1438, Corporal George GLANISTER — 11th Hussars
Birth & early life
Born c.1832 at Finedon, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Given Census details, presumably the brother of 1564 James Glanister, 11th Hussars.
1841 Census
Finedon (Parish of St. Mary the Virgin).
Henry Glanister, 45, Gardener.
Sarah, 45.
Four children shown: William, 15; Sarah, 13; George, 9, and James, 6. All were "Born in the County".
1851 Census
Back Street, Finedon, Parish of St. Mary the Virgin.
Sarah Glanister, 55, Head of household, with only James, 16, apprentice Shoe-maker, then living at home. Both born at Finedon.
George Glanister, who would have been about 19 at this time, has not been found — he does not appear to be living with his mother and brother:
[PB: GG had already enlisted, in 1849, having possibly inflated his age by a year or two.]
Enlistment
Enlisted at Hounslow on the 24th of July 1849.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 8"
Trade: Groom.
Service
From Private to Corporal: 10th of May 1854.
Went to the Crimea from Newbridge Depot on the 24th of July 1854.
Sick at Scutari from the 1st of April and sent to England from Abydos Hospital on the 14th of June 1855.
Transferred to the 2nd Dragoon Guards at Hounslow on the 30th of April 1857. Regimental No. 315.
Embarked for India aboard the "Blenheim".
Served in the field at Korsee, 23rd of March 1858, Newabgunge, 13th of June 1858 and at Nusserapore, 24th of June 1858.
Invalided to England on the 1st of January 1862 and joining the Depot on the 19th of April 1862 from Gravesend.
Discharge & pension
Discharged, "Twelve years' limited service expired", from Maidstone on the 7th of May 1862.
He re-enlisted into the 1st Dragoon Guards at Manchester on the 18th of November 1862 at the age of 32 years, with the Regimental No. 615. He was shown as being of a fair complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. His former service in the 2nd Dragoon Guards and the 11th Hussars was allowed to reckon for pension purposes, vide War Office letter dated the 14th of June 1862.
Discharged from Ballincollig on the 12th of September 1870:
"Found unfit for further military service, and the Reduction of the Army." Medical report, "General debility without any specific disease. The disability is permanent.
Health has been failing over the past year, the disability being partly the result of long military service (at home and abroad.)
He can however, contribute towards his livelihood. Neither caused nor aggravated by vice or misconduct."
Served a total of 19 years 363 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 1 month. In India, 4 years 5 months.
Conduct: "has been good". In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Nine times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Twice tried by Court-martial.
Awarded a pension of 11d. per day.
Aged 39 years on discharge. Intending to live in Manchester.
He was not shown on the "Married roll" of the 1st Dragoons at the time of his discharge.
Medals
Entitled (according to the medal rolls) to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman, and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Lucknow.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps [sic], Turkish Medal, and the Mutiny medal with one clasp.
In 1989, Malcolm Glanister, of Manchester, a great-grandson, provided a photograph of George Glanister in civilian clothes and wearing his medals.
(Click on image to enlarge)
His Crimean medal clearly shows all four clasps, as on the medal in existence.
Malcolm Glanister provided [EJB with] a copy of his own research, which included information about his life after service (see below).
Further medal information archived.
Commemorations
Life after service
Marriage registered
George Glanister, aged 37, married Mary Ann Bowers, March Quarter 1871, Salford.
1871 Census
7, Field Street, Manchester.
George Glanister, 37, Railway porter, born Northampton.
Mary A., 27, born Stockport.
One child shown: James H., 10 days.
1881 Census
Stockport Road, Mount Pleasant, Saddleworth, York
George Glanister, 45, Coachman, born Finedon, Northants.
Mary Ann, 37, Sewing Machinist, born Stockport, Lancashire.
Five children shown: Inkermann, 10, Scholar; George H., 7; Lily, 5; James W., 3, and Alma, 3 months. The first two born Manchester, the last three born Guide Bridge [Audenshaw, near Manchester].
1891 Census
George Street, Mossley, Ashton under Lyne.
George Glanister, 59, Groom, born Northamptonshire, Finedon.
Mary A., 46, born Cheshire, Stockport.
Four children shown:
George H., 17, Cotton Piecer, born Lancs, Manchester.
Lily, 15, Cardroom Hand, born Lancs, Ashton.
James W., 13, Cotton Piecer, born Lancs, Ashton.
Alma, 10, born Yorks, Mossley.
Eligible and summoned for an interview for, In-Pension at Chelsea Royal Hospital in December 1895. Dated the 1st of January 1896: "Application withdrawn." At this time it was stated that he was 65 years of age, "could do light work in the summer", and was then living at 17, George Street, Mossley, Manchester. 9th of September 1896: "Withdrawn. Is in-eligible — as he has a wife, who objects."
Death & burial
Deaths registered
George Glanister, aged 66, June Quarter 1898, Ashton.
Mary Ann Glanister, 54, March Quarter 1899, Ashton.
Died on the 9th of June 1898 at his home, No. 17 George Street, Mossley, aged 67.
He was buried in St. George's Churchyard, Mossley, on the 15th of June, and a full report of the funeral appeared in the Liverpool Herald, 18th of June 1898.
(There are copies of this in the 11th Hussar file. [TO BE TRANSCRIBED])
Hearing of the imminent clearing and landscaping of part of St. George's churchyard at Mossley, a member of Mr. Glanister's family managed to "rescue" the upper part of the gravestone erected to George Glanister and had it built into the garden wall of his home in Broadcar Lane, Mossley.
(Click on image to enlarge)
The readable part of headstone is said to be inscribed "George Glanister, who died June 9th 1898, in his 68th year." (There is a photograph of this in the 11th Hussar file.)
References & acknowledgements
Registration of marriage and deaths, and Census information for 1871 and 1891, kindly provided by Chris Poole.
To follow up...
[PB, March 2017: There may be more photographs to add. Check. Also, I accumulated quite a lot of information about theatrical performances involving a Glanister. But this was almost certainly George's brother James. I have just roughly cut and pasted them into James's page. Check and tidy up.