🔷 Update Notice (Posted 1 February 2025):
This blog post has been updated with new information and is now superseded by a more recent post on the same topic, which can be found here. To ensure you have the most accurate and complete details, please refer to the latest version.

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This article delves into the military service of George Jennings, as documented in the Registers of Bombay Army European Soldiers, 1793–1839.ⁱ

According to the Registers, when George enlisted, he was assigned to be an Acting Draftsman under the Artillery Brigade Major’s List. However, this role doesn’t appear to have materialised. The register is silent on his activities between his arrival in India in 1823 and his promotion to Sergeant Depot Instructor in 1832.

Ecclesiastical records, however, indicate that George served as a Gunner in the Honourable Company’s Artillery and had risen to the rank of Sergeant Artillery by 1831. His Register entry later notes that he became a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in the Ordnance Department, and served as a Sub-Conductor in the Ahmednuggur Arsenal after relocating from Matoonga (at least, this is how I interpret the record).

Below is my detailed investigation into the records to uncover George Jennings Military Career.

Early Career and Enlistment

George Jennings embarked on his military journey at just 19 years old,ⁱⁱ enlisting in the Bombay Army of the East India Company on 25 November 1822.ⁱⁱⁱ He arrived in India on 26 May 1823 aboard the Company’s ship, Farquharson.^iv The voyage from England to India typically spanned four to six months, depending on weather and route conditions.

Initially, George enlisted as an Acting Draftsman under the Artillery Brigade Major’s List, which recorded personnel working with the Artillery Brigade Major. This role suggests George demonstrated some aptitude during recruitment or possessed basic literacy and numeracy skills. However, his later progression through the enlisted ranks rather than to a commissioned officer suggests he had likely received only a modest formal education beforehand. Any technical skills he acquired were likely learned informally or through experience. Interestingly, this initial role may not have materialized into active service, as George transitioned to a new position soon after he arrived in India.

Transition to Gunner (1823–1832)

George’s official Register entry is silent on his activities between his arrival in 1823 and his promotion to Sergeant Depot Instructor in 1832. Ecclesiastical records, however, provide insight into this period. During these years, George likely served as a Gunner in the Honourable Company’s Artillery.^v ^vi ^vii By 27 July 1831, George had risen to the rank of Sergeant Artillery, as noted in his daughter’s baptism record, ^viii showing his steady rise through the enlisted ranks.

Promotion to Sergeant Depot Instructor (1832)

On 31 October 1832, George Jennings was promoted to Sergeant Depot Instructor, a key position responsible for training new recruits in military drills and artillery handling.^ix As Sergeant was the highest enlisted rank in the Artillery, further advancement required transitioning to a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) role.

Unlike commissioned officers, who were typically from elite or well-connected backgrounds and formally educated, George’s career path was limited to positions attainable by enlisted men. Despite these constraints, NCOs like George played a vital role in managing operations, training recruits, and ensuring discipline, making them essential to the army’s effectiveness.

Relocation and Entry into the Ordnance Department (1833)

George Jennings’ military records indicate that in 1833, he was assigned to the Ahmednuggur Arsenal as a Sub-Conductor in the Ordnance Department.^x This is the only explicit mention in his records of a change in both location and the specific part of the army he served, suggesting a significant transition in his career.

Ahmednuggur (Ahmednagar) was a major arsenal and strategic hub for the East India Company, serving as a garrison town and logistical center. Its importance likely aligned with George’s new responsibilities, as he shifted from the Artillery to the Ordnance Department, reflecting a move toward more specialized, technical duties.

The records also note that George officially transferred to the Ordnance Assistant’s Department on 6 August 1833.^xi It is unclear whether this represents a single event—documented in two stages—or two distinct events. One possibility is that George initially joined the Ordnance Department as a Sub-Conductor earlier in 1833 and that the transfer on 6 August marks the formalisation or a departmental shift to a more specialised role. Regardless, this period marks a significant turning point in his career.

Upon transferring to the Ordnance Department, George Jennings likely moved to Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) status, taking on logistical and operational responsibilities. NCOs were the backbone of the military hierarchy, bridging the gap between enlisted ranks and commissioned officers. Within the Ordnance structure, NCOs like George played a crucial role in maintaining the army’s logistical efficiency. As a Sub-Conductor, George would have been directly tasked with overseeing the storage, maintenance, and supply of military stores, including artillery and ammunition. His position helped by bridging the gap between enlisted soldiers and commissioned officers, ensuring the smooth functioning of the East India Company’s military operations.

Service in the Ordnance Assistant’s Department (1833–1836)

George continued serving in Ahmednuggur as a Sub-Conductor until his discharge on 8 April 1836.^xii The exact nature of this discharge remains unclear. It is possible that George was discharged from his role within the Ordnance Assistant’s Department while still remaining within the army, potentially transitioning back to a different role or department. Alternatively, this discharge could mark a temporary leave of absence or a transition to a reserve status, rather than an end to his military career altogether. The records do not specify whether this discharge was from the entire army or merely from the Ordnance Assistant’s Department.

Reassignment to the Town Mayor’s List (1841)

On 18 May 1841, George reentered service, this time on the Town Major’s List as a Sub-Conductor.^xiii The Town Mayor’s List was an administrative designation rather than a specific military unit. Personnel on the list, including NCOs like George, were tasked with maintaining discipline and overseeing logistical operations in military towns and garrisons. This reassignment highlights George’s continued value as an experienced officer in administrative roles.

Final Rank and Death (1844)

By 15 September 1844, George Jennings had achieved the rank of Conductor, the highest NCO rank within the Ordnance Department. Tragically, his military record notes his death on the same date, though it does not detail the circumstances.

George’s name appears in the 1844 List of Casualties, which records:

“Sub-Conductor G. Jennings of the Ordnance Department, deceased 15 September 1844 in Scinde.”^xiv

Sources Identified in Footnotes

Military Records

George Jennings, Military Record, attestation: 25 November 1822, Middlesex. Registers of Bombay Army European Soldiers, 1793–1839, A–K, India Office Records, L/MIL/12/109. Accessed via FIBIS website https://www.fibis.org/, “Registers of Bombay Army European Soldiers” database (no images), (accessed 16 April 2020).

Context: This military record is a compiled document created by East India Company Army personnel for administrative purposes. It is drawn from primary sources and provides an outline of George Jennings' military service and his progression through the ranks.

Freemason Records

George Jennings, Freemason Membership (1835) Entry, 2 February 1835, Lodge of Hope, Ahmednuggur, 15th unnumbered entry on page 802, United Grand Lodge of England, Freemason Membership Registers, 1751–1921. Library and Museum of Freemasonry, London. Accessed via Ancestry.com, 13 January 2023. Images reproduced by courtesy of the Library and Museum of Freemasonry.

Ecclesiastical Records from the British India Office

Marriage of George Jennings and Catherine Jacob, 16 July 1827, George Jennings, a Gunner in the Honourable Company’s Regiment of Artillery, married Catherine Jacob by banns. IOR Reference Z/N/3, Volume 8, Folio 193, entry 65, page 193, official copy of the Register of Marriages for the Chaplaincy of Matoonga in the Archdeaconry of Bombay, 31 December 1827–1 January 1828. British India Office Marriages, Parish Register Transcripts from the Presidency of Bombay, 1709–1948. Findmypast. Accessed 13 January 2023.

Baptism of Sarah Jennings, 10 August 1828, daughter of George Jennings (Gunner) and Catherine Jennings, residing in Matoonga. N-3-8, Folio 267, entry 90, Register for the Chaplaincy of Matoonga, 1 July–31 December 1828. British India Office Births & Baptisms. Findmypast. Accessed 13 January 2023.

Baptism of George Jennings, 2 August 1829, son of George Jennings (H.C. Artillery) and Catherine Jennings, residing in Matoonga. N-3-9, Folio 225, entry 100, Register for the Chaplaincy of Matoonga, 1 July–31 December 1829. British India Office Births & Baptisms. Findmypast. Accessed 13 January 2023.

India - Almanacs

The Indian Calendar (1845) p. 208, Courier Press, Bombay, (Accessed Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.11566 17 January 2025) Research Note: The article lists George Jennings’ death year as "do" (ditto), which appears to reference 1842. However, this is a likely typesetting error since all other deaths align with 1844.

When reviewing the entry for George Jennings, the year of death is listed as "do," which typically means "ditto"—indicating the same year as the death listed above. However, if you trace back through the list, this would imply that he died in 1842, not 1843. This is likely a typesetting error, as all other deaths are recorded in 1844, consistent with the heading. It seems that the individual who passed away in England in 1842 is the exception.

Useful Links for Background

WikiTree profile for George Jennings (1804 - 1844)
WikiTree profile for Catherine (Jacob) Jennings (abt. 1805 - bef. 1845)

Blog Post Meta Data

The URL for this post is https://ancestralresearchjournal.blogspot.com/2025/01/tracing-george-jennings-military-career.html, originally published 29 January 2025

Author 2025, Sandra Williamson

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Footnotes

i George Jennings, Military Record, attestation: 25 November 1822.

ii George Jennings, Freemason Membership [Research Notes: George was 32 when he joined the Freemasons, thus he would have been born circa 1803]

iii George Jennings, Military Record, attestation: 25 November 1822 [date given in record]

iv George Jennings, Military Record, attestation: 25 November 1822 [date & ship name given in record]

v Marriage of George Jennings and Catherine Jacob,1827 [By the time of his marriage in 1827, he was already serving as a Gunner, suggesting that the Draftsman role was short-lived or purely administrative.]

vi Baptism of Sarah Jennings 10 August 1828 (daughter) [The baptism of his daughter Sarah in 1828 further anchors him as an active Gunner during this time.]

vii Baptism of George Jennings, 2 August 1829 (son) [The designation H.C. Artillery on the 1829 baptism record of George Jennings' son likely stands for Honourable Company's Artillery, referring to the artillery branch of the Honourable East India Company (HEIC)]

viii Baptism of Mary Ann Jennings 1831(daughter) [George’s occupation is listed as Sergeant Artillery]

ix George Jennings, military record, attestation: 25 November 1822[this is the first Rank mentioned in his Military Record after enlistment]

x George Jennings, military record, attestation: 25 November 1822 [The second mention in his Military Record after enlistment “Sub-Conductor Ordnance Dept. Ahmednuggur Arsenal 1833” and the only place where location and which part of the Army he belongs to]

xi George Jennings, military record, attestation: 25 November 1822 [as above]

xii George Jennings, military record, attestation: 25 November 1822 [it is not clear what George is being discharged from: is it the Ordnance Assistant’s Department to return back to the Ordnance Department to which may have been seconded or was it from the entire Army?]

xiii Military Record [Transferred to Town Major's List 18 May 1841 as Sub-Conductor, not an Acting Sub-Conductor as stated in the Newspapers]

xiv The Indian Calendar (1845), p. 208 [George appears in the Casualties, confirming his death]

Wednesday, 29 January 2025

Tracing George Jennings Military Career