Hi Linda, Morgan, Roger,
I appreciate your correspondence and would love to get to the final edition of the family heritage!!....I have Elliotts book, "Irish Migrants in the Canadas" (1988) and Rossers 1976 edition of "London Township Pioneers", placing Edward Fitzgerald and Margaret Talbot Fitzgerald in Canada as 1819 land owners as well as their children having arrived there with them. Not much about Margaret's parents. There is also--online access to the "History of Middlesex County" (1889).
I do find there are some gaps in information. There are family letters, that may be key to information also. One Marie Smibert, a descendent, collaborated with Bruce Elliott, and Gwen Talbot Bergsma (she is mentioned in the appendix), as well as my aunt Judy McLaughlin Webb; my father's sister. I am picking up this genealogy where she left off, and any information will be most appreciated.
In their work, family lineage puts Margaret Talbot Fitzgerald as birth date of 1770, and Edward Fitzgerald as b. 1759. There are military musters with Edwards birth, although I only have genealogist's information about Margarets.
Reaching into the books again, Elliott discussed Richard Talbot of the 1818 settlers as being the son of the "late" Edward Talbot a gentleman of Clonloghan (just across the county border of Tipperary) and Garrane in King's County, (p.63). referenced on p. 271 #26. Elliott traces land holdings there.
Additionally, he states Richard married Lydia Baird. It is unclear on the ship manifest for the Brunswick which sailed the Talbot party as to who was in their cabins, as there were 3 families in Talbot's cabins. The manifest listed in these books does not state Margaret's age or last name, which led me to believe she was Richard's sister Margaret Talbot Fitzgerald, perhaps her husband Edward Fitzgerald was already there, as---Elliott states her (possible) father, the elder Edward Talbot immigrated to US about 1808, and his grandsons have successful woolen mills in Massachusetts.(p.54)---- .
As far as the royalty, "The Rebellion of 1837 in Upper Canada, Edited by Colon Read and Ronald J. Stagy(sp), states, "Edward Fitzgerald (1759-1841) who left Ireland and settled in london Township in 1819, becoming a farmer there. His wife is related to Irish nobility". Our family has passed this information down, someone has traced it back to Catherine Howard Henry VIII's 2nd wife, having descended from her uncle. I can say today--it is unproven, although has made for some outstanding vacations!
What stands out today, is Thomas Talbot, who acquired the land for London Township, had relatives who migrated-- Richard and Margaret. Thomas's mother was the last barroness of Malahide castle. It has led me to try to work that connection out.
Also I have noted in readings, Samuel and Ann Howards daughter, Margaret, is listed as a daughter of an English official living in Dublin. I will reference these in later documents if you like. There are military musters showing the male parties movement--I have yet to look at in detail.
I would appreciate any collaborative efforts and,
Your thoughts would be most appreciated,
I am sure Mr. Alan Campell will be a world of information. I have recently joined the Ontario Genealogical Society, and am still working through all of the records.
Rita