Military Chat

Hi. I have had a lot of trouble finding my Great grandfather on the 1861,71, and 1881 census returns. He was John Dyer born in Bridgwater, Somerset in 1849. I have just found an 1871 census return for a John Dyer, Born 1849 Bridgwater Somerset. He is described as a private Royal marine in Royal marine barracks Forton, Alverstoke, Hampshire. I tried putting his name into the National Archives records for Royal Marines but i could not see a match. Does anyone have any advice for me on how i can research this man further?
Thanks
Nick

Is this him in the 1861 census? :-

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census
137, St John Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

John Dyer Head Married Male 53 1808 Carpenter Milverton, Somerset, England
Hannah Dyer Wife Married Female 43 1818 - North Petherton, Somerset, England
Matilda Dyer Daughter Unmarried Female 21 1840 - North Petherton, Somerset, England
Thomas Dyer Son Unmarried Male 18 1843 Carpenter North Petherton, Somerset, England
John Dyer Son - Male 13 1848 Scholar North Petherton, Somerset, England<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Sarah Ann Dyer Daughter - Female 10 1851 Scholar North Petherton, Somerset, England
Mary Jane Dyer Daughter - Female 7 1854 Scholar Bridgwater, Somerset, England
Frederick Dyer Son - Male 4 1857 Scholar Bridgwater, Somerset, England
Walter Dyer Son - Male 2 1859 - Bridgwater, Somerset, England

Kath. x

Same person in the 1851 census:-

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Quarry Road, North Petherton, Bridgwater, Somerset, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

John Dyer Head Married Male 42 1809 Carpenter Milverton, Somerset, England
Hannah Dyer Wife Married Female 32 1819 - North Petherton, Somerset, England
Matilda Dyer Daughter - Female 12 1839 Scholar North Petherton, Somerset, England
Thomas Dyer Son - Male 9 1842 Scholar North Petherton, Somerset, England
Emma Dyer Daughter - Female 5 1846 Scholar North Petherton, Somerset, England
John Dyer Son - Male 3 1848 - North Petherton, Somerset, England<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Sarah Ann Dyer Daughter - Female 0 1851 - North Petherton, Somerset, England

Kath. x

Sorry no it's not. My ancestor was in Wales in 1851. His father was William, Mother was Ann, brother was William born 1847 and a sister Hannah born 1851. John dosen't appear again until 1891 in London so you can see why i'm trying to find out about this Royal marine even if it's just to exclude him. No doubt there were other boys called John born in the Bridgwater area at the same time. Thanks anyway

What was his occupation on his marriage cert?

Same family -

https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1374540

To answer my own question - my posting from the OTHER thread

Name: John George Dyer************Platelayer
Gender: Male
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 26 May 1885
Marriage Place: St James the Great, Bethnal Green, Tower Hamlets, England
Father: William Dyer******************Carpenter
Spouse: Sarah Ann Stock
Register Type: Parish Register

No mention of a third forename for John

Witnesses: Charles Dean and Elizabeth Vincent

Yes you're right. This thread was really to seek advice on researching a man I have found with the same name who happened to be a marine and this section was about the military so
thought it would be a good idea to post on here but as I say there may be no connection. I appreciate your help of course. I've just seen online some books about researching Royal marines. That looks like the next step.
Many rhanks

My Grandfather served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI).
Many years ago the records were stored at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, Somerset. If they don't have them, they will know where they are.

This was the only record I could come up with for the John Dyer, Royal Marines. It is his marriage record:

First name(s) John<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Last name Dyer
Marriage year 1875<<<<<<<<<<<<
Marriage date 8 Apr 1875
Spouse's first name(s) Sarah Ann<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Spouse's last name Hancock<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
County Devon
Country England
Division Plymouth
Series ADM 184
Piece 52
Record set British Royal Marines, Marriage Registers 1813-1920<<<<<<<<<<<<<

They married at the Register Office East Stonehouse on 8th April 1875. They were bachelor and spinster. No details of fathers names were recorded, I guess you'd need to get a copy of the marriage cert for that, if you wanted to eliminate him on grounds of father's name or occupation.

Marriages Jun 1875
DYER John E. Stonehouse 5b 513
HANCOCK Sarah Ann E. Stonehouse 5b 513

The Royal Marine in 1881:


John Dyer
in the 1881 England Census
Name: John Dyer
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1846
Relationship to Head: Head
Spouse: Sarah A. Dyer
Gender: Male
Where born: Taunton, Somerset, England
Civil Parish: East Stonehouse
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street address: 29 St Pauls St
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Royal Marine
Registration district: East Stonehouse
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors:
Piece: 2204
Folio: 67
Page Number: 67
Household Members:
Name Age
John Dyer 35
Sarah A. Dyer 26
Louisa E. Dyer 8
William J.E. Dyer 3
Sarah Hancock 56 - mother-in-law

The family in 1891:


John S C Dyer
in the 1891 England Census
Name: John S C Dyer
Gender: Male
Age: 46
Relationship: Head
Birth Year: 1845
Spouse: Sarah A Dyer
Child: William S C Dyer
Ethel F Dyer
John S C Dyer
Birth Place: Taunton, Somerset, England
Civil Parish: East Stonehouse
Residence Place: East Stonehouse, East Stonehouse, Devon, England
Sub registration district: East Stonehouse
ED, Institution or Vessel: 5
Neighbors:
Piece: 1739
Folio: 28
Household Members:
Name Age
John S C Dyer 46 - labourer RWP Yard
Sarah A Dyer 37
William S C Dyer 13
Ethel F Dyer 7
John S C Dyer 4
Sarah Hancock 75




John S K Dyer
in the 1901 England Census
Name: John S K Dyer
Age: 56
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Spouse: Sarah A Dyer
Birth Place: Taunton, Somerset, England
Civil Parish: Woolwich
Ecclesiastical parish: St John the Evangelist
County/Island: London
Country: England
Street address:
Registration district: Woolwich
Sub-registration district: Woolwich
ED, institution, or vessel: 03
Neighbors:
Piece: 564
Folio: 47
Page Number: 8
Household schedule number: 53
Household Members:
Name Age
John S K Dyer 56 - general labourer
Sarah A Dyer 46
Ehtel F Dyer 19
John S K Dyer 14
Esther Macdonald 26 - Lodger
Flora Macdonald 2
Norman Macdonald 26


So this looks like his baptism (another transcription has his middle name as Kerby):

John Seymour Kerly Dyer
in the Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914
Name: John Seymour Kerly Dyer
Baptism Date: 23 Jun 1844
Baptism Place: Creech St Michael, Somerset, England
Parish as it Appears: Creech St Michael
Father: George Dyer
Mother: Jemima Keturkah Dyer


John Henry Seymour Kerby Dyer
in the Web: UK, Burial and Cremation Index, 1576-2014
Name: John Henry Seymour Kerby Dyer
Register Type: Burial
Death Date: 23 Mar 1909
Burial or Cremation Date: 27 Mar 1909
Burial or Cremation Place: Greenwich, London, England

Deaths Mar 1909 (>99%)
DYER John Henry S K 65 Woolwich 1d 902

So apparently not your John Dyer.