Malden family in Bombay India in 1851

[FlorieB]

I am a descendant of Maria Malden born in Bombay in 1851.  Her father was in the artillery and was called John Malden. Does anyone have information on the family?

[dawnsh]

Hi FlorieB

Welcome to Rootschat 

So we don't duplicate what you might already have, what sort of information are you looking for?

eg Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, army papers

Dawn

[ShaunJ]

Hi Florie B

Maria seems a bit of a mystery doesn't she? I found her 1879 marriage to James Ballard in Camden Town, where her father is recorded as John Malden deceased, Sergeant 6th Artillery, but nothing before that.

I can't find a record of her birth and I can't find a record of a John Malden in a British artillery unit (it's possible he was HEIC, not British Army).
 

[FlorieB]

Thank you for the two replies.  I know of Maria Malden's marriage in 1879 but nothing prior to that.  I have not found any information prior to that date.  Would be interested to know more details of her birth, baptism, her mother and when Maria came to the UK.  With respect to her father John Malden I just know his name and the details on Maria's marriage certificate.   

[nanny jan]

Hi,

This is a useful site for families in India:

http://www.fibis.org/

Happy Hunting!


Nanny Jan

[jorose]

Hi Florie,

Could you also give us the other info on the marriage certificate - address, witnesses, etc.  Sometimes these little bits of info can be a big help.

One minor thing - who is "Alice" listed as aged 8 here on the 1881? Is that a mistake in transcribing the age, is she the daughter of James from previously relationship, daughter of Maria from previously relationship, other?
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X3L3-6XM

It is possible that "John Malden, 6th Artillery" is a composite figure.  I have at least one certificate where I know the man listed as father did not exist - the groom was illegitimate and combined his real father's first names with his mother's surname, presumably so the name would match up with his own.  His brother, one of the witnesses, used his father's surname so all the names are there just not in the right boxes!

[ShaunJ]

Hi Jorose, I was just looking at the marriage register. The address given for both bride and groom is 7 Randolph Street (it doesn't say whether that is Great or Little Randolph St). One of the witnesses is a Ballard, the other is a Samuel Wisbey or Wilbey.

[ShaunJ]

There are not many baptisms for children named "Maria" in Bombay itself circa 1851 (though there are quite a few in the wider Presidency of Bombay).

One possibility I noted is a Maria Porter born 7 December 1851. Her father was John Porter, a corporal and master gunsmith with the ordnance department, mother Elizabeth.

In 1871 Maria Porter is aged 19 living in Mile End Old Town with widowed mother Elizabeth, 40 from Northampton,  and sister Sarah A 21, born Stepney. I don't see her on the 1881 census.

[jorose]

Possible Wisbey-Ballard marriage - was Maria's father in law "Charles Ballard"?
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N648-GFR

It might be worth looking at "John Moulden" as a possibility:
Married 1840 Bombay area:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGVK-J5V
Died late 1850:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGRB-HWB
Possible sister Jane b. 1843 m. 1859 Bombay:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGN6-RH2