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Thomas Whelan

Laois

My great grandfather Thomas Whelan married Elizabeth Connolly in New Zealand in 1885. She was originally from County Longford but I cannot find a birth record for Thomas but I think there were connections to Queens County. His parents are named on the marriage certificate as John Whelan and Elizabeth Dunne.

I did find a marriage certificate for John Whelan and Elizabeth Dunne but the dates do not fit and also there is no Thomas Whelan named amongst their children.

Thomas and Elizabeth (Connolly) Whelan eventually returned to Ireland with their children and settled in Maryborough.

Any help in tracing the birth of Thomas would be greatly appreciated, I estimate he was born around 1851.

Thanks,

Anne Baker

Anne Baker

3 replies

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Queen_s_Co_/Clondarrig/Pallas_Big/1648887/

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Queen_s_Co_/Clondarrig/Pallas_Big/791607/

Presume this is the family in 1901 and 1911 census.Thomas age stays consistent which would indicate a birth c.1841. Elizabeth's age I would think is out on one or both if 36 in 1901 and 60 in 1911. Presume the Jane in 1911 is the Emma in 1901 ?

No marriage I could find for a John Whelan/Elizabeth Dunne. There are a few John Whelan marriages in Laois in or around that time frame to an Elizabeth but no Dunne.

John Whelan/Elizabeth McDonald Portlaoise October 1848 ; John Whelan/Eliza Kavanagh, Portarlington October 1840 ; John Whelan/Betty Whelan ,Raheen ,August 1826 ; John Whelan /Elizabeth Rorke ,Portlaoise ,October 1838 ; John Whelan/Eliza Keegan Raheen February 1839.

Wonder if she was a widow on marriage would her married name be used in the register instead of her maiden name ? On a civil entry the maiden name is usually included as well plus the fathers name would indicate it regardless.Looked at the above marriages but no Dunne witness I could see which might have been a help.

agha

"John Whelan/Eliza Kavanagh, Portarlington October 1840." These are my husband's ancestors--it is an example of the family name, Phelan, being recorded as Whelan. The names were the same in Irish: O'Faolain. It was sometimes recorded as Whelan, sometimes as Phelan. So perhaps you might find this helpful as you research.

glanvil3@aol.com

Re: Thomas Whelan

many thanks for the helpful messages received. As per the first message, I agree his year of birth was probably around 1841.

I did find a marriage for John Whelan and Elizabeth Dunne for some years after 1841, but even considering Elizabeth Dunne may have given birth some years before a marriage I still don't think it fits in with the age she gave on the marriage certificate.

Regarding the New Zealand marriage certificate, it definitely states that Thomas Whelan's parents were John Whelan and Elizabeth Dunne.

Re the second message, I will follow up on the Phelan theory.

Thanks again.

Anne

Anne Baker

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