42nd Regiment - Garrison at Inverness circa 1800 ?

[jackroyd]

My man Hector Mclean of the 42nd was not abroad with the rest of the lads from 1796 onwards. He stayed home and married and made love not war with babes arriving regularly. At his marriage and the baptisms he is always noted as Soldier and/or (42).

Was there a garrison or some such at or near Inverness around 1800 ?

Have asked Blackwatch but they don't seem to know.

Legend says he was Captain and fought in Egypt 1801 and Spain 1809 but this appears bogus due to the regular arrival of babies in Inverness. And he is not mentioned in Army Lists.

Thanks all

jon on the very west coast of Canada

[LesleyB]

Hi Jon
My knowledge of things military is rudimentary, but Fort George jumps to mind as being near Inverness. A bleak place, I remember visiting as a child....
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/nairn/fortgeorge/
It is still a working army barracks.

Best wishes
Lesley

[WilmaM]

The 42nd did seem to be based in Fort George, that's one of the barrack room exhibitions:

The historic barrack rooms are a time capsule of the domestic life of the Scottish soldier. Private John Anderson of the 42nd Royal Highlanders sits polishing his musket in the barrack room of 1780 that he shared with seven of his comrades, two to a bed

http://www.aboutbritain.com/FortGeorge.htm

It is a very interesting place to visit - though freezing cold on a windy spring day [even some of the soldiers stationed there looked cold!]

[LesleyB]

Hi Wilma

- though freezing cold on a windy spring day

Yes, I think it is the cold wind I remember more that anything!! (and that was in summer... )

Best wishes
Lesley

[Currie]

Hello Jon,

As far as I can make out from what’s on regiments.org:
The 1st Battalion of the 42nd was in England 1796, overseas at various places until 1801. They are overseas again apparently from 1805 to 1809 when they’re in England. They are in England or Scotland until 1812.
The 2nd Battalion was recruited in Perth, Elgin, Nairn, Ross, Cromarty, Caithness, Sutherland, Argyll & Bute and placed on establishment July 1803. They were in Scotland 1804, maybe also Ireland and in Spain in 1810.

Does this fellow fit the picture?

MARRIAGES. July 21. At Aberdeen, Lieutenant Alex. Wishart, of the 2d Battalion 42d Royal Highland Regiment, to Miss Janet M’Lean, daughter of Captain Hector M’Lean, (formerly of the 42d regiment, and the late Reay Highlanders) Adjutant of the 5th regiment A. L. militia.
http://www.google.com.au/books?id=lCAbA ... 2&as_brr=1

DEATHS. 1820 October 22—At Aberdeen, Captain Hector M’Lean, formerly of the 42d Regiment, and late Reay Highlanders.
http://www.google.com.au/books?id=CNwEA ... 2&as_brr=1

At Tarra Hill, on the 26th of May, 1798, three companies of the Reays, under a spirited and judicious veteran, Captain Hector Maclean, who had served nearly thirty years in the 42d regiment, ……….
http://www.google.com.au/books?id=GCoRA ... 2&as_brr=1

There can’t be too many Captain Hector McLean’s in the 42nd although if this is the same fellow maybe he’s a bit old? If it isn’t him maybe someone in the dim past who knew of the 42nd service may have seen information about the Captain and made assumptions. Similar things have happened to me. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/sear ... ryType=ALL

All the best,
Alan

[jackroyd]

Most annoyingly this ideal candidate (of the Reays) makes no mention in his testamentary disposition (Will) of the known offsprings of 'our' HM.

Fort George: Would this be close enough that a soldier there would had his children baptised in Inverness ?

We were wondering if our man was a quartermaster ? then he would not be an officer but would have the nominal title of Captain. So I understand.

Our HM remarries Oct 1806 and til 1822 he calls himself penchener or taylor (Inverness) which also reinforces the idea that we was not an officer.

Family confabulations I think made him a Captain

Thanks for the prompt responses !

jon on the sunny sunny west coast of Canada

[jackroyd]

This looks to be exactly the right place for Hector Mclean to be stationed.

Thanks for the link

jon

[David Lang]

Hi Jon

My relative Robert Campbell was with the 42 in egypt , when he was wounded , later on durin gthe Napoleonic War he was reactivated to serve in the invalid Battlaions.

They were statione din Fort George and Fort Augutus.

I have a list obtained from his records of soliders who were demobbed at the same time as him, i will look it out and check for the Hector , to see if he is on it

[tersmith29]

Can I ask where you get so much information about the 42nd Highlanders? I have been trying to find a 7th great grandfather who apprently was a member but I can't seem to find any documentation to confirm this. He emigrated to Prince Edward Island in 1805 from Scotland. That is the only solid information I could find.

Thanks for any direction you can provide. I think I've read everything I could find so I am obviously not searching the correct material.

Tracy

[Currie]

Hello Tracy, and Welcome to TalkingScot.

Here’s the National Archives guide to researching a British Army soldier prior to WW1. You’ll find other links there to relevant topics. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/reco ... to1913.htm

This is the archived regiments.org page for the 42nd Foot. If you click on the Battalions listed under Regulars you’ll find locations. http://web.archive.org/web/200710121422 ... 42-751.htm

And here’s a history of the 42nd Foot published 1845. http://archive.org/stream/cihm_48390#page/n15/mode/2up

Hope that helps,
Alan