Welcome Wendy,
Perhaps you already have the following info. If so, my apologies. RootsChat is a great place for help with researching deceased ancestors.
As per 48th Regiment Pay Lists. (Mitchell Library, NSW State library, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW.)
August 1817
Thomas LEAVER, 48th Regiment, Private.
Enlisted 11 June 1811, Military Company 4 & 5 & 3 & 10 & 6
Arrived Sydney 7 August 1817
Aged 13 years at enlistment, enlisted for seven years.
Served at Port Macquarie from 25 September 1822
Served at Sydney from 25 Feb 1824 to 24 April 1825
As per Sept 1825 NSW General Muster
Ann LEAVER, born in the colony, child of Bridget LEAVER, the wife of Leaver, Trumpeter 48th Regiment, aged five, residing Female Orphan School, Parramatta.
Bridget LEAVER, Came free, per Matilda 1817, wife of Leaver, Trumpeter to 48th Regiment
Thomas LEAVER, Came free, per Matilda, householder, residing Sydney.
1848 Thomas LEAVER was among those who applied for and received the Military General Service Medal for service during the Peninsula Wars. (1793-1814) Thomas’ medal included 5 clasps.
From TNA Index online,
Thomas LEAVER, born Bolton, Lancs, served in 48th Foot Regiment, Discharged aged 31.
Ref WO 97/625/48
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8760889?descriptiontype=Full&ref=WO+97/625/48 From the online index for NSW Col Secretary’s Papers 1788-1825
Bridget LEVER, April 14- May 8, 1823
In reports of prisoners tried at the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. Reel 6023
The FORTY EIGHTH (48th) Regiment has its own index entries in the NSW Col Sec papers, under the words ‘
forty eighth' Their Marriage Register to Feb 12 1818 is mentioned (
perhaps it will have Bridget's maiden name ? ), and then chronological list of many matters, right down to Mar 4 1824 and Sheep for the voyage to India.
http://colsec.records.nsw.gov.au/indexes/colsec/default.htmand
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/indexes-online/colonial-secretary/index-to-the-colonial-secretarys-papers-1788-1825/colonial-secretary-papers-1788-1825 NSW State Records Office has various commercial partnerships with some of the commercial family history websites. I understand that Ancestry has the digitised images of many of the Col Sec papers to 1825.
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/research-topics/immigration/immigration#3Military https://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/australian-joint-copying-project AND
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2074205Several of my ancestors were part of the 48th Regiment.
Cheers, JM