Catharine (Heldt) Sharples (abt. 1824)

Born about 1824 in India

Ancestors

Wife of Charles Eling — married 25 Oct 1836 (to before Feb 1841) in Jaulnah, India

Wife of John Palmby — married 21 Dec 1853 (to 10 Apr 1857) in Trichinopoly, Madras Presidency, India

Wife of John Sharples — married 21 Jul 1859 in Vepery, Madras, India

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Biography

Catherine Heldt is likely the eldest child of Alexander Heldt and his first wife 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.

First Marriage — to Charles Eling

Jaulnah, 25th October 1836. "...Acting Junior Assistant Apothecary Charles Eling of the D Troop Horse Artillery and Catherine Helth | Indo-Briton | spinster were untied in Holy Matrimony..." Witnesses: James and Isabella Todd. ^[1]

Catherine and Charles had a daughter, Sarah Catherine Eling, born on the 30th of September 1840, and baptised on the 12th of February 1841 in Secunderabad; at which time her father was described as "Charles Eling late Assistant Apothecary deceased.."

No burial record found for Charles Eling.

Second Marriage — to Charles Spier

Catherine married Charles Spier (no marriage record yet found).

Catherine and Charles had a son, Charles Spier born on the 15th of November 1848 and bapised on the 30th of January 1849 at St John's Church, Trichinopoly. The family lived in Trichinopoly, His father was described as "late Band Master of 45th Reg N.I." It is noted that it was a private baptism. No sponsors listed. ^[2][3]

Catherine's husband, Charles Spier, had died, aged 27, of Cholera, and been buried on the 27th of January 1849 in Trichinopoly.^[4]

Catherine's son, died at 7m old, buried on the 11th of June 1849 at Chindamony(??), Madras Presidency. His name was noted as "Charles Edward Spiers" "son of Charles Edward Spiers and Catherine his wife"^[5]

Third Marriage — to John Palmby

Catherine Spiere married John Palmby on the 21st of December 1853 in Trichinopoly. ^[6]

Details from the marriage record:

• John Palmby; full age; bachelor; Lance Corporal HM 84th Reg; abode: Trichinopoly; father: Robert Palmby.
• Catherine Spiere; full age; widow; abode: Trichinopoly; father: Alexander Helth.
• By License.
• Witnesses: William & Elizabeth Moorehead.

(Random note of connection: Re these marriage witnesses: William & Elizabeth Moorehead's son John Robert Moorehead married Catherine's sister Nancy's daughter Agnes Vanderholt in 1875)

Catherine and John had a son, John Herbert Palmby. He was born on the 16th of January 1857, baptised on the 24th of January 1857.^[7]Sadly, he died of convulsions at 8 days old on the 25th of January 1857 and was buried the same day.^[8][9] The family were living in Rangoon. His father was a Private in HM 84th Reg.

Catherine's husband, John Palmby, sadly died on the 10th of April 1857 and was buried the next day in Chinsurah. He was noted as 39; a Private in HM 84th Reg; cause: Cholera.^[10]

Fourth Marriage — to John Sharples

Catharine Palmby married John Sharples at St Matthias, Vepery, Madras, on the 21st of July 1859.^[11][12]

Details from the marriage record:

• John Sharples; 36; bachelor; unemployed; abode: Pursewalkum; father: Christopher Sharples.
• Catharine Palmby; 33; widow; abode: New Town; father: Alexander Held.
• By License.
• Witnesses: D. Cown; John Dunning; J.B. Ross.

Catharine and John had a daughter, Ann Regina Sharples, born on the 26th of June 1862, and baptised on the 7th of August that year in Secunderabad. Her father is noted as a Private, Royal Regiment; the family live in Trimulgherry.^[13][14]

Death

There is a burial that seems likely to be Catharine, however the age is slightly out. "Katherine Sharples" "widow of John Sharples" noted as age 89, cause: bronchitus. Died on the 12th of February 1904 and buried the next day in Calcutta. ^[15][16]

Research Notes

On her marriage document to John Palmby her name is corrected as having a second a e.g. Catharine not Catherine. This is the spelling in her actual signature that can be seen on the document. (At some point need to pop back and check previous documents as to the spelling used)

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

Sources

1. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XF6-DMWW : Sat Mar 09 05:20:43 UTC 2024), Entry for Charles Eling and Catherine Helth, 25 Oct 1836.
2. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6NSH-4KDV : Sun Mar 10 01:24:33 UTC 2024), Entry for Charles Spier and Charles Spier, 30 Jan 1849.
3. ↑ "United Kingdom, British India Office, Births and Baptisms, 1712-1965", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6VY9-FPF7 : 20 January 2023), Charles Spier, 1849.
4. ↑ Findmypast[1]
5. ↑ Findmypast[2]
6. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:669C-Z9RX : Sun Mar 10 20:21:52 UTC 2024), Entry for John Palmby and Robert Palmby, 21 Dec 1853.
7. ↑ "United Kingdom, British India Office, Births and Baptisms, 1712-1965", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6VYM-LXDF : 20 January 2023), John Herbert Palmby, 1857.
8. ↑ "India Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGLY-VMD : 5 February 2020), John Herbert Palmby, 1857.
9. ↑ Findmypast, full document[3]
10. ↑ Findmypast [4]
11. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:62FJ-7G4T : Sun Mar 10 11:01:28 UTC 2024), Entry for John Sharples and Christopher Sharples, 21 Jul 1859.
12. ↑ "India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6646-CTLV : Fri Mar 08 09:23:52 UTC 2024), Entry for John Sharples and Christopher Sharples, 21 Jul 1859.
13. ↑ "United Kingdom, British India Office, Births and Baptisms, 1712-1965", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6VY9-TTF5 : 20 January 2023), Ann Regina Pharples, 1862.
14. ↑ Findmypast, [5]
15. ↑ "India Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FG2S-NQ4 : 5 February 2020), Katherine Sharples, 1904.
16. ↑ Findmypast, full document[6]