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British Army in India 1800s

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Claire

Claire Report 12 Jun 2024 21:51

Hi, I am trying to find more information about an ancestor who served in the army in India. On his marriage cert it states that he is a corporal in the Veteran Company. The marriage took place in Chunar Church in the District of Benares & Archdeaconry of Calcutta in 1840.
I am wondering what Veteran Company means, He would have been in his early 40s at the time.

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 12 Jun 2024 21:53

Can we assume that you have tried googling?

greyghost

greyghost Report 12 Jun 2024 22:10

Welcome to the boards Claire.

Could you give us ALL the information from the Marriage certificate please.

What do you already know about him, what do you want to know?

Is this the one -

17th March 1840 Thomas Johnson, Corporal Veteran Company aged 47 to Mary Sutton 27
Nearest relations - None (looks as though this refers to the bride)
Witnesses Alexander Hughley and Mary Ann Hughley
Married by Banns at Chunar Church by William Bowley the Officiating Minister

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 12 Jun 2024 22:37

"For [from] sometime in 1791, Chunar Fort became the headquarters of an invalid battalion of European and Indian troops serving in India; those officers and men who were considered medically unsuitable for field duty were shifted to this fort and given light duty. From 1815, the fort also housed the state prisoners. In India's first Freedom struggle, also known as Sepoy Mutiny of 1857–58, the fort was the safe ground of the artillery and infantry company of the European invalid Battalion and all also to the officers and European residents of the district. "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chunar_Fort


https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Carnatic_European_Veteran_Battalion

https://groups.io/g/india-british-raj/topic/77217802#msg295

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 13 Jun 2024 09:56

Presumably you already have these, IF the marriage suggested by Greyghost is the correct one - but posting in case you don't:


Amelia Charlotte Johnson
in the India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947
Name Amelia Charlotte Johnson
Gender Female
Birth Date 13 Mar 1843
Baptism Date 04 Apr 1843
Baptism Age 0
Baptism Place Buxar, Bengal, India
Father Thomas Johnson
Mother Mary
Reference ID v 64 p 209
FHL Film Number 498981


Amelia Johnson
in the India, Select Marriages, 1792-1948
Name Amelia Johnson
Gender Female
Marital Status Single
Age 19
Birth Date 1841
Marriage Date 18 Jun 1860
Marriage Place Madras, Madras, India
Father Thomas Johnson
Spouse Peter Jeffers
FHL Film Number 521851



Amelia and Peter had several children, some born in India and others in Essex.
By 1871 they were living in Little Clacton, Essex, and continued to live there until they died. Both are buried in Little Clacton Cemetery.

There are lots of records of Thomas and Mary's descendants - but nothing definite about Thomas himself.

Maddie

Maddie Report 14 Jun 2024 13:42

Madras,St Mary
Presidency Madras
Country India
Groom's age 32
Bride's age 19
Groom's father's first name(s) Joseph ---------------------
Groom's father's last name Jeffers
Bride's father's first name(s) Thomas
Bride's father's last name Johnson
Catalogue description Madras ecclesiastical records, omissions and corrections, 1777-1884, :
Archive reference N-2-C7
Folio number 79
Entry number -
Record set British India Office Marriages

1871
Peter J Jeffrey ??????????
Age 45
Estimated Birth Year 1826
Relation Head
Gender Male
Where born Little Clacton, Essex, England
Civil parish Little Clacton
Ecclesiastical parish Rochester
County/Island Essex
Country England
Registration district Tendring
Sub-registration district St Osyth
ED, institution, or vessel 6
Household schedule number 36
Piece 1676
Folio 78
Page number 7
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Peter J Jeffrey 45 Head
Amelia Jeffrey

26

Wife
Sarah Jeffrey

9

Daughter
Harry N Jeffrey

6

Son
Walter J Jeffrey

5

Son
Alice L Jeffrey

3

Daughter
Frederick T Jeffrey

2

Son


1841

John Jeffreys
Age 14
Estimated Birth Year abt 1827
Gender Male
Where born Essex, England
Civil parish Little Clacton
Hundred Tendring
County/Island Essex
Country England
Registration district Tendring
Sub-registration district St Osyth
Neighbors
Piece 338
Book 11
Folio 12
Page number 18
Household Members (Name) Age
John Potter

65
Caroline Potter

20
Elizabeth Potter

12
Charlotte Potter

6 Mo
Anne Barham

75
Joseph Jeffreys --------------

45
Sarah Jeffreys

40
John Jeffreys 14
Charlotte Jeffreys

12
Sarah Jeffreys

10

Joseph Jeffery
Marriage Date 3 Aug 1818
Marriage Place Great Clacton, St John the Baptist, Essex, England
Spouse
Sarah Barcham
Source Description Marriage Register; Service of Church: Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials; Incumbent; Great Clacton, St John the Baptist; Parish Records;1813-1837

Maddie

Maddie Report 14 Jun 2024 13:58

Great Britain
Record set British Army, Worldwide Index 1861
First name Peter
Last name Jeffers
Service number 2275
Rank Corporal
Unit or Regiment 43rd Foot (Monmouthshire)
Regiment stationed at Fort St.George Madras East Indies
Year 1861
National Archives reference WO12 / 5616
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Regimental & Service Records

Peter
Last name Jeffers
Birth year -
Year 1855-65
Regiment 43rd Foot
Regiment / service number as transcribed 43rd Ft
Pension year 1864
Series Wo 23 - Royal Hospital Chelsea: Admission Books, Registers, And Papers 1702-1876
Archive The National Archives
Archive reference WO 23
Piece number 48
Piece description 31-50 Foot.
Year range 1855-1865
Record set British Army Service Records

discharged due to medical disabilty chronic headaches

service 1846 - march 1860