2nd Dragoons Scots Greys 1846-1874: any records for families of soldiers?

[Bella55]

I'm a novice when it comes to military records and would appreciate some pointers. 

If a child was born to a serving soldier, would records be kept by the army? If so, where's the best place to look for these?

My 3rd great-grandfather, William White, was a Saddle Tree Maker in the 2nd Dragoons Scots Greys from 1846-1874.  Born in Glasgow, he ended up in Lanarkshire after leaving the army in Brighton.

I have a few clues from family notes that he had 8 sons and 1 daughter, Mary.  I have not found birth records for any of them - not even for Robert who was born in Edinburgh around 1862 (I expected to at least find his birth on the Scotland's People site).  I have found mention of the 8 boys in census records, a poor relief record and some Scottish records for those who were married/died in Scotland but nothing about Mary.

William's wife, also Mary, was born in Ireland and I am assuming they met whilst stationed there but I don't have a record of their marriage which would also be good to find.  Her surname appears variously as Fairley, Fairlie, Earlie and Early.

thanks,
Bella

[mckha489]

Can you please list the names of the boys and where & when they were said to be born in the census records?

FindMyPast has “ British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms”

[Bella55]

Hi mckha489,

Thanks for response. I've got Findmypast subscription so will give that a try.  Apologies if there's too much info below and also if my arithmetic is erroneous!

I've only got Scottish census records for William, Mary and sons Thomas and George but have dates of birth from a family document and some notes on an asylum record.

My initial source was a piece of paper in my grandmother's documents that appears to be a photocopy of a page someone had written down names and dates as follows:

Ages of the White Family 1828-1864
William White born 25th February 1828
Mary White born 6th January 1833
Andrew White born 16th November 1852
Colin White born 1st May 1854
Hendry White born 17th June 1857
Patric White born 3rd January 1859
Alexander White born 10th August 1860
Robert White born 10th March 1862
Thomas White born 8th March 1864

NB: (i) no mention of Mary in this record & Hendry White could be William Henry White (according to later records)
(ii) George born after 1864 (Census of 1881 records him as aged 12 so born circa 1869). 
(iii) Precise dates of birth are listed but they don't always match what appears in later records e.g. Andrew dies in 1930 and age is recorded as 76 but that would give him a year of birth about 1854, not 1852.  Alexander is listed as aged 37 in 1903 (the asylum record) which would give year of birth around 1866, not 1860.

Census 1881 - Dalziel Cemetery
William (53) born Glasgow
Mary (50) born Ireland
Thomas (17) born England
George (12) born Ireland

Census 1891 - Dalziel Cemetery
William (63) born Glasgow
Mary (60) born Ireland
George (?) born Ireland

Census 1901 - Dalziel Cemetery
William (73) born Glasgow
Mary (70) born Ireland

William's death
William dies 14 January 1903 at Dalziel Cemetery and son, Robert, is the informant; Wife = Mary Early; Parents = Colin White and Margaret Jackson. Age = 75 giving a birth year circa 1828.
William's Obituary in the 'Motherwell Times' on 23 Jan 1903 states
"He was married in the army and his entire family of eight sons and one daughter were born in the service and educated in its schools.  Six of the sons still survive but only one enlisted, although a second has been servant to an officer of the Greys for over thirty years.  The others are in good positions in different parts of the Kingdom." (Full obituary hopefully attached - gives details of his service).

General Register of Lunatics in Asylum for the Parish of Dalziel
Mary (William's wife) is in Lanark District Asylum as a pauper not long after William's death in 1903.  Her record lists her children as follows:

Wm Henry (44) Wagon Inspector...Aberdeen married 9 children
Andrew (50) Coachman...3 ch...Aberdeen
Colin (47) Coachman England married no ch
John (41) Soldier Royal Horse Artillery
Robert (39) Wagon Inspector...Motherwell 4 ch
Alex (37) Ironworker England 4 ch

NB (i) No mention of Patric, George or a daughter (ii) name John appears here but not on the written 'family document' listing dates of birth for White family (iii) the ages recorded don't all match the d.o.b. on the 'family document' (iv) I think Andrew's residence is incorrect - all other records I've found record him as living in Inverness.

OTHER SCOTTISH RECORDS FOR SOME OF THE SONS


Thomas White
Death certificate - Thomas dies in 1883 aged 19 (which gives a year of birth circa 1864)

Andrew White
Census 1881 - age 28 (year of birth circa 1853)
Marriage certificate - Andrew marries in 1882 aged 28 (year of birth circa 1854)
Death certificate - Andrew dies in Inverness in 1930 aged 76 (year of birth circa 1854)
Census 1891 - age 38
Census 1901 - age 47
Census 1911 - age 59
Census 1921 - age 68

Robert White
Marriage Certificate - Robert marries in 1885 - age 23 (born circa 1862)
Census 1911 - age 49 (born circa 1862)
Census 1921 - age 58 (born circa 1863)
Death certificate  - Robert dies in Cambuslang in Oct 1952 aged 89 (born circa 1863)

George White
Marriage certificate - George marries in 1896 aged 28 (born circa 1868)
Death certificate - Geroge dies in Fortrose in 1901 aged 31 (born circa 1870)

[mckha489]

George born 13th May 1869
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1869/03392/2243981.pdf


Mary's mn given as EARLEY

[mckha489]

might this be Thomas?

WHITE,  -      EARLEY 
GRO Reference: 1864  M Quarter in ASTON  Volume 06D  Page 340

Letter to the editor  in June 1864 about the 2nd Dragoons leaving Birmingham
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000033%2F18640611&page=2&article=011&stringtohighlight=2nd+dragoons

added - although there are other White /Earley births Aston so it might be another couple.

[Bella55]

Many thanks! That’s the first birth record I’ve seen for the family 😊

Interesting letter to the Editor about the rowdy behaviour!

Much appreciated,
Bella

[mckha489]

Looks a possible for Alexander, also in Ireland.  Dublin 1860

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BMD%2FOVS%2FREG1%2F003291&parentid=BMD%2FOVS%2FREG1%2F003291%2F059

[mckha489]

Andrew. Birmingham 1853

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FOVS%2FREG1%2F003291%2F115

Added, it seems as if, even if born England, if  they are on the armed forces list, they aren’t on the regular GRO site, which is annoying.

[mckha489]

Mary?

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FOVS%2FREG1%2F003300%2F038