Which Regiment?? Any Ideas??

Jacquie · Post by **Jacquie** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 2:35 am

Hi,
I've trying to find out the regiment a gggrandfather (Donald Ross) would have belonged to and I was wondering if anyone may have any ideas.
The opr record of a daughter b 1818 in Hamilton states soldier in the Royal Lanarkshire Militia, the 1841 census states Regimental Clerk, other documents state army paymaster.
During my search for which regiment I found information that the 3rd and 4th battalions of the Cameronians (formerly the 2nd Royal Lanark Militia) and the 3rd battalion of the Highland Light Infantry (formerly the 1st Royal Lanark Militia) were both stationed in Hamilton. If I have this correct the HLI was an amalgamation of the 71st and 74th regiment of foot.
Any ideas on how to verify which is the right regiment?
Thanks in advance for ANY ideas.
Jacquie

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 2:29 pm

Hello Jacquie,

As far as I have been able to gather the mergers you mentioned occurred in 1881 and I guess that would be a bit late for your fellow. The Royal Lanark Militia appears to have been alive and well until then. I guess you want to know whether he was in the 1st or the 2nd Royal Lanark Militia. I don’t think I can help you there.

Did you search in the National Archives for Donald Ross in the time period in question http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/sear ... d=True&j=t

There’s some information about the mergers on the regiments.org site, currently moribund but able to be downloaded as set out here but just more or less what you’ve said. viewtopic.php?t=12091

There’s lots of interesting material in the 19th Century British Library newspapers temporarily available here http://access.gale.com/newstrial/ search for Lanark militia and for Lanarkshire militia.

Also in google Books http://www.google.com.au/books?hl=en and select full view

Not to mention the London Gazette http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/home.a ... ype=London

All the best,
Alan

Adam Brown · Post by **Adam Brown** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:05 pm

Jacquie

Before 1881 the Militia was not affiliated to a regular army regiment.

The Militia was only embodied at certain times so the census records unless they specify the Lanrkshire Militia may mean he was serving in another unit? It may be he was a regular attached to the Militia in 1818?

Regards

Adam