Military Chat

I am trying to find more detail on Joseph Carter, an Irish soldier c1873.

His son, John Carter married Elizabeth Palmer in Belfast, April 1873. John's Father is listed as Joseph Carter with an occupation of "SOLDIER", however I am struggling to find more details.

I have found only 1 military record to date. A soldier, Joseph Carter, born 1837 (which would have made him 16 when his son was born in 1853) in Dowth, Ireland, who joined the army in 1858 and was discharged in 1862 after becoming medically unfit to serve. Which means he was discharged 11 years before the marriage certificate records him as a soldier.

I have also found one military birth record, from the 90th Light Infantry based in Belfast, for a Joseph Carter born 1832 - but there is no corresponding military service record for a Joseph Carter born 1832.

I can find no other records of him that would fit the timeline I have so I'm a little stumped and any help or suggestions on what to do next would be appreciated!

The 1871 Worldwide British Army Index lists 3 Joseph Carters, but no way of telling if any are your man:

First name(s) Joseph
Last name Carter
Service number 1050
Rank Private
Unit or Regiment 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot
HQ location Fort Tregantle, Ireland
Year 1871
Country Great Britain
National Archives reference WO 12/6699
Period 01/04/1871-30/06/1871
Record set 1871 Worldwide British Army Index - British Army Other Ranks & locations

First name(s) Joseph
Last name Carter
Service number 1511
Rank Private
Unit or Regiment 68th (Durham-Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot
HQ location Templmore, Ireland
Year 1871
Country Great Britain
National Archives reference WO 12/7684
Period 01/04/1871-30/06/1871
Record set 1871 Worldwide British Army Index - British Army Other Ranks & locations

First name(s) Joseph
Last name Carter
Service number 648
Rank Private
Unit or Regiment 97th (Earl of Ulster's) Regiment of Foot
HQ location Mullingar, Ireland
Year 1871
Country Great Britain
National Archives reference WO 12/9719
Period 01/04/1871-30/06/1871
Record set 1871 Worldwide British Army Index - British Army Other Ranks & locations

Do you know where John Carter was born?

The 1861 World wide British Army Index has more Joseph Carters listed; this one was also still serving in the 1871 posted above (same service no):

First name Joseph
Last name Carter
Service number 648
Rank Private
Unit or Regiment 97th Foot (Earl of Ulster''s)
Regiment stationed at Jubbulpore East Indies
Year 1861
National Archives reference WO12 / 9708
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Regimental & service records

There are however, another 14 Joseph Carters listed on the 1861 Index(on FMP).

Thanks for replying, and the additional info :-)

I'm sorry, I don't know where John Carter was born, only that he married in Belfast and was working there in one of the linen mills. He was born in Ireland though in 1853, so I'm guessing his family were of Irish descent.

I think my Joseph Carter needs to have been born circa 1833 in Ireland, but he may not be from Belfast as people were migrating to Belfast in the 1870's seeking work and this could be the only reason his son is there.

I also wonder if someone of Joseph's age (around 40 years old in 1873) would still be in the Army? Could he have died before leaving the Army and still appear on the marriage records as John's father and a soldier even if deceased?

Did John & Elizabeth stay in Ireland? Do you know when and where he died?

I'd just wondered if you'd been able to find a birth for Carter or John Carter c1853 ,(in Ireland, as you've now said), to see if the regiment matched for any of the Joseph Carters in the 1861 or 1871 Army Index, but have had no luck. :-(

Hi Potty,

John and Elizabeth travelled to England sometime between getting married in 1873 and having their 1st child in 1875. They settled in Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire. They both appear together with their family in the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census' but as yet I haven't traced them all in the 1911 census.

I'm not sure if Joseph Carter stayed in Ireland or settled elsewhere as I have precious little info about him, but he appears to have been in the army for a long time and will potentially have travelled the world with his regiment. I would like to find John Carter's birth record, as this may give me a better indication of where I'm likely to find more info on his Father.

Just for info:
Name:John Carter - Flax dresser
Age:38
Estimated birth year:abt 1853
Relation:Head
Spouse's Name:Elizabeth Carter
Gender:Male
Where born:Ireland
Civil Parish:Hunslet
Ecclesiastical parish:St Silas
County/Island:Yorkshire

John Carter 38
Elizabeth Carter 37
Edward T Carter 13
James Carter 11
Mary A Carter 9
Alice Carter 3
Frances E Carter 1

Children all born Leeds.

Can't find any of the family after the 1901. Was hoping to find John on the 1911, as quite often more info on POB is given.

There is a tree on Ancestry which has all of John's children, except Florence b1892, on the 1911 census; neither John or Elizabeth is living with any of them, so presumably died.

The same tree as John & Elizabeth's POB as Tyrone, Ireland but has no source for this. It also does not have their marriage or Joseph mentioned.

OK, thank you both for helping to point me onto further reading.

I'm going to spend a bit of money pouring the the Army Index and contact the tree owner on Ancestry.

Hopefully I can get a bit further forward and will come back if I need a bit more help

:-)