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Hello and thank you for your reply. I have attached a link to my family history web site which you may find interesting, regards David

https://grandadsramblings.weebly.com

Hello Martin,

I've may have found my man.  I've been searching the National Archives and found the following record details reference ADM 29/43/314; Original page number: 314 - William BLACKMORE; Rating; Born: [Not Given]; Age on entry: 29; Dates served: 27 April 1842-7 December 1853; Date and Type of Application: Greenwich 10 June 1851

I've calculated his date of birth from the age given on entry and this matches his birth date of 1813.

I'll see what other document for the GHS shows before I order the above.  I'll let you know how I get on.

David

Hello Martin, 

yes conundrum is just the right word!  I've had another look at my records and note that on ADM 171 /28 for HMS Sans Pariel he appears as listed in the Sea Marine Brigade.  I checked the Royal Naval Museum web site and found on their data sheets a write up covering Naval Brigades.

On  census returns for 1861 (RG9/4232) and 1871 (RG10/5594) he is now listed as a "Bugle Major" in the Radnorshire Militia / Rifles.  His eldest son, Thomas Blackmore (my Gtgrandfather) is also in the Radnorshire  Militia / Rifles for the 1861 census.  Interestingly, his son John C Blackmore is also listed on the 1871 census as being in the Radnorshire  Militia / Rifles.  Stranger than this is the 1861 census lists Charles Blackmore as (presumably this is John C Blackmore - age works out  and birthplace seem to match) as Confectioner.  Thomas Blackmore is later listed on the 1871 census (RG10/5594) as a Militia Hospital Sergeant - he's now married to Ellen Nicholls.

Your comments about your ex RM joining the Cornish Militia do seem to have strong similarities to my man don't they.

David

Hello Carole - stranger and stranger.  The freeBMD index lists William Henry Blackmore born qtr4 in 1844 district Sheppy.  In fact it's recorded twice.  Information from the list of registration places for Sheppy shows Minster in Sheppy.  The 1851 census confirms that they were living in the parish of Minster, Sheppy at Benthams Square. I had not thought about the possibility of remarriage.  It may be the children's birth certificate is the way to go - but which one will give the right answer!  More searching by the looks of it.

David

Hello Carole, thanks for your reply.  I do have a copy of the 1871 census and was aware of the status of this family at that time.  This family has been very problematic to trace I'll try and summarize, if possible, where I am with this family.  For William Blackmore - The England census return (H.O. 107. 1628) for 1851 shows that at the time of this census he was serving in the Royal Navy (declared as a "Seaman in the RN" by his wife, Sarah Blackmore).  The census shows that the family are living in Minster, Sheerness, Kent.  His youngest son, John R Blackmore is declared as being 1 Yr old, birthplace Kent, Sheerness.  Records (FreeBMD) show that this birth was registered at Greenwich, Qtr3 in 1850.  There is a significant gap in age (some 10 years) between him and his older brother (John C Blackmore).  Based on research into Naval Medal Rolls and a later census of 1861 it seems likely that William Blackmore had joined the Royal Navy around 1843- 1844 and possibly earlier than this.  Military record searches (ADM 171 / 6 page 239) list him on the ship's company for HMS Vanguard "as cruising off Alexandra and on the coast of Syria" in about 1841 - the date of this action further supports the possibility of him joining the Royal Navy before 1843.  A further search of naval medal rolls list him on HMS Albion about 1856 in the Crimea War.  The medal roll lists him in the Sea Marine Brigade.   The 1861 and 1871 census returns show William Blackmore now back in Presteigne, Radnorshire.  He is serving in the Radnorshire Rifles as a "Bugle Major"  The Radnorshire Rifles were a Militia group formed in 1763 and named the Radnorshire Militia.  During the following 16 years the militia went through a number of changes or mergers (merged with the South Breckonshire Rifles).  Further changes or mergers took place which resulted in this Militia group becoming known as the South Wales Borderers.  They finally became known as The Royal Regiment of Wales. 
The 1881 census does not show William Blackmore - only his wife, Sarah is listed.  She declared she is a Widow aged 64 working as a Tailoress.  She is living at St David Street, Presteigne.  At this stage no official record showing the death of William Blackmore can be found.  Further research into the national archives shows that on record W.O. 100 .47 he is listed being engaged in Zulu war 1879 serving with the depot.  History records that there was a supply depot supporting the British Army at this time.  Further research would be difficult but its not unreasonable to assume that he could have been killed in this conflict.
My reason for interest in this family is that William and Sarah Blackmore were my GtGTGrandparents. Sorry if this summary is quite "lengthy" but I thought it best to offer a full explanation rather than bits of information.

David