Death of soldier's wife in Lucknow.

[MBW]

My 2xGreat Grandmother was Bridget Curran Whitcroft (nee Davies). She went to India in 1869 with her husband William Whitcroft and baby daughter Lillie Gertrude Whitcroft. William was a colour Sergeant in 62nd Regiment (1st Wiltshire) I believe that Bridget died out in India, but the Army have no records of her. There was a cholera outbreak in July - August 1869. During this time 49 other ranks,3 women and 12 children died but no more details! William and Lillie returned to England in 1872 and William remarried in 1875.
Please does anyone have any idea how I could find out about a death in Lucknow or surrounding areas?

MBW

[hepburn]

http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/

You could try this one..

[MBW]

Thank you Hepburn for your quick reply! I will try site and let you know.

MBW

[charlotteCH]

Hi,
 There'd almost certainly be a British cemetery in Lucknow as there was in most places where there were troops garrisoned.  That's no real help except perhaps to alert you to any mention of British Cemeteries.
Tye link to indiafamily may be your best bet ...
let us know what you learn please.

charlotte

[brionne]

I note that Lillie Gertrude was born in Cork Ireland c 1869.
Is it possible that her mother Bridget died in childbirth there and didnt go out to India.

Just a thought,
Brionne.

[MBW]

Hello Brionne,

Thank you for your email. You have made me think now, but I am fairly sure that Bridget and Lillie did accompany William, as it was thought in the family that Lillie was born in India, as she talked a great deal about her amah, so it was quite a surprise when I found on the census that she was born in Cork!  I can't find her birth there either, so she is proving to be a bit of a pest!!

Thank you again for taking the time to email me. I will keep on searching.

Alexandra

[MBW]

Hello Charlotte,

Thank you for your email. I will certainly go down the route of Lucknow British Cemeteries. I hope to go to the British Library soon, as suggested by hepburn. Bridget is proving to be a real mystery. I feel for her, as she was a Tenby girl, marries a soldier and is whisked away to the other side of the world and than disappears.

Thank you for your time.

Alexandra

[brionne]

As regards Bridgets daughter Lillie Gertrude c1869.

I too had an awful job to find any details of my army relative stationed at Cork Depot c 1878-1887,and still have not unravelled it all.
A visit to the Irish Records Office, 8 Lombard St Dublin revealed birth and death certs,
the childrens births were in the British Military records as well, as Irish.

The Army Papers of William Whitcroft will be held at Kew,and can reveal much data.

The Church of Ireland Church Records
R.C. B.Library,
Braemor Park,Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
www.ireland.anglican.org                            will find baptism/church records for a small fee.

Brionne.

[MBW]

Hello Brionne,
 
Will look at the web site you sent me. I am hoping to go to Cork later this year, do you think I would find details there or will I have to go to Dublin?

Thank you for your email and time.

MBW