My India Connection

[Julie.Spavins]

Good morning everyone.

I've had a minor breakthrough with my Great Grandfather James Henry Shore, "said to be born 04.10.1857", Christened 10.01.1858 Chunar, Bengal, India.

I requested the microfilm through Family Search, and viewed it last night.

I now have confirmed that his father was also James Shore (his marriage certificate claimed John Shore) and his mother was Eliza Shore. I have further traced via Family Search and the India Office their marriage in Cawnpore 12.09.1837 - James Shore (Age 28) and Eliza Ireland (Age 14).

My reason for posting in the Military area:

James Shore (Senior) is stated as being a Bombadier on James Henry marriage certificate.
On the Baptism entry I viewed last night his "Quality Trade or Profession" is stated as Bombadier Artillery European Invalid Battalion.
On the Marriage details on the India Office Website he is shown as Bom., Ft-Art

Is there any way I can get hold of James Shore service record? I've had a quick search for the European Invalid Battalion, and it seems to imply that this unit was for injured or older soldiers, and was based at Chunar fort at the correct time frame for my GG birth.

Sadly, I have also found a possible death for James Shore, on Family Search, 12.09.1857 at Allahabad, so before my GG was born and also during the India Uprisings - more research for me to do there.

Additionally, can anyone point as to where I could possibly find out what might have happened to Eliza and her baby James Henry, plus there are several births and deaths of children to James and Eliza, possibly 2 other children had survived Mary Ann christened 25.12.1855 and John christened 25.12.1855.

I cannot trace them until James Henry marries Emily Brewerton on 10.01.1885 in Brompton, Kent, he is aged 27 and his occupation is Lance Corporal 1 Dorset Regiment - and I have just found an entry for John Shore in 1881 census b 1851 India location Wisbech - RG11/1696, no Folio stamp on the page, Page 40 - he is a boarder, I cannot quite interpret his Occupation but the second word could be Apothocary.

Any assistance and suggestions will be very gratefully received.

[tiggermick2]

You may find a bit more information on the FIBIS website (Families In British India Society)? It is a bit of a long shot but when the brick wall is getting higher knocking out the odd brick or two can get you through it?

[olliecat]

Additionally, can anyone point as to where I could possibly find out what might have happened to Eliza ...

On James Henry Shore's pension record, (when he first attested to the 39th foot in 1875), his brother John Shore of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire is recorded as next of kin. Since James initially served from 1875 to 1887,one wonders if his mother Eliza had died by then.

But did she first marry again?

groom's name: William Beane
groom's birth date: 1833
groom's age: 26
bride's name: Elizabeth Shore
bride's birth date: 1825
bride's age: 34
marriage date: 20 Feb 1859
marriage place: Chunar, Bengal, India
groom's father's name: John Beane
bride's father's name: William Ireland
(FamilySearch)

I have just found an entry for John Shore in 1881 census b 1851 India location Wisbech - RG11/1696, no Folio stamp on the page, Page 40 - he is a boarder, I cannot quite interpret his Occupation but the second word could be Apothocary.

The full reference including the folio number is RG11/1696, f47, p40

John's occupation looks like Assist(an)t Apothecary Sub Ml Dept.

[Julie.Spavins]

Thank you so much Olliecat, can you tell me how you found James Henry Shore pension record (I've tried on FMP before and had no luck....)

And thanks also for the full census ref and interpretation of occupation, possibly I'll find more from that.

I'll have a look at Eliza remarrying then possibly passing away as well.

I did notice whilst looking at the Family Search microfilm last night, there's an awful lot of widows & widowers who remarried out in India, mortality was no doubt high because of the war and because of disease.

James and Eliza seem to have lost at least 4 children, and either 2 or 3 only survived

Its all so fascinating but so sad at the same time.

[olliecat]

Thank you so much Olliecat, can you tell me how you found James Henry Shore pension record (I've tried on FMP before and had no luck....)

If you look at Ancestry, you will find pension records for James Henry Shore, born abt 1858 in Chunar. Three sets of records show up on a search. A set for enlistment in 1875 to the 39th regiment of the foot, a second set for enlistment in 1900 and another set where the doument year is 1914. Make sure you grab the the lot; (the images for all three are actually bundled one after another.) You will see from his records that he served in a number of regiments and he also served in the militia.

WO364 / 3694.

If you look on FMP you will find Militia records for James Henry Shore, born abt 1858 in Chunar. This was for his service in the 3rd Battalion of The Royal Berkshire Regiment from 1889. There are 3 images to look at.

WO96 / 868 / 1

Edit: tweaked the info above.

[Julie.Spavins]

Thankyou again Olliecat, Records from A**** down loaded, better get back to work!

[olliecat]

Thankyou again Olliecat, Records from A**** down loaded, better get back to work!

You are welcome.

Sadly, I have also found a possible death for James Shore, on Family Search, 12.09.1857 at Allahabad, so before my GG was born and also during the India Uprisings - more research for me to do there.

Have been looking through the British Newspaper lists of those killed or wounded in the India Mutiny. Haven't had any luck finding a mention of James SHORE snr yet.

By the way, I came across a Civil Service Evidence of Age entry for James Henry SHORE. If you are on FMP you may have found this already.

[Julie.Spavins]

Thankyou once again Olliecat, I have found James Shore senior through Google books - he seems to have died from dysentry at Allahabad.

I'd still love to find his service records though, no luck yet!

[Julie.Spavins]

Hello all,

I'm still searching for the forebears in the UK of James Shore, who was in India (Bombadier) from at least September 1837 when he married Eliza Ireland, until he died of dysentry in Allahabad on 12.09.1857.

My GG was born posthumously (04.10.1857), and out of 7 children I have only 2 definitely survived (including my GG James Henry) and 1 daughter (Mary Ann Shore) who I haven't yet traced beyond birth 1848 & Christening 1855.

From FIBIS & Family Search I have a birth year for James Shore of 1809 (from his marriage record)

I haven't been able to track down any Army records for James so far, I can see two possible births on Family Search - the most promising in my mind is Potter Hanworth Lincolnshire. This is because the other definite survivor John Shore is in Wisbech on the 1881 census RG11 / 1696 Folio 47 Page 40, he is also in Wisbech on James Henry Attestation papers as his next of kin. And Wisbech is in Lincolnshire.

A very tenuous leap of faith I know, therfore I wondered if any census information exists for ex-patriots over in India that could help me track him down?

Or if anyone has any other suggestion as to how I can possibly trace James Shore's birth and parents?

Researching the familiy's life in India has been fascinating and distressing, such a dark period for the British in India, and I think I've only scratched he surface. I would love to find out more.

Hoping for some suggestions,

Julie

PS Happy Valentines day, I do hope you have all been fully appreciated today!

[Kerrywood]

Julie, I've added your new post of today to your earlier thread, so that members can see the findings so far.