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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Winston55 on Friday 21 June 19 10:40 BST (UK)
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Looking for information on my great grandfather George MacKay/McKay who was listed as a Private, 1st Battalion 9th Highlanders, Richmond Barracks, Dublin, Ireland. This was listed in 1871 when he married Isabella Kieley. Later he was listed as a Corporal in the Highland Light Infantry. I have been reading that it was formed in 1881 so does anyone know what the correct name would be and if there are any records that can be looked at on line? George's father was also called George listed on George and Isabella's Marriage Certificate as a Pocket Book Maker but I am wondering if he had also been in the military. Thanks.
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Cert
Have you looked for Father's death if he died in Ireland?
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I have no information for his father except what was on his son’s marriage certificate. George was born in 1853 in Dublin Ireland, married in 1871 and died sometime between 1871-1876 because Isabella remarried in 1876. I have been unable to find any conclusive evidence of when and where he died
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This Search for Death Reg doesn't show him on https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp
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https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/display-pdf.jsp?pdfName=d-273-4-7-018
gets the Marriage but no sign of anything else for them.
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Thank you for looking, he is one of my brick walls.
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"Isabella remarried in 1876" Where?
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Isabella married John MacLeod on 15 December 1876. She again remarried Alexander Baxter in 1892.
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In Dublin?
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Sorry about that. 1876 married in Glasgow. Married Alexander Baxter in Glasgow as well. She died in Glasgow in 1906.
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The Highland Light Infantry were formed in 1881 from the 71st (Highland) Light Infantry and the 74th Highland Regiment of Foot, the former becoming 1st Battalion, the latter 2nd Battalion.
The "listing" that had 1st Battalion 9th Highlanders has the appearance of a mis-transcription or some other error as there was, in that time frame, no 9th Highlanders
The 1st Battalion 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot was in Dublin in 1871 and a Geo McKay is stationed there with them with the service number 1193. What detail do you have for the corporal later (when??)
MaxD
Maxd
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Hi
The Marriage Certificate of George and Isabella says: Profession Private 1st 9th
Richmond Barracks
On my Grandfather's Death Certificate Profession of Father says: Corporal Light Infantry.
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The "Highlanders" in the first post was the error. It was the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot at Richmond Barracks in 1871.
I am not clear if we are talking about the same George as a corporal in the HLI - can't be if the 9th regiment man died 1871-1876?
MaxD
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George was born in 1853 in Dublin Ireland
He was "full age" per the 1871 marriage record which suggests he was born in or before 1850.
I don't see any evidence that he was ever in a highland regiment.
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ShaunJ's post alerts me to something I missed. It was the first post that said Highland Light Infantry, the post with the death cert details just says Light Infantry.
Thus in neither case quoted is "Highland" relevant it seems.
MaxD
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If 1853 is indeed the right birth year then there is a possible death in High Church Registration District (Glasgow) in 1873 (644/2 969): George McKay aged 20.
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I wondered if this was him but haven't been able to verify as yet. He might have lied about his age and said he was full age?
First name(s) George
Last name MacKay
Birth year -
Year 1865-75
Regiment 1st Foot
Regiment / service number as transcribed 1 Regt of Foot
Pension year 1815
Death year 1872
Series Wo 23 - Royal Hospital Chelsea: Admission Books, Registers, And Papers 1702-1876
Archive The National Archives
Archive reference WO 23
Piece number 56
Piece description Foot Guards to 10 Foot.
Year range 1865-1875
Record set British Army Service Records
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Regimental & Service Records
Collections from Great Britain, UK None
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1193 Corporal George McKay was discharged from the 9th Regiment on 19 March 1874 after 11 years service. It looks like he purchased his discharge.
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO121%2F0223%2F001_363&parentid=GBM%2FWO121%2F121372754
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George was born in 1853 in Dublin Ireland
How do you know that?
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Other people were convinced that was the date however now that I have looked more closely at the marriage certificate and their age is listed as full that would make him 21 when he married in 1871 so the date would be 1850 unless of course he lied about his age.
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She married George MacKay in Dublin
John MacLeod and Alexander Baxter in Glasgow
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With 11 years of reckonable army service before March 1874 I would think he must have been born well before 1850.
He was in Dublin in 1871 because that's where 1st Battalion of 9th Regiment was based at that time. It doesn't mean he was born there.
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As ShaunJ is piecing together, the man who married in Dublin in 1871 as a member of the 9th Regiment of Foot is without doubt the same man who left the army in 1874. 1st Battalion were stationed in Pembroke Dock and the depot was in Yarmouth.
The "Light Infantry" on the death certificate a generation later may well be a civilian's rendition of the father's regiment. As well as not being highland regiments, none of those mentioned were light infantry.
MaxD
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Thank you both for that information. I have been looking for so long for some sort of connection. So exciting! I need a life ;D.
So is this what I need to do now?
Find his attestation papers and where he was born.
Thanks
Linda
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Looking back to the February/March 1863 period when his army service commenced, both battalions of the 9th Foot were in Corfu at that time, with depots in Limerick.
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Max - thinking about this man's age, am I right in thinking that only service from age 18 would have counted towards his 11 years ?
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ShaunJ - I believe you are right and that would suggest 1840-1845 birth (allowing for possible enlistment from age 14).
Linda - The discharge record that ShaunJ linked to and the 1871 listing appear to be the only military records that survive. The 1871 listing is taken from the muster book (pay roll) of the 9th Regiment for the period Apr-Jun 1871, he would be listed in each of the quarterly registers during his service with them. These though have no date/place of birth.
ShaunJ notes that the 9th Regiment depot was in Limerick in 1863 but consideration of ShaunJ's point means re-looking at where the regiment was in the three/four years earlier than that. (I don't see him in the 1861 Worldwide listing).
Even that though cannot be definitive. Men/boys could join for "general service" and be sent wherever the army wanted them. The East Norfolk designation of the 9th does not necessarily mean they all came from there.
MaxD
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Would any of these fit? The first one died in 1872. Would I be able to find out where he died?
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Would any of these fit?
No. Your man was discharged from the 9th Regiment of Foot having bought himself out in 1874, and did not go to pension.
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I guess that I won't be able to find out anything more about him I suppose. I want to thank you both so much for all of the help that you've given me. I really appreciate it!
Bye for now
Linda
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What was Isabella's address when she married John McLeod in 1876?
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Hi
10 Eastwood Lane, Gallowgate, Glasgow
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Thanks. I was hoping to find something in directories or valuation rolls but drew a blank on that address.
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Thank you very much anyway