William Byers - Soldier

[jma09]

I have a record from nationalarchives.gov.uk which states that WILLIAM BYERS Born MARKFIELD, Leicestershire served in the 35th Foot.  He was born abt1783 and discharged from the 35th foot in 1825 at age 42. 
Can anyone help me find a baptism record in Markfield please. 
He doesn't appear on any online records (familysearch, ancestry or findmypast) and there doesn't appear to be any BYERS in Leicestershire in the late 1700's, let alone Markfield.  He is on the Chelsea pensioners list but there is no death or 1841 census record.
Much appreciated 

[ShaunJ]

Both Ancestry and FindMyPast have a record for a Corporal William Byers of 35th Foot, born Markfield, enlisted in 1795 and discharged in 1815 aged 42. One of the records suggests that he could have been 44. So born around 1770-1772. All a bit earlier than the record that you have?

[t mo]

following on Shauns post that record also states william was discharged to pension on account of being blind suffering with opthalmia [ inflammation of the eye especially conjunctivitis ] so you may need to looke further afield if say he was hospitalised or in the workhouse .
regards
trevor

[jma09]

i've seen the findmypast record and it is the same record, but doesn't it say 1825 not 1815  Hadn't thought about a workhouse cheers. I'll go looking.

[Jomot]

The Leicestershire marriage index has several marriages in Markfield for the surname Boyer, and there is a non-conformist baptism in the records for Bardon Park and Ashby de la Zouch Presbyterian for William Boyer s/o James  Cliffe Markfield, 20 Sep 1771.

This may or may not be your man, but the surname variation is certainly something you should consider.

Added: The discharge is definitely 1815.

[willsy]

Had a look at my Marfield PDF and only came up with the name Boyer too.

[willsy]

There's mention of a William Boyer 35th Foot

Leicestershire Mercury 14 October 1837

It's an inquiry into the charges preferred by certain out-pensioners of Chelsea Hospital

[jma09]

Thanks for your help

I have seriously considered BOYERS but none of the information seems to fit.  Are there any births/baptisms around 1771 other than the non-conformists, that would give me a father/mother.  Or maybe even a wedding pre-1800 to give me a spouse.  Cheers  Janine

[Jomot]

I have seriously considered BOYERS but none of the information seems to fit. 

Could you perhaps expand on why Boyer doesn't fit, as everything matches the information you have provided so far - the YoB matches the army record and there is mention of William Boyer from Leicestershire having been in the 35th Foot but now pensioned out.

Willsy has already checked (reply #5) and can find nothing else close.

As to marriages, there is one at Markfield 28 May 1792, William Boyer & Elizabeth Wain.