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Pepper family of Rathangan

KildareRathangan (Kildare)

My Gt Grandfather was William Willoughby Pepper. He was born, I believe, in Co. Wexford but lived most of his married life in Rathangan and was a schoolmaster at the local school for most of that.

He married Margaret Hawkins there in 1862 and they had 11 children. Most of the boys went into the army (Connaught Rangers). At least two of the girls became teachers or nurses and most of the childern finished up in England and married to English spouses although William and Margaret never left Ireland. Of the children who moved to England most settle in Hampshire.

I know that Margaret died in Renmore Barracks in 1901 of Pneumonia and William Died in Naas workhouse in 1905 after an Asthema attack but I don't know where either of them were born or are buried; that would be very good to know. I would be very pleased to know any other information or connections to the family.

Ernest Pepper (Ernie), Peterborough, UK

valern@sky.com

3 replies

Ernie:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Roots Ireland has very few Church of Ireland baptismal records for Co. Wexford so I could not find a baptismal record for William. I also looked for Margaret Hawkins and do you know if she was C of I from birth? I located two Margaret Hawkins RC baptismal records around 1833 (see below). Looks like the family had one Margaret and likely she died young and a second Margaret was born and baptized in 1834.

I would also suggest that you contact the Rathangan branch library and see if they have records on the local school in the 1870s/1880s. They can also tell you if there is an Anglican church in the are where possibly William and Margaret are  buried.

Roger McDonnell

Rathangan Library Contact Details and Times

Canal Court
Rathangan
Co Kildare
045 528078
rathanganlib@kildarecoco.ie

Monday Closed
Tuesday 10.00am-1.00pm/2.00pm-5.00pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 2.00pm-8.00pm
Friday 10.00am-1.00pm/2.00pm-5.00pm
Saturday 10.00am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-3.00pm
Closed Saturday of Bank Holiday week-ends

Name:Margaret HawkinsDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:19-May-1833Address:
Parish/District:EnniscorthyGender:FemaleCountyCo. Wexford
Father:John HawkinsMother:Anne ByrneOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:William Martin Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Honora Murphy 

Name:Margaret HawkinsDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:27-Jul-1834Address:
Parish/District:EnniscorthyGender:FemaleCountyCo. Wexford
Father:John HawkinsMother:Anne ByrneOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Andrew Martin Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Margaret Doyle 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

I was looking into your Pepper Co. Wexford lead - nothing promising so far.. just wondering if you have the marriage cert. for William and Mary?

The additional details on this could help - e.g. occupations of their fathers - Thomas Hawkins and Thomas Pepper, names of the witnesses, and places of residence for the bride & groom etc...

There's only one Thomas Pepper showing up in Co. Wexford on Griffith's Valuation and he's in Ballywilliam townland near New Ross, but only holding a small plot of land and no house.. so appears not the be a resident of the area, or possibly living in accommodation provided by an employer. Two other possible leads that might be worth checking - a marriage in Enniscorthy area 1855 of a George Pepper to Mary Mossey, and marriage of a Mary Pepper to Michael Monaghan in 1850, also Enniscorthy area. Fathers to both are Thomas Pepper and since they are civil marriages before 1864 likely Church of Ireland (source for these is the partial extracted civil BMD records on FamilySearch)

Edited - found a second Thomas Pepper listing on Griffiths in Co. Wexford this time with 'house & garden' in Castleland townland, Ferns civil parish. The valuation for this are is dated 1853. The Tithe Applotment records for Castleland townland Ferns civil parish show several entries for a Thomas Peppard/Pippard,, these are dated 1824.

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Shane for this further information.  You have certainly given me some work to do but with such good leads I am sure that I can make good progress.  I will let you know how I get on.  Ernie

Roger, I have written to the Rathangan Library.

 

valern@sky.com

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