Amelia Geraldine Cochrane, Gibraltar

[cj1992]

I'm trying to shed some light on my great great grandmother, Amelia Geraldine Cochrane, who was born in Gibraltar about 1838, but I have found very little information so far.

I don't know when she came to the UK but I believe she married George Brant in 1865 in Birmingham. I have found three children, Caroline Brant, born about 1867, Birmingham; Amelia Geraldine Brant (my great grandmother) born 7 November 1870, Sandhurst, Berkshire; and George Brant, born about 1874, Easthampstead, Berkshire.

I think that she died about 1894 in Wokingham, Berkshire. Whichever way I turn I just seem to hit a dead end. Is there any way I can find out about her parents and any siblings and what they might have been doing in Gibraltar? I did come across something that suggested that she may have had a sister who was born in the West Indies.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

[Isobelruss]

1861 census

Sarah Cochrane 38 married seamstress b Barbados West Indies
Amelia Cochrane 24 step daughter  Governess b Gilbralta
Brook Church Lane Barkham Berks

[Isobelruss]

There is a birth registration

Cochrane
Amelia Geraldine
Station Gibralta
Country Gibralta
year 1836-1837
page 583
source GRO Army Chaplains Birth Indices 1796-1880

you could order the birth certificate that would give the parents names

[Dazey999]

1871 census
RG10; Piece: 1296; Folio: 17; Page: 26
Sandhurst, Berkshire
George Brant, 30, attendant Broadmoor (hospital) b. Wokingham
Amelia, 33, b. Gibraltar
Caroline L, 4, b. Birmingham
Amelia, 1, b. Sandhurst

[Dazey999]

In 1881 Sarah E Jane Cochrane (Amelia's stepmother) was living in Sandhurst and is listed as an Officer's Widow.

[Isobelruss]

Theres a John Cochrane death registered Corfu Greece vol 8 p 2
GRO Ionian Islands Military registration deaths 1818-1864
wonder if this could be Amelias dad

[mosiefish]

Amelias birth is also on the GRO Regimental Birth Indices
Amelia G Cochrane Gibraltar 1837 Volume 10 page 50b father in the 33rd
There is also a John T H Cochrane Northampton 1834 Volume 10 page 46B father in the 33rd

Mo
Added:
There is a baptism for a John Thomas Hands Cochrane in Northampton on 12th January, 1835
Parents John and Caroline Louisa Cochrane.

[mosiefish]

Marriage at St. Sepulchre s church, Northampton
25th February, 1834
John Cochrane, Sergeant of the 33d Regiment, to Caroline Louisa, eldest daughter of Sergeant- Major Hands, of the Northamptonshire Militia

Mo

[cj1992]

Dear Isobel, Dazey999 and Mo.

Thank you so much for all the information.

I obviously misunderstood things when I thought the the person born in the West Indies (Sarah) was Amelia's sister. Knowing that she was her stepmother helps me to straighten things out a bit.

It does look as though the evidence for Amelia's parents being John and Caroline Louisa Cochrane is quite strong, but obviously I'll have to get the birth certificate to be 100% sure.

I'm assuming that the reference to the 33rd is the 33rd Regiment of Foot (or 1st Yorkshire West Riding), later to become The Duke of Wellington's Regiment. I've tried to find out if the 33rd were in Gibraltar at the time of Amelia's birth but I cannot find any reference to this so it is puzzling me a bit.  Is there any way I can find out about John's role and movements that might tie in with him being in Gibraltar?

Once again, many thanks to you all for your help.

CJ