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Employment, Marriage, Tragedy |
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At 17 years of age in about 1779, Edmund left for Waterford to work for his Uncle, Michael Rice. Waterford, at this time, was a trading and military city that was prosperous and had great employment. Edmund lived with Uncle Michael's family initially, before going to live in a house that stood on what was to become in later years Mt. Sion. The Fafa Chapel was nearby and Edmund attended Mass daily. Edmund traded in cattle, sheep and pigs and worked in provisions and as a ship chandler serving ships that arrived at the port. Exports were booming. He became well known in his business dealings and engaged with the best social circles in the city. All was going well. Edmund's father died in 1787. At about 23 years of age, Edmund married Mary Elliott. By all accounts, the marriage was happy, but unfortunately short. In 1787, Tradition has it that while pregnant, Mary went riding on a hunt, was thrown off the horse and died from her injuries. A doctor attending saved her child, but she had been injured in the fall and was a semi-invalid for the whole of her life. Whatever Edmund's dreams and aspirations may have been, at 27 years, his world had collapsed. He moved from Ballybricken to 3, Arundal Place and lived there with his daughter. One of his step sisters, Joan, looked after the house. Subsequently, the daughter, Mary, went to live at Westcourt. Edmund looked after her all his life. |