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Looking for an unknown home childrens group in hopes of finding records on my elusive Grandmother; Ethel Mary Fitzgerald
In Children's Records
theboothroyds
Feb 09, 2022
Thanks for the update Lori. The baby was my uncle, Walter Fitzgerald Sheppard, supposedly born in 1915, and was a navigator on a Lancaster Bomber that crashed on what is referred to now as "Black Friday" December 17, 1943, when Bomber Command suffered some of it's most horrific losses due to the heaviest and dense fog that England had seen for many years. I did see on a document of his enlistment, that his mother was born in County Waterford, Ireland. No other information was given. I can't find the document at this time; I am still looking for it. The letter from my Great Grandfather Walter Byard Sheppard who was working with a Copper Mining Company in Bunmahon, Waterford was written in 1901 as stated earlier to his sons (my grandfather Walter Festing Sheppard and his brother Reginald Sheppard), back on their farm near Primate, Saskatchewan . This may be the connection to my grandmother who ended up coming to Saskatchewan, Canada and eventually married my grandfather, Watler Festing Sheppard in 1914, as noted above. I noticed that in the letter written in1901, my Grandfather mentions the following: "Aunty Lily Mason and very happy - of course like my luck, I had to leave London just before she came up - @ have not seen her at all since she came to England, but I have a nice letter from Lily Mason all about her. This was in reference to May being in London in 1901. Now I will try to see if I can locate where they resided in London as well as any sailings from England to Canada with any Ethel Mary Fitzgerald and child. Thanks again for all of your help. Best Regards, Steve Boothroyd it
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Looking for an unknown home childrens group in hopes of finding records on my elusive Grandmother; Ethel Mary Fitzgerald
In Children's Records
theboothroyds
Feb 08, 2022
Hello Lori, good to hear from you and hope things are well with you and your family. My maternal grandmother was Ethel Mary (May) Fitzgerald and married my grandfather Walter Festing Sheppard on February 24, 1914 at my grandfathers residence (Farm) in Primate, Saskatchewan. Harold Coulthurst (Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity Church in Macklin, Saskatchewan) was officiating. Her parents are recorded as John Fitzgerald and Margaret Fitzgerald, no other information is given regarding her family. My grandmother, Ethel Fitzgerald was very secretive about her past and changed stories of her family often. I have noted that my great grandfather, Walter Byard Sheppard was working in the office of a Coppermine, in Bonmahon, County Waterford, Ireland, as per his letter mentioned previously. I can only assume that this Irish connection may be the link to my grandmothers family. My Uncle, Walter Fitzgerald Sheppard (Lancaster Bomber Navigator) was killed in action on December 17, 1941, known as Black Friday, due to the heavy losses of Bomber Command, and the extremely heavy fog that day. I noticed that on my Uncles military records, his mother Ethel May Fitzgerald (Sheppard) is shown as being born in Waterford, Ireland. She was a kind sole and I recall her heavy Irish accent well. You will note in the letter above from my grandfather at the mine in Bonmahon, waterford, reland, that he refers to a Mr. Parker. I wonder if he has a connection to her being brought to canada. I'll keep plugging away and keep you all posted. It's like a Sherlock Holms mystery, just waiting to be solved. Best regards, Steve Boothroyd, Sidney, B.C. Canada
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