John O'Sullivan (1814 - 1898)

Born 14 Apr 1814 in Cork, Ireland

Descendants

Died 8 Feb 1898 at age 83 in Bangalore, Karnātaka, India

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bruce Bennett [send private message]

Biography

John O’Sullivan was born on St.Peters 14 April 1814 in Cork, Ireland, son of John O’Sullivan and Buttle. Shortly after his birth, John's family migrated to Liverpool. His father John was killed by lightning on the Liverpool docks, so his mother returned to Ireland and re-married.

According to his children, John ran away from school, sailed to Portsmouth, and joined the Navy against his mother's wishes. By the time she found out, he was already in Portsmouth. He enlisted with British Navy on 2 May 1826. He served briefly on the 'Victory' and then was drafted to the 'Asia'. He was a Powder Boy to the 13th Gun onboard the 'Asia' flagship of the Allied fleet at the Battle of Navarino, 20 October 1827, the last war to be fought entirely with sailing ships. Most ships fought at anchor, and the Allies' victory was achieved through superior firepower and gunnery. There are some lovely paintings f the battle showing the Asia in the midst of the action, shrouded by the smoke of cannon-fire. It is wonderful to imagine or ancestor John, a little boy aged 12, bravely assisting below decks in one of the most dangerous and vital areas on the ship

There's much information on the Battle of Navarino (1827) ... and the old fort still stands today. In the middle of the Bay, there is an island with a memorial plaque. On the plaque is a list of the ships that took part in the battle, including the Asia, which Thomas was on. He deserted the Navy after being unfairly whipped, in February 1833. Life in the Navy was harsh and when he and another boy were whipped after he was tripped and spilt food, John jumped overboard in the China Sea and hid on a Chinese Junk. Somehow he made it back to Ireland and his mother.

With his prospects compromised, John enlisted with the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) under the name of Thomas Coffin, age 21 on 29 November 1833 in the Honorable Company’s service at Cork. By the time he was married, he had been promoted to Sergeant. He was a Serjeant in the Artillery bachelor when he married Fanny Shine an Indo Briton spinster by licence on 8 January 1840 at Bellary, Madras, in the presence of William Mitchell and H Holiday.

notes above from Catherine McKay justin.catherine@ymail.com

Thomas did very well before retirement, having risen to the rank of Sergeant Major in the Native Infantry, then the Secunderabad Cantonment. Maybe he retired because the HEIC ceased as a private army and became the Royal Artillery, and became a Pensioner Conductor by 1864 when he baptised three of his teenage children at Belgaum, Bombay.

After he received his a pardon from the Army, Thomas begun to use his original name, John O'Sullivan. His children had all been christened Coffin. They lived in India for some time with John, but would work in Burma due to the opportunities. In 1871 at Bangalore, Karnataka, India. John built a home on Nundidroog Road in Bangalore and named it Navarino Cottage. His children and grandchildren would return to India to visit here. Fanny died 17 January 1877 aged 54 at Bangalore St John’s, wife of Pensioned Conductor John O’Sullivan, of disease of the heart and was buried the same day. After this unmarried daughter Mary looked after John, who gave her the deed to the house in gratitude. John married secondly Helen Eddington in 1895, who was half John's age. At his death on 8 February 1898 aged 83 years and 9 months, he was a retired conductor notes above from Catherine McKay justin.catherine@ymail.com

Sources

• India Office Records at the British Library. Notes from Catherine McKay justin.catherine@ymail.com