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.