Christopher Whitmore Family Tree and Genealogy

The Whitmore Family

The Whitmore family line starts with the Great Famine of Ireland when Robert Whitmore born in 1834 in Wexford, Ireland sailed to Whitehaven to work the iron ore mines around Cleator, Arlecdon and Frizington. He married Margaret Mooney in 1867 having two children, Robert and Eliza. It is likely that his wife, Margaret died during or shortly after this childbirth.

Robert Whitmore died aged 65 in 1902 after spending his last few years living with his daughter Eliza and her husband John Ballance. He was an iron miner for all of his life.

His son Robert, born about 1870 also worked in the iron mines, marrying Eleanore McFarlane in 1891 from Ireland. They produced four children, one of whom was my grandfather Robert born in 1896.

Robert Whitmore b.1896 joined the Royal Navy and served during World War I, "the war to end all wars". Following the war he settled for a while in Standish, marrying Clara Ellen Hodcroft in 1923. In Standish they produced two children, Joseph (who did not survive) and Gerard. 1926 saw the General Strike causing the family to move to the new colliery in Stainforth by 1927. At this time Mary was born. Robert remained in Stainforth and died in 1964.

Gerard Whitmore, my father, b. 1924 worked for the coal industry seeing it nationalized and finally dissolved during the Thatcher years. He returned to Standish, living with his aunties Hodcroft, marrying Edna Glover in 1952, having two children, myself and my sister Andrea. Gerard Whitmore died in 1988. Edna later moved to Lanzarote and died in 2005.

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This Page Last Corrected and Updated 14/05/2009