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Had some great help earlier this afternoon so here is another brick wall I have been trying to get past these last few months. I have a GGGG grandfather James McKimmings born 1806 in the states (according to census returns) but a british subject.
He is a Chelsea Pensioner living in Wollwich then Lancashire but his records are not on FMP and NA's have not been able to help me trace him (they have a record for a james mckimmings born Canada and I think this is the same man but cant get access to the file to see). I can find records for his son James born Corfu. But none for the father.
I cant find any birth records for James snr or marriage but know his wife was Eleanor or Ellen ( born Malta). the family have strong Preston links and I have census records for them after he retires but cant go back any farther than 1841.
Any ideas gratefully received,

wonder if his death cert would give any clues ?

Jan x

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

Last name: MCKENNINGS

Calculated year of birth: 1806

Parish of birth: Halifax Province

Town of birth: Halifax

County of birth: Nova Scotia

Age at attestation: 15 years

Attestation date: 3 April 1821

Attestation corps:

Attestation soldier number:

Discharge rank: Gunner & Driver

Discharge corps: Royal Artillery

Discharge soldier number:

The National Archives reference: WO97 / 1248 / 12

There are 5 images available for this soldier


The record shows this chap was in Corfu when James McKimmings was born in 1826. The full record is available on FMP.




Andy

Good Find Andrew....never thought to spell it with an " E "


Regards Vera

Thanks all!
Andrew- you are a star!! I have tried so many different spellings- but hadnt thought of that one! been stuck at this for months - so very excited at your find- thank you- off to FMP right now! :-)

Hope its correct record! Plenty of detail there.

You can try the following for searches:

Use * to replace a group of letters. In this case Mck*g. This works on Ancestry and some records on FMP including military.

Andy

Oh wow I did not know that! thanks! Yep i had a look and the records inside are spelt mckimmings. its definitely my man and i get a lot from his records. thanks again you have made my night :-)

:-)

Andy

This looks like the birth of one of the children from 1851 census. The cert will show Ellen's maiden name. Might help find her birth and the marriage.

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Jun 1850 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

McKemmings Thomas Preston 21 705


Andy

From Lancsbmd

??????
1850

MCKIMMINGS Thomas,.. Broughton ,subdistrict Preston,.. Mother's Maiden Name .DONNELLY ...ref.BRO/5/78

Following on from Gwyn.....


Longshot maybe

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Printer friendly version Registration event: Marriage



Name: MISKINNINGS, James
Consulate : Corfu
Country: Greece
Year: 1818-1864
Volume : 1
Page: 77
Spouse's last name: Not available for GRO Ionian Islands Military Registration Marriages (1818 to 1864)
Record source: GRO Ionian Islands Military Registration Marriages (1818 to 1864)


One of the possible matches is....


DONNELLY, Eleanor

Andy

????

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1852
Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Mother's Maiden Name Reference
MCKIMMINGS Amelia Preston Preston DONLEY PRES/70/14

Brilliant! Not a long shot Andrew , as I did suspect they may have married in Corfu thanks again! Thanks safc and Gwyn also, I will now look into the possible Donnelly connection- looks likely as very few McKimmings seem to come up! Yay!

Does anyone know if its possible to obtain GRO Ionian Islands Military Registration Marriages records? If so do u do it through t uk GRO as normal?

Update-
My fourth great grandfather james, was born in halifax nova scotia canada in 1806. Through help from the amazing GR members i was able to locate his military records and get confirmation on his marriage. Can anyone help find any info on his birth or parents. I am assuming his father may also have been a military man and that this may be how james came to be a british citizen born in canada. I only have access to uk records and am at a dead end.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

How about this one??

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Printer friendly version Registration event: Birth



Name: MISKIMMENS, James
Mother's name: Not available before 1966
Regiment:Royal Artillery
Place : Halifax
Country: Canada
Year: 1805
Volume : R.A.17
Page: 20
Record source: GRO Regimental Birth Indices (1761 to 1924)


may be related

Registration event: Birth



Name: MISKIMMENS, Elizabeth
Mother's name: Not available before 1966
Regiment:Royal Artillery
Place : Halifax
Country: Canada
Year: 1807
Volume : R.A.17
Page: 20
Record source: GRO Regimental Birth Indices (1761 to 1924)


and Armed Forces BMD details
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army marriages

army deaths

England & Wales births

overseas births

parish baptisms

overseas & military

Printer friendly version Registration event: Birth



Name: MISKIMMONS, Mary A
Mother's name: Not available before 1966
Place : Halifax
Country: Canada
Year: 1812
Volume : R.A.17
Page: 20
Record source: GRO Regimental Birth Indices Supplement (1761 to 1924)


Andy

This chap was in the army at the right time (from 1804) but sadly the records doesn't show where he was stationed, but he was in the Royal Artillery, which appears to be correct from the birth records posted above.





British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription

First name(s): Jas

Last name: MISKIMMENS

Calculated year of birth: 1786

Parish of birth: Ballyclair

Town of birth: Ballyclair

County of birth: Antrim

Age at attestation: 18 years

Attestation date: 1 September 1804

Attestation corps:

Attestation soldier number:

Discharge rank: Gunner & Driver

Discharge corps: Royal Artillery

Discharge soldier number:

The National Archives reference: WO97 / 1250 / 250


Andy

Hi Andy, wow thank you so much these look like really positive leads. I dont know how you do it! I will try following these up right now :-)

Ps would jas be short for james too ?

Yes it is. Short versions of names often crop up in older records. Jas, Willm, Jno,Thos etc.

Andy