How should I go about researching an Indian lineage?

[ghostnorris]

I'm trying to find out about a Mary Josephine Stewart, born 1874 in Burma (I think).

The only census I've found her in is 1911, as Mary Josephine Loveday in Tanshelf and Carleton, Pontefract district, Yorkshire. She's living in a barracks (Yorkshire and Lancashire regiment) with her two children. Her husband, William Henry Loveday, born 1877, Doncaster, is recorded separately, but in the same barracks.

From what I can make out, Mary Josephine's birth place says Burmah. Her later daughter, Hilda Mary Loveday, born 1912, Pontefract has her mother's maiden name as Marshall, yet from the one public tree she's in, her maiden name seems to be Stewart, with Marshall being the name of her first husband. If so, then there's a marriage of a Henry William Lavedey (sic) and a Mary Josephine Marshall in Mhow, India in 1903, and her father is named as Charles James Stewart. However, beyond this, I can't find a record of her birth or her father's presence in India at all. I'm unfamiliar with researching India, so is there anything extra I can do?

[nanny jan]

Possible birth registration:

Mary J Stewart. 50th Foot, Colchester. 1873

British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms. Vol 1211 page 31 line 117

[dawnsh]

The 2nd marriage was in a Catholic church, were the children of the 2nd marriage brought up as Catholic?

The surviving records from the India Office are deposited at the British Library, the staff in the Asian & African studies room may be abe to give pointers as to survival rates of Catholic registers in their collection.

The staff there generally quote a 70% survival rate for other parish registers

[ghostnorris]

Possible birth registration:

Mary J Stewart. 50th Foot, Colchester. 1873

British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms. Vol 1211 page 31 line 117

How would I go about accessing that record? I can't find it on Ancestry.com, only on other sites that require subscription. Is it something I can just order from the general register office?

[ShaunJ]

I wouldn't pursue that Colchester birth if I were you.

1. Colchester is not in Burma
2. Per the GRO birth index that was a Mary Jane Stewart, mmn Symes

[sgf28]

Maybe this is her first marriage

27th January 1892,after banns
Mhow, Bengal

Joseph Edmund Marshall, 24, bachelor. Trumpeter,RHA. Father:Henry Marshall. residence:Mhow
Mary Josephine Stuart,19,spinster. Father:Charles Stuart. Residence:Kalakund

Witnesses: H Lee and M A Toley

[sgf28]

Could this be Mary Josephine Stuart's sister?

Marriage after banns:
Church of Roman Central India

19th May 1897
Mhow

Frank Edgar Williams,30,bachelor.PWD inspector. Father:George Williams
Katie Ann Stuart,25,spinster. Father:Charles Stuart. Residence: Mhow

[ghostnorris]

Could this be Mary Josephine Stuart's sister?

Marriage after banns:
Church of Roman Central India

19th May 1897
Mhow

Frank Edgar Williams,30,bachelor.PWD inspector. Father:George Williams
Katie Ann Stuart,25,spinster. Father:Charles Stuart. Residence: Mhow

That seems to be her sister and her first marriage, yes. Sadly, the updated spelling (Stuart) and extra name to search doesn't yield any birth records either, though. Family trees with the first husband and sister's spouse leave her parentage black as well.

[ShaunJ]

Amazingly ( for a soldier who died in service), Joseph Edmond Marshall's army papers have survived. He died of malaria at Meerut, 3 October 1894. He had converted to Catholicism at the time of his wedding in 1892.