According to the 1851 Census, born Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland, c.1817.
Enlisted at Dublin on the 17th of February 1837.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: None shown.
1851 Census
Artillery Barracks, Preston, Brighton, Sussex.
James Leary, 34, married, Private Soldier, born Naas, Kildare.
Jane Leary, 25, married, Domestic, Soldier's wife, Newcastle.
Catherine Leary, 6, Scholar, Newcastle.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Wilson Kennedy" on the 2nd of May 1854.
Sent to Scutari on the 16th of September 1854 and to rejoin the regiment on the 3rd of October.
Served with the detachment of the regiment under Lt. Colonel De Salis in theExpedition to Kertch on the 22nd of May 1855.
From Private to Corporal: 4th of October 1857.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
Corporal to Sergeant: 16th of February 1858.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah and Gwalior.
Named as "Leary" on the medal rolls.
Died at Nusserabad, India, on the 22nd of October 1859.
The India Office records show him as dying of "Feb. C.C." [PB: Febrile Convulsions? Of what likely cause?] at Nusserabad on the 22nd of October 1859, aged 40 years. He was buried on the same day by the R.C. Chaplain.
(His name is recorded on a tablet placed on a wall of St. John's Garrison Church at Meerut. (See record of979 Thomas Hanrahan, 8th Hussars.)
1265 James Rawlins, 8th Hussars recorded in his manuscript Library [PB: what was this?]:
"October 22nd. My old friend Serjt. Leary died at 1 a.m. [Thomas Hanrahan died the same day.]
October 23rd. They were burried, laied in there India grave."
1861 Census
Charlotte Street, Elswick, Newcastle.
Kate Leary [daughter], 18, Servant, unmarried, House Servant, born Newcastle.
18, New Street, Southwark.
John Partland [daughter's future husband], Lodger, 44, Millwright, born Kirkham, Durham.
Marriage registered [daughter's first]
Catherine Leary [daughter] to John Partland, September Quartert 1861, Newcastle T.
Births registered [grandchildren]
Mary Jane Partland, December Quarter 1865, Gateshead.
Catherine Partland, September Quarter 1867, Gateshead.
Sarah Partland, December Quarter 1868, Gateshead. (Death: September Quarter 1869) [PB: date?].
John Partland, March Quarter 1870, Gateshead. (Death: September Quarter 1869) [PB: date?].
Joseph Partland, September Quarter 1871, Gateshead. (Death: September Quarter 1869) [PB: date?].
1871 Census
Fountain Inn, Beerhouse, 64 Hexham Road, Gateshead.
John Partland, 56, Builder & Beerhouse Keeper, born Ireland.
Catherine Partland [daughter], 26, wife, Newcastle.
Also 3 children: James 8, Jane 5, Kate 3, John 1, all born Gateshead.
And his brother and wife.
John Partland, aged 59, December Quarter 1871, Gateshead.
Marriage registered [daughter's second]
Kate Partland to James Hird [his 2nd marriage also], September Quarter 1875, Gateshead.
Birth registered
Alfred James Hird [grandson, September Quarter 1877, Gateshead.
1881 Census
27, Seymour Terrace, Heworth, Gateshead.
James Hird, 39, Constructor & Innkeeper, born Scotland.
Kate Hird [daughter], 37, wife, Newcastle.
Mary Ann Hird, 10, [James Hird's daughter], Scholar, Gateshead.
Alfred J Hird, 3, [James Hird's son].
Jane Partland, 15 [Kate Hird's daughter].
Kate Partland, 13 [Kate Hird's daughter].
Death registered
Kate Hird [daughter], 38, June Quarter 1882, Gateshead.
1891 Census
25, Seymour Terrace, Heworth, Gateshead.
Alfred James Hird [grandson], 13, Scholar, born Gateshead.
He is living with his father, James Hird, who has married for the third time (to Mary Helena).
There are other family members in the house.
Marriage registered
Alfred Hird [grandson] to Sarah Jane Norvel, December Quarter 1897, Gateshead.
Death registered
Alfred J Hird [grandson], aged 66, September Quarter 1943, Gateshead.
Considerable additional information, particularly concerning James Learey's daughter Kate, including marriage, birth and death registrations, and Census information for 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, and 1891, kindly provided by Chris Poole.