Andy Bean of Hemel Hempstead, Herts asks: Do you know what regiments were in the Watford area between about 1898 and 1900? Could they have been passing through on their way to fight in the Boer War? My Great grandmother, Alice Mary Bean, was in service at Cassiobury House, and `Family Lore` says the father of my Grandfather was an Officer from a Scots regiment that was being entertained at Cassiobury House.

Births associated with the movement of soldiers are often difficult to unravel - so what can be said about this situation. I have a few points but no certain solution.

• As I assume the birth date of your grandfather is known you can probably estimate the date of his conception to within a month either way.
• Cassiobury House was the home of the Earl of Essex.
• If any troops were in encamped in Watford during this period, on their way to the Boer War, there is a good chance that the movement would have been mentioned in the Watford Observer newspaper which is available on microfilm at the Watford Central Library. It is likely that officers (particularly those of higher status) would have been invited at least for a meal. If this identifies a Scottish Regiment the officers will be published  in the Army List (try Society of Genealogists Library, the Guildhall Library in the City of London, or the Public Records Office at Kew.)
• However it is important to realise that it was normal for sons of the upper classes to become officers in the Army, which means that many of the young men who were house guests at Cassiobury would have been officers, although they may not have been in uniform. This means that your great grandfather may have been a visitor to the house with no direct link to the movements of his regiment.
• The household papers of Cassiobury may well have included a record of visitors to the house. A lot of papers were handed over to the Herts Records Office (now HALS) in 1930 and it is just possible that the papers includes such a record.
• The current Earl of Essex might still have some archives from the period, but might not be happy with his records being used to try and find out which of his house guests bedded the chamber maid!

Andy Bean replied Thanks for the information re Alice Mary Bean. If I find any more about it I will let you know.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.

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