Hi Navarrom,
I've not an answer but have done a bit of digging about - principally I was trying to discover any children born to a first wife. So I'll post my journey - you may have a lot of / all of it, or maybe there are some extra bits in there for you
Marriage 1: This only has to be before 1845 (and probably before 1841) not necessarily before 1836. Unless you have some record that he was unmarried when he joined Army in 1836?
Marriage 2:He married Elizabeth WHITE 22 Sep 1845 in Fort St George, India (Family Search)
If she was a widow, her maiden name may not have been WHITE?
Later English GRO Birth record of their daughter Caroline 1860 does say mms WHITE - but the the only GRO record I could find for daughter Louisa born abt 1856 - is one in 1857 mms HUNT...
India Birth Records: Parents James Whittaker & Elizabeth (family Search) - Twins:
Ellen, born 7 April 1854, Chr 23 Apr 1854, Madras
Elizabeth, born 7 April 1854, Chr 23 Apr 1854, Madras
Service Record - as at Discharge, 1857Proceedings of a Regimental Board held Pembroke, Dock 21 April 1857. • Attested for the 84th Regiment of Foot at Fermoy, Cork on 16th April 1836, age 21 years.
• Total Service 21 years & 6 days during which 12 years were abroad, in the East Indies.
• Discharge proposed in consequence of his having completed 21 years service and being on
the permanent staff of the Kings Own Staffordshire Rifles Militia.
• Conduct Very Good and was never a subject of a Court Martial.
• Promoted to Corporal in the 84th Regt. on 1 July 1837, held to 31 May 1839
• Promoted Sergeant in the 84th Regt. on 1 Jun 1839, held to 31 Jan 1849
• Transferred to the 51st Regt. on 1st Feb 1849, Rank to Private, held to 23 Feb 1839
• Promoted Corporal in the 51st Regt. on 24 Feb 1849, held to 2 Mar 1850
• Promoted Sergeant in the 51st Regt. on 3 March 1850, held to 21 Apr 1857.
• End of Service, leaving from the 51st, 21st April 1857
• Intended Place of Residence: On the permanent Staff of the Kings Own Staffordshire Rifles,
Newcastle under Lyme.
Note:
The 84th was in Jamaica 30 Apr 1836, and it didn't return Home until May 1838. As James' record of service says he was in the East Indies ( India) for 12 years, and nothing about being in Jamaica - then he must have been with the Depot in Ireland for those first cpl of years? In 1836 this was in Limerick.Note:
After a period in Portsmouth around 1839 after return from Jamaica, the 84th - lock stock and depot - were in Ireland until 1842 when they then went to Madras. By the movements of the 84th, his son William, who is aged 20 in Census 1861 could have been born Kilkenny, Dublin, Naas or Limerick between about Jun 1839 and Apr 1842.Examination of Invalid Soldiers, conducted at Pembroke Dock Tues 12 May 1857. • 51st Regiment of Light Infantry
• Nr 2273, Color Sergeant, James WHITTAKER, Labourer, age 42 years.
• Born Callan, Kilkenny
• He was 5' 8½" tall. Relatively tall.
• Cause of Disability or Discharge - Regimental Surgeon's Report:
To serve in the Kings Own Staffordshires
more follows.....
