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Hi, found in Archives UK record WO 25/574 Image 46 of 147:

Alex Mills joined 4 Garrison Battalion on 27 January 1807 from the 27th Regiment. The 27th was called "Inniskilling" (the old name for Enniskillen) as it was originally raised in the town of that name in County Fermanagh.

Craigt.

Hi, looking at the Archives UK website on their records search engine Discovery you can download for free the Description Books for the 4th (later 2nd) Garrison Battalion in which Alexander Mills was enlisted. One Description Book (reference WO 25/571) has a total of 87 images, and records Alexander Mills on images 25 and 63. Both images indicate where he was born; the County, Fermanagh, is reasonably clear, but the parish is less easy to read. Can anyone else decipher this record?
Regards,
Craigt.

Hi, the 1814 marriage between Alexander Mills b. c. 1785 and Mary Eustace was held in the Town Church which is Anglican.

I came across a website which contains information about the 4th Garrison Battalion in which Alexander was enlisted:

http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/Britain/Infantry/Regiments/c_Veterans.html

The website indicates that there were eight possible regiments which supplied soldiers for the 4th Garrison Battalion: the 3rd/2, 4th/2, 18th/2, 44th/2, 56th/2, 57th/2, 58th/2 and 67th/2, and of these the second Battalions of the 18th, 44th, 58th, and 67th Regiments were raised in Ireland with the others being raised in England. Muster Books exist not only for the 4th Garrison Battalions, but also for the 2nd Battalions of all of the above eight Regiments. In addition, Description Books and Casualty Books exist for the 4th Garrison Battalion, the Casualty books record why soldiers left for any reason: death, discharge, desertion etc. As Alexander had to have been an invalid in the first place to enlist as a Garrison soldier, it is possible he was granted a pension on discharge. So, through tracing Alexander back through the Muster records held at Archives in Kew, London, backwards through the Garrison to the Regiment in which he first enlisted, and looking at the Description and other records, we should be able to find out where he enlisted, and hopefully where he was born. As you indicated, the records held in Guernsey give no clue as to who Alexander's parents were, and neither is it likely that his army records will record these details. It is possible, if the Church of Ireland records still exist, that a likely baptism record for Alexander might be found. Even if it isn't it would great to find out a lot more about Alexander through his Army records.
Regards,
Craigt.

Alexander Mills junior and Emily Webb.

Town Church, St. Peter Port  Marriage Register

Alexander Mills, son of Alexander and Emily Webb daughter of Charles, both of this Parish were married together on the 13 July 1839


Of the children in this family, some were in the Town Church register, some only on the civil register and some in the Wesleyan Methodist register.  This last register is very faint with most pages being impossible to read. 

Town Church Baptism Register

Maria Emily born 24 September, baptised 19 October 1839.  Sponsors:  Charles Webb, Marie Webb, Cornelia Webb

Alexander Charles twin born 17, privately baptised 20 March 1841.  Sponsors:  Edward Webb, Alexander Mills, Mary Mills
James Edward             ̎       ̎          ̎           ̎                   ̎              ̎          ̎           ̎           Sponsors:  James Webb, Thomas Mills, Rachel Robert

Westleyan Methodist Baptism Register

Thomas twin born 28 May, baptised 27 June 1849.  Where Born:  St. Peter Port  Father’s Occupation:  Tailor
Emily         ̎          ̎          ̎       ̎              ̎              ̎       ̎          ̎            Where Born:  St. Peter Port  Father’s Occupation:  Tailor

*Sarah Amelia  born 2 March, baptised 22 April 1851.  Where Born:  St. Peter Port  Father’s Occupation:  Tailor           

*this record is very faint mostly unreadable.  On the 1851 census is Cornelia aged 1 month. also Walter aged 3

Civil Birth Register

Samuel 18 September 1845  Where Born:  Rue Berthelot, St. Peter Port  Father’s Occupation:  Tailor

Lydia 2 February 1853   Where Born:  New Street, St. Peter Port  Father’s Occupation:  Dress Maker

Charles 19 November 1857  Where Born:  Pollet, St. Peter Port  Father’s Occupation:  Tailor

Craigt

Mary Eustace’s Baptism Record

Children of John Eustace and Marie Eustace

Marie born 2 February, baptised 16 July 1790.  Sponsors:  Jean Sparnen. Robert Erndey, Susanne Sparnen, Marie Eustis

George born 14, baptised 16 April 1792.  Sponsors:  Rodger Hambly, Joseph Trevose, Jeanne Toy

John born 1 December, baptised 25 1794.  Sponsors:  William Hambly, John Eustus, Jenny Hambly

John son of John Eustus was buried 15 February 1798.

Mary Eustace’s parents

There is the following marriage of John Eustace to Elizabeth Hoskings, however the burial register shows this to be a second marriage for Mary’s father John. 

Mary wife of John Eustus was buried 2 March 1802

Sergt John Eustus of the Corps of Royal Military Artificers and Elizabeth Hoskings of this Parish were married together on 14 October 1802

This second marriage may seem like unseemly haste but a serving soldier with a young family really did not have any option open other than a quick marriage

No further children appear in the baptism registers but looking at Elizabeth’s birth date c1810  (census) she must be a child from the second marriage.  (All  parish church records have been searched.) 

John son of John Eustus was buried 31 March 1805

This John is the child of the second marriage.  Elizabeth Eustace appears on the 1871 census London census; - her birth place is as before Guernsey, however there are no baptism records for this family other than the three children of the first marriage who were baptised in the Town Church.  Obviously  John  and his second wife Elizabeth were having children for some time.   The only explanation for this is that we know that John was a military man, - the island was always garrisoned and although many baptisms took place in the parish churches the garrison did have its own chaplain.  The National Army Museum indicates before about 1796 each regiment had its own chaplain; after then chaplains do seem to have been based in particular garrisons.  Services would have been carried out in garrison chapels or in other consecrated areas.  Records of births, marriages and death were kept in both regimental registers and in half yearly returns that were posted back to the war office.           

Craigt.