BMCroker1
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Bithia Mary Croker Roscommon Author 1847 - 1920 B M Sheppard 1 was born in Warrenpoint, Co. Down, on 28th. May 1847 (this was her mothers home-place and she may have been staying with her family (the Watsons) at the time?). She was the daughter of William Sheppard who was Anglican Rector of Kilgefin, Co. Roscommon from 1853 to 1856 2 . Bithia spent some of her childhood in Kilgefin and for this reason she is generally accepted as being a Roscommon author 3 . She was educated in England and France. I n 1871 she married Lt. Col. John Stokes Croker (1844 - 1911) an officer of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and Royal Munster Fusiliers and they lived in Rathangan, Co. Kildare, where it is possible their only child, a daughter, was born in 1872. They travelled to Madras in India in 1877 and lived in India and Bengal for 14 years. Many of her stories were written at the hill-station at Wellington. On Colonel Croker’s retirement in 1892 they came to live in Bray, Co. Wicklow. In 1897 they moved to England and she died there on 20th. October 1920. She is buried in Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone, Kent. B. M. Croker is known worldwide for her books, but she also wrote at least one play and several short-stories. 1: Spelled variously: Shepherd (Maher), Shepard (Ganly) and Sheppard (Kelly). 2: "Kilgefin Church of Ireland" by Jim Ganly in "Journal of Roscommon Historical & Archaeological Society", Vol. 11 (2009). pp.80 - 82. 3: "Roscommon Authors" by Helen Maher. Roscommon. (1978). pp.27 - 29. 4. Photograph © Copyright Seamus Kelly “The Life and Works of B. M. Croker - Irish Novelist” 2007. Supernatural Tales - "Ghost Stories" by B. M. Croker. B. M. Croker is perhaps better remembered for her "ghost stories" that for her general prose. Any random search for "B. M. Croker" on the internet is more likely to find this information! The following is a short list of some of her work in this field. To Let. Chatto & Windus (London). 1893. Includes; "The Dark Bungalow at Dakor", "The Former Passengers", "If You See Her Face", "The Khitmatgar", "To Let". In The Kingdom of Kerry and Other Stories. Chatto & Windus (London). 1896. Includes; "The First Comer", "Her Last Wishes", "The Red Woollen Necktie". Jason and Other Stories. Chatto & Windus (London). 1899. Includes; "Mrs. Ponsonby's Dream", "Trooper Thompson's Information". A State Secret and Other Stories. Methuen & Co (London). 1901. Includes; "An Unexpected Invitation". The Old Cantonment, with Other Stories of India and Elsewhere. Methuen & Co (London), 1905. Includes; "La Carcassonne", "The Door Ajar", "The Helper", "The Little Brass God", "Who Knew the Truth?". Odds and Ends. Hutchinson & Co (London). 1919. Includes; "The Creaking Board", "The North Veranda", "The Red Bungalow", "The Sword of Lanbryde". Number Ninety and Other Ghost Stories. Sarob Press (Mountain Ash, Mid Glamorgan). 2000. This is a collection of 15 stories, edited & introduced by Richard Dalby. (Volume 3 in the "Mistresses of the Macabre" series). Limited edition (250 numbered copies) hardcover, with illustrated dust jacket and interior artwork by Paul Lowe. Annual Macabre 2000. The Ash Tree Press. Edited by Jack Adrian. Contains a short story called "The Chowkedar" by B. M. Croker. Roscommon County Council Library Services http://www.roscommoncoco.ie/services/library.html Brochure design: Roscommon Historical Research: http://www.roscommonhistory.ie Brochure produced by BMCroker_out:Croker 08/09/2012 23:07 Page 1
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The outside of a leaflet produced for Roscommon Library to showcase its unique collection of B. M. Croker material.
Transcript of BMCroker1
Bithia Mary CrokerRoscommon Author
1847 - 1920
BMSheppard1was born inWarrenpoint, Co. Down, on 28th. May 1847(this was hermothers home-place and she may have been staying withher family (the Watsons) at the time?). She was the daughter of
William Sheppard who was Anglican Rector of Kilgefin, Co. Roscommonfrom 1853 to 18562. Bithia spent some of her childhood in Kilgefin and forthis reason she is generally accepted as being a Roscommon author3. She waseducated in England and France.
In 1871 she married Lt. Col. John Stokes Croker (1844 - 1911) an officerof the Royal Scots Fusiliers and Royal Munster Fusiliers and they livedin Rathangan, Co. Kildare, where it is possible their only child, a
daughter, was born in 1872. They travelled to Madras in India in 1877 andlived in India and Bengal for 14 years. Many of her stories were written at thehill-station atWellington. On Colonel Croker’s retirement in 1892 they cameto live in Bray, Co. Wicklow. In 1897 they moved to England and she diedthere on 20th. October 1920. She is buried in Cheriton Road Cemetery,Folkestone, Kent. B. M. Croker is known worldwide for her books, but shealso wrote at least one play and several short-stories.
1: Spelled variously: Shepherd (Maher), Shepard (Ganly) and Sheppard (Kelly).2: "Kilgefin Church of Ireland" by Jim Ganly in "Journal of Roscommon Historical & Archaeological Society", Vol. 11 (2009). pp.80 - 82.3: "Roscommon Authors" by Helen Maher. Roscommon. (1978). pp.27 - 29.4. Photograph © Copyright Seamus Kelly “The Life and Works of B. M. Croker - Irish Novelist” 2007.
Supernatural Tales - "Ghost Stories" by B. M. Croker.
B. M. Croker is perhaps better remembered for her "ghost stories" that for her generalprose. Any random search for "B. M. Croker" on the internet is more likely to find thisinformation! The following is a short list of some of her work in this field.
To Let. Chatto & Windus (London). 1893. Includes; "The Dark Bungalow at Dakor", "TheFormer Passengers", "If You See Her Face", "The Khitmatgar", "To Let".
In The Kingdom of Kerry and Other Stories. Chatto & Windus (London). 1896. Includes;"The First Comer", "Her Last Wishes", "The Red Woollen Necktie".
Jason and Other Stories. Chatto & Windus (London). 1899. Includes; "Mrs. Ponsonby'sDream", "Trooper Thompson's Information".
AState Secret and Other Stories.Methuen & Co (London). 1901. Includes; "An UnexpectedInvitation".
The Old Cantonment, with Other Stories of India and Elsewhere.Methuen & Co (London),1905. Includes; "La Carcassonne", "The Door Ajar", "The Helper", "The Little Brass God","Who Knew the Truth?".
Odds and Ends. Hutchinson & Co (London). 1919. Includes; "The Creaking Board", "TheNorth Veranda", "The Red Bungalow", "The Sword of Lanbryde".
Number Ninety and Other Ghost Stories. Sarob Press (MountainAsh, Mid Glamorgan). 2000.This is a collection of 15 stories, edited & introduced by Richard Dalby. (Volume 3 in the"Mistresses of the Macabre" series). Limited edition (250 numbered copies) hardcover, withillustrated dust jacket and interior artwork by Paul Lowe.
Annual Macabre 2000. The Ash Tree Press. Edited by Jack Adrian. Contains a short storycalled "The Chowkedar" by B. M. Croker.
Roscommon County Council Library Serviceshttp://www.roscommoncoco.ie/services/library.html
Brochure design: Roscommon Historical Research: http://www.roscommonhistory.ie
Brochure produced by
BMCroker_out:Croker 08/09/2012 23:07 Page 1
