INGERSOLE James

In 1755 the 51st Regiment of Foot was renumbered (from the 53rd). It received a county designation in 1782, as the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding) Regiment of Foot. In 1821 the regiment received royal status, becoming the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding, The King’s Own Light Infantry) Regiment.During the early 19th century the regiment served in the Napoleonic and Peninsular campaigns and served at Waterloo in 1815.

Between August and December 1837, six convict ships left Britain with 51st Regiment guards on board bound for New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. The regiment continued to arrive in Australia as convict guards, and in larger numbers on troopships, during the decade that followed. Some of these ships are profiled on the Ships page. Arguably the most famous of the journeys made by 30 officers and men was on the ship Buffalo. That story can be read on the Anecdotes page.

In June 1840, a detachment of 145 officers and men arrived in Western Australia on Runnymede from Hobart; a further 46 men arrived on Eudora and Champion between 1841 and 1844. Thirty three 51st men took their discharge and settled in Western Australia; one of them was this man featured on the right.

The 51st in Australia left Hobart for India on Java in 1847. Its last port of call was on 15th March 1847 when the balance of the detachment in WA boarded Java on her way to Calcutta.

51st Regiment at Waterloo
NAME James INGERSOLEName variations: Ingersoll
Birth Date and Placec.1820 South Weald, Essex, England [WO12-6208-154].
Baptism Date and Place20 Aug 1820 St Peters Church, South Weald, Essex [Essex Record Office].
Marriage Date and Place10 Apr 1850 Perth, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#308].
SpouseEmma CUFF [WABDM Reg.#308].
ChildrenJames b.1851 Toodyay, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#1704].
Emma Elizabeth b.1854 Plenty, Victoria [VICBDM Reg.#5645].
James b.1859 (d,13 months) Victoria [VICBDM death Reg.#5830].
OccupationsLabourer.
Land Acquisition in WANone.
Death Date and Place27 Sep 1879 Kew, Victoria – not verified [ancestry public tree].
Burial Date and Place
Death, Funeral, Obituary NoticesNone.
Will and ProbateNone.
BRITISH ARMY
Regiment51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding, The Kings Own Light Infantry) Regiment.
Soldier No. and Rank#1314 Private.
Enlistment Date and Place28 Jan 1839 Chatham HQ.
Age 19 years. Bounty paid to recruit £3 0s. 0d. [WO12-6200-560].
Physical DescriptionHeight: 5 ft. 6.1/8th ins.
Medals, Clasps and BadgesNone.
Arrival Van Diemen’s Land: Ship and DateLayton.  Embarked 22 Jun 1839, London [WO12-6201-205].
Arr. 07 Dec 1839 from Portsmouth, England dep. 13 Jul 1839 [DPS].
Arrival Western Australia: Ship and DateRunnymede 25 Jun 1840 from Hobart [TROVE].
Military Postings within Western Australia
Fremantle Round House Gaol

Rottnest Jun 1840 to Jan 1842.
Perth HQ Feb to Mar 1842.  On Command Apr 1842.
Rottnest May to Sep 1842.Perth HQ Oct 1842 to Jan 1843.
In Hospital ten days during Feb 1843.
Vasse Mar to Jun 1843.
Perth HQ Jul 1843.
Williams Aug to Sep 1843.
Perth HQ Oct to Nov 1844.
Fremantle Round House In Confinement Dec 1843 to Jan 1844 (see below).
Williamsburgh Feb to Dec 1844.
Perth HQ & Garrison Duty Jan to Mar 1845.
Perth HQ Apr 1845 to Feb 1846: On Command (May) , Garrison Duty (Jul).
Pinjarrah Mar 1846 to 30 Jun 1846 when discharged.
[All sourcing from WO12-6202 TO 6208].

Courts Martial in Western AustraliaRegimental CM.  Offence unknown. In confinement 14 days with hard labour.
18 to 31 Dec 1843. Released 16 Jan 1844 [WO12-6205-244 & 270].
Discharge Date and Place30 Jun 1846 Perth, Western Australia [WO12-6208-154].
Conditional Discharge on payment of £20 [WO28-266-67].
Age at Discharge26 years.
Length of Service7 years 6 months.