nsfers, discharges, date and place of death (where applicable). The last column includes comments on the man's behaviour and character while in the Army.
It is quite staggering to see how far a man travelled while in the army. The Description and Succession Books are filled with examples of men born in one part of the British Isles, enlisting with a regiment far from home, serving in a variety of regiments across Europe and the far reaches of the British Empire before being pensioned somewhere in England or even Canada.
Muster Rolls: Muster Rolls are held by the PRO. These lists were usually compiled four times a year and are arranged in volumes based on a twelve month period. Although these volumes do not contain as much personal information as the Regimental Description Books, they are helpful in establishing the dates of enlistment and discharge (or death). The first entry in these rolls for each soldier should indicate his age, while the last entry should show his birthplace, non-military occupation, and the date of his enlistment.
There are several series of these Muster Rolls, bearing War Office (WO) numbers 10 through 16. The three most comprehensive are; WO 10, containing Muster Rolls for the artillery for 1708-1878, WO 11, Muster Rolls for engineers for 1816-1878, and WO 12, the general series, with Muster Rolls for the cavalry, foot guards and regiments of foot for 1732-1878.
LDS FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG©:
While many military records are only available directly from the PRO in England, a great many PRO records have been microfilmed by the LDS and are available in their main Family History Library Catalog. When searching the Family History Library Catalogue, begin with BRITAIN---MILITARY RECORDS. The small sample of entries from the online LDS Family History Library Catalogue are listed to illustrate but a few of the many resources available to researchers on loan to a local Family History Center of the LDS.
A list of the officers of the army... 1779-1878 [Great Britain. War Office (Main Author)]. From the Public Record Office, War Office number: WO 65, numbers: IND 5469-5470, 5476-5480, 5488, 5490, 5492-5495, 5568-5603]. Microfilm of printed volumes, some updated with handwritten changes and additions, located in the Public Record Office (Index included in each volume). This published serial is continued as: The official army list and A list of the general and field officers as they rank in the army. For example, the list for the year 1806 is found on FHL BRITISH Film #896659 Item 2. More than 79 reels of microfilm with some 80 odd film notes noted in the main FHL Catalogue.
Artillery records of services of non-commissioned officers and men consisting of description books, records of service, registers of marriages and baptisms, registers of deceased soldiers, and miscellaneous records of transfers, pension registers of the Royal Artillery and the Royal Horse Artillery, l765-1906 [Great Britain. War Office (Main Author)] Service records contain the name, age, description, place of birth, trade, dates of service and promotion of each soldier, with the dates of marriage and discharge or death. The records are available through the LDS Family History Library on 107 reels of microfilm.
A List of general and staff officers on the establishment in North America, 1755-1782 [Great Britain. War Office (Main Author)]. From the Public Record Office, War Office number: WO 65 number: IND 5604. The manuscript is available on Family History Library (FHL) BRITISH Film #856053 Item 1.
Depot description books, 1768-1908. [Great Britain. War Office (Main Author)]. From the Public Record Office, War Office number: WO 67. Books give physical descriptions of the individual soldiers with their dates and places of birth, occupations, promotions in the service and how they became non-effective. Included in the class are returns of officers' services (with succession lists) of the Gloucester Regiment 1792-1866, which contain particulars as to marriage and children. The records are available through the LDS Family History Library o