Sarah McGilchrist

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Sarah Macgilchrist

Notes:

In the 1861 census at 39 Ann St Rushall Sarah Chinn Widow 65 born Wiltshire Devises
and James Baldwin Grandson 24 born B'ham.

Sarah married Levi Baldwin on 25 Apr 1808 in Saint Mary's Northgate, Canterbury, Kent, England. Levi was born in 1782 in USA; died in May 1829 in Tongue Sreet, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 14 May 1829 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Why have I assumed that the Levi Balden and Sarah McGilchrist who baptised a son Levi at Glasgow in 1812 are the Levi and Sarah from Birmingham?

The baptism at Glasgow was in the name Balden the same as the first civil registration entry in Birmingham indicating the same pronunciation. Levi was said to be born in North America, there are many Balden surnames in the IGI there and relatively few in the British Isles for this period.

We know from register entries that Levi was at least part black and was a musician. The two witnesses of the baptism of Levi junior were :-
(1) Henry McGilchrist: Assumed to be Sarah's father, of black origins born in Jamaica and a Musician. See notes Henry McGilchrist.
(2) John MacDonald: John's discharge at Glasgow on 24th September 1810 reveal he was " born New York, America - of black complexion "

John MacDonald enlisted on 2nd May 1808 and served in the 2nd Battalion 71st Regiment of Light Infantry.

1. Jane Baldwin was born in Feb 1809 in Chichester, Sussex, England.
2. Levi Baldwin was born on 13 May 1811 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
3. Jeremiah Baldwin was born in 1814 in Not in Warwickshire, England; died on 27 Jun 1845 in Rushall, Walsall, Staffordshire, England; was buried in 1845 in Key Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
4. Henry Baldwin was born in May 1815 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
5. Isabella Baldwin was born in Jun 1818; died in Feb 1819 in Queen Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 7 Feb 1819 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
6. Caroline Baldwin was born on 28 Aug 1820 in Dudley Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died in Jun 1837 in Ryecroft Street, Walsall, Staffordshire, England; was buried on 18 Jun 1837 in Saint Matthew's, Walsall, Staffordshire, England.
7. Thomas Baldwin was born in Aug 1823; died in May 1824 in Vale Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 2 Jun 1824 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
8. James Baldwin was born on 2 Aug 1825 in Dudley Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died in Aug 1825 in Dudley Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 14 Aug 1825 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
9. Sarah Baldwin was born on 7 Sep 1826 in Five Dwellings, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died in Apr 1831 in Tonk Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; was buried on 26 Apr 1831 in Saint Phillip's Churchyard, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.

Sarah married John Chinn on 19 Dec 1831 in Saint Phillip's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. John (son of William Chinn and Martha Harding) was born in 1801 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died in Mar 1855 in Rushall, Walsall, Staffordshire, England; was buried on 11 Mar 1855 in Saint Michael's Churchyard, Rushall, Walsall, Staffordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Adult Baptism: 4 Sep 1773, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
• Occupation: Between 1774 and 1810; Soldier Musician
• Miltary Service: Between 1774 and 1810; Trumpeter (Kettle Drummer), 3rd (King's Own) Dragoons
• Residence: 1811, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Notes:

At Present there is no direct evidence that Henry is in fact Sarah's father but the evidence of some relationship is clear, the age differance ruling out siblings. At the baptism of Sarah's child by Levi Baldwin,( AKA Balden), Henry was one of the witnesses along with John McDonald another Soldier of black origins.
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In the Glasgow original parish registers there is an entry on 4 September 1773, " Henry McGilchrist a Negro man baptised witnessed by M Corse and Bob Edwards.
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Military referances to Henry McGilchrist found so far are in the 3rd Dragoons Description Book, the muster rolls and his discharge papers. The description book of 1772 - 1781 lists Henry as being in the troop of Major Fitzroy. He was recruited as a Trumpeter by Major Whyte of the 3rd Dragoons on the 25 may 1774 at Greenwich. The description book shows that the regiment was at Black Heath, Greenwich, on the 25th May 1774. Unfortunately the description books from 1781 - 1810 have not survived. The Muster rolls for the period to 1781 do not list individual privates but later ones list Henry as a Trumpeter - Kettle Drummer. The 3rd Dragoons have only one Kettle Drummer but each troop had it's own Trumpeter. The troop Henry was assigned too listed two trumpeters and besides Henry's name was entered (Kettle Drummer), it is likely that although officially a Trumpeter for muster purposes, he was and always had been, a Kettle Drummer.

He was paid a premium for his service for example the 1806 - 1809 muster (PRO ref: WO 12/374) shows :
Henry McGilchrist Trumpeter (Kettledrummer) paid ?8 5s for 90 days
( An ordinary private received ?5 12/6 and a Serjeant ?9 15s)
This amounts to ?25 per annum at a time when an agricultural labourer would receive ?5 plus bed and board.

There is a discrepancy with his discharge papers which quote his enlistment as 25 May 1773. The 1774 date is more likely as this entry was made at the time of his enlistment.
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Abstract of Description book Entry
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Trumpeter Henry McGilchrist 5'6 " age 19 born Passley Pen, Jamaica (the writing is difficult to read and has only recently been identified as Passley). A Passley Garden Pen is listed in the 1878 Portland Directory Jamaica when it was in the hands of the Thomson family.
See

Here for extract

Enlisted by Major Whyte 25 May 1774 at Greenwich a Labourer Black Eyes/ Black Hair - Black Complexion.

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Abstract of Discharge papers for Henry McGilchrist 18/11/1810 at Guildford
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At discharge he was serving in the 3rd or (King's Own) regiment of Dragoons under Lieutenant General William Cartwright in the troop of Captain Randal Gossip.
Said to be 56 years old born in the Parish of Jamaica and enlisted at 18 years old on 25 May 1773. He served for 37 Years 177 days as a musician - Kettle Drummer and was discharged for " being rhumatic and worn out from length of service " .
His general description at discharge was :
56 years age, 5'11 " in height, Black Hair, Black Eyes, and Black complexion by trade a labourer.

What is interesting is that none of this service was in either the East or West Indies.
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After his discharge he returned to Glasgow, Scotland, where in 1811 he was a witness to the Baptism of Levi Baldwin son of Levi Baldwin and Sarah McGilchrist. Levi Baldwin was also a Soldier of Black Origins as was the other witness John McDonald who had served in the Glasgow Light Infantry.
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Adult Baptism:
M Corse and B Edwards were witnesses to this Adult Baptism. They do not appear to be associated with the church so their significance is unknown.

Henry married Frances Akin on 12 Dec 1791 in Saint Mary's, Carlisle, Cumberland, England. Frances was born about 1760; died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The following entry was found in the marriage register of Saint Mary, Carlisle; CUL
12 Dec 1791
Henry X McGilcrist widower married Frances X Akin widow by banns both of this parish
Witnessed by James Allan and Michael Smith ( Smith was a witness to most marriages)
J Brown minister.
Although the marriage was said to be by banns and both of the parish no banns entry was found in the banns book although marriages preceeding and following had the required banns entry.
It is proposed to examine the regimental diary currently at the Regimental Museum to ascertain if the 3rd Dragoons were in the area at that time.
The baptism of Sussanah McGilchrist at Birmingham in 1795 who subsequently died In Devizes seems to confirm that this Marriage is in fact that of our Henry McGilchrist
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