Rollo Gillespie Burslem (1813 - 1896)
Name: Major Rollo Gillespie Burslem Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1813 - Welter Vreeden, Java 1 Baptism: Death: 26 Mar 1896 - Windsor, Berkshire 2 Burial: 1896 - Windsor Cemetary, (Sec.G) 2 Cause of Death:
Events
1. He travelled to Calcutta, India from from London, England in 1832 3 arriving October 24 on the "Caesar", Captain H.Thompson.
2. Rank/Regiment: 13 Apr 1832. 2 Ensign, 13th Regiment of foot
3. He was honoured by being presented to the King at St.James' Palace on 4th July 1832. He was presented by his father Colonel Burslem K.H (Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order.)
4. Rank/Regiment: In 27 Mar 1835 he was appointed a Lieutenant, 13th Regiment of Foot, by purchase 5
5. He served in the Afghan War from 1838 to 1840 2
Hart's Army List 1888 includes the following entry
"War Services of Majors retired by Sale etc.
Major Burslem served the campaigns of 1838, 39 and 40 in Affghanistan, with the 13th Light Infantry and was present at the storm and capture of Ghuznee (medal), storm and capture of the town of Tootumdurrah, storm of Joolghur, night attack at Baboo Koosh Gur,destruction of Khardurrah, and assualt of Perwandurrah. In 1839 he accompanied the force under Sir Robert Gale to Girisk.In 1840 he,with Lieutenant Sturt of the Bengal Engineers, proceeded on a survey of the defiles of the Hindoo Kush - 200 miles in extent - to Koollum"
6. In 1839 he was awarded the Ghuznee Medal, for the attack on Ghuznee, India. 6
The original medal to Lieutenant Rollo G. Burslem came up at auction in 2004.
The catalogue listing shows "Description: [ British Medals ] 1839 Ghuznee Medal to Lieut Rollo G. Burslem 13th Light Infantry EF. (Y) "
7. Campaigns: Expedition through Hindu Kush, Jun-Nov 1840, Afghanistan. 7
8. He travelled to England from from Calcutta, India in 1842 8 on Mar 4 on the "Herefordshire", Captain George Richardson.
9. Rank/Regiment: In 20 Dec 1842 he was appointed a Captain, 13th Regiment of Foot, by promotion 9
10. He was involved in a court case in Sep 1843. 10 Captain Burslem of the 13th Regiment of Foot served on the Court Martial of Lieutenant J.Piper of the 26th Cameronian Regiment.
11. He served in the Regimental Depot in 1844 in Chatham, Kent 11
The West Kent Guardian reported on Friday 13 December 1844 in "Army News"
13th, Depot Chatham.emdash Returns were received on Tuesday last from the regiment which is coming to England from India, This regiment has had 400 men volunteer from it into other regiments remaining in India. Captain Burslem has joined the depot, and taken over charge and payment of the depot from Brevet Major Wade, who is on leave of absence from the 1st of December, to March 1845, Regima
12. He resided at Walmer Barracks, Kent in 1846. 12
13. In1846 Captain Rollo Burslem authored an account of his expedition to the Hindu Kush under the title "A Peep into Toorkisthan". First published in 1846 and reprinted by Elibron Classics. 13
14. Rank/Regiment: In 8 Nov 1850 he was appointed a Major,13th Regiment of Foot by purchase 14
Regimental Service included:
1848 - 1850; Ireland, Birr, Newry, Belfast, Armagh, Downpatrick 1850; Scotland - 26th April, HQ and 4 Coys from Belfast to Scotland - Fort George Inverness, followed by remainder of regiment, 3 Coys to Dundee, 3 to Perth and 4 to Stirling 11th to 14th Nov. 1851; Orders for Foreign Service - by rail to Winchester. 24th May HQ & 6 Coys to Gibraltar arriving 5th June, Depot Coys under Maj Holcombe from Winchester to Gosport 1852: May, Depot from Gosport to Jersey - Regt stayed at Gibraltar 1853; May, Depot from Jersey to Fermoy; December to Clonmel, Regt inpected in Gibraltar Oct 1854; March/April; Part of Gibraltar Garrison to Black sea members of 13th to other regts.
5th May; Depot at Clonmel inspected & Major Burslem & officers reported as active and intelligent with Depot in good order. 1 Coy at Wexford & a subaltern's party at Cashel.
15. He retired and left the Army in 1857. 15
16. Rank/Regiment: In 24 Jul 1857 he was appointed a 43 Regiment of Foot 16
Immediately prior to his retirement Rollo Gillespie Burslem exchanged from half pay status to that of a Major in the 43rd Regiment and then sold his commission to Capatin Francis Hutchinson Synge. The exchange and retirement are dated on the same day.
17. He was a farmer in 1861 in East Woodhay, Hampshire. 17 The Census shows him with a farm of 110 acres and employing three men.
18. In 1865 he lived at Woodhay House, in Hampshire 18
19. In 1867 He was in partnership with Alfred Hodge as Brickmakers at Horsham Brickfield, Upchurch, Kent. The partnership was dissolved on July 26, 1867. 19
20. In 1870 he was awarded the position of a Military Knight of Windsor, Windsor Castle. 2
21. He ran for office and became Governor of the Military Knights of Windsor from 1876 to 1896 in Windsor Castle. 2
22. In 1885 he was involved in a court case for the voting eligiblity of the Military Knights of Windsor in Windsor. 20 He gave evidence in a dispute over whether the Military Knights of Windsor were, or were not, eligible for inclusion on the electoral lists. The decision was that they were not eligible.
23. In 19 Dec 1890 attended the ceremony at St.George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, when HM Queen Victoria unveiled a memorial to the late Emperor Frederick. 21
Parents
Father: Colonel Nathaniel Burslem KH JP (Abt 1769-1856) 22 Mother: Sarah Norris Brooke (Abt 1775-1866)
Spouses and Children
1. *Sophia Lee (1816 - 18 Jul 1891)
Marriage: 10 May 1851 - St.Mary's Church, Lambeth, Surrey 23
Children:
1. Rollo Burslem (Abt 1843-1891) 24 (Father: Adopted ) (Mother: Biological )
2. Emily E. Burslem (Abt 1841-After 1891) 25
3. Flora Buddie (Sophia) Burslem (Abt 1847- ) 26
Notes
General:
Marriage Notes (Sophia Lee)
The birth certificate for rollo Burslem (born 1843) shows the name for the father as Rollo Burslem Buddie and that of the mother as Sophia Buddie. They were not married until 1851.
Sources
1. UK Census (Various), 1871 Census and 1881 Census. Surety: 3.
2. Brigadier General F.G.Marsh C.M.G,D.S.O, The Godolphins (Privately Printed MCMXXX (1930)), Page 59. Surety: 3.
3. Families in British India Society, Search for Burslem - extract from the Madras Almanac 1833. Surety: 3.
4. Historical Newspapers, The Times,5 July 1832, Court Circular. Surety: 4.
5. Brigadier General F.G.Marsh C.M.G,D.S.O, The Godolphins (Privately Printed MCMXXX (1930)), Page 59. Surety: 3. .... The London Gazette, Mar 27 1835 page 578. Surety: 4.
6. The Army List (Annual publication), Harts Army List 1888. Surety: 4.
7. Rollo Gillespie Burslem, A Peep into Toorkisthan (Pelham Richardson, 23 Cornhill, London, 1846), Pages 13 to 238. Surety: 4.
8. Families in British India Society, Search - extract from the Madras Almanac 1843. Surety: 3.
9. The London Gazette, Mar 24 1843 page 988. Surety: 4.
10. Historical Newspapers, The Times of London - September 12 1843 page 6. Surety: 3.
11. British Newspaper Archive, Newspaper Archives. West Kent Guardian - Friday 13 December 1844 . Surety: 4.
12. J.F.Burslem, Pelham Richardson, 23 Cornhill, London, 1846. A Peep into Toorkisthan. Address on fly leaf. Surety: 3.
13. Rollo Gillespie Burslem, A Peep into Toorkisthan (Pelham Richardson, 23 Cornhill, London, 1846), Surety: 3.
14. Everet (1934), The Somerset Light Infantry - 13th Foot. (1934), Entries for Rollo Burslem. Surety: 3. .... The London Gazette, Nov 8 1850 page 2911. Surety: 3.
15. The London Gazette, July 24 1857. Surety: 3.
16. The London Gazette, July 24 1857 page 2552. Surety: 4.
17. Ancestry.co.uk, 1861 Census. Search for Rollo Burslem. Surety: 4.
18. Gentleman's Magazine, 1865 part 1 page 507. Surety: 3.
19. The London Gazette, November 1 1867 page 5794. Surety: 4.
20. Historical Newspapers, The Times of London - September 21 1885 page 10. Surety: 3.
21. Historical Newspapers, The Times of London - December 19 1890 page 8. Surety: 3.
22. War Services of Rugbeians, page 11. Surety: 3. .... Rugby School Register, Entrances in January 1781. Surety: 3.
23. UK General Record Office, Marriage Certificate - May 10 1851. Surety: 3.
24. Ancestry.co.uk, 1881 Census. Search for Rollo Burslem. Surety: 3.