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Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Other Countries - Resources => Topic started by: pepperpig on Wednesday 27 June 18 17:16 BST (UK)

Title: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: pepperpig on Wednesday 27 June 18 17:16 BST (UK)
Good Evening

I am trying to find details regarding the Birth of an Ancestor

His name was George Mepham DOB possible early 1800s. He was a soldier with the British Army in India and I believe he fought in 1857/58

His son George J Mepham was born and Baptised in Barracore Bengal India on 4th August 1860. His mother was named Elizabeth.
I have lots of information for George J Mepham here in Liverpool but unfortunately I cannot find his father or mother on any other records on Ancestry or Find my Past.
On the marriage certificate in 1879 for George J Mepham it states that his father was a deceased soldier
I would be grateful for any information or advice that you could offer please

Kind Regards

Lorraine Smith
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Wednesday 27 June 18 17:36 BST (UK)
George J's marriage gives his late fathers occupation as Army Band Sergeant  :-\
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Wednesday 27 June 18 17:39 BST (UK)
George Mepham
Service number   1517
Rank   Sergeant
Regiment   -
Medal type - Indian Mutiny Medal, 1857-1859
Country -Great Britain

also
George Mepham
Service number   - 1517
Rank   - Sergeant
1st Btn 6th Foot (Royal 1st Warwickshire)
Stationed at Barrackpore East Indies
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: pepperpig on Wednesday 27 June 18 17:42 BST (UK)
Hi Rosie

Thank you for your reply and the information regarding the Indian Mutiny
I forgot to state that George J married twice
The first marriage states Army Band Sergeant and the second marriage states Soldier deceased

Kind Regards

Lorraine
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: MaxD on Wednesday 27 June 18 17:44 BST (UK)
Rosie works faster than me!  Additional factoids:

The 1861 army world wide has a Sergeant George Mepham of 1st Battalion 6th Foot (Royal 1st Warwickshire Regiment) stationed in Barrackpore India.  The regiment did indeed take part in the 1857 Indian Rebellion in 1857.  He was in the regiment in 1841 and 1851 and is on the Indian Mutiny medal roll.

MaxD




Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Wednesday 27 June 18 17:49 BST (UK)
The 1879 marriage states that his father was deceased just so we can put a time frame on it.

Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: MaxD on Wednesday 27 June 18 17:56 BST (UK)
Baptism record for George J 31 Aug 1860 (born 4 Aug) confirms his father is "Sergeant HM's 6th Regiment".

Rosie's pointer towards time frame and his service from 1841 at least suggest army service finished
shortly after 1861.  Check 1871 UK census?

MaxD
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Wednesday 27 June 18 18:02 BST (UK)
Could this be young George in 1871 - Atholl Street, Liverpool
Eliza   Mephin   Head   age    44   born Ireland   Co Carlow
George Mephin   Son   age   10   born East Indies
RG10 / 3765 f11 p16

ADDED
They are in part of the house occupied by Patrick Gella...  his wife Ann was also born Carlow

I think it says Eliza is a widow - she appears to be working for Patrick
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: MaxD on Wednesday 27 June 18 19:36 BST (UK)
The 6th Foot returned from India to Gosport in June of 1862 "in greatly reduced strength" and moved to Aldershot in 1863.  Possible locations for a retiree?  No army deaths in 1861-1871 noted.

MaxD
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Thursday 28 June 18 08:46 BST (UK)
Maybe  :-\

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGF3-W4J

also
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3W-8BK1
George Mepham - father Daniel Mepham
Eliza Cavanagh - Father James Cavanagh
Marriage   02 Feb 1847
Buttevant, Mallow, Ireland

Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: MaxD on Thursday 28 June 18 09:15 BST (UK)
A very good spot Rosie.  At Buttevant was the military barracks at which, in 1847, the depot of the 6th Foot was stationed.

MaxD
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Thursday 28 June 18 09:33 BST (UK)
Thank you Max  :)

I still can't find a death for George senior in England.

I wonder if this is his baptism in Faversham, Kent  :-\
18 Jun 1826 - parents Daniel & Elizabeth
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQ4G-S74


Ignore that it looks as though he may have died in infancy - another George same parents in 1829
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQWJ-941
Worth keeping in mind

Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: pepperpig on Thursday 28 June 18 16:52 BST (UK)
Thank you both for all of this information
I am delighted and I will now look into the Census Records
Once again
Thank you
Lorraine 🙏🏽 :)
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Thursday 28 June 18 17:10 BST (UK)
Death Sep qtr 1880 
Mephem    Eliza  age 53   
Liverpool    8b   157

Looks like the one I found in 1871.  I was hoping she would still be alive for the 1881 census  ::)
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: pepperpig on Friday 29 June 18 17:54 BST (UK)
Hi Rosie

I believe that they are who we are looking for as the address into far from where future Family Mephams lived. I cannot find a death for George the father and now we can narrow it down to 1871 or before

Thank you
Lorraine
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Saturday 30 June 18 08:44 BST (UK)
Just adding the details for him in 1841 & 1851 mentioned by Max.  Records are at the National Archives though I doubt there is any more information than listed here

First name(s)   George
George Mepham
Service number   -
Rank   - Private
Regiment   6th Foot
Sub unit   Depot
Year   1841
Location   Deal
WO 12/2410

George Mepham
Service number   1517
Rank   Corporal
Depot. 6th (The Royal 1st Warwickshire) Regiment Of Foot
Period   01/01/1851-31/03/1851
Location   Armagh, Ireland
WO 12/2421

Max, Would any of these records at TNA have a death date on them  :-\  I wondered if he died before coming back to the UK.
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: MaxD on Saturday 30 June 18 10:43 BST (UK)
Rosie

These are extracts from the muster books/pay rolls of those years and essentially have only a record of his presence in the regiment and where it was stationed at the time, so no personal info.  He is still in the regiment in the 1861 muster at Barrackpore. 

I have looked, without success, for him in the 1841 Deal and 1851 Ireland (much missing though) censuses in the hope of finding a birth place.  No sign in the army overseas deaths so  am assuming he returned in 1862 with the regiment to Ireland and death sometime 1862-1871.  No deaths in Irealnd in the period however, his known service at least 1841-1861 suggest a 21 year career and he could well have retired at the end of his service in India.  Again no signs in FIBIS or elsewhere.

His death if in service or retirement would be in the muster books that cover the 1861-71 period - all at Kew and not on line.

Ideas tray approaching empty!

MaxD
Title: Re: George Mepham Bengal India
Post by: rosie99 on Saturday 30 June 18 11:44 BST (UK)
Thank you Max   :)

Having recently found a medal card for someone I am looking for with a death date scribbled on it I was probably living in hope  ;D   

Ideas tray approaching empty!

MaxD

Mine is much the same  ???