Searching for ancestors

George Ardill and Elizabeth St Leger had their first child Johnathan in Borrisokane, Tipperary 1818.

I have no knowledge of either George or Elizabeth prior to this event and would welcome any help or information offered. They were not of the Catholic faith and, in Australia, their children embraced the Baptist religion.

After the birth of the first three children the family moved to Ferbane, King Co (Offaly) and thr rest of the children were born there.

More Information:

The Patriarch and Matriarch of our branch of the Ardill’s in Australia were George and Elizabeth (nee St. Leger). Their first child Jonathan was born (perhaps ‘registered’ only) in Burrisokane, Tipperary on the 23rd. February, 1818. Prior to that time nothing is known of them however, research is being undertaken on a few fronts to uncover more details of their origins, ages, when and where married etc.. At present, the Shinrone area about 15 miles (25 km.) from Burrisokane is looking promising  - there was a branch of the St. Leger family in that area plus references to a few Ardills as farmers in that same district.

It is necessary to make some assumptions about them as long as we bear in mind always that they ARE only assumptions and not fact!

Elizabeth wrote her last letter to her daughter Matilda in Sydney from her lodgings in Earl Street, Tullamore, Offaly County (then King’s County) dated 15th. August, 1870 and  her death is registered   in Tullamore on 26th  October, 1870 which shows her age as 82 years. If this age is correct then her birth year would be 1788 and her age at birth of Jonathan 28 or 29 years.

It would seem safe to assume that George was of similar age. The first letter in the collection from Elizabeth to Matilda is dated 24th. May, 1855 and Elizabeth signs off as  “….your ever affectionate widowed mother…”  (the one and only time she uses these words). This would mean that George was about 66 years of age when he died 1854/55.

George and Elizabeth had 9 or 10 children.  Hubert Watkins – Smith, the Baptist Church Historian has in his listing a son Jacob born 1830.  Although there is a convenient space between the births to fit a child in that year, none of the writings I have seen from the old and departed relatives mention a Jacob at all. Elizabeth does not mention him in her correspondence to Matilda either so I will leave him out of the list until there is better evidence of his existence.

Jonathan                                                b. 23.2.1818                            d.             ?

George Frederick*                b.   3.3.1821                            d.  2.10.1861 in Parramatta, NSW

Isaac                                       b.         1822                            d. 30.6. 1862 in the American Civil War

William*                                b. 10.6.1823                            d.  3.11.1891 in Darlinghurst, NSW

Joshua*                                 b. 23.5.1824                            d. 19. 1.1908 in Parramatta, NSW

Anna*                                    b. 11.7.1826                            d. 14. 7.1911 in Freemantle, WA

Lydia*                                    b. 11.9.1828                            d.   1. 1.1906

Leonard                                 b. 7.  4.1835                            d.             ?      stayed in Ireland ??

Matilda*                                b.10. 9.1837                            d.  24. 4.1920

Jonathan and George Frederick were born (registered?) in Burrisokane, Tipperary.  The remaining children were born in Ferbane, Offaly County (Kings). Those marked  *   came to Australia.