Genealogy Chat

My Stowell family has proved very elusive on the censuses, and have only relly popped up to marry or have children. I have discovered that this is due to army service abroad. What I wondered if anyone knew was if soldier's child born, whilst in this country, would be baptised in a special army church or in the local parish church. In particular, I am interested in 2 children, Samuel James and Catherine, who are down as being born in Middlesex, whilst their father was in the Coldstream Guards, presumably at Wellington Barracks.

I have looked on the IGI but to no avail. So my questions are:- a) Do the army baptise children in their own private churh? and b) Does anyone know which parish Wellington Barracks is in? Sorry if I am being dim, but this family is soo hard to find. Both births are in the 1830's thanks millions for any advice. Lynn : )

If they were based abroad , its my guess that they may well have taken the children to Grandparents church to be christened. may be worth checking

Thanks for the idaea Jess, unfortunaely, the grandfather was also in the Coldstream guards, and the only address that I 've got for them is opposite Wellington Barracks! lynn : )

If their fathers were in the forces and they were born abroad, then yes they would have their own Chaplain and Churches on or around the camp. Deanna X

I think that they were born in England, Samuel James was on the 1841 census at the Royal Military Asylum in Chelsea, which said he was born in Middlesex and Catherine appears on the census when she is married, which says she was born in Westminster Middlesex. I have noticed on a current map of London, that Wellington Barracks has a chapel, if they were baptised there, where would the parish records be held/ Lynn : )

It's possible you'll find the records in the Overseas section of 1837online. I have several army children born in UK who've been indexed there Sylvia

Sylvia, thanks, it is an idea, but the births I am looking for are pre 1837. Lynn

I have just had a look on the oversea section of 1837 and there is a possible listed. I don't currently have credits for 1837, but before I get them, could anyone answer a question? When I did a search for the name Stowell, under certain date it comes up with 1 match found and a range of names, eg smith - symonds, does that mean that there is definitely a Stowell listed in that range? I know when I have looked on beta, it will sometimes list a quarter as having a match and there not actually being one. Can anyone advise? Lynn

I don't know if all children of army personell were baptised by the army chaplain but I was as my mother went with him from camp to camp................but some wives stayed at the family home and probably had the child baptised in the local church At first when I was looking at Beta I often came accross names that I could not find.....that was before I discoverred that there were two pages and it was necessary to slide accross.... not suggesting that others are as dim as I

Usually the name-ranges just mean that - if there is a record - it will be there. It doesn't always mean there actually is one. Christine

Thanks Colin, that's interesting. Lynn : )

Thanks Shelia, some people just don't want to be found! Samuel was born c1833 and so the only way to find his birth would be parish records. His siste Catherine was born c1838, but I couldn't find her on beta at all, probably born before registration started. It is frustrating as, I'd love to know if there were any other siblings. All the best Lynn : )

Sylvia, thanks for your brilliant idea of looking in 1837 overseas. I was able to find someone who very generously looked up births on 1837 and found the birth of Catherine in Quebec! Lynn : ))