John Sarson Leicestershire 17th Ft Regiment

[Tonto741]

Hello Everyone,

I have been researching my family history for some time but have hit a brickwall with John Sarson who was a quartermaster with the Leicestershire 17th Ft Regiment. He came to Australia on the "Clyde" 1830 escorting convicts to Hobart, Tasmania. He then came to Sydney before leaving for India in 1837. He died in Poona in 1842. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and thanks a lot for the welcome to this forum. Tonto741

[christanel]

Hello Sarson and a very warm welcome to Brit-Gen

I have moved your post, for now, to the Brickwalls forum where hopefully it will be seen by more members who may be able to help.
I have also added a little more info to the title.

Good luck

Christanel

[pippycat]

Tonto

On Fibis site (Families in British India Society) there is mention of John Sarson - but you only get to see small snippets of the info unfortunately!

There's the marriage of Mary Ann Turner to John Sarson 26 June 1813 at Ghazepoore? Bengal Presidency.

Plus a birth announcement from Bombay Almanac for:
Sarson, born 25 May 1837 at Poona, the lady of J Sarson HM 17th Reg, of a son.
(Assuming its same person, I see on another forum he is possibly a William?)


There is also a couple of journey's for a Mrs Sarson :

Mrs Sarsen from Liverpool to Calcutta Nov 1829 on ship "Duke of Lancaster"

Mrs Sarson depart Bombay 5 June 1841 to London on ship "Buckinghamshire"
- of course, they could be anyone!


But this must be your man: Under Wills and Probate.

Sarson, John June 1850
Quartermaster HM 17th Foot at Poona to Jane Mills wid. the sister and only next of kin.
Mary Ann Sarson the wid. survived but without taking Admon. £20. Pts.

If you don't have it already, maybe its worth trying to find a Will.


The National Archives have 'Statement of Services' for John - I downloaded it because it's free, but be aware its a huge file and takes forever...I'll give you the important info, but if you'd like me to post a complete transcription of it, I will gladly do that.
(If you download the file yourself, John is on pages 218 and 219)

It basically lists John's rank and dates of when he was promoted, he served in the campaign against Mahratta Chiefs 1817-1818, married Ann in 1813 Gazepoore and he was on full pay till 11 May 1841.

The most important parts:

Quartermaster John Sarson of 17th Foot born 22 April 1792 Queensborough, Leicestershire.
Age 18 on his first entrance to Army.

Wife living as at 31 Dec 1829.
They were married in the Established Church by Rev W Eales, Church Chaplain at Gazepoore.

Question: does the Officer has any legitimate children and the written answer is None.
But, under names of children it has: John Dean or could be John Danl...and there is something written next to it that I just cannot make out.
The image is poor and its tough to read.
I can't decide if its a surname which looks a bit like Oliphant or whether it says 'step' something or 'wife' something. Oh gosh, its annoying and so very crucial too, but this child was born 25 May '37 at Poona, E.Indies.
(don't think I can copy anything from a TNA download document - something to do with copyright laws)

Service abroad:
7 March 1812 to 27 May 1825 East Indies
2 Feb 1831 to 13 May 1836 N.South Wales
14 May 1836 to 11 May 1841 E. Indies

John deceased at Camp in Poona, East Indies on the 11 May 1841.


Tonto, the child's details, the deceased info and John on full pay all have been written in with a totally different pen to the rest of the document...which is signed but not dated.

I'm thinking those details might have been added sometime around May 1841 when John died, to sort of finalise the record.


There is something odd going on:
The couple getting married in 1813 and then having a child in 1837 - that's a massive gap of 24 years.
Could there be a 2nd wife somewhere around?

If that administration states John's 'only next of kin' was his sister Jane, then what happened to the son?
At age 4 he'd be too young to be administering anything so maybe not included in 'kin' for that reason.


I'm unsure if this could be relevant or not:

1851 census: 2052 f679 p32
107 Bristol Street, Birmingham, Warwicks

Nancy Jenks. 1788 Alcester, Warwicks. Landed proprieter.
niece: Ann Allen 1800. Henly, Warwicks
niece: Ann SARSON 1834 British subject, born East Indies.
servant: Mary Hease 1834 Pershore, Worcs.

Same surname and same place so it might be worth keeping hold of.

Rebecca.

added later:
I've tried to upload just the name part I need from the document, but can't....won't allow me to highlight even a section of it.
Also tried using Photobucket and because I can't cut the line I need, the file is too large to be accepted..sorry, but I'm not able to get that unknown name posted on here.

[helachau]

Tonto741,
A warm welcome to Brit-gen. There's an interesting snippet about John Sarson on Trove (Australian) Newspapers (available on line) - Sydney Herald, 24 March 1834

[helachau]

Leicester Chronicle, Sat 7 Aug 1841
DEATHS - On 11 May 1841, at Poonah, East Indies, of the bilious fever, John Sarson, formerly an apprentice to a tailor. He was Quartermaster in the 17th Regiment of Foot, and served 30 years in the regiment. His memory will long be remembered by his comrades as a good soldier.

[helachau]

GRO Army Chaplain's Birth Indices (from FMP)
John Daniel O Sarson, Bombay, 1836-37, page 564
John Danl O Sarson, Bombay, 1838-39 page 442

GRO regimental Birth Indices
John D O Sarson, Poona, 1837 17th 1005 62

Re the 1851 Census entry for Ann Sarson, 1834, British Subject, born East Indies
GRO Army Chaplains' Birth Indices
Anne Sarsons, Berhampore, 1833, page 53
possibility?

[pippycat]

I think the birth for Ann Sarson is a distinct possibility..very good find helachau.

I've also been squinting at John Sarson's Army Statement (again) trying to read that pesky name!
I thought it might have been something like Oliphant - now helachau has come up with John Danl O!!

So guessing it might read: John Danl Oliphant - but that's all there is to that name, there's no Sarson attached to it on the document.