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No problem, Jennifer
I will look out “Tears of the Rajas” – sounds fascinating.
One more thing which you probably already know, but which helped me a lot with working out the pathway of my military ancestors in India.
When Regiments were posted back to England (or elsewhere), soldiers were routinely given the opportunity to transfer to other units in order to be able to stay longer. This was particularly popular among those with Indian or Anglo-Indian spouses. For the Regiments where I have found this happening, as much as half the Regiment opted to stay. So if you have people with a particular regiment disappear, that could be why. Also, I am not sure whether this was normal, but in at least one case a relative who was a Sergeant had to take demotion to private (at least temporarily) when transferring to another unit to stay in India (I found his service record that clearly shows this).
Just in case this is helpful.
Cheers
Sean
Hi Jane
First one is Aldershot in the UK – a commonly used depot. Can’t work out the second, but definitely not in India.
I’d say the third in Ahmednagar, the district where Bombay is and where they apparently landed in India.
Quetta, of course, is near the Pakistan/Afghan border, which matches your excerpt.
I think the next places are all in the same area – the dates are close together so it is unlikely they went far.
There’s a place called Harnai some 60km East of Quetta – that’s probably the next one.
Even closer is Ziarat, likely the last one.
I can’t find the other two, but based on the dates they were all in that Quetta area.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Sean
Simple answer is no, but probably hard to track.
At that time people needed permission from HEIC to travel to India, but he might have still slipped in under the radar.
Cheers
Sean
Hi Jennifer
I lived in Chennai (Madras) for four years. I didn’t find many records – mostly from visiting Catholic Churches who often (but not always) still have records, and graveyards where ancestors were buried.
I am also trying to trace the odd ethnic Indian member of the family – devilishly difficult, because as far as I can see no records were kept.
At present I have found 1-200 blood relatives who lived at least for some time in India – icluding some by the name of Shaw. My connection starts when Caroline Amelia Hill b 18 Oct 1860 at Coonoor, married Fawcett Eber Neville Shaw 22 Sept 1880 in Coonoor (near Coimbatore). Caroline and Fawcett’s only son, William Fawcett Shaw, was born at Coonoor on 10 October 1882. He was a surgeon and migrated to the US in 1917. Any chance your Shaw is related?
on the 22nd, I presume you have seen this:
On 24 February 1794, William, Viscount Fielding raised the next regiment to use the title 22nd (Light) Dragoons; this regiment lasted slightly longer, being disbanded in 1802 with the onset of peace. However, the 25th Dragoons (raised for service in India by F E Gwyn on 9 March 1794) was renumbered 22nd (Light) Dragoons in that year. This 22nd (Light) Dragoons regiment served throughout the Napoleonic Wars, which began in 1805, and was disbanded in 1820. (https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/22nd_Dragoons)
My great x 4 grandfather, Richard Plackett, came to India in 1805 with the 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot, and was involved in a series of campaigns during the Napoleonic wars, inc invasions of Rodriguez (an island to the north of Mauritius) from 20 June to 3 July 1810; Île de Bonaparte (now Réunion) on 7 July 1810; and Île de France (now Mauritius) from 13 August to 26 December 1810. The 69th went on to participate in the invasion of Java in from 20 July to 22 October 1811 – I understand that the 22nd was also involved in that campaign (not sure on the earlier ones).
The Dragoons probably have their own museum in the UK (although I can’t find reference to it) – this might be a place to look. In India they do not appear to have kept much in the way of military records of British (asc opposed to Indian Army) units.
Do let us know what you find!
Cheers
Sean
