Sunday, September 13th, 2020
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Michael Joseph Grant (1858-1920) High Constable of Waterford & His Glenmore Connections
Last month Danny Dowling was able to state where Michael Joseph Grant, the High Constable of Waterford was buried in St. James’ Cemetery, Glenmore. The location was near the Colford grave, but unfortunately no legible Grant stone is now in the cemetery for the High Constable. Danny noted that the Office of High Constable was of ancient origin and survived until the time of the Free State in 1922.
Office of High Constable
Although it might be assumed that the Office of High Constable is associated with policing the office was established long before any police forces were established. The Metropolitan Police Force, London was established in 1829 by the then home secretary Robert Peel, and the Royal Irish Constabulary was established in 1836. In contrast the High Office of Constable developed in England shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The High Office of Constable was important and ranked as the seventh great office of the Crown. The person holding the office held civil and criminal powers. In feudal times, the holder of the High Office of Constable was of military rank and became the highest judge in military offences and in questions of chivalry and honour. He was the supreme judge in tilts, tournaments and other military type games. After 1521, the title of High Office of Constable was not granted except for a special ceremony of state. In Ireland the Office of the Lord High Constable of Ireland was established after the Acts of Union in 1800 to be used during coronations of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The Irish office was abolished upon the creation of the Free State in 1922
In addition to the Office of the Lord High Constable, Irish cities or boroughs also had offices entitled High Constables. Michael Joseph Grant served as High Constable of Waterford from 1895 until shortly before his death in 1920. There is a fascinating article in the Waterford Standard of the 16th of November 1910 where Michael Grant explained his duties in a hearing concerning the city abattoir, housing, overcrowding and the lack of sanitation in Waterford City. According to the Waterford Treasures webpage from 1851 to 1901 the official residence of the High Constable of Waterford was Reginald’s Tower. The website incorrectly states that James O’Mahony was the “very last High Constable of the City and died in Reginald’s Tower in 1901. See, http://www.waterfordtreasures.com/reginalds-tower/whats-inside/the-entrance-doorway-prison-door-1819. In fact, James O’Mahony was the High Constable first elected in 1873 and held the post until his retirement in 1895 when Michael Joseph Grant was appointed. James O’Mahoney died in Reginald’s Tower in 1907 not in 1901. (Waterford Standard ,18 May 1907).
Glenmore Connections
On 20 July 2020 Danny Dowling recalled that Grant, the High Constable of Waterford, or his father was from Rochestown, Glenmore. After extensive research it has been verified that the father of the High Constable of Waterford was a native of Glenmore. The roots of the Grant family go back to before Glenmore became a parish when it was separated from Slieverue parish.
A review of the death records revealed that Michael Grant, the High Constable, died on 3 October 1920. He was married and 63 years of age when he died at his home 4 Newgate St., Waterford. His sister Mary Byrne was present at his death. He suffered from diabetes and a “carbuncle on hand that turned gangrene.” According to Waterford marriage records the High Constable was married on 7 January 1899 to Alice Devereaux, of Barker Street. Alice was the daughter of Patrick Devereaux, a farmer. No children appear to have been born to the High Constable and his wife. The High Constable’s obituary is found in the Munster Express, of Saturday the 9th of October 1920 and provides several interesting and often conflicting facts.
Death of Ex-High Constable, Michael Grant—The death took place on Sunday last at his residence Barker Street, of Mr Michael Grant, late Borough High Constable to the Corporation. For some time past deceased had been in failing health, and, though his death was not altogether unexpected, it nevertheless caused keen regret to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The late Mr. Grant was a familiar figure in the civic life of Waterford. He was for about 30 years in the service of the Corporation, first as Borough Constable and later as High Constable. Failing health induced him to retire from the latter office some months ago. He also held the office of food inspector under the Foods and Drugs Act, was inspector of markets, abattoirs and was the sanitary sub-officer. In his young days he followed the occupation of a sailmaker and kept a shop in Hanover Street. Of an unostentatious and unobtrusive disposition, he made many friends and was deservedly popular amongst all classes, He was over 6o years of age at the time of his death. The funeral took place on Tuesday to Glenmore and was attended by the members of the Waterford Corporation and officials, and a large number of the general public.
Luckily, the information regarding sail making greatly helped in locating information regarding the parents and siblings of the High Constable. The High Constable, Michael Joseph Grant was baptized in Waterford on the 18th of March 1858. He was the eldest child of Michael Grant (1823-1887) and Mary Anne Grant née Donovan (c. 1838-1899). Michael Joseph Grant had at least 7 siblings: Edward Grant (1863–? ); John Francis Grant (7 Mar. 1867- 1900); Joe Grant (c. 1878– ); James Francis Grant ( 18 Sept. 1868 –13 Nov. 1906); Patrick Laurence Grant (9 Aug. 1865–?); Sarah Grant (c. 1862– ); and Kate Grant who married Capt. Thomas Furniss.
The obituary for James Grant (brother of the High Constable) in 1906 provided the link to Rochestown. In addition to his siblings the chief mourners of the deceased included Thomas, James and John Walsh of Rochestown, as well as John and William Barry, of Carrigcloney, Matt and Andrew Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore (Munster Express 17 Nov. 1906).
In the 1901 Census for Rochestown, Glenmore the following Walsh family lived at Vereker’s Cross: Thomas Walsh, 54 farmer, Mary Walsh, 53; Bridget 27; James 24; Patrick, 23; Thomas, 26; Michael Walsh, 16; John Walsh, 15. A quick review of Glenmore marriage records revealed that Andrew Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore married Kate Power on 9 February 1875. John Barry on 3 November 1883 married Bridget Power, and Thomas Walsh, of Rochestown, married Mary Power. All three of the above Power women were the daughters of Thomas Power, of Kearneybay, Glenmore and their mother was Ellen Grant. Ellen Grant married Thomas Power (c. 1825-1880) on 3 February 1845 at Glenmore.
The father of the High Constable, was also named Michael Grant (1823-1887), and he was baptized in Glenmore on 10 August 1823. The grandfather of the High Constable, was also named Michael Grant. On the 30th of October 1809 at Glenmore he married Sally Murphy. The witnesses to the wedding were Walter Grant and Anastasia Hefernan (sic). The Slieverue/Glenmore Church records support the information that Danny recorded that the name Michael Grant is connected to Ballybrahee, Glenmore. It appears that the great-grandparents of the High Constable were Richard Grant and Mary Grant née Simpson, of Ballybrahee. Four known children were born to this union: Walter Grant (1785); Michael Grant (1780); Mary Grant (1776) and James Grant (1774).
The High Constables grandparents, Michael Grant and Sally Grant née Murphy of Glenmore had the following childrren: Bridget Grant (1809); Edward Grant (1814); Catherine Grant Colford (1815); Ellen Grant Power (1817); James Grant (1818); Michael Grant (1823)(father of the High Constable) and Patrick Grant (1826).
Thus the High Constable was a first cousin to Kate Power Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore; Bridget Power Barry, of Carrigcloney, Glenmore and Mary Power, Walsh, of Rochestown, Glenmore. He was also a first cousin to the Colford brothers who perished at sea in 1895 when their ship Zoe sank. See, https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-the-final-resting-place-of-capt-patrick-colford-1811-1887/ .
In researching this family some interesting newspaper articles were found concerning the High Constable’s parents, Michael Grant (1823-1887) and Mary Anne Grant née Donovan (c. 1838-1899). Michael Grant (1823-1887) was a sailmaker and had his business premises at 16 King Street (now O’Connell Street) Waterford. On the night of the 30th of March 1863, a fish business owned by James Kent caught fire and threatened to destroy Grant’s premises. The newspapers of the time are full of details concerning the want of water, the private fire tenders that responded from the brewery and other business, and the barracks of the military and Royal Irish Constabulary turning out to fight the fire. Grant made a claim to Kent’s fire insurance company and he was paid the full amount he sought (£16, 12 s, 8d) on 7 April 1863 a week after the fire (Waterford News & Star, 10 April 1863). Today, can you imagine any insurance company settling a claim in a week?
On the 12th of August 1870 the Waterford News & Star on page 2 carried the following notice
“I hereby caution all parties against giving credit to my wife, Mary Anne Grant, as I will not be accountable therefor. Michael Grant, 16 King Street.”
When I told Danny Dowling about this unusual notice he remarked, “That must have made for strained marital relations.”
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured engraving is “Magna Charter” (1833) (c) Trustees of the British Museum.