COURT MARSHALL 1837 LOOKUP

[sue alderton]

I am looking for information about the native birth place of on a John Alderton who was in the British Army in the 83rd Regiment at Foot stationed in Quebec Canada in 1837, his military number was either 451 or 471. He was court marshalled for desertion while in Quebec and returned to England to await his sentence which was transportation to Australia for 14 years, this took place in March 1838. I have contacted the Kew Records office and their preliminary search revealed no records for John Alderton however the Canada Archives indicate that there is a record of his court marshall and his gaoling in Quebec.
So hopefully someone out there may know how I can access this information or may have some information on the 83rd Regiment or even where they were garisoned when at home in the UK around 1830 to 1838 so I can get a lead to follow.
Thanks Sue

[Geoffers]

Any records should be held at TNA, you may find information in the following:

Courts Martial Proceedings Papers for 1837 are held in WO71/297-300 at The National Archives (TNA) at Kew

Correspondence and Papers for 1837 are in WO72/88-91

Some District Courts Martial papers are in WO86/1 and WO86/3

General Courts Martial Papers, abroad are in WO90.

Letters relating to Courts Martial in 1837 are in WO3/545-547

Description Books are probably the best hope - as well as a decription, they record age, place of birth and I think they are in WO25/266-688

The Muster books relating to the 83rd, held at TNA, might be worht a look - for 1837 these are in WO12/8696 and WO12/8697

[sue alderton]

Thanks for the prompt reply Kew Records Office said there were no records of my ggggrt grand father's military career even though it was short. I searched WO10, WO12and WO97. But if you think it worth the cost I will pursue a search in the other categories you suggested.

Sue

[hughesrj]

Assuming you've searched the NSW BDM (assuming he died in NSW) - and that the DC shed little information on his background??

[Hugh Thompson]

Hi Sue, These are the only Aldertons in NSW registry BDM.in that time period. Luck Hugh.

Number Last Name Given Name(s) Father's Given Name(s) Mother's Given Name(s) District
2761/1859 ALDERTON JOHN AGE 30 YEARS DIED BROULEE BROULEE
8478/1876 ALDERTON JOHN GEORGE DIED NEWCASTLE NEWCASTLE
10769/1876 ALDERTON JOHN G JOHN MARTHA WINDSOR
15608/1893 ALDERTON JOHN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN WINDSOR
2763/1907 ALDERTON JOHN HENRY B MARY A ST LEONARDS
7378/1910 ALDERTON JOHN JOHN ANNIE C M WAGGA WAGGA
6097/1922 ALDERTON JOHN P PATRICK MARTHA WELLINGTON
3748/1928 ALDERTON JOHN F L RICHARD L MINNIE L LIVERPOOL
13338/1934 ALDERTON JOHN JOHN MARY WINDSOR
15801/1935 ALDERTON JOHN JONATHAN W ELLEN NEWCASTLE
11504/1939 ALDERTON ARTHUR JOHN HENRY ANNIE NORTH SYDNEY

[Geoffers]

Thanks for the prompt reply Kew Records Office said there were no records of my ggggrt grand father's military career even though it was short. I searched WO10, WO12and WO97. But if you think it worth the cost I will pursue a search in the other categories you suggested.

If he was in the army then he should appear in a description book, a description book should record just that, plus his place of birth - which is what you are after. In your shoes I would try that - looking for the description book closest to when he got in trouble.

Do you know roughly when he enlisted to narrow down the description books that you try?

[hughesrj]

Sue - the website for the the ship "Bengal Merchant" (http://bengal.liah.org/) which transported convicts here is 1838 has a John Alderton aged 21, sentenced to 14 years. Sailed 28 March, 1838 from Sheerness, United Kingdom ; arrived 21 July, 1838, Botany Bay, Australia. This would put his dob ~ 1817. (Assuming the accuracy of this site.)

There is a ticket of leave that was granted (see the SAG website)

Last name Alderton
First name John
Ship Bengal Merchant
Year 1838
Native place NR
Trade or calling NR
District Quebec L.Canada
Ticket no 44/2079
State Records shelf ref 4/4192
State Records reel no 954


rj

[hughesrj]

NSW state archies list the Bengal Merchant logs as kept in microfiche:

1838 Jul 23 BENGAL MERCHANT Page 003 Serial 1837_1841

Some passenger information is contained

rj

[sue alderton]

Hi

I would like to thank all those who gave me much needed suggestions. I have John Alderton's (born 1806? Essex?) TOL, Pardon and transcript of his Court Marshall from Kew Records Office and a transcript of his Trial and imprisonment in Quebec from the Canada Archives but none of these documents have his birthplace indicated on them. So I will contact the State Archives of NSW and see if they can locate the microfische as suggested by Hugh and I will see if the Kew records Office can locate the description books for the period around his court marshall as suggested by Geoffers.

Once again thanks guys

Sue

[ExDevonport]

I am looking for information about the native birth place of on a John Alderton who was in the British Army in the 83rd Regiment at Foot stationed in Quebec Canada in 1837, his military number was either 451 or 471. He was court marshalled for desertion while in Quebec....
Thanks Sue

Sue,

It would be wise also to check with the National Army Museum Chelsea. Through a friend I obtained my grandfather's military record from their archives. His enlistment also contained details of a court martial for being AWOL, the period was 1851.

James.