Sergeant of Cavalry Staff, Maidstone depot

[philippaF]

Hi

We are trying to find out more about a relation who was described on his marriage certificate as "Sarjeant of Cavalry Staff" at Maidstone depot in 1859.  He then lived out of the barracks, so he is listed in the 1861 census but we cannot find him at his birthplace (Oxford) in 1851 or anywhere else.

We can identify some of the Cavalry regiments who had Maidstone as their depot at that time, and some of the officers concerned, but nothing on the other ranks. 

We would like to find out how long he was in the cavalry and where he was stationed.  Any suggestions on how we could go about finding more about him? His name, by the way, was John Job Gardiner.

As a matter of course, would soldiers in barracks be listed on 1851 census?   If so does anyone have the Maidstone census that they could check for me?

Many thanks

Philippa

[Jebber]

There is only one John GARDINER in barracks in Maidstone in 1851, age 19, the birth place stated is Chichester, Sussex.

HO107/1617/303/12

Jebber

[philippaF]

Thank you for replying so quickly! That is definitely not him so he was not on an English census in 1851. I wonder whether his cavalry regiment was abroad at the time.
Best wishes
Philippa

[Jebber]

I see his neighbour in 1861 is a Private in the 7th. Hussars, I think that would would be a good place to look for his records.

Jebber

[philippaF]

Thanks for that. Where do you suggest we should look for those who served in the 7th Hussars?
Best wishes
Philippa

[Jebber]

You will need to visit The National Archives at Kew, or get someone to do it for you, some of the records were indexed by name, unfortunately at the time your man would have been discharged this is not the case, you have to search the Regimental Records.

You will find it useful to read this.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=14

Good luck.
Jebber

[philippaF]

Thank you for all your help. We appreciate it.
Best wishes
Philippa

[Mean_genie]

You're could well be right in thinking that he was out of the country at the time of the 1851 census, because at any given time a large proportion of the Army was off guarding some bit of the Empire or other.

You should be able to work out which other regiments he might have belonged to, if you draw a blank with the 7th Hussars. You have the names of a the officers who were in Maidstone Barracks, and they will appear in the Army List, which was published annually. It is name-indexed, and will tell you which regiments they belonged to. There shouldn't be more than 2 or 3, and then you can search the Soldier' Documents for those regiments to find your John Gardiner.

There is a set of the Army Lists at Kew, and also in some major reference libraries.

Good luck.

Mean_genie

[km1971]

According to the 1862 Army List the following regiments had their depot in Maidstone:
 = 6th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Dragoons;
 = 7th (The Queen's Own) Regiment of Hussars;
 = 17th Regiment of Lancers.

According to the 1850 Army List all three regiments were in Ireland, which might explain why you cannot find him in the 1851 census. You could try requesting a lookup for him in the three regiments for the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. Someone is bound to have the medal rolls.

We will probably need this: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/army/step4.htm

Ken