A letter home from a young sailor, an Irish boy on a British ship, in 1865: Addressed to "My dear sister..,” this letter was probably written to Belinda Needham, Tom’s older sister, the one of his five sisters to which he seems closest. A transcript … Continue reading “My dear sister…” November 1865
Category: People
Tom goes to sea
I was very excited toward the end of last year to receive a comment on my blog from Scott Anderson, a descendant of Thomas Needham: I am the great, great, great grandson of Thomas Needham, my grandfather was Thomas Needham Sitler, my uncle John Needham … Continue reading Tom goes to sea
Coastguard
I had a letter from my mother's cousin, Keith Walmsley, a few years back. I had asked him what he knew about our Irish forbears - my great great grandmother (who is Keith’s great grandmother) was Mary Hickson, who came out to Australia with her … Continue reading Coastguard
Two nailors of Derryquin
William Hickson and George Byrne I have known for some time that William Hickson (1832-1899) of Killorglin, who later migrated to America and then Australia, was a nailor. It says so clearly on his marriage certificate: While looking through some records for George Byrne (1860-1929), … Continue reading Two nailors of Derryquin
Killorglin – the Hickson’s Kerry home
John Hickson and his twenty year old daughter Alice visited Killorglin in 1893 on their world trip. John wrote in his account of that journey: The old town that in early days to my youthful imagination seemed a city, remains with little alteration, its fairs … Continue reading Killorglin – the Hickson’s Kerry home
Forgotten tales 