Jonathan Collins, Colchester

[cep]

I have Jonathan Collins, b. 1801, East Mersea, Essex
In 1851 he is Chelsea Pensioner, Colchester, with:

Wife Jane, b. 1811, Belfast Ireland
Son Charles, b. 1834, Queens County, Ireland
Son Robert, b. 1838, Coxes River, New South Wales
Dau Mary Ann, b. 1840, Sidney, New South Wales
Son Thomas, b. 1842, Paramatta, New South Wales
Son William, b. 1845, Colchester, Essex
Son Jonathon, b. 1848, Colchester, Essex
Son James Henry, b. 1850, Colchester, Essex


From the above, is it possible to construct a short account of his military career?


Regards   CP

[jorose]

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk has some discharge records indexed.  Among these is:

WO 97/899/42
1818-1843,
 JONATHAN COLLINS Born SOCKETT, Essex Served in 80th Foot Regiment Discharged aged 43

Puts him at the right age - he would have been born about 1800, entered the army at 18, left aged 43 and moved back to Essex.

http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecatalogue%2Enationalarchives%2Egov%2Euk%2Fleaflets%2Fri2005%2Ehtm&lBack=-1
- info on what the full records would hold.
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecatalogue%2Enationalarchives%2Egov%2Euk%2Fleaflets%2Fri2006%2Ehtm&lBack=-1
-also info on pension records.

http://www.regiments.org/deploy/uk/reg-inf/080-1.htm - would have served in Gibraltar, Malta, the Ionian Islands, England, Ireland, England, and then in Australia (convict escort) from about 1836-1843.  Wonder if he met his wife while on duty in Ireland?

[cep]

Excellent!   I found good reading on the history of 80th Foot.

Thank You Very Much.   CP