Many Irishmen, left their homeland in the 19th century,
often via Liverpool.
William Henry enlisted in the EIC Army at Liverpool on 9 Mar 1831, just 21 years old. He was described as a labourer, 5' 8" tall, of fresh complexion, round visage, blue eyes & fair hair, and embarked on the "Thomas Grenville" on 3 June, arriving in Calcutta on the 16 October.
William began his military career as a gunner in 1 Troop, 3 Bgde. stationed at Dum Dum, the HQ of the Bengal Artillery. By 1839 he was a corporal, and on the 19 February married Isabella JOHNSON (the daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth) at St. Stephens in Dum Dum. Isabella was just 15, but this was not unusual in India.
By 1843 William was a sergeant, and travelled to Australia to the HEIC horse stud establishment at Bungarribee NSW.In 1846 he returned on the "Emily Jane" with his wife and 2 children incl. Isabella Bungarribee and became Sergeant Overseer of the Government stud at Haupper near Meerut, maintaining horses for the Artillery. In 1852 he completed 21 years service & was"pensioned to the GOCC" attached to the Stud . 4 or 5 of his children were born at Haupper.
In 1856 a new settlement "Hopetown" (now Kurseong, near Darjeeling)
was established in Sikkim. William became a Tea
Planter on 1500 acres on a spur of the Sanchall
Range. Daughters Alice Mima & Catherine Hope were born.
William wrote his last will & testament* in 1859 (with Isabella Ann as sole Executrix - with provision made for education of children) and in December 1861 he died on the way from HopeTown to Calcutta. Isabella had a pension of Rup. 5-9-5 per month.
The children were aged 6 months to 15 years. William's widow Isabella Ann survived another 27 years to 1888, by which time daughters Isabella, Rachel, Leah, & Alice had married, Harry was Headmaster at Rawalpindi Station School. Isabella Ann may have seen her grandson (Rosemary's father) Hal as a 3-year-old before she died.
Isabella's grave is in the Calcutta Lower Circular Road
2012 