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Bourke signatures, early 19th century in London

In the late eighteenth century, Francis Dennis, his wife Mary (Bourke/Burke), and his daughters Elizabeth Jane and Maria Francis, came from Jamaica to England.
Francis Dennis died in 1795.
In the first decade of the nineteenth century, his daughters married (James Hewitt Massy-Dawson, and Hugh Ingoldsby Massy, respectively).

At each wedding a Bourke signature appears as from a witness.

Mary (Bourke/Burke) is said to be ["History of the Evelyn Family", Evelyn, 1915] the daughter of Nicholas Burke, of Corry, co. Mayo, and of the same family as Margery Burke, daughter of Edmund Burke of Curry, co. Mayo, and wife (married 1748) of Anthony Shee of Castlebar, co. Mayo.

It seems likely that the Bourke witness was a relative of Mrs Dennis. Identification might help connect her with Margery Burke.

Witness to the marriage of the second sister

Is this the same as the first witness to the marriage of the first sister (below)?

The witnesses on the left are someone who may be a relation of the bride's mother, and an executor of the will of the bride's father. The witnesses on the right are unidentified. They are thought to read George Staunton and M D Barrsford.

Better readings would be appreciated by

page last updated 11 February 2004

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