William Axe of Mexborough, England - served in the Confederate army

[Rabuser]

A newspaper (Sheffield Independent, England) report from 1866 states that William Axe, a sometime guardsman and drill serjeant had served in the Confederate army. No further details are provided and it may or may not be true. William was English and had been a soldier in England in the 1830s but there is no record of him yet found between 1837 and 1865. If he was a soldier in the Civil War, does anyone know of any records listing him, or how best to look for him? He was certainly back in England by late 1865.

Richard Axe

[shellyesq]

I see some men named William Axe on the Union side, but not Confederate side here - http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm 

Do you know when he was born?

[Rabuser]

Thanks for the quick response, Shelly.

William was baptised in 1812 so was probably born in or near to that year. Some British army related reports suggest 1815 so he might not have been totally sure or disguised his age for some reason.

If he was part of the Confederate army will that make a search more difficult?

Richard

[shellyesq]

I don't think it's more difficult, as both sides maintained records, but no one with that name is coming up as a Confederate soldier.  The closest one I see is named William Axer, but it looks like he was born about 1833. 

[Rabuser]

Thanks for your assistance, Shelly.

I see the baseline entry but a birth around 1833 doesn't cut it for our man. Does that suggest that the newspaper report on any American activities is incorrect? What other options might there be? At least part of their report is correct because he had been a soldier; he served with the Coldstream Guards in England in the 1830s.

Richard

[Redroger]

In response to the member who asked where he was born; it would definitely be Mexborough, Axe is an ancient surname in the town dating back many centuries.