John Fitzpatrick 1786-1838 and Jane Howe 1791-1889

Grace Fitzpatrick's parents were John Fitzpatrick and Jane Howe.  John Fitzpatrick was born in 1786, married in 1820 and died on 6 March 1838. 

Jane Howe was a niece of General Gardiner (1781-1864), according to the Shearman Fitzpatrick family tree.

General Sir Robert Gardiner was the youngest son of Captain John Gardiner of the 3rd Buffs Regiment and brother of Lieutenant Sir John Gardiner of the 61st Foot Regiment.  The 61st Foot was in Portugal and France from 1809 to 1814 and in England between 1822 and 1828.

Source: Wikipedia

There was a William Gardiner who was Lieutenant General after being made Colonel in the 88th Foot, formed during the American Revolution.

Source: Eugene Ryan Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick List, 3 July 2024.

It is not confirmed which, or both of these army officers were the uncle of Jane Howe.

John was not the Chelsea Pensioner whose military record states he was born in Urney, County Cavan.  Records for Urney Parish church only begin in 1812.  This John was a Sergeant in the 88th Regiment of Foot, born  in 1810, attested in 1828 and discharged in 1850 - after Captain John Fitzpatrick's death in 1838.  John Fitzpatrick, being married, would not have been a Chelsea Pensioner.  Officers were only admitted after retirement if they were enlisted; John joined the army as an Ensign, so not enlisted.  Thanks to Andrew Wallace, Fitzpatrick List, 13 July 2024.

The marriage of John Fitzpatrick and Jane Howe at St Martin in the Fields of Jane Howe and John Fitzpatrick on 6 November was preceded by the marriage licence on 27 October 1820.  John was a resident of St Martin in the Fields; Jane a resident of Marylebone.  

A family history source listed their children: Mary, Thomas Mapleson and John Edward Fitzpatrick.  I thought the licence and marriage dates were for different people until Andrew Wallace pointed out that there was a marriage licence and a bond before the church ceremony on 6 November 1820. It was the Crimean war record death of Thomas Mapleson, sent by Steve Zalewski on the Fitzpatrick List on 2 July 2024, which confirmed the children of John and Jane.

The bond for John and Jane’s marriage  states that John was a Captain in the 88th Regiment of Foot.  This Regiment, raised in 1760, was disbanded in 1763, re-formed in 1779 for service in the American Revolutionary War, disbanded in 1783 and re-formed on 25 September 1793 in Ireland (1st Battalion).  It was only known as the Connaught Rangers after amalgamation with the 94th Regiment of Foot in 1881. 

Source: Andrew Wallace, Fitzpatrick List, 13 July 2024

 

The 88th Regiment was sent to the Netherlands in 1794, in Egypt 1800 to 1803, then South America until 1807.  Active in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars; part of the Peninsula War in Portugal, the Regiment was pursuing French armies in various battles in 1813 and 1814, as was the 3rd Buffs.  The 1st Battalion arrived home in 1817; the 2nd Battalion was deployed to Ireland in 1811 and disbanded in 1816.   Between 1825 and 1836, the Regiment was in the Ionian Islands, by which time John had retired. 

John Fitzpatrick joined the 8th Regiment of Foot (ROF) - not the 88th - in July 1806 as an Ensign, a junior officer, then promoted to Lieutenant in the 88th ROF.  In July 1813 he was slightly wounded in the Peninsular war against Napoleon.  In May 1815, John was promoted to Captain.  During peace after the Napoleonic Wars, officers could voluntarily receive half pay, and could avoid overseas service, subject to being required to serve if required.  Before 3 December 1830, he was on the half pay list when he became Captain of the 1st West India Regiment.  To receive a full pension, it would be advantageous to return to the full pay list.  On 17 December 1830, Captain Fitzpatrick retired. 

Source: London Gazette and Edinburgh Gazette, Andrew Wallace's research, Fitzpatrick List, 13 July 2024 

According to the Shearman Fitzpatrick family tree, John was a Captain in the “3rd Buffs”.  This was the 3rd Regiment of Foot of the Royal East Kent Regiment. The Regiment served in the Peninsula War in Portugal from 1808, fought the French Army in 1813 and 1814 and was part of the Army of Occupation in 1816.  The Regiment returned home in autumn 1818.  Between 1821 and 1827 the Regiment served in New South Wales.  

John and Jane’s children were John, Thomas, Mary, Grace and Jane.  John E. Fitzpatrick was in the 14^th Hussars, another military career.  He died in about 1874, according to the Shearman Fitzpatrick family tree.  Thomas died in the Crimea in 1855, on military service. This record confirms his father's name and that Captain Fitzpatrick had died before 1855.

Ensign Thomas Mapleson  Fitzpatrick - 30th Foot - died of disease at Sebastopol - 26 June 1855. Aged 24. Son of the late Capt. Fitzpatrick, 88th Foot.

Source: Steve Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick List, 2 July 2024 from Crimea Deaths https://gloster.tripol.com/crimdeaths1.htm

Mary married Thomas Howe.  There is a record of Mary’s baptism on 16 March 1822 at St Martin in the Fields (FamilySearch).  Jane was recorded as deceased [1878] on the Shearman Fitzpatrick family tree.

John Fitzpatrick was not in Jane Fitzpatrick’s household at the 1841 Census.  He had died by the time of daughter Grace's marriage to "Jenry" (Henry) Goodfellow on 5 April 1847

John died on 6 March 1838 according to the Shearman Fitzpatrick family tree and confirmed by the death at Holborn registered in the first quarter of 1838 and burial of Captain John Fitzpatrick on 18 March 1838 at Saint Andrew, Holborn.  He was aged 53, birthdate estimated as 1785.  His residence place was Hatton Gardens.

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