86th Regiment of Foot

[racing girl]

Got a question for the military buffs out there, so far my only exposure to military men has been the First World War, and this chap is considerably earlier so I'm not sure where to start.

William Laird, bn c1746 in Perth, Scotland. Married Isabella ??, date and place unknown.
Daughter Isabella born in 1770 in St Giles, London, no mention of fathers profession.
Son John born in 1778 in Gateshead, fathers occupation, Lieutenant in Army
Daughter Isabella marries Edward Laws, 17 Jun 1792 in Gateshead
William Laird buried on July 25th, 1824 in Gateshead aged 78, Lieut. formerly in the 86th reg foot.


From Wiki, there were a couple 86th Regiment of Foot.

One was Irish, The Royal County Down Regiment of Foot, formed in 1793 and amalgamated into The Royal Irish Rifles in 1881. The regiment was raised in 1793 as a volunteer corps in Shropshire, and taken into the British Army the following year as the 86th (Shropshire Volunteers). In 1806 it became the 86th (Leinster) Regiment of Foot, and then in 1812 the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot.

The second was The 86th Regiment of Foot (Rutland Regiment), a British regiment raised for service in the American Revolutionary War.
It was raised in England in July, 1779. It was sent to the Leeward Islands in January, 1780. Five companies stationed on Tobago were captured June, 1781. The regiment returned to England and was disbanded in 1783.

Then there was the 76th Regiment of Foot, MacDonald's Highlanders. The 76th Regiment of Foot, 2nd Bt. raised in 1758, was later changed to the 86th Regiment of Foot.

Does anyone have any idea about the best way to proceed?

Thanks,
Brenda

Edit: son was John, not William.

[Geoffers]

Welcome to the British Genealogy forums...........


Son William born in 1778 in Gateshead, fathers occupation, Lieutenant in Army
Daughter Isabella marries Edward Laws, 17 Jun 1792 in Gateshead
William Laird senior buried on July 25th, 1824 in Gateshead aged 78, Lieut. formerly in the 86th reg foot

An Officer! - Goody, that should make things a little easier for you.

First, commissioned officers appear in the Army List - which has been printed regularly since 1754. Early editions are rare, larger reference libraries may have some. A 1779 edition has been copied on to CD and can be purchased via The Parish Chest (http://www.parishchest.com/shop/index.php?cmd=listlinkeditems&cat=D951&supplier=&breadcrumb=Army%2C+Navy+%26+Airforce%3AYour+Old+Bo oks+%26+Maps:British+Army+Lists+1779+-+1810) - note that you can also purchase this by digital download from that site.

This research guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=13)on The National Archives (TNA) web-site, tells you about officer's services and how to research them.

Your chap may be mentioned in the London Gazette (http://www.londongazette.co.uk/)
either promotion, or service action.

Officers (as anyone in Goverment service) had to provide an authentic certificate of baptism as membership of the Church implied loyalty to the Crown. The main group of these for 1755-1908 is in WO42 at TNA.

Do you know when and where your ol'bor popped his clogs? Try looking for a will - they provide lots of valuable information.
(edit - ah, just re-read your message and see that you do know when and where buried). Still worth hunting a will - was he planted in a family plot - any relatives there??

That should be enough to get you going. I'm afraid access to TNA records is likely to mean a cheap-day return to Heathrow or employing someone to go there for you, unless individual pieces can be identified on their catalogue (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/)

[Geoffers]

I don't know how many William LAIRDs there were who were Lieutenants in the army then, but...........

Looking at the London Gazette, I wonder if this is your William LAIRD (http://www.londongazette.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=11676&geotype=London&gpn=15&type=ArchivedIssuePage&all=william%20laird&exact=&atleast=&similar=) mentioned in 1776??

[racing girl]

Thanks for all of that excellent info Geffers, like you say, "A quick one day return to Heathrow"!!

If that is my chap in the Gazette, then he gave himself up to debtors prison! Busy looking at all the links and gathering what I can. I still have family in the Gateshead area, so it might be possible to find out more from that end.

Cheers,
Brenda

[Geoffers]

There's some work it be done on it; but you stand a good chance with this one.

Being free and easy with other folks' money as I am - I think the Army List on The Parish Chest would be worth a punt as it is the easiest and most quickly available source to you that would hopefully at least confirm a regiment.

Now, you just have to persuade your relatives in Gateshead that the really need that shoppng trip to London - "Oh and whilst you're down that way, you couldn't just pop into Kew and.............."

fare y'well tergerther