henri john hart in the US Army

[pwh]

I am linked to Henri who was born in New York on the 7th of  May 1820. He became a British
subject in Australia in 1852 before returning to America to marry Sarah Jane Rowland in
Philadelphia on the 21st of September 1853. He returned to Philadelphia in 1860 and stayed
in America till 1862. There is a studio photograph of him wearing the uniform of an officer
in the United States Army. Is there anyone who could tell me anything about his army service
or point me to  a source of information? Any help would be appreciated.
                                                                                                             Thanks
                                                                                                                      Peter

[majm]

Hi there,

I hope you don't mind a question from an Australian re your Henri Hart,  there's been quite a few threads,  and you know the popularity of HART as a surname....  You see, errr .... something is not making good sense to me....

Re Henri's Naturalisation to become a British Subject .... he renounces his US Citizenship to become a British Subject in Australia in 1852 .... Which Colony handled the Naturalisation Application? and then the following year he applies for a US Passport ....

Are you sure your chap sought and was granted Naturalisation?  When did he revert to being a US Citizen? 


JM

............. a US Passport Application made 2 Dec 1853 for a Henri John Hart but the birth date was slightly different to the one you gave - 20 April 1820. The person who was aquainted with Henry was Jno Solomon.  So a few cooincidences but it does'nt tie up..............

[usaPetticrew]

Here are two possibilities, but do your own search for all Henri/Henry Hart, at:
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm

You have to do each search twice, once for Union and once for Confederate.

Hart , Henry
Battle Unit Name:
    27th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Whitfield's Legion) (1st Texas Legion)
Side:
    Confederacy
Alternate Name:
    John H./Hart


 Hart , Henry J.
Battle Unit Name:
    120th Regiment, Indiana Infantry
Side:
    Union
Company:
    D
Soldier's Rank In:
    Private
Soldier's Rank Out:
    Private
Alternate name:
    Henry/Hart
Film Number:
    M540 ROLL 31

[pwh]

majm
          I have seen his naturalisation document in the Ancestry records. It was signed by
the Governor of NSW, Sir Charles Hotham in Sydney on the 5th of April 1851. As for his
being in the Union Army in the Civil War, 700,000 men, nearly one third of the Army were
foreign born and many were not U.S citizens. Given that he was born in New York and that
his mothers family was highly influential he would have found it easy to obtain a commission. It is
also worth noting that he had been presented to Queen Victoria in London by the then U. S.
Ambassador to Britain.
                                               PWH

[majm]

Agh, so 1851, not 1852 for the Naturalisation Certificate.    It was standard procedure in that era for the Governor to sign Naturalisation Certificates.  Governors were appointed by the reigning British Monarch.  In 1851 as in previous years, the Governor's role was a very significant one involved in the day to day administrative procedures in what was then all of New South Wales. 

So the Naturalisation certificate should give you information about your Henri HART, including his ship of arrival and the purpose of his application to seek naturalisation.   Usually this reason would be associated with becoming a British Subject with a view to purchasing land.   So between when he arrived and his application for Naturalisation he would not have owned any real estate in any of the British Colonies that covered all of continental Australia, nor Van Diemen's Land, nor New Zealand.  But after Naturalisation he would have been eligible to purchase land in any British colony.    As he was resident in Melbourne, in 1851, and was marrying in New York in 1853, I am linking the index for outward bound passengers for that era:

http://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/migration/outward

I am still confused though,   ..... did your Henri HART apply for a US passport in 1853? or was that for someone else?  How have you confirmed/eliminated that sighting? 

JM

[majm]

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99D4-RQS3-L?i=202&wc=3XC5-PY3%3A1056306401%2C1056322201%3Fcc%3D2185145&cc=2185145

Live link to the image of the Passport application.  "I Henri John HART do swear that I was born in the city of New York on or about 20 April 1820 and that I am a citizen of the United States and I am about to travel abroad......"  and "accompanied by his wife"  2 December 1853 and his signature is on that document.      (so, if 'your' Henri, when did he renounce his April 1851 British Subject status)

Add
So from the Naturalisation certificate, you have 'your' Henri John HART arriving in Sydney New South Wales per the Barossa in 1839. 


http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32166535 The Sydney Monitor, 9 December 1839. 
BAROSSA, ship, 729 tons, Austin Master, from Sheerness August 4 with 334 male prisoners, Robert Wylie Esq RN surgeon superintendent.  Passengers :  Rev. M Woodward,  Mrs and two Misses Woodward,  Lieut Chamlin 96th regiment,  Ensign Hough 50th regiment and 29 rank and file of the 28th, 50th and 96th regiments.


Was your Henri one of the prisoners or one of the rank and file?

JM

[majm]

Here is a live link to an Obit for Henri John HART, J P.   no mention of US Army service.  "In 1860 Mr Hart visited the United States and returned in 1862 when he settled down to commercial pursuits...."

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/149435072 Jewish Herald 2 May 1884

Here is a live link to the free to search National Library of Australia's TROVE digitised newspapers and much more

 http://trove.nla.gov.au/

You say there's a photo of Henri in US Army uniform.   Perhaps you could post a copy on the Photo Board for other RChatters to confirm/date ?   There were volunteer militias in Victoria and NSW  once the British regiments left in the 1870s.... 

JM