EDWARD BARRETT b 1877 Ballyduff, Co Kerry

[K8T]

Does anyone know about this Irish athlete? He was born in Ballyduff Ireland, father Thomas and mother Bridget Whelan. Also known as Edward Edmond Barrett.  He joined the City of London Police in 1905 and won gold in the 1908 Olympics tug of war team. He apparently left the police in 1914 possibly to join up in WW1 but cannot find the service record if he did.  He was also a shot put and discus thrower as well as a wrestler. He married Julia McCarthy in 1910 in Middlesex.  They are on the 1911 Census in High Holborn and I can trace them both in Electoral rolls until 1926 in St Pancras area - Chalk Farm, Regents Street and Kentish Town Road. After that they disappear, rumours were that he tried to become a professional wrestler but was unsuccessful.  Any ideas anyone?
Any info of children, career or where they went after this or his death.  Have tried ordering 3 certificates - one in Stepney 1938 cannot be traced, and the 1942 Battersea one and the 1948 South West Essex one are not right.
any help would be greatly appreciated

[Monty59]

Have you seen these websites? Looks as though he had a twin brother who was also an olympiad.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Barrett_(Irish_sportsman)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_freestyle_heavyweight

http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BARREEDW01

http://www.enotes.com/topic/Edward_Barrett_(Irish_sportsman)

http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ba/ned-barrett-1.html

http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Wrestlers_at_the_1912_Summer_Olympics.html?id=IM1YbwAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barrett_(athlete)

[Monty59]

Possible death for Julia in Dec 1/4 1928 @ Uxbridge

[K8T]

Hi Monty59

Thanks for the info.  I've seen most of the websites expect the wrestling ones so that's great.  Some of the sites have incorrect information, one being his date of birth which was Nov 1877 and the other was that his brother was not his twin having been born 2 years later.  Even those sites that quote the twin connection give two different birth dates!! Strange. 
I'll check out the Julia possibility, thanks for the pointer.

[K8T]

I've also noticed that they state that they have 2 children on the 1911 census who do not appear to be on the form. 

[J20102016]

Edmond Edward Barrett is my 2nd great granduncle born in 1877 died 1932 and is buried in flinchley cemetery. He had one son named Edmond with Julia McCarthy née White. He was the 3rd child of 13 kids. His older brother Willie Barrett and his younger brother James were both in the Royal Irish Constabulary. Willie Barrett was sacked in 1907 after he refused to escort the breakers of the 1907 dock strike in Belfast. The next year his marriage record says he married the daughter of a deceased RIC Constable. I believe James was stationed in Tipperary where he married Nora Ryan.it seems that they later moved to Swansea. Edmond had a younger brother named Patrick born 1894 who moved to New Jersey. He fought in both world wars and all his sons fought in the 2nd world war. I’m descended from Edmonds eldest brother John who lived in Kilflynn. John 2nd son built a church in Abbeydorney county Kerry. I descend from Johns oldest son. John was also a hurling coach and coached Stephen Fuller who would go on to Join the IRA and survive the ballyseedy massacre.