James McKenzie, Southern Highlanders

[benchurian]

I am trying to trace any info on the life of Private James McKenzie of the Southern Highlanders 97th.  He married a Catherine Dorman in 1877 while stationed in Beggars Bush, Dublin.  I heard he may be from Edinburgh or its enviorns.  His parents were Thomas and Margaret according to the marriage cert.  Any idea how I might find out about his life before Dublin?

[CaroleW]

How old was he when he married?

Is he on the 1901 or 1911 Irish census?

[benchurian]

The marriage was on the 8th Sept. 1878.  I believe he was in the army at this time.  On the cert, there is no info re his age.  He remained in Dublin, appearing on the 1911 census aged 56.  This means he was born around 1855.  This is possibly an approximation as some of the kids ages were "circa".  I have no idea when he died.

[CaroleW]

I heard he may be from Edinburgh or its enviorns.

1901 shows Edinburgh - 1911 just says Scotland.  Age is consistent on both censuses - 46 in 1901 and 56 in 1911

[CaroleW]

1861 Scottish census has these entries for a James McKenzie b Edinburgh

Aged 7 - mother Margaret.  Family Search shows father was William (Margaret was prev Fife)

Aged 5 - grandson - no parents shown

No entry with parents Thomas & Margaret

[macintosh]

Perhaps you mean 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, there was 97th Strathspey Highlanders, 1794 - 1797,


James

[km1971]

Because of the many changes in name it is easier to use 97th Foot or 97th Highlanders.

If you can get to the National Archives you can look up the musters for the regiment. From the late 1860s they contain details of the married roll, which gives wife's name plus ages of any children in years and months. If you find a change in the number of children the muster will tell you where he was that month. So you then have an area to search for church baptisms/burials.

Ken

[CaroleW]

Benchurion's profile shows he lives in Spain