British soldier in Halifax, Nova Scotia 1882 - 1883

[Skinniedipper]

Hello Everyone,
According to the marriage registration, when my ancestor, John Brown (b abt 1858 Southwick, Co Durham) married Mary Napier (b abt 1863 Halifax) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 16th July 1882 his occupation was shown as "Soldier".  Can anyone give me any suggestions as to how I can find out which regiment he was with or any other info that may be available about what he was doing in Halifax.
I have found a possible entry in the UK 1881 census (RG11/1325/123/8) which shows a John Brown (b abt 1859 Sunderland, Co Durham) as a private with the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards, stationed at Victoria Barracks in Windsor, Berkshire) but have since received information that this battalion was not in Canada in 1882.
George & Mary's first child, George, was born in Halifax in about 1882/83 (although I haven't confirmed the date yet) so there's a good chance that John was still there then.  It's all a bit of a mystery as I can't find Mary or her parents (George & Harriet) in the 1881 Canadian census either.

Thanks,

Douglas,
Queanbeyan, Australia 
 
 
 

[Josephine]

Douglas,

If they were in Halifax City (and not just Halifax County), perhaps you might find them in the Halifax city directories online:

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/canadiandirectories/index-e.html

If you know the names of Mary's parents, you might find them in there, too.

Have you seen these sites:

Halifax County GenWeb:  http://www.rootsweb.com/~nshalifa/

Halifax City info:  http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/bryanfkeddy/index.html

Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management:  http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/
(This has some Halifax city deaths for a certain period.)

I remember reading somewhere that (former) soldiers with pensions from England immigrated to Canada and were then farmers, etc.  I don't know if this would pertain to your guy.  I guess you'd have to see if they were in Nova Scotia in 1891.

Have you looked for him there in 1901:

http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/index.html

The index won't give you the birthplace, but if you click on the link to an image, you'll be able to check.

Good luck!
Josephine

[J.J.]

Perhaps you can try here....

AFHS- Nova Scotia Censuses
http://www.afhs.ab.ca/registry/regns_census.html

Nova Scotia Resources
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/mtoll/ns.htm

[J.J.]

Yes, there is only one contender in the 1881, for George, but says children
born in England...none seem to show in the 1901, either? ( not for N.S, anyway)

[mandmsports]

From what I understand, the last British regiment to be garrisoned, here, in Canada, was the Royal canadian Rifle regiment. They were dibanded in 1870
http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/canada-military/british-in-cda/roal-cdn-rifles-1840.htm

Mike