How to find Migration records from Scotland to England

Question

Hi

I am trying to find when and how my GG Grandfather got from Scotland to Norfolk England somewhere between 1871-1880.

He is listed in the 1871 as age 15 - still at school -  living in Golspie, Scotland, with his Father and siblings.

Then in the 1881 England Census (3 Apr 1881) he is listed in the (Kenninghall) Norfolk England census as a Royal Engineer, age 25. He is living as a Lodger. with another Royal Engineer.

I have confirmed this is him as he marries my GG Grandmother in (28 Nov 1881), Thetford, Norfolk.

any ideas - I've looked at Scotlandspeople, Familysearch, google and ancestry.

Answer 1

Both Scotland and England were then (and still are) part of the United Kingdom. As such, there was no "border" to register any transit. No "immigration" record would apply, as citizenship in Scotland was the same as in England: UK.
He probably took a train if he had the money for it, and unfortunately, there won't be records for that.

Comments

never thought of that - thanks

Answer 2

If he was a Royal Engineer then he had joined the army, and that probably explains why he moved. You need to look for army records. 

• The National Archives has a guide to British Army soldiers up to 1913.
• Genuki has a page on military records. 
• FamilySearch has a guide to British military records online.

Comments

Looks like his attestation record is on Fold (don't have access so can only see this blurry image but some details are decipherable ). https://www.ancestry.co.uk/sharing/15292061?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a22306135356f724a3946706a36487539716f5653586c444f2f437342516243564357324c6c637176714b31513d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d

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He enlisted at Lichfield on 17 October 1877. It confirms his wife Annie Elizabeth, but says he married on 20 November 1881. Discharged 21 October 1889, and was intending to live at 64 Wandsworth Road, London.

Edit: He was based in Norwich in 1878.

(That's all from the Fold3 record)

Answer 3

The records state that he was a Royal Engineer.  This is a military unit, so he may have been posted to Norfolk?