Peter Fletcher born in 1850 in Scotland

[retrogirl24]

Hello

I have an ancestor named Peter Fletcher. All I know about him is he was born in 1850 in Scotland. His parents were John Fletcher and Joan Ferguson. I have searched so many sites and cannot find a birth record for him or marriage record of his parents. I think I saw that birth records started being recorded in 1853, but there must be some other records out there?

By 1876 he was a soldier in the English 74th Highlanders Regiment, and married a Maltese woman in Malta. They had a son together in 1877 in Malta.

I have also searched for his service record and cannot find anything. Any idea where I would search to find this information? It seems I cannot find anything.

Carol

[Megan Roberts]

Most Scottish records are held by ScotlandsPeople, a pay to view site.

Before civil registration of births (1855) you have to rely on parish records - baptisms etc - these are also available on the above site.

Have you found them on any census? You can see the transcripts on most sites up to 1901, but if you want to see the originals to check the transcriptions you have to use the above site.

[retrogirl24]

Thank you so much. I did join that Scottish site but have to figure it out and also check the censuses. Do you know where I would find the Highlanders service Record?

[grisel]

There is a Peter Fletcher b c1850 in the 1851 and 1861 censuses on Edinburgh with parents John P ( F on freecen in 1851)Fletcher and Jane plus siblings, who is worth considering.
John Proctor Fletcher and Jane Ferguson married in 1838.
There is no baptism for Peter on Scotland's People but there is a baptism of brother Mark Ferguson Fletcher in 1852.

There is also a Peter Ferguson b c1849 North Knapdale but he is son of a John Fletcher and Elizabeth Blue.(He can be found on censuses and baptism of siblings are on SP.)

[helachau]

I can see the 23 Sep 1876 marriage in Malta but cannot spot a '77 birth/baptism. The 74th left Malta in January 1877. What details do you have for the 1877 Malta birth/baptism?

[Megan Roberts]

Army records - guide from National Archives: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...rs-up-to-1913/


Wikipedia has a history of the regiment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/74th_(...giment_of_Foot

[Lesley Robertson]

If you're having trouble with Scolands People, there's a thread describing it HERE https://www.british-genealogy.com/fo...otlands-People. The various "replies" are all updates.

[retrogirl24]

Thank you grisel. I think I saw that but wasnt sure since the mothers name is Jane instead of Joan. But it is the closest possible option I guess.

[retrogirl24]

If you're having trouble with Scolands People, there's a thread describing it HERE https://www.british-genealogy.com/fo...otlands-People. The various "replies" are all updates.

Thank you! I will check it out.

[retrogirl24]

Army records - guide from National Archives: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...rs-up-to-1913/


Wikipedia has a history of the regiment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/74th_(...giment_of_Foot

Thanks. I have looked through tons of those records, manually, one by one and still did not find him. Very frustrating.