Family Group Sheet
Family Group Sheet
NameBenjamin James Bates149
Birthabt 1807, Arcklow, Co. Wicklow, IRL
DeathLAK
FatherGeorge Bates (ca1768-<1832)
MotherSarah Needham (ca1769-1854)
Notes for Benjamin James Bates
Enlisted in the English army Sept. 13, 1825, was a QM Sgt. in the 57th Infantry. Honorably discharged, settled in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) where he married and had five children.149
Following is the text of a letter sent to Sarah Bates in regard to her son Benjamin who was a British soldier and was abroad at time rest of family came to America.
"Fralic Barriks, April 3, 18
In reply to your communication bearing date New London, Can., 22, Feb., 1853, I have to inform you that Benjamin Bates obtained his discharge from 57th regiment in Madras, East India in the year 1846 having by good conduct raised himself to the rank of Quarter Master Sargant, and was discharged on 2s/2d per and in consequence of his being married to a country-born woman preferred remaining abroad. I have been creditable informed through letters received from India that he left Madras and having saved 300 lbs. proceeded to the Island of Ceylon where he purchased a coffee plantation and shortly after died leaving wife and five children to lament his loss. Am unable to give further information relative to said Benjamin Bates.”150
Following is the text of a letter sent to Sarah Bates in regard to her son Benjamin who was a British soldier and was abroad at time rest of family came to America.
"Fralic Barriks, April 3, 18
In reply to your communication bearing date New London, Can., 22, Feb., 1853, I have to inform you that Benjamin Bates obtained his discharge from 57th regiment in Madras, East India in the year 1846 having by good conduct raised himself to the rank of Quarter Master Sargant, and was discharged on 2s/2d per and in consequence of his being married to a country-born woman preferred remaining abroad. I have been creditable informed through letters received from India that he left Madras and having saved 300 lbs. proceeded to the Island of Ceylon where he purchased a coffee plantation and shortly after died leaving wife and five children to lament his loss. Am unable to give further information relative to said Benjamin Bates.”150
Research notes for Benjamin James Bates
Benjamin ~1807 - aft 1846
1807 December (probably) - born
occupation before enlisting - baker
1825 September 11/13 - enlisted in British Army - 57th Regiment of Foot
served in New South Wales - almost 3 years
in East Indies - more than 14 years
discharged at Madras, India in 1846
He wished to stay in India because he had married a native woman
He may have gone to Ceylon to live
Information obtained from the Public Records Office in Kew, England (by Wayne Nordstrom):
"Benjamin enlisted in the English army in 1825 where he was quartermaster sergeant in the 57th infantry (regiment F57; WO97/696). After serving his time, he was honourably discharged in 1846 at the age of 38. [Source: Public Records Office at Kew near London. Address is: Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Surrey, TW9 4DU]. Source file: W.O. 97/696 (file number might be W.O.
97/695).
His military medical report, dated 20 April 1846, stated, "Quartermaster Sergeant Benjamin Bates, aged 38 years 5 months. Total service 20 years 4 months. Nature of disability: Physical Decay. First apparent in 1844. Then stationed at Fort Saint George. _______. Attributable to length of service in a tropical climate. Not aggravated by vice or misconduct. Disability not within the power of medicine. Disqualified by general decay and impaired powers for military duty. Was a laborer before he entered the army."
Benjamin's name is listed in a "Nominal return of Invalids of the 57th Regiment who wish to remain in India and who have not completed 21 years of service", effective December 1845. His number on this list is 525. On this list, he is shown as "Quartermaster Sergeant, Benjamin Bates, total service to December 31st, 1845: 20 years 113 days. Cause of wishing to remain in India: married to an Indo-Briton and having a large family. [they might have had 5 children but this is unsubstantiated].
His discharge papers state, "The Board having examined and compared the Regimental Records, the Soldier's Book, and other such documents as appeared to them to be necessary, report that Benjamin Bates by trade a Baker was born in the Parish of Arcklow in or near the town of Arcklow in the County of Wicklow and was attested for the 57th Regiment of Foot at Dublin in the County of Dublin on the 13th September 1825 at the age of 18 that after making every deduction required by her majesty's regulations, the service up to 31 December 1845, which he is entitled to reckon, amounts to 20 years and 113 days, as shewn by the detailed statement on the second page; during which period he served abroad 17 years and 5 months; in New South Wales about 2 years and 10 months; in the East Indies 14 years and 4 months; and further, that his discharge is proposed in consequence of physical decay attributable to length of service in a tropical climate and not to vice or intemperance. With regard to the character and conduct of
Benjamin Bates, the Board have to report, that upon reference to the Defaulter's Book, and by the parole testimony that has been given, it appears that his character is unexceptionable, seldom in the hospital, and very sober. He was reduced from Corporal in 1827 for neglect of duty in
reporting his men all present when three were absent.
His discharge papers also stated that all pay allowances and clothing accounts were balanced.
His discharge papers listed his detailed Statement of Services for No. 525 Benjamin Bates as follows (for the 57th Foot Regiment):
- Rank: Private (11 Sept 1825 to 24 Mar 1826; 196 days service)
- Promoted Corporal (25 Mar 1826 to 25 Jun 1827; 1 year 93 days service)
- Reduced to Private (26 Jun 1827 to 31 Dec 1828; 1 year 189 days service)
- Total service to be reckoned to 31 Dec 1828: 3 years 113 days
- Rank: Private (1 Jan 1829 to 24 Apr 1830; 1 year 114 days service) - Promoted Corporal (25 Apr 1830 to 31 Jul 1831; 1 year 98 days service) - Promoted Sergeant (1 Aug 1831 to 14 Dec 1832; 1 year 136 days service) - Promoted Color Sergeant (15 Dec 1832 to 17 Nov 1835; 2 years 338 days service) - ___________ Sergeant (18 Nov 1835 to 7 Oct 1839; 3 years 324 days service) - Promoted Quarter Master Sergeant (8 Oct 1839 to 31 Dec 1845; 6 years 85 days service)
Total of the foregoing statement: 20 years 113 days. Further service from 1 January to the 20 April 1846 when finally discharged: 110 days. Total service allowed to reckon to the day of final discharge: 20 years 231 days. ------------------------ NOTE: Benjamin enlisted on 11 Sept 1825 but was attested for the Regiment on 13 Sept 1825. ------------------------ Final Description of Benjamin Bates of the 57th Regiment of Foot when discharged: - Age: 38 years 3 months - Height: 5 foot 10 inches - Hair: dark brown - Eyes: hazel - Complexion: sallow - Trade: baker ------------------------- Benjamin's Attestion for Regiments document states, "I, Benjamin Beates, do make oath that I am or have been a Baker, and to the best of my knowledge and belief was born in the Parish of Arklow in the County of Wicklow, and that I am of the age of 18 years; that I do not belong to the militia, or to any other regiment, or to His Majesty's Navy or Marines, and that I will serve His Majesty, His heirs and successors, until I shall be legally discharged. [signatures follow, Benjamin appears to have signed his last name as "Beates" but on his discharge papers is clearly spelled as "Bates"]. I _______, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, of City of Dublin, do hereby certify that Benjamin Beates appearing to be 18 years old, 5 feet 6 3/4 inches high, fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, came before me at Dublin, 13th day of September, 1825, and stated himself to be of the age of 18 years, and that he had no rupture, and was not troubled with fits, and was no ways disabled by lameness, deafness or otherwise, but had the perfect use of his limbs and hearing, and was not an apprentice; and acknowledged that he had voluntarily inlisted himself, for the bounty of 4 pounds British, to serve His Majesty, King George IV, His heirs and successors, in the 57th Regiment of Foot, commanded by General _______ until he should be legally discharged. And I do hereby certify that in my presence, the Third and Fourth Articles of the Second Section, and the First Article of the Sixth Section, of the Articles of War against mutiny and desertion were read over to him, and that he took the oath of Fidelity mentioned in the said articles of war, and also the Oath to the effect above set forth; and that he received the sum of 10 shillings British on being attested; and that I have given to the said a duplicate of this certificate signed with my name [signature]. -------------------------- Another certificate of discharge states, "I certify that Quartermaster Sergeant, Benjamin Bates, of Her Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot, came before me at Madras on the 13th day of January 1846 and made oath that he has served their Majesties during the period mentioned in his discharge. Dated at Madras [India] this 13th day of January 1846." [signatures] ------------------------- He might have travelled to the island of Ceylon [this is not known for certain]. ------------------------- Apparently someone in the states tried to find out what had happened to him - there was this letter fragment among the documents preserved by the Bratney family: letter frag Re Ben Bates PS War Office 13th April 1848 I am directed to acquaint you that he was placed on the out pension list of Chelsea hospital on the 23rd June 1846 and that (it) appears by the latest returns received at this office he was paid his pension at Madras for the – Quarter to the 31st March 1847 Mother could not tell whether you got this account or not for well (farewell?) Thomas Patton? brought this account from England
- Rank: Private (1 Jan 1829 to 24 Apr 1830; 1 year 114 days service) - Promoted Corporal (25 Apr 1830 to 31 Jul 1831; 1 year 98 days service) - Promoted Sergeant (1 Aug 1831 to 14 Dec 1832; 1 year 136 days service) - Promoted Color Sergeant (15 Dec 1832 to 17 Nov 1835; 2 years 338 days service) - ___________ Sergeant (18 Nov 1835 to 7 Oct 1839; 3 years 324 days service) - Promoted Quarter Master Sergeant (8 Oct 1839 to 31 Dec 1845; 6 years 85 days service)
Total of the foregoing statement: 20 years 113 days. Further service from 1 January to the 20 April 1846 when finally discharged: 110 days. Total service allowed to reckon to the day of final discharge: 20 years 231 days. ------------------------ NOTE: Benjamin enlisted on 11 Sept 1825 but was attested for the Regiment on 13 Sept 1825. ------------------------ Final Description of Benjamin Bates of the 57th Regiment of Foot when discharged: - Age: 38 years 3 months - Height: 5 foot 10 inches - Hair: dark brown - Eyes: hazel - Complexion: sallow - Trade: baker ------------------------- Benjamin's Attestion for Regiments document states, "I, Benjamin Beates, do make oath that I am or have been a Baker, and to the best of my knowledge and belief was born in the Parish of Arklow in the County of Wicklow, and that I am of the age of 18 years; that I do not belong to the militia, or to any other regiment, or to His Majesty's Navy or Marines, and that I will serve His Majesty, His heirs and successors, until I shall be legally discharged. [signatures follow, Benjamin appears to have signed his last name as "Beates" but on his discharge papers is clearly spelled as "Bates"]. I _______, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, of City of Dublin, do hereby certify that Benjamin Beates appearing to be 18 years old, 5 feet 6 3/4 inches high, fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, came before me at Dublin, 13th day of September, 1825, and stated himself to be of the age of 18 years, and that he had no rupture, and was not troubled with fits, and was no ways disabled by lameness, deafness or otherwise, but had the perfect use of his limbs and hearing, and was not an apprentice; and acknowledged that he had voluntarily inlisted himself, for the bounty of 4 pounds British, to serve His Majesty, King George IV, His heirs and successors, in the 57th Regiment of Foot, commanded by General _______ until he should be legally discharged. And I do hereby certify that in my presence, the Third and Fourth Articles of the Second Section, and the First Article of the Sixth Section, of the Articles of War against mutiny and desertion were read over to him, and that he took the oath of Fidelity mentioned in the said articles of war, and also the Oath to the effect above set forth; and that he received the sum of 10 shillings British on being attested; and that I have given to the said a duplicate of this certificate signed with my name [signature]. -------------------------- Another certificate of discharge states, "I certify that Quartermaster Sergeant, Benjamin Bates, of Her Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot, came before me at Madras on the 13th day of January 1846 and made oath that he has served their Majesties during the period mentioned in his discharge. Dated at Madras [India] this 13th day of January 1846." [signatures] ------------------------- He might have travelled to the island of Ceylon [this is not known for certain]. ------------------------- Apparently someone in the states tried to find out what had happened to him - there was this letter fragment among the documents preserved by the Bratney family: letter frag Re Ben Bates PS War Office 13th April 1848 I am directed to acquaint you that he was placed on the out pension list of Chelsea hospital on the 23rd June 1846 and that (it) appears by the latest returns received at this office he was paid his pension at Madras for the – Quarter to the 31st March 1847 Mother could not tell whether you got this account or not for well (farewell?) Thomas Patton? brought this account from England