Born at Cateham, Kent,
Enlisted at Canterbury on the 2nd of June 1839.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Groom.
From Private to Corporal: 13th of February 1844.
Corporal to Sergeant: 19th of May 1844.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 12th of September 1851.
Marriage registered
John Richard Pettit married Anne Dalton, September Quarter 1846, Beverley.
Birth registered
Marth Ann Pettit, September Quarter 1849, Kingston.
1851 Census
Pockthorpe Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.
James R Petit, 30, married, Soldier, Sergeant, born Canterbury.
Ann, 24, Sergeant's wife, born Beverley.
Martha A, born Hampton Court, Middlesex.
Birth registered
Mary Harriet Pettit, September Quarter 1854, Beverley.
Died "of cholera" in the Crimea on the 25th of September 1854.
Next of kin: Wife, Ann Pettit, living in Beverley, Yorkshire.
Extract from the "Memoirs" of R.S.M. George Loy Smith, published in 1987 under the title of "A Victorian R.S.M."
"When out on a reconnaissance — After passing though a village some little distance, Sergeant-Major Pettit, who was riding next to me in the rear of the squadron, complained of illness.
I offered him some rum from my bottle, but he could not take it. He then told me he could not ride any further — poor fellow, he had been seized with cholera. I immediately galloped up to the head of the column and told the Captain.
We then sent back to the village, the headman sent his carriage, in which he was conveyed back. He died on the 25th."
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for the Alma only.
1861 Census
Dyer Lane, Saint Mary, Beverley.
John Dalton, 62, widower, Agricultural Labourer.
Ann Pettit [John Pettit's wife], 35, daughter, widow, Seamstress, born Beverley.
Martha A [daughter], 11, grand-daughter, Scholar, born Hampton Court.
Mary H [daughter], 6, grand-daughter, Scholar, born Beverley.
Death registered
John Dalton [father-in-law], 71, March Quarter 1870, Beverley.
1871 Census
Walkergate, St Mary, Beverley.
Ann Pettit, head, 46, widow, Needle woman, born Beverley.
Mary Harriett Pettit, 16, School teacher, born Beverley.
A boarder is also shown.
1881 Census
Walkergate, Beverley.
Ann Pettit, 55, widow, Needle woman, born Beverley.
A boarder is also shown.
Marriage registered
Mary Harriott Pettit married William Smith, December 1883, Beverley.
Birth registered
Alma Child [grand-daughter], June Quarter, 1886 Worksop.
1891 Census
Love Lane, St Mary, Beverley.
Ann Pettit, head, 65, widow, Seamstress, born Beverley.
Mary H Child, daughter, 36, Seamstress, born Beverley.
Alma, grand-daughter, 5, born Harthill.
A lodger is also shown.
1901 Census
Woodall, Harthill with Woodall.
Ann Pettit, 75, widow living on own means, born Beverley.
1901 Census
Grange Farm, Harthill with Woodall.
William Child, 49, Farmer.
Mary H Child, born Beverley.
Four Servants are shown.
1911 Census
The Grange, Harthill.
Mary Harriet Child, 56, widow, Farmer's widow, born Beverley.
Alma, 25, single, daughter.
Four Servants are also shown.
Marriage registered
Alma Child [John Pettit's grand-daughter] married George C. Smith, September Quarter 1914, Worksop.
Registrations of births, marriages and deaths, and additional Census information 1841-1911 kindly provided by Chris Poole.