Complete Brick Wall!

[Littlemo]

Hi All,
In February, I visited Fulwood Army Museum as I found out from the 1871 Census that my GGrandad was stationed there. They very kindly offered to try to find his Army Records, but I have just received a letter from them saying although they have Researched extensively they cannot find anything .
Can anyone please help me with any suggestions as to where I go from here? I"m feeling really disillusioned at the moment as I have recently found out that I"ve been researching the wrong family of of Ancestors on my Paternal Grandma"s side, now this
My GGrandad was called Michael Donnelly, and he was born in Prescot (St Helens) in December 1850 and according to the 1871 Census he was stationed at Fulwood Barracks serving with the 47th Lancashire Regiment (of Foot) or maybe I have the wrong Michael Donnelly, unless I can find some sort of Record I can"t ever find out. Please Please (Pretty Please) some kind soul please help me out, before I give this Ancestry Lark up as a bad job this is really how disappointed I"m feeling at the moment. Someone save an Old Lady"s Sanity PLEASE.
Happy Hunting
Luv Littlemo xx

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Littlemo,

Have you Michael on the 1861 census, he is stepson to Lancelot but couldnt remember if you had this.

 

[juliejtp]

Its ok seen your other post on childhood diseases.

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Littlemo,

Have a look at this link The Regimental Museum 'The Queens Lancashire Regiment'

In 1881 the 47th of Foot and the 81st formed the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and in 1970 the Loyal North amalgamated with the Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales Volunteers) to form the Queens Lancashire Regiment.

http://www.47thfoot.co.uk/mainframe.html

Have you tried the Military records on findmypast?

 

[pejay]

not sure if this helps or not, go to
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search the archives
type in Michael Donnelly years 1871 - 1891 [just a guess you have to put a date in] and 2nd down on the list a Michael Donnelly appears from Preston, you can order this if you think he may be the right one, but he does seem more naval than army, anyway see what you think.
I looked on other census'es but couldn't find him, do you know when he came out of the army? when was he married etc. sometimes these brick walls seem impossible to break down, all that we can do then is to try to take the wall down gradually, brick by brick.Good luck

 

[juliejtp]

Its look like Michael died before the 1901 census, his widow Elizabeth (born Calcutta) has remarried, assuming this is the right one.

 

[Littlemo]

Hi Julie & pejay,
Thanks for your replies, I will look again at the National Archives, but so far Zilch
The information I have on Michael so far is that I thought I had found him in the Army in 1871 Census, inthe 61 Census he is the step-son of Lancelot Brannan & in 51 he is 2 months old along with his parents James & Mary, living in Prescot St. Helens. I can find no trace of him in 1881 but his eldest son Walter was born in 1885in Youghal County Cork in Ireland. his 2nd son Joseph was born in Bury St. Edmonds in 1887 (Joe is my Grandad who died age 30 in Leigh in 1917) As Elizabeth was born in Calcutta I"m Baffled
I have however found Elizabeth"s brother (also born in Calcutta) lodging with Michael & Elizabeth at Wharf St, Leigh in the 1891 Census, and I think I have found his marriage to a Sarah Storey in Leigh in 1896, so I think I will buy a copy of the marriage certificate and hope that gives me Elizabeth and Thomas"s Fathers name & occupation, and maybe this will shed some more light on it.
My own Dad was never able to tell me much about his family as he was only 2 when his dad (Joe) died and his mum died when he was in his teens.
I really appreciate your help and I promisr I"ll keep plodding on even if it does drive me
Happy Hunting
Luv Littlemo xx

 

[tiddy30]

Hi Just A Thought But Is It Possible Michael Was Posted To Calcutta Before 1881 Which Is Where He Met His Wife???? They Could Have Married And Come Back Before Thier Children Were Born.

 

[leefer]

http://www.old-liverpool.co.uk/Army71.html

Hi Littlemo...bit of a longshot but you could email William on this link and ask him if he has any info...seems to have alot of Fullwood soldiers on his list...Michael isnt on this list but he may be able to help.

 

[Littlemo]

Hi Tiddy and Leefer,
I havn't been on here for a month or so because I have A Cataract on my eye, and using the Laptop was giving me terrible Headaches with keep having to squint Good News is I'm having it removed next Tuesday, so when the drops and everything are finished, I'LL BE BACK>
Thanks for all your help,
Littlemo