On 11/11/2010 17:12, Beverley Jarvis-Pearson wrote: > Hi List, > Following on from earlier email questions about my ancestor in the Honorable Company Marine, cited as a Master in Bengal Pilot Service in 1819 register and also as an H C marine on both his marriage and death certificates. > > Does anyone have an opinion or knowledge on this career and whether this profession was recruited from the native population (i.e.those already living in India) or recruited in UK and sent to India? > > I'm just trying to work out whether my ancestor might have been first generation in India or whether there were earlier generations. > Thanks > Bev > Bev I think it quite likely that he went out from England. I have been through the entry papers of about 600 Bombay Marine and Bengal Pilots and almost without exception they were sent out from London. There were perhaps less than 10 already in India, transferring across from other services. This was noted in the record, as normally they would have specified the ship the new recruit travelled out on. HTH Simon.