Gunner William Perrin RM
Excited to receive from National Archives the Attestation Papers of my 2x-Great-Grandfather William Perrin. I have know for some time that prior to his joining the Berkshire police he had served with the Royal Marines, for 13 years it was said. More than that I knew not.
He enlisted for “unlimited service” (ie life) on 3rd January 1842 at Portsmouth (his Attestation Papers being signed on 5th January) for which he received a bounty of ‘three pounds seventeen and sixpence’. He served until 12 July 1851, when he bought himself out “at his own request having paid the sum of £15″, a remarkable amount I would have thought.
He served on Retribution, Penelope, Spiteful, Blenheim and either (probably) Constance or Centaur. The doubt as to this last is frustrating as it was his longest period of service on any ship – 2 years 5 months and 26 days, leaving the Marines just 11 days after his return to England - but the records show the name of both ships for the exact same period. Looking at the ships’ records, it seems William may have seen action off the West African coast, chasing Brazilian slavers.
His Attestation record says he was 23, 6 feet tall, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair.
The house in Napanee – a Miller home?
What follows is a posting on the community forum of Greater Napanee, a few moments ago.
Is there a resident of Napanee who can help solve a family history puzzle for a visitor to this Forum from Sheffield, England? Read more
James Miller in Canada
Remarkable. Only possible on the internet.
I have found and not found descendants of James Miller, whose emigration with his family I traced from Shropshire to Canada in 1884. Searching for a lost copy of a photograph of Donnington House, and discovering that the original site from which I downloaded the copy was no longer live, I did a wider search. Read more
Revisiting Great-Great-Great-Grandparents Edwin & Jane Parr
Been spending sometime with my Great-Great-Great-Grandparents Edwin (1801) and Jane Parr. Mainly checking and re-checking facts and assumptions, but also re-writing parts of the ‘story’. I have now some sort of account of all their ten children (nine boys!) with the exception of Henry Alfred who was born on 31 Jan 1831 and of whom there is as yet no further trace. I have acquired a number of, mainly death, certificates which have been helpful in identifications.
Sampler Murkins completed
I have completed entering years of death and burials (except Elizabeth, together with marriages, know to me at this time. I have not yet entered any subsequent children from these marriages.