I have now completed the work on John McIntosh of the 94th and 73rd Regiments. I am listing brief details I have noted from the WO 12 paylists which I have swept as you requested:

94th Foot

===================== WO 12/9442
Attestation 12 September 1863 also as per service papers -
WO 12/9443
Arrived from England at Sealkote, India 17 October 1863 [this has to be queried I think it is 1864]

WO 12/9444
'To Service Co 9 July 1864 ' 93rd Foot attached to 23 rd Depot Brigade

WO 12/9445
Amritsar April to Sept 1865
Ferozupur Oct 1865 to March 1866

WO 12/9446 - 48
Sealkote Apr to June 1866
Amritsar June to Sept 1866
Agra October to Dec 1866
Thausi Jan 1866 to March 1869
[subject in hopsital at various times in Apr - Sept 1867]

WO 12/9449
Fort Pitt Aoril to June 1869 probabaly the Chatham hospital establishment Netley (UK receiving hospital fror men returning from the tropics) June to Sept 1869

WO 12/9450 - 51
Aberdeen April to June 1870
Furlo 20 April to 19 June 1870 (did he marry in the period?)
Aberdeen June to September 1870
Re engaged 29 July 1870
(shown as born Urquhart, Labourer - as also another John McIntosh listed)
October 1870 to June 1871 Abderdeen

WO 12/9451- 52
Edinburgh June 1871 ro March 1873
[Furlo 20 February to 20 March 1873]

WO 12/9453
Aldershot April 873 to June 1874
[absent from 12 April - Deserted - Garrison cells 18-24 June]
[to Piper 10 September 1872]

WO 12/9454
Aldershot 1 June 1874 transferred to 73rd Regiment at Aldershot

73rd Foot

=========================== WO 12/8846
Aldershot 1874-5

WO 12/8847
Aldershot 1875-6
[Discharged 19 March 1875 at Aldershot - unfit and discharged to a Chelsea pension No 30783]

In this book the subject is shown in the actual muster listings as born Inverness, Labourer. However, in the Effects and Credits section the subject's birthplace is shown as Urquhart. Men being discharged were given allowance to return to their roots or probably the place of enlistment or whichever was the farthest away from point of discharge. An allowance of 2pds 15s 6d was awarded for a journey indicated as Aldershot - London - Leith - Edinburgh - Stirling . I think the leg London to Leith would have been by boat.

Roger E Nixon
Military & Historical Searches
PO Box 11267
London SW5 9ZZ
tel: +44/(0)20 7244 7095
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url: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/rogerEnixon

Some answers to your questions

1
John was married in Nov 1870 in Stirling and the 1871 census (April 1871) has him and his wife boarding with the Pipe Major in Stirling. The army record has him in Aberdeen. Is this consistent?

The location of the regiment per the Paylist is obviously where the HQ of the regiment was at that time. However, they would have had some men dotted about all over the place, especially recruiting parties and detachments doing special duties. I don't really have a problem with his specific location via-a-vis the HQ location. I have no doubt that whilst serving at home men were able to duck out for a week on 'official' business here and there. He headed back to Stirling a few years later when he was discharged. Maybe his wife's family were based there?? Was she expecting?

2
Does your note [to Piper 10 September 1872] mean that he was a soldier but became a piper on 10 Sept 1872?

He would still have been a soldier but he was the regimental Piper (I should think) and in peaceful times I think his musical status would have taken precedence and he could well have accompanied recruiting parties for a bit of show. In conflict he might well have been at the front as the pipes (or bugles) would have been used to sound off commands (advance, retreat etc)

3
If he was [Discharged 19 March 1875 at Aldershot - unfit and discharged to a Chelsea pension [No 30783], is it possible to follow these pension records?

No, not from 1875 which is his discharge year and when the old registers finish and are followed by admission books only. The best the admission register will do is ell you where his intended residence would be. I think you had this from his papers (WO 97/2030) which indicated 'Edinburgh' and I doubt that this will differ in the admissions register.