John Carson (Clonbroney,Longford).

Hello, I have just discovered that my great grandfather x 2 came from Clonbroney parish , Longford and was born @ 1833.  His father William was a weaver. John joined the army in 1851 aged 18 years and 6 months (d.of b. 1832?) and was found as a recruit in the depot of the 80th Foot in Chatham Barracks, Kent in the census of that year.  On 6th March he was serving with his regiment in Dinapore, India.  He later served during the Indian Mutiny and received an Indian Mutiny Medal with a clasp for the Central India campaign.  He now held the rank of sergeant.   In The 1861 British Army Worldwide Index he was found in Saugor but was now demoted to the rank of private.   He was discharged from the army on 24th December 1861.

He ended up in Hyde, Cheshire, England where he met my great grandmother x 2 Hannah Maria Stewart.  I have a copy of a letter which he wrote in 1863 in Hyde claiming bounty from having participated in the capture of Kalpi in 1858.  He claimed to have served in the Camel Corps at this time.  John was obviously short of resources and Hyde during this period  suffered from unemployment due to The Cotton Famine.  He and Hannah were married in Hyde on 16th May 1864.  Unfortunately, he died in Bradford, Manchester  on 29th May 1865.  He was working as a labourer (scavenger).   His daughter  Martha Alice Carson (my great grandmother) was born seven weeks later.  She  obviously never knew her father and our family has only just discovered him. 

I am researching John's life in the army, but am extremely interested to discover more about his origins and family in Ireland.  Thank you for your help.

Best wishes,

Christine.