Author Topic: Roker family in India  (Read 1273 times)

Offline blue jay

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Roker family in India
« on: Thursday 19 October 17 03:15 BST (UK) »
Hi everyone. This is my first post. I'm hoping someone might be able to help me find the reason my Great-Great Grandparents went from Croydon, Surrey to India, sometime between 1859 and 1862. 

Here's what I know already:  my GG Grandparents, Thomas Roker (b 1838 Croydon) and Sarah Ellen Roker (nee Freeman, b approx. 1841 Dublin, Ireland) were married in Bermondsey, Surrey in December 1858.

They must have travelled to India sometime between 1859 and 1862, because their first child, Caroline Roker, was born in Allahabad, East Indies approximately 1862. 

Their second child, Sarah Jane Roker, was born in Bareilly, East Indies approximately 1865. This is my Great-Grandmother.

Their third child, Thomas Roker, was born in Peshawar, East Indies approximately 1867.

The Rokers subsequently had two more children who were born in Croydon after their return from India. The information regarding the children born in India was taken from 1871 and 1881 UK Census records.  On the 1871 Census Thomas is listed as a Gardener and on the 1881 Census as a General Labourer.

I'm wondering if there would be birth or baptism records somewhere for those three children born in India?  So far I haven't had any luck in finding anything. I was in touch with the British Library some time ago, but they were not able to find any information regarding the Roker family.

Oh, one other bit of information - when Sarah Jane Roker eventually married (Arthur Bolton married 1882), her father, Thomas Roker, was listed as 'Pensioner' on the marriage certificate ( which I have).

Would be grateful for any further information anyone can give me.


Offline KGarrad

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Re: Roker family in India
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 19 October 17 08:11 BST (UK) »
Welcome to RootsChat! ;D

Two places you could look:

1. FamilySearch has records from India.

2. FIBIS (Families in British India Society is well worth a look.
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline mosiefish

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Re: Roker family in India
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 19 October 17 08:19 BST (UK) »
A welcome from me too.  Children Margaret and Clara are both shown on the GRO as having the mothers maiden name of Ingham.  There is a marriage of a Sarah Jane Ingham to a Thomas Roker on the 4th June, 1860 at St. Peters Dublin.  His father was Thomas Roker and hers was William Ingham.
A family tree online shows that his address was Portabello Barracks and her address as Percy Street.

Thomas was in the Army by the looks of it. 

Mo
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Lancs: Harrison, Entwistle, Devine, Grundy, Ashworth, Freeman, Jackson, Rushton
Cornwall: Rich, Binney, Peak(e)
Devon: Martin, Walter(s)

Offline KGarrad

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Re: Roker family in India
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 19 October 17 08:52 BST (UK) »
The Indian Mutiny (aka India's First War of Independence) took place in 1857 and 1858.

Pre-1857, the Armies were all part of the Presidencies, and the Honourable East India Company.
Post-1858, The British Army took over, and many HEIC Regiments were disbanded.

Which would explain why he, and his Regiment, were sent to India.
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Online ShaunJ

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Re: Roker family in India
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 19 October 17 08:55 BST (UK) »
Here is the Dublin marriage. He was a driver in the Royal Artillery.

https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/display-pdf.jsp?pdfName=d-45-3-14-097

I can't see any baptisms for the children in the India Office records on FindMyPast.
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Online ShaunJ

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Re: Roker family in India
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 19 October 17 09:02 BST (UK) »
Hmm ....there are Ingham baptisms to Thomas and Sarah Jane in India

1862 Hazaribaugh - Mary Anne (died in Allahabad in 1863)
1863 Allahabad - Caroline Esther
1867 Peshawar - Thomas Henry

Thomas Ingham the father was a private in 77th regiment.

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Online ShaunJ

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Re: Roker family in India
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 19 October 17 09:11 BST (UK) »
Did Thomas Roker desert from the Royal Artillery shortly after his Dublin marriage and join the 77th under a different name?

Private Thomas Ingham attested for the 77th in Dublin on 26 July 1860. Aged 20, born "Gilford" Surrey. A brushmaker by trade.
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Online ShaunJ

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Re: Roker family in India
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 19 October 17 09:15 BST (UK) »
Baptism at Bareilly 15 February 1865 ( Born 3 February) :

Sarah Jane Ingham daughter of Thomas Ingham and Sarah Jane; Private 77th Regiment

(Transcribed as Tregham!)
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Online ShaunJ

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Re: Roker family in India
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 19 October 17 09:26 BST (UK) »
The 1858 Bermondsey marriage is not your family. The ages are wrong ("full age"). He was a grocer and a widower, she a widow (maiden name Earle).
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk