Esther Wickham - parents and siblings

Hi Tom,

The Counties of Wexford and Wicklow have many  "Wickham" surnames. Source: www.findmypast.ie - Subscription Site . A small number are in other Counties - Cork  Dublin & Limerick etc

No record of a marriage found for "Esther Wickham" 1820's. You might find a clue in the many baptismal records, which are mainly Roman Catholic.

Regards,

McCoy

Hi Tom,

Further to previous post, the Roman Catholic parish of Kilquade which is also known as Kilmurry/Kilquade is in the Civil Parish of Kilcoole, Barony of Newcastle, Co. Wicklow. A search of the Kilquade parish records - www.catholicparishrecords@nli.ie - Free Site - have a marriage between James Smith and a Catherine  Wickham on the 23rd of May 1828. Witnesses: John Carthy and Christina Maguire (Page 5) and a marriage between James Williams and Esther Hill on the 30th of August 1831. (Page 9). The writing is poor and the Witnesses are not readily identifiable. The marriages are 1826 to 1863.

There is baptismal record dated 5th August, 1854 for a "John Williams". His father is recorded as James Williams and his mother as "Esther Wickham". Sponsors: Edward Fitzpatrick and Eliza Gilmore. No addresses for any of the persons, which makes it difficult to trace.

In Griffiths Valuations which were take in Couinty Wicklow in the early 1850's there is a "James Williams" in the townland of Ballyronan in the Barony of Newcastle and Civil Parish of Kilcoole, Poor Law Union of Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow.  Could this man be your relative?

Attachment

 

You Must Be the "Real Mcoy",

Thank you so much for your efforts.   I had tracked down the marriage between James Williams and Esther Hill in St Patrick's, Kilquade 1831, witness Elizabeth Farrell.   Elizabeth Farrell also witnessed the baptism of Eliza Williams at St Patrick's Kilquade with parents shown as James and Esther Williams, to be followed by John Williams baptism at Kilquade where the witness was Elizabeth Fitzpatrick nee Farrell (Elizabeth had married a James Fitzpatrick  in Dublin  on 16 May1833).   Elizabeth Farrell is the "cement" that confirms to me that Esther and James are my Great, Great Grandparents. 

It would seem that James and Esther had moved to Shanganagh when my Great Great Grandmother Mary was born as I have unearthed a transcript showing a Mary Williams being baptised at St Peter's, Bray 1836.  As it is a transcript no witnesses are shown.  A further Sister Catherine was baptised at St Michael's, Kingstown in 1838 with the family then shown as living in Killeney.

I have attached a summary of my research which is supported by records but have drawn a blank as to James and Esther's families, however your finding the James Smith/Catherine Wickham marriage may be the key to open another page.  It could be that Catherine used her baptismal name or just changed to Esther for her marriage to James Williams - is that where their 3rd daughter's name originated?  Under the old tradition Eliza after her Father's Mother, Mary after Esther's Mother who knows.

After finding the records of marriage and baptisms I went to Ireland in 2018 and visited St Patrick's Kilquade, St Michael's Bray.   Since finding the workhouse records early this year I had planned to revisit Ireland last August but for COVID.   2021 maybe????  (Have attached a summary of my discoveries if you are interested)

Thank you for your help, stay safe

Kind regards,

Tom

G'day again McCoy,

I meant to attach the following summary with the workhouse details that I wrote early 2020.

Happy 2021..

Tom

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your kind comments.

I make the following observations:  (1) Catherine Wickham and Esther Wickham are associated with the same Roman Catholic parish, so having regard to the marriages, in 1828 (Catherine) and Esther prior to 1831 it is possible that they were sisters?

(2) Families named "Hill" were mainly members of the Church of Ireland (Protestant). It is possible that Esther Wickham married a Mr. Hill in a Church of Ireland ceremony. They may not have had any family and she reverted to her family name later. Most of those records were destroyed in 1922 during the Irish civil war, so it will prove difficult to make a connection.

Good Luck with your research,

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your advice.  At least it provides a glimmer of hope.   I too have had a brief attempt at chasing Church of Ireland records thinking that Hill may have been English as the only Hill's I have found had been.  

Tom