SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE-L Archives

From: Ian Sale <>
Subject: [WIG] Samuel Leach - a puzzle
Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 22:02:27 +1100

Hello

I am a newcomer to this list, but have been researching my family's
history for about seven years - not especially easy from the isolation
of Tasmania.

One couple who have been of much interest are Martin Casey and his wife
Jessie (Gardiner) who lived in Douglas where they made umbrellas, no
doubt in much demand. They came to Douglas by a circuitous route. He
was from Co Roscommon, she was from Aberdeen, they married in Dumfries
and had their first child near Blackpool. What caused a young
Aberdonian to be down in Dumfries in 1854 is an interesting question in
itself.

I have had no luck 'making the jump' into either Aberdeen or Co
Roscommon for either. One intriguing clue is that in 1871 a 7 year old
boy, Samuel Leach, was staying with them. He was described as a nephew
- presumably a child of a sister of either Martin or Jessie. His
birthplace was given as Whithorn. I had hoped that learning more of
Samuel might throw light on the origins of either Jessie or Martin.
Alas, no such luck. I can find no further trace of him. He was not
there in 1881, nor anywhere it would seem. Nothing in the IGI, nor, so
far, any sign of a likely marriage between a Leach and a Casey or
Gardiner. Interestingly in 1881 there was another child, Mary Leech, 10
years old staying with a widowed aunt in Douglas. As Leach/Leech is not
a common name on IOM there might conceivably be some connection. That
child was born in Liverpool but does not turn up on the Free BMD site.

Has anyone any suggestions?

cheers

Ian Sale
Hobart

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• [WIG] Samuel Leach - a puzzle by Ian Sale <>