William Giles b 1815

[emjsw]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help me please regarding William Giles?

He was born at Hampton poyle Oxon 1815 to Thomas Giles and Mary Dunsby.
In 1845 he marries Emma Rose née CORDROY. In 1846 he had soon Thomas and in 1849 Emma. In 1853 William is born.
In 1851 he is in the Alverstoke census as a private in the Royal Marines.  I have a record of him being court martialled in 1851 and 1855 at Forton Barracks.
I have found a death of a William Giles in Portsea in 1859,this William was a fish Hawker and died of dropsy.
I also have found a William Giles in the British Newspaper archive who was in China in the 2nd Opium War ("21 Aug 1860 • Pehtang, Tanggu, Tianjin, China, Northern peiho Fort? William Giles pte Royal marines slightly contused wound, gun shot).
Maybe he died of his wound?
He died before 1860 as in 1860 his wife Elizabeth married Robert Andrews and in 1861 is with Robert and her Giles children.

I wondered if anyone might know where I can find when he joined the Royal Marines please and maybe a bit more about what he did with them. I also wondered if there might be places to search for his death in China please?
I just can't see that he became a fish hawker after being in the army, there were many William Giles in Hampshire and it could be anyone of them but unless he was kicked out after the court martial it seems odd he would have been in the army in 1855 and then died 1859 as he was quite young. Is there anyway I can find out if he was dismissed please? Also maybe I can find out how many William Giles went with the Royal Marines to China to see if he was the only one which would make the newspaper article correct.

Sorry for all the questions. I have searched Fold 3 and that was all they had and I am lost as to what else I can try.
I thought someone with more experience and/or military understanding might be able to help me please?

Best wishes Emma

[MaxD]

This:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10105204

could be his record,  the date of birth adds up as does the place.  It has not been digitised however and would need a visit to Kew or to be copied.

It says discharged 1857 as an invalid (ie unfit) which cuts across the 1860 report but there were a small number of other William Giles in the Royal Marines at the same time so difficult to be sure one way or another.

I find no other useful records.

MaxD

[emjsw]

This:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10105204

could be his record,  the date of birth adds up as does the place.  It has not been digitised however and would need a visit to Kew or to be copied.

It says discharged 1857 as an invalid (ie unfit) which cuts across the 1860 report but there were a small number of other William Giles in the Royal Marines at the same time so difficult to be sure one way or another.

I find no other useful records.

MaxD

Dear MaxD,

Thank you so much for your help, I never thought to check the NA as I thought all of their info was on Ancestry so I have learnt something new.
I have ordered a copy of the document as the name, place of birth and age fit. Maybe he was injured during the Crimean War.
It seems more likely that that the death of my ancestor was the William Giles, Fish Hawker who died 1859.
Really appreciate the time you spent looking into this.

Best wishes,
Emma

[rosie99]

Thank you so much for your help, I never thought to check the NA as I thought all of their info was on Ancestry so I have learnt something new.

FindMyPast also have some databases from the national archives that are not available on Ancestry

[emjsw]

Thank you so much for your help, I never thought to check the NA as I thought all of their info was on Ancestry so I have learnt something new.

FindMyPast also have some databases from the national archives that are not available on Ancestry

Hi Rosie99,

That is really good to know, thank you very much

[Annette7]

The burial record of William Giles died 1859 (buried 1st November) shows he died at Crown Street - in 1861, newly remarried, your man's wife Elizabeth and family are living at 4 Crown Street so does look like this indeed your man.

Annette

[emjsw]

The burial record of William Giles died 1859 (buried 1st November) shows he died at Crown Street - in 1861, newly remarried, your man's wife Elizabeth and family are living at 4 Crown Street so does look like this indeed your man.

Annette

Dear Annette,

That is great, thank you very much for taking a look