TUITE – Richard HEIC Bengal 2nd European Light Infantry

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Name	TUITE Richard
Regiment (s)	Honourable East India Company Bengal 2nd European Light Infantry
Regiment Number (s)	15
Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation	23rd September 1839 / 29 years / Waterford Ireland Labourer
Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars	5 Ft 7 in Fresh / Blue / Brown / None
Overseas Service/Duration	HEIC
Length of Service	9 years 6 months
Rank/Date/Place of Discharge	Private / 8th August 1849 / Not yet known
Campaign Medals	Not yet known
Intended Residence at Discharge	12 Spring Garden Parade Ballybough Dublin Ireland
Pension Districts	1849 2nd Dublin 1850 2nd East London 1851-1852 Western Australia 1853 2nd East London 1855 1st Dublin 1856 2nd Dublin 1856 1st Dublin 1858 East London 1858 1st Dublin
Pension Paid	6d – Temporary 1 year until 1st August 1850 then made Permanent
Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland	1st February 1851 Falmouth England
Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia	MERMAID 15th May 1851
Date/Place of Birth	1810 St. Thomas Dublin Ireland
Date/Place of Baptism	Not yet known
Father Date/Place of Birth	Not yet known
Mother Date/Place of Birth Marriage	Not yet known
Siblings	Not yet known
1^st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism	Not yet known
Date/Place of Marriage	Not yet known
Children by 1^st Wife	Not yet known
Father of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth	Not yet known
Mother of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth Marriage	Not yet known
Land Grants Western Australia	None
Occupation after Arrival	Not yet known
Newspaper Articles	Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News – Friday 16th January 1852 – page 2 – pensioner Tuite charged with stealing some liquors from his employer Friday 25th February 1853 – page 2 – Police Intelligence – 19th – lying drunk in the streets. Friday 30th September 1853 – page 2 – Perth Police Intelligence – for drunkenness while under medical treatment in Colonial Hospital. Following entries all are for being drunk : Inquirer 24th August 1851 – page 3 Inquirer 3rd September 1851 – page 2 Inquirer 17th March 1852 – page 2 Inquirer Wednesday 7th April 1852 – page 3 Inquirer 2nd March 1853 – page 3
Departure from Western Australia	1853 per unknown ship
Date/Place of Death/Burial	31st December 1863 Dublin, Ireland Not yet known
Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife	Not yet known
Will or Probate	None known
Further Information	Discharge due to chronic rheumatism and injury to left hip Comment in WO23 record 2nd June 1852 states “this ‘man’ ‘dumped from Enrolled Force for Drunkenness”. In April 1853 Richard Tuite petitioned the Governor stating he had arrived in the Colony in May 1851 as one of the guard on the Convict ship Mermaid and was employed in the Local force until the arrival of the Pyrenees when he was discharged, since then he had not had regular employment having received a severe injury while working on Government works having been previously injured in India with his regiment. He said Captain Bruce had mulcted his pension of 6d per day by 3d per day. He was completely destitute except for 7/6 per month and had neither house, home nor shelter and was compelled to sleep in the open air in the bush. He wished to leave the Colony and return to his native land where property had been left to him by his brother. He begged His Excellency to afford him a passage back to the UK using his pension as security against the expenses incurred. 30th April 1853 Captain Bruce replied to the petition: Richard Tuite is an incorrigible drunkard who was struck off the enrolled Force for repeated acts of intemperance. He had found employment at Champion Bay with Mr Burgess on a salary of £12 per annum plus rations but was dismissed for “…making free with Mr Burgess’ supply of spirits.” Previous to going to Champion Bay he was lucky not to be charged with taking spirits from Mr De Burgh. Bruce had no information regarding the injury in India or on the Government works although Tuite did complain of having strained himself while working at Robbs Jetty. The stoppage of half his pension was according to the regulations of the War Office for having been struck off the Enrolled Force for misconduct. The petition was refused although he did eventually return to the UK late in 1853. A Richard Tuite age 44 a single man and a soldier was admitted to the Union Workhouse Dublin on 4th June 1855 leaving on 30th June 1855. Remarks: Richard TUIITE’’s claim that he had money coming to him from a will may have had some truth in it, as a Richard TUITE of Courtney Lane, Ballybough, coal factor, died in 1843 and left a will [Note: Richard gave his intended place of residence as Spring Gardens Parade, Ballybough. A Richard TUITE, father Richard, Mother Mary was bap at St. Mary’s (Pro-Cathedral) Dublin City on 21st May 1807.