I represent Jane Burlinger Turner, enumerated as “Mrs. Turner” in the Return of Women & Children of the 31st Regiment, Capt. Vignoles‘ company, in Sept 1768. The 31st was an infantry regiment that arrived in 1765 and – with a brief transfer to St. Augustine in 1769 – remained until 1772. It was the practice of the British Army to allow their soldiers to bring wives and children to overseas assignments, usually because we had no other way to support ourselves than to accompany them. The name of my husband was not given on the Return, but according to the August 1768 muster roll of the 31st, it was Pvt. Thomas Turner (London marriage records confirm my name; I married Thomas Turner “of Col. Houghton’s [Oughton’s] Regiment of Foot” on May 9, 1742.) There were three children enumerated with me, but not named.
Sources: 19, 146