What can the baptismal records of seven children reveal about a family’s life in colonial India? For George and Catherine Jennings, these documents tell a story not just of family and George’s military service during the era of the East India Company. This blog post explores their lives through birth and baptismal records, uncovering both milestones and errors.
The Family of George Jennings & Catherine Jacob
Gunner George Jennings(bachelor in the Hon’ble Company’s Regiment of Artillery) and Catherine Jacob(spinster) were married by banns on 16 July 1827 in the Chaplaincy of Matoonga, Bombay, India.[i] George and Catherine welcomed seven children during their time in colonial India, beginning with Sarah in 1828 and concluding with Catherine in 1840. Their records reflect both milestones and losses.
- Sarah Jennings, born 7 July & baptised 10 August 1828 in the Chaplaincy of Matoonga, daughter of George (Gunner) & Catherine Jennings residing in Matoonga, Bombay, India.[ii]
- George Jennings, born 7 July & baptised 2 August 1829 in the Chaplaincy of Matoonga, son of George (H.C.Arty [Honourable Company Artillery]) & Catherine Jennings residing in Matoonga, Bombay, India.[iii] George died at the age of 2 months while residing in Matoonga on 17 September 1829.
- Mary Ann Jennings, born 3 July & baptised 27 July 1831 in the Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, daughter of George (Sergeant Artillery) & Catherine Jennings residing in Ahmednuggur, Bombay, India.[iv]
- James Jennings, born 25 January and baptised 24 February 1833 in the Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, son of George (Draftsman Artillery Depot) & Catherine residing in Ahmednuggur.[v]
- Caroline Jennings, born 3 July and baptised 2 August 1835 in the Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, daughter of George (Sub-Conductor Ordnance) & Catherine residing in Ahmednuggur.[vi] Caroline died at the age of 11 on 10 September 1847 and was buried, as the daughter of the late Sub Conductor Jennings of the Ordnance Department, in Bycullah, Bombay, India.[vii]
- Isabella Jennings, born 26 Dec 1837 and baptised 14 January 1838 in Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, daughter of George (Gunner Artillery) & Catherine residing in Ahmednuggur.[viii]
- Catherine Jennings, born 10 August and baptised 13 August 1840 in the Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, the daughter of George (acting [unable to read] Instructor, artillery Repository) & Catherine residing in Ahmednuggur.[ix]
Research Notes
Baptismal
records for James (1833) and Isabella (1838) incorrectly list George’s
occupation as Draftsman and Gunner, respectively. However, military records
show he had been promoted to Sub-Conductor by this time. These errors likely
resulted from clerical oversights.
Correcting
these errors was crucial for accurately documenting George's career
progression, shedding light on the roles he played in the Bombay Army.
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[i]
Marriage of George Jennings(Gunner in the Honourble Company’s Regiment
of Artillery) & Catherine Jacob married by banns on 16 July 1827, from the
offical copy of the Register of Marriages for the Chaplaincy of Matoonga in the
Archdeaconry of Bombay between 31 December 1827-1 January 1828, entry 65, page
193 Findmypast, British India Office Marriages, Parish register transcripts
from the Presidency of Bombay, 1709-1948, citing IOR Reference Z/N/3, Volume Number 8, Folio 193)
[ii]
Baptism of Sarah Jennings(daughter) born 7 July 1828 and baptised 10
August 1829, daughter of George(Gunner) & Catherine Jennings, residing in
Matoonga, entry 90, baptisms in the Register for the Chaplaincy of Matooya,
Archdeanery of Bombay from 1 July to the 31 December 1828; Findmypast, Parish
register transcripts from the Presidency of Bombay, 1709-1948, citing British
India Office Births & Baptisms N-3-8 folio 267
[iii]
Baptism of George Jennings(son) born 7 July 1829 and baptised 2 August
1829, son of George (H.C.Arty [Honourable Company Artillery]) & Catherine
Jennings, residing in Matoonga entry 100, baptisms in the Register for the
Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, Archdeanery of Bombay from 1 July to the 31 December
1829; Findmypast, Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Bombay,
1709-1948(database with images), citing British India Office Births &
Baptisms N-3-9 folio 225
[iv]
Baptism of Mary Ann Jennings(daughter) born 3 July 1831 and baptised 27
July 1831, daughter of George (Sergeant Artillery) &
Catherine Jennings, residing in Ahmednuggur, entry 19, baptisms in the Register
for the Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, Archdeanery of Bombay from 1 July 1832 to
the 1 July 1833; Findmypast, Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of
Bombay, 1709-1948(database with images), citing British India Office Births
& Baptisms N-3-10 folio 186
[v]
Baptism of James Jennings(son) born 25 January
1833 and baptised 24 February 1833, son of George(Draftsman
Artillery Depot) & Catherine Jennings, residing in Ahmednuggur, entry
5, baptisms in the Register for the Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, Archdeanery of
Bombay from 1 July 1832 to the 1 July 1833; Findmypast, Parish register
transcripts from the Presidency of Bombay, 1709-1948(database with images), citing
British India Office Births & Baptisms N-3-11 folio 4
[vi]
Baptism of Caroline Jennings(daughter) born 3
July 1835 and baptised 2 August 1835, daughter of George(sub Conductor, ordinance) & Catherine Jennings,
residing in Ahmednuggur, entry 14, baptisms in the Register for the Chaplaincy
of Ahmednuggur, Archdeanery of Bombay from 1 July to the 31 December 1835; Findmypast,
Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Bombay, 1709-1948(database
with images), citing British India Office Births & Baptisms N-3-12 folio 3
[vii]
Burial of Caroline Jennings(daughter) (aged 11, daughter of the late Sub
Conductor Jennings of the Ordnance Department)
10 September 1847 in Back Bay, Bycullah, Bombay, Findmypast, Parish
register transcripts from the Presidency of Bombay, 1709-1948(database with
images), 3rd unnumbered entry on page 213 entitled “Burials at
Bycullah in the archdeaconry and Diocese of Bombay in the East Indies in the
Year 1847”
[viii]
Baptism of Isabella Jennings(daughter) born 26 Dec 1837 and baptised 14
January 1838, daughter of George(Gunner, Artillery)
& Catherine Jennings, residing in Ahmednuggur, entry 1, baptisms in the
Register for the Chaplaincy of Ahmednuggur, Archdeanery of Bombay from 1 July
to the 31 December 1838; Findmypast, Parish register transcripts from the
Presidency of Bombay, 1709-1948(database with images),citing British India
Office Births & Baptisms N-3-13 folio 271
[ix]
Baptism of Catherine Jennings(daughter) born 10 August 1840 and baptised
13 August 1840, daughter of George(actg [unable to read]
sub Conductor artillery Rep7[?]) & Catherine Jennings, residing in
Ahmednuggur, entry 24, baptisms in the Register for the Chaplaincy of
Ahmednuggur, in the service of Bombay from 1 July to the 31 December 1840; Findmypast,
Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Bombay, 1709-1948(database
with images), citing British India Office Births & Baptisms N-3-14 folio
257
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