Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search

East India Company Army

69 bytes removed, 05:49, 31 October 2018
no edit summary
The officers of Native Regiments were European.
Mostly a European soldier would be in a European Regiment. However at times a European soldier could be in a role such as Quartermaster Sergeant in a Native Infantry Regiment. <ref>Cutts, Melanie. [http://boards.ancestry.com.au/localities.asia.india.general/2869.1.1.3/mb.ashx ''Siege of Cawnpore 1857''], ''Rootsweb India Mailing ListMessage Board'', 17 May 2014. Retrieved on 18 May 2014.</ref>. For details of records for these soldiers in a Native Infantry Regiment, refer [[Unattached List]].
== FIBIS resources ==
Also see the '''individual pages for the three Presidency Armies''', mentioned above
[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 The British Library’s "Search our Catalogue Archives and Manuscripts"] Search by name, or record reference.
British Library’s Help for Researchers: [http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/occupations/europeanofficers/euroofficers.html European Officers]
Records include
*Cadet Papers (1789-1860) and Cadet Registers (1775-1860 [http://hviewer.bl.uk/IamsHViewer/Default.aspx?mdark=ark:/81055/vdc_100000000047.0x000166 '''IOR/L/MIL/9/107-269''']. Cadet Papers up to about c 1805, may comprise nothing more than a baptism certificate or father's declaration of date of birth. Many of these records have now been digitised and held on the [http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast website] under the heading of British India Office Records births and baptisms.
**[[LDS]] microfilm [httphttps://www.familysearch.org/engsearch/librarycatalog/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=687638&disp=East+India+Company+cadet+papers%2C+1789%&columns=*,0,0 catalogue entry] for these Cadet Papers
**[http://isp.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/cadfram.htm List of Cadets who joined the East India Company Armies 1789-1859] with equivalent LDS microfilm number. Bob Holland’s Raimpais website
**[http://hviewer.bl.uk/IamsHViewer/Default.aspx?mdark=ark:/81055/vdc_100000000009.0x00003c Military Depots: Depot Embarkation Lists '''IOR/L/MIL/9/77-84'''] 1824-1860. These records are arranged by ship and generally give name, age, height, place of birth, date and place of enlistment, period of service, previous occupation, and remarks.
**[http://hviewer.bl.uk/IamsHViewer/Default.aspx?mdark=ark:/81055/vdc_100000000047.0x000165 Embarkation Lists '''IOR/L/MIL/9/85-106'''] 1753-1861 Registers of men embarked, compiled at the port of embarkation. They are arranged by ship, and each volume contains an index of ships' names. The records may include rank, place of birth, trade, age and remarks
:These records are available on LDS microfilm with this [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/520806?availability=Family%20History%20Library catalogue entry]. ([[FamilySearch Centres#Ordering microfilms|Ordering microfilms]]). For microfilm 1866880, Embarkations 1816-1824, the ships’ names have been transcribed on [http://isp.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/embarks.htm Bob Holland’s Rampais website].
:'''Note''': FamilySearch (LDS) microfilm ordering services ceases 31 August 2017has now ceased, however selected microfilms have been digitised and are currently available for viewing on a FamilySearch computer at a [[FamilySearch Centres|FamilySearch Centre]]. Locate these records through the FamilySearch catalogue. It is expected that in time all microfilms will be similarly available in this format.
====Books and Articles====
==The difference between rank in the Regiment and rank in the Army==
All officers held dual rank, that is, rank in their regiment and rank in the Army. Their rank in their regiment dictated what they did on a day-to-day basis. The HEIC regiments did not have the purchase system [for rank in the regiment] but based promotions on seniority within the regiment which was one reason why the timing of an officer's rank within the regiment was important. When an officer held a rank in the Army for a period longer than his rank in his regiment this was probably due to him not having actually been posted to his regiment for a period when he was first commissioned. <ref>Christie, Thomas. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/2009-08thread/2239496/1251640318 "Rank in regiment; rank in army."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 30 Aug 2009. Retrieved on 14 April 201431 October 2018.</ref>
Although there was no official purchase system, there was an informal system within the HEIC Army whereby the lower rank officers provided a monetary incentive for a senior officer to retire so that all junior officers could move up a step, but it was not an actual purchase of rank. <ref>Bender, Tim. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/INDIAindia.rootsweb.com/2009-12thread/2240360/1259763830 "East India Company Army Purchase of Commissions."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 2 Dec 2009. Retrieved on 14 April 2014 31 October 2018.</ref>
==Advantages of joining an EIC Army compared with the British Army==
===For a soldier===
The army took responsibility for many civil and social activities in the country, particularly in the vicinity of the cantonments. These responsibilities were undertaken by Warrant Officers generally acting through Sergeants of differing titles. These were positions of significant importance and standing and the chance to attain them was one of the attractions of joining the Company's army rather than the King's/Queen's army. <ref> Bailey, Peter [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/2000-04thread/12902184/0954667043 "Bazaar Sergeant."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 2 Apr 2000. Retrieved on 14 April 201431 October 2018.</ref> Many NCOs were able to take on other work and attract an extra income. By doing so, they could frequently buy themselves out of their units, could earn more money and qualify for a pension much sooner. <ref>Fuller, Tony. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/thread/1998-1215657808/0913448812 "Prisons"], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 12 Dec 1998. Retrieved on 14 April 2014 31 October 2018.</ref>
==Wives and children==
Marriages between EIC soldiers and [[Anglo Indians]] or [[Native Woman|Native women]], the allowances paid to wives and the army records kept regarding these wives are discussed in "Haemoglobin D (Beta Punjab) in an East Anglian Family", ''The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland'', Vol. 95, No. 2 (Jul. - Dec., 1965), pp. 295-306. .<ref>Macdonnell, Ian. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/thread/2010-011662629/1264031553 "MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION ...Allowance for Eurasianwives."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 21 Jan 2010. Scroll down. Retrieved on 11 April 2014 31 October 2018.</ref>. The [[2nd Madras (European) Light Infantry]] is particularly mentioned as marriage registers were (in 1965) available for the period 1840-1863 showing the race of the bride. The article may be [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2844429 read online] on the website JSTOR for free, but first you must register. Some card holders of participating libraries may also have access, refer [[Miscellaneous tips]] for more about both options. Also available at the [[British Library]].
==See also==
29,495
edits

Navigation menu