Description

Benthall family correspondence from 1827-1875.

1. File containing: Letter (c.1827) from Edward Benthall to his brother Francis with news of travels and work. TS copy of letter included. Draft of letter from Edward Benthall to his brother-in-law, Thomas Nelson Waterfield, 11.2.c.1845, in reply to one asking about conditions of service in India. TS copy of letter included.
2. File containing two letters, c.1843, from Clementina Benthall to her sisters. Describes voyage.
3. Envelope containing 12 letters between Clement Benthall, his parents (Edward and Clemintina) and Aunt, Elizabeth Waterfield, 1858
4. Envelope containing 15 letters from Clement Benthall to his parents and siblings. They describe his journey from England to India, via Malta, Alexandria and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and then his moves around India, from Calcutta, to Benares, to Lucknow. 1859.
5. Envelope containing 8 letters from Clement Benthall to his parents and siblings. They describe his living conditions on Indian Army service and his long convalescence from an injury to his foot. Lucknow and Benares, 1860.
6. Envelope containing: Small folder of five letters written by Clement Benthall to his family while in England for a course of training in musketry, 1861
7. 17 letters written by Clement Benthall to his family from the ship on his return to India. Also letters from stations around India, 1862.
8. Envelope containing 10 letters written by Celment Benthall to his family. One letter is to Clement Benthall appointing him Adjutant of the Lahore Light Horse, based in Fyzabad (Faizabad, U.P.), 1863
9. Envelope containing 8 letters written by Clement Benthall to his family from Barrackpore, Bangalore and Calcutta, 1864. The letters describe army life, the effects of a cyclone on Barrackpore and Benthall’s recovery from a broken arm
10. Envelope containing seven letters written by Clement Benthall to his family. The letters relate details of life in the cavalry, continued problems with the recovery of his broken arm and the disbanding of his cavalry regiment. Barrackpore, Calcutta, 1865.
11. Envelope containing six letters written by Clement Benthall, four from 1866 and two in 1867, detailing his illnesses and army life.
12. Envelope containing 19 letters written by Clement Benthall, six in 1868 (from Barrackpore) and 13 in 1869 (from Fyzabad (Faizabad, U.P.)).
13. Envelope containing 16 letters written by Clement Benthall to his family from Fyzabad (Faizabad, U.P.), Morar and Seetapur (Sitapur, U.P.) in 1870
14. Envelope containing:
    • Letter from Clement Benthall to his sister Bertha, 13 March 1871 from Rugby, UK, while on leave. Recounts domestic details and accounts of his travels around the country.
    • 13 letters from Clement Benthall to his family, 1873. One from the passage back to India at the end of his leave and twelve from Allahabad. They describe daily life in the army and his worsening physical condition.The last letter before his death was written on August 13th, 1873.
    • Letter from Lt. Col. W. Franks, 20.12.1873, about the closing of Clement Benthalll’s estate. Includes a list of personal effects returned to his family.
    • Letter from Clement’s cousin (name indistinct), 26.12.1873, describing the position of the grave in the cemetery at Allahabad
15. Envelope containing:
    • Four letters from members of the family regarding the ordering and delays in the arrival of the tombstone for Clement Benthall’s grave. 1874
    • Commission papers for Clement Benthall as a Captain in the Indian Army.