Totternhoe parish birth - LYDIA BROWN

[alancarol]

Thank you very much to all of you.  Your help is much appreciated.
If, when WILLIAM JOHN BROWN (to WILLIAM/DINAH BROWN) was bapt 12 July 1795 at St Mary & St Helena, Elstow, he stated he was a Private in West Kent Militia - would that mean he came from Kent.  Or, as when he married he stated he was from Bedford St Pauls, is that the line I should take to finding his parents?
                    Carol B.   

[bedfordshire boy]

The William who stated he was in the West Kent Militia was the father, not the one baptised in 1795. Yes, I think the inference must be that he was from Kent. Militia regiments didn't usually get posted in their own county, which presumably is why he was in Beds. Bedfordshire muster lists in part have survived. Perhaps you might get lucky and find muster lists in Kent.

When he married he stated he was resident in Bedford St Pauls - this is merely where he was living at the time of the marriage, not necessarily where he was born.

David