earlier children or the marriage of Leonard to Hannah (from Tryddyn, Flintshire) and I've had no luck tracking down the GRO Regimental Indexes that I've read in the threads of people on similar quests (I did look, honest!) so can someone tell me where they are - pretty please!! I get the feeling it's right in front of my nose, but I'm not too proud to shout |help|!



Google Findmypast. Click on the tab for Births, Marriages and Deaths and then choose Overseas Births. You then get a menu including Regimental Births. If you find one you can click on the Order Certificate tab and order online in the same way as you would for inland certificates.

[Rina H]

Jan - Thank you! At this point £7 for the chance to save my sanity is a bargain at twice the price! I shall have a go after pay day :D

and Sue, I'll be googling just as soon as I've sent you two kind souls a |hug|

I knew someone on this forum would lend a hand - I swear I'd have given up after a week without reading the forum daily and picking up gems from everyone!

Thanks again!

[Jan1954]

Let us know how you get on, Rina :D

[Rina H]

Jan

After wasting hours getting a bit of sleep and going to work (musn't grumble, pays for this obsession!) I've followed your tips, so here's an update -

After purchasing a few credits (hmmm feel another subscription coming up on my birthday wish list!) I had a trawl through all the lists and couldn't find my Martha Birch anywhere (or John, Hannah, William, Leonard, Richard, Jane or Sarah) BUT I've found all of John's children in the lists as he followed in his father's footsteps as a farrier and made it as far as Farrier Quarter Master Sergeant! I've downloaded all his pension papers from A******y and on one of his attestation papers (he rejoined three/four times) he declares that he served his appenticeship of 7 years with his father and is listed as having served in both the 14th Hussars (his dads regiment) and the 11th Hussars.

I've also tracked down Leonard's birth in Shoreditch in 1831 but am a little nervous of "jumping" a generation without Martha's birth certificate (and from that Hannah's maiden name) as confirmation - but feel pretty safe as there aren't that many Leonard Birch - Farriers in the census returns I've trawled through so far. What do you think?

Thanks for your help, Rina

[Jan1954]

Hello Rina,

It's very easy to forge ahead using "possibles" and "probables", without any hard evidence. My brother-in-law did this and ended up restoring the gravestone of someone completely unrelated...

Take it one step at a time.

Having said that, Leonard seems to be a fair bet.

Meanwhile http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee187/Jan_07/crossedfingers.png for the marriage certificate.

[Jan1954]

Rina,

What were the names of Martha's siblings who were born in Britain - with rough years, please?

If we can find the registration(s) the birth certificate should confirm the mother.

[Wilkes_ml]

Just had a quick look on I.G.I

Leonard Birch son of Leonard Birch and Hannah Jones


16 JAN 1870 , Roscommon, Ireland

Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.

Extracted record batch number C012108

Leonard Birch son of Leonard Birch and Hannah Jones

13 FEB 1874 , Dublin, Ireland

extracted record batch number:C701522

[Rina H]

If at first you don't succeed...

Leonard's last two children - Jane and Sarah were born after he retired and is listed as a pensioner so should show up on the civil BMDs. Neither shows up on A******y, so tried another tack and punched them into every other BMD site I could find - and I think I've found Jane in Hawarden (where Leonard is the year before) born 1881 not '82 as listed in the census so here goes - wish me luck!!! Fingers crossed for Leonard and Hannah!

Rina

[Rina H]

Thanks Wilkes_ml

You replied whilst I was typing - another confirmation of Hannah's maiden name!! The evidence is definitely stacking up!

Thank you for your help all!

Rina

[Rina H]

Jan

Names of siblings, birthplace and years that show up in the census returns

John - Aldershot, Hampshire - 1865
Hannah - Hounslow, Middlesex - 1866
Martha - Newbridge, Ireland - 1869
William - Limerick, Ireland - 1872
Leonard - Dublin, Ireland - 1874
Richard - Bangalore, East Indies - 1879
Jane - Buckley, Flintshire - 1882
Sarah - Aintree, Lancashire - 1884

Cheers

Rina

[Jan1954]

For starters:

Sarah Birch
Year of Registration: 1883
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: West Derby
County: Lancashire
Volume: 8b
Page: 436

West Derby Registration District covers Aintree.

Remember, if you are working on the year of birth from a census, it could be out by a year. For example, someone born in July 1883 could be recorded as being aged 8 in 1891 (1891 - 1883 = 8), when really they are still 7.

[Jan1954]

Hmmm. Couldn't find a place name of Buckley and, my geographical knowledge of the Welsh borders not being too hot, I'm not sure about this one:

Name: Jane Birch
Year of Registration: 1881
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Chester
County: Cheshire, Flintshire
Volume: 8a
Page: 450

Edit: Found Buckley and it is covered by this registration district

[Jan1954]

Name: Hannah Birch
Year of Registration: 1866
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Brentford
County: Middlesex
Volume: 3a
Page: 40

Brentford covered Hounslow back then...

[Jan1954]

Name: John Birch
Year of Registration: 1864
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Farnham
County: Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex
Volume: 2a
Page: 62

Aldershot was covered by Farnham way back then.

[Rina H]

Jan - You're a star! |hug|

I am going to book in to the opticians immediately! I think the birth you found for Jane is the same as the one I found via North Wales BMD with the county reference, but I missed Hannah and Sarah completely and that's after spending the evening looking! |blush|

I really appreciate the time and effort you've spent on this - Thank you!

Rina

[Jan1954]

Jan - You're a star! |hug|

I am going to book in to the opticians immediately! I think the birth you found for Jane is the same as the one I found via North Wales BMD with the county reference, but I missed Hannah and Sarah completely and that's after spending the evening looking! |blush|

I really appreciate the time and effort you've spent on this - Thank you!

Rina

You're welcome. I have my moments... :o

If only we could find Martha - the one you really want!

[Rina H]

Wow a full house! |bowdown|

You're getting a footnote on the family tree for sure!!

[Jan1954]

Okay, so I couldn't go to bed without a quick look on the IGI, and found...

MARTHA BIRCH Birth: 02 AUG 1868 , Kildare, Ireland

Parents:
Father: SLNEARD BIRCH (close enough to Leonard?)
Mother: ANNA JONES (and could this be Hannah?)

Batch No.: C011899

Night, night |snore|

[Rina H]

Jan

You |angel|!

[Jan1954]

:D You're welcome!

|hug|

[mbirch]

leonard married hannah jones in manchester cathedral on 27/12/1863.
mbirch