James KNIBBS\Anne POLLARD

The Attestation Papers for James show that he enlisted to serve in the 4th Kings Own Regiment of Foot an 22nd March 1831. They state that he was born in Bicester in the parish of Somerton, Oxfordshire. He was aged 21 years and 2 Months when he enlisted. He was unmarried and was previously employed as a labourer. He was awarded a bounty of £3 on enlistment and signed the attestation paper with a "X".

On enlistment, he was said to be 5 Feet 6½ inches tall with a fair complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and no distinguishing marks.
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See James's Attestation Papers.
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His Service Record shows that on 18 July 1839, he was awarded a Good Conduct Badge. However, for reasons not identified, it was taken away from him on 27 Jan 1840.
For reasons unknown, James was imprisoned in the military between 19-22 December, 1840, then, for whatever crime he'd committed, he was tried and imprisoned between 23 December, 1840 and 19 February 1841.
His Good Conduct Badge was reinstated on 21 Nov 1843.
He was then awarded a 2nd Good Conduct Badge from 16 Oct 1845, but I guess due to some misdemeanor, that was taken away from him on 24 Oct 1848. That too was reinstated on 24 Nov 1849.
On 23 Mar 1852, he relinquished his right to additional pay for length of service, and commenced receiving 3 pence per day, Good Conduct Pay.

James served in the 4th Kings Own Regiment of Foot for a period of just over 22 years. Some 16 years and 8 months of that time was served overseas, with 5 years and 9 months in New South Wales and 10 years and 11 months in the East Indies.

With regard to his character and conduct it was written at his discharge that "it appears that his character is good;
and that he is in possession of three good conduct badges in consequence of which the Board is induced to give him this good character although he was tried by a District Court Martial at Belgaum, India, 23rd December 1840 for being asleep on duty.

James was medically discharged due to "Chronic Rheumatism and debility, the result of age and long service and not caused by malpractice by vice or misconduct". He was declared unfit for active service on 5 Jul 1853 and discharged on 26 Jul 1853. James was 43 years of age when he left the army, and he gave his intended place of residence as Whitfield, Northamptonshire.

Note:
The 4th Kings Own Regiment of Foot saw colonial service in Australia from 1832 until 1837, being stationed variously at Tasmania, Sydney, Victoria South Australia, and the Swan River Colony under the command of Lieut. Colonel J. K. McKenzie.
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See James's Military Discharge Paper.
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In 1851, we see James living at Stoke Deverel, Devonport, Devonshire, England, adjacent to Granby Barracks:
John Leahy Head M 36 Quartermaster, 4th Regt. of Foot Ireland
Ann Leahy Wife M 36 Norfolk Yarmouth
Caroline Leahy Daur 9 Scholar East Indies (B.S.)
Hanna Leahy Daur 6 East Indies (B.S.)
Eliz.th Farrell Servant U 18 House Servant Ireland
Jas. Knibbs Servant U 41 Soldier, 4th Regt. of Foot Oxford Bicester
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James can be seen at the 1861 census living at Whitfield, Northants:

James Knibbs Head Mar 50 pensioner of 4th Kings Own Oxon Somerton
Ann Knibbs Wife Mar 50 Lacemaker Northants Whitfield
Susannah Knibbs Mother Wid 74 Lacemaker Northants Whitfield

We believe that Susannah isn't a Knibbs at all, but probably the mother of Ann.
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In 1871, I think it was this James and Anne, living at Whitfield, Northamptonshire, but the locations given for their places of birth makes me wonder if it was perhaps someone different.
James Knibbs Head Mar 58 Ag Lab Bucks Towcester
Ann Knibbs Mar 59 Lace Maker Bucks Finmere