Margaret DAVIS the daughter of John DAVIS and Maria ATKINS was baptised 22 March 1854, at Ballymore parish, Co. Wexford, which serviced the Killinick area.
Margaret, then a 25-year-old servant of Killinick, married James WADDEN, later documented as WADDING, on February 22nd, 1879. [1] James was a saddler.
Earlier that month Margaret and her groom James had been witnesses at the wedding of their witnesses, Ellen FURLONG and Richard BREEN. (Remember the Robert DAVIS and FURLONG connection: https://francesbird.blog/2020/07/13/who-was-the-davis-family/)
Margaret married two years before her brother John, and ten years before her brother George.
The WADDEN/WADDINGS lived in Wexford town. They had eleven children, three of whom died in infancy:
All of the births were registered under the surname WADDEN. The first records I have seen where the family used the surname WADDING were from 1900.
As well as mother to eight surviving children, Margaret was also a midwife. She died from ‘dilation of the heart, 6 months certified’ on 6th April 1900. [2] She was in fact aged 46. Her youngest child, Eileen, was only two years old.
We can see in the 1901 Census that James managed to keep his family together, living at 30 Main Street South.
Oldest son John worked in printing as a linotype operator and oldest daughter Kate was a dressmaker. Second daughter Maria probably took on the responsibility of the household.
Remember it was 1906 that the probate of the will of Robert DAVIS was granted, including to James. https://francesbird.blog/2020/07/13/who-was-the-davis-family/
In 1911 children George (the second), Margaret, James and Eileen were still living with their father, at 140 Faythe St. We can see George followed his older brother into the printing trade, while James was a fitter. Margaret has no occupation given so she probably had responsibility for the household at this time, as Kate was by then married (1907) and Maria had emigrated to Pennsylvania (1905), as had Rachel (1906).
James died in 1914 from bronchial pneumonia. His son George notified his death.
In the following blogs I record the descendants of Margaret and James. I have not named anyone I believe to be alive. Amongst the living descendants of Margaret and James are the extraordinary sporting talents of a former Irish football international and top level coach, an Irish representative middle and long distance runner and an Irish international fencer. A former grandson-in-law was Sergio Benedetti with an historically significant art story. [3] There is more than one paramedic, musicians and choristers, a former local politician and many trades, professions and talents. There’s even a smattering of priests and nuns (the only ones I have definitely found to date in my extended family.)
If you are one of the many descendants of Margaret and James WADDING do get in touch!
[1] According to Griffiths 1877 Chronicles, the Waddings were one of the original Wexford Norman families, along with the Furlongs and Lamberts.
[2] Given Margaret’s death at just 46 years from cardiomyopathy, and subsequent heart issues in the WADDING and DAVIS families, I speculate that John DAVIS, father of John, Margaret and George, died from heart issues at a fairly young age. Their mother Maria (Atkins Davis) BARRY lived to a reasonable age.
[3] https://www.nationalgallery.ie/remembering-sergio-benedetti-1942-2018
In Search of Thomas Davis 