Nursing and the RWF

[Mike McCormick]

Has anyone in their searches come across the nursing profession and its members in the history of 23rd Foot/RWF on their postings.
Capt Patrick McCormick was married under special licence in Montreal 1867 to My Gt Grandmother who was born in London..Why was she there.?..was she a nurse? On the Licence her entry is Georgina Adkins of Montreal, but on census in this country the place of birth is Whitechapel,London.
Mike

[Rog Ball 01]

I believe that there are at least two ex QUARNC nurses who have links to the Royal Welch.

[Mike McCormick]

QUARNC? Please help me,
I'm just a Brylcream Boy. Or am I just having a "silver Haired moment"
Mike

[Keith Jones 989]

Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

[ap1]

I think at that point formalised nursing was still an ad hoc affair, it had only recently been introduced during the Crimean War. Have you read Fusilier by Mark Urban? Although set in the previous century, it does make mention of soldiers and their families being given land in Canada in order to colonise it.

With that, there would have been a constant movement of family members from the UK, to Canada to obtain that better life, most of them would not of owned any land in the UK. Record keeping although thorough, was open to manipulation. This may be the case with your family Mike, however if she appears on any pre 1867 census as being born in the UK that well maybe correct. Any after 1867 will be suspect. Are you able to check back on Canadian Census records?

In my own family, My GGGrandfather pops up in New York in the 1850's, he then appears in the 1861 census back in Dorset with a woman called Mary Guinea(this is the first census I can find her on). It likely that she was a latin american whom he met in the USA. On the subsequent census from 1861 onwards she continually stated she was born in Oxfordshire in 1822. We believe she returned from New York with him, bringing her own 14 yr old child from a previous relationship, this child was possibly full latino. The direct descendents of that child, who I have linked up with here in the UK have retained the Spanish features, dark skin, brown eyes, good at football

I had a look at Patrick and Georgina's marriage cert on Ancestry. A couple of things struck me. Firstly that he was able to sign his own name. All my family in this period are "x", also I noted one of the witnesses Thomas Adkins. This may either be her father or an older brother(if she was born out of wedlock). Maybe looking at him will assist you in finding out her background. I take it you have looked at ship records Mike?

[Mike McCormick]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.
Al, I have Georgina Adkins on 1861 Census with her family which includes Thomas her brother who is 6 years younger than Georgina. Place of birth London.
I had not yet tried the ships records but will give it a try.
May I ask how you found Patricks Marriage on Ancestry?
I am an Ancestry co.uk member but have never found the marriage. That could be of course that I hadn't considered Canada until another RWF forum member supplied me with all the relevant postings of that time.
Many many thanks for the interest...one day I WILL find Patricks parents and place of birth
Thank you all again
Mike

[ap1]

Hi Mike, I searched using the terms "McCormick" "Adkins" " Canada". The pic of the marriage page came up straight away. Really good quality. I have the level of ancestry membership which allows me to search overseas lists. This includes shipping manifests. You obviously have a year range 61-67 in which to search for her Canada crossing. If you need further assistance with ancestry, pm me. I can certainly obtain a copy of the marriage doc if its required

[scorch]

we have just had one of our med centre guys transfer across Fus Jason Hedges