My great grandparents are from Enniskillen and later Dublin. I'm looking for help in finding info on my great great grandparents and their parents. I know my great grandmother Margaret Jane Wilson was born to Thomas Wilson and a Miss Brien and they had 7 children (I have their names but that is all) Miss Brien died when Margaret Jane was 8 and Thomas went on to marry a Jane Carrothers and they also had 7 children whose names I know (I have a tiny bit of info about one or two of these kids). I'd love to find out more about all of these children.
My great grandfather was William Gilbert. He and Margaret Jane had 2 sons and 3 daughters only my grandpa married and he had only one child. I'd love to know if I have any Gilbert surnamed relatives (other than my siblings) as I have not been able to find any. Below is some info I have about where these relatives lived and some info about being a 'freeman' of Dublin which I would like to understand.
In the 1901 Census this family was living at 17.1 Melfont Ave. Kingstown Dublin (1 block form Pierre Hotel)
In the 1911 Census they lived at 23 Townhall Street Enniskillen, Fermanagh.
On their marriage certificate it said that Willam had been living at 3 Victoria Terrace (Pierre Hotel) prior to wedding and Margaret had been living at 35 Townhall Street Enniskillen.
William Gilbert was made a free-man of the City of Dublin on 12th December 1900. (Seems to have to do with being related to Godfrey Moore who was admitted into the liberties and franchises of the city of Dublin by right of marriage at Michaelmas. Assembly 1837 City Hall Cork Hill signed William Ford Town Clerk Dec 18 1855)
Thanks for your help.
Julia
Saturday 24th Sep 2016, 12:39PMMessage Board Replies
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Here’s a link that explains a little about ancient freemen of Dublin. That changed in 1876, so Wiliam Gilbert got his award under newer rules. However there is a contact e-mail at the bottom of the link for Dublin City Archives. You can e-mail them for any details they may have.
http://databases.dublincity.ie/freemen/about.php
I can’t speak specifically for Dublin’s Freemen but in general the freedom of the city is an award to someone who the city wishes to honour because of something they have done. In practical terms there are few actual benefits these days. Possibly being allowed to sell fish on a Wednesday, within the city boundaries, without a licence. That sort of thing, but that’s probably about it.
When was Thomas Wilson born? I see a marriage registered in Lowtherstown (Irvinestown) on 28.8.1846 to Mary Anne Breen (not Brien). I wonder if that could be his first marriage?
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Saturday 24th Sep 2016, 06:27PM -
Hi Julia, Kaye here from Dublin.Please find below information you may find useful.
William Gilbert b.1st June 1862 at Arbour Hill, Military Barrecks.Dad Thomas Bruce, Mam Mary ? living at 10 Prussia St,Dublin.
William married Margaret Jane Wilson on the 6th April 1887 at the C.O.I Monkstown Parish,Co Dublin.
Thomas.b. 3/2/1888.
Ethel,b.29/7/1889.
Adah.b.7/11/1890.
Florence.b.23/12/1892.
William Alex,b.1886
Adah remained in Dublin and was living with her Aunt and Uncle William Henry Jones and Mary Florence as well as her Cousin Dorothy Gweneth Jones.In the 1911 Census.
Regards,
Kaye Sullivan-Healy
Kaye Sullivan
Sunday 25th Sep 2016, 12:21PM -
Elwyn and Kaye,
Thank you both so much! It is so kind of you to take the time to help strangers like this! I think this is the correct Gilbert family Kaye as I have Thomas Bruce (my Grandpa's Grandpa) ---Thomas Bruce Gilbert and Mary Moore Married May 9 1860 St. Catherine Dublin Ireland. I believe it was through this Mary Moore's Dad Godfrey the the Freeman of Dublin comes from. I have an interesting letter written to Tom from a Grand Uncle Willie ( not sure if this is what my Grandpa was calling him. If so that would make him this Tom's brother). The letter is written from New York City dated Aug 27 1879.
Elwyn, I have no re info about the Wilson's except for Margaret Jane's birth and death Margaret Jane Wilson maybe b Feb 11 1865 Fermanagh Ireland d May 3 1930 buried in Deans Grange cemetary post town monks town co Dublin. Thank you both so much for your help! Julia
Julia
Sunday 25th Sep 2016, 08:45PM -
Also, Ethel, Adah, Florence, Tom and William Alex (my Grandpa and his siblings) all eventually left Ireland for Canada. My Dad was the only child to come from this family. Julia
Julia
Sunday 25th Sep 2016, 08:49PM -
The Margaret Wilson born 11.2.1865 had a father named Thomas Wilson and a mother named Margaret Jane Livingston. Thomas was a farmer in Mullynock. I think this is that family in 1901:
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Sunday 25th Sep 2016, 11:46PM -
Hi again,
Elwyn I think the birth date I gave you must have been wrong. I can find my grandfather's family in the 1901 census living in Kingstown he is 5 and is William Alexander Gilbert. When I look at that his mom, Margaret Jane (Wilson) Gilbert must have been born in Feb of 1862 not 1865 as I said earlier. I believe this family was Church of Ireland. I think they attended St Michaels (the church that is now the Mariner's Museum) when my Grandpa was a boy anyway. I'm not sure where his parent's attended church with their parents. I assume she went to church in Enniskillen maybe the Dad too.... Thanks for all of your help! Julia
Julia
Sunday 2nd Oct 2016, 10:23AM