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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: tillyann on Friday 25 October 19 11:01 BST (UK)
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Hi Everyone,
I have been researching an ancestor who was an Englishman from Lancashire that relocated to Ireland. He was a Chelsea Pensioner and I found his pension record and his subsequent death certificate.
He was called Edmund Whitaker in Lancashire but this changed to Edward Whittaker when he was in Ireland. His wife was Irish- Margaret Donough or Donohoe or Mc Guiness born abt 1805. I have found her listed by all three surnames. I have no idea of what happened to her post the 1851 England Census nor do I know why Edmund/Edward and his youngest child James went to Ireland at some point between 1851 and 1873.
Edmund dies of natural causes in November 1873 in Lanesboro Longford, Ireland. I don't believe he was a Catholic and I have been advised that if he were an Anglican he would likely have been buried in St John's Churchyard, Lanesboro. There are no records apparently for this graveyard so I would love to know if anyone has any ideas or experiences in progressing a search for a burial place when the information is so scant. TIA for any assistance.
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I have no idea of what happened to her post the 1851 England Census
Where were they living in 1851?
There is a Margaret Whittaker death in 1853 age 48 Aqueduct Street and buried 25 Mar 1853 St Johns Church Preston Lancs
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https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2501960/memorial-search?page=1#sr-116233409
These are the entries for the Lanesborough cemetery Longford but unfortunately they are only 99% shown.
add: ditto Clonbunny Cemetery only 96% shown
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Hi Milliepede,
I'm not so interested in finding more about their life in England. It is their Irish life chapter that I'm seeking. I can't think of any other reason for Edmund to go to Ireland other than Margaret wanting to go. The Whittakers were prolific and many did go to Manchester. Most of our ancestors are in Dukinfield Cemetery so it is unlikely but thankyou. I will note it.
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Longford is the registration district for Lanesboro. Only 4 Whittaker entries (2 births, 2 deaths).
There should be important details on Edward's death registration- occupation? marital status? details of informant?
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Unfortunately the death certificate wasn't very helpful other than verifying Edward/Edmund died in Lanesboro. He died of natural causes, was married and all information came from the coroner. No family information at all. Having looked at Find A Grave the Lanesboro Cemetery has noted graves of McGuinness. When I look into this the name Donohoe crops up. Both these surnames appear connected to his Irish wife Margaret so perhaps they did leave Lancashire to return to Margaret's home town as conditions may have improved somewhat after the potato famine.
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Unfortunately the death certificate wasn't very helpful other than verifying Edward/Edmund died in Lanesboro. He died of natural causes, was married and all information came from the coroner. No family information at all. Having looked at Find A Grave the Lanesboro Cemetery has noted graves of McGuinness. When I look into this the name Donohoe crops up. Both these surnames appear connected to his Irish wife Margaret so perhaps they did leave Lancashire to return to Margaret's home town as conditions may have improved somewhat after the potato famine.
....and that he wasn't a Widower!!
So have you looked for Death of wife??
What about the possible Widow one registered Strokestown Reg District??
You have been advised that if he were an Anglican he would likely have been buried in St John's Churchyard, Lanesboro...... by whom?? He might have been buried between Lanesboro and Strokestown for example??
Plus you don't say what is under Occupation. Was he a small farmer (as per Widow Mgt's cert)??
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Unfortunately the death certificate wasn't very helpful other than verifying Edward/Edmund died in Lanesboro. He died of natural causes, was married and all information came from the coroner. No family information at all. Having looked at Find A Grave the Lanesboro Cemetery has noted graves of McGuinness. When I look into this the name Donohoe crops up. Both these surnames appear connected to his Irish wife Margaret so perhaps they did leave Lancashire to return to Margaret's home town as conditions may have improved somewhat after the potato famine.
In addition to his marital status another important bit of information was the fact that the Coroner was the informant- which means it was more than likely an inquest took place (is date of inquest also noted in that box on certificate?
It might be that Edward/Edmund and wife Margaret were buried in the churchyard (not cemetery) at Lanesboro but there was no headstone. If there are burial records they would be with the Parish Church (St. John's)- have you verified when the burial records actually start? It's possible Margaret would be listed even if it's too early for his death in 1873.
Should also mention that in Ireland Edward and Edmund can be interchangeable.
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Only 1 possible 1901 Census
Whittaker James 52 Male Head of Family Catholic Lancashire, England
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Dublin/New_Kilmainham/Tram_Cottages/1290567/
...maybe you know more about son?? Age etc...
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Hi Hallmark.
The Archivist at the Longford County Library has assisted me re possible grave location.
Edmund was a Tailor by trade but also a British soldier from 1813-1839. He was a Chelsea Pensioner so that's how I found him in Ireland.
Margaret was a Tailoress.
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Hi Aghadowey.
Thank you for your input.
I have traced the son James to his death just not a grave as yet.
No surviving burial records from Longford for the 1870s according to the Archivist that has been helping me.
I have searched newspaper archives, looked for wills etc but nothing.
Thanks for the tip regarding Edmunds name too.
I have been looking for Margaret too but apparently the churchyard graves haven't been transcribed.
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I have seen the headstone for Edmund and Margaret's son, the first James in Newchurch Lancashire. It is a proper monument which makes me think that Edmund and Margaret would have had some sort of monument too. Their son John Munn erected a great headstone to his wife and brother (My lineage) and he was alive when his father died so I imagine he would have done similar for them.
I can't find where I would even contact St John's for information when I Google it.
Often cemeteries have Friends of that will take a look in the graveyard. I'm in Australia and won't be back in the UK for a few years so it's a bit difficult to progress at present.
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I wouldn't assume that there has to be a headstone for Edward & wife. Two things need to happen for one to appear- 1) money and 2) someone to erect it. Quite often people mean to get one up but never get around to it especially if relatives live far away. Wife may have been too ill or upset to think about it after Edward died then after she died family never got around to it.
So have you looked for Death of wife??
What about the possible Widow one registered Strokestown Reg District??
You have been advised that if he were an Anglican he would likely have been buried in St John's Churchyard, Lanesboro...... by whom?? He might have been buried between Lanesboro and Strokestown for example??
Plus you don't say what is under Occupation. Was he a small farmer (as per Widow Mgt's cert)??
The registration district is Roscommon, sub-district is Strokestown-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1880/06458/4856690.pdf
If you check this site you'll see that Roscommon district marches Longford district-
https://www.swilson.info/regdistmap.php
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Hi aghadowey,
Thanks for the information on Margaret Whittaker. It could be her as it is in the same area and I'm thinking Whittaker was not such a common name around those parts. It has thrown me that the son James states on his conversion to Catholicism in New Ross, Wexford, 13 Oct. 1876 that his father was Edmund Whittaker and his mother was Margaret McGuiness. The only other thing I have to go on is that Margaret's mother was potentially named Elizabeth and her father John as the family seemed to stick to the naming pattern for Rossendale Lancashire and I cannot find an Elizabeth or a John in Edmund's direct lineage yet those are names of their children.
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She is Registered in Strokestown Superintendents District and the Death was Registered in Rooskey sub-district which puts her over at Termonbarry area.
IF she is his Widow I'd imagine you'd be looking at Cemetery in that area.
Rooskey C of I is of no use......
http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/roscommon/photos/tombstones/rooskey/target0.html
BUT you could ask chap in Longford if any g/stones were moved "elsewhere".....or what Cemetery would be nearest to Termonbarry for her.