| Isaac & Eliza Pledger | ||
| British Empire soldier and Australian
immigrant. Isaac was born in Little Hadham, near Bishop’s Stortford, England on 29th March, 1830. His father was Thomas Pledger (born in Wendons Ambo 1796, died Bishop’s Stortford 1873) married to Sarah Westwood in 1821 in Bishops Stortford ( born 1803, died 1877). Isaac was the fourth born of six children. Early life must have been very difficult. When Isaac was about 9 years old, Thomas and Isaac’s eldest brother, Segar were sent to Hertford Assizes accused of stealing a sheep. Thomas was deported to Tasmania for 10 years. For Sarah, the family situation was dire, as the absence of a bread-winner meant that the family had to enter the Bishops Stortford Union Workhouse. It is likely that Isaac's younger brothers all died at this time. The workhouse was highly unsanitary and education rudimentary or non-existant. Segar went off to work at the age of 15 as an agricultural labourer and then soon after joined the 16th Foot Regiment in the early 1840’s (possibly a condition of his release). Conditions for the large dependent family without a reliable bread-winner would have been very difficult. Isaac’s military career began at 17 when he enlisted in early 1848, underage, in the 46th Foot Regiment. He was promoted to corporal 1852-1854, sergeant 1854-1856. The Crimean War began as a result of the Russian occupation of Turkish provinces in Romania in 1853 in response to a dispute over control of holy places in Turkish controlled Jerusalem. Britain and France came to the assistance of Turkey. The British and French forces landed north of Sebastopol with the intention of destroying the Russian naval base. The 46th was part of the Second Battalion of the Fourth Division that missed the early battles (Alma and Inkerman) but was largely present at the battle of Sebastopol. Isaac was awarded the Sebastopol clasp for the Crimea Medal and the Turkish Crimean Medal. The casualty rate in the battles was surpassed by sickness through disease such as cholera. This situation prompted the arrival of Florence Nightingale in Scutari (near Istanbul). There is no evidence of Isaac having met her. During the winter of 1854-55 the British military supply system broke down and thousands of men died from illness, exposure and malnutrition: four times as many died from disease as from enemy action. The 46th suffered less than other regiments, but was rarely able to field more than 100 men for duty. "With the arrival of Spring came the huts and winter clothing from England; too late to save the lives of the thousands who had died as a result of their absence. Military operations continued to be restricted to trench warfare until 7th June 1855 when the outer defences of Sebastopol were assaulted, with the British capturing the Quarries and the French the Mamelon. The 46th did not form part of this assaulting force, but continued to serve in the trenches.” Michael Hargreave Mawson, History of the 46th Regiment: 1854 – 1858 from www.46thfoot.com A journal kept by Captain Charles Shervington of the 46th Foot Regiment provides a vivid description of conditions during the winter of 1854-1855. Isaac must have been much relieved to be posted with his unit to the British base at Corfu (Ionian Islands) in 1856. Perhaps he was prompted to enter the nursing profession by the terrible suffering he witnessed in the Crimea. He was promoted to hospital sergeant 1856-1864 and married Mary in Corfu, 23rd June, 1856. Mary was a hospital matron. Isaac and Mary lived in Corfu between 1856 and 1859. In 1860, the couple went with the regiment to India as part of the massive armed intervention following the Indian Mutiny in 1857. Isaac first served at the port city of Karachi, 1860-1861. Tragedy struck on December, 27th 1860 when Mary died of smallpox aged 33. Other posts in India included Jullundur, 1862 and Cawnpore, 1864. Isaac married his second wife, Jane (Hinds) widower [ nee (John) Hoggin] , in Cawnpore on the 2nd February, 1863. [Records in British Library] His army pay book also records service at Shahjahanpur, 1865-1867 Lucknow, then Chinsurah 1868. A contemporary description of one typical day of Indian camp life in 1850 can be viewed here. The regiment returned to Parkhurst (England) in 1869, where Isaac having reached the rank of Hospital Quarter Master Sergeant, was discharged on 13, April, 1869. His army pay book records Isaac at 39 years as 5’9”, fresh complexioned, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. The 1871 Census shows Isaac and Jane at Twigworth Gloucester pensioned off from H M Royal Hospital. The 1881 Census gives 1881 Isacke and Jane living as Chelsea Pensioners at Penrith Villa, 89 Howard St. Gloucester, England. Jane died in 1882. Isaac (53) married Eliza Jane Evans (daughter of a Temperance Missionary) at the parish church of St Mary de Crypt in the county of Gloucester on September, 26, 1883.  Eliza Jane Pledger (in later life) According to the marriage register, Isaac was a widower whose place of residence was St James (London). He gave his father’s name as Thomas Pledger (deceased), labourer. Eliza Jane Evans was born in Corfu, Greece in 1853. She was 23 years younger than Isaac. The story was told to me by my aunt ( Marie Skinner) that Eliza was engaged to Isaac’s brother, who was drowned, and that Eliza met Isaac at his brother’s funeral. Isaac and Eliza had 2 children, Harry Segar was born on 11 December 1885 at 89 Howard St, Gloucester. His sister Ethel Lizzie May was born on 29th June, 1884 at Gloucester. The family migrated to Australia on the ship 'Oroya' via Melbourne in August, 1887. The decision to migrate at age 56 with a new wife (33) and children, aged 1 and 3, may have been influenced by stories about Tasmania from Isaac's ex-convict (1840-1850) father. Both his parents were dead and Isaac's family ties may not have been strong. Isaac went briefly to Bourke, then a thriving port and railhead for the pastoral industry on the Darling River. Isaac was clerk of works on the construction of a weir. Eliza and the two children stayed in Sydney until their father returned. At this time the bank in which their savings were held, collapsed due to an economic depression. From 1888 to 1903 Eliza worked as the second Matron at the Casino Hospital and Isaac was wardsman.  A grandfather clock located in the foyer of Casino hospital with an inscribed plate: "E. Pledger , first Matron Casino Hospital." Once the couple left the hospital, they lived as a retired family. Apparently Isaac was strict Church of England and really observed the Sabbath. He and Eliza had a large circle of friends from the hospital and musical interests. Eliza sang quite well and her two children were talented musicians. Isaac died in 1919 at Casino. Eliza and her son had a cordial factory in Colches St, which Harry ran. Eliza moved from her home next door into the house "Carraween", 58 Colches St. and lived there till her death in 1932.  Harry pictured in
later life with his wife Kathleen Emma Ruby Pledger (nee Brown) .  Ethel, taught music in the front room of the house, "Carraween" in Colches St Casino. She composed waltzes one of which the 'Carraween Walz' is now archived (online: http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an4840689) in the National Library, Canberra. Ethel died in Lismore NSW in 1966. 30th, April, 2006 |
 Issac's pay book with record of overseas service, promotions and marriages.   Crimea Medal and Sebastopol Clasp  Map of Europe showing locations where Isaac and family lived.  Map of India showing places where Isaac and family lived.  Map of Australia showing places where Isaac and family lived.  "Carraween", Colches St, Casino  West St Cemetary, Casino Acknowledgement: Much of the birth, death and marriage and census information on this page has come from research by Megan Ridgewell in the UK. If you would like to contact her about her research into the Pledger family, contact her at the following email address: megan at ridgewell.net Copies of UK Census records for 1861 and 1871 can be obtained through http://www.ancestry.com Information about Isaac and his family can be verified from records in the National Archives, Kew and the British Library, London. Isaac Pledger records are held by the Pledger family. |
