Edward Walsh, the second son of Edward Walsh (ca 1830-1893) and Ellen Walsh ms McArdle (ca 1838-1873), was born on 16th September 1861 at No. 111 Cowgate, Edinburgh. (Birth Ref 685/4 -902). The birth entry records that his parents were married in County Monaghan, Ireland on 22nd February 1859 and that his father was a Provision Dealer. His parents' date of marriage varies on the birth entries of some of his siblings and is also shown as 2^nd or 3^rd February of the same year. His father's occupation alternates between Mason and Broker over the years.

The family appears to have lived at various addresses in the Cowgate as references have been identified linking them with 106 and 108 Cowgate in addition to No.111. The next positive reference relating to Edward is the Census in April 1871,which records the family residing at 108 Cowgate and specifically mentions Edward as a 9-year-old scholar. Also mentioned are his father, Edward, a 42 year old Mason, his mother, Ellen, aged 32 and his brother John, a 7 year old scholar.

Edward's mother died in 1873 at the age of 33 and his father was left to look after three children, Edward now aged 11, John 9 and, a just over two month old, baby called Mary. His mother died from Consumption (TB) and no doubt the cramped living conditions were a contributory factor.

The next trace of Edward is a Statutory Index entry in 1879 (Marriage Ref 685/3 - 202) relating to the marriage of Edward Welsh to Annie Mullen on 25th July at St Patrick's Chapel, Cowgate. Despite the change of name spelling there is clear evidence the reference relates to the correct individual. Edward is described as an 18-year-old joiner living at 106 Cowgate. His father is recorded as being employed as a mason and his mother, Ellen Welsh, ms McArdle is shown as being deceased.

Edward and Annie had a son, Peter Welsh, born on 22nd November 1879 at 1 Kings Stables, Edinburgh. (Birth Ref 685/1 -2103). The birth was registered on 12th December by the mother, Annie Welsh, and her maiden name is recorded as Mullan. The entry was signed - "Annie Welsh".

The family later moved to 8 Scott's Close, Cowgate. The Census in April 1881 (Census Entry 1881 685/4 33 11) makes reference to Ann Welsh and her infant son Peter (aged 16 months) as living at that address. There is no reference to Edward in the census entry and no entry has been traced to indicate that he was resident elsewhere in Scotland on the night of the Census. However, as Ann is shown as wife of the head of the household and it can be assumed that this was Edward's normal residence. Ann's sister Catherine Mullen, aged 14, is shown as living at the address.

Although it is thought likely that there may have been other births in the period between 1880 and 1885, the next identified birth is that of their daughter, Mary, born in 1886. This Mary later married Robert Howie and appears as the informant on Edward's death entry in 1914.

The next traced reference relates to the birth of a son, Edward Welsh, on 29th November 1890 at 9 Dunbar Street, Edinburgh. (Birth Ref 1890 685/1-1870) The birth was registered by the mother Ann Welsh on 12 December and her maiden name is recorded as Mullan. The entry is "signed" her 'x' mark which is out of line with the entry in relation to Peter's birth which was signed by Annie Welsh. The date of the parents marriage is shown as 25th July 1879 and this can be regarded as positive confirmation of the family link..

The family was still living at 9 Dunbar Street in April 1891 when the Census was undertaken. The entry mentions the following persons;

Dunbar Street was located off the west side of Earl Grey Street in the Tollcross Area of the city. However the family do not appear to have stayed away from their "normal territory" for too long as they had moved back to 44 Cowgate when their daughter Ann Welsh was born on 29 November 1895. Edward registered the birth on 9th December and his occupation is recorded as Joiner. The parents' date of marriage is shown as 25th July 1879 and there is therefore clear evidence that this child was related to the Peter Welsh born 16 years earlier.

When Edward's 19-year-old son, Peter Walsh, married Bridget McHugh in August 1899 the groom's usual address was given as 16 West Port. His parents were recorded as Edward Walsh and Ann Walsh ms Mullan and his father's occupation is shown as Mason. Unfortunately the 1901 Census is not yet available for public scrutiny so it has not been possible to precisely locate the remainder of the family at the start of the Twentieth Century.

Edward's 19-year-old daughter, Mary Welsh, married Robert Howie in June 1906 and her address was recorded as 28 Cowgate. Her father's occupation was recorded as Mason and her mother's name as Ann Welsh ms Mullen.

The Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories between 1905 and 1914 include references to an Ann Welsh conducting a brokers business at 26 Cowgate, Edinburgh. A person by the name of Ann Welch is recorded as dying at that address on 27th December 1908. (Death Ref 1908 685/4 - 1560) and was registered by her husband, Edward, on 27th December. The entry states that she was aged 45 and married to Edward Welch, Mason. The stated cause of death was Hepatic Cirrhosis (Cirrhosis of the Liver) and the duration of her illness was recorded as 2 months 10 days. The entry also indicates that there was no qualified medical attendant to certify death. This condition is often associated with the excessive consumption of alcohol and, while there is no direct evidence to make any assumption, it known that her daughter Annie was reputed to drink to excess in later life. Perhaps the adage "like father, like son" may be equally true for the female of the species.

Given that the reference to the brokers business continued to be included in the local Post Office Directory until at least 1914 it is likely that the business was conducted by either Edward, his eldest daughter Mary or another relative after Annie's death in 1908. Mary Innes, his granddaughter, recollects family business activity at the head of the Cowgate in the 1920s.

Edward Walsh died on 7th April 1914 (Death Ref 1914 685/4 - 483) in the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. The cause of death is recorded as Lobar Pneumonia. Edward's age is recorded as 52 and his occupation shown as Mason. His parents were recorded as Edward Welsh (deceased) and Helen Welsh ms McCardle (deceased) and his usual address is given as 39 Portsburgh Square (located near the bottom of the West Port on the left hand side of the road going towards the Grassmarket). His death was reported by his daughter Mary Howie, who lived at the same address. Mary Innes also recollects that her father's sister Mary lived in Portsburgh Square.

Mary Innes also advised me that she understood that two different undertakers were instructed to attend at the Royal Infirmary to remove Edward's remains for burial. One had been instructed by his son, Peter, and the other by his daughter, Annie. It seems that communication between the brother and sister could have been better. Annie has been described as a red-haired firebrand with a liking for the drink.

When Edward's daughter, Annie Welsh married Owen Prior in July 1917 her parents were recorded as Edward Welsh, mason, deceased and Ann Welsh MS Mullen, deceased. Annie's was a 22 year-old spinster residing at 11 Glen Street (fairly close to the head of the Cowgate) and her occupation is recorded as General Dealer. It is thought likely that she was involved in the family broker business activities from an early age.

Further action will be taken to sight the birth entry for his daughter Mary in 1886 and to attempt to establish whether there were any other births in the periods between 1880-85, 1887-90 and 1891-94. Given the normal reproduction rate of the period it is considered likely that there may have been other children who did not survive beyond infancy.