Derricks in Other Countries
Introduction
These pages in process of development. My knowledge of Derricks in other
countries is limited, and I would be delighted to hear of additional information,
and would like to add it to these pages.
Topics
These are the topics covered in these pages so far:
Irish Derricks
Derricks have lived in Ireland for many hundreds of years. I have some
fragmentary information as follows.
Samuel Derrick the Historian
Reference books mention Samuel Derrick of Ireland, who wrote a history
of that country. His ancestors were said to have come to Ireland at an
early date (whatever that means! - Hugenot or Bristol Derricks may be a
possibility).
Samuel Derrick the Master of Ceremonies
I should mention another Samuel Derrick, again from Ireland, who was the
Master of Ceremonies of the Pump Room in Bath, at the time of the heyday
of the city in the 18th century (Jane Austen and all that). The fifth voume
of the reissue of the Dictionary of National Biography notes in his entry
that he authored, amongst other works, "Letters written from Leverpoole,
Chester, Corke, &c." in 1767. The entry goes on:
"He was acquainted with Dr. Johnson, who had a 'great kindness' for
him, and, while acknowledging that he was a poor writer, was of opinion
that his 'Letters,' if they had been written by one of a more extablished
name, 'would have been thought very pretty letters.' On being asked, however,
whether Derrick or Smart was the best [sic] poet, he said that there was
'no settling the point of precedency between a louse and a flea.'"
Mary Derrick
Tried at the Lancaster Quarter Sessions July 24 1848 and sentenced to 7
years transportation for larceny. She was single, age 16 years, and a Roman
Catholic. Her trade was "nurse girl" and her native place was Belfast.
She received her Ticket of Leave on June 20 1854 and approval was given
for her to marry Francis Nicolas on August 7 1854. (Source: Tasmanian Archives:
CON 41/27)
John Derrick
A John Derrick age 32 years was sentenced to 7 years transportation in
the Lancaster-Liverpool General Sessions of February 6 1843 for stealing
a pair of trousers. He had previous convictions and had "several times
in prison for neglect of family, widower, and two children." [sic] His
native place was Sligo, and he listed his trade as labourer, and religion
as Roman Catholic. He received a Free Certificate on February 12 1850.
(Source: Tasmanian Archives: CON 33/46/10913)
New Zealand Derricks
The only information I have on New Zealand Derricks is the passage of one
John Derrick from Australia to New Zealand on February 16 1862. He is said
to have died at 'Godfields' in 1863. (Personal communication). John is
currently listed in my English
Derrick database as John (1842). Pull up the children's index and search
in there.