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Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Other Countries - Resources => Topic started by: upton25 on Monday 10 February 25 13:31 GMT (UK)

Title: East India Company
Post by: upton25 on Monday 10 February 25 13:31 GMT (UK)
I am hoping to find information on the Military family of Robert & Richard FRITH Both appear to have served in Bengal during the 1770s to early 1800s. Robert Frith was a British soldier who escorted Warren Hastings to Lucknow in 1784. Frith was a member of a distinguished military family according to the internet. But apart from a will in 1826 where he names his son Warren Hastings Leslie Frith (named after Warren Hastings who was a Guardian to WHL Frith) and his wife Elizabeth along with brother Richard I am struggling to find his forebears.  Which is strange as he is seemingly from a military family. My connection is with WHL Hastings who is named as a nephew to Sally Sabatier nee ?? in her will of 1837 in Bathwick Bath. Who was married to my ancestor John Sabatier son of Suzanne Pouget & Jean Sabatier from a long line of Huguenot weavers and merchants in Spittlefields and the south west of England. WHL Hastings son was baptised John Sabatier Frith Any ideas or advice gratefully received.
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 10 February 25 13:51 GMT (UK)
Both served in HEIC's Bengal army

Robert Frith: cadet 1770, rose to Lieutenant Colonel by 1798, died 1800 in Bombay

Richard Frith (cavalry): cadet 1778, rose to full Colonel (1813), died 1819
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: upton25 on Monday 10 February 25 14:10 GMT (UK)
Thank you very interesting. I did find a Robert Frith record for service on Ancestry. He was a 'cornet' in 1771 I'm hoping his age then might give me a date of birth
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 10 February 25 14:57 GMT (UK)
Presumably Robert was born circa 1752, if he entered the company's service as a cadet in 1770.
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 10 February 25 15:10 GMT (UK)
Richard Frith's beneficiaries included:

His niece Margaret Renwick and her children
His niece  Leah Gamble
Thomas Frith of Rakeelan, Co Fermanagh
Cousin John Steel of Enniskillen
Nephew Major William Elliott

There seems to be a strong link with Ireland. The will speaks of funds being held for him in Dublin.
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: Keith Sherwood on Monday 10 February 25 15:29 GMT (UK)
Hi again, Shaun J...
Very good to see you as ever helping people out on these Rootschat boards.  Just came across this thread as I was discovering that someone had reconnected with me after a 12 year lapse on the Norfolk boards (as opposed to Broads!).
Wanted to tell you that I've just finished reading the "magisterial" history of The East India Company, "The Anarchy",  by William Dalrymple.  And what an exhausting but remarkable read it was, with all the almost endless warfare and greed! 
Keith
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: GrahamSimons on Monday 10 February 25 16:11 GMT (UK)
I am hoping to find information on the Military family of Robert & Richard FRITH Both appear to have served in Bengal during the 1770s to early 1800s. Robert Frith was a British soldier who escorted Warren Hastings to Lucknow in 1784. Frith was a member of a distinguished military family according to the internet. But apart from a will in 1826 where he names his son Warren Hastings Leslie Frith (named after Warren Hastings who was a Guardian to WHL Frith) and his wife Elizabeth along with brother Richard I am struggling to find his forebears.  Which is strange as he is seemingly from a military family. My connection is with WHL Hastings who is named as a nephew to Sally Sabatier nee ?? in her will of 1837 in Bathwick Bath. Who was married to my ancestor John Sabatier son of Suzanne Pouget & Jean Sabatier from a long line of Huguenot weavers and merchants in Spittlefields and the south west of England. WHL Hastings son was baptised John Sabatier Frith Any ideas or advice gratefully received.
The records for these men will be in the British Library. I've found all sorts of things there for my great-grandfather. My (limited) experience suggests that you'd be better to pay a researcher as learning your way round the records (which are not on line!) takes time. One reseracher's time is probably cheaper than a train fare to London anyway.....
Try also the online database of FIBIS.
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: upton25 on Monday 10 February 25 17:20 GMT (UK)
Thankyou all for taking the time to help me I really appreciate it The Ireland connection would make sense as I think WHL Frith married a Ellen Fagan from Ireland  and her family have a mention in the Peerage records They appear to have married and have a family in India. I think a relative of hers is mentioned in WHL Frith Will of 1854 i.e Christopher Sullivan Fagan & a James Langdale
Out of interest was Richard Frith's Will available online I have Ancestry which is limited and I often find wills on the National Archives website
Kaz :)
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: KGarrad on Monday 10 February 25 18:08 GMT (UK)
Out of interest was Richard Frith's Will available online I have Ancestry which is limited and I often find wills on the National Archives website
Kaz :)

Try Probate Search: https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 10 February 25 18:14 GMT (UK)
Quote
Out of interest was Richard Frith's Will available online I have Ancestry which is limited and I often find wills on the National Archives website

It's an 1819 India Office Will so KGarrad's link won't help you. You can find it on FindMyPast.
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 10 February 25 19:42 GMT (UK)
Another Irish connection: Richard Frith's son Robert attended Trinity College, Dublin from 1813 (then aged 16, born India). Source: Alumni Dublinenses 1593-1846
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: upton25 on Monday 10 February 25 19:52 GMT (UK)
Thank you that's so helpful On using the names you kindly found in Richard's Will I found the attached which appears to link the Frith brothers with the Gamble family in the Eniskillin Co Fermanagh area
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 10 February 25 21:12 GMT (UK)
That McCartney will extract looks to be something of a breakthrough!
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 11 February 25 09:02 GMT (UK)
The legatee Margaret "Renwick" is presumably Richard Frith's niece Margaret Frith who married Alexander Rennick in 1809 - see footnote on this page:  https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Family_Records/MZRAAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=major+gen+richard+frith&pg=PA197&printsec=frontcover
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 11 February 25 09:12 GMT (UK)
Transcription of an announcement in Freeman's Journal, in 1820, can't find the original image:

"26.7.1819/ Major Gen Richard Frith/Muttra, East Indies/Aged 62. Late of Enniskillen. Late 8th Native Cavalry. "
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 11 February 25 09:19 GMT (UK)
"Before the bypass this area at the rear of Belmore Street was known as Frith’s Alley (note this part of the new road is Frith’s Pass.)"......"The alley was called after the Frith family who had come from Devon to Enniskillen with the plantation in the 17th century.  Later, as a family of builders & architects, they were to be responsible for part of the town’s development & were to give their name to this area.
By the middle of the 19th century, there are several Frith builders listed in local trade directories: William Frith, builder, Tonystick in 1839 & William & Henry Frith of Tonystick-1846. There was also John Frith, an architect & John, a builder."

https://www.facebook.com/momentswillmakememories/posts/an-excellent-article-by-catherine-scott-fermanagh-and-omagh-district-council-mus/1317599895068585/
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 11 February 25 15:37 GMT (UK)
Robert Frith obituary in the Calcutta Gazette of 6 Nov 1800 (no mention of his wife):  https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/848db7c3-ce50-4ef9-9b93-b3838dee51e9
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: upton25 on Tuesday 11 February 25 18:15 GMT (UK)
Thank you so much This is fascinating The connection with Devon is intriguing as a lot of my Huguenots came from the south west on escaping from France. I found a Margaret Rennick on Family Search this morning before I went to work (addictive this hobby) I have also located a Gamble family pedigree in Enniskillen which looks promising. I'll read all the information and see where it leads me
I really appreciate your time and kindness with this
Kaz
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: hanes teulu on Tuesday 11 February 25 21:30 GMT (UK)
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Military_Register_Or_New_and_Complet.html?id=OjlYAAAAcAAJ&redir_esc=yl

If you pop "frith" in Search it returns 1 hit for a Robert Frith. I read "reg" as regiment and "red" as year reduced to half pay.
Tab back to page 92 for Rank and nature of regiment "foot"
Tab back to page 85 for status in army

I think he is the same situation in 1875

Possible link to brothers Robert and Richard? Trying to find out more about the 109th.   
Title: Re: East India Company
Post by: upton25 on Wednesday 12 February 25 10:32 GMT (UK)
Thankyou so much I have found the link and gradually building a family tree and history timeline So Interesting
Kaz