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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Darnity on Monday 29 June 20 17:36 BST (UK)
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Looking at the Shearwood family of Eversholt, Beds I noticed that Josiah SHEARWOOD's wife Alma COLEMAN's place of birth was Ireland so I started looking at her family history.
She was the daughter of John and Ellen COLEMAN.
John Coleman appears to be from a local ag lab family and I found him initially in 1881 in Woburn a widower with a son born Aldershot Camp and daughter Alma born Ireland. So I initially wondered if he had joined the Bedfordshire regt and seen service in Ireland.
Then I found him in 1871 in the Citadel in Plymouth, with many other military families, and John is shown as what I read as a gunner in the royal artillery. He has a wife Ellen whose pob is shown as India. So has he seen service in India or is she from a family who had done so and he'd met her back home?
I haven't yet found him or them in 1861 so I am wondering if he/they are abroad with the RA. I haven't found a marriage yet either.
Ellen appears to die between 1871 and 1881 but was it in England or abroad?
I have been told that Herbrand, Duke of Bedford, would find work for any returning servicemen which probably explains John being back in Woburn as a general labourer by 1881.
This is what I currently know about John Coleman:
Baptised 7th May 1837 Woburn, Beds
1841 in Woburn with parents and siblings, yob 1837
1851 in Woburn with parents and siblings, father is an ag lab, yob 1837, pob Woburn
1861 missing currently
1871 in Plymouth “Citadel” yob 1838, gunner royal artillery with wife Ellen, yob 1838, born India, daughter age 9 born Exeter, another daughter age 5 born Devonport, son John born Aldershot age 4 and daughter Alma 1 born Ireland.
1881 in Woburn, general labourer, yob 1839, pob Woburn, a widower with son John 14 born Aldershot camp and daughter Alma 11 born Kingsale, Ireland
1891 in Woburn, ag lab, yob 1837 with new wife Mary Shouler (married 3Q 1881, Woburn)
Dies 2Q 1891 age 54, Woburn Reg Dist
Any leads with finding his marriage, who his wife was and her death and information about his military service would be appreciated.
Thanks
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Hi
Ancestry have the baptisms of Mary Ellen Cecelia b 1861 Cork, Lilly Adeline Coleman Aldershot b 1865 and William John Coleman b 1866 Aldershot and Alma Jane b 1870 Rincurran Ireland.
Ellens surname not specified but GRO has
Lily Adeline Sarah Coleman 1865 Stoke Dameral mmn Walker
William John Thomas Coleman 1866 Farnham mmn Walker
Alma J Coleman s birth is registered in the British Army and Overseas Index so possible to get a certificate.
Cathy
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If you have access to Ancestry there are a few records for this couple
There is this UK British Army Navy Records B M D
Gunner John Coleman ( bachelor )
Ellen Eliza Anne Walker ( spinster )
Marriage date 2 4 January 1861
Heair Liff Parish Devon
There is a possible death for Ellen Coleman
Age 34 years
Died 23 September 1872
Burial 23 September 1872
Lahore Bengal India
There are also some baptism record's for some of the children mentioned
Rosie
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Hi....
John Coleman is the younger brother of my 3x great grandmother Jane. Jane marries James Favel.
Jane and her son and future daughter in law were arrested and charged with murder in 1876. The verdict then was wilful murder no true bill. However Jane was re arrested and again out on trial again she was aquitted.
Her daughter had been found in the house burnt whilst the family slept upstairs. I was amazed the story was in papers all over the country billed as the Lamsey murder after the area they lived in.
Tazzie
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There is also this on Fold 3
John Coleman
Age 42 years
Birth year 1838 Woburn Beds
Pension admission or examination date 3 Feb 1880
Regiment 8 Bde R A
Regiment number 1734
Rosie
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Also army records on find my past he enlisted 1858 and was in India for 3 years
Rosie
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Rosie has triumphed again! The service record for 1734 Gunner John Coleman is on Findmypast and has wife and all the children named. He served in a number of brigades and in 1871 was in Plymouth in 13th Brigade.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pnt/
MaxD
Crossed in the post Rosie but left with the link!
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Rosie has triumphed again! The service record for 1734 Gunner John Coleman is on Findmypast and has wife and all the children named. He served in a number of brigades and in 1871 was in Plymouth in 13th Brigade.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pnt/
MaxD
Crossed in the post Rosie but left with the link!
But your the expert MaxD when it comes to army ;)
Rosie
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Hi....
John Coleman is the younger brother of my 3x great grandmother Jane. Jane marries James Favel.
Jane and her son and future daughter in law were arrested and charged with murder in 1876. The verdict then was wilful murder no true bill. However Jane was re arrested and again out on trial again she was aquitted.
Her daughter had been found in the house burnt whilst the family slept upstairs. I was amazed the story was in papers all over the country billed as the Lamsey murder after the area they lived in.
Tazzie
I'll PM you Tazzie as Josiah was the Uncle of my Grandmother.
So we can see how Alma got Jane as her second given name, named for her Aunt.
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Many thanks to everyone for the information.
I will look further at all the data you've provided.
It must have been strange for John to go from a quiet rural life to being in all these strange, and maybe exotic to him, places and then to return to Woburn.
Very many thanks again to everyone. It's amazing what unexpected things one can learn about the lives of our wider families.