Brick wall: William McLeod

[rvlevey]

I've a William McLeod in my family and I know a fair bit about his life and family but I can't find a birth or death record. . . .
Census and army records state his place of birth as the Cape of Good Hope, Africa abt 1825 - would that be on board a ship? I'd love a birth record as that would shift me up a generation. After a long army career he settled in Leeds, Yorkshire, UK but I can't find his death record. He was alive at one daughter's wedding (1879) but deceased by the next (1893) so I thought it would be a simple search. But nothing seems to fit and I'd be grateful for a pointer please 

[rosie99]

Hi

Welcome to rootschat

He was alive at one daughter's wedding (1879) but deceased by the next (1893)

Did he sign the marriage entry as a witness on the first wedding or are you assuming that because it did not say he was deceased he was still alive

Rosie

[rvlevey]

Oh. Yes, I'm assuming that. I'll search earlier. Thanks

[groom]

Welcome to Rootschat. I'm afraid that as he was born before registration was introduced in 1837, there won't be a birth certificate. The only thing you can hope for is a baptism which may be difficult to find if he was born abroad. What about his marriage certificate, does that name a father? 

[Dundee]

Jane was a widow in 1881 so he died sometime between 1871 and 1881.  They were on the Isle of Wight in 1871 and at Aldershot in 1872 where Walter was born in the December quarter.

Debra 

[rvlevey]

He had an army career, several children were born in Canada - various locations given in various censuses. I'm guessing that he married there too. I've no marriage record. Other children were born in army places - eg Aldershot and an army life ties in with that. But they did seem to be based in Leeds at the time he'd have died.
Funnily, although I'd never thought that he may have died before one daughter's wedding, I did wonder if an abandoned wife might pass herself off as a widow.
I've searched more and more widely without any joy.

[groom]

There is a British Civil Service Evidence of Age document when a William McLeod living in New Brompton Kent declared the following before a magistrate on the 22 Dec 1868:

" To the best of my knowledge and belief I was born at The Cape of Good Hope on the 21st day of October 1826."

I think that New Brompton is near Chatham in Kent.

[rvlevey]

Thankyou for that info. It's likely to be him. But how has his death been unrecorded?

[rosie99]

I realise that the age at death does not agree but have you discounted this one 

Deaths Jun 1876
McLeod    William    42   
Leeds    9b   354