The INDIA Branch of the Pinsent family can be traced for five generations. It comes from a Henry Pinsent who was a “carpenter” and “builder” who lived near Russell Square in London in the early 1800s. Henry married Joanna Wogan and they had nine children; however, seven were daughters and one of his sons, George, (who was a “Professor of Music”) died unmarried when he was 23 years old. It was left to his brother, Henry John Pinsent, to establish the family line. When he died in 1894, he was a well-known “Superintendent Purser” who was lately retired from the “Peninsula and Orient Steam Navigation Company.” This was one of the preeminent British companies of its day.
Where Henry Pinsent came from, I do not know! According to the 1851 Census he was born in Tiverton around 1769; however, I can find no sign of him there or in the Hennock/Bovey Tracey area either. The closest birth I can find is that of a Henry Pinson, who was the son of a “mariner” who was born in Paignton on the south coast of Devon. If he is the same man, we have a late conversion from “Pinson” to “Pinsent”. Henry conducted his business out of “#22 Little Guildford Street” (near Russell Square) – a property that seems to have been originally owned by a John Pinsent, who paid the land tax for it between 1819 and 1832. Henry Pinson’s father was a John … so perhaps that fits. Henry is, for now, deemed to be the patriarch of the INDIA Branch of the family.
At least two of Henry’s three grandsons were educated at the “Pacific and Orient High School” in Southampton and went out to Madras (Chennai) in India where they spent most of their lives in commerce and colonial administration. They retired back to England in the early 1900. One (Charles Powell Tronson Pinsent) had a son (Harold Charles Frank Pinsent) who made a name for himself in the Royal Navy before and after the First World War. He had a son, Charles Hildige Pinsent who joined the British Army in India and married there. He returned to England after India gained its independence in 1947. I am not aware of children, so the line may have died out.
More Information
For a brief look at the India family tree check out the Branch Summary. For the closer look at how they lived, “notable members” (marked with a “
“) include full biographies. Family members marked with “
” are discussed in their fathers’ biographies.
Notable Members of the Tree
Charles Hildige Pinsent, Major, Indian Army and business manager, London, 1914 – 1998.
Charles Powell Tronson Pinsent, merchant, Secretary Madras Harbour Trust, Madras (Chennai), India, 1849 – 1904.
Frederick Henry Davison Pinsent, purser, Pacific & Orient Company, Southampton, Hampshire, 1852 – 1902.
Harold Charles Frank Pinsent, Paymaster Captain, Royal Navy, 1884 – 1968.
Henry Pinsent, carpenter, undertaker, and building contractor, London, Middlesex, 1769 – 1854.
Henry John Pinsent, purser, Peninsula and Oriental Steam Ship Company, London, Middlesex, 1812 – 1894.
William Henry Pinsent, P. & O. Co. clerk, Southampton, Hampshire, 1846 – 1895.
All Members of the Tree
Charles Hildige Pinsent (1914 – 1998)
Charles Powell Tronson Pinsent (1849 – 1904)
Charlotte Best Pinsent (1819 – 1904)
Constance Amy Pinsent (1888 – 1964)
Eliza Pinsent (1805 – 1839)
Eliza Charlotte Pinsent (1857 – xxxx)
Eliza Emma Pinsent (1837 – 1837)
Elizabeth Pinson (xxxx – xxxx)
Emma Pinsent (1817 – xxxx)
Emma Pinsent (1811 – xxxx)
Ethelwyn Pinsent (1909 – 1990)
Frances Anne Pinsent (1853 – xxxx)
Frances Arabella Pinsent (1842 – 1923)
Frances Maud Pinsent (1882 – 1962)
Frederick Henry Davison Pinsent (1852 – 1902)
Frederick Henry Joseph Pinsent (1879 – 1879)
George Pinsent (1814 – 1838)
Gwendolyn Edith Mary Pinsent (1880 – 1968)
Harold Charles Frank Pinsent (1884 – 1968)
Harriet Ann Pinsent (1860 – 1949)
Helena Maud Pinsent (1856 – 1884)
Henrietta Pinsent (1806 – xxxx)
Henrietta Pinsent (1803 – 1806)
Henry Pinsent (1769 – 1854)
Henry George Pinsent (1852 – xxxx)
Henry John Pinsent (1812 -1894)
Joan Constance Pinsent (1917 – 2003)
Joanna Pinsent (1772 – 1848)
Joanna Pinsent (1808 – xxxx)
John Pinsent (1734 – xxxx)
Margaret Pinson (1766 – xxxx)
Margaret Ellen Pinsent (1861 – 1948)
Mary Ann Pinsent (1802 – xxxx)
Mary Louisa Pinsent (1859 – 1948)
Phyllis Charlotte Pinsent (1894 – 1981)
William Henry Pinsent (1846 – 1895)