Army barracks St Woolos Monmouth

[wilcoxon]

Perhaps the birth certificates of the children will give his occupation. 
There is  a Jane Gray, 1853 mmn Thomas on the GRO index.

[osprey]

welcome to Rootschat!

If he's the Matthew Gray enumerated in Weedon in 1851, the British Army index of that year has him in the 48th Regiment of Foot. No obvious birth registrations for the children in the Armed forces birth registrations available via Findmypast.

The moving around isn't unusual for those in the army.

[wilcoxon]

Lots of info on Ancestry, Mathew Gray,, a soldier. One marriage in Ireland. 

[SteveBr69]

Thanks Osprey and Wilcoxon.
Yes he is the Matthew Gray based in Weedon in 1851 (listed in that year’s census as Private Infantry Army) and he was married to Margaret Clark (born Ireland 1828). In later census he’s listed as a Chelsea Pensioner.

[montecarlolou]

Hi,

I have  similar issue and don't know how to find the relevant records.  My partners great grandfather, George Thomas Snape was born, according to him on 1911 census, at 48th regt. Newport, Monmouth in February 1852.  I can't find him in the 1861 census but he joined the Royal Marines in Portsmouth in 1870 and has been traceable thereafter.

Can anyone help, or point me in the right direction?

Thanks in hopeful advance

Lou x

[osprey]

Welcome to Rootschat!

There is an army birth cert for George Snape which you can buy from the GRO

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp

ref is George Snape Newport Mon 1852 38th regt vol 1189 pg 9

from parish marriages 24 May 1881 St Bartholomew, Southsea
George Thomas Snape full bach private RMLI HMS Hector father John Snape shoemaker
Selina Elizabeth Collins 23 spinster Southsea father Benjamin Collins labourer
witnesses Jonathan Barrass & James Horatio Robson, all signed.

There is a military record for a John Snape, shoemaker, who attested for the 48th regiment 6 Jan 1846 aged 17 years 1 month and later transferred to the 38th. He was born in Northampton in 1828. Discharged in 1864 because of chronic rheumatism.

1871 census 2 Gray's Cottages, Farnborough, Hampshire RG10/1231 folio 38 pg 32
John Snape head mar 42 shoemaker & pensioner b. Northampton
Mary wife 40 b. Ireland
Thomas son 13 b. Northampton

birth reg
Thomas Snape sept qtr 1857 Northampton vol 3b pg 76 mother's maiden name Swaney
also recorded in the birth index for 38th regiment.

[montecarlolou]

Thanks Osprey,

That's fantastic! I just couldn't find the records!  This has knocked a definitive hole in our brick wall.  Really grateful.

All the best

Lou x