Hi there. I am conducting family tree research from Australia.
I am trying to find an excise officer called John Meredith (probably born sometime between 1770 and 1806, probably born in Wales or less likely Lancashire) . John Meredith was stated to be an excise officer in the Australian death certificate of his son James Frederick Meredith.
As James was born in Knighton, Radnorshire, Wales in 1824 we know that his father John Meredith had to be born sometime before 1806 and that he was living in or near Knighton in 1824.
From searching the National Archives I've determined that he is not the John Meredith who became an excise officer in 1844 (as that John Meredith is too young). I've not found anything useful when searching google books or the Lancashire business directory's.
I suspect from the 1851 census that he may instead be the John Meredith who was 75, born Knighton Radnorshire and stated to be a superannuated excise officer. At that time in 1851, that John Meredith was living at Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire.
However, it is also possible that the John Meredith I am looking for could be 10 years or so younger than that and had lived at various times in Lancashire or Radnorshire, Wales.
I would greatly appreciate it if anyone was able to find any information about any John Meredith's who were excise officers born in the time period about 1770 to 1806 in England or Wales, as I'm afraid I seem to have run into a dead end in my research.
Much thanks if you are able to be of help with my search, particularly if you have an ATHENS password.