I am really struggling with my husbands family and I am finding that it is looking for a needle in a haystack. His great grandfather was William J Davis born in Mauritius in 1849. I believe his father was serving with the 5th Foot Regiment. I can see a birth record on FMP (GRO Regimental Birth Indices) and have a reference but can't work out if I can order that certificate. Does anyone know how to do that? I also found a brother Frederick Davis also born in Mauritius in 1850. His birth is also recorded in the GRO Regimental Birth Indices. I have seen a military record for Frederick Davis where it states at 14 he came to Dublin and joined up with the Royal Engineers. It goes on to say Frederick Davis married Mary Ann Lester on 21 June 1869 at Prestbury in Chester (she was deceased before Frederick's discharge in 1884) Other than this I cant seem to follow Frederick and Mary Ann, can anyone help please, or just direct me. Frederick discharge address was 14 Garden Street, Old Brompton. With many thanks Elizabeth
If you go to the GRO site and select Frequently Asked Questions scroll down to #9 Certificate types and there is a section for Overseas Records and you can click to link to a 3 page PDF which tells you how you can order the certs online
Thank you I think he would have been an army surgeon then and I guess that is not as glamorous as it stands!
Thanks MollyMay I have managed to order these certificates now-easy when you know how! Waiting excitedly
Can any one help me with the occupation of John Lester? It looks to me like it could be Book Keeper but there seems an extra letter. The marriage was on 21st June 1869 in Prestbury, Cheshire (Mary Ann Lester and Frederick Augustus Davis). I am no further on in finding this John Lester or his daughter Mary Ann Lester. They can't have come from nowhere but then maybe I am reading this occupation wrong. Thank you Elizabeth
I’m not sure either. First glance it looks to be Book Keeper. Is there such a thing as a Block Keeper It must be Book Keeper
The image is clearer on FamilySearch, especially if you enlarge it a little. It looks as if the original word was "Book" and there's a squiggle (an L?) above it but not attached.
I think I have found both Frederick and Mary Ann in the 1871 census - though not together. Frederick - RG10/913/46/8 - School of Military Engineering, Brompton Barracks, Gillingham. Mary Ann - RG10/909/27/48 - West Court Street, Prince of Wales Beer House, Chatham. She is listed as a Soldier's wife and has a daughter Sarah born 1871 in Cheshire with her. Mary Ann gives her place of birth as Ireland. 1881 census - RG11/892/119/48 - Back of 30 Manor Street, Gillingham, Medway, Kent Looks a possible for Mary Ann together with five children born (in order) in Staffordshire, Chatham, Portsmouth, Aldershot and Chatham - the last one being on the next page.
Wow Jellylegs I just caught sight of this response before bed and then closed it quickly as I thought I would never get to sleep. Somehow I always imagined there weren't any children, possibly because Frederick's army records record his marriage and then that his wife was deceased. It doesn't give a date for that though. I could never identify children as I had no idea of where they lived. I had checked around the Cheshire area. So they did have quite a few years together and who knows may be I will find descendants or family trees. This is a lovely lot of information to start my day.
There is a possible death for Mary Ann in the June quarter of 1884, Medway registration district - aged 30. Must get ready for work - will look some more tonight. I have a note of one of the son's (Percy Edward Arthur?) possibly marrying an Amelia Brownsea in 1920 - then a probate from Ancestry. Can't remember whether it was for Percy or Amelia though - died 2 Dec 1932 Tranmere.