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WALCH FAMILY OF SHANAGOLDEN, LIMERICK

I am researching the Walch family who were in Shanagolden in the mid 18th century, notably Solomon Walch who was born there in 1760 and went on to have a military career, notably in India. His descendants moved to Australia and one, Marjorie Elvie Walch (1896-1986) is the great-grandmother of George Bailey, Australian cricketer (1982-). Can anybody in nor around Shanagolden tell me anything about the original Walch arrivals, believed to be a Walloon soldier who fought in the Battle of the Boyne for William of Orange and was rewarded with a land grand afterwards. Any info of any kind to my email oi.oi.oi@bigpond.com would be greatly appreciated.

IrelandXO member

3 replies

Martin,

I am not in a position to say whether your particular ancestor got a land grant in Cromwellian times, but the name Walch (and it’s many variants) is generally thought to indicate that the person had arrived in Ireland from Britain, typically from 1066 onwards. Welsh means a foreigner. This is what Wikipedia says:

Walsh is a common Irish surname, meaning "Briton" or "foreigner", literally "Welshman", taken to Ireland by British (Welsh, Cornish and Cumbrian) soldiers during and after the Norman invasion of Ireland. It is most common in County Mayo and County Kilkenny. It is the fourth most common surname in Ireland, and the 265th most common in the United States. There are variants including "Walshe", "Welsh", "Brannagh", and "Breathnach". Walsh is uncommon as a given name. The name is often pronounced "Welsh" in the south and west of the country.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

My father's great grandmother was Jane Smart Walch.

On the Man family website (manfamily.org) is 'Walch Family Jottings' by Jane Smart Man (1836-1929) (under her married name ) and her

brother George Turner Walch. [1838-1901]

This is available as a Pdf download https://www.manfamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Walch-Family.pdf

I woud be very interested to see the evidence of Captain Solomon Walch's [ c1756-1812] conenction to Shanagolden/ 'Seanghualainn, County Limerick.

Jane Smart Walch thought Solomon Walch's  grandfather was in a Wallon Netherlandish regiment at the Battle of the Boyne (July 1690). I think she talks of a possible

land grant in the north of Ireland but I see no evidence for this. Solomon was one of many who had to leave Ireland and find service abroad

in the British Army. He was at the battle of Bunker's Hill (17 June 1775) and was later a Captain in the British 80th Foot regiment,serving in India,dying in 1812 at Cannore ( now Kannur),Kerala,India.

I have been wondering, probably eroneously, that the family might have been connected to the Swiss Palantine refugees 1709/10

who found refuge in County Limerick,before many emmigrated to America.

 

Edward Ebden

 

Edward Ebden

Hi,

I have just stumbled upon this thread on the search to find out who Solomon Walch was.

The above is all very interesting and new to me so thank you.

Unfortunately I do not have any new information that i can add.

My late Grandmothers grandfather was Percival Bell Walch Son of James Henry Brett Walch, Older brother of Jane Smart Walch from what I have read.

We are on the side of the Family that landed In Hobart Tasmania in the 1800s

I Have been focused mostly on the time spent in India thus far,

I have been reading through the man family.org website which has been very interesting if any other recommendations can be made for more information id greatly Appreciate it.

zackdwyer15

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