Buttervant Records

[Claud]

John Gardiner, my ancestor, left for India with the 61st Regiment (South Gloucestors) in July 1845.  It appears they left from Buttevant.  It also seems likely the he was a Roman Catholic.  Most likely also he got married before leaving.  He had a daughter born in India in November 1846 but she appears to be an orphan by 1857.  Can anyone say where I can find further information from these megre facts?

[shanew147]

It looks like there are Buttevant records included on the Irish Family History Foundations website at www.irish-roots.ie , the list of sources includes Catholic baptism records for 1814-1907, and marriages for 1820-1907

the index is free to search once you register, records are in the form of transcripts and each costs €5 to view.

There are quite a few Gardiner entries on Griffiths Valuation for Co. Cork which you can access free at this site : http://griffiths.askaboutireland.ie/gv4/gv_family_search_form.php  This is a Land Valuation and includes people who owned or leased land long-term from the mid 1850s.


Shane

[Claud]

Thanks for message Shane.  From there I do have a record that John Gardiner married in 1842 (a County Cork record but the marriage was at Buttevant RC Church).  The problem is I have nothing to say whether this is the right man or not.  All I know is that he joined the 61st Regiment, and went to India and died there in 1857. No other names, dates or places.

[Leofric]

Hello Claud,

There is a note here

http://members.tripod.com/~Glosters/index-4.html

 about a private John Gardiner of the 61st dying in India during the mutiny on 4th July 1857. He could be your man?

You could try to see if he was on the medal roll for the Indian Mutiny - this would at least give you his army number. Then you could try for his service papers from the National Archives at Kew - this should give his wife's name and children, and show his parish of birth etc. But in the back of my mind I seem to recall that soldiers who died in service had their papers destroyed. But I may be wrong, and the experts on the Armed Forces forum on this site would know.

It may be possible also that his death, although in India, was registered in the usual way in England, though given the lag in communications in those days it may have been many months later or even in 1858. This cert, if available may yield further clues.

It was usual for widows of soldiers abroad in those days to marry again quite quickly, even within weeks, so you could also think of looking for a female Gardiner marrying in 57 or 58 on the overseas section of FindMyPast which may give you his wife's name. Again, a post on Rootschat for a look-up may help.

[Claud]

Hello Leofric
Thanks for your interest. You are correct about the 61st History, that is where I found my John Gardiner. Because I cannot find any record of his death or his daughter's birth, I concluded they were Roman Catholics and registered seperately and these (India) records are unavailable. I cannot find in any indexed army record. I think his wife predeceased him as I have a personal record 1857 onwards which would have mentioned her otherwise.  The English death index, tried at your suggestion was no help but he may not have English connections.  Thanks all the same.

[Leofric]

Claud,

Civil registration of BMD began in 1837 in England and Wales, and whether a person was RC made no difference - they were still registered in the civil registers.

But it seems that you are unsure whether he was English or born in Ireland, and if the latter, then I don't suppose his death would have been registered in England.

Surely though, he would be on the medal roll for the Indian Mutiny, from which info you may be able to find his army papers?

[Claud]

Leofric
Many thanks for your suggestion.  The FBIS give a transcription of the medal roll which shows his entry.  Unfortunately they do not include the regimental number.  Will need to look elsewhere.
Claud