HITLER - HIS IRISH RELATIVES
Hitler's family connections in Ireland are not generally known about. William Patrick Hitler, nephew of the German Fuehrer and son of the Dublin woman, Bridget Dowling was able to claim in 1937: "I am the only legal descendant of the Hitler Family".
Adolf Hitler's half brother, Alois, was working as a waiter in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, in 1909. He had been sent their by a London employment agency. His humble situation did not suit his vanity, however, and while off duty he posed as a wealthy hotelier on a European tour to study the industry of France, Belgium and the British Isles. His manner of dress reflected this fantasy. His suit and hat were of the latest fashion. A heavy gold watch-chain stretched across his cream coloured waistcoat. He wore two rings on his left little finger, one a diamond and the other a ruby. In addition he wore a pearl tie-pin, His moustache was of the handlebar variety- waxed and turned up at the ends. There was no place better than Dublin Horse Show to display such elegance. The nobility, the English and Irish sportsmen and tourists from all over the world provided a perfect background for Alois's dashing appearance.
While admiring the horses at the 1909 show, Alois struck up an idle conversation with two locals, William Dowling and his neighbour, Mr Tynan. Soon William's daughter, seventeen year old Bridget, took an interest, she was immediately fascinated by the handsome foreigner. 'Everything he said was so new and interesting that even his broken English seemed charming'. Later, Alois and Bridget met in the National Gallery, Dublin. Soon they were talking about getting married. Bridget's parents were so totally against the relationship that the couple eventually eloped and married in London on 3 June 1910. William Dowling threatened to appeal to the police and to have Alois arrested for kidnapping, but his wife dissuaded him from doing so. Peace was finally made about a year later when William Dowling went to Liverpool to be present at the baptism of his first grandchild, William Patrick Hitler.
Meanwhile, Adolf was going through the worst period in his life. He was sleeping rough or living in doss houses. Eventually he took up permanent residence in a hostel for men in Vienna. He made his living by beating carpets, carrying bags, shovelling snow and doing other menial labouring jobs. As time passed and Adolf rose to prominence, both Bridget and her son did their best to take advantage of the situation.
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"Bridget was swept off her feet by the charm of the debonair Austrian:
It was at the annual Dublin Horse Show. Everyone had come to see and buy the fine Irish horses - English and Irish sportsmen, the nobility, tourists from all over the world.
I always enjoyed going anywhere with my father, and I must confess that I was not unaware of the honour of being escorted by 'the best-looking fellow in the countryside', as he was generally described. Many eyes turned towards us: the tall Irishman and the girl in a white muslin dress with flounces and a blue sash. My white hat was ornamental with ostrich plumes, and I carried a parasol. This was the year 1909.
Father was discussing the horses with Mr Tynan, a neighbour, and presently they were talking with a handsome stranger dressed in a brown suit, a homburg hat and immaculate spats. To my interested eyes he represented the height of elegance according to the vogue at the start of the century.
A white ivory walking stick with a gold handle was hooked over his arm with inimitable dash. In his tie was a pearl pin, and two rings on his left little finger, one a diamond and one a ruby, added just the right note of lavishness. Across his cream coloured waistcoat a heavy gold chain stretched from one pocket to the other and his moustache were waxed and curled up right 'á la Kaiser.' He introduced himself as Alois Hitler from Austria.
I cannot deny that this stranger with his fine foreign manners and his debonair Viennese ways made a great impression on me. His conversation was quite different from that of the commonplace, hardworking farmers and their wives which made up the society I was accustomed to. Everything he said was so new to me and interesting that even his broken English seemed charming." (Bridget Hitler, Memoirs, pp. 17-18). Nicknamed 'Cece' by Alois after a portrait of St Cecilia he admired.
2 Photo-Dowling-Bridget-Elizabeth-1891-c1910-1969
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Citation Text: Record for Alois Hitler
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Source Combined Fields: Unger, Michael, Author, -. Memoirs of Bridget Hitler: -. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd, 1979.
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Citation Detail: Record for ANTON HITLER,
Citation Text: Anton Hitler's Household Members, Members that resided in the household at the time of the census.
First name(s); Last name; Relationship; Marital Status; Sex; Age; Birth year; Occupation; Birth place
Thomas William; John; Head; Widower; Male; 58; 1853; Tailor's Trimmers; Liverpool Lanc;
Sarah Maria; McElroy; Mother; Widow; Female; 80; 1831; None; Liverpool Lanc
James; John; Grandson; -; Male; 4; 1907; -; Liverpool Lanc
Anton; Hitler; Boarder; Married; Male; 28; 1883; Chef Waiter Cafe; Kimstan Austria Resident;
Cissie; Hitler; Boarder; Married; Female; 20; 1891; None; Dublin Resident;
William; Hitler; Boarder Sohn; Male; 0; 1911; -; Liverpool Lancs
Robert Edward; Jones; Boarder; Married; Male; 38; 1873; Ship Plater's Labr; Liverpool Lancs
Christina; Jones; Boarder; Married; Female; 35; 1876; -; Liverpool Lancs
James; John; Visitor; Married; Male; 37; 1874; Dock Labourer; Liverpool Lancs;
Ada; John; Visitor Wife; Married; Female; 24; 1887; None; Liverpool Lancs;
Jessie; John; Visitor Daughter; -; Female; 2; 1909; -; Liverpool Lancs
William; John; Visitor Son; -; Male; 0; 1911; -; Liverpool Lancs; Anton Hitler's Census Details;
House number; 102; Street: Upper Stanhope Street; Address; 102 Upper Stanhope St L'Pool; Parish; Toxteth Park; County; Lancashire; Country England
Archive reference RG14; Registration district; Toxteth Park; Registration district number 454; Enumeration district 27; District number 27; Sub district Toxteth Park Central; Sub district number 3; Census reference RG14PN22278 RG78PN1316 RD454 SD3 ED27 SN97; RG78 code number 1316; Piece number 22278; Folio -
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Citation Text: Record for Brigid Hitler
Doc-Travel-Dowling-Hitler-Bridget-1939-USA-NY-New-York-Passenger-Lists.jpg
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Citation Detail: Death of DOWLING, BRIDGET; Number: 076-36-4062; Issue State: New York; Issue Date: 1961-1962.,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for Dowling One-Name Study 2000:-
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Citation Detail: NameBRIDGET DOWLINGDate of Birth03 July 1891 Group Registration ID10142791 SR District/Reg AreaDublin South SexFemale Mother's Birth SurnameRenolds,
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Citation Detail: Record for BRIGID DOWLING ELIZABETH HITLER
Doc-Travel-Dowling-Bridget-Elizabeth-1891-1947-1969
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Source Combined Fields: Ireland. Civil Registration Service. Birth Certificates.,
Repository: Ireland, Office of the Registrar General,
Citation Detail: Bridget Dowling - 3 Jul 1891 - Kilnamanah
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Citation Detail: P.30 Spring 1992
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Source Combined Fields: England. London. St Marylebone. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.,
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Citation Detail: Record for ALOIS HITLER to BRIDGET ELIZABETH DOWLING,
Citation Text: No. 150. Index: Volume 1a Page 115
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Citation Detail: Record for BRIDGET ELIZABETH HITLER,
Citation Text: Selected U.S. Naturalization Records, Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration
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Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for Dowling One-Name Study 2019:-
DocNaturalization-Dowling-Bridget-aka-Houston.jpg