Thomas McLaren, fought in Continental Wars

[Wilma41]

Searching for Thomas McLaren, born around 1795 in Glasgow (possibly "Hazeldean"), went to war at age 17, married Helen ?? after war, emigrated to Canada about 1821. He made his living in Montreal as a tailor until about 1845, when he moved to Lanark County, Ontario, Canada.

Looking for any record of him in Scotland, his birth date, his parents, or any record of the port he left from, exactly when and on what ship, any children. Was he traveling with friends? He was my GGGrandfather and we have only word of mouth record of him and the battles hes fought in before he came to Canada.

[salbex]

hi, I found a THomas McLaren born 6 May 1797 in Glasgow, parents John McLaren & Marion Love, I also found 2 marriages in scotland of a Thomas & Helen, Helen Higgins on 23 DEc 1816 in Irvine, Ayr & Helen McLaren on 10 April 1816 in SouthLeith, Midlothian, scotland, all on family search, hoping this might give you a lead.

[salbex]

found this site, if you havent already... might be worth exploring

http://
www.
olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/tocan1400-1800.shtml

[Geoffers]

Welcome to the B-G forums.

You mention that Thomas McLAREN "went to war" - do you know if he served in the RN, RM or army?

The National Archives has numerous research guides - click here (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guide-listing.htm) and look under 'B' for British Army and under 'R' for Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

In what battles is it alleged he fought? - How reliable is your oral tradition?

TNA's catalogue indexes early WO (War Office) records relating to soldiers who were discharged.

To allow for variant spellings, I searched for - thomas AND m*cl*r*n - there are two hits, neither of which is a close match:
Thomas McCLAREN bn Logie, Stirlingshire served 2nd Foot Guards - see WO121/63/28 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-4096923&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CTHOMAS%2CMCCLAREN%2CTHOMAS%2CMCCLARRA N&accessmethod=0)
Thomas McCLARON bn Ardagh, Longford served in 61st Foot - see WO121/76/58 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-4100177&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CTHOMAS%2CMCCLARON&accessmethod=0)

There are other M*cl*r*n entries born Glasgow but no Thomases - see here (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=glasgow+AND+m*cl*r*n&txtfirstdate=&txtlastdate=&txtrestriction=WO&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=36&image1.y=20)

I cannot see a match in WO97

There is a Greenwich Hospital out-pension record for a Thomas McLARMON or McLAREN or McCarron in ADM73/17/103 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-5741985&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CTHOMAS%2CMCLARMAN%2CMCCLAREN&accessmethod=0) but this would appear too late for your chap.

Passenger lists were not required to be kept until 1890 - have a look through the research guides linked above for ideas - look under 'E' for emigrants and 'P' for passenger lists.

There are web-sites where transcripts of surviving passenger lists may be found, e.g. olivetree

Have you tried the - scotlandpeople.gov.uk web-site?

[swisschick]

You may find someone at this site but it does require searching.
http://www.
immigrantships.net

[Wilma41]

Family lore is remarkably precise, and generally accurate. Thomas apparently enlisted in the First Highland Light Infantry, and fought in battles at Badjoz, Vitoria, and Salamanca though was taken prisoner and was not in Battle of Waterloo. If he enlisted at 17, I do not believe that he would have been any rank above the bottom and there is nothing of this in our history.

I have not joined scotlandpeople, though may be forced to. Thanks for other pointers.

[Wilma41]

Thanks, I had found this same info on FS. None of his children were named John or Marion, so no link to those possible parents. I suspect that he married Helen McLaren and came to Montreal with her and two infant daughters in 1921. Family lore says they had seven children, only 2 survived. It accounts for the 2 who lived and 1 who died, so these two babies could be the other two who died. Helen died 23 June 1926. He married Isabella Miller in 1927.
But without some original documents this stays speculation.

[AdeleE]

He may have records in the British Army Service Records 1760-1913 on the pay website FindMyPast. There are a few Thomas McLarens without a date of birth who could be your man.
If he was in the 71st Regiment of Foot, he may have mustered out in Quebec, as the regiment was there from 1824 to 1825.

[AdeleE]

Sorry, I just realized all the discharge dates in the British Army Service Record series are too late.

[Andrew Mead]

Like most threads appearing in 'Church Registers' forum, this one does not seem to have much to do with the topic!
Would it not be better in a Glasgow or Military one?
Dates (post #7) seem to be getting confused.

[Geoffers]

Like most threads appearing in 'Church Registers' forum, this one does not seem to have much to do with the topic!

I am inclined to agree and have moved the thread to the Glasgow forum for the time being, should it be necessary, the thread can be moved again, as needed.

[tray57]

Hi
My GG Grandfather was Thomas McLaren. I also had some word of mouth that he was born in Hazeldean and fought in
some wars. He married Isabella Millar, (but I have read he was married before, not sure) He married Isabella in Boston
1827, they had a daughter Ellen who was my G grandmother. I know he landed in Montreal. My Thomas died in 1861 at
Sparrow Lake, Ontario.
Tray

[WilliamCanada]

Hi, Tray:

I too am a GGrandchild of Ellen McLaren. Would you please forward your e-mail to me at wgbemail-bgforum @ yahoo.ca and we can share our information directly.

Bill

PS Leave out the spaces around @.

[Wilma41]

Hi Tray. We obviously share an ancestor. Please write to me at wilmarey AT gmail DOT com


Hi
My GG Grandfather was Thomas McLaren. I also had some word of mouth that he was born in Hazeldean and fought in
some wars. He married Isabella Millar, (but I have read he was married before, not sure) He married Isabella in Boston
1827, they had a daughter Ellen who was my G grandmother. I know he landed in Montreal. My Thomas died in 1861 at
Sparrow Lake, Ontario.
Tray