Hello Gaye and List, Many thanks, Gaye, for your detailed and helpful advice. Unfortunately, I did not make it clear that most of these avenues have already been explored by me and a considerably detailed picture constructed of my relative's life during the whole of his Army service, 1824-1846 - and beyond. Yes, Gaye, Richard Delaney did say that he was born in Clonmel but when I paid some £50 stg. to the appropriate Irish genealogical office all that could be further established was that there certainly were NO records of his birth in that area. The British Army was always discouraging towards enlisted men marrying. About six wives were allowed on strength to some 100 soldiers. If there were other wives, they had to stay in England and not officially accompany their husbands abroad. As it happens, Richard Delaney seems to have contracted his union AFTER he left the Army, in 1846. Within four more years and with two children, he and his family sailed to van Diemen's Land. It is what might have been going on in Ceylon in the period 1825 to 1836, the eleven years and one month that he served there, that interests me. I know main towns where he was; this information derived from a combination of Muster Rolls and a very slim Regimental History. He was a very young man and I can only continue to think that there must be somebody on the island who is descended from him, human nature being what it is. He might have contracted a marriage. The person might have died. He might have left the partner behind when it was time to depart, leaving children, too. In the absence of anything specific from Ceylonese records, perhaps there are listers who have some knoweldge of how it was for local girls in relationships with British soldiers at this time. How would, for example, Burgher families react to the knowledge that one of the family's daughters was to be an unmarried mother? What would be the reaction of Singhalese families to such an event? Something on the sociology of this kind of situation would be interesting. Although I have checked Army Regimental B/D/M records, your suggestion, Gay, of the Army Chaplains Returns for Stations Abroad is new to me. I'll try that, but it is only good if Richard Delaney involved the Army chaplain! Regards, Julie

My apologies for posting what is probably a very Newbie question for this list. My cousin George Burton is recorded in the (UK) 1901 census in Leamington Spa as Retired architect & surveyor, Ceylon Civil Service, aged 58. Can any kind soul direct me where to look for his service records (if they survive at all). Many thanks and best wishes to all. Ian Sage

Excellent Question Ian... If anyone can help, Could they please the answers to the list...there are many of us who would like to know..including Julie and Myself.. Cheers Gay Research Names: http://www.perthdps.com/research/fie01.html ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ian Sage" <ian.sage(a)tiscali.co.uk&gt; To: <SRILANKA-L(a)rootsweb.com&gt; Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 8:20 AM Subject: [SRILANKA] Ceylon Civil Service records any go to: