Born at Bangalore, East Indies c.1828-1834. See below for possible year.
Enlisted at Dublin on the 17th of December 1846.
Age: 18.
[PB: 18? Where does this come from? His discharge papers say "14 years", and "unknown age". He was already 6 feet tall, but presumably much younger than 18 (i.e. born c.1828), since he was said to be 19 in 1851, 28 in 1861, 37 in 1871, 49 in 1881 i.e. born c.1832-4.]>/p>
Height: 6' 0".
Trade: None shown.
Features: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
1851 Census
Piershill Barracks, Leith.
William Finlay, aged 19, Private soldier, born Bangalore, East Indies.
Sent to Scutari on the 26th of September and rejoined the regiment on the 3rd of October 1854.
[PB: Why for such a short time? Did he recover very quickly from injuries, or was he perhaps accompanying injured men?]>/p>
At Scutari again from the 15th of January until rejoining the regiment on the 3rd of February 1855.
From Private to Trumpeter: 9th of August 1855. [PB: discharge papers say 10th August.]
[PB, 9.9.2014: According to a genealogist researching on behalf of Alan Finlay, great-grandson of William Finlay:
By 1861, William has married Harriet. I looked for a likely marriage and found a marriage record which looks probable to me, though I must be clear, I cannot prove it is definitely your Great-Grandparents without applying for a marriage certificate from the GRO...
If this is the right record, William Finlay, son of John Finlay, married Harriet Hargrave, daughter of Alexander Hargrave, at Dundalk, Louth, Ireland, on 12th November 1858.
The record offers no corroborating additional info, such as the age or provenance of the bride and groom, but this seems likely to be the right William and Harriet. There was, and still is, a military barracks at Dundalk, used originally as a cavalry and artillery barracks, and now named Aiken Barracks.
Discharged from Hounslow on the 26th of December 1864, as:
"Unfit for further service. — Has chronic rheumatism. Suffers much also from bronchitis, but it would not hinder him from earning a livelihood.
1861 Census
Jocks Lodge, Leith South, Midlothian.
William Finlay, aged 28, Soldier Corporal, 13th Light Dragoons, born Bangalore.
Harriett Finlay, 22, born Ireland.
Served 14 years 190 days. In Turkey and the Crimea, 2 years.
Character and conduct: "very good". In possession of 3 Good Conduct badges. Five times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court Martial.
Awarded a pension of 9d. per day for four years.
Aged 32 years on discharge.
Letters regarding pension to the 13th of February 1873.
Entitled to the Crimean with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol. (He is shown as a Trumpeter on the Sebastopol clasp roll.)
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps and the Turkish medal.
Intended place of residence after discharge, Thames Ditton, Surrey, but he later moved to Manchester.
1871 Census
Regent Road, Hulme, Salford.
William Finlay, aged 37, born East Indies.
Harriett Finlay, 31, Laundress, born Ireland.
Edgar Finlay, 3, born Hulme, Lancashire.
Birth registered
James Henry Finlay [son], September Quarter 1874, Salford.
1881 Census
31, Dorset Street, Salford.
William Finlay, aged 49, Warehouseman, born East Indies.
Harriett Finlay, 42, Ireland.
Edgar William Finlay, 13, Salford.
James Henry Finlay, 6, Salford.
[RM/CP]
Death registered
William Finlay, aged 48, December Quarter 1881, Salford.
1891 Census
31, Dorset Street, Salford [as per 1881].
Harriet Finlay, aged 51, widow, Laundress, born Ireland.
James H. Finlay, 16, Errand boy, born Salford.
Death registered
The death of Harriet Finlay [wife], aged 58, is recorded in the Salford registration District in the December quarter of 1897.]
Marriage registered
Edgar William Finlay [son] married Ada Black, December Quarter 1890, Chorlton.
1891 Census
42, Brighton Road, Salford.
Edgar W Finlay, aged 23, Painter, born Manchester.
Ada Finlay, 26, born Manchester.
Death registered
Harriet Finlay, aged 58, December Quarter 1897, Salford.
1901 Census
59, West Craven Street, Salford.
Edgar W Finlay, aged 34, House Painter, born Manchester.
Ada Finlay, 36, born Manchester.
Harriett, 9; Charlotte, 7; Edgar W, 6; Ada, 1.
Isabella Black, sister in law, 40, is also shown.
1911 Census
107, Tatton Street, Regent Road, Salford.
Edgar William Finlay, aged 45, House painter and shop keeper, born Salford.
Ada Finlay, 46, Assisting in business, born Manchester.
Harriet, 19; Charlotte, 17, Edgar William, 16, Ellen, 8.
One boarder is also shown.
Death registered
Edgar W Finlay [son], aged 83 years, March Quarter 1950, Salford.
Birth, marriage and death registrations, & Census information for 1851 — 1911, kindly provided by Chris Poole.
In September 2014, the EJBA was contacted by Alan Finlay, with information about his great-grandfather William Finlay. We are very grateful to him for providing images of WF's discharge papers.
In July 2018, the EJBA was contacted by Pauline Taylor ("great granddaughter of William Findlay by his second son") asking to be put in touch with Alan Finlay.