Hello from Malta. I am looking for help please in finding information about Henry Dillon. According to his army record he was born in Kiltullagh, near Dunmore, Galway on 23rd November 1830. He joined the 47th Regiment in Liverpool on 23rd Oct 1848. He married in Malta on 10th May 1857 and according to the marriage record his parents were James Dillon and Helen Strich (unsure of the spelling of Strich as the marriage document is in poor condition). He never returned to Ireland. He served in England, Gibraltar, Canada and Malta. He also spent some time in Italy as one of his children was born there. He was discharged from the army in 1870 and eventually went to Manchester, England where his occupation was recorded as retired soldier, publican and labourer. He died in the Chorlton Union Workhouse, Manchester in 1888. He was Roman Catholic. Thank you and best wishes. Luzzu.
Wednesday 29th Jan 2014, 02:07PM
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Hi Luzzu,
Firstly if you want to house swop, half the country will switch places... its cold here this morning and now you have us all thinking of beautiful Malta :-).
Can I suggest you repost on the Dunmore page. I believe he meant to put down Kiltivna, Dunmore (either that or Killavoher, Killuney, Kilnalappa, or Kilnaslieve, as these are the only ‘Kils in that parish).
There are basically three Kiltulla's in Galway. Two townlands of that name in Castlegar (on the outskirts of the city) and in Kilkerrin in north Galway. This is for the parish (a collection of townlands) of Kiltulla, further south in the county. As Kilkerrin is fairly close to Dunmore, he may have written ‘townland, nearest recruiting town’ rather than ‘townland, parish’ (less likely) but maybe post this on the Kilkerrin page too.
How wonderful that you have what information you do. The releases of the British Army records are a wonderful help and may hint at siblings at home or parents etc. (as in your case I'm guessing). They're superb really. It’s sad that he ended up in the workhouse - no army pension?
Henry had a huge number of countymen in the army with him and in all the places he served. He would have been very much at home. Many soldiers did not return home with the dire economic conditions, I believe, being the reason. Very often too there was no one to go home to such was the date of emigration (and death indeed)!
Best of luck in your research.
S.
Thursday 30th Jan 2014, 08:21AM -
Hi Sakdolan,
Thanks so much for your fast and friendly response to my enquiry. I will definitely take your advice and repost on the Dunmore page. Ireland certainly seems to be complicated geographically, especially to those who are unfamiliar with your Country. I should have posted the exact spelling from the army record which is:-
"Was born in the parish of Kiltalock, near the town of Dunmore in the County of Galway"
Not being able to find anywhere called Kiltalock I was sure it was Kiltullagh written as it sounds.
Unfortunately I haven't found any of Henry's siblings and only know the names of his parents from the marriage record. Its as puzzle as to why he ended up in Manchester because there is no record of him going there before and he moved there only about five years before he died.
He did have a pension I think. I believe he went into the workhouse for medical assistance (such that it was) rather than because he was destitute because his wife and some of his children continued to live at his home address.
Best wishes,
Luzzu
Thursday 30th Jan 2014, 11:08PM