Brick wall: William McLeod

[Christine53]

The Index is available on FindMyPast but to order a copy of the record you would have to apply to the General Register Office , as with any other certificate.

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

The cost is £9.25 - bear in mind that there's no guarantee that it's him. There is also a James Mcleod registered in 1824 at Cape of Good Hope , regiment 55th, so a possible brother.

[rvlevey]

I've joined find my past but apart from some military papers from Chelsea where someone had transcribed his place of birth as Gate O Yard Hope (!), I can't find his birth. What's a baby doing being born out there where his father was - presumably - serving anyway?
I've put in his name, 55th foot/55th and the year as birth and/or event and I get 100s of results or zero, depending how many fields I leave or fill in but only a reference to his birth and another William McLeod who could possibly be his father as he, too, was a drummer.

[Jomot]

Find my Past will only give you the information that CB has already provided.  To see the certificate you need to order it from the GRO.

However to find the index CB is referring to select 'Search' & then 'A - Z of Record Sets'.   You want British Nationals Armed Forces Births 1761-2005.  Type in his name and the year 1827 and you should see it.

[rvlevey]

William McLeod 1827 Cape of Good Hope 55th Foot v 1088 p 33

Is v1088 p 33 the GRO reference number?

[Jomot]

Yes.   1088 is the Volume No, 33 is the Page No.

[rvlevey]

Thanks, I'll get that ordered. The page looks different today - yesterday I followed your instructions and found it, today it won't let me search and the site will be down tomorrow for changes.

[CarolA3]

Thanks, I'll get that ordered. The page looks different today - yesterday I followed your instructions and found it, today it won't let me search and the site will be down tomorrow for changes.

From the GRO website:
"Due to essential maintenance the website will be unavailable on Thursday 19th January 2017 from 08:00 to 09:30. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused."

So it's only down from 8am to 9.30am (GMT), not all day

Carol

[rvlevey]

Well yes, but it's only Wednesday. Anyway I've done what I needed to so all is well.

[rvlevey]

My certificate has arrived so I've got the mother's name now. I've also got some background info about army life for soldiers' families so I think that's as far as I can go. Thanks for your help.