Trying to acertain role in army from "private soldier _____ foot"?

[MLC]

I am trying to find out more about John Findlay/Finlay, from his son's 1801 baptism and 1865 death records.

The death records state that "____ Findlay/Finlay" was a "private soldier _____ foot"?

The death certificate does not state the father as deceased. As he would have been at least could this have been an oversight?

The mother is listed as Margaret Finlay m.s. Russell although I cannot find any evidence that Margaret Russell married John Findlay.

Could anyone suggest what John Findlay's military role could have been?

Many thanks

[Craclyn]

Since the birth record indicates that the child was illegitimate John and Margaret may never have married. The death record saying Margaret Russell, maiden surname Russell would be consistent with them never having married.
Have you tried looking for census records and military records to see if that will shed any light on John’s occupation?

[RJ_Paton]

John Finlay/Findlay is or was a soldier with the rank of private in Regiment of Foot (infantry) - unfortunately the reportter did not know the full information as the actual regiment name is left blank.

[MLC]

Thank you Falkyrn, that narrows down the search 

Does the fact that the fathers profession is given as "soldier" mean that this was his full time occupation?

[RJ_Paton]

Thank you Falkyrn, that narrows down the search 

Does the fact that the fathers profession is given as "soldier" mean that this was his full time occupation?

More than likely but given that the reporter of the death did not know all of the information they may have been relying upon family stories for their "facts".

However as the time of this relationship was during the early days of a war between Britain and France and the rise of Napoleon it is quite possibly accurate as there would have been large recruitment drives

 Unfortunately death regstrations are possibly the least reliable of all official documents as you are reliant upon the knowledge of the person reporting.

[Rena]

There's a document online concerning the 1790s call up of men required to defend the land against the French. This lists the number of army Fencible recruits that parishes had to provide.

There's a couple of Finlays, one being a John Finlay of Fife recruited in Mid Lothian.

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/12813067.pdf

[MLC]

Thank you Falkyrn.

Very interesting document Rena, thank you too.

[GR2]

The minutes of the kirk session for the parish should give some more details about John in 1801. If he had been in the army at the time he would almost certainly have been described as a soldier in the baptism register. 

[Rosinish]

John is only described as a Soldier (deceased) in 1865 on a death cert. i.e. may/could have joined up after the baptism in 1801?

Annie