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Thanks for that. I have just left a message for him on his site.

I have just found your posting on the site (I have just joined).

I am doing the Adamson family history, and believe that my husband’s ancestors possibly came from the Banbridge/Lurgan area. 

We know that Charles Adamson was married to Mary (census). Research done by my husband’s uncle, suggests that Charles Adamson (poss date of birth 1830 or 1835) married Mary Brady (b.abt 1844) in Banbridge on 29th July 1866. What he did find out was that there was record of a Private C Adamson entering the 'Marriage Establishment' 29th July 1866 but no records in England nor Ireland that he could find could confirm this. What he did find was information of a marriage  between Mary Brady of Banbridge and a Soldier, named Charles 'Edmondson' in the Church of Ireland on this date. The birth certificate of the eldest child does say her maiden name was Brady however.

Research started by the extended family shows that when he enrolled into the army, a David Adamson (Recruit No: 3740) enlisted at the same time. Whether it is likely they were related or just co-incidence we do not know for certain but his whereabouts were traced so we know that David Adamson had also gone to New Zealand with the regiment, but that when his comrades were leaving in 1866, he chose to take his discharge instead, remaining on the island. Intestacy documents would indicate that this David Adamson never married.

This marriage between Charles & Mary is the link to the Banbridge locality and with him signing up in Lurgan he is likely to have lived in the vicinity.

We know that Charles was a Member of the 68th foot regiment (W.O. 12 7667) recruit No. 3739 in Lurgan, Ireland, 27th Dec 1854. Given age at that time was 19 and height 5'4". He fought in the Crimean War and was awarded the Crimean Medal. In Dec 1857 his regiment went to Madras, then Burma. Aug 1863 Gov. of New Zealand, Sir George Grey asked for reinforcements to deal with hostilities with the Maories (The Maori War) and he was there too returning back home June 1866.

Charles Adamson died of Acute Rheumatism June 1874, aged 44 in Poonah, India (therefore a birth year of c.1830 - at odds with the age on enrolment into the army which was stated as 19 years in 1854, which would have made his year of birth 1835). 

His wife Mary had travelled with him whilst he was a soldier and their 3 children were born in different barracks in England and India because of this travelling. Mary remarried after Charles’ death and went to live in Canada where she died. I do not have further information regarding her family at all.  Her approximate date of birth is arrived at through censuses and I do not have an exact date of birth for her or for Charles. Charles is also the top of our branch of the Adamson Tree as I have been unable to find out anything else via various websites. We live in the Greater Manchester area of England and our particular branch of Adamsons descend from Charles and Mary’s eldest son (John) Stewart Adamson born 1867. The other two children were named (Frederick) William who emigrated to Canada and Charles, who also went to live in the Manchester area.

Do you think that it is possible that your branch of Adamsons link into this branch? Do the names of the children look familiar to those on your Tree?

Christine Adamson