Edmund (Edward) Whittaker and Margaret nee McDonagh

Judinic,

In relation to Edward Whitaker, according to the death record - No. 260 for Lanesboro, he died in Killashee. He is recorded as a Tailor, aged 70 years.

He probably died suddenly and the local doctor was not satisfied as to the cause of death, so he reported to the Coroner. In that time period, an autopsy would have been casual, unless a crime was suspected.

Regards,

Judinic,

Regarding previous Post, from c1863 Dispensary Doctors were responsible for reporting births, deaths and marriages, so apparently the town of Lanesborough was in the District of Killashee and not a Dispensary unit on its own.

Regards,

Thank you McCoy.

I was confused as to why on his death certificate it said Killashee but your explanation clarifies that.

I'm inclined to think he did whilst visiting the area and it makes sense some sort of clarification of cause of death would have been sought.

All the death certificate stated was natural causes so l'm thinking heart attack or stroke probably.

Pity that he died that way. Had he died at home at least l would have had something to go on.

Best wishes

Judinic

I found on RootsIreland the baptisms of two people with parents Margaret and Edward/Edmund Whitaker, one COI, one RC.  The child John’s father belonged to the 25^th Regiment.  I hope this is helpful.

John Whitaker   

Birth: 14-Oct-1836

Baptism:     06-Nov-1836

Address:     Templemore       

Parish/District:    Templemore

Co. Tipperary

Church Of Ireland

Father:        Edward Whitaker        

Mother:      Margaret Not Recorded

Occupation:         Corporal              

Notes:

* John William

** Edwd Whitaker Of 25th Regt

James Whittaker (baptized at age 27)

Date of Birth:       16-Jun-1849

Date of Baptism: 13-Oct-1876

Address:     Ross 

RC Parish:  New Ross

Co. Wexford

Denomination:    Roman Catholic

Father:        Edmund Whittaker     

Mother:      Margaret McGuiness

Sponsor:     Moses Dunphy

Notes:

Sub-Conditional Baptism (the previous baptism may not have been valid)

Priest: Gorman D.J..

Church: New Ross.

Register: B/1870-80.

Status: L.

I looked at the Whitakers in the UK censuses for 1841 and 1851. One says Edmund was born in Ireland, the other says UK.

Hi Patricia.

Thank you for your reply. I have never found a death for John William only that he was born in Templemore. He is definitely not with the family by the 1841 UK & Wales Census. He must have died in Templemore, Limerick or Killasloe - that's where sections of his Regiment were deployed in 1836-37. In 1838 it would be Dublin but some went to Croon, Limerick and Bruff. In 1839 it is either Cork or Dublin then Edmund is discharged from the army. Admittedly, it has been like looking for a needle...

Edmund was born in Rossendale, Lancashire so he wasn't Irish. Margaret was. They lived in the Newchurch area of Rossendale for roughly 15 years before returning to Ireland.

I have only a few outstanding questions l would love to have answers to. I think Margaret was from the Templemichael area, the daughter of Henry McDonagh and Mary nee White although I have not been able to prove this.

Edmund was a Corporal in the army and was stationed at Longford and Athlone, but also other Barracks over a career spanning almost 24 years. 

I have traced the family's path as the moved from Barracks to Barracks. I have never found a marriage for the couple nor the births of James, the eldest son or Edmund (my line). They were both born in Ireland. With James being born in 1825/6 he should be found in Dublin as Edmund was stationed at the Richmond Barracks. As for Edmund Jnr he should be found in either Drogheda or Dublin but he's not in any records l can find either.

I have never found any trace of their daughters Margaret Ann and Elizabeth after the 1851 UK & Wales Census. I can't even say if the went back to Ireland. Definitely, their son John Munn did and so did the youngest James. The eldest James died back in England.

As for the youngest James he marries Teresa Ellen Byrne but the record you found says the mother's name was McGuines which it wasn't. He has been baptised because he was not Catholic. He'd been christened Anglican so he converted to marry. They see out their days in Dublin.

Why would the family go back to Ireland? First to Longford then to Athlone with Edmund dying in Lanesborough and Margaret potentially in Ballytoohey, Strokestown.

It is a mystery that's for sure.

Judinic

Judinic,

There is a record of a Corporal Edward Whittaker in the Royal Marines Queenstown in 1858. He was a Witness in the Petty Sessions court.

Could he be your relative?,

Regards,

Hello McCoy,

Unfortunately, I would say not. Edmund (Edward) returned to England with his family in 1839. Whilst in the army he only ever was part of the Kings Own Borderers 25th Regiment of Foot. On discharge he went back to his original trade as a Tailor settling in Haslingden and Bacup, Rossendale, Lancashire.

He and some of the family eventually went back to Ireland in1856 and according to his Chelsea Pension records this was somewhere in Longford.

Thank you for looking though, I appreciate it.

Regards,

Judinic.