Kelly Family in India

[EBrand]

My ancestor Thomas Kelly, from Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow, Ireland c.1819 joined the British Army under the 53rd Foot Regiment and was sent to India and modern day Pakistan, where he then joined the 10th Foot Regiment

He attested for the 53rd in February 1839 and volunteered to transfer to the 10th In April 1842. Between Feb 1839 and March 1842 he would have served in the UK home islands. The 53rd didn't go to India until 1844. See https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Historical_Records_of_the_British_Army_I/LfuJG3feW-MC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA27&printsec=frontcover

He would have been in Scotland when he transferred to the 10th Regiment on 1 April 1842. This was the time that the 10th was moving to India, elements of the regiment having been based in Glasgow for several months. So it looks like he volunteered for service in India.

So marriage in Scotland is a possibility.

Oh that is very interesting, thank you for that! When I have a moment I’ll have a look at Scottish marriages. I’ll have to keep in mind that they were Roman Catholic so that narrows the search down a bit.

[wivenhoe]

Is this the death of your Thomas KELLY?


The Inquirer and Commercial News  1 Feb 1888 p3

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66087208?

[EBrand]

Is this the death of your Thomas KELLY?


The Inquirer and Commercial News  1 Feb 1888 p3

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66087208?

Hi Wivenhoe,
Yes that is him. He died in 1888 of liver cancer in Guildford, WA

[ShaunJ]

Contemporary newspapers in March/April 1842 report on the transfer of several army regiments to India. The War Office had decreed that each one must consist of 1,000 men, and numbers were being made up by volunteers from other regiments.

Only 12 women were to be allowed to accompany each regiment to India, so many soldiers would have been leaving their wives and children behind in UK, not to be seen again for many years, if ever. 

It does seem likely that Thomas and Catherine were married in India.

[Blairvadach]

Contemporary newspapers in March/April 1842 report on the transfer of several army regiments to India. The War Office had decreed that each one must consist of 1,000 men, and numbers were being made up by volunteers from other regiments.

Only 12 women were to be allowed to accompany each regiment to India, so many soldiers would have been leaving their wives and children behind in UK, not to be seen again for many years, if ever. 

It does seem likely that Thomas and Catherine were married in India.

Hi Shaun
I am very interested in the information surrounding the number of wives that were allowed!!!
My 4xgreatgradfather also served in India ( a little bit later ). He married in Glasgow in 1853…they had four children born in India…...he served in several places.
How usual would it be for his wife to travel with him on each posting?
He was in Malta, West Indies, Crimea ( fought at Sevastopol) prior to India.
Thanks

[EBrand]

Contemporary newspapers in March/April 1842 report on the transfer of several army regiments to India. The War Office had decreed that each one must consist of 1,000 men, and numbers were being made up by volunteers from other regiments.

Only 12 women were to be allowed to accompany each regiment to India, so many soldiers would have been leaving their wives and children behind in UK, not to be seen again for many years, if ever. 

It does seem likely that Thomas and Catherine were married in India.

That is good information, thank you. I'll look harder for a marriage in India.

[mckha489]

There is this marriage in Agra, Bengal. Without seeing the the actual image, it is not possible to know if it is the right man.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGVT-42X

Looks like HM 59th or 39th Foot. Wife's surname does not look like Trophy to me but it's hard to decipher

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BL%2FBIND%2F005138055%2F00093&parentid=BL%2FBIND%2FM%2F159717%2F1

Looking at the “P” in the column heading for Profession. I wonder if that surname is Pithy? 

[EBrand]

There is this marriage in Agra, Bengal. Without seeing the the actual image, it is not possible to know if it is the right man.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGVT-42X

Looks like HM 59th or 39th Foot. Wife's surname does not look like Trophy to me but it's hard to decipher

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=BL%2FBIND%2F005138055%2F00093&parentid=BL%2FBIND%2FM%2F159717%2F1

Looking at the “P” in the column heading for Profession. I wonder if that surname is Pithy?

I haven't yet seen the actual image yet but I was thinking maybe Trophy could be Brophy?

[mckha489]

The word after spinster is European (I think )