Alexander Heldt (abt. 1801 - 1865)

Born about 25 Dec 1801 in India

Husband of Isabella (Unknown) Heldt — married 5 Apr 1836 (to 16 Jul 1865) in Secunderabad, India

Descendants

Died 16 Jul 1865 at about age 63 in India

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Biography

Surname

The family's surname is spelt variously Held, Helt, Helth, Heldt across different documents; Heldt seems to have been the settled choice for descendants.

Birth

There is a baptism record for Alexius Held in 1806 which seems likely to relate to the Alexander of the subsequent biographical details.

"Fort St George—This is to certify that Alexius, son of Henry Held, piper in HM Reg de Meuron and of Maria Magdalena a native born the 25th of December 1801 was baptised... this day 20th January 1806..." ^[1][2]

There is no direct confirmation, i.e. father's name on later marriage documents. However,the name Alexius is a latinized form of Alexander^[3]. Age 63 at death in July 1865 would suit a birth in Dec 1801. He uses the name Henry for two sons.

First Marriage & Children

Alexander's first wife, Sarah, died, aged 25, and was buried in Secunderabad on the 26th of April 1835. "Sarah Helt, wife of Drum Major J Helt 39th Reg N.I."^[4]

Her death was likely connected to the birth of their youngest son, Richard, who was born on the 11th of April that year.

No marriage record has been found for Alexander and Sarah.

There are five children born between approximately 1824 and 1835. The first three have no baptism records that have been found, but their marriage records have Alexander, Drum Major 39th Reg N.I. as their father; the last two have baptism records to Alexander and Sarah.

• Catharine Heldt (c.1824 - 1904?)
• Edward Held (c.1828 - 1887?)
• Nancy Heldt (c.1828 - unknown)
• Henry Heldt (1833-1833)
• Richard Heldt (1835-1835)

Second Marriage & Children

On the 5th of April 1836 "Alexander Helth Drum Major 39th N.I. widower and Isabell Chander spinster both Hindoo Briton were married by banns in St John's Church Secunderabad..."^[5][6]He signed the record, she signed with an X. The witnesses were: Robert & Mary Ann Long.

Alexander and Isabella had nine children:

• Alexander Heldt (1836-1902)
• Henry Heldt (1838-1887)
• Andrew Held (1843-)
• Charles Heldt (1844-)
• Thomas Heldt (1845-)
• Amelia Heldt (1847-)
• Isabella Heldt (1849-)
• Eliza Heldt (1851-1907)
• Richard Heldt (1856-1902)

Death

"Alexander Held" died on the 16th of July 1865 and was buried the same day in Palamcottah. He was 63 years old a Pensioned Drum Major; the cause was paralysis.^[7]

Research Notes

Likely parents Hendrick Helt & Maria Magdalena married at Fort St George on the 29th of January 1806.^[8] Hendrick was a piper in the Regiment de Meuron^[9][10], which was, acording to an article mentioning it's history in The Englishman 17 December 1903^[11], "In 1806 the Regiment was ordered home, and was stationed suscessively at the Isle of Wight; Lymington and Gurnsey." Gibraltar, Messina and Canada followed before disbandment in 1816. Perhaps the regiments imminent departure spured their marriage and the baptism of Alexius. No other records relating to them have been found so far, so we cannot ascertain wheter they left India with the regiment or part of the family remained. A daughter, Elizabeth, had been baptised to them in 1800.

On his burial record there is a pencilled in note, but the word is hard to distinguish, and the date 16.07.48.

SURNAME VARIATIONS

HEETH On baptism and burial of son Henry (1833-1833).

HELT On baptism and burial of son Richard (1835-1835)

Sources

1. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6854-KY1X : Sat Mar 09 22:40:35 UTC 2024), Entry for Alexus Held and Henry Held, 20 Jan 1806.
2. ↑ "United Kingdom, British India Office, Births and Baptisms, 1712-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6VYM-FB2L : 20 January 2023), Alexius Held, 1806.
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexius
4. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X42-6HM2 : Sat Mar 09 05:27:12 UTC 2024), Entry for Sarah Helt and J Helt, 1835.
5. ↑ Findmypast, full document[1]
6. ↑ "India Marriages, 1792-1948 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGVS-1MB : 5 February 2020), Alexander Helth, 1836.
7. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F4G-BQ82 : Sat Mar 09 23:31:28 UTC 2024), Entry for Alexander Held, 16 Jul 1865.
8. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6DMH-ZW9W : Sat Mar 09 04:39:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Kendrick Held and Maria Magdalena Naters, 29 Jan 1806.
9. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regiment_de_Meuron
10. ↑ https://doczz.net/doc/8836275/list-soldiers-and-officers-of-the-regiment-of-meuron--who...,
11. ↑ Findmypast - Newspapers[2]