Christopher Whitmore Family Tree and Genealogy

Robert Whitmore b. 1834-1902

Born in Wexford, Ireland in 1834, Robert Whitmore came to Whitehaven about 1855. He married Margaret Mooney in 1867 at the age of 33. She already had 4 children, probably by a previous marriage. Together they had 2 children in 1870 ( probably twins ) and it is well possible that Margaret died in this childbirth. He never remarried, spending the rest of his working life life in the iron mines and bringing up their children. In his final years he lived with his daughter Eliza and her husband, John Ballance and died in 1902 aged 67.

Taken from the Index to Griffith’s Valuation, 1848-1864 (Ireland)

Whitmore Edward Clonroe Upper Kilnenor Wexford Whitmore Edward Monalee Kilnenor Wexford Whitmore Edward Monaleehill Kilnenor Wexford Whitmore Robert Monalee Kilnenor Wexford Whitmore Thomas Clonroe Upper Kilnenor Wexford Whitmore Thomas Monalee Kilnenor Wexford Whitmore Thomas Monaleehill Kilnenor Wexford

This database, an index to one of Ireland's premier genealogical resources, Griffith's Valuation, references approximately one million individuals who occupied property in Ireland between 1848 and 1864.

In 1853 Robert Whitmore was a tenant of a Thomas Whitmore (father ?) in Monalee, Kilnenor, Wexford, having a 1 acre of land with house and offices and garden. The rateable annual valuation of the land was 15 shillings and the buildings 3 pounds and 15 shillings.

The same document shows that Thomas and Edward Whitmore where joint tenants of Viscount Powerscourt, for Monaleehill, an area of 434 acres.

Obviously they were men of business and some wealth.

History Notes and the Famine

The Great Irish famine occurred between 1845 and 1849 which caused deaths of an estimated 750,000 and a massive emigration from Ireland. The factors that caused this are not to be indulged in here, as much has already been written.

However, Landlords were responsible for paying the rates of every tenant who paid less than £4 in yearly rent. Landlords whose land was crowded with poorer tenants were now faced with large bills. They began clearing the poor tenants from their small plots, and letting the land in larger plots for over £4 which then reduced their debts. In 1846 there had been some clearances, but the great mass of evictions came in 1847. According to James S. Donnelly Jr, it is impossible to be sure how many people were evicted during the years of the famine and its immediate aftermath. It was only in 1849 that the police began to keep a count, and they recorded a total of almost 250,000 persons as officially evicted between 1849 and 1854.(Wikipedia)

Having just survived the famine, and being a smallholder in 1853, only to be evicted in the following years, emigration was the only possible future for Robert Whitmore.

Marriage to Margaret Mooney

Robert Whitmore married Margaret Mooney in 1867.

Margaret Mooney marries Jul/Aug/Sept 1867 in Whitehaven district

From this I think it is safe to assume that that Robert and Eliza's mother, Margaret Mooney died 1870 ±1year, she already had 4 children and would have had to have married Robert between 1864 and 1869. ie between the births of Mary Mooney and Robert Whitmore , and is confirmed above, providing her first name, Margaret.

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This is the record of the registration of the death of Isabella Whitmore aged 41 in 1871, in Whitehaven district. As there where no other Whitmores in the area at the time, one can only guess at the relationship to Robert Whitmore, possibly a sister that left Ireland with him.

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The information here comes from the 1871 and 1881 census

1871 census Parkside Cottages Frizington				Where born
Robert Whitmore	38	Widower	Miner	Ireland
Robert	2	Son		Cumberland, Cleator
Eliza	2	Dau		Cumberland, Cleator
Charles Mooney	17	Step Son	Miner	Cumberland, Cleator
Thomas Mooney	14	Step Son	Miner	Cumberland, Cleator
Martha Mooney	12	Step Dau	Scholar	Cumberland, Cleator
Mary Mooney	7	Step Dau	Scholar	Cumberland, Cleator

The 1871 Census shows that he was at this time living at Parkside Cottages already a widower aged 38, with Robert and Eiliza, Son and daughter aged 2 together with stepsons, Charles (17) and Thomas (14) Mooney (both miners) and stepdaughters Martha (12) and Mary (7).

Hard Times One can only imagine the hard life of these young girls, Martha and Mary, as they grew up probably caring for 3 miners and 2 babies. It comes as no surprise that they are not in the same house 10 years later.

1881 census Winder Gill Frizington				Where born
Robert Whitmore	47	Widower	Miner	Ireland
Robert	11	Son		Cumberland, Cleator
Eliza Ann	11	Dau		Cumberland, Cleator

In 1881, Robert Whitmore aged 47, iron miner was living with his 2x 11 yr old children, both at school, Robert and Eliza Ann at Winder Gill. A widower and the census shows that he was born in Ireland.

1891 census Winder Gill Frizington				Where born
Robert Whitmoor	56	Widower	Iron Ore Miner	County Wexford, Ireland
Jane Whitmoor	20	Wife		Cleator, Cumberland
John Balance	22	Son in Law	Iron Ore Miner	Lamplugh, Cumberland
William Styles	57	Boarder / Widower	Iron Ore Miner	County Wicklow, Ireland

Strangely, Eliza is called Jane in the 1891 census, also "Whitmore" has been spelled "Whitmoor"...most likey errors in transcription.

It is the 1891 and 1901 census that provided Robert Whitmore's birthplace in Ireland :- County Wexford

1901 census WinderCottages Frizington				Where born
John Ballance	32	Head	Coal Miner - Hewer	Cumberland, Lamplugh
Eliza	31	Wife		Cumberland, Lamplugh
Robert	10	Son		Cumberland, Lamplugh
Rose	8	Dau		Cumberland, Lamplugh
Isabella	6	Dau		Cumberland, Lamplugh
Eliza	4	Dau		Cumberland, Lamplugh
Robert Whitmore	70	Father in Law - Widower		Ireland, Wexford

In 1901 Robert Whitmore was living at Winder Cottages, in the house of John Ballance, 32, who was married to his daughter Eliza, 31 and is shown in the census as father-in-law. He died within the next year, aged 67.

John Ballance and Eliza are seen to have had four children in the 1901 census..viz Robert 10, Rose 8, Isabella 6, and Eliza 4.

This is the record of the registration of the death of Robert Whitmore aged 65 in 1902 The age would have been a 'best guess' by daughter Eliza.

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1911 Census

Schedule type	Last names	First names	Sex	Birth year	Age in 1911	District / other	County / other
Household	BALLANCE	JOHN	M	1869	42	Gateshead	Durham
Household	BALLANCE	ELIZA	F	1871	40	Gateshead	Durham
Household	BALLANCE	ROBERT	M	1892	19	Gateshead	Durham
Household	BALLANCE	ROSE ANN	F	1894	17	Gateshead	Durham
Household	BALLANCE	ISABELLA	F	1896	15	Gateshead	Durham
Household	BALLANCE	ELIZA JANE	F	1898	13	Gateshead	Durham

By 1911 John Ballance and family had moved to Gateshead.

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Related Topics:
-Margaret Mooney

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Timeline

 

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This Page Last Corrected and Updated 25/04/2010