Children of the Troops

[BobtheBee]

Hi,

I'm sure I've seen something, somewhere, a while ago, about the children born to troops while they are serving abroad.

I'm particularly interested in a boy (aged 6 at the time) who came to the UK with his father who had been serving in Ceylon with the 83rd of Foot (or maybe the 81st?) until 1831. He was quite dark skinned, and I would like to try to identify his mother (- fat chance I hear you say).

Before returning to the UK, and discharge in Inniskillen, the boys father served in the 73rd of Foot, going to New South Wales in 1809, before going on to Ceylon and joining the East India Company, then the 83rd.

What I want to know is, does anyone know if there is anywhere where the dependants of troops are recorded, particularly those brought back to the UK.

Bob

[suey]

Hello Bob - someone may come up with something more helpful but to begin with see if your library has Ancestral Trails by Mark D Herber, have a look at Chapter 19 which looks helpful, also Tracing your Ancestors in the PRO by Amanda Bevan that will give you some idea as to whether they might have Army records for your man.

[BobtheBee]

Thanks Suey,

I'll look out for that book, as regards the PRO, we already have all his army records, hence detailed dates for where and with whom he served, as well as his discharge papers, but nothing concerning his son has been found so far.

In 1881, the boy, now aged 58, James Butt, a Coal Dealer of Ilkeston, Derby, gives his birthplace as : (Brit Subject) Ceylon, where if anywhere would his birth or immigration details have been held?

Bob

[casalguidi]

Hi Bob

There are some army births in the GRO registers - see:

http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/

Log in and select overseas registers

Good luck

Casalguidi

[BobtheBee]

Thanks Casalguidi,

Nothing there, although I was able to see the 3 pages I was interested in for free, which is a bit of a result.

Bob