As a young adult, Patric enlisted in the British Army, 97th Regiment of Foot, at Carlow, Ireland. The 97th Regiment were also known as the Celestials.
The London Gazette, 19th September 1826 announces the approval of the 97th Regiment of Foot.
Between 1823 and 1824 the size of the British Army was increased by the raising of six regiments of foot, numbered the 94th - 99th. The raising of the 97th Regiment was authorised by royal warrant on 25th March 1824. The bulk of the regiment was recruited in Ireland and was initially regarded as an Irish unit. This led to it being given sky blue facings derived from the color of the ribbon of the Order of St Patrick. The most illustrious Order of Saint Patrick is associated with chivalry associated with Ireland created in 1783 by George III. The colour of the facings led to the regiment being nick named The Celestials.
Soon after its formation, the 97th Foot was ordered to Ceylon, Sri Lanka to relive the 45th Regiment of Foot (Nottinghamshire Sherwood Foresters). They arrived in 1825 and would spend 11 years on the island. In November 1832 the regiment's cricket team played the Colombo Cricket Club at the Rifle Green in Colombo, in the first recorded cricket match in Ceylon.
The regiment returned to the United Kingdom in 1836, arriving in Portsmouth aboard HMS Jupiter in September.
It is worth noting Patric would have been among the first generation of Irish Catholics able to enlist in the British Army. He is described as a labourer, 5’10” with brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. He is known to have served 2 years in Ceylon before returning to England on 5th September 1836 and being stationed at Packhurst Barracks (Albany), Isle of Wight.
His general conduct was described as 'good' and he received four good conduct badges with pay.
On May 12th 1848 a medical report stated Private James Owens had been under treatment for Chronic Pulmonary disease and was now unfit for active duty. He was discharged on July 11 that same year. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common conditions that make CPD, it cannot be reversed.
The family moved to Ballitore (interestingly a Quaker town in Ireland) and their fourth child Michael was born in 1850, the same year that Patric died.
Not much is documented of Mary however after her husband's death there are records of a Mary Owens paying taxes in Ballitore (Balytore) which would be consistent with her status at the time as a widow.
There are three key townships of importance to Patric and Mary - Athy, Castledermot and Ballitore which are in a triangle, very close to each other in Kildare. The distance between Athy and Casteldermot is just 14kms, so through their life's movements Patric and Mary always returned home.
After Patrick's death Mary enrolled at least two of her boys Patrick James and John James at the Royal Hibernian Military school in Dublin.
Mary Margaret Owens passed away in Carlow aged 65 in June 1881.
Patrick and Mary's three children Patrick James, Mary Ann and John James were born between 1843 and 1846.
Patrick James Owens
Patrick was born on 6th January 1843 in Ireland and passed away on 14th February 1931 in Auckland. He married Mary Ann Murphy and migrated to New Zealand. Patrick's life is detailed on the home page.
Mary Ann Owens
Mary was born in 1844 and passed away in February 1899. There is not yet much known about Mary.
John James Owens
John was born on the 4th of November 1846 and passed away in January 1881. John James was admitted to the Royal Hibernian Military School with his older brother Patrick on May 1, 1855 at 8 years and 6 months old. He was 3’11” and also his chest was 24”. His exit file lists him as "withdrawn", which indicates that he returned to civilian life.
Michael Owens
Patrick James Owens
Patrick was born on 6th January 1843 in Ireland and passed away on 14th February 1931 in Auckland. He married Mary Ann Murphy and migrated to New Zealand. Patrick's life is detailed on the home page.
Mary Ann Owens
Mary was born in 1844 and passed away in February 1899. There is not yet much known about Mary.
John James Owens
John was born on the 4th of November 1846 and passed away in January 1881. John James was admitted to the Royal Hibernian Military School with his older brother Patrick on May 1, 1855 at 8 years and 6 months old. He was 3’11” and also his chest was 24”. His exit file lists him as "withdrawn", which indicates that he returned to civilian life.
Michael was born in 1850 and passed away in 1881. There is no record of Michael entering the Royal Hibernian Military School but it is likely he did follow his brothers and as his mother was a widow. The majority of the schools records were destroyed in London during the Blitz.
It is worth noting that Michael and his brother John died within months of each other in 1881, as did their mother Mary.
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