Soldier in the Marines

[JaneJ]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site so please excuse any mistakes I might make and please tell me...lol

I'm trying to find any information on my 5th Great Grandfather John Parkinson who was a soldier in the marines in Edinburgh between the years 1799 and 1802. I got this information from his marriage cert' and the birth cert's of his children.

I'm presuming that he was a soldier before these dates, and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction as to where I might find any information on either him, or what the marines where doing in Edinburgh about this time.

Jane

[Geoffers]

Welcome to the forums, RM records are held by The National Archives (TNA) at Kew.

Have a browse of these research guides to find out what is held and how to begin looking for RM records

Royal Marines - Other Ranks Service Records (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=56)

Royal Marines - How to find a Division (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=57)

Royal Marines - Further areas of research (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=59)

[Lesley Robertson]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site so please excuse any mistakes I might make and please tell me...lol

I'm trying to find any information on my 5th Great Grandfather John Parkinson who was a soldier in the marines in Edinburgh between the years 1799 and 1802. I got this information from his marriage cert' and the birth cert's of his children.

I'm presuming that he was a soldier before these dates, and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction as to where I might find any information on either him, or what the marines where doing in Edinburgh about this time.

Jane


Hi Jane,
Where did he marry and have his kids? I'm a bit puzzled by your reference to birth and marriage certs since they didn't start until 1855 in Scotland - but 1837 in England).
The Edinburgh area is home to a couple of regiments, especially the Royal Scots. What is the name of the parish he was in?
Lesley

[JaneJ]

Hi Lesley,
Thanks for getting back to me.

Sorry for the mix up it was the O.P.R Births and Marriage documents, I should have said.
He married in 1799 to Ann Duff in the Cannongate.
First 2 children were also born in the Cannongate, Ann 1799, Christian (f) 1801. his third child was born in St Cuthbert's in 1803, he had left the Marines by this time.

I need more info about him as I have no idea where he was born (only an approx date of 1777).

Jane

[JaneJ]

Hi Geoffers,
Thankyou for the pointers, it's just the sort of things I needed to know.
I think a visit to Kew is on the cards...lol...well its cheaper than going to Edinburgh and Scotlands People, which is my usual haunt. Well thats what I'll tell my husband....

Many Thanks
Jane.

[neil1821]

Hi,
It's a small but crucial distinction, but a Marine was not a soldier but a marine!
"Soldier" of course implies the army and the Royal Marines were not a part of the army.

Marines were troops that served aboard Royal Navy ships, and as such you'll often find records of the RM among Admiralty or Naval Records (eg naval medal rolls, Greenwich pensioners as opposed to the army's Chelsea pensioners, ship's books etc). Certainly you can ignore army records.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/Britain/Marines/c_marines.html

[JaneJ]

Hi Neil,
Thanks for the link, it has cleared up my confused mind....lol
I thought that John Parkinson was a Marine but was not sure when they became "Royal".
All I have to do now is find out what he was doing in Edinburgh for nearly 3 years and what ship he may have been attached to...if any.
Oh the joys of research, but it's worth it when you find that missing bit of info.
Jane