Burkes of Claremorris & environs in the British Army

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Panel of images to illustrate the page entitled, "Burkes of Claremorris & environs in the British Army," includes: a small version of a painting of the Battle of Salamanca in 1812, the colours of the 88th Regiment of Foot, also known as the Connaught Rangers, and two 88th Foot soldiers in uniform.
(1) Battle of Salamanca, 1812 : (2) Colours of the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) : (3) Soldiers of the 88th. — While many regiments of the British Army raised troops in Ireland, several were raised specifically by titled Irishmen. The Connaught Rangers are one of the more famous, having been raised in Connaught in 1793 by John Thomas de Burgh, 13th Earl of Clanricard. Image credits.

The objective of this page is to present concise summaries of the service records for Burkes of Claremorris & environs, in the county of Mayo, who served in the British Army.

  • JAMES BURKE : b.1770–1772 of Kilcoleman, county Mayo:—at age thirty-three, attested at Cork for the 97th Regiment of Foot, for life, by Capt. Richardson, 11th May 1805; description: 5ft. 6in., fresh complexion, grey eyes, fair hair, round face; trade: none; discharged at Mullingar 26th May 1816 (diseased testicle). Discharge papers cite 10 years 351 days’ service in the 96th Queen’s Own Regiment from 9th June 1805 to 26th May 1816, aged forty-six years.1, 2
  • PATRICK BURKE : b.1775 of the parish of Kilcolman, county Mayo:—at age twenty-three, attested to the 39th Regiment on the 10th January 1798; transferred to the 37th Regiment on the 25th March 1803; after a period of service of 14 years 105 days, was discharged on the 24th April 1812; served 5 years 74 days in the 39th Regiment, and 9 years 31 days in Captain William Bruce’s company in the 37th Regiment; description: 5ft. 1-1/2in., brown hair, grey eyes, yellow complexion; occupation: labourer. 3
  • MILES BURKE, Corporal : b.1780 in or near the town of Kilcolman, county Mayo:—at age twenty-two, attested for the 89th Regiment at Enniskillen, county Fermanagh on 12th July 1802; after a period of service of 33 years 6 months, including 9 years in India, was discharged 13th January 1827, “worn out;” general conduct was very good; description: 5ft. 6in., brown hair, grey eyes, sallow complexion; occupation: labourer. 4
  • HENRY BURKE : b. 1780 : of Hochmoor,§ near Claremorris:—at age nineteen, attested for the 9th Regiment of Foot on the 1st August 1799. After a period of service of 9 years 172 days, was discharged on the 10th January 1809, his hand having been amputated after receiving a gun shot wound received in Portugal and rendering him unfit for service. At the time of discharge, was serving in Captain Cameron’s company of the 9th regiment, under Lieut. General Brownrigg. Description: 5ft. 6in., light hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion; occupation: a labourer “wanting that hand.” 5 — Note: §Hochmoor = parish of Aghamore? which lies about 25km (12mi.) northeast of Claremorris; or Clogher More in the parish of Tagheen?
  • PATRICK BURKE, Corporal : b.1781 in or near Claremorris:—at the age of nineteen, attested to the South Mayo Regiment of Militia on the 10th March 1800; after a period of service of 22 years 284 days, was discharged at Westport, county May on 18th December 1822, in consequence of a chronic liver affection which he had had for two years and been most of the time in hospital; conduct has been good; description: 5ft. 8in., brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion; occupation: labourer. At the time of Patrick’s discharge, the Marquis of Sligo was the Colonel commanding the South Mayo Militia, and Dom’ll Browne, Lieutenant. 6
  • TOBIAS BURKE : b.1783 at Cresboyne [Crossboyne]:—at age twenty-one, attested to the 97th Regiment of Foot at Gort on 17th June 1804 by Lieut. Butler; served in the East or West Indies, 14 June 1811 to 5th December 1813. Description: 5ft. 7-3/4in., fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, round face; occupation: taylor [tailor]. Deserted at Cork on 30th October 1815; rejoined the corps on 3rd September 1817 under a proclamation dated 7th July 1817; discharged at Clonmel, 14th December 1818. 7
  • THOMAS BURKE : b.1784 at Claremorris, May O § —at age twenty-eight, attested at London, Middlesex to the 1st Battalion, 1st Foot by Captain Harvey on 14th† October 1812 for life; was transferred from the 1st to the 4th Battalion, 1st Foot Soldiers on 25th June 1815; description: 5ft. 6in. at enlistment,† 5ft. 6-3/4in. at age twenty-four [sic], dark complexion, dark blue eyes, dark hair, round face; born at CMorris [Claremorris], county Mayo; occupation: labourer. Wounded by a musquet ball in the left Arm on the 17th August 1814 at Fort Erie in North America; left the army by P.D. 2nd Battalion, 29th March 1820. 8 — Notes: §The capitalization of the letter “O” suggests that the speaker (the recruit) emphasized that syllable, as in the gaelige form. †WO 25/309 cites 11th October and 5ft. 5-1/2in.
  • JOHN BURK : b.1786 in Kilcolman, county Mayo:—at age twenty-six, attested to the 11th Regiment of Foot at Chelmsford on 1st December 1812 (unlimited service);§ description: 5ft. 5in., swarthy complexion, grey eyes, dark hair, round face; occupation: labourer; also recorded in the register of the 77th Regiment of Foot; discharged at Limerick on 12th April 1817, unfit for service. 9 — Note: §Attesting to the 11th Foot on same date, and in same place, was Patrick Wilders of the parish of Kilcolman, age twenty-four; Patrick died at Dublin on 23rd November [1821?].10
  • JAMES BURKE : b.1793 at Claremorris:—at age twenty, attested at Clonmel for the 88th Regiment of Foot, 2nd Battalion, on the 10th June 1813, for life—volunteered from the South Mayo Militia; description: 5ft. 6-3/4in., fresh complexion, grey eyes, long face; occupation: labourer. 11
  • JOHN BURKE, Corporal : b.1795 at or near Claremorris, parish of Kilcolman:—at age twenty-two, attested to the 96th Regiment of Foot at Mullingar, county Westmeath on 24th March 1817, for life; description: 5ft. 9-1/2in., brown hair, grey eyes, swarthy complexion; occupation: taylor [sic]; regiment disbanded in December, 1818; attested to the 39th Regiment at Castlebar on 13th March 1819; after 21 years, 28 days, was discharged at Chatham on 8th August 1838, being unfit for further service; rank, Private; served the whole period at home. 12, 13
  • JOHN BURKE : b.1827 in the parish of Tocheen [Tagheen], near Claremorris:—at age twenty-eight, attested for the 71st Regiment of Highland Light Infantry at Belfast on the 13th November 1855; service no. 4191; was discharged at Chatham on the 2nd December 1856, the 71st then under the command of General Sir James Macdonnell, G.C.B. & K.C.H., in consequence of a reduction of the Army, and his having been found totally unfit for further service—suffers from mental imbecility which renders him totally unfit for the duties of a Soldier, and varicose veins in both legs; character and conduct have been indifferent; description: 5ft. 6-3/4in., brown hair, brown eyes, swarthy complexion; by trade, a labourer. 14
  • PATRICK BURK : b.1843 in the parish of Claremorris:—at age twenty-four years six months, attested to the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Derby on the 9th November 1867; regimental no. 2065, rank: gunner; description: 5ft. 9-1/2in., fresh complexion, brown eyes, black hair; occupation: miner. After a service period of 3 years 84 days including 1 year 26 days in India, was discharged at Kirkee on the 31st January 1871, Field Marshal H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge then Colonel in command, having been found unfit for further service due to phthsis pulmonalis [tuberculosis]; conduct has been good and in possession of one good conduct badge, name never appeared in the Regimental defaulters book, had hever been tried by Court Martial; intended place of residence: Ashton Under Lyme, Lancaster. 15
  • MICHAEL BURKE : b.1851 in the parish of Ballydoyne [Ballindine?] near Claremorris:—at age twenty-five, attested at Sunderland for the 3rd Brigade on 16th October 1876; regimental no. service no. 676; occupation: pitman; description: 5ft. 6-1/4in., sallow complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, Roman Catholic; granted five Good Conduct Pays; transferred to the Durham Light Infantry, 1st July 1881; was discharged at Netley [Hampshire] on the 4th July 1882 after a period of service of 5 years 261 days, in consequence of having been found medically unfit for further service; served 1 year 19 days at home, 4 years 196 days in the East Indies, then 46 days at home. 16
  • WILLIAM BURKE : b.1853 in the parish of Claremorris near the town of Castlebar [sic], county Mayo:§—at age eighteen, attested to the 40th Regiment of Foot at Mullingar, county Westmeath; regimental no. 1624; description: 5ft. 6-3/4in., dar complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair; occupation: servant; served 1 year 3 months in the East Indies; regimental board convened at Lucknow on 12th January 1874, found unfit for further service (enlargement of the heart), and was discharged at Netley [Hampshire] on 6th July 1874, aged 21years 6 months; intended place of residence: Castlebar, county Mayo. 17 — §Note: This is an unusual description because Claremorris lies about 27km (or 17mi.) southwest of Castlebar.
  • JAMES BURKE : b.1866 in or near Claremorris:—at age nineteen, while residing in or near the town of Ballinrobe, in the parish of Shrule, county Mayo, attested at Castlebar on the 24th January 1885 for the 3rd Battalion, Connaught Rangers for the term of six years; service no. 3-178; occupation: labourer; description: single, 5t. 3in., fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair; Roman Catholic; served in the 3rd Battalion, Connaught Rangers; present training of 1885–1892; enrolled in Militia Reserve on 2nd August 1877; absent 1893. 18
  • MARTIN BURKE : b.1867 in or near Claremorris:—resided in the parish of Shrule near the town of Ballinrobe; at age eighteen, attested at Castlebar on the 21st January 1885 for the 3rd Battalion Connaught Rangers; regimental no. 3-177; occupation: labourer; description: 5t.3-1/2in., fresh complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair, Roman Catholic, single; present training of 1885–1890, absent 1892, to serve an additional year for 1892, rejoined 14th July 1892. 19
  • JOHN BURKE : b.1868 in or near Claremorris, parish of Kilcolman:—resident of Burslem, parish of Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire; occupation: carter; single; served previously in the 3rd North Staffordshire; at age twenty-four, attested for the 4th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment on 13th February 1892, for a term of six years; service no. 2688; description: 5ft. 5in., 143lbs., fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair, Roman Catholic, single. 20
  • JOHN BURKE : b.1872 in the parish of Irishtown [Ballinvilla townland, parish of Kilvine] near Claremorris:—at age twenty, attested at Tipperary on 13th February 1892 to the Royal Artillery, regimental no. 88739, rank: gunner; granted Good Conduct Pay twice; description: 5ft. 10-1/4in., 160 lbs., fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, Roman Catholic; occupation: labourer; transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) on 30th November 1895, to the Depot Battalion of same on 23rd July 1898, and to P. Battery RHA (The Dragoon Troop, Royal Artillery) on 17th July 1898; proposed by a medical board for discharge at Kirkee on the 28th February 1898; struck off for absence on mobilization, 17th October 1899; served at home for 346 days, in India for 5 years 87 days, invalid at home for 86 days; next of kin: Aunt Bridget Rattigan, Irishtown, Claremorris, county Mayo. 21
  • CHARLES BOURKE, Corporal : b.1876 in or near Claremorris:—at age twenty-one, attested to the 3rd Battalion, Connaught Rangers at Castlebar on 14th July 1896; regimental no. 1434; occupation: labourer; description: 5ft. 6in., 134lb., fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, single, Roman Catholic; was discharged at Castlebar on the 2nd July 1913 at end of term of engagement. 22
  • PATRICK BURKE : b.1877 in or near Claremorris, parish of Kilcolman:—at age twenty-four, attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery (Grenadier Guards) of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Manchester on 20th August 1901; description: 5ft. 7-3/4in., 132 lbs., fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, Roman Catholic; occupation: labourer; posted as a gunner, 20th August 1901; several good conduct badges with pay; discharged on the 19th August 1913; served 200 days at home, 252 days in Hong Kong, 2 years 42 days at Singapore, 2 years 278 days in India, 1 year 323 days at Aden, and 4 years at home. Next of kin: father, Pat Burke, Burranes Road, Claremorris; younger brothers, Peter (living with father) and Thomas, 16 Barton Grove, Patricroft [Lancashire]. 23
  • WILLIAM BURKE : b.1879-80 in or near Claremorris in the parish of Kilcolman, county Mayo:—at age 21 years 5 months, while residing at Barrhead in the parish of Neilson, Renfrewshire, attested to the 4th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princes Louise’s), 91st & 93rd Foot, on 3rd October 1900; regimental no. 4531; description: 5ft. 4in., 117lb., fresh complexion, blue eyes, auburn hair, Roman Catholic, single; occupation: labourer; transferred to regular army on 23rd May 1901. 24 — At age twenty-one, attested to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Glasgow on 23rd May 1901; regimental no. 8036; occupation: labourer; description: 5ft. 4-1/4in., 122lbs., fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, Roman Catholic; was discharged on 6th June 1901 on conviction by Civil Power of theft; next of kin: mother, Hannah Burke, Mount Street, Claremorris. 25

Source citation for this page: — Kilpatrick, Alison. “Burkes of Claremorris and Environs in the British Army.” Chapter in the family history research completed for the Burke surname occurring in the parish of Kilcolman (Clanmorris), county Mayo. Online at Arborealis, arborealis.ca/family-history/irish/burke/british-army/, accessed [insert date of access].

Image credits: — The collage at the top of this page is a panel of three images, compiled from the following sources: (1) [Artist unknown.] “The capture of the Jingling Johnny by the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) at the Battle of Salamanca.” Watercolour painting held by the National Army Museum (London). Accession no. NAM 1956-02-491-1. Digital image no. 29792. Accessed 2021-01-12. (2) & (3) Cannon, Richard. Image: “Eighty-EIghth Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers.” Historical Record of the Eighty-eighth Regiment of Foot, or Connaught Rangers: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1793, and of its subsequent services to 1837. London: William Clowes and Sons, 1838. — Images edited and arranged by Alison Kilpatrick ©2021.

Footnotes:

  1. War Office and predecessors: Secretary-at-War, Secretary of State for War, and Related Bodies, Registers (United Kingdom). Records held by The National Archives (Kew, England). Citing James Burke, born 1772 at Kilcoleman [Kilcolman], county Mayo, 97th Regiment of Foot; Archival ref. WO 25/541. Digital images online at Ancestry™ : UK, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756–1900 (accessed and summarized by Alison Kilpatrick, 2015-05-11).
  2. War Office and predecessors: Secretary-at-War, Secretary of State for War, and Related Bodies, Registers. Royal Hospital, Kilmainham: Pensioners’ Discharge Documents. Citing James Burke, born in the parish of Kilcolman, county Mayo; 96th Regiment of Foot. Archival ref. WO 119/34, piece description A9903–A10240, record no. 174. Digital images online at FindMyPast™ (accessed and summarized by Alison Kilpatrick, 2015-05-11).
  3. War Office and predecessors: Secretary-at-War, Secretary of State for War, and Related Bodies, Registers (United Kingdom). Royal Hospital Chelsea: Soldiers Service Documents (Discharge Documents of Pensioners), 1760–1913. Citing Patrick Burke, born in the parish of Kilcolman, county Mayo. Archival ref. WO 97/1134/88. Digital images online at FindMyPast™ (accessed and summarized by Alison Kilpatrick, 2015-05-11).
  4. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing Corporal Miles Burke, b.1780 in Kilcolman, county Mayo; 88th Regiment of Foot; WO 97/978/83.
  5. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing Henry Burke of Hochmoor, Clairmorris [sic], 9th Foot (Norfolk Regiment). PRO ref. WO 121/93.
  6. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing Corporal Patrick Burke, b.1781 in or near Claremorris, county Mayo; South Mayo Regiment of Militia; WO 97/1093/34.
  7. War Office (UK). Regimental Registers, op. cit. Citing Tobias Burke b.1783 at Cresboyne [Crossboyne], county Mayo; 97th Regiment of Foot, WO 25/542A.
  8. War Office (UK). Regimental Registers, op. cit. Citing Thomas Burke b.1784 at Claremorris, county Mayo; 1st Regiment of Foot; WO 25/309, /315, /317.
  9. War Office. Regimental Registers, op. cit. Citing John Burk b.1786 in the parish of Kilcolman, county Mayo; 11th Regiment of Foot; WO 25/333, /473.
  10. War Office (UK). Regimental Registers, op. cit. Patrick Wilders b.1788 in the parish of Kilcoman, county Mayo; 11th Regiment of Foot; WO 25.
  11. War Office. Regimental Registers, op. cit. Citing James Burke b.1793 at Claremorris, county Mayo; 88th Regiment of Foot; WO 25/518.
  12. War Office (UK). Regimental Registers, op. cit. Citing John Burke, 96th Regiment of Foot, WO 25/539.
  13. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing John Burke, born in or near Claremorris, parish of Kilcolman, county Mayo; 39th Regiment of Foot; WO 97/551/9.
  14. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing John Burke, b.1827 in the parish of Tocheen [Tagheen] near Claremorris, county Mayo; 71st Regiment of Highland Light Infantry; WO 97/1601/53.
  15. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing Patrick Burk, b.1843 in the parish of Claremorris, county Mayo; Royal Regiment of Artillery; WO 97/1773/20.
  16. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing Michael Burke, b.1851 in the parish of Ballindine [sic] near the town of Claremorris, county Mayo; 3rd Battalion Connaught Rangers; WO 97/1903/8.
  17. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing William Burke, b.1853 in the parish of Claremorris near the town of Castlebar, [sic] county Mayo; 40th Regiment of Foot; WO 97/1903/46.
  18. War Office and predecessors: Secretary-at-War, Secretary of State for War, and Related Bodies, Registers (United Kingdom). Militia Attestation Papers. Citing James Burke, b.1866 at Clearmorris [Claremorris], county Mayo. Archival ref. WO 96/1166/140. Digital images online at FindMyPast™ (accessed and summary by Alison Kilpatrick, 2015-05-11).
  19. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing Martin Burke, b.1867 in or near Claremorris, county Mayo; 3rd Battalion Connaught Rangers; WO 97/1601/53.
  20. War Office (UK). Militia Attestation Papers, op. cit. Citing John Burke, b.1868 in or near Claremorris, parish of Kilcolman; 4th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment; WO 96/1040/329.
  21. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing John Burke, b.1872 at Irishtown, Claremorris, county Mayo; Royal Artillery; WO 97/246/6.
  22. War Office (UK). Militia Attestation Papers, op. cit. Citing Charles Bourke, b.1876 in or near Claremorris, county Mayo; Connaught Rangers; WO 96/1166/95.
  23. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing Patrick Burke, b.1872 at Claremorris, county Mayo; Royal Artillery; WO 97/4456/124.
  24. War Office (UK). Militia Attestation Papers, op. cit. Citing James Burke, b.1866 at Clearmorris [sic], county Mayo; Argyll & Sutherland HIghlanders; WO 96/1166/140. Digital images online at FindMyPast™ (accessed and summarized by Alison Kilpatrick, 2015-05-11).
  25. War Office (UK). Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners, op. cit. Citing William Burke, b.1879-80 at Claremorris, county Mayo; Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; WO 97/4457/76.