Thomas Francis Burke Institution

[lyn22]

Hello Graham sorry about that date it should be Thomas married Louise Sarah Annie Davies 29 th October 1883 at Leamington Priors his second marriage first marriage was to  Ann Maria Baker 3 July 1875 at Coventry . His brothers were John , Dominick , Michael , James ( My G Grandfather ) Peter and a sister  Mary .  Peter my GG Grandfather born County Mayo 1813 -1815  who married Bridget Bagley had a brother that is so exciting I have never been able to find siblings for him. As far as I know Peter's father was Dominick but I dont have a wife for Dominick . Take Care Lynette

[grahamoxxx]

Hi Lynette

We appear to have reached the same point in our tracing of the Burkes. My record of Peter Burke runs thus:

1813-1815 Born County Mayo, Ireland
1816-1838 Moved to Coventry, Warwickshire
1838 living in Spon Street, Coventry at time of marriage, labourer
1840 living in Spon Street, Coventry
1841-1842 Went back to County Mayo, Ireland
1844-1848 Returned to Coventry, Warwickshire
1851 Census at Greyfriars Lane, Coventry, labourer
1858 (Jun 4th) died at 66 Greyfriars Lane.

Lots of gaps to fill. Was his wife Bridget was also born in Ireland? On their marriage certificate she was Bridget Bagley, spin hawker, of Anjou Street, Coventry (can find no record of an Anjou Street in Coventry), John Bagley father, labourer.

On son Peter's birth entry in 1853 she gives her former name as Begley. On both certificates she signed with an X to indicate illiteracy, therefore we can conclude she had perhaps more than a touch of an Irish accent.

If I could find a passenger list from Westport 1815-1830 with a Thomas Francis Burke on the list it would enable me to go back further in pinpointing the village of origin of the Burkes in Mayo.

Didn't know of TF Burke's siblings, but can help with his children.

Speak soon

Graham

[lyn22]

Hello Graham we seem to have reached the same point I have Peter and Bridget's children     

John 1841 Coventry

Dominick 1844 Ireland
 
Michael 1849 Coventry
 
James 1850 Coventry

Thomas 1854 Coventry

Peter 1857 Coventry

Mary 1859 Coventry

I have Bridget born 1816 - 1819 Ireland and have the same as you Bagley Begley father John  .On the 1911 Census I have Thomas in the Coventry Union Workhouse and Infirmary wife Louisa at home 68 Butts Coventry with some of the grown up children. Does this sound right to you  do you know what Thomas died of .  Take Care Lynette

[grahamoxxx]

Hi Lynette

My grandfather Francis Burke was born at 145 Hope Street, St Martin's, Birmingham in 1885 (2 years after TFB's 2nd marriage), and I know he lived there at least until 1888. The Irish Nationalist MPs Tim Healy, Michael Davitt and "Long" John O'connor visited the family home frequently. ie. separately during electioneering campaigns. One of the MPs and several members of the Irish club with TFB would go back to the house after closing hours and play cards half the night. My grandfather remembers Michael Davitt nursing him on his knee. He had one arm and a black beard. LSA thought Tim Healy a "charming man", and he later became the first Governer-general of Irish Free State. I understand that the marriage between TF and LSA Burke broke up in 1909. Family tales say that TFB was work shy and he drank. Perhaps we shall never know for sure.

All the best
Graham

[lyn22]

Thankyou Graham for sharing this information it helps me to get an idea of how the family lived in England. I have only been researching the Burke's since the start of the year . I have sent you a personal message with my email . Take Care Lynette

[leighburke]

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.

[TylerNZ]

Hi

I also have a Burke ancestor who quite possibly could be related to yours.

My GGG Grandmother or thereabouts was born in Westport in County Mayo in 1813 around the same time as your Thomas. She also moved to Coventry in Warwickshire, I'm not sure when, but there she married Peter Parker (aka Smith) I think it was in 1834. She had about five children there before moving to New Zealand (the country not the English town) in about 1853 or so, sorry for being a bit vague I don't have files in front of me.

Another family researcher says her father was George Burke, but I have not seen proof of this.

I'm not sure if that is of any use, but it may be a lead for you, if you think there may be a connection let me know and I'll pull out the folder.

Cheers

Fran

[lyn22]

Hello Fran I still haven't got any further with my Dominick's family I have all the younger Burke's and families on Census. Maybe if you could let me know some names from the Census we might be able to tie them in some how. You never know I have found kids staying with Aunties and Grandmas and then figured out were they fit. Thanks for taking the time to speak to me Lynette from Sunny Australia