Author Topic: John Wilson, Scots Royals  (Read 162 times)

Offline GrahamPC

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John Wilson, Scots Royals
« on: Thursday 09 November 23 15:39 GMT (UK) »
John and Sophia Wilson christened their son John at Kirkby Moorside, Yorkshire, on 7 June 1814.
John is recorded as "Private in the Scots Royals" and a "casual traveller". Does this suggest he was at that point still in the regiment and if so what was he doing as a casual traveller there in Yorkshire? Does anyone have any suggestions?

I have a John Wilson (1779-1834) and Sophia Longhurst (1788-1853), my 3x gt grandparents. I have not found a marriage. Between the birth of their first child, William, in Bexhill in 1810 and the second, Eliza in 1818 in Brighton there is a gap of 8 years. Both Bexhill and Brighton were barracks towns and I wonder if my John Wilson had an army connection? Unfortunately he has a name which was common in the muster lists of numerous regiments.

Any clues or suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks





Offline ShaunJ

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Re: John Wilson, Scots Royals
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 09 November 23 15:49 GMT (UK) »
The "casual traveller" bit is in the Abode column, and "Private in the Scots Royals" is in the "Quality, trade or profession" column. So it looks like he was a serving soldier, and just temporarily in Kirbymoorside.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/1173761:62236
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Andy J2022

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Re: John Wilson, Scots Royals
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 09 November 23 23:13 GMT (UK) »
I am slightly intrigued by the unit title 'Scots Royals'. As far as I know there has never been a regiment with this title. Royal Scots, possibly. They were the 1st Regiment of Foot, known in Army circles as Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard, and more disparagingly as the 'First and Worst'.  Another infantry regiment was the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Perhaps it was the cavalry regiment, the Royal Scots Greys.

It seems an odd mistake for a soldier to make unless perhaps he told the vicar the correct title,  and the vicar later wrote down what he (mis-)remembered.

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: John Wilson, Scots Royals
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 09 November 23 23:27 GMT (UK) »
This from 1833. "Scots Royals"still used colloquially for the Royal Scots:
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk