RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: jato37 on Saturday 07 August 10 09:25 BST (UK)
-
I am working on Brig. Gen. John Carnac of the HEICo. In the context of this work I came across a Capt James Stewart/Stuart, ADC to the Gov of Bombay,India.
He led the Advance Force against the Maharattas and was killed on 04 Jan 1778. I have appended below whatever I have gleaned on him . There was little forthcoming and my SOS to the BL has yielded little. So in effect I am up a tree. I was wondering if you will be able to help with your fund of references. To me it would seem a pity that such a brave and well loved officer is forgotten.
Many thanks for your time and help.
Sincerely
jato37
~~~~~~~~----------------------
Capt James Stewart / Stuart[/font] was ADC to the Governor of Bombay, William Hornby [ 1771 - 1784]. He was assigned the task of leading an Advance Force against the Maharatta Confederacy in the First Anglo-Maharatta War [1773 - 1782] with the objective of taking over Poona, the capital of the Peshwas, one of the leaders of the Maharatta Confederacy. He left Bombay on 22 Nov. 1778 with 6 companies of Native Grenadiers and small detail of light cannons. He followed the following route which was at first by sea and then by land climbing about 2200 feet above sea level.The route was from Bombay-to Panvel- landing at Apte, taking possession of the Bhore Ghats[about 2000feet above msl] on to Khopoli and then Khandalla. The Maharatta army became aware of his presence and there ensued a constant state of sniping and shelling. The main force led by a Col. Egerton [who had had experience in the Crimea] joined up with him and the collective army of 3900 moved on to Karla [Karlee] . The Maharattas were commanded by Shinde, an astitute General who used the principles of Security, Mobility and Surprise with a scorched earth policy and never came into direct head-on conflict with the British. The British decided to doggedly pursue their objective of going and taking Poona and to this end went on to Karla [Karlee] en-route to Talegaon. They reached Karlee in the afternoon at about 2 pm when a stray cannon ball hit Capt.Stewart on the left shoulder injuring him seriously. He died 2 hours later on 4 Jan 1779. He was buried at Vadegaon, Mavel . He was an officer who was respected not only by his soldiers but also by his enemies.
I visited Vadegaon ,Mavel on 10 March 2010 and on inquiry at the local Police Station was told that a "samadhi" [ grave] was placed behind the Police station itself . I went behind the station and was told of a grave that was to be seen after passing in front of the detention- prisoner cells . I did and found, in a 10' x 8 ' space was placed on the flat ground a large white grave cloth with a red embroidered border design with a red cross at the foot end . There were also one large 6 " candle placed at each corner of grave cloth. On coming outside I was shown an undated memorial stone embedded in the wall which read:"To honour the memory of Capt James Stewart[Ishtur Phakra] our first commanding officer who died fighting at Karla two hundred and fifty years ago on 4 Jan 1779 2nd battalion of the Brigade of the Guards [Ist Grenadiers] Indian Army" "Ishtur Phakra" means "Gallant Fighter" .
I have been in touch with the Web Master of the Indian Army, who directed me to the Historical Division of the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India who in turn directed me to the Director General of the National Archives of India. From the latter, I have yet to receive an answer. I t has been well over 3 months now.
Basically, I have been trying to find out who Capt James Stewart was; where he came from[ perhaps Scotland] ; his original Regiment whether the European Regiment or the Indian Native Infantry. He may have been an artillery man - but I do not have any reference point for this. I have been wondering what made this officer so loved by both his own soldiers and his enemies. that even 250 years on his grave is revered with someone lighting candles and taking care of it.
May I have some help in this matter?
-
Hi
Your post might be better placed on the Armed Forces Rootschat board where there are more specialist Rootschatters with military knowlege. I can move your post to the Armed Forces board if you would like me to.
Regards
Valda
moderator
-
Being a first timer, I really did not know where to place my problem. If you think that the Armed Forces Rootschat board, should be used, so be it. You are the Moderator and you know best.
Thanks a lot.
-
Thank you.
-
Perhaps check out the family of the Stewarts of Torrance (near East Kilbride, Lanarkshire).I think they were involved in India.
Baird
-
Thank you. Shall check this family out.
-
Jato
Have you tried the Families in British India Society (FIBIS)? Googling FIBIS should take you to it.
A
-
Hi
There is this book
Ishtur phakde: a gallant Englishman and other studies by C A Kincaid published in 1917
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09f2/
and
http://www.verandahbooks.co.uk/topics.php?chosentopic=8&PHPSESSID=b3314bd3eb43ba61d86d2f2db295aba2
It may not give any information about his family background though.
Regards
Valda
-
I shall check this tag out. I am holding on to straws and anything that will allow me to move a little further will help a great great deal. Thank you so much for your trouble.
-
I have three document-copies all marked as “Secret”:
from the then Bombay Presidency Governor dated 12 December 1778 noted in the minutes on 1st February 1779 No 2, mentioning the advances of the Grenadier Sepoys under the Command of Capt James Stewart;
another an Intelligence report from Poona dated 25 February 1779 No:3 mentioning the death of Capt. James Stewart and
a dispatch from the Bombay Government to the Select committee dated 27 March 1779 marked 3 May 1779 No:7 mentioning Capt. James Stewart’s skirmishes and his subsequent death on 04 Jan. 1779.
What type of documents were marked as : “Secret”?
There were other deaths that took place around that time [04 Jan 1779] but why was Capt. Stewart’s death particularly mentioned in a secret communication?
Mention of Capt. James Stewart name has not been made in the following documents:
1: appointments of Officers and cadets in the Minutes of the Court of Directors of HEICo series B in the India Office Records.
2: Alphabetical list of the officers of the Bengal and Madras armies; with the dates of their respective promotion, retirement, resignation, or death ... from ... 1760 to ... 1834 inclusive, corrected to ... 1837.I have not been able to access the Bombay Army Lists completely
3: Embarkation Lists from England to India for the period 1750 – 1769 in L/MIL/9/85-86 but found no reference to James Stewart.
4: a search of Wills showed that Capt James Stewart died intestate and an administration was granted to one Patrick Crawfurd Bruce (P/416/77-78). Patrick was evidently a banker who seems to have known the Capt for some time. This is evidenced in the statements in his letters of 1776 IOR/MSS Eur Photo Eur 418 and in one dated 21 July 1776 where he refers to reimbursements of stoppages due from Capt Stewart’s battalion.
I do not know if he was one of the many “slop sellers” who existed at that time and may perhaps account for the acquaintanceship. He was listed in 1806 belonging to Taplow Court, Bucks., an East India merchant in London, and a partner in Vere, Bruce & Co. This company seems to be still existent.
5: A perusal of Ecclesiastical records do not show his name, but then I do not know if when such person when killed in battle in a foreign country would have his name recorded in these records.
6: He has been mentioned as having been the ADC to the then Governor. He has also been involved in raising the Guards battalion and the Rajputana Rifles but no definite dates are given.