Opinions please. I have mentioned this chap in other threads - he fought in the Crimea and his army papers say that he came from Leep (aka Lepe) in Hampshire. All records, including his death registration of 1867 (am awaiting the certificate from Ireland) indicate that he was born in about 1814. Looking at the Hampshire baptisms, I can only find one Herbert GILBERT and he was baptised on 27th August 1811, to parents William Augustus GILBERT and Sarah MASON. This event took place at Fawley, just about 4 miles from Leep. However.... the only records that I have seen have been transcriptions - not the original. Herbert named one of his children James Augustus - the same middle name as that of his possible father. Bearing all of this in mind, I was wondering if the original might actually say 1814 rather than 1811 - the diagonal stroke of the 4 being faded and so just the downstroke shows up thus making the 4 seem like a 1. Or maybe just a transcription error... (I am not able to travel down to Hampshire at present to look at the original so if anyone is able to check, I would be grateful.) So, as I said that the beginning - opinions please
I agree with you Jan, but, as you say, without seeing the original, it is impossible to be sure. However, the baptism appears to have taken place in Exbury, not Fawley, and the civil parish is now known as Exbury and Lepe, so that makes it even more likely I've tried the papers to see if I could find anything, but no luck.
You could always contact Hampshire Archives and ask if they will confirm the date. I’ve found them very helpful in the past when they were known as the Hampshire Record Office Whether a change of name has made any difference......but it never hurts to ask
In case you go further back, there is a baptism of William Augstus Gilbert, 10th Jan 1779 at Holy Trinity Gosport, son of William and Elisabeth (sic). William Augustus and Sarah also bap 2 daughters at Exbury Louisa 27/3/1807 (private at 12 days old) and Rose 20/8/1810, also a private baptism
Transcription only has the same baptism date that you have given, plus date of birth as 18th August 1811