Birthplace:
- Kilkenny, Ireland

Birthdate:
- 15 February 1823

Nationality:
- Irish

Height:
- 5 feet 9 inches

Career before Halifax:
- Private, 78th, 7 July 1834
- Corporal, 3 September 1843
- Serjeant, 1 September 1845
- Colour Serjeant, 10 October 1850
- Quartermaster Serjeant, 30 October 1861
- Quartermaster (equivalent in status to ensign), 26 April 1864

Postings while in NS Command:
- Halifax, 9 May 1869 to 25 November 1871

Married:
- Eliza Chambers, at Sheppey, Kent, 13 July 1856 (she had died before Weir came to Halifax)

Children:
- Barbara Elizabeth (b. Chatham, 11 July 1851)
- Eliza Ann (b. Chatham, 3 February 1853)
- William Chambers (b. Chatham, 26 July 1855)

Career after Halifax:
- to Highland Light Infantry (Inverness) Militia, 8 May 1878

Weir was made quartermaster of the 78th in April 1864, upon the elevation of the post's previous holder, Charles Skrine to the position of paymaster. As noted, quartermasters in the Victorian army were frequently appointed from amongst the regiments' N.C.O.s - usually from the rank of serjeant major. Interestingly, Weir never held this rank, but was appointed quartermaster straight from the position of quartermaster serjeant. Weir was a widower, and was accompanied to Halifax by his two daughters, Barbara and Eliza, aged 20 and 18 respectively. The lived, with their one female servant, at 25 Victoria Road. This was in the same row of houses as Captains Graham and Edward Pakenham Stewart, and shows that the domestic life of promoted rankers was not always divorced from that of the other officers.