Baptism in Cahir

[twojags]

Hi Talmage

I have been looking for a definite birthplace for my great-great grandfather William Whitmore for the last 10 years or so when my Sister-in-Law came to an impasse in her genealogical research on my behalf. This was long before internet searching was available as a tool and she had to rely on source material such as Parish Registers, Poor Records, Census Returns, and Family Records Centres. 

He was recorded on the Censuses as being born in 1816 in a place called "Care" in Ireland which as you know does not exist and we came to the conclusion that it must have been mis- recorded and that we would have to leave it on the back-burner due to the paucity of Irish Records. We were quite expecting having to look for Irish ancestry when everyone was in Reigate all along.

Well - you've guessed it. I was absolutely gobsmacked when on again Googling the Surname and Place of Birth yesterday, just in case, the first result that came up was your Baptism in Cahir enquiry from 2008! In your one paragraph it explained the whole Ireland / Reigate connection. I have always thought that it might involve army service.

My wife, who has now taken over genealogical matters, immediately set about expanding the data and making sure that your great-great grandfather (and indeed our great-great-great grandfathers) are one and the same. She has come up with a town that appears to have more than its fair share of Whitmores so the task could prove exhausting!

Did your subsequent research reveal where he was baptised?  I am the great-grandson of Edwin Whitmore whose grand-daughter Edna Winifred Whitmore had me in 1946.

Thanks for your post which has removed a major stumbling block.

[Talmage]

You cannot imagine how surprised I was to get this message! Edwin's sister Mary was my great-grandmother and I am descended from one of her daughters. I have not yet been able to find a baptismal record for William in Ireland but recently discovered that there are baptismal records for Cahir on microfilm at the National Archives in Dublin. They apparently date from 1805 and would cover the period we are interested in. I have discussed this with my sister and we hope to employ someone to go and check them for us as there is no way I can get to Dublin. I don't think the one mentioned in one of the above messages can be correct as it does not fit in with other information I have.
I have done a good deal of research into the family in Reigate which, by the way, is where I grew up and where my sister still lives. Assuming that our William is the son of William and Jemima Whitmore I have traced one branch of her family back to about 1732 in Reigate and William senior's family back to the 1740s in Dorking and Horley, both of which are near Reigate. I also have information about William junior's wife Ann, who apparently came from Sussex.
I don't know how far back your researches have gone but I have most of it on my computer and could send it to you if would like to let me have your email address. I am writing a short history about Wiiliam's enlistment in the army, which I find extraordinary. When I went to the National Archives at Kew and had the regiment's two-hundred year old muster books in my hands it was an amazing feeling and to see his name written down and all the information about him, although not as much as I would have liked, was fantastic.
If you want to contact me without going through Rootsweb my email addressis: (*)
Best wishes
 Talmage

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[twojags]

Hello Talmage
Thanks for your wonderful reply. It just demonstrates how useful these genealogical websites can be. My wife uses Roots Magic software so I have suggested that she signs up immediately and makes full use of the resources available. She is busy researching her side of the family at the moment but dropped everything to concentrate on the Whitmores. You appear to have a lot of information on the Reigate families (especially having lived there) which will certainly prove most welcome as an aid to her research.
I will contact you fully with stuff that will astonish you, as much as it did us, with the Balcombe connection as soon as I can.  Your email address was deleted by the moderator to avoid spam and apparently you need to have made at least 3 postings before you are allowed to exchange personal data via the Personal Message system.)

Best wishes
Twojags

[aghadowey]

Hello Talmage...
Your email address was deleted by the moderator to avoid spam and apparently you need to have made at least 3 postings before you are allowed to exchange personal data via the Personal Message system.)

Best wishes
Twojags

Talmage doesn't need to make any more posts but you've only 2.