MARKHAM BDM IN AND AROUND RATHKEALE IN THE 18 – 20 CENTURIES
My objective, so far as the Rathkeale Markhams are concerned, has been to develop a family tree on that side, so as to try, through their ancestors, to establish the identities of Edmund’s parents and siblings, and search further into their and our heritage. No much luck, up to 2007 , but future releases of documents may help.
From Ignatius Cleary, Director, Clare Heritage Centre, April 1979.
The name Markham in Clare was originally Markahan and it is there from time immemorial. There were 170 families of the name in Clare recorded in Church Baptismal Records pre 1901. There is a townland in the Parish of Quin by name
Ballymarkahan, which is their original patrimonial land – the ancient Gaelic word ‘Bally’ means a holding of approx 500 acres, an acre generally being in ancient Ireland the amount of arable land which a double team of oxen would plough in a day; so in close proximity we have Ballymarkahan, Ballyroughan, Ballymulqueeny – and these are the original roots of the Markham (Markahan), Roughan and Mulqueeny families who were subsepts of the Macnamara clan, the overall chieftains of a very large part of the eastern part of Co. Clare, which looks across the River Shannon at the Rathkeale area in Limerick.
When the modem city of Limerick was being built in the middle of the 18th century, many, many families, sons and fathers, in the nearby part of Co. Clare moved in to the city, to work at the new buildings or to seek employment in the neighbouring rich farmlands, easily reached by boat across the river.
While we have indexed the church records for all 46 parishes in Co.
Clare, we also indexed one parish in Limerick City – St. Mary’s – because its records go back to the mid 1700s and there had been an influx of numerous Clare families into the city at the time, for reasons already mentioned. Amongst them I have children born into five Markham families including James Baptised on 10-7-1783 to Edward Markham and Mary McGrath. Your Edmond may have been one of that family who in his teens went to the Rathkeale district 12 miles from Limerick in search of work. I have not discovered their marriage, which perhaps took place in Co. Clare. As Edward (Edmond) is quite rare in Clare families, I believe there is a connection between your Edward and this Edward.
Of the 170 Markham families recorded in Clare none of them precede 1880, and there was no Edward amongst them as father of a family.
As further evidence of the Clare connection, between 1848 and 1868 , 17 Markhams emigrated from Ireland to NSW. ALL came from Co. Clare. As will be seen in the following pages, there were rather more Markham families in the Rathkeale/Croagh area, than the above note suggests.
It seems likely that the above advice leads us to establishing Edmund’s grandparents. Further, Anne Catherine Markham identified on her NSW immigration documents her (and Edmund’s) father as James. James’ naming of his (first?) son as Edward, after his (James) father is consistent with Irish naming patterns, as is Edward’s naming his first son as James, and James naming his first son as Edmund, the name by which Edmund was by now known.
- BIRTH OF MARY MARKHAM
- DEATH OF MARY MARKHAM
[“I have found a stone in an older cemetery……died 1791 aged 54 years” Maura Markham, Rathkeale, to Margaret Wilkinson 20.3.1987.] Where?
- 17?? BIRTH OF EDWARD MARKHAM AND MARY MCGRATH
Possibly born in Co Clare and moved to Limerick City. See the Clare Heritage note on preceding page. Could these be the parents of James, father of Edmund /Edward Markham?
- 1783 Baptism of JAMES MARKHAM
See Clare Heritage note above. Baptised in St Mary’s Limerick City on 10 July, 1783. Parents as above. James would have been 19 at the time of Edward/Edmund’s birth, and of marriageable age. ( Moreover, reasonably consistent with the traditional Irish naming pattern, Edmund/Edward, married later in NSW named his four children James, Catherine Mary, Ellen and Mary!)
- 17?? BIRTH OF JAMES MARKHAM
Date? Where? See previous notation. Same person? Possible? Probable?
The only certain reference to date to Edmund’s parents is on the Bounty Emigrant papers (Ship ‘Herald’ 1845) where Ann Catherine Markham (Ed’s Sister) notes her parents as “James and Ellen Markham.”
- 17?? BIRTH OF ELLEN???
Date? Where? Maiden Name?
See note above
17?? MARRIAGE OF JAMES MARKHAM TO ELLEN.
Date? Where? What was her maiden name?
- 1802 BIRTH OF (MY) EDMUND MARKHAM
Date? Where?
- 180? BIRTH OF A BRIDGET MARKHAM
See 1844 birth of Anthony to (unmarried) Anne Markham and James Meany. Bridget Markham is witness to the baptism. Assume she was around 40 yrs in 1844. Was she a sister of Edmund?
- 18?? BIRTHS OF OTHER SIBLINGS??
COMMENT: Possibilities appear below. Timothy, Daniel and Patrick, Mary, Honorah, Margaret. Note also James as witness to baptism of Honorah’s daughter, and Ellen living in Rathkeale in 1851. Irish tradition would have James and Ellen as names of first male and female children. All this assuming only one Markham family in the district (and that does not exclude existence of cousins – note the two Anne Markhams) and without knowledge of ages.
- 1818 BIRTH OF ANNE CATHERINE MARKHAM.
Or perhaps 1821? Where? She is Edmund’s sister who emigrated in 1845, with her husband, to Edmund in NSW. See her marriage note at 184? below which state two ages – 27 and 24 – in 1845.
Another two Markhams, Mary and Catherine, born in 1812 and 1823, who arrived in Sydney on the Alfred on 29th January 1842 may be related also. One was Catherine Markham (19), a native of Limerick, daughter of Pat & Ellen Marcom (sic) and was brought out by Mr. A. Campbell under the protection of Michael Macnamara, her brother-in-law who was married to Mary (30) (parents names Pat & Ellen Marcom). The family appears, from the addresses of their referees, to be from Sunville and Thomongate, in Limerick. Where are these places?
[NOTE: Part of Clare was in the Limerick City Diocese. Moreover, many Clare people ’migrated’ into the city for work. So we cannot be certain these had any connection with Rathkeale.] Of course, Ed’s forbears, in previous generations, may have done the same, moving further into the county to the Rathkeale area.
- 1822 EDMUND MARKHAM TRANSPORTED TO NSW.
- 1824 PATRICK AND TIMOTHY MARKHAM ARRESTED.
Patrick Markham and Timothy Markham were arrested in Rathkeale under the Insurrection Act, on 8 January, 1824. Acquitted and released eight days later.
Did any more Markham males go to Australia, as Edmund’s sister did? Margaret Wilkinson was told by Nancy Markham in Rathkeale in 1971 that she “recalled her grandmother talking of the ‘boys’ who went to Australia.
COMMENT: Were they Edmund’s brothers?
- 1825 [ESTIMATE] BIRTH OF A MARGARET MARKHAM
Estimating at 20 yrs old on marriage, counted back from 1845 below. Marriage of Margaret Markham to Michael Hurley.
- 1825 DANIEL MARKHAM PROPERTY.
Parish Croagh, Townland Croagh. Daniel Markham, Area of tithes 1acre 19 roods 3 perches. Tithe Applotment Book.
COMMENT: Is he Edmund’s brother/cousin?
- 1827 PATRICK MARKHAM PROPERTY.
Parish Ballybrood, Townland Ballybrood . Patrick Markham Holdings: Gross: 1ac. 2r. 12 p.; First: 2r. 0p; Second: 1 ac. 0r. 12p; Third: 12 acres.Amount (of tithe?) 3s 6 1/2d. Landlord: Thomas Mansell Esq.
- 1836 TIMOTHY MARKHAM MARRIAGE.
2 January,1836 Timothy Markham married Helen White at St Mary’s Church, Rathkeale. Witnesses John McDonnell, Tim Flaherty. [Church record.] Their child, CATHERINE baptised in St Mary’s on 19 June 1839. Godparents were John Markham and Bridget Leary.
“In 1836, Tim Markham , my great great grandfather, married in Rathkeale church. I don’t know if Tim Markham was Edward’s brother.” [Letter from Maura Markham, 17 Roches Rd, Rathkeale, to Margaret Wilkinson, 22 May, 1987.]
- 183? MARRIAGE OF MARY MARKHAM TO JAMES FITZ GIBBONS
Date and location unknown, but assuming incorrect spelling, their three children baptised in Croagh Parish Church are below:
26 June 1838 Margaret to James Gibbons (sic) andMary M. Witness Daniel Markham.
30 December 1841 Dennis to James Fitzgibbons and Mary M.
25 December 1846 James to James F and Maria (sic) Markham.
It may be coincidence, but note that Edmund and Bridget Fitzgibbons of Sydney were witnesses at the marriage of Edmund Markham and Bridget Slattery at St Mary’s in Sydney in 1838.
- 183? MARRIAGE OF ANNE MARKHAM TO JOHN NOLAN
Date and location unknown, two children baptised in Croagh Parish Church are
24 February, 1837 Mary Nolan Witnesses James Markham , Anne Nolan.
7 October, 1839 Patrick Nolan Wit. James Gubbins , Margaret Markham
- 1839 BAPTISM OF CATHERINE MARKHAM.
Baptism of Cath Markham on 19 June 1839. Parents Timothy Markham and Catherine White. Godparents John Markham and Bridget Leary. Records of St Mary’s Church Rathkeale.
- 184? MARRIAGE OF HONORAH MARKHAM TO DANIEL EGAN
Date and location 10 July 1841 Daniel Egan and Honorah Markham. Witness James Markham.. Child recorded in Croagh Parish records:
- 1844 ANNE MARKHAM AND JAMES MEANY
Croagh Parish records show the following birth. IFHF has record of marriage but Anne in 1844 in name of Markham, not Markahan and James in 1845. But to each other?. IFHF records not opened.
“The Baptismal Register shows that in 1844 a boy was born to Ann Markham. The boy was called Anthony. The father’s name was James Meany. James Meany and Ann Markham were not married at the time of their son’s baptism. Only one sponsor is listed – one Bridget Markham, obviously the grandmother. Could this Ann Markham be Edward’s sister? In 1845 Margaret Markham (Ann’s sister) married James Hurley.” [Letter from Maura Markham, 17 Roches Rd, Rathkeale, to Margaret Wilkinson, 22 May, 1987.] More likely neice, Bridget as Edmund’s sister – FCM.
- 1844 MARRIAGE of ANNE MARKHAM to WILLIAM GREENE
St Mary’s Rathkeale record 26 October 1844. Witnesses John Noonan and Thos Keogh.
- 1844 BIRTH OF DANIEL MARKHAM.
1901 Census has Daniel Markham 56 yrs at Fairgreen Hill near Roches Road. (Also Nora Markham age 55…see their marriage 1866.)
- 184? MARRIAGE OF ANNE CATHERINE MARKHAM TO WILLIAM GRUM.
Date and location unknown. Perhaps in Ballingarry. Edmund Markham’s sister, prior to leaving Cork for New South Wales on 3.11.1844 as a Bounty Emigrant with her husband (and his sister Ellen and his neice, EllenTwohill), on the ‘HERALD’ was living at Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, William’s ‘native place’. Her age in 1845 shown ‘according to her own statement as – Farm Servant 27’ and ‘according to certificate – Servant 24’.
One son Edmund born Blayney District NSW 4 January 1848.
Date of Ann’s marriage. Refer to Anne next item!
- 1845 MARRIAGE OF MARGARET MARKHAM TO MICHAEL HURLEY
Date and location unknown. The following baptism recorded at Croagh Parish Church: 29 June1849 Birth of Margaret to Michael Hurley and Margaret Markham.
The 1845 date is taken from Maura Markham’s letter above. Note also confusion re Michael or James Hurley.
- 1851 ELLEN MARKHAM IN GRIFFITHS VALUATIONS
- There were 49 Markhams in Griffiths Valuations 1851.
- Clare 40; Tipperary 3; Kerry 2; Cork 2; Meath 1; Limerick 1 only. i.e Ellen Markham. Where were Patrick Daniel Timothy?
1851 Griffiths Valuations Map 18 and 19. Ellen Markham occupying a house in Chapel Lane (running directly off the town square) with land of 12 perches, valued at 4 shillings (land) and £1.18.0 (house). Total £2.2.0. Owned by David Ferguson. Of 40 houses in the street, it was the most valuable, the only one with a “garden”; and next door, she is shown as the Immediate Lessor (owner) of a “house and yard” valued at 8 shillings and occupied by Patrick Fitzgerald
[COMMENT: If Ed was the first child, we may assume his mother was about 20 when he was born and 69 or 70 in 1851. Ed named his first son James and (second) daughter Ellen. Could this be his mother? But the ship records of Anne Markham’s emigration to NSW note, after the names of her two parents, the word “deceased”. Are we certain this means both??? My examination of her and other shipping record notations leads me to conclude the reference ‘deceased’ related to her father only. FCM]
- 1852 MARRIAGE of ANNE MARKHAM to MICHAEL FRAWLEY.
Anne Markham married Michael Frawley in St Mary’s, Rathkeale. 3 Nov 1852. Witnesses Henry Downes and Mary Keating. Records of St Mary’s Church Rathkeale.
[Note: Mary Hoch, 6 Dorset Ave, Heidelberg, Vic to Joan Dawes on 27 July, 1986 said her ancestors came from Kilmaley in County Clare. “ Our earliest reference is of Mary Markham b. 1825 to —-Markham and Mary O’Hern. Mary married Thomas Frawley in 1848. One of their children, Anne, b. 1860 married a Michael McNamara.”]
COMMENT:This is included because of the Frawley co-incidence, but possibly not connected. But why Rathkeale?
- 1854 HELEN MARKHAM
Helen was the wife of Denis Sheehan when their daughters Bridget and Hanora were baptised in Croagh on 29 Jan 1854. Witnesses were Tim Hanafin and Maria Flanagan (Bridget) and Daniel Sheehan and Ellen Sheehan (Hanora)..
- 1861 AN ELLEN MARKHAM MARRIES SCANLAN
Ellen married Michael Scanlan on June 20, 1861 in Coolcappagh, Co Limerick. Born in, say, 1841? 12 children from 1862 to 1886.
- 1863 ANOTHER ELLEN MARKHAM MARRIES.
Another Ellen married in 1863 according to IFHF records, not inspected.
- 1865 DEATH OF MICHAEL MARKHAM of LIMERICK
Vol 20 page 263 in Dublin Archives (NLI?) Age 51 years.
- 1866 DANIEL MARKHAM MARRIAGE
13 February,1866 Daniel Markham married Hana.(Hanora?) King at St Mary’s Church, Rathkeale. Witnesses John Noonan, Cath Quaid. [Church record.]
There may have been other children, baptised elsewhere.Their children
baptised at St Mary’s Church, Rathkeale, with god parents shown.
25 November,1866. Thomas Ml Hartnett, and Mary Murphy
3 October,1873. Catherine Patk Cavanaugh, and Cath Hartnett
6 January,1876. Maria Ml Shea, and Cath. Hartnett
10 July,1878. Daniel . Thos Markham, and Cath Hartnett
28 October,1884. Hana (Honora?) Ml Elliot, and Maria Malley
- 1866 DEATH OF BESS MARKHAM OF LIMERICK
Vol 20 page 263 in Dublin Archives (NLI?) Age 60 years.
- 1868 DEATH OF JAMES MARKHAM OF LIMERICK
Vol 20 Page 278 in Dublin Archives (NLI?) Age 75 years.
- 1882 BIRTH OF JOHN MARKHAM OF LIMERICK
Listed in IFHF index. Not opened for detail.
- 1885 BAPTISM of MARY MARGARET MARKHAM
Listed in IFHF index. Not opened for detail.
- 1887 THOMAS MARKHAM MARRIAGE
24 October,1887 Thomas Markham married Maria Kelly, at St Mary’s Church, Rathkeale. Witnesses Patrick Rourke, Maria Culligan.[Church record.]
There may have been other children, baptised elsewhere, e.g. Eamonn??
Their children baptised at St Mary’s , Rathkeale, with god parents shown.:
13 July,1890. James James Markham, and Cath. Markham
5 February,1893. Maria Martin O’Dee, and Agnes Glasgow
2 June,1895. Maria Dl.Markham and Maria O’Neill
11 June,1897. Catherine. Patrick Burke, and Maria O’Brien
- 1893 BAPTISM OF MARIA MARKHAM
Baptism of Maria Markham on 5 Feb 1893. Parents Thomas and Maria Kelly. Sponsors Martin O’Dea and Agnes Glasgow. Records of St Mary’s Church Rathkeale.
- 1894 MARRIAGE OF CATHERINE MARKHAM AND RICHARD HICKEY
Married in St Mary’s, Rathkeale 6 February 1894. Witnesses Pat Cullinane and Cath Supple.
- 19?? BIRTH OF MAURA MARKHAM
Correspondent with Margaret Wilkinson in 1987. Daughter of ??? Markham, who died in 1986.
- 19?? BIRTH OF NANCY MARKHAM
Margaret Wilkinson called on her in Rathkeale. Niece of Bridie died 1993 and Catherine died 1953. She told Margaret that she had uncles Ned, Jim, Tom. (i.e Edmund/Eamonn, James, Thomas.) See 1966 (Thomas), 1975 (Eamonn) death notes below. Were these her uncles?
Note: The nikname Nancy was often used for Ann, or Johanna, Joan. (Taken from an email message. FCM )
- 1930 BIRTH OF FRANK MARKHAM
Only child of Catherine Markham who died 1980, nephew of Daniel Markham who died 1953. Frank told FCM in 2001 that Frank’s mother, Catherine, had siblings James, Daniel, Tom, Bridget. (Not in any order.)
- 1953 DEATH OF CATHERINE MARKHAM
2 December, 1953 (Age?) (with sister Bridie, below d.7 October, 1993.) [Headstone St Mary’s.]
COMMENT 1:Could she be daughter of Thomas Markham and Maria (Kelly) Markham above at 1877? But see notation re Bridie below.
COMMENT 2: Bridie is the aunt of Nancy Markham. [Peggy Cockram, Vic who went to school with her, in letter to Joan Dawes 29.10.1987.]
- 1953 DEATH OF DANIEL MARKHAM
25 March, 1953 (Age?) (with his sister Catherine Markham below d. 14 July, 1980.) [Headstone St Mary’s, erected by Frank (Markham) b.1929, Mae and family. Presumably Frank’s uncle.]
COMMENT : Is Daniel the son of Daniel Markham and Hana (King) Markham at 1866 above?
- 1966 DEATH OF THOMAS MARKHAM
31 May, 1966 (Age?) (with his wife Margaret d. 30 May, 1998.)
[Headstone St Mary’s.]
- 1975 DEATH OF EAMONN MARKHAM
23 March, 1975 “ Enniscough, Rathkeale Headstone St Mary’s. Erected by his wife Maureen and daughter”.
COMMENT: Who is he? Frank Markham told me in Rathkeale in June 2001 that “James Markham in Limerick is a brother of Tom and Eamonn. Eamon, deceased, was married but no children.” This Eamonn had a daughter.
- 1980 DEATH OF CATHERINE MARKHAM.
14 July, 1980 (Age?) with her brother Daniel above d. 25 March,1953.
[Headstone St Mary’s, erected by Frank (Markham) b.1929, Mae and family. Presumably Frank’s mother and thus her only child.]
COMMENT: Is Catherine the daughter of Daniel Markham and Hana (King) Markham at 1866 above?
Frank told me in Rathkeale in June 2001 that his mother, Catherine, had siblings – James, Daniel, Tom, Bridget. (Not in any order.) A key question is who were Frank’s grandparents, and his grandfather’s siblings?
- 1986 DEATH OF ???? MARKHAM
“My father died last year. He always said the Markham family was one of the oldest in Rathkeale.” [Maura Markham, Rathkeale, to Margaret Wilkinson, 20.3.1987.] Name, age, d.o.b. children?
- 1993 DEATH OF BRIDIE MARKHAM
7 October, 1993 (Age?) with her sister Catherine above d. 2 December, 1953
[Headstone St Mary’s.]
COMMENT 1: Could Bridie have been Maria – perhaps Bridget is her second name – and therefore, like Catherine (1953 above), daughter of Thomas Markham and Maria (Kelly) Markham at 1877 above?
COMMENT 2: Bridie is the aunt of Nancy Markham.[Peggy Cockram, Vic who went to school with her, in letter to Joan Dawes 29.10.1987.]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Other relevant correspondence.
EXTRACT FROM LETTER 1971 FROM MARGARET WILKINSON TO AUBREY MURRAY
“Now about the Markhams. We visited Rathkeale and saw the Canon Costello who told us that if ever anyone wanted a play or anything musical you went to the Markhams.. There is a Ned Markham there now. The reason we didn’ t meet him was because he was working on machines at the meat packing plant. We met a Nancy Markham, fair, blue eyed and attractive – working as cashier in a local shop. She remembers hearing her grandmother talking about the Markhams emigrating to Australia, and. they used to wonder whether they had any Australian cousins. She had uncles Ned, Jim, Tom. There are not many left now and she’s sure that there was only one family there in 1799. We saw a recent headstone 1966 of Thomas Markham. “
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Maura wrote 20/3 / 1987
I have found a stone in an older cemetery with the name Mary Markham died 1791 aged 54 years.
My father died last year. He would have known all about the family. He always said the Markham family was one of the oldest in Rathkeale. I have found in our church register one Tim Markham who married 21 / 1/ 1836. Could this be a brother of Edmund?
22 /5 / 1987
The Baptismal records of a neighbouring parish shows that in 1844 a boy was born to Ann Markham. The boy was called Anthony. The father’s name was James Meany. James and Ann were not married at the time of their son’s baptism. Only one sponser is listed—-one Bridget Markham- obviously the grqndmother. Could this Ann Markham be Edwards sister? In 1845 Margaret Markham,/Ann’s sister married James Hurley.
In 1836 Tim Markham, my great, great, grandfather married in Rathkeale church. I don’t know if Tim Markham was Edmund’s brother, yet. I will continue to search
LETTER FROM MAURA (MARKHAM) TO MARGARET WILKINSON 1987
17 Roches Road, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick 22 May, 1987
My dear Margaret,
Thank you for your and copies of which I received.
I am searching through old church records all the time to try to connect all the dates I have found so far. Do you have any idea how old Ann Markham was when she went to join her brother Edward? It is important to know this as I think I have found a lead today in the records of a neighbouring parish.
The Baptismal Register shows that in 1844 a boy was born to Ann Markham. The boy was called Anthony. The father’s name was James Meany. James Meany and Ann Markham were not married at the time of their son’s baptism. Only one sponsor is listed – one Bridget Markham, obviously the grandmother.
Could this Ann Markham be Edward’s sister? In 1845 Margaret Markham (Ann’s sister) married James Hurley.
In 1836, Tim Markham , my great great grandfather, married in Rathkeale church. I don’t know if Tim Markham was Edward’s brother, yet. I will continue to search.
I hope you are well and that life is treating you kindly’
God bless for now,
Maura
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LETTER FROM THE LATE PEGGY COCKRAM TO JOAN DAWES.
I R.J. & M.M. Cockram
1-46 Oakland St. MORNINGTON 3931 VIC 29/10/87
My dear Mrs. Dawes
Because we have been doing family research into the descendants of my grand uncle: Michael Neville (1879-1913), Ballystein, Hovells Creek, Burrowa near Cowra, I notice you have connections in Cowra also descended from Edward Markham who came out from Rathkeale (my home town) after the Insurrection Act 1822.
There are only two Markham families in Rathkeale today. There is a photo in a local paper I just got from home, of Nancy Markham and her aunt Bridie. Nancy went to school with me, but is a few years younger than my 59 years.
I would be interested in hearing from you, if you wish to be put in touch with the Rathkeale Markhams you could send me a letter, which I would get my sister Angela Fitzgerald to deliver for you.
That convict document with Ed Markham heading it has several other Rathkeale names on it including Madigan. Miss Madigan Rathkeale is pictured also in that last paper I got from home.
As Jan Balgowan and I work together on the Neville genealogy, we are extremely grateful for that very valuable information sent to Jan Balgowan on Cowra from Molly Johnson.
I look forward to hearing from you Thank you in anticipation
Yours sincerely
Peggy Cockram.
In the book “West Limerick people abroad” the long Neville entry has Peggy Cockram as one of three contributors – so she must have worked out the Neville family trees. Note: Her address in that volume is shown as 71 Manning Village, Baxter, Victoria 3911