James MCCALLUM (c. 1785 Edinburgh) enlisted with the 1st Battalion Royal Artillery in 1801 and married Mary NEWTON (b. 1789 Haddington, Scotland) in Edinburgh in 1810. Sometime shortly after this he was posted to the West Indies (Barbados) for almost 6 years. By 1817 they were back in England for the birth of their daughter Mary at the Woolwich Barracks. James (then a Sergeant) was discharged in 1827, but due to his excellent record and impeccable character was appointed the Barracks Sergeant of the Royal Military Academy in 1828 (a position he held for more than 25 years). He died in 1865 aged 80.
James and Mary are reputed to have had 20 children (4 of whom died as infants). Letters written in 1827 recommending James for the Barracks Sergeant role state that he already had 8 children to educate. To date we have only found;
John (b. 1813 Christ Church Barbados) - Major in 1881 census
Charles (b. 1815 St. Anne Barbados) - Sergeant Major in 1851 census
Mary (b. 1817 Woolwich Kent)
Janet (b. 1821 Woolwich Kent), husband Robert STEVEN - Qtr Master in 1871 census
Euphemia (b. 1821 Woolwich Kent), husband Charles WHARRY - Captain (retired) in 1871 census
James Lumber (b. 1823 Woolwich Kent) - Major in 1874 on retirement
Margaret (b. 1825 Woolwich Kent), died aged 16
William (b. 1829 Woolwich Kent) - Sergeant in 1861 census
Edward Henry (b. 1832 Woolwich Kent) - 14 years in Royal Artillery (1845-59)
Horatio Edwin (b. 1834 Woolwich Kent) - 12 years in Royal Artillery (1847-59)
As Mary would have been 45 when Horatio Edwin was born in 1834, I suspect that more children after then would be unlikely. More likely there are other children in the parish records of either Scots Church, Woolwich and St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich where the known children were baptised.
A family document suggested Jessie, Robert, Polly & Nellie as other children of James & Mary, although I think there may be some confusion of the generations with these names.
I would greatly appreciate the assistance of anyone with access to these parish records.
Regards,
FishMan
