EDWARD Thomas Pinniger, son of a Newbury solicitor, joined the army at sixteen and found himself in India during the aftermath of the Sepoy Mutiny. Before he even came of age he had resigned his commission and spent the rest of his life in India, marrying the daughter of an indigo planter and raising five daughters and two sons. His own living came from the railways, first as inspector of telegraphs, then assistant station master. A committed Freemason, he eventually embraced the clergy, becoming railway chaplain in Lucknow. From soldier to engineer to priest, Edward’s life is a story of service and transformation, embodying duty, adaptability, and faith.
2 December 1838 : Edward Thomas, son of Solicitor Broome Pinniger and his wife Elizabeth, is privately baptised by G.G.C. Gardiner and entered into the register of St. Nicolas', Newbury.
Sunday 6 June 1841 (Aged 2) : Census night. At home in Market Place, Newbury, where father Broome is a solicitor. Elder siblings Broome, James and Alice are also at home.
Sunday 30 March 1851 (Aged 12) : Census night. Boarding at the Rev. Jacob's School, Silver Street, Calne, Wiltshire (Calne has family connections for Edward's parents).
Friday 21 December 1855 (Aged 17) : Ensign by purchase with the 58th Foot. Same day transferred to the 28th Foot.
Friday 23 October 1857 (Aged 18) : Transferred as Ensign to the 8th Foot (The King's Liverpool Regiment).
Friday 11 December 1857 (Aged 19) : Promoted to Lieutenant with the 8th Foot.
Friday 5 March 1858 (Aged 19) : With the 8th when they embark at Gravesend for Calcutta, on the Indiana. The destination implies that Edward is in the 1st Battalion, which is active in Bengal.
Monday 24 May 1858 (Aged 19) : Arrives in Calcutta on the Indiana.
Friday 26 August 1859 (Aged 20) : Sells his commission and retires from the army.
1858-1859 :
Very hard to find out what exactly Edward's movements with the 8th would have been.
Historical
Record of The King's Liverpool Regiment of Foot,
pp.141ff
describes
the regiment's experience in India 1858-9.
By the
time Edward lands in Calcutta, the major battles of the rebellion are over,
but British forces are still engaged in mopping-up operations,
suppressing remaining rebel forces, restoring order, and overseeing the
transition to direct British rule (the British Raj is formally
established on 28th June 1858 after the dissolution of the East India
Company). As a junior officer, Edward would be responsible for leading
a platoon of soldiers, drilling his men, and ensuring discipline. Their
work might involve supervising local authorities, protecting supply
lines, and ensuring the loyalty of local populations. There is also the
social life of the regiment, an important aspect of British military
culture in India.
Serving in India during this
period is physically demanding due to the harsh climate, tropical
diseases, and the aftermath of the rebellion. Many British soldiers and
officers fall ill or die from diseases like cholera, malaria, and
dysentery. Edward's decision to resign in 1859 might be influenced by
these challenges. Or he might know that the regiment's return to
England is imminent (they leave India the following year) and choose to
stay in India.
Saturday 13 June 1863 (Aged 24) : Marries Anna Eweler Oman, daughter of a deceased indigo planter, in Serampore Church; occupation Inspector Telegraph Dept. E.I. Railway; residence Burdwan.
Sunday 2 July 1865 (Aged 26) : First child, Anna Alice, baptised at Christ Church, Burdwan; same occupation.
Between 1867 and 1872 : 4 children (Edward, Susan, Edith and Broome) baptised at St. John's, Raneegunge. Edward's abode said to be Khanoo Junction, occupation Inspector of Telegraph Department.
1873 : Thacker's Indian Directory has him as E. Pinniger, inspector of telegraphs, E. I. railway, Kanoo junction.
Tuesday 28 October 1873 (Aged 34) : Initiated into Freemasonry, Lodge of True Friendship Calcutta; occupation "Railway Engineer"; residence Luckie.
Tuesday 25 November 1873 (Aged 35) : "Passing" as a Freemason (Fellow Craft).
1874 : Thacker's Indian Directory - Occupation E.I.R. Inspector of Telegraphs Kanoo Junction, living in Luckeserai.
Tuesday 13 January 1874 (Aged 35) : Initiation to Pioneer Lodge (No. 1490), Asansol; residence Luckeiserai; occupation Telegraph Inspector.
Tuesday 10 February 1874 (Aged 35) : "Raising" as a Freemason (Master Mason).
1875 : Thacker - Same as 1874 with the additon of "signaller". Also references Pioneer Lodge as holding meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, with Edward as Junior Warden.
Monday 6 September 1875 (Aged 36) : Freemasonry certificate.
1876 : Thacker - Edward still down as a signaller and inspector in the Telegraph Department, living in Luckeserai.
Thursday 27 April 1876 (Aged 37) : Baptism of son John at Asansol; occupation District Inspector Railway Telegraph Dept; abode Luckieserai.
1877 : Thacker - As 1876.
Monday 30 April 1877 (Aged 38) : Freemasonry certificate.
Sunday 23 September 1877 (Aged 38) : Daughter Nelly baptised at Christ Church, Burdwan; abode Burdwan; occupation Sub-Asst Superintendent Govt Telegraphs.
1878 : Thacker - Has Edward as Sub-Assistant in the Telegraph Department, residing Burdwan, salary 325 Rupees.
1879 : Thacker - Sub-Asst Superintendent Govt Telegraphs, residing Burdwan.
Saturday 26 July 1879 (Aged 40) : Daughter Dorothy baptised at Christ church, Burdwan; abode Burdwan; occupation Sub-Asst Superintendent Govt Telegraphs.
Thursday 15 September 1881 (Aged 42) : Burial in Jhelum of wife Anna, who has died of cholera; Edward's occupation now Assistant Station Master Jhelum.
Monday 2 January 1882 (Aged 43) : Founds "The Punjab Northern Lodge" in Jhelum with fellow railway-brethren (name changed to "Jhelum" Lodge next year).
Tuesday 21 February 1882 (Aged 43) : Daughter Anna marries at Christ Church, Rawalpindi. Anna is said to be living in Haji Shah, presumably with her father and siblings.
1883 : Thacker - Edward is down as Station Master on the P.N.S. (Punjab Northern State) Railway, based in Haji Shah, Rawal Pindi.
Thursday 25 November 1886 (Aged 48) : Joins the Rising Star Lodge, Rawalpindi, transferred from Jhelum Lodge. Occupation Station Master.
Thursday 15 October 1896 (Aged 57) : Daughter Dorothy marries in Saharanpur, possibly now Edward's place of residence.
1897 : Edward is ordained Deacon in Lucknow.
1897-1913 : Railway Chaplain in Lucknow, officiating at various baptisms, marriages and burials, mostly at Christ Church.
Tuesday 25 May 1897 (Aged 58) : His first (I think) appearance as "Curate" in the registers of Lucknow, performing the burial service for a five-week-old baby.
Monday 15 May 1899 (Aged 60) : "Railway Chaplain" now replaces "Curate" in the church registers for Lucknow.
Saturday 24 June 1911 (Aged 72) : The Army and Navy Gazette - "Rev. E. Pinniger, Railway Chaplain" is president of the Ex-Soldiers' Mutual Benefit Society in Lucknow.
1911 : Kelly's Clergy List has Edward stationed at Charbagh, the site of Lucknow's main Railway junction.
Friday 12 September 1913 (Aged 74) : Apparently retires on or after this date as the baptism he presides over (a day-old baby if the India Office return is accurate) records him as "Late Rly Chaplain."
Tuesday 18 November 1919 (Aged 80) : Dies of a cerebral haemorrhage and is buried next day at the Civil Cemetery, Lucknow, "Clerk in Holy Orders" in the burial entry.
