Hello
I have just joined this list in the hope of knocking down or climbing
over a brick wall.
Can anyone tell me where I might find any records of births, deaths and
marriages of UK citizens that occurred in Ceylon between about 1841 and
1855?
Along with a family member in New Zealand (who posted to this list
several years ago), I am seeking a marriage record between Harriet
Elizabeth Helmore and Arthur Wellington Heale, a tea planter in Ceylon.
Harriet, born in London on 07 Aug 1819, was recorded with her parents
in Westminster in 1841. She does not appear again in any census. A W
Heale was baptised at St Giles, Camberwell, on 16 Aug 1815. I recently
found the birth of Arthur W Heale's first child in Ceylon on 03 Sep 1847
announced in the London Times on 23 Oct 1847. We had previously not
known of this child. Five other known children were born between about
1849 and 1855. While searching the Times recently I found the death of
Harriet at Colombo on 31 May 1855 (in the Times on 17 Jul), and the
death of the first born son, Arthur George, (son of A W Heale of
Colombo, Ceylon) on board the 'Albemarle' on 01 May 1855 (in the Times
on 07 Aug) aged 7 years 5 months.
Following Harriet's death Arthur W Heale returned to England where he
died in 1860. I have found the five living children recorded in the
census from 1861 onwards all noted as 'born in Ceylon.'. They were all
living with various family members.
The Helmore family were fairly well-to-do in London and I have found
many events announced in the Times. I have searched all the marriage
announcements in the Times from June 1841(census time) to the end of
1847, all to no avail. I have also searched the FIBIS site and have
searched some records (on fiche) that my local society holds re UK bdms
abroad. Again to no avail. There is also no record in free BMD or the
UK GRO Indexes.
We feel that the marriage took place in Ceylon and would love to be able
to obtain some relevant certifcates.
Please offer me some suggestions.
Val (Qld., Aus)