Staff Sergeant Robert Owen 1866

[Joe90]

During 1866 SSgt Owen, with his family, was stationed at The Armory Barracks Cirencester, Gloucestershire. This is confirmed by the entry in his son's birth certificate, unfortunately the the name of the regiment was omitted.

I made some enquiries and received information the 4th Battlion Gloucestershire Regiment was stationed at the Armory at that time. Searched T.N.A. records and judged WO 97/1487 to provide me with the service record I have been seeking. The reply I received from the T.N.A. was 'unable to locate within the specified document'.

Further enquiries suggested the Royal North Gloucestershire Millitia could have occupied the barracks at that time. Once again back to the T.N.A. and decided WO13/885 may supply the information I am seeking.

Have I selected the correct reference number this time, have I been wnwittingly misinformed ?

Any help would be most appreciated.

Joe.

[Geoffers]

You don't mention the son's name - looking at census returns am I correct in thinking the son born in Ciren was Robert?

If so, checking the Regimental Registers of Births index shows:

OWEN Robert - bn Cirencester - 1866 - 61st regt - vol.1037 page.12

Also in the census there is a daughter, Mary and her entry in the same index seems to confirm this:

OWEN Mary J - bn Cirencester - 1868 - 61st - vol.1037 page.12

You might try the regiments web-site to see what the 61st was doing then?

The 61st was the South Gloucestershire regiment.

Also try the Glosters web-site.

There's a bit more on the 61st, here

[Joe90]

Thank you for such a prompt reply and all that information, I feel embarrassed when I think how long I have been dancing around trying to resolve this issue.

You are correct Robert was born 10th May 1866, Mary Jane - 12 years of age on the 1881 census - would mirror your findings.

How can I gain access to the Regimental Register of Births as I have another problem regarding Sgt Thomas Litchfield 51st Regiment, South Barracks Walmer Kent 1858 ?

The link of interest is my Great Grand Mother was married to SSgt R.O and Sgt T.L. not at the same time, I hasten to add. What also puzzled me, I could not locate any record of marriage or entry on a census.

Tonight I'm cooking the evening meal - I know my place, every time I look upwards I see a thumb print - so I will pursue those webb addresses you thoughtfully included in your reply tomorrow.

Thanks again SUPER MODERATOR.

Joe.

[Geoffers]

Those with army ancestors are lucky, there are registers of births going back before the commencement of civil registration.

The regimental registers of births cover the period 1761-1924
The (Army) Chaplains' returns of births, marriages and deaths cover 1796-1880.

The indexes to these registers are available online at sites such as findmypast. If you find an entry and a reference you can order a copy of the certificate from the GRO

Missing army marriages might possibly be in the Regimental Registers of marriages. The problem is that these are not indexed. In years gone by, you used to be able to go to St.Catherine's house, and provided you had details of the name and regiment, they would look up the entry and provide a copy. This service has presumably carried on at the FRC - but this is closing, so I don't know what will be done about access to the regimental registers of marriages.

If you cannot locate a marriage certificate, details of the marriage may be recorded on the service record, which will be held at TNA, Kew.

[Peter Goodey]

I don't know what will be done about access to the regimental registers of marriages

As I understand it you can order from GRO and they'll search for you. I think the procedure is just the same as for a 'difficult' inland civil registration.

I'm a bit sceptical about the need to specify a regiment because not all indexes include the regiment. But you certainly need to supply GRO with enough information to identify the correct registration.

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ce...s-overseas.asp

[Geoffers]

Thanks for that Peter, I was just going by the system at St.Cat's House, which is when I last had to obtain a certificate by this means. I was told then (about 1975-ish) that the marriage registers were arranged by regiment and that they could only check if I had a name, regiment and approximate year of marriage. It would be nice to think the system had moved on a bit since then.

[Joe90]

I have just received information the 61st Regiment was stationed in Bermuda from 1866 to 1876 !!!

Still checking.

Joe.

[Geoffers]

Possibly as a Sergeant, he was left behind at the depot doing admin?

[Joe90]

I agree. S/S Owen was discharged to pension between 1868 and 1871 when he was accepted as a Brother at The Lord Leycester Hospital Warwick, and remained there until his passing in 1902.

There is the possibility he was unfit for active service and posted to The Armory until his period of sevice was completed.

Once again I have searched T.N.A. and hope this time the reference number WO97/1578 will produce his service record.

Always receptive to any ideas.

Joe.

[Geoffers]

Once again I have searched T.N.A. and hope this time the reference number WO97/1578 will produce his service record.

Having done a similar search of TNA's catlogue I came up with the same result

Would you let us know how you get on with this?