India Office Ecclesiastical Returns

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi, Everyone,
Can some knowledgeable person please try and explain to me what is meant by -and what is the significance of - the India Office Ecclesiastical Returns Bengal Presidency as listed on the IGI.
The thing is, I'm on a bit of a wild goose chase trying to find a birth or baptism entry for an individual whose forename, at least, was Charlotte, and who appears in Hitchin in 1835 as Charlotte MORLEY, a young widow, marrying George IZZARD.  In a couple of Censuses she gives her birthplace as India, more precisely Bengal Province, some time between 1812 and 1816
So, when I simply entered the forename Charlotte on an IGI search for a baptism between those dates I turned up a long list.  However, entries 45 to 64 inclusive were all India Office Ecclesiastical Returns, with the surname in each case surrounded by the <    > symbols.
What was this I.O.E.R exactly, and what would be the significance of those brackets round the surname.
My theory is that possibly Charlotte might have been illegitimate, or indeed have had an Anglo-Indian parentage.
Any thoughts, anyone...
keith

[Pilgarlic]

Hello Keith

My G Grandmother was baptised under the India Office Ecclesiastical Returns Bengal Presidency in 1885 also. She was born in Sialkot, India. I am not sure what the I.O.E.R or the brackets mean exactly.

I do not think your theory of Charlotte being born illegitimate or to Anglo-Indian parents because of the I.O.E.R and brackets is correct. My G Grandmother Rosie was born to English parents. Her father was a soldier stationed in India.

I hope this helps. 

Pilgarlic.

[liverpool annie]

Hi Keith and Pilgarlic !

The Department of Asia Pacific & Africa Collections at the British Library is the place to find out about those things .... they have in their collections I think about 70% of the Ecclesiastical Returns .... good place for you to go Keith .... you'd love it !!  some searches can be done on line .... or try FIBIS !!

http://www.bl.uk/collections/asiapacificafrica.html

http://www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/family.html

http://www.fibis.org/

By the way Rubyrose has become an expert at the British Library ... you might ask her advice before you go !! 

Annie 

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi, Pilgarlic and Annie,
Thanks very much for responding to this latest query of mine.  It's a while since i was at the British Library and need to renew my ticket there.  Have been on the top floor there before in the Oriental Section, where they were very helpful, so will plan a return visit soon.
I seem to remember now that someone else on Rootschat did explain what the <  >
brackets round information on the IGI actually meant, but I've unfortunately forgotten what it was...
keith

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Keith,

I can't recall the topic either, but try the looking under IGI in the
RootsChat Reference Library => Lexicon ^{(click here)}

With any luck, it might be in there already 
If not, let me know when you find it and I'll add it there for future reference.

(Tip: once you're in the lexicon, click on the category IGI - in the right hand column - for related topics)

Check out this topic too, for some more India links:
Immigrant Resources -> INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India

good luck,
Bob

ps. For easier finding, I've now added the India-Topic to the Lexicon 

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi again, Bob,
Thanks very much for all that help you've provided me with this morning.  In a bit of a rush at the moment (Newmarket Races - 2000 Guineas Day!), but will have a good look at those links you've provided later in the day...
keith