Hi All from Australia, Having recently returned from England and lovely Sussex I have a query for all the knowledgeable Army buffs on the list, hoping they can shed some light on my query, and a query for things Clerical. Buried in Hastings Borough Cemetery (with a beautiful ornate white marble headstone, erected in his memory by his wife) is one John Richard PEARSON listed as being a Major, who had died in Hastings on the 21st January, 1910. His second wife was Cecilia Harriet (nee Holford), and his parents were the Rev. John Pearson and Frances Harriet (unknown). Having visited the PRO earlier (and not having time to return to Kew,) from the Army records we found the following information: From the June edition (1880) of the OFFICIAL ARMY LIST - Gradation publication of a list of Officers of the British Army, Page 441: John Richard PEARSON b. 16 April, 1833. Bognor 1st Appointment................... 12 January 1852 Ben Art Lieutenant .................... 27 June 1857 Ben Art Captain ..................... 18 February 1861 Ben Art Half Pay .................... 10 May 1866 In all the following Officers Lists up until his death and on half pay he was described as Captain John Richard PEARSON. So where did the Major come from?? Where would I be likely to find information from here on possibly a promotion to this rank sometime between his exit from the army and before his death? or was he really still only a Captain and maybe had the nickname of Major, which just stuck. His death/obituary notices in the London TIMES and also the HASTINGS & ST. LEONARDS WEEKLY MAIL & TIMES, also named his as Major John R Pearson, but these could have been submitted by information from his wife.. Also if anyone has access to the Crockfords Clerical Indexes could they please look up Rev. John Pearson, born abt.1806 London, (died ?), who was a M.A. from Trinity College, Cambridge. His last postings as Rector were at Little Warley and East Horndon in Essex. He was 56 and a widower in the 1861C at East Horndon and I can't find him on any of the following Census records, so presume his death to have been between 1861-1871. Thanks for reading this and any help much appreciated. Robyn Arkinstall. East Gosford, NSW. Our web site can be found at: http://erindra.customer.netspace.net.au Please check out the website of the Central Coast Family History Society Inc At http://www.centralcoastfhs.org.au

Hi Robin 1881 census RG11 piece 1038 Folio 115 page 30 at 30 Hyde Gardens Eastbourne John Pearson aged 75 Clergyman Church of England born London Middlesex Sophia M daughter aged 30 born East Horndon Essex Sophia Mary Jun Q 1850 Billericay 12 page 3 He died Sep Q 1882 Eastbourne 2b 52 aged 76 Regards Jackie -----Original Message----- From: sussex-plus-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:sussex-plus-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Robyn & Bill Arkinstall Sent: 23 September 2007 00:04 To: SUSSEX-PLUS@rootsweb.com Subject: [SXP] Army Ranking question - John Richd PEARSON Hi All from Australia, Having recently returned from England and lovely Sussex I have a query for all the knowledgeable Army buffs on the list, hoping they can shed some light on my query, and a query for things Clerical. Buried in Hastings Borough Cemetery (with a beautiful ornate white marble headstone, erected in his memory by his wife) is one John Richard PEARSON listed as being a Major, who had died in Hastings on the 21st January, 1910. His second wife was Cecilia Harriet (nee Holford), and his parents were the Rev. John Pearson and Frances Harriet (unknown). Having visited the PRO earlier (and not having time to return to Kew,) from the Army records we found the following information: From the June edition (1880) of the OFFICIAL ARMY LIST - Gradation publication of a list of Officers of the British Army, Page 441: John Richard PEARSON b. 16 April, 1833. Bognor 1st Appointment................... 12 January 1852 Ben Art Lieutenant .................... 27 June 1857 Ben Art Captain ..................... 18 February 1861 Ben Art Half Pay .................... 10 May 1866 In all the following Officers Lists up until his death and on half pay he was described as Captain John Richard PEARSON. So where did the Major come from?? Where would I be likely to find information from here on possibly a promotion to this rank sometime between his exit from the army and before his death? or was he really still only a Captain and maybe had the nickname of Major, which just stuck. His death/obituary notices in the London TIMES and also the HASTINGS & ST. LEONARDS WEEKLY MAIL & TIMES, also named his as Major John R Pearson, but these could have been submitted by information from his wife.. Also if anyone has access to the Crockfords Clerical Indexes could they please look up Rev. John Pearson, born abt.1806 London, (died ?), who was a M.A. from Trinity College, Cambridge. His last postings as Rector were at Little Warley and East Horndon in Essex. He was 56 and a widower in the 1861C at East Horndon and I can't find him on any of the following Census records, so presume his death to have been between 1861-1871. Thanks for reading this and any help much appreciated. Robyn Arkinstall. East Gosford, NSW. Our web site can be found at: http://erindra.customer.netspace.net.au Please check out the website of the Central Coast Family History Society Inc At http://www.centralcoastfhs.org.au ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SUSSEX-PLUS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message