Lookup Canada Archives or Quebec CM

[sue alderton]

I have been searching the Kew War Office Archives for my gggrt grandfather JOHN ALDERTON who was in the 83RD REGIMENT OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN QUEBEC CANADA BETWEEN 1835 AND 1838 and there is no record of him. However family records show he was CM court marshalled in Quebec in Lower Canada in 1837 for desertion sentenced to 14 years transportation to Australia. He was shipped back to England and was sent out on the ship Bengal Merchant in late 1837 but I cannot find any information about his army records or his court marshall in the UK. I was wondering if anyone with connections to Archives in Canada could do a preliminary check I do not mind paying for his military records if he is there.  He was tried in the court at Quebec Lower Canada where he was court marshalled in 1837 does anyone know if legal records were kept for these offenses by the courts in Quebec. Thanks for any help or advice.

Sue Alderton

Sue

[waiteohman]

Hello Sue

The information below is from the Quebec Archives website - prison records.

Number:11689
Imprisoned: August 24, 1837
Offence: Military
Commital Order by Town Mayor
Grounds for Discharge: Transported & Ship " Stakesby "
Discharged: September 16, 1837
Reference Centre d'archives de Québec, E17 (1960-01-036/1570), Registre de la prison de Québec (femmes et hommes), 1823-1837, vol. 2, f. 371
http://pistard.banq.qc.ca/apex/f?p=134:11:1709593044937999::NO::P11_CLE:12112

Linda

[waiteohman]

Hello Sue

His desertion would have been at the time of the Patriot Wars.

Seems the Board of Ordanance were not efficient in supplying the soldiers. Possibly one cause for his desertion
http://www.phmc.gc.ca/cmh/en/page_511.asp

Events happening at the time March 1837-
http://english.republiquelibre.org/1837-38-patriot-war.html#March

Two major battles involving the British Troops occured in November 1838.  The first the British Army lost to the Patriotes on November 23rd at St. Denis, Quebec. The second the British defeated the Patriots, November 25th at St. Charles, Quebec. Two Catholic Priests of St. Denis and St. Charles supported the Patriotes.
http://www.phmc.gc.ca/cmh/en/page_537.asp

The Americans saw opportunity after the War of 1812 defeat to reestablish a republic state.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=DLYyYUaue8gC&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111&dq=%22patriot+war%22+%22St.+Denis%22&source=web&ots=jSy8W9-y9d&sig=CAyw48eRx7Gjm2tdIxWcqM1ChD0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result
See pages 111-   .

As a British soldier, English, protestant, outnumbered in ranks and possibly ill equiped, it would not have been a place one wanted to be in August of 1837.

Rebellion of 1837
http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/mil/can/1837/

I like to add personal detail and understanding to my own family tree. Hope you find the above of interest and useful.

Linda