Lookup request, WO12/6859, James Morton

[IanStB]

Looking for any details and records of Private James Morton, 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot, service number 1134.

WO12/6859 covers 1871-1872 and is the only reference I have.

I'm looking to confirm whether or not he was my ancestor, born Nottingham 1846 or thereby.

Any assistance gratefully received.

[CaroleW]

Can't help with the service request but this may be his birth reg - he was illegitimate

MORTON, JAMES        -     
GRO Reference: 1845  J Quarter in NOTTINGHAM  Volume 15  Page 606

[Ashtone]

On FindMyPast there is a mention for James Morton (1134) in the British Army, Worldwide Index 1871 collection. He's a Private with the 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment Of Foot. The record will tell you where he was stationed in 1871.

[CaroleW]

The 1871 census also shows a James Morton soldier - born Mansfied - unmarried - aged 27 - Private in the Grenadier Guards.  Stationed at Windsor - Berkshire

Your James married Emma Rudkin in 1867

[IanStB]

Hi Carole and Ashtone and thanks, I appreciate your help. That is indeed my James and I have those references. What I don't know is whether the soldier was him or whether it is just a coincidence of name.

[Ashtone]

What is your James' occupation on his 1867 marriage record? Did they have any children? Wouldn't any birth/baptism records confirm if the father was in the Army?

[IanStB]

His occupation was cabinet maker. He had two children with another woman during the 1870s; Emma made a bigamous marriage in Leeds in 1873 claiming to be a widow and then the very-much-alive James and Emma are back together by 1891. I have all that research complete.

He isn't, though, immediately obvious on the 1871 census under his own name or as any variant name I've searched nor as a cabinetmaker/cabinet maker (I've searched all of them as best I can.)

That is why I've asked for a lookup of the record of the James Morton in the army, just in case it was him.

[Ashtone]

Do any of his children's birth records indicate your James was a soldier at the time? Particularly any c1871 births. Or is his occupation always cabinet maker?

[IanStB]

He was a cabinet maker throughout his life, and the likelihood is that the soldier is not him. However each of his children's birth certificates and his earlier marriage certificate contain clear untruths so I don't take them at face value.

As I said in my original request, I've asked for the lookup to confirm/exclude the soldier from the search.