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After many years of research I have limited information on my own name, but a summary is below.
My Great Great Grandfather was John Martin who was born in Colry near Athlone Ireland in 1821. At the age of 14 he left Ireland and joined the 97th Regiment of Foot in Portsmouth in 1835. His regimental number was 829 and he retired as a Corporal in 1861, his service included some 17 years overseas. He was awarded the DCM during the Crimean War.
The book "The 97th or Earl of Ulster's Regiment 1824-1881" by Lt Colonel H D Chaplin records the Regiments history.
John at some time married an Ellen McCave (probably McCabe) and when he left the Army settled in London when my Great Grandfather William Martin was born in 1863. The marriage if it happened did not occur in England. John died in 1870 at St Mary's hospital Paddington, an Alfred Smith was present but along with the hospital records no family mentioned.
William Martin somehow appears in the 1881 census for Sheffield and probably went there to participate in the Sheffield Handicaps. These were short distance running races for prize money.
In 1883 and 1884 he won the Handicaps and he won £100 each event. I have a photograph of William in running kit and his silver medal for winning the handicap twice.
In 1884 he married Emily Norton who was born in 1867 Sheffield. they had 3 children: Emily Annie 1885 (my Grandmother), Laura 1890 (died 1891) and Violet 1895.
Other surnames linked are: Norton of Sheffield/Norfolk and Suffolk back to 1720.
Jolliffe of Somerset/Dorset/Wiltshire back to 1712
Baker of Bedfordshire and Huntingdon
Peckett of Sheffield and Scarborough
Wragg, see separate name page.
My Grandmother left Sheffield with her sons and settled in Guildford Surrey. They had a Fish shop on Woodbridge Hill, I would welcome any information on Walter Dewey Fishmonger in Sheffield.
To date I have not found any other family members of John Martin, but there are clear links to an Alexander Lyons second wife Winifred Martin formerly Bennett. In 1863 they lived next door to each other in the Strand, London. Alexander was born in Scotland and it is probable that the other Martin's settled there, also links to Liverpool.
John Martin's DCM was sold at Sotherby's lot 319 in May 1999 to an unknown purchaser, and I would like to contact that person to at least have a photograph with the medals for my records.
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