Hi Nivard Thanks very much for your reply. I was thinking of the military because it was during the Napoleonic wars. In the 1851 Census I saw that Michael was born in Jersey. I joined a Channel Islands List and someone was generous enough to look up his Baptismal details for me. He said there was no occupation shown for Michael's father James and mentioned that it was unlikely he was in the militia for that reason. He also said that staff were brought by officers/estate owners etc. Have never been able to positively identify James or Isabella since the baptismal details. Haven't found any death certificates etc. Could well be that they had died before 1855. I'll keep on trying to get over, through or under this brick wall. One of many. Thanks again. Ella Ross ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nivard Ovington" <ovington1@sky.com> To: <lanark@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:00 PM Subject: Re: [Lanark] McBain - Soldier > Hi Ella > > Although its a possibility that needs exploring I don't quite see the > connection of a birth in Jersey to the Military necessarily > > It wouldn't be Militia unless he was in the Jersey Militia which sounds > unlikely, plenty of people went over there to work so he could as easily > be > a gardener there as in Scotland > > Estate owners often took their own staff with them so there may be a > connection between his employers in Scotland and in Jersey > Do you know who he worked for in Scotland (I assume it was Scotland?) > > Birth in Jersey is not that unusual if you look at the census, for example > there are over 500 enumerated in the English 1851 that were born in Jersey > 1806 to 1816 (2,700+ all ages same year) > > If you want to pursue the possibility that he was in the Military, there > is > a book which may be worth investigating, large reference libraries may > have > a copy > > Its called > > In Search of the Forlorn Hope: A Comprehensive Guide to Locating British > Regiments and Their Records (1640 to WW1) > by John M. Kitzmiller (Author) > > You may be able to find what Regiments were in the Channel Islands at the > time then check muster rolls etc at the National Archives > > Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > > >> Hi Nivard >> One of my ancestors Michael Gillespie was born in Jersey in 1811. On his >> baptismal records his father's occupation was not shown. His father waas >> James Gillespie and his mother Isabella Baird. Michael ended up as a >> shoemaker in Edinburgh. On his death certificate James' occupation was >> gardener. >> >> I've long thought his father was in the militia. >> >> Any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated. >> Regards >> Ella Ross > > > ------------------------------- > > LANARK, SCOTLAND MAILING LIST > > > LIST TOPIC: The discussion and research of genealogy or history > information pertaining to Lanark, Scotland at any point in its history. > > WHEN REPLYING to any list post please remember to snip most of the earlier > message before you post any reply > > LIST INFORMATION PAGE: Contact the List Admin at > lanark-admin@rootsweb.com; or to search the list archives, get information > on subscribing or unsubscribing, or to obtain other useful information to > help you use the list more effectively, please click on the following link > to the list information page online: > > http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/SCT/LANARK.html > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > LANARK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message