Hello Gay, What a wealth of information, thanks very much, I've printed it all out. My problem is that my Point de Galle and thereabouts relations were not British army but attached to a EIC regiment, 2nd Ceylon Regt. Does anyone have experience of looking for vital statistics for such people? I do know that Georgiana Margaret ROBERTS was born in Point de Galle in 1808 and that her father Charles William Lewis ROBERTS died in Hambantota or Tangalle (burial place) in 1816. But there were seven other living children and their mother Nancy Hamilton ROBERTS - who has totally disappeard into the sands of time. I did have a look in the 1837 site (now Find my Past), but no luck. And to reveal my complete ignorance: these fiches you mention are presumably microfiche - how does one use them? I have no idea. My other problem is that I live in Germany, so far from GRO/National Archives: without specific dates/data I can't expect much help from there. Maybe I will have to invest in a researcher - any advice most welcome. Feeling rather stuck in a cul-de-sac! Georgina in Hamburg

Hi Georgina, You lucky thing, you live much closer to the GRO than I and many others on the list. I live in Australia but can still get the certificates from the GRO without leaving my hometown. I was not suggesting you do this research at the GRO The microfiche of Army Records have been filmed by LDS and are available at many LDS centres and Family History societies. The closest centre to you is at Hamburg Germany Wartenau 20 Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany Phone: 49-40-250-4573 Hours: T, Th 14:00-18:45; Sa 9:00-14:00, and by appointment Just pop in and ask if they have those Microfiche available. If not, and they are an LDS product, you can either order them in, or buy the particfular microfiche yourself, from the LDS .I have given you the details in an earlier email..of which fiche you need. but they can find them in their catlogue which is online at www.familyseach.org Just go to keyword search, code in Great Britain - Civil Registration - Indexes. There are various indexes there, for Army records of dfferent events such as Marriages, Deaths...but if it is births that you want.. Then scroll down until you reach the 29th record Index to certified copies of registers of marriages (officers, soldiers & their families ... at stations abroad, 1796-1955 and you will find the records of the 3 microfiche I told you about.. You said, > microfiche - how does one use them? I have no idea.< I am sure someone at anyone of the LDS centres or libraries where you might visit will show you how to handle the microfiche to read them..if that's what you meant(They ar not frightening) . I hope you no longer feel at a loss....I am not a member of the LDS, but you will find they are very helpful in helping you further your family research. LDS have also filmed some records of EIC Army...which can be found on their catalogue.. I have some information on EIC..and I will dig around my files anf find it and send it to you in a seperate email. Cheers Gay Research Names: http://www.perthdps.com/research/fie01.html --- Original Message ----- From: "Georgina Watkins" <gewatkins@web.de> To: <srilanka@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [SRILANKA] Jefferies & O'Brien 1840s (Gay Fielding) > Hello Gay, > > What a wealth of information, thanks very much, I've printed it all out. > My > problem is that my Point de Galle and thereabouts relations were not > British > army but attached to a EIC regiment, 2nd Ceylon Regt. Does anyone have > experience of looking for vital statistics for such people?