George Pearson was Ari’s 6x great-grandfather, born in Bonsall, Derbyshire, in 1792. His baptism took place on 26 Feb at the church in the village.
Derbyshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538–1812
George had two older brothers and four younger sisters (another brother had died just before he was born).
His father, Peter, was a miner who died in 1813 when George was 21. Five years later George married Elizabeth Kitchen at the church in Bonsall.
Derbyshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754–1932
We know from the baptism record of their first child, Robert, that George worked as a tailor.
Derbyshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813–1916
Robert would later enlist as a Private in the Honourable East India Company Infantry (1st Bengal European Regiment). He was 20 years of age, 5ft 6in tall with light brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. Apparently, men who were taller than this were generally assigned to the Artillery, while those under 5ft 7in joined the Infantry. Men had to prove that they were not running away from the Law.
Robert died after just three years in India and was buried at Subathu, a hill cantonment near Shimla in the Himalayas. The regiment is now known as the 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers).
George and Elizabeth had two more children: a daughter, Mary in 1821 (Ari’s 5x great-grandmother), and a son, Peter, in 1824.
George died that same year, aged just 32, and he was buried at Bonsall on 11 November.
Ari, this is how you are related to George:
