73 Regiment?

[Fidgetsmum]

I’ve just come across a distant relative John Harrison Button (possibly John Harrison-Button) B. Abt. 1842 Laxfield, Suffolk.

The only reference I have for him is in the 1881 Census (RG11 1859 22 9) where he is shown as being 39 years old and a 'Serjeant 73 Regiment on furlough'.

A quick 'Google' hasn't really helped with information on 73 Regiment, (although I'm told it may have been a Scottish regiment?) so I'd be really grateful if someone could please suggest where I'd go from here in finding out more about the Regiment and thus why/how John from Suffolk (and with no family connections to Scotland whatsoever) may have ended up in a Scottish Regiment and where he and/or his Regiment may have been serving?

I've tried searching the National Archives WO97 online, but failed to get a match.

[daggers]

73rd of Foot was once the Perthshire Regiment and may have become part of the Black Watch whose museum is at Perth.
D

[Neil Wilson]

Have a look at this thread (http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34368)and the link posted on it. Gives an explanation as to why soldiers were in regiments from areas other than their own county.

[Geoffers]

I’ve just come across a distant relative John Harrison Button (possibly John Harrison-Button) B. Abt. 1842 Laxfield, Suffolk. The only reference I have for him is in the 1881 Census (RG11 1859 22 9) where he is shown as being 39 years old and a 'Serjeant 73 Regiment on furlough'....................I've tried searching the National Archives WO97 online, but failed to get a match.

How to search for records and what you find depends on date of discharge. See TNA's research guide on Discharge Documents (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=14)

The 73rd was an Infantry Regiment - so if he was discharged before 1883, enter the following search in TNA's catalogue (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp)

Word or phrase, enter - infantry AND but*
In the year range enter 1875-1882
In the department or series code enter - WO97

You'll get two hits. The partial names shown are for the first and last documents in the respective files, so you need the file which will contain your chap alphabetically. If you click on the file (WO97/1905) you'll see a button on the right of the screen 'Request this' - select that and you can ask TNA to look specifically for your chap's document (which should be there if he retired before 1883).

If he retired from 1883 onwards, the search is slightly different owing to the different organisation of the army and its records.

To carry out this search

In the word or phrase field enter - but*
In the year range enter - 1883-1899
In the department or series code enter - WO97

You should get one page of hits and the file you wnat is the bottom one (WO97/2428) - again this shows the first and last entry in the file and you can request TNA to look for your chap and provide a copy of the document.

Note that TNA's catalogue is just a catalogue which you can use to find document references - it doesn't provide actual documents which you can view online then and there. It is a powerful search tool and very useful, it's free and you can't break it by using it, so it is well worth experimenting to find out how best to use it.

If you get stuck with the searches, please ask and I'll provide links to the search results - it's just I prefer to show folks how to search for themselves so that you might then help someone else to use it (which i hope makes sense).

[Fidgetsmum]

Thank you all for your help. I find researching military history particularly confusing so thank you Geoffers for the 'Janet and John' bit, which I shall follow step by step, not only should it help me find my chap, but hopefully the same principal may perhaps help me find some other 'missing' people.

Forgive me if I have to come back for further guidance.

[Geoffers]

No problem, if you don't know - ask a question.

The only mistake you can make is not to ask.

I would emphasize that the links I have given will not allow you to see the particular records online. They are merely a way of finding out where the documents are most probably stored.

Each file (actually a large box holding the documents flat) contains a load of records (100+), they are arranged alphabetically and so your chap should be in the relevant file.

When you request a particular file, include the known details which identify your chap and TNA will check that file to see if he can be located. If he can, they will send you a quote for copying the file; this can normally be done by 'digital express' for a quite reasonable fee.


Forgive me if I have to come back for further guidance

Please do, if I'm not about there are others who are experienced in using TNA's site; who I am sure can guide you.

Good luck

[Geoffers]

PS - further to my last message. If you get absoultely no where click on these links:

If he left the army prior to 1882

Search for: infantry AND but* 1875-1882 WO97 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=infantry+AND+but*&txtfirstdate=1875&txtlastdate=1882&txtrestriction=WO97&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=39&image1.y=15)

from which you appear to want this file (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=690843&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CINFANTRY%2CBUTLE&accessmethod=0)

If he left the army from 1883 onwards

Search for: butt* 1883-1899 WO97 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=but*&txtfirstdate=1883&txtlastdate=1899&txtrestriction=WO97&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=24&image1.y=9)

from which you appear to want this file (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=691366&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CBUTTERW%2CBUTTW&accessmethod=0)

(Note that I've slightly edited the search years in my previous post to restrict the results to a smaller list)

[Fidgetsmum]

Again, Geoffers thank you.

I followed the instructions from your first reply and have been told by the TNA that I should receive an 'estimate' of charges within the next 10 days.

Your further replies I've printed off and, as is my way with such advice, have put it in the 'how to' file which I keep with my other family history stuff.

Your help is very much appreciated, thank you.

F'smum