I have tantalizing information in an old letter from my husband's long deceased aunt, but cannot make any progress in solving the riddle she bequeathed him. She and my husband shared ancestors in the Hilton family in Kent.
She is sure that the grandfather of Capt Thomas Hilton's wife Ann(e) was James Wallis "on the Irish side". We have a "James Wallis" bookplate, and he is, according to the aunt, my husband's 4g grandfather.
She said that James Wallis's wife was descended from the Fitzgeralds "and whose great-grandpa was the famous knight of Kerry". She had inherited a Fitzgerald crested tea-tray.
So my questions are: who was Thomas Hilton's wife Ann(e); who were her parents and grandparents; and how can I find out?
Capt. Thomas Hilton was born 12 Dec 1813, Selling, Kent, and he died there in 1883. He was said to be a Capt in 19th Regt of Foot. According to family sources he married Anne Wallis-Tayler, daughter of Capt Wallis-Tayler, Surgeon Capt; RNMD of Queenstown, Ireland. According to the birth certificate of Thomas and Anne's daughter in 1862 Anne's maiden name was Tayler. According to the IGI Ann Taylor was born 3 Nov 1822 of Hawboline, Queenstown, Cork, Ireland; it also lists Ann Taylor born about 1820 in Cloyne Diocese, Cork who married, in 1841, Thomas Hilton, Cloyne Diocese, Cork. There is also an entry for a marriage on 1 July 1841.
Anne had a relative (sister or cousin perhaps?) referred to as Dora Wallis-Tayler. Dora married Col Robert Campbell; their daughter Mary was born in Cape Town in 1849.
It looks as if there should be good sources, but I can't find relevant references in on-line indexes and I find myself going round in circles. And I don't have ready access to Irish or military records, so please can anyone give me suggestions as to how to approach this problem. Many thanks.