Good morning, Sorry about the mis identification of KEW Gardens. My daughter Wendy and I have been there several times and mistakenly assumed it was called KEW Gardens.
What I am trying to determine is if the James Henry Porter, school master who served in the Army from approximately 1859 until 16 APR 1880 could be the father of James Henry Porter, Revenue Officer, who was born 12 FEB 1841/43 in Corbally, County Antrim, Ireland. The pay records at KEW might at least give
his dates and place of service. News article said he served about 10 years in India. Could records at KEW tell if he was ever stationed/lived in Kent County England or Antrim, Ireland?
It is most unfortunate that the name James Porter is extremely common. When searching for the death
record for James Henry Porter, Revenue Officer, we found 65 James Porters who died during the period that our James could have died. His time and place of death remained a mystery for over 20 years until we finally found an obituary notice in a Wexford Newspaper of his son. Article said he was the youngest
son of the late James Porter of Portland, Oregon, USA.
Wendy and I have been to the NIPRO numerous time, checked census records, parish records and land records for County Antrim and even visited the church for the Parish of Killead. Found numerous Porter families but none seem to match which makes me believe the father of James Henry Porter, Revenue Officer, might not have lived in Corbally for a long period of time. perhaps assigned there as a teacher?
Thank you for verifying that "Ser" was an abbreviation for Sergeant. Age 19 seems pretty young to have been a Sergeant, at least in our U.S. Military. Is it likely that James could have been in the Army in Kent and then inducted into the Inland Revenue in County Antrim 15 NOV 1865? He was instructed in procedures for surveying maltsters, distillers, brewers, tobacco manufacturers, spirit retailers, tobacco dealers and mills and kilns. I did find a James Porter on the English 1851 census who had a son James born about 1842. The father was a Gardener. The whole family was born in Tonbridge, Kent. The son was 5 so would have only been 15 on the 1861 census. Also found a James Porter age 38, living in Southwick with his wife Elizabeth and son James age 9. Father might have been a tobacconist? Whole family was born in Southwick. So many options to chose from!!! I will check your site for Walmer. Thank you. Bill