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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: SantaSandy on Sunday 12 November 17 19:40 GMT (UK)
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I have a few ancestors that traveled as Soldiers to South Africa. I know one was in the Royal Africa Corp and another stationed at Cape Town Barracks and Fort Beaufort. A child was born on Corfu in 1843. I have tried various Military Sources but have found the information at this time to be very limited. Can anyone please help with with some ideas of where to look next. Thanks in anticipation.
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If you post a specific query...maybe we can direct you as to where to look.
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I am looking for ancestors who went to South Africa as soldiers. The first is Evelyn(Evelin) Neil (Neal/e) as a private in the Royal Cape Corp. He married in 1821 and left the military in 1825. I am led to believe that joining this regiment was for deserters and criminals avoiding prison. I would like to find out which he was and find some details of his time with the regiment.
Secondly I have an Irish ancestor James CAHILL born 1775 who went from Ireland. His son was born in Fort Beaufort in 1805. He died in 1837. I would like to find his military record.
Thirdly I have possibly father and son both called William GIBSON who appear to have been military men. The elder appears to have a permit to remain in 1817. The younger appears to have been born in 1820. The younger had a daughter born on Corfu which had a military presence in 1843. I have no idea who either was married to or where the father came from. I have some possibilities as to the deaths of each but as these is a common name am unsure if they are for my two ancestors. Both death certificate don't reflect wife or children. I will appreciate any help or links to help flesh out these people. I do have another but he was joined in 1850s named James SHOOTER and I was able to get his military record. Thanks in anticipation. Warm regards Sandy
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only record i can find is this chap.....discharged in Capetown in 1820.attested 1798. There is no family info in records from this period.
First name(s) James
Last name Cahill
Birth year 1776
Birth parish Saint Kerns
Birth town Saint Kerns
Birth county Kings (Offaly)
Birth country Ireland
Service number -
Regiment -
Year 1798
Attestation date 01 Oct 1798
Attestation age years 22
Discharge corps 54th (Or West Norfolk) Regt Of Foot
Document type Discharge
Series Wo 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913
Archive The National Archives
Archive reference WO 97
Box 670
Box record number 18
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Hi, that is absolutely great. Regiment, attest date and other info that I don't have. Would love that on my mysterious William GIBSON father and son. I don't even know where they came from. Greatly appreciated. I am not sure hat time it is where you are but enjoy what's left of your day. Thanks Sandy
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Sorry I am new here and just looked at your profile. I will excited to get a reply while I am washing the dishes. My son works in Manchester but lives in Wigan. Thanks Sandy
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what was the name of the daughter who was born in Corfu?
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Hi Gortonboy,
It is Jane Ann GIBSON in 1843 to William GIBSON and an unknown wife. I am not aware of any other children but I found a few more GIBSONs born on the Ionian Islands round about the same time. She married John CAHILL in Kingwilliamstown on 14 October 1864. He died in 1874 and she married James LANG on 28 September 1875. She died in Stellenbosch in 1925. I would appreciate any help as I try to find out my ancestors,
Thanks
Sandy
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i can put forward a candidate. According to the 1841 army index he was stationed in Corfu in 1841. His service record states he served 2 years 12 days in Corfu.So he could possibly have been there in 1843.I will check when the 42nd were deployed to Corfu.However,,this William served till 1858,and his intended residence on leaving the army was Stirlingshire.He also served in Malta,,Bermuda, Canada and the Crimea. He was in Bermuda in 1851.
First name(s) William
Last name Gibson
Birth year 1820
Birth parish Carnwath
Birth town Carnwath
Birth county Lanarkshire
Birth country Scotland
Service number 1076
Rank PRIVATE
Regiment -
Year 1837
Attestation date 17 Nov 1837
Attestation age years 17
Attestation age months 6
Discharge corps 42nd Rl Hd Reg Of Infantry
Discharge service number 1076
Document type Discharge
Series Wo 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913
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have you ordered this birth?
First name(s) Ann Jane
Last name Gibson
Birth year 1818-64
Place CORFU
Country Greece
Record source GRO Ionian Islands Military Registration Births (1818-1864)
Volume 2
Page 35
Record set British Nationals Armed Forces Births 1761-2005
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Civil Births
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the 42nd were in Corfu from 1834 till.......30 Jan 1843 HQ Coy 1st/42nd Foot embarked at Cephalonia for Malta. Which might throw a spanner in the works ? but,,,,see below.
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16 Feb 13 Officers, 345 men, 32 women and 44 children 1st/42nd Foot arrived from Corfu. They disembarked at Malta on 20 Feb 1843.
17 Mar 248 men, 23 women, and 42 children of 1st/42nd embarked at Zante. They arrived at Malta on 27 March 1843.
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I don't think he is my man as there is no mention of South Africa where she spent most of her life. I had seen that record of her birth. There was also a death of a John CAHILL but I could not date it. The other were Charles Robert GIBSON on Santa Maura, Eliza Rachel on Paxa and 1844 Sophia Martha on Corfu.
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The last three are births of GIBSONS which may or may not be related.
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Was there not another regiment that took over on Corfu? Maybe he was part of that regiment.
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what is the earliest record you have for her being in South Africa?
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Only the wedding. The CAHILL grandfather that you gave me info on yesterday appears to have been in Fort Beaufort. I have a William GIBSON being given residential status in 1817. I did look over the weekend at military record and the number of William GIBSONs were many and no way of isolating them. If I ordered her birth certificate would it have more details on it?
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regiments in Corfu 1842
38th, 77th and 97th Regiments of Foot ( 97th Reserve Battalion)
regarding the birth certificate,,i have never actually seen one. It should at least name the father and give his regiment.
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i think you can rule this William out,,,i can see a William Gibson of the 42nd collecting his pension in Glasgow right up to 1875. And he started collecting it in 1859,,,so is probably this William.
I cant see any other service records for a William Gibson b c 1820 serving in the regiments i mentioned above.
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Can you check for his father for me. He appears to have received permission to stay in South Africa around 1817 so would have left the army then.
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Hi,
I want to thank you most sincerely for all the replies to my questions. I am happy to look myself if I know where and how. Any links or books that you would recommend would be appreciated. Have a great day. Regards Sandy