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William Presho from Clones

MonaghanClones (Monaghan)

William Presho (listed as "Resho") was christened in the Clones Parish on April 4, 1812, to Alexander Presho and Margaret Hanna of Shankill. 
https://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/monaghan/churches/clones-bap-18…

In 1835, he enlisted in the Royal Artillery, 4th Battalion, as "Preshy." A year later, he transfered to the 3rd Battalion which I suspect is how he wound up in Canada. In 1838, he married while stationed in Quebec, with permission because only so many soldiers in the battalion could be married. "William Preshy, labourer and gunner and driver in the Third Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Artillery... By virtue of a Special License from the Governor General."

In 1840, he was stationed at the border of Upper Canada (Ontario) when he deserted along with three other gunner/drivers.
A couple years later, he was just across the water in New York where more of his children were born. Eventually, the family moved on to Wisconsin and then Iowa.

I know the Presho name was centred in Clones for a couple hundred years and that they're Protestant. I'd like to find out more about Margaret Hanna and Alexander Presho but have had no luck.

monicalis@shaw.ca

3 replies

Monica:

I checked the 1832 Tithe listings for Clones parish and there were two Presho records. There was a William Presho in Derlusk (Derrylusk) and a John Presho in Bullockbrane (Bullogbrean) townland.

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?…

I did not see a marriage record or baptismal records for siblings.

The 1860 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing shows six Presho records but there can be some duplicates. Bullogbrean os a common address.

https://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/monaghan/clones.php

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you, Roger. My William was gone by then but perhaps that William was a relative. I've seen John, Susan, and even Margaret in later years so perhaps that was the family. I looked up Bullogbrean and found it was next to Shankill where the family was living at the time of the christening.

Have you seen someone enlist under another name? It was William PRESHY in all the offical documents--also, he was listed as 20 when he was 23 when he enlisted. I don't know if that was just his being casual or if he was someone else. I couldn't find a Presho baptised in Clones in 1815--the nearest are Richard and William in 1812.

monicalis@shaw.ca

Monica:

It could be that the military recuiter clerk heard the name wrong or it was a different person. Also, William could have made himself younger.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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