John Thomas QUIN, career soldier Royal Artillery, 1793-1847

[harfin]

Jane

I am sure I have raised this question with you a year or so back, but I do have a Sarah Quinn in my tree who I believe she was born about 1820 - her father believed to be a Michael Quinn.

My Sarah married a William Chapman and had (I think!) 10 children including the first born, John Quinn Chapman (b.1842).

The Chapman family seems to alternate between coastal areas of Kent and Yorkshire - some evidence of maritime connections.

Family / surname name combinations in my experience often indicate an earlier blood relationship.

Have you unearthed anything recently that may link your Quinn family to Kent?

Kind regards
Alan

[Jane Elderfield]

Hello, harfin

My QUINs end up in Kent--but only in the Woolwich/Plumstead area, not on the coast.

I don't think there's a connection between your QUINNs and my QUINs--not yet, anyway.

If I didn't reply a year ago, big apologies! (oops)

Good luck with your researches. I will inform you if I find anything that seems to relate to your Sarah and family.

--Jane E

[harfin]

. . . If I didn't reply a year ago, big apologies! (oops) . . . . Jane E

Hi Jane

You did reply back then, and told me that you had found no-one in common at that stage.

I just have this feeling that the two sets of Quin(n)s are connected (no pun intended )

Alan

[Jane Elderfield]

...I'm gradually finding out more about my ancestor John Thomas QUIN (aka QUINN).

In 1795, his company was number 52, Second Battalion, Royal Artillery, under Captain Robinson. ...

So far I have had no luck finding any baptismal record for John Thomas QUIN in or near Plymouth, Devon, 1780 or 1782. (Another forum member has noted a marriage at Stoke Damerel in December 1781 of a Thomas QUIN to a Charlotte MASON. These two forenames do occur in my John Thomas QUIN's family, but so far I have not linked this marriage to him.)

Several members have suggested that John Thomas QUIN may himself have been a "son of the Regiment", since he signed up at age eleven, but so far I have not found any definite links to any QUIN (or QUINN) soldier, Royal Artillery or other.... --Jane E

The genealogy site I subscribe to (F...M...P...) has posted a database for Devon, with scans of original documents, and I was able to see the original of the 1781 marriage quoted above.

"Thomas Quin, belonging to the Royal Artillery & Charlotte Mason of this Parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Banns...."

Looks as if it might be my John Thomas QUIN's parents!

A further bonus is that the two witnesses were "Jno. Mason" and "Mary Mason"--very probably close family of the bride.

Oh, and the wedding of another Royal Artilleryman on the same page (the next day, 05 Dec 1781) was witnessed by "--- Robinson". Could it be the same person as "Captain Robinson" of the 2nd Battalion in 1795 above?

A research guide at the National Archives advises that the Royal Artillery's records were kept separate from the rest of the Army (War Office) until 1885. They were under the Ordnance Board. Some registers of Royal Artillery marriages and baptisms, original attestation papers, description books, pension registers, records of deceased soldiers, etc. are kept at TNA in WO 69.

When I can afford it, I hope to hire a researcher to delve into the Royal Artillery records, hoping to find out more about this Thomas QUIN.

I have a family legend that maybe, just maybe, relates to this couple. Back in 1977 my aunt told me of an ancestress named "Charlotte", daughter of a wealthy family, who eloped with a "soldier from Cork" and whose family "cut her off without a shilling".

The one month timing between this marriage and John Thomas QUIN's presumed birthdate does suggest a scandal. But the two MASON family members witnessing the wedding suggests that there was still some family connection at that time.

Onward!

--Jane E

[Jane Elderfield]

The genealogy site I subscribe to (F...M...P...) has posted a database for Devon, with scans of original documents, and I was able to see the original of the 1781 marriage quoted above.

"Thomas Quin, belonging to the Royal Artillery & Charlotte Mason of this Parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Banns...."

When I can afford it, I hope to hire a researcher to delve into the Royal Artillery records, hoping to find out more about this Thomas QUIN.

I have a family legend that maybe, just maybe, relates to this couple. Back in 1977 my aunt told me of an ancestress named "Charlotte", daughter of a wealthy family, who eloped with a "soldier from Cork" and whose family "cut her off without a shilling".

The one month timing between this marriage and John Thomas QUIN's presumed birthdate does suggest a scandal. But the two MASON family members witnessing the wedding suggests that there was still some family connection at that time.

A newly discovered distant cousin and fellow researcher, located in England, took this information to The National Archives, and came up with a "Description Book of the Non Commissioned Officers, Gunners and Drummers of the Second Battalion Royal Regiment of Artillery as they Stood on the Muster Rolls the 1st of July 1790".

On the Q page was Thomas QUIN, born Armagh, Ireland, enlisted at age 18, 02 Aug 1778.
Also on the Q page was John QUIN, born Plymouth, Devonshire, enlisted at age 11, 17 Jan 1793, and both were in the "Detach 5" company.

This looks to me as if I've got my man and his Irish father! The book gave heights, hair and eye colour, and a list of promotions.

The researcher also found other Description and Muster books which gave even more information--complexion colour, previous trade, and whether a man could read or write. (Both these QUINs could both read and write.)

Hooray! --Jane E

[Jane Elderfield]

A newly discovered distant cousin and fellow researcher ...came up with a "Description Book of the Non Commissioned Officers, Gunners and Drummers of the Second Battalion Royal Regiment of Artillery as they Stood on the Muster Rolls the 1st of July 1790".

On the Q page was Thomas QUIN, born Armagh, Ireland, enlisted at age 18, 02 Aug 1778.
Also on the Q page was John QUIN, born Plymouth, Devonshire, enlisted at age 11, 17 Jan 1793, and both were in the "Detach 5" company.

This looks to me as if I've got my man and his Irish father! The book gave heights, hair and eye colour, and a list of promotions.

The researcher also found other Description and Muster books which gave even more information--complexion colour, previous trade, and whether a man could read or write. (Both these QUINs could both read and write.)...

Progress is being made. The indefatigible cousin and researcher went to London and searched many muster rolls for information, and found that Thomas QUIN "died in Halifax 25th July 1792".

A search of the christenings in St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich (the church patronized by soldiers stationed at the Royal Artillery headquarters) shows a William QUIN son of Thos. & Charlott in 1788. Quite possibly a brother of our John Thomas QUIN.

--Jane E