Hi list, I have posted here before and had terrific help from people so I am hoping that someone once again can help me. I know that my great great grandfather was born Croydon cum clopton in 1828 and that his sister was born about 1832. They were John and Kitty Nelson. Their mother was Biddy Nelson (later Biddy Hagger). What I am trying to uncover is their father's name. Their mother was a Roman Catholic so I am wondering if her children were baptised as Catholics as well and if so was there a church nearby and would there still be records. Also I found Kitty in the 1841 census but do not have access to later census so I was wondering if anyone could look for her on the 1851 or 1861 - I would love to know what became of her. Thanks Dianne in Edmonton.

Hi Dianne, I'm sure you've seen this, but (noting that you say in Speculum Gregis that John Nelson joined the 43rd Regiment) the birthplaces of his children presumably fit in with the regiment's whereabouts, and suggest that he retired before Reuben was born: 1846 - England 1848 - south of Ireland 1851 - Cape of Good Hope, Kaffir War 1853 - India (Henry b abt 1855) 1857-59 Indian Mutiny, Kirwee 1857-58 - India - Bangalore 1858 - India - Punnanh Jungle, Peunghattan Pass, Kirwee, Kampti/Kampthi (Central Provinces), Jaloun, Humeerpore, Hernapore, Calpe, Banda 1860 - India - Calcutta 1861-62 - India - Madras 1862 - Burma - Rangoon 1862-63 - India - Fort William, Bengal - Barrackpore (Mary Ann b abt 1863) 1863-66 2nd Maori War, New Zealand 1863-64 - New Zealand - Taranga 1863 - New Zealand - Port Lewis, Otahuhu, Ngaruawahia, Auckland 1864 - New Zealand - Wanganui, Te Ranga, Taranaki, Gate Pah (Puke-Hina-Hina), Fort Colville (George b abt 1865) 1866 - June, England 1867 - Portsmouth 1868 - Aldershot (Reuben b Chatham abt 1868) 1869 - Jersey 1870 - Ireland - Dublin 1871 - Ireland - Fermoy (Caroline b Chatham abt 1871) 1872 - Madras - Ireland, Kinsale, Cork 1873 - Malabar 1875 - India - Cannanore 1876-78 - India - Bellary Ireland, India and Burma from 1879 1880 - Manchester 1880-81 - Burma - Thayet-Myo 1881: John NELSON Head M Male 54 Croyden, Cambridge, England Pensioner Margaret NELSON Wife M Female 49 Ireland Pensioners wife Henry NELSON Son U Male 26 India General Laborer George NELSON Son U Male 16 New Zealand Shipwrights Apprentice Mary Ann NELSON Daugh U Female 18 India Reuben NELSON Son U Male 13 Chatham, Kent, England Scholar Caroline NELSON Daugh U Female 10 Chatham, Kent, England Scholar Estelle