Pipe major India 1813

[seasider53]

Could anyone help please.  I'm trying to trace Joseph SMITH, a pipe major serving in India around 1813 and his wife Sarah

The marriage certificate reads: Joseph SMITH Pipe Major of the Artillery, Batchelor & Sarah BROWN, Widow were married by permission of Col Horsford July 15 1813.  No parents are listed

I am having real difficulties tracking down these two. Help please!

[km1971]

You should check the London Gazette for the Colonel to discover if it was one of the Indian artilleries - Madras, Bombay and Bengal - or the Imperial Royal Artillery who also sent batteries to India.

Ken

[t mo]

can you give us josephs year and place of birth as they may help find something .
regards
trevor

[MaxD]

A likely candidate is Colonel Sir John Horsford who commanded the Bengal Artillery from 1805. Gazetted to Maj Gen 7 Aug 1813 effective 4 Jun 1813 retired 1817.  So still carrying a Colonel's rank in June.

So a pipe major in the Bengal Artillery?

Minor addition - Family Search has the marriage Joseph Smith/Sarah Brown 15 July 1813 Fort William Bengal.

There are also some births to Joseph and Sarah Smith in Bengal in the years just after the marriage that might be worth a look?
maxD

[ShaunJ]

Yes he would have been HEIC not British Army.

I think the register says "Fife Major" rather than Pipe Major

[seasider53]

Thank you for the information. 
Now without seeming dim.....where is the best place to obtain his service record?

[MaxD]

Agree with ShaunJ, http://indiafamily.bl.uk/ui/NonTabBriefDisplay.aspx?SearchType=QuickSearch

Looks like a job for a rainy day, Guide at:

http://www.wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Beginners%27_Guide

Good luck!

maxD

[herefords]

Your Joseph Smith is of interest to me, he may be the Father of Samuel born 1821.  "My" Smiths were in India 1780-1900 at least, many were musicians, fife-majors, bandmasters, trumpeters, drummers and drum-major.

[seasider53]

Evening.  Re the SMITHS in India.  I believe that my 'Joseph' is the Father of Samuel born 1821.
Do you have any further details on the Mother, Sarah?
I have seen the marriage cert and she is noted as 'widow' but unfortunately there are no details of the Father.  Its a needle in a hay stack!