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TUITE – Richard HEIC Bengal 2nd European Light Infantry

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EAST INDIA COMPANY
NameTUITE 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/DurationHEIC
Length of Service9 years 6 months
Rank/Date/Place of DischargePrivate / 8th August 1849 / Not yet known
Campaign MedalsNot yet known
Intended Residence at
Discharge
12 Spring Garden Parade Ballybough Dublin  Ireland
Pension Districts1849 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 Paid6d – 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 Birth1810 St. Thomas Dublin Ireland
Date/Place of BaptismNot yet known
Father
Date/Place of Birth
Not yet known
Mother
Date/Place of Birth
Marriage
Not yet known
SiblingsNot yet known
1st Wife
Date of Birth or Baptism
Not yet known
Date/Place of MarriageNot yet known
Children by 1st WifeNot 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 ArticlesPerth 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/Burial31st December 1863  Dublin, Ireland
Not yet known
Date/Place of Death/Burial
Wife
Not yet known
Will or ProbateNone known
Further InformationDischarge 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.