the family of james belcher of waterford, ireland - University of ...
the family of james belcher of waterford, ireland - University of ...
the family of james belcher of waterford, ireland - University of ...
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Chapter 2<br />
Second generation 1814 - 1849<br />
John and Eliza Belcher née Fleming<br />
In <strong>the</strong> interval between <strong>the</strong> two great potato famine years in Ireland, on Monday<br />
November 1st 1847, after Publication <strong>of</strong> Banns, a gardener from <strong>the</strong> seaside village<br />
<strong>of</strong> Bettystown in Meath named John Belcher, married, Elizabeth Fleming at<br />
Colp Church <strong>of</strong> Ireland. She was <strong>the</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> a coastguardsman named Jeremiah<br />
Fleming. John’s fa<strong>the</strong>r was recorded as James Belcher, a cabinetmaker, but <strong>the</strong>re is<br />
no indication as to whe<strong>the</strong>r he was present at <strong>the</strong> wedding or whe<strong>the</strong>r his wife was<br />
alive at <strong>the</strong> time, since nei<strong>the</strong>r was named as a witness to <strong>the</strong> marriage. (Witnesses<br />
were named Thomas Halvey and D.J.Hogan and <strong>the</strong> celebrant was <strong>the</strong> Vicar <strong>of</strong> Colpe,<br />
Joseph Druitt). See Appendix B - Registrar certificates.<br />
The bride’s fa<strong>the</strong>r was probably based at <strong>the</strong> next village south along <strong>the</strong> coast<br />
called Laytown, where <strong>the</strong> old Coast Guard Station building still stands as does a row<br />
<strong>of</strong> 6 two hundred year old coastguardsmen’s cottages and a small redbrick building<br />
formerlyknownas“MrsCooper’sSchoolforProtestantChildren<strong>of</strong>Coastguardsmen”.<br />
Both <strong>the</strong> bride and bridegroom were stated to be adult at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wedding<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r evidence suggests that John was 24 and Elizabeth was 25. It is presumed<br />
that John continued in his occupation <strong>of</strong> gardener after marriage. However, <strong>the</strong>re is<br />
7