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Messages - leighburke

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1
Australia / Re: James and Lucy BURKE 1870s
« on: Wednesday 04 July 12 15:17 BST (UK)  »
Lord Warden relieved HMS Caledonia as flagship on the station in 1869. She served in this position until 1875, when she paid off for refit. She was in the First Reserve in the Forth until 1878, when she joined the Particular Service Squadron during the Russian war scare. She finally paid off in 1885, her crew being transferred en masse to HMS Devastation.

2
Australia / Re: James and Lucy BURKE 1870s
« on: Wednesday 04 July 12 15:03 BST (UK)  »
Hey guys,

I have a book here that is relevant to this discussion and can probably fill in a few blanks:

- when james Burke married Lucy Dyke on 24th October 1870 he was listed as a Seaman of HMS Lord Warden.
- Lucy's parents were Thomas Joseph Dyke (Watchmaker) and Hannah Dyke nee Smallwood.
- Lucy was born on 15th November 1850
- James was born on 2nd February 1851
- James joined the navy in 1866 aged 15 at HMS Donegal, then served on HMS Rosario.  Naval Record 37328A
- When they married, Lucy lived at 21 Hill street Coventry.  She probably stayed with her parents while James was away with the Navy, hence being at home on the census in 1871.
James lived at 66 Guy(sic) Friars Lane Coventry.  Guy should probably read Grey.
- A witness at their wedding was John Burke, James older brother of 10 years.  The other witness was Mary Ann Rogers.
- Their 6 children were born in NSW.
- Lucy died on 29th September 1900 at home 14 Lothian St North Melbourne.
- James died at home on 25th August 1901.  His occupation was listed as engine driver.
- They're both buried at Melbourne General Cemetry along with their daughter Catherine who died at 12 of kidney disease.
- When their first son Arthur Edmund Burke was born in NSW in 1877 his occupation was listed as a railway carriage cleaner.  After that on other birth certificates he was listed as fireman, engineer and engine driver.  There may be records of him being a fireman in Goulburn NSW, or a fire truck or train driver (Engine driver) in Newcastle NSW.
- There is a reference to them moving to Victoria in about 1890.

Is it possible James sailed to Australia with the HMS Lord Warden?

3
Warwickshire / Re: Thomas Francis Burke Institution
« on: Wednesday 04 July 12 14:24 BST (UK)  »
Hi guys,

I'm Leigh Burke from the Australian branch of Burke's.

I thought I'd chime in here as I've been doing a bit of research over the past few weeks.

It was very interesting to read that Thomas Francis Burke was involved in the American Civil War.  Coincidentally, the 1861 census has Bridget listed as Bridget Birk 45, and her son John 20 as John Birk.

All the other children are listed as Burke's.  Dominick, Michael, James, Thomas, Peter and Mary.

I wonder why Bridget and John who were the only ones over 18 were listed as Birks?

A little extra research on the Civil War Thomas Francis Burke reveals he was born in 1940, and only 13 years older than Thomas Burke from Coventry.   He was the second of six children born to Edmond Bourke and Mary Bourke (nee) Dwyer.  I have to check, but maybe Thomas Francis Burke (Civil War) was one of Dominick's brother's sons or grandsons.  That would make the dates about right.  Making him a distant second cousin or something???

If the family anecdotes prove correct, this could be the lead to find the connection between Dominick and County Mayo.

4
Warwickshire Lookup Requests / Re: Peter and Dominick Burke.
« on: Wednesday 04 July 12 12:00 BST (UK)  »
I found a 26 year old Joseph Dickison, a labourer from Coventry in the 1851 census.  This would have made him 13 when he witnessed Peter Burke's and Briget's wedding in 1838 (possible).

he's listed as living at Palmer Lane, a 6 minute walk from GreyFriars Lane in Coventry where James Burke was born in 1851.

Interestingly there are 2 churches between the 2 houses, including a cathedral which leads me to believe at 13, maybe Joseph Dickison may have been an altar boy?  Either that or he was a labourer at Peter or Bridget's place of work.

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=Greyfriars+Lane,+Coventry,+United+Kingdom&daddr=Palmer+Ln,+Coventry,+West+Midlands+CV1,+UK&hl=en&ll=52.40827,-1.507165&spn=0.007199,0.017102&sll=52.409748,-1.510288&sspn=0.007199,0.017102&geocode=FfWoHwMdufPo_yld7ansukt3SDGXxvV9GDGk3A%3BFZS1HwMdcPTo_ynhUKZku0t3SDEOCu3qUBlQhA&oq=greyfriars+lane&t=h&gl=au&mra=ls&z=16

The 1841 census lists a 40 year old Samuel Day living in Coventry with a wife and 3 kids.  He was the friar that married Bridget and Peter in 1938.

5
Warwickshire Lookup Requests / Re: Peter and Dominick Burke.
« on: Wednesday 04 July 12 11:16 BST (UK)  »
Hi Lynette,

It's Norm's youngest son Leigh.  I was doing  a bit of research online and also got to about the same place as you.

Couldn't find any trace of Dominick in births and deaths in England or Ireland.  I did find an entry in the 1861 census for Bridget Birk and all her kids (including James Burke, at the right age for that year)  at the right address in Coventry.  Interestingly, Bridget and her eldest son are listed as Birks, and the rest of the children are listed as Burkes.  She was listed as a widower, so Peter Burke must have passed away between their marriage in 1838 and 1861.

In the 1871 census Bridget Birk and Bridget Burke had disappeared.  I was able to trace through one of the kids and find that she had remarried a Patrick Caulfield, was still living in Coventry and had 3 of the kids still with her.

Most of the sons seem to be listed as watch makers in most of the earlier censuses.  Later I traced one of the sons until he became a cycle maker (bikes maybe?).

I also found some good census information on Lucy Dyke who married James Burke and emigrated to Australia.  Another interesting note is her father Thomas Dyke was also in the watch industry as a watch maker, although I think Coventry was known as a watch making area.

I have screenshots and photo versions of census info if you're interested :)

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