from Guy Barker
This article was originally published in the April 2010 edition of Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society
In the last edition of Soul Search (April 2009, p25), John Westerdale kindly produced an article ‘The SAULs Settle in the USA’. Guy Barker has kindly followed this up with the following extract from the British Library records. Ed
Her Majesty’s 3rd Bengal European Regiment of Infantry
Morar Gwalior 13th August 1859.
Proceedings of a Regimental Committee, held this day, for the purpose of verifying and recording the Services, Conduct, Character, and cause of Discharge No. 1176 Private William Saull, of the Regiment above mentioned.
PRESIDENT
Capt. E.D.R. Ross
MEMBERS
Captn. A. Powell Lt. R.E. Anderson
The Committee having examined and compared the Regimental records, the Soldier’s Book, and such other documents as appeared to them to be necessary, report that No. 1176 Pte William Saull by trade Labourer, was born in the parish of Buckley in or near the town of Daventry, in the county of Northampton was attested for the Hon’ble East India Company’s Service at Bristol in the county of Somersetshire, on the 18th February 1857 Fifty Seven at the age of 18 Years 4 Months , that after making every deduction required by the regulations, the Service up to this day which he is entitled to reckon, amounts to 2 years 195 days, as shown by the detailed statement on the 2nd page, during which period he served ——- years and —– days, viz. in the 3rd Ben Eur Regt —- years ——- days and further, that his Discharge is proposed in consequence of the option given to him as G.G.O. No 883 of the 21st June 1859.
With regard to the Character and conduct of Pt Wm Saull the Committee have to report that upon reference to the Defaulter’s Book, and by the parole testimony that has been given it appears that it is Good & being asked to what date he has been paid, answered, that his account is balanced up to the latest period required by the regulations; and being further asked whether he has any Claim on the Regiment for Arrears of Pay, Allowances, or Clothing, answered that he has received all just demands, from his entry into the services up to the 31st Augt. 1859 and in confirmation affixes his signature thereto.
I acknowledge this to be true His X mark
Witness AW Thomson Lt
Eight Company 3rd European Regiment}
| 2Detailed Statement of the service of No 1176 Pte Willm Saull | ||||||||
| Regiment | Promotions, Reductions, &c. | Rank | Period of Service in each Rank | Amount of Service | ||||
| From | To | Years | Days | |||||
| 3rd Eur Regt | Private | 185718 Feby | 185931 Augt | 2 | 195 | |||
| Joined 3 Eur Regt | “ | 18588 May | ||||||
| Total of the foregoing Statement | 2 | 195 | ||||||
| The Committee have ascertained that Pte. Willm Saull Soldier’s Book is cor-rectly balanced and signed by the Officer Commanding his company; and they de-clare that they have impartially enquired into and faithfully reported upon all the matters brought before them in accordance with the Regulations.E.D.R. Ross Captn. PresidentAlex Pond CaptR.E. Anderson Lieut.} MembersWm Riddell ColonelCommanding 3rd Bengal European Regiment | ||||||||
| FINAL DESCRIPTION OF No. 1176 Pte. William Saull |
| I William Saull in the 3rd Bengal European Regimentof Infantry hereby declare that I do of my own free willrequest to be discharged from the Honourable Company’sService and I further declare that a period of notless than thirty days has elapsed since I first madeapplication for my discharge and it has been fullyexplained to me and I perfectly understand that inreceiving my discharge at my own request I entirelyrelinquish all claim to pension and that if I should reenlistmy past service prior to the date of my present dischargecannot be allowed to be reckoned for the purposeof obtaining any pensionary benefit.His x markSigned in the presence of the Regimental Committeeat Morar Gwalior this 13th day of August 1859EDR Ross Captain President |
| BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR GENERALOF INDIA IN COUNCILTHIS is to Certify that the Bearer hereof William SaulLate A Private of the 3rd Bengal Europn Regt20 years and 11 months of age, 5 feet 6 ½ inches high; Brown Hair,fresh Complexion, hazle Eyes, by trade a Laborera Native of Daventry in the County of Northamptonand Kingdom of England Enlisted at Bristol on theEighteenth day of February One thousand eight hundred andFifty seven for 10 YearsIs hereby discharged from Her Majesty’s Indian Military Forces at his own request underthe provisions of the G.G.O. No. 883 of 20th June 1859 and having first receiveda full, just and true account of all his Pay, Arrears of Pay, Clothing and all other DemandsFrom the time of his first enlisting into the Service to this present date, as appears by the receipt on the other side.Good CharacterGiven under my hand, at Fort William in Bengal, this 9thday of November One thousand eight hundred and fifty nine | ||
| To all Officers, Civil and Military,whom this may concern. | } | By Order of His Excellency the Governor General ofIndia in Council, |
| H.H. Burne Capt | ||
| Entered in the AdjutantGeneral’s Office. No. [Signature Offg D Yu] Secy. to the Govt. of India, Mily. Dept. | ||
| SEP. BECHER, Captain,Offg. Depy. Adjt. Genl. Of the Army. | ||
| I acknowledge to have received a full and true Account of my Pay, Arrears of pay, Clothingand all other Demands from | ||
| 3rd Bengal Eur. RegimentPrivateWilliam Saul | ||
| GRO Ref: 1840 Dec Daventry 15 247 | |
| Registration District Daventry Union | |
| 1840 Birth in the Sub-district of Long Buckby in the County of Northampton | |
| No. | 58 |
| When and where born | Twenty third of September 1840At West Huddon |
| Name, if any | William Tomkins |
| Sex | Boy |
| Name, and surname of father | John Saull |
| Name, surname, and maiden surname of mother | Sarah Saull Formerly Bamford |
| Occupation of father | Cooper |
| Signature, description and residence of informant | Sarah SaullMotherWest Haddon |
| When registered | Eighth of October 1840 |
| Signature of registrar | William JudkinsRegistrar |
Reference: British Library
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059‐iorlmil_5‐7&cid=1‐1‐1‐1‐9‐477#1‐1‐1‐1‐9‐477
Saull, William 3rd ER IOR/L/MIL/10/311/1442‐44 [n.d.]