Tuesday 12 June 2012

LYDIA BURKE: A strong woman beside the successful man


War of 1812: Bicentennial Celebration

 
Copy of the couple’s 1817 marriage licence obtained from St-Gabriel Presbyterian Church in Montreal
by descendant Barbara McCourt.  

She was Lydia Grant, an Irish woman who married a career officer, George Thew Burke, a captain in the 100th Regiment of Foot, who fought with Sir Isaac Brock at Queenston Heights and with Wellington at Waterloo. This devoted couple raised their nine children in Richmond where he was superintendent of the military settlement, a colonel in the militia and a MP in the Parliament of Upper Canada. She died at 37 years of age.

Discover more about Lydia Burke at the Exceptional Women exhibit at the Goulbourn Museum on Sunday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration has something for all ages, including historical re-enactors and presentations, War of 1812-themed crafts, new exhibitions and even an old-fashioned photo booth.


3 comments:

  1. For those on other continents, are you able to give out any other details about Lydia such as her birth and death and who all her children were and where records for all that may be found?

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  2. If you would like to email your contact info to research@goulbournmuseum.ca we'll be happy to help.

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  3. As far as I've been told he/she is my ancestor. My Grandfather was George Ronald (Ron) Burke. Very interesting to be able to find this information on-line.

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