William Nicol, Larbert

[Morag]

Hi
I am looking again at William Nicol from Larbert to try and fill in some blanks.
This is what I know

born abt 1840 in Larbert - parents William Nicol & Grace McPherson
In 1841 & 1851 he was living with his McPherson grandparents in Larbert - there is no sign of his parents ever - or even any evidence that they married , their names came from his marriage & death certificates.There is nothing in OPRs - either for him or any siblings
1861, 1871 - there is no sign of him
1875 - he marries Margaret Honeyman in Larbert & is a batchelor . Occupation Engine Smith - both parents are deceased
1881 Census - living in Larbert with wife & 3 daughters, occupation blacksmith
1882 - Margaret dies in Larbert
1890 - he marries Christina Logan in Logie, Perth , his occupation is blacksmith
1891 Census - living in Larbert with wife & 2 of daughters with Margaret, occupation is blacksmith
1896 he dies in Larbert - occupation given as blacksmith & ARMY PENSIONER

I have several questions
Where was he in 1861,1871?
When was he in the army - and which war would this be ?

In total he had 5 daughters who lived , and 1 son & 1 daughter who died at very young ages.One of the daughters was my GGrandmother.
My dad swears that he remembers there being Nicol cousins in Larbert when he was young - but that they didn't speak to them as they were 'a bad lot ' !
I can find no proof of this at all.An elderly great aunt remembers his 2nd wife Christina who she went to see every Saturday as a child, so there were no hidden children there !
On Ancestry there are a few William Nicols of the correct age in England in these missing census years - with a bit of imagination the transcription has place of birth as Falkirk which is possible - but no way of knowing if it is him.

Any advise would be most welcome.
Thanks
Morag

[Anne H]

Hi Morag,

This might help you fill in some of those blanks. This looks like your William Nicol on FMP.

Born in Larbert c1841, he was a blacksmith by trade and signed up with the 53rd Regiment of Foot in Glasgow on the 9th January 1861 when he was 20 years old. He was discharged at his own request at 28 years of age at Shorncliffe on the 20th January 1869. His intended residence looks like Chatwick.... (can't really make it out). His final discharge was 25th January 1869.

Let me know if you want a copy of the documents.

Regards,
Anne H

[Morag]

Hi Anne

Many thanks for that - it certainly sounds like him. I would love to have a copy of the documents. I now have to look for him in 1871 - but Chatwick is a start.
After watching 'Who do you think you are? ' last night about Robin Gibb who had an ancestor in the Army in India during this time, I was wondering if William could have served there also.
It has definately given me something to go on.
Thanks again
Morag

[Anne H]

Hi Morag,

Unfortunately, there is no mention of where he was stationed on these documents. I had a quick look for him on all of the census records but didn't see him on any of them. There are other William Nicols from Stirling but I didn't notice any blacksmiths (unless he changed his career).

Send me a pm with your email address.

Regards,
Anne H

[Morag]

Thanks for looking
Have sent a PM

Morag

[Anne H]

Email sent, Morag.

By the way, on closer inspection of the document, it looks like William's intended residence might be Chippenham and not Chatwick! I'll have another look at the census records later.

Maybe someone will be able to give you an idea of where the 53rd of Foot were between the period of 1861 and 1869.

Good luck filling in the blanks.

Regards,
Anne

[Currie]

Great work Anne,

Here are the locations of the 53rd Regiment of Foot from copies I have of “Stations of the British Army” published in many UK newspapers during the 19th Century. Where a second place is mentioned, after the dash, it’s the regimental depot.

Jan 1861 … Plymouth – Chichester
May 1861 … Davenport – Chichester
Jul 1861 … Aldershot – Chichester
Jul 1862 … Portsmouth – Chichester
May 1863 … Portsmouth – Birr
Sep 1864 … Curragh – Birr
Mar 1865 … Curragh – …
Aug 1865 … Kilkenny – …
Mar 1866 … Waterford – …
Aug 1866 … Fermoy – Shorncliffe
Oct 1866 … Canada – Shorncliffe
Sep 1867 … London, Canada – Shorncliffe
Dec 1867 … Canada – Shorncliffe
May 1868 … L’don, Canada – Shorncliffe
Feb 1869 … Canada – Shorncliffe
Jan 1870 … Barbadoes – Colchester

Alan

[Anne H]

Wonderful, Alan. I knew you would be able to come up with the goods.

Morag is certain to be pleased to see all those locations of the Regiment.

Regards,
Anne

[Morag]

Alan & Anne

This is wonderful !
To think that he had the experience of being in Canada - and then chose to pack it in and go home to being a blacksmith in Larbert !

Anne - I wondered if he was intending living in Cheltenham ? I will have another look at the census and see if he shows up there, before he headed home.

Thanks again
Morag

[Anne H]

Hi Morag,

It could well be Cheltenham. I had another look all over England and all dates and still I'm not coming up with your William.

The following are the closest in age I could find. I think he's unlikely to have become a solicitor, but who knows about the dentist R.C.S. Eng!!! I found my great grand uncle in California who was an electrician, a dentist and a caretaker of a school...can't find anything to backup his occupation as a dentist though.

1871...148 Church Rd, West, Islington (No sign of the solicitor in 1881)
NICOL, William Head M 32 1839 solicitor, Stirling, Scotland
NICOL, Mary A Wife F 31 1840 Devon
NICOL, Maggie H Daughter F 0 1871 Middlesex
COLES, Lavinia Sister-In-Law F 17 1854 Middlesex
PERRY, Frederic T Cousin M 25 1846 Devon
COATES, Susan Servant F 22 1849 Middlesex

1871...2 Clarenden Road, Leeds (He's at 18 Mount Preston, Leeds in 1881)
NICOL, William H Head M 29 Dentist, R.C.S. Eng. Scotland
NICOL, Marian A Wife F 28 Scotland
NICOL, Margaret A Daughter F 2 Yorkshire
NICOL, Christian J Daughter F 1 Yorkshire
BARNET, Ellen E Servant F 21 Yorkshire
SHAW, Mary A Servant F 14 Yorkshire

There are a couple of younger William's...one is a house-servant and the other is a clerk....I don't think either one is who you're looking for.

Maybe William went abroad...did you check for a passenger list? He just might show up where you least expect him.

Need to have an early night tonight...an early rise tomorrow.

Regards,
Anne