RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Westee on Friday 10 September 21 07:06 BST (UK)
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Has anyone access to record for WO 86/6 which is a court martial record?
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Unfortunately these records are not digitised, it means you have three options.
Visit the National Archives yourself, get someone else to do it for you, or ask for a quote for the record to be copied and sent to you. The third option is likely to be costly.
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Thanks so much. I've just managed to sign in, but didn't get any further. I am really really keen to seen the document. So I'll get a quote for the item I want. Will be interesting. (I live abroad)
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Have you been able to find the Military Records of the person concerned, it may give the details of the Courts Martial. Another idea to consider, if the charge was particularly serious, there may be an account in contemporary newspapers.
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This has been a particularly interesting research for me. Jas Newton joined the 96th Reg in 1839 and a short time later was sent to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) as a convict guard. When the hostilities broke out in New Zealand during the northern wars with Maori in 1845 the 96th came across and he fought at the first battle. It was a disaster. He and several others deserted a year later (and was on the run for five years) only to give himself up in 1851 to the 58th Reg. It was at this point there was a court martial hearing. I would love to read it. He was a freeman 18 months later as he married and had children. I am related to James and I just have found this so interesting. I do have information on his time in New Zealand but have little else. Although I do know he was from Heigham, Norfolk and I have done his family tree.
It would be terribly interesting to establish any further detail which may be given at the court martial hearing. Who knows what it may divulge. Would love to know :-)
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I am willing to pay for any papers which may be available on this. So will try and sort this out tomorrow.
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I hope you find what you are looking for. I understand the desire to complete the picture, it is such an important part of New Zealand history. I was fortunate enough to visit Waitangi on one of my visits to New Zealand some years ago.
Do come back and let us know if you are successful.
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The document is available on Fold3, although from the ones Ive seen its usually just an entry in a book, with fixed headers for date, place, reason, outcome etc - no real details.
You can usually get a free trial of Fold3 if you haven't had one previously.
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Had used mine some time ago; but will look at getting around that. Tks. I had forgotten.