9
« on: Sunday 10 February 19 16:55 GMT (UK) »
Eliminate if you can!
Eliza Roberts is my 2x great grandmother, but I haven't found her parents. All I know is that she named her father on her 1871 marriage as John Roberts, Soldier, 38th Infantry. Eliza gives her birthplace as Halifax, Canada, on the 1871 & 1881 census. She was born c1850 and died in 1885. She lived in Birmingham, but also had some connections to Warwick.
The 38th Regiment of Foot were in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the time of her birth, and I've recently come across the British Army Worldwide Index which confirms that John Roberts was a private in the 38th in 1841 and 1851. His service number was 1886. I've been through the medal lists for the Crimean War and he doesn't appear there, so I am guessing for now that he left the army after the regiment returned to England from Canada in August 1851. (Some of the 38th are at Chester Barracks in the 1851 census, but he isn't among them.)
I've found a possible family in the census from 1861 onwards. I note that John's birthplace is Wolverhampton, and the 38th was aka the Staffordshire Regiment, so that caught my eye. I can't find this family in 1851 - can anyone help to rule them in or out?
1861
Woodbine Cottage, Darwin St, Bordesley, Birmingham
John Roberts, head, m, 41, brass tube maker, Wolverhampton Staffs.
Emma, wife, m, 41, Winchcombe Glos.
Thomas, son, 12, Birmingham
Eliza, daughter, 10, Birmingham
John, son, 8, Birmingham
1871
Woodbine Cottage, Darwin St, Bordesley
John Roberts, head, m, 50, tube maker, Wolverhampton Staffs.
Emma, wife, m, 51, housekeeper, Gloucester
Thomas, son, unm, 22, tube maker, Birmingham
William, son, 7, scholar, Birmingham
1881
57 Dymoke St, Deritend, Birmingham
John Roberts, head, m, 60, brass tube drawer, Wolverhampton Staffs.
Emma, wife, m, 61, Birmingham
William, son, unm, 17, brass tube drawer, Birmingham
1891
7 Lovers Walk, Aston Manor, Birmingham
John Roberts, head, m, 70, case tube maker, ditto (Aston – probably a copying error)
Emma, wife, m, 72, Gloucester
5 Lovers Walk
William Roberts, head, m, 28, case tube maker, Birmingham
Louisa, wife, m, 32, Birmingham
Violet, daughter, 6, scholar, Aston
Lilian, daughter, 1, Aston
Postings of the 38th Regiment were
1822 – 1836 India
1836 – 1837 England
1837 – 1840 Ireland
1840 – 1843 Zante, Ionian Isles
1843 – 1845 Gibraltar
1845 – 1848 Jamaica
1848 – 1851 Halifax, Nova Scotia
1851 – 1854 England
1854 – 1857 Crimea