Originally posted January 24, 2014.
In September 2011 I posted Returnee! It recapitulates what I knew at the time about William Whitfield (1812-1897).
The Maudabawn Cultural Centre viewed from the Grotto Gardens
near to Madabawn Bridge, Drumcondra, Dernakesh, Boagh and Drumgoon, Cavan, Ireland
Cootehill is a fine example of an 18th century Ulster linen market town. Cootehill takes its name from the Coote family who acquired a large estate after the Cromwellian wars. The land had previously belonged to the O’Reilly clan. Cootehill developed from a small village dating from the late 17th century. Thomas Coote was a founding member of the Linen Board in Dublin and played a major role in encouraging the linen trade in Cootehill. The linen market grew rapidly throughout the 18th century. And by 1801 had become the sixth largest market for brown linen in Ulster.
William Whitfield, recall, was born 16 Mar 1812* , Parish of Drumgoon, Cootehill, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
That’s my grandnephew Nathan in Ireland in 2011 – the returnee of that 2011 post. He said recently on Facebook that he was sorry he hadn’t known more of his mother’s Whitfield connection to the place at the time. I reflect with some amazement that my great-uncles and aunts actually knew William Whitfield as their grandfather! Most of them were adults when he died. This tells you something of the time frame of European presence in New South Wales.
Nathan also through his grandmother – my brother’s former wife – traces back to a much more ancient Australia while both he and I may also have a connection through my Whitfield grandmother.
Consider this map, which is linked to the full size version.
There are two places I have spoken of lately in connection with the Whitfield stories – but how recent all that is compared with what the background represents!
See also two other great maps: Cumberland Plains to 1830 and NSW Extent of Territory Known to Europeans 1770-1860.
* In an email May 19, 2017 Stuart Daniels, grandson of my father’s Aunt Annie, noted: Bob Starling (family historian) also found that William was 8 when he landed in Sydney so he was born 1816. Actually that would make him 10. We are sure about the arrival of the Thames (see next post) and about William’s wedding being in 1836. The other issue Stuart and Bob found is that William’s mother was not Mary Gowrie but Mary Goss: Jacob’s wife I think was born Mary Goss not Gowrie as most people have. Her brother put Goss on Mary, his sister’s death certificate & I have found Goss in Dublin but nowhere a Gowrie. While noting these finds I will be retaining the dating and nomenclature also found in the reference book Australian biographical and genealogical record series 1, 1788-1841, with series 2 supplement, 1842-1899 / series 1 edited by John T. Spurway, assistant editor Allison Allen; series 2 edited by Kenneth J. Cable and Jane C. Marchant.
