Lew Trenchard, Devon - Army Barracks

[PabloC]

Thanks Dragongirl 

Since my last post it's moved on a little, and we now know that Thomasine was born in Launceston, Cornwall. They had a child, Caroline Glew, in ealy 1816 outside of marriage it would seem...also registered in Launceston, then married later that year in Lewtrenchard.

With him seemingly being a soldier, we're thinging she may have returned to her parents when pregnant to the child, marrying, then returning to Sussex on his return where more children were registered.

[MaecW]

Just to confuse the issue further  have you considered the possibility that he was a militia man ?  They seem to have been posted in all sorts of places, though I'm not sure if they were still operational after Waterloo

Maec

[PabloC]

Hi,

Yes...this is something I am now on to, having been informed of an 1828 document that excuses him from service within the Sussex Militia, aged 42, due to having seven children.

Perhaps he just referred to himself as a 'soldier' as a general term...?

Paul

[katrinajoy]

I have been trying to track my family through military barracks in Devonshire 1841 as well, apparently my GG Grandfather 11th North Devon Foot regiment according to military records was in Devonport although I can't find a census to confirm it, and my GG Grandmother was working as a "Mejs ? Woman" at Heavitree Artillary Barracks. Their names were Daniel Tansley and Ann Simmons.   They had to have met in Devon in 1841 as by early 1842 they had a child and married in Winchester Hampshire in march 1842 as he volunteered for the St Helena Regiment.  So I have them within 50 Miles of each other, but can't figure how they met....  Some of my research suggests that some of the 11th North Devonshire regiment were spread around a few barracks but I am having trouble finding them in census... and if anyone can tell me what a "Mejs? woman" was I would appreciate it...  and I would appreciate any help. cheers.

[Brentor boy]

Could it be that she was a "mess woman", i e, worked in the camp mess?

[katrinajoy]

This is the census entry..

[Priscilla]

In case you haven't seen this ...

http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/more-info/?t=baptisms&id=1224234

[Brentor boy]

"Me??". -  ?? an archaic form of " ss". Occupation "Mess woman".

[Jaznjjj]

I have a soldier from the 11th Devonshire who was living in Devonport at the time of the 1841 census but whose occupation is given as "shoemaker" not soldier, though at the time he was definitely a soldier.  I know that it was normal in British army regiments for a soldier to have an additional skill which would be useful to the regiment and I am assuming the census-taker has made an incorrect assumption, or someone was being mischievous.  It looks like he and his family were not in barracks but in private accommodation.  He was Richard Bruce and it seems he (with or without his wife and children) travelled around recruiting for the regiment.  J