Officer's wife and children 1870s

[jimbo09]

My Ancestor, Charles JC Sillery, was a Major with the 12th Foot, later the 12th Suffolk Regiment, when they sailed from Queenstown on the "Crocodile" to Bombay Sept 1876, to take part in the second Afghan war.
At the time when the regiment sailed, he had a wife and five living children, their ages and genders being 16b, 14g, 13g, 10b, 4b.
I have found that the wife Christina, travelled at about the same time to Australia (where she had been born and where they had married), accompanied by two children (presumably the two youngest), and she stayed six months before leaving, again with 2 children.
I'm not sure if she went directly to India, but her death is recorded there just four years later in 1881.

So, my question is this - what would have been the usual situation for the wife and children of an officer if he was shipping to war, if there was no family home nor immediate family at home for them to stay with.  Boarding school for the elder children? could that be why there were just 2 children with their mother?
Would the wife and young children have accompanied the officer to India and stayed in Barracks?
Any other thoughts?

Jimbo

[km1971]

The Second Afghan War was two years later in 1878. Therefore the movement of the 12th Foot to India in 1876 would have been part of normal rotation of regiments. It was the 1st Battalion that went to India.

There were no set rules for officer's families. Some travelled overseas with their husband while others stayed at home. They would not have stayed in barracks. That was for the wives of the rank and file. Even Sergeants could have a bungalow with a handful of servants in India. So an officer's household would have been comfitable. The 16 year old boy could well have been at boarding school. There were not many girls boarding schools in this period, so they may have been with the extended family.  The 12th were in Ireland from 1872 so finding the other children may be tricky.

In the 1884 Army List he is retired as an Honorary Major General and a baronet. He does not appear to have any war service. Although he appears on the New Zealand medal roll as a Captain.

Ken

[jimbo09]

Thanks
Not sure what I can do to take that further.

That link to 1884 Army list is great - I had found others, but not that one
He retired less than a year after his wife died

He was not a baronet, so I think that abbreviation must be 'Brevet', as in Brevet Colonel.

He was not in New Zealand during the Maori wars, but was involved in skirmishes in the following years

[ken.larbalestier]

Hi Jimbo,
I have undertaken considerable research into the 12th Regiment in Australia and New Zealand. Pls refer to website:

larbalapplication.appspot.com

Captain Sillery arrived in Sydney from Auckland, New Zealand, having departed 2nd July 1858 on the ship Gertrude (ref Sydney Morning Herald 22nd July 1858).

On the 22nd July 1859, two companies embarked from Sydney on the ship Tasmania for Launceston, Tasmania, where, on arrival, one proceeded to Hobart Town. The ship carried four officers, including Captain Sillery and Lieutenant Featherstonehaugh, 103 rank and file, seven women, ten children and two servants. (PRO3719)
Contrary to the usual posting cycle, Captain Sillery remained in Hobart for the next seven years.

From April 1864 until the detachment left Hobart in 1866, Captain Sillery was in charge of eight soldiers of the 12th along with a small detachment of ten soldiers of the 40th Regiment. This small group of soldiers was remarkable in that they performed their duties as required without disruption. The Payrolls and Musters for this two year period record a couple of absences and sick reports but there are no desertions or lengthy imprisonments. They were not part of the force that had initially embarked for the Maori wars and may have been unfit for this role. Or they may have volunteered to stay in Hobart, Tasmania.

In 1866, Captain Sillery and the remaining six soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 12th Regiment, with one woman and child embarked on the coastal steamer Tasmania and arrived in Sydney on the 24th October. On Wednesday, the 31st October 1866, the Sydney Morning Herald advised, under Shipping Intelligence, that the barque Alice Cameron was cleared to sail for Auckland, New Zealand. The last detachment of the 12th Regiment, consisting of Captains Sillery and Mair with thirty-three rank and file, accompanied by eight women and eleven children, left Australian shores forever.

On the 2nd May 1867, five companies of the 1st Battalion, 12th Regiment, under Captain Sillery embarked at Auckland, New Zealand, for England in the transport ship England, mustering eleven Officers and 285 of other ranks.

Marriage of Captain Sillery - All the vessels in port were gaily decked out with flags last Thursday in honor of the marriage of Captain Sillery, of the 12th Regiment, with Miss Christina Smith, second daughter of the late Archibald Smith, Esq., of Selma, Tasmania, and niece of James Robertson Esq., of this town. (Launceston Examiner, 9th November 1861).

Advertisements of the Births of the Children of Captain Sillery - On Wednesday, the 15th October, at the military barracks, the wife of Captain Sillery, 12th Regiment, of a son. (The Mercury, 16th October 1862).On 18th May 1864, at the military barracks, the wife of Captain Sillery, 12th Regiment, of a daughter. (The Mercury, 14th May 1864). On 13th October, at the military barracks, Hobart Town, the wife of Captain Sillery, 12th Regiment, of a daughter. (Launceston Examiner, 17th October 1865) . On the 5th instant, the wife of Captain Sillery, 12th Regiment, of a son. (The Mercury, 6th November 1866)

Wanted - A Woman as Cook and General Servant - Good references required. Apply to Mrs. Sillery, Military Barracks, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (The Mercury, 28th June 1864)

Departure of Mrs. Sillery from Hobart for New Zealand - Cleared Out. November 10. Siam, ship, 744 tons, for Auckland, New Zealand, with stone. Passengers-Cabin: Mrs. Sillery, 3 children, and 2 servants, Mr. Russell, Lieutenant Young. (The Mercury, 12th November 1866)

Trust the above is of interest.

Regards,
Ken

[jimbo09]

Picture of Charles Sillery