what does this abbrv mean?

[akissling]

I ordered a marriage certificate from the GRO. This record is from marriages overseas and is a transcription. It is the marriage of Thomas Tovey and Anne Winder 12 Dec 1825. Thomas is described as widower, living in Port Louis and Coy. Master Serjt. Can anyone help me figure out what this means? There is no regiment listed.

[DavidG02]

Coy is usually designated Company

Master Serjeant would be the other so Company Master Serjeant

[akissling]

Thanks very much David!

[MaxD]

This may be obvious from other evidence you have but this was not a UK army rank.  Port Louis Mauritius, or Grenada or??

maxD

[akissling]

Interesting! I know that he is from either Bath or Gloucester. Ann's father was Mark Winder of the 82nd regiment and that is why she was in Mauritius. I wasn't able to find Thomas in this regiment.

[MaxD]

Or indeed a mistranscription by someone not familiar with ranks for perhaps Company Sergeant Major.  A Thomas Tovey does appear in an 1815 muster list in (it looks like) the 64th Regiment and also in a list with an enlistment date of 18 Sep 1815 (no regiment) enlisted at Bath - no other detail.  May well have been promoted and changed regiment by 1825 - all conjecture really I'm afraid.

[akissling]

Thanks! I will check out these leads.

[km1971]

Colour Sergeant was the highest ranking 'other rank' in an infantry company in this period. Company Sergeant Major could be the highest OR in the Royal Artillery when they used Company rather than the later Battery. Other corps such as the Sappers and Miners (Royal Engineers) also used 'company'.

Ken

[suzi600]

Company quartermaster sergeant ............ CQMS