Rorke

Anne:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Is this the message you saw? http://www.irelandxo.com/ireland/galway/clontuskert/message-board/rorke…

You can post a comment to the message and Ms. Fourie will be notified.

Let me know if you need more assistance.

Roger McDonnell

Hi Anne,

I stumbled on your message today :-). I somehow missed the message from Ireland Reaching Out and apologize for not responding.

I gladly share the following information.

The research was done by Alida Kieser and followed up by me and my mother with a visit to Ireland in May 2015. The  information on Thomas Rorke below is the only information I have.

Kind Regards,

Marelize Fourie (marelize29@gmail.com)

THE RORKE FAMILIES                                       (Alida Kieser – kieseralida@gmail.com)

 James RORKE (b.1760 – d. 18 Oct 1832) married Julia in Ireland.  Both were from Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland.  They had 5 sons.  James Rorke (1760 – 1832) was a tenant farmer to the Earl of Clancarty and this explains why most of James's sons emigrated when they did. The family did not own the farm and small as it was, it could barely support one family.  There was nothing to keep them in Clontuskert as farming was a very hard life especially for tenant farmers in poor growing seasons. James Rorke (1760 – 1832) was buried in the grounds of St Matthew's Church, Glenloughan, near Ballinasloe, Galway.  St Matthews church was a Protestant church.  It is in the village of Glan - short for Glenloughaun (now shortened to Glanlahan).  The grave is still there today and the inscription is readable.

1.             JOHN RORKE (b.1793 d.1868)

                John stayed in Ireland and took over the farm that his parents rented from the Earl of Clancarty. He had 2 sons:

                1.1          James RORKE (b.1821)

                1.2          William RORKE (b.1825).  William married Ann WALSH on 28 Jan 1851. 

                                They had 3 children who immigrated to Australia in 1880:

                                1.2.1       David RORKE married Kate GRADY at Clontuskert on 09/06/1879

                                1.2.2       Elizabeth RORKE

                                1.2.3       Fanny RORKE 

2.             THOMAS RORKE (b.1795 d.29 Jan 1837)   

Thomas came to South Africa with his 3 brothers as single men on board the ship "Chatham" in 1823.  He married Elizabeth in South Africa. They had 2 children: (Elizabeth later married William LIDDLE)

                2.1          Mary Anne RORKE married John BALONY on 18 Oct 1837

                2.2          Catherine RORKE married William Frederick LIDDLE

3.             MICHAEL RORKE (b.9 Mar 1799 d. 2 April 1872)

Michael came to South Africa with his 3 brothers as single men on board the ship “Chatham” in 1823.  Quartermaster Michael Rorke was a member of the Cape Mounted Riflemen during South Africa's Frontier Wars of 1834 - 1853. He is listed as having been awarded the South Africa 1853 Medal. He married in South Africa - Sarah FORRESTER (b.05 Jan 1809) and they had 12 children.

4.             JAMES RORKE (b.1801 d.23 Jun 1859)

James came to South Africa with his 3 brothers as single men on board the ship “Chatham” in 1823. 

He married ‘Unknown’ in South Africa and they had 1 child:

4.1          James Alfred RORKE (b.1827 d.24 Oct 1875).  

5.             BENJAMIN RORKE (b.1803) 

Benjamin got married in Ireland to Catherine GLYNN (b1801 d.1874).  He, his wife and first son came to South Africa in 1830 - 7 years after his 3 brothers came to South Africa. He and Catherine had 3 sons.  One was born in Ireland and 2 were born in South Africa.

5.1          Michael RORKE (b.12 Aug 1825 d. 29 Sep 1861) was born in Ireland

5.2          Thomas RORKE (b.1831) He was born in South Africa. 

5.3          Charles Benjamin RORKE (b.22 Jun 1836 d. 23 Mar 1905). He was born in South Africa.  Charles owned the farm Glen Thorn in Fort Beaufort and later he owned the farm “Ossekraal”. He married 16 Nov 1857 Sarah Ann EDWARDS (b. 22 Apr/Aug? 1836 d. 28 Nov 1916), daughter of James Edwards and Ann.  They had 10 children.