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Rorke family in Clontuskert

GalwayClontuskert (Galway)

Hello,

I am researching my family's history and its links to Clontuskert. I have been reading the information in the book 'The parish of Clontuskert - Glimpses into its past' particularly the chapter on the 'Townlands of Clontuskert', (Kilnahown). The book is fantastic, it contains a very detailed record of land ownership in the region.

I am related to William Rorke who is mentioned in the book as farming in Kilnahown from 1872. William's son, David Rorke, emigrated to Australia in 1880 on the ship Corona with his wife Kate O'Grady.

William married Anne Walsh in 1857. His marriage record lists him living nearby in Liskelly while Anne lived in Kilnahown. Anne's father is David Walsh, whose land William took over in 1872.

The chapter also mentions a William 'Rourke' who was married to Mary Ellen and had a stepson named George Crofton and lived in the Townland (this information comes from the 1901 census). I was wondering if it is possible that this is the same person as William Rorke? The surname Rorke is often misspelled as Rorke (David Rorke was listed as Rourke on the official passenger list for the ship Corona).

I am trying to find a death record for Anne Walsh to see whether she predeceased her husband.

There is a death record for William "Roorke" in the Ballinasloe in 1903, however this is almost certainly a spelling error as George Crofton is listed as being present at the death.

The chapteralso mentions that the house that William "Rourke" lived in is in Ruins and that the land now belongs to the Hanrahan family. I will be in Clontuskert in July/August and would be interested in locating these ruins.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. I wonder if there are still Rorkes living in the area? It seems that a lot of them ended up in South Africa.

Kind regards,

Jarred Rorke

IrelandXO member

4 replies

Jarred:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

We have a parish liaison in Clontuskert parish and I will alert her to your message. As an aside, I searched for Anne Rorke death records in the Ballinasloe registration district and did not see any with an age that would fit your Anne.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

hello Jarred. There is a Rorke  facebook page mainly for South Africans and the Australian branch is also there. I have a Rorke family tree and would love to add your information and it should be on the Facebook page. You have also contacted me on Geni. There is also some discussion in the Ballinasloe IrelandReachingOut. I have found records that refer to Rooke and O''Rorke and I understand the name would originally have been O''Rourke. Apparently Rorke would have been an Anglicisation of the original name. Our Rorkes were not Catholic it seems. The Ballinasloe Ireland XO did find a John Rorke who owned property in 1820s I think and it confirms my other information. The names Molony and Liddle and Kenny appear with South African Rorkes as they have married into Rorke, along with Many many others, and i have started to think they knew each other from Ireland.  The name Rorke is a very famous one in South Africa as it is associated with a very interesting Anglo-Zulu battle of 1879 known as the Battle of Rorke's Drift. That particular Rorke is my great great grandfather's brother Jim Rorke.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

annemolonykirk…

Hello,

Thanks Anne and Roger, that information is very useful.

I have found a death record for Anne Walsh. She died on 15 March 1876 aged 50. William Rorke is listed as being present at her death. The cause of death was 'general debility'. 

Two of Anne's daughters, Sarah and Maria, died of Tuburculosis in 1875. They died about two months apart.

I have not been able to locate a birth record for Anne, but she would have been born sometime between 1821 and 1822.

I have the marriage record for Anne's son, David, however cannot make out the place of residence at marriage. It could say Clontuskert, however I am not sure. I was wondering if someone could shed some light on this. I have attached an image of the record.

I was also wondering if there are school enrolment records for Clontuskert. I am curious to know whether David and his siblings attended school. I am aware that there were several schools in the area at the time that they were growing up. 

Cheers,

Jarred

IrelandXO member

Good Afternoon , Everyone  ,      Sorry  I have to take these Rorke's  across  the Atlantic Way  --the lady  in Question is a Margaret Rorke  -marrys  a Thomas Hearn  in NewFoundland  --can  be found  on the Grand Banks  Website, as you know to follow  any family tree  you have start from  what you know  --as i keep digging --and get back to Ireland I always seemed to be 100 years ahead .  In TullyKyte  -in Moycullen -you'll  find one Daniel Madden --and a Catherine Rorke--has anyone  traced this clan to these two?   He passesin 1818, she  does  in 1830,knowas Widow Madden  onGV.   Thank  you for your time.   I  was going to post a book let  on my Family -it won't let me.  

 

All  our best  from over  in Atlantic  Canada.  

Whisky Bill

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