Find Ancestors

Trying to find out where my great grandfather ended up. He was born in Bombay in 1877, married in Bombay in 1904 but his wife died in 1919 and they had been living apart before that. He was in the Indian Civil Service in the early years of the 20th century. His wife's name was Elsie Violet Walker and his children were Helen Mary and John (Jack) Richard.
He lied about his age (he was too old) to join up in WW1 but only lasted about 6 weeks before - we think - being dishonourably discharged; we think for being drunk on duty. The story is that he left India c. 1935-40 to go to Australia as a racehorse trainer. We have no record of his death anywhere in the world but know that he may have fibbed about his age or name again. He may have remarried? He could have been alive into the 1970s or even 1980s at a push.
He had family in Melbourne and Victoria - Dart cousins.
Have no concerns about whether he had other family (I would quite like a happy ending!) but would just like to know when and where he ended up and died.
His father was John Moniz Dart b. Azores and his mother was Mary Stevens. They both died in 1918 in Bombay.

parents: John Dart,? Mary


name: John Henry Dart
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 10 Jan 1878
baptism/christening place: Bombay, Bombay, India
birth date: 24 Sep 1877
father's name: John Dart
mother's name: Mary
indexing project (batch) number: C00231-4
system origin: India-EASy
source film number: 523854

Yes that is him. My cousin found that in the British Library a while back. He had 3 sisters, one of whom died as a baby.Trouble is we do not know where he ended up. Hey ho! Thanks though.

Maybe if he lied about his age - miltary record
John Henry Dart
Estimate birth year 1883
Doc. year 1916
Reg, Number 24705
Reg Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Residence Sunny Side, Circus Ave.,Jacob's Chirche, Bombay

Sigh - sadly, no. His father was John Moniz Dart who Lived most of his adult life in Bombay and died there. Thanks though!

Just for info:-

British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920

Name: John Henry Dart
Birth: abt 1883
Military: 1916
Residence: Sunny Side Circus Avenue, Jacob's Cirche Bombay

Name: John Henry Dart
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1883
Age at enlistment: 33
Document Year: 1916
Regimental Number: 24705
Regiment Name: Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Number of images: 3

Trade: Nil
Married: Yes
Previous Army Service: Served two years in Bombay ? Rifles
Age: 33yrs
Height: 5'6"
Name and address of next of kin: Mrs.E. Dart , 104 Colaba, Bombay
Relationship: Wife
Christian and Surname: Mrs Elsie Dart nee Walker(spinster)
Married: 09/01/1904
Children: Helen 11/11/04
John 09/02/06
Discharged: 24 July 1916 (served 75 days) - under para 392 (xxvI) K.R.

Yes that is his military record. Birth year is a fib, as is the stuff about 2 years in the rifles. We have the original record with his discharge papers. This was when we found the poof that they were living apart. Helen was my granny. Thanks.

His daughter married Dennis Gough (my grandpa); John Henry knew this although we do not believe that he was at the wedding. Grandpa supposedly paid him off when he said he had a job as a horse trainer, but I am not sure how much of that is true.

The christening and birth record for 1877 is definite (as above) and we know that he married in 1904 in Bombay as we have had the record sent to us. The military record is correct too. It is what happened after that that is a mystery.

You would think there would be a death for him somewhere, wouldn't you? He could even have remarried & had more children.

Hi Sally, is there any reason you believe he may have come out to Australia? Any ideas as to which state etc?

I can't unfortunately find anything in the papers or some of the bmd's although if he changed his name it will be difficult to find him,

Looks like a possible for him going to Australia;

Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839–1923
about Mr J H Dart Name: Mr J H Dart
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Age: 39
Arrival Date: 13 Nov 1916
Arrival Port: Sydney, Australia
Departure Port: Bombay
Ship: Malwa
Nationality: English

Yes - I have seen that one, but we know that, even if he did make this trip, he was back in India in the 20s as he was known to my grandpa Gough. He married Helen (JHD's daughter) in 1926.
Their first daughter, who was born in 1927 also remembers JHD and says that he was off to Aus to be a racehorse trainer. I am not sure how reliable her info is but do know that Grandpa knew him. Therefore the earliest he could have gonbe would have been the late 20s.
He did have Dart relatives in Australia. I am in touch with their descendents but they do not know of him. SO whether he actually went, we do not know.
Thanks!

So need some inspiration!

HIs brother-in-law was John James Cope b. 1872 in Karachi. Married Mary Caroline Dart in Bombay in 1904. She inherited all her father's money/belongings and JJC was executor. No mention of Delia (older sister) or John Henry in John Moniz's will. They were both still alive. No mention of their families either. Odd.

There is a possible death in South Australia in 1926 (if family folklore about him still being around in the 1930s is wrong) but so little info on it that I cannot know if it is him.

This must be the death you refer to:

Australia Death Index, 1787-1985

Name: John Henry Dart
Death Place: South Australia
Registration Year: 1926-1930
Registration Place: South Australia
Page Number: 73
Volume Number: 487

As you say, there's not a lot to go on, but perhaps someone who knows more about these things could tell you how to obtain a copy of the certificate.

Yes - it tells us next to nothing. And there is a John Henry Dart b. 1877ish in South Australia who is not him but could be this chap! So - no confirmation. Wish all Aus records were like NSW where they have SO much info.

was just wondering whether any fancy googling might come up with anything but it seems not

except there was a John Henry Dart born in South Australia in 1861 on somebody else's tree on the net so there is a wealth of them to be the one on the death record :-)

you do know these descendants of Delia then ?

http://boards.ancestrylibrary.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=1454&p=surnames.nolan

I see you elsewhere on line meeting up with distant family just wasn't sure about that one :-)

Yes - well spotted! I am in touch with one of her great-grand-daughters.She "owns" that tree. Her mother remembered JH Dart being spoken about behind people's hands as if he was a bit of a bad 'un!!
Thanks.