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Edenderry in times past, vol 9

The Williams Family was the last of the Quaker Businesses in Edenderry.  Quaker Business and industry was the heart-beat of Commercial Life in Edenderry from the 18th Century onwards.

The Williams Family had been in business from at least the 19th Century and the last member of the family, Arthur Williams, retired from business in the late 1950's when his grocery and bakery business was purchased by the O'Brien Family.

Other members of the Williams Family had a Ladies Drapery Shop and a Motor Garage nearby. The Motor Garage was owned and operated by Conrad Williams, who, despite his severe disabilities from childhood, operated a very successful motor business. Both Conrad Williams and Arthur Williams were prominent members of the Edenderry Cycling Club in the late 19th Century and regular Prize Winners on the Circuit. Arthur Williams served as a Town Commissioner in the early 20th Century.
 
 

Comments

  1. Roy WillardSeptember 29, 2016 at 5:08 AM

    Can somebody please help?

    My mother's father: LAURENCE JOSEPH WILLIAMS was born c1875 in Tullamore, Kings Co (Offaly), Ireland, his parents were: ROBERT HENRY WILLIAMS b.1852 and MARTHA WILLIAMS nee TINKLER b.circa.1852.

    At some point LAURENCE J WILLIAMS moved to Manchester where on 30th November, 1896 he married ELIZABETH KERRIDGE (b.1877 Salford).

    My mother, Maiden name: LILIAN JOSEPHINE WILLIAMS was born in Salford in 1911 but moved to Robertsbridge in 1930 where she met and in 1936 married my father: GEORGE ALFRED WILLARD. I was born in 1946.

    My mother's father in 1915 joined the 18th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. His Regiment was at the Battle of the Somme, on 9th July 1916 he was killed in action at: Trones Wood, Somme, Picardie, France. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

    His Military details: Regiment Service No: 11043,
    X Platoon,
    C Company,
    18th Service (3rd City) Battalion,
    Manchester Regiment.

    My mother's religion was Catholic and I guess through my ignorance I always assumed her parents were as well, but in the last couple of weeks I have become somewhat confused. I have been able to search the Irish Census for 1901 and if I have my facts correct then LAURENCE WILLIAM's parents: HENRY & MARTHA WILLIAMS were Quakers. My knowledge of Quakers is non-existent!! Also the name: ROBERT has not always been in my 'searches'.

    So now I am not even sure if I have been researching the 'right family' for my grandfather: Laurence Williams.

    I would appreciate any help in my quest to find out more about Laurence and his family, I met my mother's mum in 1953 when she stayed with my parents for a holiday, she died in 1954 in Manchester.

    Thank you

    Roy Willard

    ReplyDelete

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