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Topic: 3rd Waikato Militia - Records (Read 300 times)
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bumbelina
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Hi,
I have gr.gr.grandfather Thomas Beresford's army records, but there is no information regarding next of kin as he was in a Militia regiment.
All it says is that he came from the parish of Stafford, Staffordshire, and that he was 18.
He went, with wife and son, to Fiji about 1867. Wife and son came back to NZ in 1868, saying Thomas had fallen overboard and drowned on the return journey. However research carried out by a much more experienced researcher than myself, suggests strongly that he was never on board the ship!
So, we don't have a death record either.
Does anyone have any ideas ?
All information held by his family was destroyed, probably because his wife remarried, the only 'clue' is that he may have fought with Gariboli.
Regards,
Bumbelina
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Koromo
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Hi Bumbelina
Is this your Thomas Beresford? Being a potter would fit his Staffordshire origins.
"The school house (then at the redoubt in Fort Street) was the scene for the third wedding in August 1865. Richard Maxwell gave his daughter, Georgina aged 19, in marriage to Thomas Beresford, a potter aged 21. Georgina soon became a widow and married again on 25 July 1869 to Frederick James Lawrence. They celebrated their diamond wedding in Onehunga in 1929."
From:
List of Third Militia and then follow the Beresford link.
Which next of kin are you looking for - his parents, wife or child? Have you found him on the UK censuses? I've just tried, but Ancestry is down at the moment!! I'll check again in a little while.
Cheers
Koromo
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Census information is Crown copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk________________________________________________________________ Lewis: Abergavenny | London | NZ | Chilliwack, BC Stallworthy: Bucks | Samoa | NZ | Canada Brothers: Nottingham | Salford | NZ Gronous: Kington | London Darling: Dunbar | Samoa Keat: Cornwall | NZ Bowles: Deal | NZ Coaney: Bucks Jones: Brecon  |
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bumbelina
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Hi Koromo,
Yes that is him. I am trying to find who his parents were. I had a look up done on the Staffs page here, in the 1861 census, but the only Thomas of the right age was a Berrisford, not Beresford. I realise that spelling doesn't matter,and of course I don't know the names of his parents.
I have his marriage cert and there are no clues there.
A couple of likely candidates in Staffs died in childhood.
Many thanks
Bumbelina
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Koromo
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Well, the Thomas Berrisford that janetmp found for you on the 1861 is no good, because he's still with his mother in Albert Place in 1871.
Did Thomas join the army in the UK? Have you found him on a passenger list?
What's your best guess of his birth year?
What was his son called?
From the 1861:
Thomas Berresford, b. 1843 Leek, Staffs, farm servant with another family
Thomas Berresford, b. 1843 Norton, coal miner, parents Thomas & Mary
Thomas Berresford, b. 1845 Checkley, apprentice wheelwright with another family
Thomas Berrisford, b. 1846 Caverswall, blacksmith apprentice, parents William & Margaret
Thomas Berrisford, b. 1842 Stoke, potter, parents George & Hannah
1861 RG9/1937/49/8
70 Broad St, Shelton, Hanley, Staffordshire
George Berrisford, head, 45, tailor and clothier, b. Newcastle, Staffs
Hannah Berrisford, wife, 44, dress maker, b. Stoke, Staffs
John Berrisford, son, 21, potter, b. Stoke
Thomas Berrisford, son, 19, potter, b. Stoke
George Berrisford, son, 17, potter, b. Stoke
Rupert Berrisford, son, 14, potter, b. Newcastle
Margret Berrisford, dau, 13, b. Stoke
Ishemuel Berrisford, son, 11, scholar, b. Stoke
Sydney S Berrisford, grandson, 3, scholar, b. Rotharham, Yorkshire
This same family is on the 1851 at Stoke on Trent, with George the father as a tailor, and Thomas a scholar, definitely written as Berrisford.
And they're on the 1841 at Newcastle under Lyme with children Susanna 3 and John 1
Or, there's:
1851 HO107/2006/458/10
Pear Trees, Fenton Vivian, (Stoke upon Trent, part of), Staffordshire
[In the Enoch Jackson household, a widower and labourer]
William Berrisford, lodger, wid, 41, coal miner, b.  [transcribed as Ramgard], Staffs
Thomas Berrisford, lodger, 11, potter, b. Longton, Staffs
In 1841 they are in Longton with Elizabeth (his mother) as a "Potter JW" and other siblings.
I can't see either of the above Thomas' on the 1871, but I wish they would spell their name as Beresford/Berresford at least once!!
Koromo
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Census information is Crown copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk________________________________________________________________ Lewis: Abergavenny | London | NZ | Chilliwack, BC Stallworthy: Bucks | Samoa | NZ | Canada Brothers: Nottingham | Salford | NZ Gronous: Kington | London Darling: Dunbar | Samoa Keat: Cornwall | NZ Bowles: Deal | NZ Coaney: Bucks Jones: Brecon |
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bumbelina
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Hi Koromo,
My goodness you have been busy! Thank you.
Thomas enrolled with the 3rd Waikato Militia in Auckland on 30th January 1864 and stated he was a mariner, having arrived on the 'Light Brigade' on the 17th Jan.
The Light Brigade was sent from England via Rangoon and Calcutta to transfer troops of the 43rd and 68th Regiments to fight in the Maori Wars.
However, I paid to have a search done of the crew of the Light Brigade and he wasn't there! There were 4 stowaways!!!
My mother I believe, has looked into who was in the regiments, but I should check that myself.
I have a newspaper article about the arrival of the Light Brigade and it does not cover everyone on board.
I have also been in touch with a professional researcher in England in the hope that there are records of the Militia there, but no joy!
His son was named Walter Edwin Beresford and there are no Edwins on Thomas' wife side.
Why oh why did they not put his father's name on his enrollment form?
Regards and thanks
Bumbelina
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bumbelina
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Hi Koromo
Forgot to mention his age. On army enrollment form he is 18 (30/1/1864)
On his marriage cert (30/8/1865) he is 21.
I would not be surprised if he was younger than 18 when he enrolled.
Family rumours suggests he was a remittance man and that when money arrived from 'home', he and Georgina lived the high life and that when he died/disappeared family from England wanted to have the baby (Walter Edwin), but not Georgina, his wife.
Cheers,
Bumbelina
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Koromo
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LOL! Sounds a bit like one of mine who was in the 4th Waikato Militia. 
He's a bit of a nuisance being described as a mariner and a potter. He could have gone to sea at a very young age, so I think it's best to search the 1851.
I'm in the Northern Hemisphere, so it's getting late here. I'll have another look tomorrow. Does his marriage cert definitely state that he was born in Stafford, Staffordshire?
Cheers
Koromo
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Census information is Crown copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk________________________________________________________________ Lewis: Abergavenny | London | NZ | Chilliwack, BC Stallworthy: Bucks | Samoa | NZ | Canada Brothers: Nottingham | Salford | NZ Gronous: Kington | London Darling: Dunbar | Samoa Keat: Cornwall | NZ Bowles: Deal | NZ Coaney: Bucks Jones: Brecon |
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bumbelina
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Hi again,
LOL is about right.
His marriage cert doesn't say where he was born, but his army enrollment says 'parish of Stafford, England'
Have just found a Thomas Edwin, born Derbyshire in 1848, maybe I should adopt him!
Cheers,
Bumbelina
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Koromo
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Have just found a Thomas Edwin, born Derbyshire in 1848, maybe I should adopt him!
Hi Bumbelina
He's probably as good a bet as any of the below!!!
1851 Census
Thomas Beresford, b. 1847 Butterton, parents Thomas/Elizabeth, living in Butterton
Thomas Henry Beresford, b. 1845 Leek, parents James/Dinah, living Bosley Cheshire
Thos Berresford, b. 1841 Uttoxeter, parents Thomas/Ann, living Uttoxeter - see below
Thomas Berrisford, b. 1841 Stoke on Trent, parents George/Hannah, living Stoke on Trent
Thomas Berrisford, b. 1840 Caverswall, uncle William Bromley, living Caverswall - on 1861 I think
Thomas Berresford, b. 1843 Leek, parents George/Hannah, living Endon - on 1861 as servant
Thomas Berrisford, b. 1840 Longton, parent William, living Stoke on Trent - on 1861
Thomas Benesford, b. 1841 Ipstones, father William, living in Alton - on 1871
Thomas H Beresford, b. 1849 Kingswinford, parents James/Emma, living Kingswinford on 1861/71
Thomas Berisford, b. 1841 Fawfieldhead, parents James/Zilpah, living Fawfieldhead - on 1861/71
Thomas Berrisford, b. 1845 Hanley, parents John/Ha?les(Alice), living Stoke on Trent - Albert Pl - on 1871
John Thomas Borresfora, b. 1848 Brewood, parent Thomas, living Wolverhampton - on 1871
Thomas Berrisford, b. 1845 Foxt Checkley, parents Benjamin/Elizabeth, living Checkley - on 1861/81
(I can't see this family after 1851.)
1851 HO107/2010/197/11
Parks, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire
Thomas Berresford, head, 40, farmer 50 acres, b. Dracott (Moors?)
Ann Berresford, wife, 32, farmer's wife, b. Dracott
Ann Berresford, dau, 12, scholar, b. Parks, Uttoxeter
Thos Berresford, son, 10, at home, b. Parks, Uttoxeter
John Berresford, son,8, scholar, b. Parks, Uttoxeter
Enoch berresford, son, 5, scholar, b. Parks, Uttoxeter
William Berresford, son, 3, scholar, b. Parks, Uttoxeter
Edwin Berresford, son, 11m, at home, b. Parks, Uttoxeter
Samuel Gadsby, uncle, widower, 71, labourer, b. Uttoxeter
For:
name closer to Beresford spelling
brother Edwin
a farmer might have enough spare money to send to a son
Against:
a bit too old
family have nothing to do with mariners or potters
it's not much different from stabbing a pin in a telephone directory to pick a name!!!
Well, at least there are six Thomases found in 1871, so they can be eliminated. I can't think what else to suggest!
Best wishes
Koromo
PS. Saw an interesting spelling on the 1841 = Burysford
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Census information is Crown copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk________________________________________________________________ Lewis: Abergavenny | London | NZ | Chilliwack, BC Stallworthy: Bucks | Samoa | NZ | Canada Brothers: Nottingham | Salford | NZ Gronous: Kington | London Darling: Dunbar | Samoa Keat: Cornwall | NZ Bowles: Deal | NZ Coaney: Bucks Jones: Brecon |
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bumbelina
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Hi again,
Thank you so much for all that information.
He sure is a man of mystery.
I have Mum coming today, she started the research 20 years ago and might be able to connect to something that I have missed.
Cheers and many, many thanks,
Bumbelina
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