
Photograph and information courtesy of Mike and Meg Hartford. 'Taken about 1905 at Ferns. At the centre of the back row with the beard is John Shekleton, to his left is Mary Jane Shekleton, nee Foster. To the right of John possibly Willie Foster, Mary Jane's brother who was a gamekeeper. Seated on the ground from the left are an unknown Foster, John's very cute dog, name unknown. On the right possibly Elizabeth Foster nee Lilburn (Willie's wife) who came from Co Tyrone.'
John Shekleton, gardener at Woodley Park
John Shekleton married Mary Jane Foster
born circa 1862 03.03.1887 born 21.03.1867
Meath Abbeyleix Parish Church Knapton, Queens County
died 23.04.1935 (73) died 23.07.1921 (54)
at Ferns at St Aidan’s, Ferns
John Shekleton born circa 1862, Co Meath. He was a gardener of Wilbury House, Newton Tony,
Wiltshire son and the son of John Shekleton. He married Mary Jane Foster aged 19 years
daughter of William Foster of Knapton Cottage in 1887. The family were living at Knapton,
Queens County in 1892 and Woodley Park, Dundrum in 1896 and by 1901 were living at Ferns.
John was working for Edward St George Tottenham Irvine at St Aidan's as his land steward. They
had nine children of whom four survived in 1911. Mary Jane died 23.07.1921 at St Aidan's, Ferns
and her husband John was the informant. John died at Ferns on 23.04.1935, his daughter Mary
the informant.
1 Mary Elizabeth Shekleton born 29.03.1888 at Minstead, Hampshire. Mary was living at
home in Ferns in 1901 and possibly working at St Canice’s Hospital, Maudlinsland,
Kilkenny in 1911.
2 John Wilfred Shekleton born 01.04.1890 at Minstead, Hampshire. John died of tuberculosis
on 19.09.1909 aged 19 years at St Aidan’s, Ferns. Informant his father John.
3 Frances Maude Shekleton born 25.03.1892 at Knapton, Abbeyleix, Queens County.
Informant grandmother Mary Foster. Frances living at Bury Lodge, Essex in 1911.
Frances now of Greens Hill, Kilkenny married William George Hartford of Talbot’s Inch,
Kilkenny son of James Hartford on 24.10.1917 at the Registrar’s Office, Kilkenny.
4 William Shekleton born 06.11.1896 at Woodley Park, Dundrum and died 19.11.1896 aged
13 days at same place.
5 Robert Shekleton born 06.11.1896 at Woodley Park, Dundrum baptised at Taney Church,
Dundrum and died 22.11.1896 aged 16 days at same place.
6 Charles Henry Shekleton born 02.11.1901 at Ferns and died of measles on 03.05.1909
aged 8 years at St Aidan’s, Ferns.
7 Richard Shekleton born 26.03.1904 at Ferns, Wexford. Richard died of tuberculosis aged
11 years on 08.01.1916 at St Aidan’s, Ferns.
8 Albert Edward Shekleton born 15.04.1906 at Ferns, Wexford. Albert died of tuberculosis
aged 18 years on 30.06.1923 at St Aidan’s, Ferns.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - October 2024*
*Updated December 2025 with enormous help from Mike and Meg Hartford
Return to Woodley Park page
John Shekleton married Mary Jane Foster
born circa 1862 03.03.1887 born 21.03.1867
Meath Abbeyleix Parish Church Knapton, Queens County
died 23.04.1935 (73) died 23.07.1921 (54)
at Ferns at St Aidan’s, Ferns
John Shekleton born circa 1862, Co Meath. He was a gardener of Wilbury House, Newton Tony,
Wiltshire son and the son of John Shekleton. He married Mary Jane Foster aged 19 years
daughter of William Foster of Knapton Cottage in 1887. The family were living at Knapton,
Queens County in 1892 and Woodley Park, Dundrum in 1896 and by 1901 were living at Ferns.
John was working for Edward St George Tottenham Irvine at St Aidan's as his land steward. They
had nine children of whom four survived in 1911. Mary Jane died 23.07.1921 at St Aidan's, Ferns
and her husband John was the informant. John died at Ferns on 23.04.1935, his daughter Mary
the informant.
1 Mary Elizabeth Shekleton born 29.03.1888 at Minstead, Hampshire. Mary was living at
home in Ferns in 1901 and possibly working at St Canice’s Hospital, Maudlinsland,
Kilkenny in 1911.
2 John Wilfred Shekleton born 01.04.1890 at Minstead, Hampshire. John died of tuberculosis
on 19.09.1909 aged 19 years at St Aidan’s, Ferns. Informant his father John.
3 Frances Maude Shekleton born 25.03.1892 at Knapton, Abbeyleix, Queens County.
Informant grandmother Mary Foster. Frances living at Bury Lodge, Essex in 1911.
Frances now of Greens Hill, Kilkenny married William George Hartford of Talbot’s Inch,
Kilkenny son of James Hartford on 24.10.1917 at the Registrar’s Office, Kilkenny.
4 William Shekleton born 06.11.1896 at Woodley Park, Dundrum and died 19.11.1896 aged
13 days at same place.
5 Robert Shekleton born 06.11.1896 at Woodley Park, Dundrum baptised at Taney Church,
Dundrum and died 22.11.1896 aged 16 days at same place.
6 Charles Henry Shekleton born 02.11.1901 at Ferns and died of measles on 03.05.1909
aged 8 years at St Aidan’s, Ferns.
7 Richard Shekleton born 26.03.1904 at Ferns, Wexford. Richard died of tuberculosis aged
11 years on 08.01.1916 at St Aidan’s, Ferns.
8 Albert Edward Shekleton born 15.04.1906 at Ferns, Wexford. Albert died of tuberculosis
aged 18 years on 30.06.1923 at St Aidan’s, Ferns.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - October 2024*
*Updated December 2025 with enormous help from Mike and Meg Hartford
Return to Woodley Park page