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Hi. Does anyone know how to access British Army records from the 1830's? I'm trying to find out whether an ancestor was born on a British Army base in Canada in the 1830's and whether he had siblings born in India in the same decade. I'd be very grateful for any advice.

Find my past have military records for the timescale you mention, if you dont subscribe to FMP, if you post all the details you have, it can be looked at.


George

That would be really helpful as I don't have a subscription. The name I'm looking for is John Jacques but it might be spelled Jacks. I know that he was born in Canada in about 1833. My aunt has found a birth on the Army Chaplains GRO Birth Indices but I can't find the name of the parents. We know that his father's name was also John.

There's also a birth of twins in Bengal in 1830 (Alfred and Henrietta Jacques) and another set of twins in Canada, Harriet and Mary Ann Jakes.

Just sending these are a start, will contiue looking
Are these the ones do you think

These are the 1830 births

Armed Forces BMD details
Registration event: Birth


Name: JACQUES, Alfred
Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1966
Station: Bengal
Country: Indian Subcontinent
Year: 1830
Page: 152

Record source: GRO Army Chaplains Birth Indices (1796 to 1880)


Armed Forces BMD details
Registration event: Birth


Name: JACQUES, Henrietta
Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1966
Station: Bengal
Country: Indian Subcontinent
Year: 1830
Page: 616

Record source: GRO Army Chaplains Birth Indices (1796 to 1880)












But there is also this birth for 1827, no way of knowing if same family, perhaps he died and the one named after him

JAQUES, Alfred
Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1966
Station: Bengal
Country: Indian Subcontinent
Year: 1827
Page: 345

Record source: GRO Army Chaplains Birth Indices (1796 to 1880)


George

That's really helpful and it could well be the same Alfred as they did have a habit of re-using names. Is there any way of finding out the father's name or his regiment?

The other births so far

Always double-check the original image of the index page to make sure the volume and page numbers are correct before ordering a certificate




JAKES, Mary A
Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1966
Regiment: 83rd Foot
Place: Kingston
Country: Canada
Year: 1838
Volume: 81
Page: 71

Record source: GRO Regimental Birth Indices (1761 to 1924)



JAKES, Harriett
Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1966
Regiment: 83rd Foot
Place: Kingston
Country: Canada
Year: 1840
Volume: 81
Page: 75

Record source: GRO Regimental Birth Indices (1761 to 1924)


George

John Jacks?

Armed Forces BMD details
Registration event: Birth


Name: JACKS, John
Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1966
Station: Canada
Country: Canada
Year: 1833
Page: 72

Record source: GRO Army Chaplains Birth Indices (1796 to 1880)

George

John Jacks is the one we think might be our ancestor (my gggrandfather). We know from his marriage certificate he was born in Canada and that his father's name was John as well. Do you know if there's any way of checking personnel serving with the 83rd foot? That might give me a clue...trust me, I'm desperate and willing to try nearly anything!!! We've been looking for John's birth for over 20 years!

This could be the father John, given he is serving in the 83rd foot which is stated on one of the births.

British Army Service Records 1760-1915
First name(s): John

Last name: JAQUES

Calculated year of birth: 1829

Parish of birth: Lewther

Town of birth: Penrith

County of birth: Westmorland

Age at attestation: 19 years

Attestation date: 4 November 1848

Attestation corps:

Attestation soldier number:

Discharge rank: Corporal

Discharge corps: 83rd Foot

Discharge soldier number: 2746

The National Archives reference: WO97 / 1632 / 44


There are 5 images , so if you think this is him i can send you them but you will have to send me your emaill address by PM.

George


Looking at this again, i dont think it is him, he was born 1829 so coulndt be the father

I don't think that's the father as the year of birth would be wrong given that the other John (Jacks) was born in 1833. It might be a relative though...families tended to join the same regiments.

there is only one other record showing, unfortunateley the record does not show where he may have served.

This one but i dont think its him either,

First name(s): John

Last name: JAQUES

Calculated year of birth: 1784

Parish of birth: Warrington

Town of birth: Warrington

County of birth: Lancashire

Age at attestation: 22 years

Attestation date: 31 January 1806

Attestation corps:

Attestation soldier number:

Discharge rank: Pte

Discharge corps: 38th Foot

Discharge soldier number: 1139

The National Archives reference: WO97 / 1510 / 83

You will probably have to purchase one of the birth certificates to find out his birth year etc
George

Is it possible to purchase the birth certificate of John born 1833 in Canada and if so, where do I get it from? Sorry to be a nuisance but this is quite a new avenue of research and I'm not sure where to go for army records.

Pamela

Its something i have never had to do, but i think you can order them from the GRO, but not births before 1837 so you will have to look at the one for Harriett who was brn in 1840.

Im not too sure on this, so perhaps someone else may come along and help out.

Here is the link to the GRO re overses births etc, have a look it might help.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/faqs-overseas.asp#o5

Sorry this is the best i can do.

Regards

George

Many thanks for all your help George.

You can order the 1833 birth record for John from the GRO but not sure how much info it would give on the father, but hopefully, at least his Regiment, if not his name.

If there are no records for him on FindMyPast, once you have his regiment, there are other records which could be searched at the National Archives which may give you John Seniors place of birth and where served and when.

Many thanks...think I'll try ordering the birth certificate and see what info there is on it. I do wish my ancestors had just stayed put!!

Is this the regiment:


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It does look like it might be. I can only find the name Jaques with the 83rd foot. I'm not sure how to confirm whether it's the right Jacques though. We have no idea where he was born, just that he was in Canada when my gggrandfather was born in c1833. On the marriage certificate it says that he is a gentlemans servant but the marriage took place in the 1860's so he would have left the army by then. I wondered if he was an officers servant in the army and maybe carried on working for him.

LOTS of Army discharge papers weren't retained, so it's quite possible that you man's papers weren't and consequently they wouldn't appear on FindmyPast.

If it is the correct regiment Dublin is in Eire (Southern Ireland) which begs the question was the father born in Ireland or possibly Scotland rather than England?