Thomas Callaghan: Armagh to India to Australia

[Browngirl]

Hi, I'm trying to solve a mystery in our family. We have recently found that our great grandmother, Ellen Callaghan, was born in the East Indies in Nusseerabad, Bengal, on 04 Dec 1872. From here we found that her parents were Thomas Callaghan and Ann(e) Painter who were married on 19 Sep 1865 at Armagh, County Armagh. I have a birth and baptism record for their first child, Anne Jane Callaghan who was born on 04 Jul1866. The family lived at Barrack Hill, Armagh. Unfortunately, I also found a record for 28 Sep 1871, that showed that Ann Jane died in Mhow, Bengal India. My question is - how do I go about finding how the family got to India, and then whether they returned to Ireland before coming to Australia? The first record for my great grandmother, Ellen, I can find is her marriage certificate, which states that she was married on 06 Nov 1891 in Leichhardt, Sydney. I can't find any passenger arrival records. Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this. I'm based in Australia.

[ShaunJ]

Presumably Thomas Callaghan was a soldier ? Does the marriage certificate indicate which unit?

[Browngirl]

Unfortunately, both the marriage certificate and his daughter's birth certificate state that he was a 'labourer', so I'm not sure if he 'joined' the army or remained a 'civilian'.

[aghadowey]

Have you found Thomas and wife Anne in Australian records or just their daughter Ellen?

[Browngirl]

I have not been able to find any definite records that link anyone, with the names of her parents, to Ellen Callaghan. She was under 21 when she married, and so had to have her father's permission to marry - but wasn't sure if he had to be in Australia to give permission.
I have also definitely found a 'Robert Callaghan', who lived in Gladesville, Sydney, who was born abt. 1878 (but can't find a birth record), and who died on 20 May 1946.
I had wondered whether a 'William Thomas Callaghan' born in Bengal, India in 1871 was a brother of Ellen's, but can't find any record for him in Australia. He had parents of Thomas and Ann. (William was also the name of Ann Painter's father). There are another 1 or 2 possibilities for births in India in the 1870s, but I can't say, for sure, whether they are attached to this family.
Thanks for giving this some thought - it's very much appreciated.

[aghadowey]

Ellen's birth was at Fort William, Nusseerabad, Bengal.

There was also a son William Thomas Callaghan born 3 Feb.1871, christened Mhow 10 Feb.1871.

https://www.familysearch.org/

Both Mhow and Fort William had connections with the British Army.

[Browngirl]

The 'family search org' website was where I got my second clue about her birth. There is also a James Callaghan on there who was born in 1879, with father Thomas, but mother, Anna. I have just ordered the death certificates for both Robert Callaghan (who I know is definitely related) and one for a James Callaghan (who may be related via some information from old newspapers). Are there any military records that would show whether Thomas and his wife, Ann(e), and young daughter, Ann Jane, went over to India? (or came back from there?)

[aghadowey]

Not sure whar military records (service, pension, etc.) would survive for that period- Kew, London would probably be the place an existing records are kept. You could try posting a query on Armed Forces board stating what you have so far.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,300.0.html

[Browngirl]

Thankyou. I will post on that 'board' as soon as I receive a certificate that I have ordered. If it relates to this Thomas Callaghan, I may be able to provide further information.