James Charles Wrixon (1806 – 1850)
James Charles Wrixon was born in 18061 in County Cork, Ireland. He was christened at
St. Johns Church, Brinny, County Cork (parish near Bandon). He was the third child 2 of
John Wrixon, a notary public in the city of Cork, and Elizabeth Thompson.
He died on September 17, 18503 in a “Lunatic Asylum’ located in Camberwell, County
of Surrey, England. Cause of death was listed as Epilepsy. His address was listed as 60
Charington Street, Kensington, England, which was an exclusive area.
He is addressed as “Sir James Charles Wrixon” in the obituaries of his grandchildren, but
that title has not been verified and is probably inaccurate. The obituaries also indicate
that he spent time in Melbourne, Australia, but I have no information on this subject.
About July 23, 18314, he married Frances Ann Johnson in County Cork. In this same
year, he inherited several pieces of property from his mother with the consent of his older
brothers, William Henry and Robert5. James Charles Wrixon’s father is believed to have
died in 18166. The properties are located near the cities of Macroom and Bandon in
County Cork (see the following page).
There are two known children of James Charles and Frances Wrixon. John Westropp
Wrixon, born May 1, 18327 and William Henry Wrixon born March 16, 18378. It is
typical for children to be born closer together during that timeframe, so there may have
been additional children. Based upon information from John Westropp Wrixon, there
appears to have been a third brother named Benjamin.
His widow, Frances Ann, appears to be the “Mrs. Wrixon” listed as a landowner in 1876
in the city of Cork. She was born in 1808. She died November 10, 1890 in Starbuck,
Manitoba, Canada. I have not been able to locate a burial location.
Timeline for Sir James Charles Wrixon
1802
Ireland – Born in Cork
1831
Ireland – Married Francis Anne Johnson
Jul 23, 1831 Ireland – Marriage announcement appeared in Kerry Evening Post
Nov 26, 1831 Ireland – Received land
May 1 1832 Ireland – Son John Westropp Wrixon was born
Mar 16,1837 Ireland – Son (William Henry) was born
????
Australia (lived in Melbourne per obituaries for family members)
May 30, 1846 Ireland – Witnessed transfer of property
Sept 20, 1850 England – Died from Epilepsy in asylum
1852
Ireland - Frances (wife) living on Watercourse Road in Cork City
1876
Ireland – Possible match for Francis Wrixon
Nov 10, 1890 Canada – Frances (wife) died in Starbuck, Manitoba, Canada
Notes:
1) There are two LDS entries submitted by Winnifred Willmott of England that may
refer to James Charles Wrixon.
The first entry is for a Charles Wrixon born in 1802 at St. Johns, Brinny Parish in
Cork, Ireland. Parents are listed as John Wrixon and Elizabeth Thompson.
The second entry (immediately below the above) is for a James Charles Wrixon born
in 1806 in Co. Cork, Ireland. The only parent information is that the last name was
Wrixon. The 1806 date is consistent with the death certificate, which list his age at
the time of his death (1850) as 44.
A very reasonable scenario is that there were two Charles Wrixons born. The first
died very young and the second was given the same name.
2) The birth dates for William Henry Wrixon (1796) and Robert John Wrixon (1800) are
from the same LDS entry as that for their brother James Charles Wrixon (see above)
3) Death certificate for James Charles Wrixon from England
4) O’Kief, Coshe Mang, Slieve, Lougher and Upper Blackwater in Ireland. Volume 6;
page 2123; ALL BIRTHS, MARRIAGES & DEATHS REPORTED IN KERRY
EVENING POST; 1828 – 1864
5) O’Kief, Coshe Mang, Slieve, Lougher and Upper Blackwater in Ireland. Volume 15;
page 1760.
This was a significant find, because it ties all the family members together and
establishes who is alive / dead in 1831. The date is shortly after James Charles
Wrixon marries and before the birth of his first son.
6) There is an LDS entry by Winnifred Willmott that records a death in 1816 for a John
Wrixon who was born in 1768. It also records the father as John Wrixon and the
mother as Elizabeth. I can not state with absolute certainty that the John Wrioxon
who died in 1816 is also the John Wrixon who fathered James Charles Wrixon, but
the dates and other information do match up.
7) Wrixon family with ties to the Travers family of County Cork – Horace E. Jones.
The first page references “The Parish register of St. Anne’s Shandon Church, Cork
City” per M. Leader.
8) Per 1901 Census for Selkirk District, Manitoba, Canada
More Notes
 I have several newspaper obituaries that reference Sir James Charles Wrixon as the
grandfather. Most of the obituaries are from Canada. The obituaries indicated that he
lived in Cork, Ireland and Australia.
They also talk about a cousin to my grandmother (Edith Wrixon; daughter of Maj.
William Henry Wrixon) by the same name of Sir William Henry Wrixon, “who sat on
the board and signed the first trade agreement between Canada and Great Britain
signifying the independence of Canada”.
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I have a handwritten ancestry chart from my mother, Majorie (nee Miller) Balsbaugh
that shows James Charles Wrixon marrying Francis Johnstone. It shows him being
born in Ireland and having died in England. It shows her being born in Ireland and
having died in Canada.
Griffith’s Valuation of Ireland 1852; list a Frances Wrixon who is a member of St.
Anne’s Shandon (no James Charles listed). Her address is “Watercourse Road”
Landowners of 1876 list a Miss Wrixon as the owner of 114 acres and living in Cork.
Property inherited by James Charles Wrixon on Nov 26, 1831 from his mother
Elizabeth (Thompson) Wrixon (widow – meaning John Wrixon had previously died)
Placename: Roovesbeg (Rooves Beg)
 County: Cork
 Barony: East Muskerry
 Civil Parish: Aglish
 Poor Law Union: Macroon
 Acreage: 396
Placename: Knockshenarry (Knockshangarry)
 County: Galway
 Barony: Leitrim
 Civil Parish: Kilmeen
 Poor Law Union: Loughrea
 Acreage: 59
Placename: Droumduff (Dromduff)
 County: Cork
 Barony: West Muskerry
 Civil Parish: Macroom
 Poor Law Union: Macroom
 Acreage: 392
 Comments: There is also a West Dromduff (216 Acres in civil parish of
Kilmocomoge) and an East Dromduff (222 acres in civil parish of Kilmocomoge)
Placename: Lands of Cottage
 County:
 Barony:
 Civil Parish:
 Poor Law Union:
 Acreage:
 Comments: Document indicates this is in the Barony of Muskerry