Would anyone have information on the role of the civil service sent to Mesopotamia WW1? I am specifically looking for my Grandfather's civil service records in Madras and believe he may have been sent to Mesopotamia in that capacity. He later transferred to the Forestry & Telegraph Departments in the mid to late 1900s. Alternatively, if anyone can provide the specific B/L catalogue reference would be of great help also. His name was JAMES GERALD HALL, father's name JAMES EDWARD HALL. Any advice & help appreciated. Cheers Linda

Hello List Nick, read the FIBIS Fibiwiki page "General Register Office" http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/General_Register_Office I think your first step, if you haven't already tried, is the National Archives overseas records series RG, available on Ancestry and also BMD Registers. If you have already tried those, you will need to read about alternative records for Japan. The FamilySearch Wiki article appears to indicate that there are some records for Yokohama which are at the National Archives Kew, but not in the GRO records. You could also try some of the Directories mentioned on the FIBIS Fibiwkii page China, but I don't know if these contain marriages. http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/China Cheers Maureen On 19/08/2015, at 9:23 AM, Nicholas Wilson via <india@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Hello, > > I hope the India list is broad enough to cover Japan under the umbrella of > East Indies, and what went on that country in the latter part of the 19th > century. > > I have two distant great, great uncles, who were contracted in the 1880s to > build railways and rolling stock in Japan. Both married Japanese women and > one brought his daughter back to live with him when he retired to the south > of England. A descendant of the other uncle attended a ceremony in > Cornwall fairly recently honouring the railway building Trevithicks, his > ancestor! > > If these marriages were witnessed by the British Embassy in Tokyo where > should I start looking? > > Thanks, > > Nick >

Hello Noel, Thanks for looking so deeply into my problem. Unfortunately on my side of the family all three Trevithick first cousins, twice removed, failed to have children during the first half of the 20th century and so I have no Trevithick second cousins to turn to to-day. I spent a lot of time in Japan when I was a young man and can understand very well what the attraction was for these two Victorians and many others in those days. It has always touched me that one brought his mixed blood daughter back to Britain and was willing to face the consequences. It is good to know there is still an Okuno - Trevithick link to-day. The Japanese are as ethnocentric as the British and it is no small thing for a Japanese to own up to having Gaijin blood in his veins! Unfortunately the main library in Vancouver ceased subscribing to The Times On Line archives. A great loss to a UK researcher like me. best wishes, Nick On 19 August 2015 at 17:30, Noel Clark via <india@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Nicholas, > The usual site I use for British Overseas Marriages in > family.relatives.com > but that site is not responding. Using the others, as Maureen has > suggested, > draws a blank, meaning that neither marriage was a Consular Marriage as > such. > There are Public Member Trees on ancestry that show the name of Francis > Henry Trevithick's wife to be Okuno Yoshi, but no defined marriage date or > place. The name of Richard Francis Trevithick's wife does not appear to be > known at all. > There are details of some of the brothers' children on ancestry as well. > Generally, Google and Google Books searches throw up all sorts of > references > to the two brothers, but even RFT's obituary makes no reference to his > wife. > Apparently Francis Henry had two sons whose descendants remain in Japan and > use the surname Okuno. > One thing I have not tried is whether there are any newspaper references to > either of the bothers - you could try The Times Digital Archive and 19th > Century British Newspapers. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi Eardley, this would depend on Canada's citizenship Act at the time (1955) and his eligibility for that citizenship (i.e. years of permanent residence etc). You would need to look at their historical Citizenship acts or query it at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof-eligibility.asp or ring the Canadian Immigration office they can help. Had he remained in Australia (he was here for 5 years since his arrival), he would as a British subject (born in a C'wealth country) have acquired Australian citizenship on 26.1.1949 under transitional provisions (s25 of the then Citizenship and Nationality Act 1949 which is still in force today). Until 26.1.1949 all naturalised 'aliens' and British subjects were just that....British subjects...but then you want to know about Canadian citizenship.....! Kind Regards Kerry On 19 August 2015 at 00:00, Eardley Downling via <india@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Greetings! Follow up from my last query. Anthony Dowling born Calcutta > 1893, leaves India in 1901 to attend boarding school in Jersey. Leaves > England in 1909 to go to Australia. Leaves Australia in 1918 to go to > England. Leaves England in 1920 to come to Canada. 2 week vacation in > 1955 > back to England. Would he need a passport? He stayed in Canada. Would he > automatically become a citizen? > > > > Regards > > > > E.P.Dowling > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

There has been quite a bit said on the topic of DNA testing lately. For those who have already taken an autosomal test with any of the three main companies can I recommend that you upload your results to the wonderful FREE comparison site Gedmatch. Put it into your favourite search engine to find their own webpages and commentary from the outside. You will find you can match there with folk who have tested with all the other companies which will widen the field for you. There are several geographical origins options including ancient DNA analysis. There is a lot more you can do on the site including opening up the match lists for the people you match. They don't offer tests themselves so you need to already be with FTDNA, Ancestry or 23andme. No good for mtDNA or Y-DNA of course. You must have taken an autosomal test such as Family Finder with FTDNA. It's the main one I use now. Pat Benham

Although the images as Noel says are available on findmypast it would be worth looking at familysearch and in particular the dataset:- India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990 Description Protestant church records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths for the Madras Diocese, Church of South India. VIEW IMAGES IN THIS COLLECTION Browse through 39,904 images CITING THIS COLLECTION "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2015. Church of South India—Diocese of Madras, Chennai." It may worth searching and it may take some time to find the particular images relating to both marriages as this dataset is not indexed. Mary Anne Gourley --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

Hi I too would be interested in any databases/ newspapers for Japan. One of my great grandfathers daughters, a Picton Davies, apparently married a banker and lived in Japan. They were there before WW2 but never heard of again. I have made loads of attempts to find info but am told much of the BMDs were destroyed in the war. Many thanks Cathy N Devon Clark, Cox, Picton Davies Today's Topics: 1. MARRIAGES IN JAPAN 19TH C (Nicholas Wilson)

http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=6F23B093-0207-0AD1-618C-030EE33404E7 My be of interest to someone. Sue

Looking for any info pix of the above. Ali

Geoffrey, I have just found Godlieb Williams' will on FindMyPast. It is dated 1857. Oddly enough, FMP states that he died 25 Oct 1861 in Chandah, but I cannot find that anywhere written on the will or elsewhere. His wife Mary died in 1866.

Hello, I hope the India list is broad enough to cover Japan under the umbrella of East Indies, and what went on that country in the latter part of the 19th century. I have two distant great, great uncles, who were contracted in the 1880s to build railways and rolling stock in Japan. Both married Japanese women and one brought his daughter back to live with him when he retired to the south of England. A descendant of the other uncle attended a ceremony in Cornwall fairly recently honouring the railway building Trevithicks, his ancestor! If these marriages were witnessed by the British Embassy in Tokyo where should I start looking? Thanks, Nick

Hello Listers, Two queries - can anyone suggest a book or reference source for the following: How exactly did higher ranking officials of the EIC get paid, i.e. in what form, and where might this have been deposited? Also, what sort of thing did these people eat, drink and wear? Many thanks for your help. Best, Fiona Grampian, UK

Hello List Geoffrey, in another post,Noel has advised William Richardson died in Madras in 1815, so there will be no service record for him. However, you should be able to trace him in the muster records, available at the National Archives Kew. with catalogue entry http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C150278 or http://tinyurl.com/p6cs9lc. The 69th Regiment arrived in India c 1805-1806. The muster records would generally give is date of enlistment, place of enlistment or place of birth, and age. Noel also advised "Godlieb Williams married Mary Richardson at Black Town Chapel, Madras on 29th April 1830. Of interest to you might be that Godlieb was described as "Indo Britain" (I assume "Indo-Briton")." However you say "as certainly Godlieb Williams hailed from Madras. As Gt/Grandfather William Williams having landed there in 1814 from Bristol". Perhaps there are different people involved, as otherwise the implication is that Godlieb Williams, if Indo Briton (Eurasian), was born to an Indian lady after 1814 and therefore married in 1830 aged about 15 years old, which seems improbable. Are you sure Godlieb Williams is the son of William Williams? Cheers Maureen On 17/08/2015, at 11:30 PM, Geoffrey Williams via <india@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Hello List, > > Dear Friends, > > I am trying to trace my Gt.Gt. Grandfather William Richardson. I have very > little information, other than that he originally came from Claypole. Lincs. > I am trying for information at the Lincolnshire Archives. > > Unfortunately I have very little details, other that he was a Sgt. In H.M. > 69th. Regt. He served in India, and I should imagine died there. He was > married to a Bridget Murtough, and again I have to presume that they were > married in India. Bridget Murtough may have been born in India, and might > have been married before she married William. > > They had a daughter Mary, who married my Gt.Gt. Grandfather Godlieb > Williams. I have a date, 29th. Apr. 1830, and I presume that the place was > Madras, as certainly Godlieb Williams hailed from Madras. As Gt/Grandfather > William Williams having landed there in 1814 from Bristol. I think William > was with the Madras Artillery. > > As William Richardson was a Sgt. with H.M. 69th. Regt. He must have seen > some service, and I would really like to know if there are any records of > his military service. Any medals? > > > Kind regards, > > > Geoffrey Williams > Sheffield. U.K. >

Geoffrey, I can confirm that William Richardson, sergeant in HM 69th Foot, married Bridget Murtough "European widow" on 10th May 1813 in the Madras Presidency but no specific place mentioned except it was a C of E marriage. Godlieb Williams married Mary Richardson at Black Town Chapel, Madras on 29th April 1830. Of interest to you might be that Godlieb was described as "Indo Britain" (I assume "Indo-Briton"). If you go to https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584960 and then https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1584967 and search on "Godlieb Williams" (free-to-view) you will see various corresponding entries in terms of births and marriages. You could then get the actual images from FindMyPast if you have a subscription. I tried my luck with William Richardson's death and found it fairly quickly. He was buried at Bellary, 20th May 1815, still a Sergeant 69th Foot. Age not quoted. Because he died in service there will not be a surviving service record. I think I'm right in saying that he would have been too early for medals, but in any case, many soldiers stationed in India were on garrison duty and never saw action.

Hello List Fred, Yes Moulmein, and some other parts of Burma, came under the control of East India Company controlled India at the conclusion of the 1st Burma War in 1824. I think it very likely your ancestor was the son of a soldier, I don't think many civilians were likely to have been there in 1832. St Matthew’s Church of England at Moulmien was the first English church built in Burma. It was erected in 1832 See the FIBIS Fibiwiki page Moulmein http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/Moulmein If your ancestor was the son of a soldier, I think it is most likely to be a soldier in the Madras Army, but he could possibly also be in one of the British Army regiments., as there were British Army regiments who took part in the 1st Burma War, and possibly they stayed on , although I have no knowledge of this. Cheers Maureen On 17/08/2015, at 9:20 PM, Fred via <india@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Can anyone tell me if Moulmein (Mawlamyaing) India was a > British-administered area of India in 1832. > > An ancestor of mine, born about that year, was seeking naturalisation in NSW > in 1879 on the proviso of being a citizen of India born in Moulmein. > > Thank you for any assistance. > > Fred .. > >

Greetings! Follow up from my last query. Anthony Dowling born Calcutta 1893, leaves India in 1901 to attend boarding school in Jersey. Leaves England in 1909 to go to Australia. Leaves Australia in 1918 to go to England. Leaves England in 1920 to come to Canada. 2 week vacation in 1955 back to England. Would he need a passport? He stayed in Canada. Would he automatically become a citizen? Regards E.P.Dowling

I have an ancestor who was born in India in 1883 to parents who were both born in India and were of Scottish and English parentage. In 1919, following her marriage to an American soldier, she applied for a US passport and on her application stated that she had a British passport issued by the Foreign Office in 1915 and she gave the Passport number. I would assume that she was, for some reason, thus given British citizenship even though she was the second generation born in India on her father¹s side and the third on her mother¹s. Cathie Sherwood

Hi Geoffrey, www.familysearch.org has these couple of records, there may be others to find too. Perhaps findmypast has images you can print off.... Listers will be able to tell you if you are able to view his service records on findmypast or other pay sites. Bridget Murtough mentioned in the record of William Richardson and Bridget Murtough Marriage.... Name William Richardson Spouse's Name Bridget Murtough Event Date 10 May 1813 Event Place Fort St. George, Madras, India Citing this Record "India Marriages, 1792-1948 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGJB-5NL : accessed 17 August 2015), William Richardson and Bridget Murtough, 10 May 1813; citing Fort St. George, Madras, India, reference ; FHL microfilm 506,956. No image available India Marriages, 1792-1948 Indexing Project (Batch) Number M00057-3 System Origin India-EASy GS Film number 506956 --------------------------------------- I couldn't see Marys' Bapt. record... Mary Richardson mentioned in the record of Godlieb Williams and Mary Richardson Name Godlieb Williams Spouse's Name Mary Richardson Event Date 29 Apr 1830 Event Place Black Town, Madras, India Citing this Record "India Marriages, 1792-1948 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGV9-YJY : accessed 17 August 2015), Godlieb Williams and Mary Richardson, 29 Apr 1830; citing Black Town, Madras, India, reference ; FHL microfilm 521,839. No image available India Marriages, 1792-1948 Indexing Project (Batch) Number M00057-8 System Origin India-EASy GS Film number 521839 ----------------------------------- Cheers, ,-._|\ / Oz \ jill , brisbane. \_,--.x/ jill.glover5@bigpond.com v Happiness is a voyage, not a destination, There is no better time to be happy than... NOW

Dear Listers, There is a Will on FMP - for a Godlieb Williams. Died 1861 Event: 1863 Wife Named: Mary Two sons named: William Rofs Williams & James Kenneth Williams one daughter (married) Ann Lang BURNSIDE. It mentions struggling with finance and that as Ann’s husband has died and she has finance she would be willing to forego a share. Kind Regards Cheryl Sent from Windows Mail

Hello listers, My 3xgreat grandfather was born in 1852, to British-born mother and father who had married in Lahore in 1848. Father in the EIC. It had never occurred to me that he would be Indian! It was probably never an issue he had to deal with, but you have all made me wonder! Any comments? Lyn