James Larkin 6th Dragoons or Carabiniers

[fionagayther]

I am trying to find out if this James Larkin is my great great grandfather.  I have found a service record for him in Find My Past but I would like to try and find his pension record as it might tell me something about his family.  I have found a number of Larkins who married in Meerut in the 1850s, father James Larkin, but I am not sure if he's mine.  My Great Grandmother was Kate or Catherine Larkin, born in Ireland but lived and married in India.  I would also like to find out more about the man and his involvement in the Great Mutiny.  I would be grateful if someone could help me please.

[MarMnkly]

hi there 
I expect you've seen the information in the FIBIS database (fibis.org):
The Indian Mutiny Medal Roll (British Forces) 1857-1859.
Given Names(s)   James     
Surname   Larkin     
Rank   Troop Sergeant Major     
Regiment or Ship   6th Dragoon Guards (Carabineers)   

There is also the following - but not sre if this is another man of the same name, as would depend on when your man entered the service?:
Entry from Bombay Soldiers Records 1851-1857 L-Z
Entered the Service   1855     
Surname   Larkin     
Forename(s)   James     
Occupation before Enlisting   Groom     
Town and County   Galway     
Where first enlisted   Dublin     
Date of Attestation   19 October 1855     
Term of enlisted service   10 years     
In what ship arrived from Europe, or Service Entertained   Earl of Windsor     
Year of Arrival or When that service entertained   1856     
IOR Reference   L/MIL/12/114     

MarMnkly

[t mo]

hi
if the record you found on FindMyPast has a place of birth of garstang and a discharge soldier number of 535 then it is his pension record as well as service record .
regards
trevor

[km1971]

The 6th Dragoons were the Inniskillings. The Carabineers were the 6th Dragoon Guards - so a different regiment. As Trevor has said there are no additional pension records.

As you have Findmypast you should look for the birth of a confirmed child in the overseas/regimental BMDs. Then using the references given order the certificate from the GRO. It should tell you his regiment.

Ken

[fionagayther]

Can someone please tell me where the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) were stationed in 1851? I think it must have been Ireland as that is where my great grandmother was born, but I'd like a place name if possible.  Thank you.

[km1971]

Up to July 1851 they were in Cahir. They then moved to Ballincollig.

However you have to be careful as these quoted 'stations' are for the CO and headquarters. Cavalry regiments usually consisted of eight troops in this period, and they were often spread around 'keeping the peace' in a number of detachments. The only safe way to confirm where a particular soldier was is by using the muster books in the National Archives. These tell you where each man was for the monthly muster. Muster run from April to March. So you may have to look up two years to cover 1851, if you do not know the month

If you post the name of the child someone can check the regimental BMDs for you. These are not complete but you can obtain a birth certificate if you are lucky. Even when it is pre civil registration. Likewise for a marriage if you supply parents names.

Ken

[fionagayther]

Thank you Ken.  That will be very helpful 

[fionagayther]

Ken, my great grandmother's name was Catherine, Katherine or Kate Larkin.  Her father was James Larkin.  The 1871 census has her birth as Ireland.  Her father was James Larkin who I have established was with the Carabiniers.  He was born in Garstang, so I have concluded that the Carabiniers were in Ireland when she was born.  I have looked through the regimental births on Findmypast but have found nothing.  Kate spent the rest of her life in India after marrying my great grandfather, John Ferguson/Fergusson.  Her father James received an Indian Mutiny medal and stayed on in Meerut after he left the army.