1861 Census Help Please!

[apanderson]

Hi Christine,

George (the father) was a Gunner until 1869/1870 when he was promoted to Bombardier.

His Regimental No. (at his date of Marriage) was 1307 and he was in the 9th Batt. (Royal Artillery). He

From Christening Records (part of George's Discharge Papers)

George born Leith 19th March 1859, Christened 5th April 1859 by Rev. J. A. White, location unknown
Helen born North Leith 13th January 1861, Christened 15th February 1861 by Rev. J. A. White, location unknown
John born North Leith 2nd December 1863, Christened 2nd January 1864 by Rev. J. A. White, location unknown
David born Broughty 6th February 1865, Christened 26th March 1865 by Rev. H. J. Clarke, location unknown (died 24th June 1865)
Sarah Anne (Frances) born Broughty 19th May 1866, Christened 17th June 1866 by Rev. J. White, location unknown (died 21st April 1870)
William W. (Whitton) born Broughty 13th March 1868, Christened 7th June 1868 by Rev. ? Clarke, location unknown
Elizabeth Robertson born Broughty 4th February 1871, Christened 12th March 1871 by Rev. A. B. Bruce, location unknown

So, I it looks like they were in Leith from 1858 (their first child Jane was born & died 1858) and Broughty/Monifeith from anytime after January 1864.

They're all living at 'Bothy' Monifeith in 1871 - found them there without any problems!

Anne

[car]

Hi again Anne

I "Googled" George Chisell and came across your postings - what a variety of spellings for his surname!

I also came across.....

"I have found a George Chisell who married a sister of my Grandfather in Central Scotland in 1878. He was born in Leith Midlothian in 1859 to a George Chisell and Anne Dunn. Hope this helps someone." This was posted on Genes Reunited on 18 November 2006. Is this old news? Maybe they have been down the same road.

I tried to find a "diary" of the RA in the hope that all the postings would be mentioned ( the regiment that is, not the individual!) I wondered if George had been posted outside UK and Ann followed after the birth of Helen. Back in UK for the next birth.

Will have another ferret around and get back to you if I come across anything.

Christine.

[apanderson]

Thanks very much Christine.

I never thought to look on 'Genes' - I'm not too keen on it in general, but I'll have a wee look and providing my membership hasn't expired (which I have a sneaky suspicion that it has).

The Chissels have certainly led me a merry dance, but all the 'goings-on' have more than kept me entertained!

Anne

[car]

Hi again Anne

No luck up to now I'm afraid. The only thing I came up with was when looking for info on the RA 1860ish was that someone had been posted to the RA in Ireland. (Typical, now I can't find it!) Could George have been posted to Ireland and then returned to barracks in Leith where John was born?

I haven't needed any Irish information - is there a census for 1861? I couldn't see anything obvious, but then I probably wasn't looking in the right places!

Christine

[apanderson]

Thanks very much for pursuing this Christine!

One of the staff at GROS has been trying to find them as well. She's looked through every Lapicide Lane address and they're not there, so ..... Ireland? I don't know a sausage about Irish records - but someone somewhere will!

Will try some Irish sites and if I still find nothing, then I think they were either off on a World Cruise or abducted by a UFO.

Anne

[apanderson]

Oh well ......

"1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 - These census returns were destroyed by government order".

U.F.O. it is!

Anne

[car]

Anne, the only way forward that I can think of is to contact the RA and see if they hold records for 1860-1862. A long shot - but it might work!!

Christine

[Currie]

Hello Anne,

There was a 9th Battery, Royal Artillery, stationed at Leith Fort in 1862. It was reported in the Morning Post (London), Wednesday, February 19, 1862, that a George Taylor of Leith Fort, a gunner of the 9th Battery of Royal Artillery, had been charged with theft. He had only just arrived in vicinity of London escorting a prisoner.

Did the records mention anything about whether the 9th Battery was part of a particular Brigade or something? There’s a story in the Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet, and General Advertiser (Truro), Friday, April 10, 1863 about an Alfred Holden, a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, of the 9th Battery, stationed at Chatham, aged about 25, charged with murder.

Not necessarily the same 9th battery but maybe there’s a London connection. Have you been able to find the rest of the Leith 9th Battery in 1861? If not maybe you could track George Taylor down?

Hope that helps,
Alan

[apanderson]

Hi Alan,

I haven't attemped to track anyone else in the Battalion/Brigade - I wouldn't know where to start!
I had a go at entering only 'Leith Fort', but I didn't get anywhere (of course, I might be doing something wrong).

The following is a 'blow-by-blow' account of what was happening during George's Military years (I know you didn't ask, but something might strike a chord!)

Attested in 5th Batt., Gunner & Driver from 26th July 1852 - 31December 1852 (159 days)
Transferred to 9th Batt., same rank from 1st January 1853 - 30th September 1857 (4 years 273 days)
- - (Marriage to Ann Dunn at Stirling 2nd March 1857 - without leave)
- - (Daughter Jane born at Leith 22nd February 1858, died same year)
Transferred to 9th Batt., same rank from 1st October 1857 - 30th April 1859 (1 year 212 days)
- - (Son George Penny born at Leith 19th March 1859,baptized at Leith 5th April 1859)
Awarded 6' Class Good Conduct Pay 3rd September 1858
Tranferred to 9th Brigade, same rank from 1st May 1859 - 31st May 1861 (2 years 31 days)
Awarded 2 Good Conduct Pay 3rd September 1860
- - (Daughter Helen born at Lapicide Lane, Leith 13 January 1861, baptized at Leith 15th February 1861)
- - 1861 Census, 7th/8th April
Transferred to Coast Brigade, same rank from 1st June 1861 - 1st June 1868 (8 years 1 day)
- - (Son John born at Hillhousefields, Leith 2nd December 1862, baptized at Leith 4th January 1863)
Re - engaged at Leith on 24th February 1864 for 9 years
- - (Twin sons David & William born at Monifeith 6th February 1865, William died within days)
- - (Twin son David baptized at Broughty 20th March 1865)
- - (Twin son David died at Broughty Ferry Castle 24th June 1865)
Awarded Good Conduct Pay at 3d - 26th July 1865
- - (Daughter Sarah Ann Frances born at Monifeith 19th May 1866 baptized at Broughty 17th June 1866)
- - (Son William Whitton born at Monifeith 13th May 1868, baptized at Broughty 7th June 1868)
Promoted Bombardier from 2nd June 1869 - 11 July 1873
- - (1871 Census, 2/3rd April 1871, Family living at 'Bothy' Monifeith - George, Ann & kids George, Helen, John, William & Eliza)
- (Daughter Sarah Ann Frances died at Monifeith 21st April 1870
Awarded Good Conduct Pay at 4d, 26th July 1870
- - (Daughter Elizabeth Robertson born at Monifeith 4th February 1871, baptized at Broughty 12th March 1871)
Discharged at Leith Fort 11th July 1873 (20 years 357 days service including Crimea)
Final Discharge at Dumbarton Castle 26th July 1873 (21 years 1 day service)
Awarded Good Conduct Pay at 5d, 26th July 1873

Whew!

Anne

[apanderson]

Had another go at trying to find Leith Fort in 1861 - this time I managed to get it. (Dear knows what I did before!)

No sign of any Chissels (or variants) amongst the 'inhabitants'.

There is a John Penny amonst them, so I had a wee look at his details (George's middle name was Penny).

This was on Ancestry, so I thought, knowing all about weird and wonderful transcription errors ......
Nope, not him. This man although was also born in England, was approximately 8 years too young.

I then stared to look for any other 'matching' Pennys living in the vicinity ...... nothing!