Finally found proof that this Edward is indeed our next ancestor back - George William's father.

This is proven within the text of various deeds found at the Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin. Eg:

18 April 1838

" ... of the third part, and Edward FitzGerald of Upper Fitzwilliam Street in the City of Dublin Esquire Eldest Son Heir at Law and sole Executor of the last will and Testament of Edward FitzGerald of Dorset [Street] Dublin Esquire deceased of the fourth part, and George William FitzGerald Esquire of Upper Fitzwilliam Street aforesaid of the fifth part ... "

" ... and Edward FitzGerald of Dorset Street in the City of Dublin Esquire since deceased ... and thereby bequeathed unto his Son the said George William FitzGerald his Heirs Exeors Admons and Assigns the said Mortgage and Mortgaged Lands and premises and the said Sum of Six Hundred pounds Sterling thereby secured ... "

[Fitzgerald Edward &or Fitzgerald George W Ballycarney Co Wexford Bo Scarawalsh 1838 7 267]

It has always been thought in the family that we are descended from an Edward FitzGerald.

This one was included in a list of Fitzgeralds moved from a family vault at the RC church of Saints Michael & John for re-housing in vaults at St Andrews Westland Row when the former was decomissioned (list supplied by St Andrews with ages and dates of death).

I was first led to this vault by the fact that the death announcement in Freeman's Journal of both George William and Marcella stated they were to be taken there.

This Edward ("The Eldest") was the first of eight Fitzgeralds to be buried in the vault; all of the others have proven to be ours. Next was his eldest son Edward in 1867, followed by four of George Wm and Marcella's sons (Edward 1878, William 1885, Henry 1883 and Charles 1892, and by George Wm and Marcella themselves in 1891 and 1896.

If the bodies had to be moved at all I'm betting they would have been happy it was to St Andrew's. When Edward the Eldest died in 1834 St Andrew's was not yet open for business. When it was opened just a few years later it was the first fashionable RC church in Ireland since the end of the dreaded penal laws during which Catholics were practically outlawed (ref. history of St Andrew's on sale in the church). George and Marcella were married there and they had all their children baptised there. Our Uncle James FitzGerald - their fourth son - married our Aunt Lily there.

Edward the Eldest's birth date - 1758 - estimated from age - 76 - at death on 6 April 1834.

Aged 52 when our ancestor George Wm was born - our Granddad George Wm Jsph was sure his grandfather was a seventh son.

Death announcement in Freemans Journal 4 April 1834:

"At his residence in Dorset Street, in the 76th year of his age, Edward Fitzgerald, esq., for many years connected with the Bank of Ireland and [first?] clerk of the Irish Lottery. In him his children have to deplore the loss of an affectionate parent and none could be more universily esteemed and respected through life by his numerous friends and acquaintances." [FJ 4 April 1834]

It is in some ways similar in style with the announcement of the death of his son Edward FitzGerald (1796-1867) which mentions "hereditary connection by property with many national institutions". Could the Bank of Ireland and Irish Lottery be "national institutions"? Inherited by the next Edward Fitzgerald?

He did write a Will, references to which are quoted in an email from Reader Services Section of Irish National Archives after a search of the "1867 Index Calendar of Wills and Administrations" :

• Family Name: Fitzgerald Edward Will Transcript : 1834 : Prerogative Court Address: Upper Dorset Street NA Reference: IWR/1834/F/185"
• Family Name: Fitzgerald Edward [31] Peter Street Prerogative Court Will Transcript 1838 NA Reference: IWR/1838/F/614
• Family Name: Fitzgerald Edward North Earl Street, Dublin Probate Certified Copy Year of Grant: 1842: Prerogative Court NA Reference: T/7972
• Family Name: Fitzgerald Edward Administration Transcript 1834 NA Reference: IAR/1834/F/135

The first on the list is the one we need but no trace of it could be found at National Archives - we did enlist the help of staff but were told it was not on microfilm and likely was lost en route from England where all such things were stored at one time. We saw /614 and /135 but did not understand their relevance. We were told that T/7972 would be available in March 2010.

Dublin directory lists Edward Fitzgerald in 1827 and 1834 at 88 Upper Dorset Street. Fitzgeralds - George and Edward - are listed at this address after his death - in 1835 and 1836 - so it looks as if these are his sons. (Two years later in 1836 Edward's listing reads "88 Upper Dorset Street and Brooklawn, Merrion Ave".)

In the next year - 1837 - our ancestor George Wm (1810-1891) and a William Fitzgerald are listed in the directory at what was to become the family home for many years - 34 Upper Fitzwilliam Street. Two brothers, Edward (1796-1867) and William Fitzgerald (alive 1867), are known to have also lived here. These are now proven to be George Wm's brothers.

In 1837 the directories list no Fitzgeralds at 88 Upper Dorset Street and George and William are listed as householders in 34 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, which was very fashionable at the time. Their father's house in Dorset St would once have been fashionable, but less so after the early 1800s.

SOURCES
Burial record (St Andrews Westland Row, from Saints Michael and Johns)
Death announcement (Freemans Journal 4 April 1834)
LWT - record of (National Archives IWR/1834/F/185 Will Tx LISTED BUT NOT FOUND)
Registry of Deeds
Dublin directories 1827, 1834
Word of Mouth - that we are descended from an Edward Fitagerald

Possible wife Mary Fitzpatrick

There is a notebook in which there is transcribed by hand the history of the Fitzpatrick family down to Ann and Gertrude in the 1700s [check names and dates]. The handwriting uses the long s. On the inside front cover is written "family tree of my mother" and it is signed "Wm" as in William. Granddad always said the notebok was written by a female ancestor marrying into the Fitzgerald family because she didn't want her family's history to be forgotten. If it is George Wm's brother William writing inside the front cover - his mother is indeed our great great great grandmother. Mary is a possible first name as the only girl born to George Wm and Marcella Mary was named Mary Marcella. (There was also the "Mary Fitzpatrick" mentioned as witness to Edward Foster's baptism in 1838, but our GGGgrandmother must surely have died before her husband (Edward?) did in 1834 or she would have been mentioned along with the grieving children in the obituary.)

There is a dormant title in this family.

(It also looks as if Anne and Gertrude had another sister, Mary, who is listed as having died in infancy.)

See also details of Fitzpatrick family papers deposited at UCD archive in the To Do List on this site.