RIC record - Thomas Fitzgerald(1858-1891)

murf96

Thomas Francis Fitzgerald was born in Milford, Co Cork 20 Apr 1858. Around 1876 he joined the RIC and served for 6 and 1/2 years. In early 1883 he emigrated to Port Phillip(Melbourne) and immediately joined the Victoria Police Force.
Would be grateful for any details of his RIC service from anyone with access to the RIC records.

Deja Boo

Don't suppose you might know his service record number?

Not sure if this Thomas Fitzgerald is your man, but 41463's appointment date was: 10 Aug 1875, and service ended date: 12 Apr 1882, so I included it's 2 images of General Register - Index, Vol 2 and Ireland, Royal Irish Constabulary Service Records 1816-1922

KildareFan

murf96 wrote: »

Thomas Francis Fitzgerald was born in Milford, Co Cork 20 Apr 1858. Around 1876 he joined the RIC and served for 6 and 1/2 years. In early 1883 he emigrated to Port Phillip(Melbourne) and immediately joined the Victoria Police Force.
Would be grateful for any details of his RIC service from anyone with access to the RIC records.

Hi - there's a very active facebook page for descendants of RIC men who are interested in their ancestry - Jim Herlihy and others are very helpful in providing information. https://www.facebook.com/groups/126602292427/?ref=bookmarks

murf96

Thanks so much for that Deja Boo
No, I don't have his service number, But I do have his complete service record for the Victoria Police. There seems no doubt that 41463 is my man. His height(5'10), native county(Cork), and length of service(6 years 8 months) all agree precisely with entries on his Victorian service, that combined with the note of his plan to emigrate.
There is just one discrepancy, his age at enlistment(19 2/3 years). In Aug 1875 he would have been 17 1/3 yrs, going by the date of birth clearly stated on his Victorian record.
I'm inclined to place more weight on the latter, and suppose that the former may have been a deliberate miscalculation.
Regarding his departure, can you decipher "Cond. in Limerick" I presume it relates to his discharge, but "Cond." does not appear in the list of abbreviations above.

Thanks also KildareFan, I shall follow that up

spurious

17 would have been very young to join, even 19 would still have been on the younger end of recruits, though they made allowances for men who had a family member already enlisted and allowed them join earlier.

'Cond. in Limerick' means he had family connections in County Limerick.

murf96

spurious wrote: »

17 would have been very young to join, even 19 would still have been on the younger end of recruits, though they made allowances for men who had a family member already enlisted and allowed them join earlier.

'Cond. in Limerick' means he had family connections in County Limerick.

I wonder how rigorous was the proof of age process? I guess in the 1870's a baptismal record would be the norm, failing which perhaps the word of his sponsor was sufficient.
I am mindful of the many hundreds of boy soldiers that enlisted in the First World War. One of my uncles enlisted at age 16 and 6 months, giving his age as 19 and 2 months. He died at Gallipoli six weeks after his 17th birthday.