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Capt Thomas Henry Gatehouse Besant

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Maddie

Maddie Report 21 Aug 2013 15:31

Can anyone point me in the right direction to find any army records, he was in the Bengal Indian army
1851 census
2; High East Street; Thomas H G BESANT; Head; M; 44; Captain E I C Military Service; Dorchester; F13p1

; Sarah E BESANT; Wife; M; 35; Dorchester; F13p1

; Thomas R BESANT; Son; U; Illegible; East Indies British Subject; F13p1

; Rebecca A BESANT; Daughter; U; 5months; Dorchester; F13p1

; Ann BESANT; Mother; W; 69; Annuitant; Dorchester; F13p1

seems he was a Col according to Sarah's burial record
1879 Jul Age: 65
Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom
Age at Death: 63; Sarah Elizabeth BESANT; Widow of Col. Besant (Indian Army); 63; Saint Peter; Sep 12th 1879

thank you
Maddie

was plain ann now annielaurie

was plain ann now annielaurie Report 21 Aug 2013 16:10

Any service record for him, if it has survived, should be at the India Office, British Library. You might also be able to find issues of the Indian Army list online, or if not, at the National Archives or British Library which would give you an outline of his career - commission, promotions, regiments etc.

There are some mentions of him, too on the Fibis site, including dates of promotions and ranks and the reference for his cadet papers which is held at the British Library.

The British Library also has this

Title: Sir Jasper Nicolls papers.
Collection Area: India Office Records and Private Papers
Reference: Mss Eur D649
Creation Date: 1840-1841
Extent and Access:
Extent: 24 folios
Creator: Nicolls, Sir, Jasper, 1778-1849, Knight, Lieutenant General
Contents and Scope:
Contents: Correspondence and papers of Lt-Gen Sir Jasper Nicolls (1778-1849), British Army 1793, C-in-C, India 1839-43, on matters concerning the British force at Kabul including the conduct of Capt Besant, Bengal Army, and the movement of troops to and from Afghanistan; including letters from the C-in-C at Kabul, Maj-Gen William George Keith Elphinstone (1782-1842).
History:
Origin:
Custodial History:
Immediate Source of Acquisition: Found in the Library, c1963
Related persons, etc: Besant, Thomas Henry Gatehouse, Unspecified, Captain
Elphinstone, William George Keith, Unspecified, Major-General

Maddie

Maddie Report 21 Aug 2013 18:05

thank you for that
i will have to check out the library
Maddie

Andrew

Andrew Report 24 Aug 2013 09:54

If you do a google search with his full name, a book he wrote shows up.

Andy

Maddie

Maddie Report 24 Aug 2013 10:19

Hi Andrew
I must be doing something wrong as I can't find it. Could you please show me the link,thank you
Maddie

Andrew

Andrew Report 24 Aug 2013 10:35

One here

http://www.alibris.com/search/books/author/Thomas-Henry-Gatehouse-Besant


Bit pricy!

Andy

Maddie

Maddie Report 24 Aug 2013 11:32

thank you Andrew, what a strange book to write, costs a lot to buy as well
Maddie