1854-1901

Birth

Baptised at St Andrews Westland Row on an unreadable date in 1854, son of George Wm FitzGerald and Marcella, sponsors William Joseph FitzGerald and Mary Louisa O'Kelly. [Online TX of Parish Register at Irish Genealogy website]


Army Career

  • "Gerald John Fitzgerald, Gent, to be Lieutenant (Supernumerary.) Dated 30 April, 1873"

[London Gazette 29.4.1873 Royal Brecon [militia]]

  • "Leiutenant Gerald John FitzGerald to be Captain Dated 21st June, 1878"

[London Gazette 29.9.1878 Issue #24626 : Royal South Wales Borderers]

  • "Captains: Gerald John Fitzgerald 21 June 1878"

[New Army List 1880 page 1087 : The Royal South Wales Borderers]


Marriage

Married Gretta Maud Ryan, daughter of jeweller James Ryan and Sarah Frances Barclay, on 25 June 1883 in the RC Chapel at Glasthule, Co. Dublin, and his brother Louis Fitzgerald and her sister Emma Ryan were witnesses.

"FITZGERALD AND RYAN - June 25th, 1883, at St Joseph's Church, Glasthule, by the Very Rev Canon Harold, P.P. Gerald, son of G. W. FitzGerald, Esq. Henrietta place, Dalkey, to Maud, second daughter of J R Ryan, Esq. Albert House, Dalkey." [FJ 26.06.1883 p1 colA Marriages]

They honeymooned on a voyage via "SS City of Rome" to New York and back. The ship at that time was going between Queenstown, Liverpool and New York regularly. One of the descendants of Gretta Maud Ryan's second marriage gave us this story.


Gerald was Manager and co-founder of the Richmond Horse Show which was held for the first time on 24 September 1892. (Ref articles in Times Newspaper)

They appeared in 1891 census at home in Brentford with children, Maria (5), George (4) and Geraldine (3). His occupation is "Secretary" - perhaps referring to his work for the Richmond Horse Show.

Gerald died in Brentford Q1 1901 of pneumonia contracted after a boating accident, according to Granddad.

Calendar of Wills & Admons 1901 : FITZGERALD Gerald (396) 10 July Probate of the will of Gerald Fitzgerald late of Marlborough Terrace [illegible word] Chiswick County Middlesex a Retired Captain who died 24 February 1901 granted at Dublin to Maud Fitzgerald Widow. Effects £397.

The 1901 census was taken just after Gerald's death, and (Gretta) Maud appears "living on own means" with their first three children now aged 15, 14 and 13 plus Josephine age 2. Maud's brother Albert Ryan is also there and Maud's sister's 10 year old daughter Hilda O'Brian.





Gretta Maud Ryan

Her parents were James Ryan, a jeweller in Dublin (family knowledge), and Sarah Frances Barclay (IGI). They lived at Albert House, Dalkey.

Thoms Dir in 1884 lists "Jas. Robt. Ryan esq. Albert Ho. 39l" (39£) ; also under Jewellers "Ryan, John R & Co. 13 College Green".

Her age on the 1901 census is given as 38 which would mean she was less than age 1 in the first quarter of 1863. Her age in the 1891 census is given as 25, which would mean she was born in 1866 and not 1863. It would also mean she was 17 when she got married, and not of "full" age as stated on the marriage certificate. Full age was 21 at the time, so if she was of full age when she married then she must have been born before 25 June 1862.

After Gerald's death she married Henry Holland, horticulturalist at Kew Gardens.