Thomas Whelan was born in November 1855 in Enniscorthy, county Wexford, to John Whelan and Catherine Tumbleton. He was baptised Roman Catholic on the 10thof November1.
Little information is available yet on his early life, but it is known that his father was a baker2. Thomas also grew up to become a baker.
Thomas married his wife Bridget Whelan on 18 September 1881 in Adamstown, Carrickbyrne, Wexford2.
Thomas and Bridget had 5 children that we know of: John, James, Catherine, Mary and Bridget5,4.
In 1901, he was working as a baker and living at 10 St. John’s Street in Enniscorthy. His sister Elizabeth was keeping house for him as his wife had already died. His oldest son John was working with him as an apprentice Baker. Catherine at 15 was an assistant housekeeper and James, Mary and Bridget were all in school5.
In 1911, he was still working as a baker and living at 10 St. John’s Street in Enniscorthy. Both sons, John and James had also become bakers and remained living with him. Mary and Bridget were still at home, Bridget still in school, and Elizabeth continued to keep house for him6.
Sometime after 1911, Thomas moved into the workhouse.
Thomas was living in Enniscorthy during the Easter Rising of 1916 when the town was taken over for a week by the local units of the Irish Volunteers7. Although most of Wexford was dominated politically by the Irish Parliamentary Party, Enniscorthy had a strong Irish Republican Brotherhood presence in the town. The rebellion in Enniscorthy was nearly bloodless. There was only a brief exchange of shots between the RIC and the Volunteers where two civilians and an RIC constable were wounded. The estimate damage to property in the Enniscorthy Rising (due mainly to destruction of roads and rail lines) was estimated at £3,000.
Thomas died in the workhouse on 24 April 1919 after suffering for six months from a blood disease3.
Link to Thomas Whelan in Genealogy
1Baptisms (NCR) Scotland. Enniscorthy. 10 November 1855. WHELAN, Thomas. Collection: Enniscorthy Parochial Record of Baptisms, 10 Jan 1836 to 30 Dec 1861. https://registers.nli.ie//registers/vtls000634060#page/159/mode/1up: accessed 2018.
2Marriages (CR) Ireland. RD: New Ross, Adamstown, Carrickbyrne, Wexford. 18 September 1881. WHELAN, Thomas and WHELAN, Bridget. https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1881/11012/8026796.pdf: accessed 2018.
3Deaths (CR) Ireland. Enniscorthy, Wexford. 24 April 1919. WHELAN, Thomas. https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1919/05149/4419284.pdf: accessed 16 April 2018.
4Births (CR) Ireland. RD: Enniscorthy, Enniscorthy No 2, Enniscorthy, Wexford. 24 August 1895. WHELAN, Bridget. 154.
5Census. 1901. Ireland. Wexford. Form B.10. Collection: National Archives of Ireland, 1901 Ireland Census Records. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001271747/: accessed 19 December 2017
6Census. 1911. Ireland. Wexford. Form 12. Collection: National Archives of Ireland, Census of Ireland 1911. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003568749/: accessed 19 December 2017
7http://www.generalmichaelcollins.com/life-times/the-struggle/enniscorthy-easter-rising/
