Balmer Family of County Armagh or C. Limerick (Ireland), New Zealand and Australia. Reposting with some additions. It is believed that the Irish Balmers may have had connections with the Royal Irish Constabulary. They may have had connections with London at least for a period around 1850. Corrections, comments or further contributions, particularly in relation to the NZ and Irish connections will be appreciated. 1. Thomas Balmer (b circa 1768, possibly at Dundalk Ire). Possibly died at Limerick. Details of spouse and parents are unknown. No known children of the marriage, other than one son : 1.1 Richard Balmer (b probably before 1788, possibly at County Armagh). Possibly died at Limerick. Date unknown. Married Mary Ann Sarjeant (dau of Thomas Sarjeant, b 1790) at Newmarket, County Clare, Ireland. County Paymaster (possibly for County Limerick). In the Death Notice for his son, Robert Sergeant BALMER, mention is made of ". son of the late Richard BALMER, Brevet Major, Royal Irish Constabulary, Limerick". 1.2 Benjamin Blennerhassett Balmer (b 1813). Emigrated to NZ circa 1849. The only known child was a son, Benjamin Thomas Sarjent Balmer (b 1848) who emigrated to USA where he practiced law in LA. Nothing further known about the NZ connections of this family. 1.3 Richard Balmer (b 1814). Married Emma Eugeniah Case and family emigrated to NZ in 1851. They moved to Melbourne (Australia) in about 1853. Richard Balmer died in Melbourne in 1871. One son (Richard Benjamin Balmer b 1856) returned to NZ to marry Nancy Buck at "All Saints", Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand 1884. RB Balmer and Nancy Buck subsequently returned to Melbourne where RB Balmer died in 1946. 1.4 John Frederick Balmer (b 1816). Married Lavinia Skinner. Nothing else known. 1.5 Charlotte Elizabeth Balmer (b 1818). Married Thomas Barry. 1.6 Thomas Balmer (b 1818). Married Lavinia Skinner ( ie he married JF Balmer's widow). 1.7 Mary Anne Balmer (b 1819). Believed to have emigrated to either Aust or NZ after 1849. 1.8 Robert Sarjeant Balmer (b 1827 at County Clare, Ireland). Robert emigrated to South Australia before settling at Bendigo (Victoria). He died in 1901. The descendants of RS Balmer's two marriages are well documented. Don Bartlett Melbourne, Australia Email [email protected]