I am trying to locate information on my 3rd Great Grandfather, George Hardy, who was a private in the 36th Regiment (of Foot). In particular the sorts of details I am after include when he joined up and when he demobbed (circa 1870) and details about his wife, Mary Ann Hardy (possibly nee Callaghan) or Jane Hardy (listed as mother on the birth of his two children in India (see below). There is a post on your forum by someone called 'scully' which talks about a Mary Ann Hardy...I wonder if there is a connection.
I would also like to find out information about soldiers wives and children. My 2nd great grandmother, Mary Ellen Hardy was born in Shapjehapore in 1866 and her brother, George Hardy was born in Peshawar in 1869 so presumably George's wife and children travelled with the regiment at a time when cholera outbreaks were decimating the regiment so interesting times. Perhaps Mary Hardy helped nurse sick and dying soldiers.
George's first child, Emma, was born in Ireland in 1861 which ties in nicely with the time that the regiment was based there before heading to India so I know he must have joined up before then, presumably in the 1850s. He was born about 1830, so perhaps he joined circa 1848-50.
I have located George and his family in Jarrow after he demobbed in 1871, 1881 and 1891 census documents and in the 1881 census he listed hismelf as a Chelsea Pensioner (obviously an outpatient).
Any elp or hints would be warmly received. Steve Ripley