This Edward Walsh or Welsh was the father of Edward Walsh (1861-1914) and the grandfather of Peter Walsh or Welsh (1879-1961) and great-grandfather of the Walsh or Welsh sisters.

Information obtained indicates that Edward was born in Ireland circa 1830 but given the incompleteness of the Irish Records it is unlikely that any trace will be found of the precise details of his birth. However, from the details recorded in his death registration entry it would appear that his parents were Michael Walsh, a farmer, and Ann Kelly. Information obtained from the Monaghan Ancestry Society indicates that the family may have lived at Aghnadreenan townland in Donaghmoyne Parish in County Monaghan.

Although I am confident that the information which follows relates to the appropriate individual, and his immediate family, there is nevertheless some disparity in relation to Edward's age as recorded at various times, mainly in the Census Records. The disparity may arise from the fact that incorrect information was given or recorded at the times concerned and unless specific birth details are traced the disparity is likely to remain unresolved.

From the information on, his son, Edward's birth entry (1861 - 685/4 902) it would appear that the subject Edward married Helen (sometimes recorded as Ellen) McARDLE in County Monaghan, Ireland on 22^nd February 1859. No formal confirmation of the marriage has been sighted but the Monaghan Ancestry Society has advised me that an Index of Marriages for Donaghmoyne Parish includes a reference to a similarly named couple being married early in 1859. Unfortunately the actual place and date are not recorded but the index entry is number 6 in 1859 which indicates a marriage early in the year. The actual date of marriage varies on the birth entries of their other children and is shown on some as 2^nd February and on others as 3^rd February. It is only shown as 22^nd February 1859 on the entry of Edward, junior.

It is thought likely that the newly weds migrated to Edinburgh sometime in 1859 as Edward WELSH and Ellen Welsh ms McArdale had a son, Michael, born on 22^nd November 1859 at 111 Cowgate, Edinburgh. Edward's occupation is recorded as Mason - Journeyman. The child, Michael, died some 13 months later on 30^th December 1860 at 106 Cowgate with the cause of death being recorded as Bronchitis - 3 months. John Burn, MD, certified the child's death and this doctor's name appears on a number of the later death entries for members of his family. Edward's occupation is recorded as Stone Mason on the death entry. The entry also indicates that the child was buried in Greyfriars Burying Ground.

The 1861 Census entry for 111 Cowgate records Edward and Ellen WALSH residing at that address. Edward's age is shown as 28 and his place of birth as Ireland. His occupation appears to be recorded as Joiner cum Mason but the script is quite difficult to decipher. The recorded age indicates that he was born around 1832/3

The 1988 IGI Index indicates that Edward and Ellen had a further eight children and all the birth entries have been sighted and the relationship confirmed. Records relating to the family show regular movement between three addresses in the Cowgate, viz., Numbers 111, 106 and 108. The property at No.111 appears to have been single occupancy premises and may have actually been shop premises. The other two addresses were tenement properties with multiple occupants.

Edward Walsh, their second child, was born at 3 pm on 16^th September 1861 at 111 Cowgate and when Edward, senior, registered the birth on 18^th September he had his occupation recorded as Provision Dealer. The parents' date of marriage is recorded as 22^nd February 1859.

The next chronological reference to the family relates to the birth of twins James and John Walsh in June 1863. James was the first born and his birth entry gives the time of birth as 12pm Midnight on 5^th June and the entry for John gives the time of his birth as 0h 5m am on 6^th June. The family was living at 108 Cowgate and Edward's occupation is shown as Mason.

Young James' life did not last very long, as he was less than four months old when he died at 2 am on 29^th September 1963. The cause of death is recorded as Bronchitis and Congestion of Lungs - one week. The local doctor, John Burns MD, certified the death. Edward's occupation is recorded as a Broker.

His twin, John's life span was much greater. He reached maturity and died on 3 December 1925, aged 62. John seems to have been a plumber during most of his working life. He is known to have been married to Annie McNab and to have had at least one son, James. This son, James, registered John's death and the entry indicates that the family lived at 39 Montague Street, Edinburgh

A fifth child, Patrick Walsh, was born at 9 am on 18^th March 1865 at 108 Cowgate but died three weeks later on 11^th April. The cause of death is shown as - Debility Premature. Edward caused his occupation to be recorded as a Mason.

A sixth child, James Welsh, was born at 2 am on 10^th April 1866 at 108 Cowgate. His was also a short life as he died, aged 3 years and two months, at 1.30 am on 30^th June 1869 at 106 Cowgate. The cause of death is recorded as Bronchitis - 5 weeks. John Burns, MD, also certified this death. Edward seems to have been back earning a living as a Broker at that time.

A seventh child, Joseph Walsh, was born at 5 am on 15^th June 1868 at 108 Cowgate. Unfortunately Joseph was only 11 months old when he fell victim to Bronchitis and died at 1 am on 4^th June 1869. His older brother James, who died 4 weeks later, may have been a victim of the same virus. Edward was working as a Mason when Joseph was born but was shown as a Broker when he registered the child's death.

An eighth child, another Joseph Walsh, was born at 6 am on 4^th February 1870 at 106 Cowgate but the birth was premature and the child died the following day, some 29 hours after his birth. The death entry recorded the cause of death as premature birth - 7-month child. The entry also indicates that there was no immediate medical attendant. Edward was still a broker when the birth/death were registered.

The 1871 Census, in April of that year, records the family residing at 108 Cowgate and the listing indicates that Edward Walsh was now aged 42 (a jump of 14 years from 1861!) and employed as a Mason. Ellen, his wife, was aged 32 and his sons Edward, aged 9 and John, aged 7, were recorded as scholars.

The ninth and final registered child, Mary Walsh, was born at 5 am on 15th October 1872 at 106 Cowgate. (Edward was still working as a Mason) Mary survived into adulthood and she married Robert Allison on 31^st December 1894. She is known to have had at least two children, Florence and Robert and to have lived at 5 Upper Grove Place, Edinburgh in early part of the twentieth century. More information will be sought in due course.

Edward's wife, died at 11.30 pm on 3^rd January 1873 at the age of 33 years. She died at 106 Cowgate and the cause of death was Phthisis (consumption or TB). The death entry refers to Helen WALSH, married to Edward Walsh, Mason, and indicates that she had suffered from this condition for 1 year. John Burn, MD, certified her death. She must have being suffering from the condition for the duration of her final pregnancy. Edward was left with a three-month child to care for and it is assumed that he must have had support from his wider family or friends.

The April 1881 Census records the family as living back in 108 Cowgate and makes reference to Edward Walsh, a 46 year old mason and two children, John, an 18 year old Plumber and Mary, an 8 year old scholar. John would have actually been still two months short of his 18^th birthday at the date of the April 1881 Census. Edward, junior, married in 1879 and would have been away from the parental home by the time of the Census. His address was shown as 106 Cowgate on his marriage entry.

It is evident that the family lived in 106/108 Cowgate during the period from 1863 until beyond 1881. The family's immediate neighbours in both the 1871 and 1881 were the Barker and Madagin families. These tenements were located on the north side of the Cowgate and were understood to have been fairly densely populated and low standard. The occupants were predominantly of Irish extraction probably had little or no alternatives available to them. It would be a close knit and therefore a relatively safe community for the families concerned.

Edward Welsh has been located in the April 1891 Census as living at 10 Society, Chambers Street, Edinburgh. He is recorded as being aged 60 and employed as a mason. His 18-year-old daughter, Mary, was living with him. "Society" is understood to have been a tenement complex situated at the top of Chambers Street, adjacent to George IV Bridge, and was not far from the Cowgate but probably in a much less dismal location.

Edward died at No 10 Society on 25^th March 1893 and was recorded as a widower aged 65. His occupation is a Mason. The cause of death is recorded as Heart Disease - 3 1/2 years and Dropsy. Edward's death was notified by his daughter, Mary.

Given his background it is thought unlikely that Edward would have had a will recorded but a check will be made in due course.