19th Century
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James Butler (1862-1933) Native of Flemingstown, Glenmore
Danny Dowling (1927-2023) was the Glenmore Village and Parish historian for 7 decades. His files are full of queries he answered from around the world helping people to connect with their Glenmore ancestors long before there were computers and other research conveniences. Danny often lamented that none die so well as the poor. What he meant was that little is left behind after they left this life such as land records, headstones, Wills or obituaries. Generally, only baptismal, marriage and death records may survive. However, every now and then a newspaper article or two provides information about a person. Today, we are going to present three short articles involving James Butler (1862-1933) who was a native of Flemingstown, Glenmore.
Horseshoeing Argument Leads to Criminal Charges
The New Ross Standard on 22 August 1896 in a column named “Notes From Beyond the Barrow: A Pistol Presented” provides a short description of two men who argued about horse shoeing.
“An ex-army man named Butler, a native of Glenmore, and lately living in Brownstown, Tullogher, was arrested by the Rosbercon police on Saturday on a charge of presenting arms at Thomas Leigh. On the previous day Butler had been around Rosbercon and on his way home in the evening met with Leigh, who is a smith. The conversation seems to have turned on horse shoeing, and they both became excited. Butler contended that the smith knew nothing about horseshoeing, and that if he wanted to know anything in that direction he should join the army. Leigh alleged that at this point Butler presented a pistol at him. He hastily retreated to Rosbercon and reported the matter to the police. The police found on Butler’s person a breach loading American pistol and four rounds of ammunition. He was remanded for trial to petty sessions” (New Ross Standard, Sat. 22 Aug. 1896, p. 4).
This event led to two different criminal charges against James Butler. The first charge was reported in the New Ross Standard of Saturday, 19 September 1896 (p. 4). The second charge of not having a license for the pistol was reported in the 17 October 1896 edition (p. 4).
The Charge of Presenting a Pistol
“The Queen at the prosecution of District Inspector Rainsford, and a native of near New Ross at Tinnakilly, near Rosbercon, on the 14th August, unlawfully presented a pistol at Thomas Leigh, Rosbercon, with intent to do him serious bodily injury. Mr. Colfer appeared for the defendant.
Mr. Rainsford said that the case was not so serious as at first sight might appear. He read the information of Thomas Leigh, Rosbercon, who was sworn, and who affirmed it, stating that at Tinnakilly, on the 14th August, he (Thomas Leigh) met defendant, James Butler. Deponent was a blacksmith, living in Rosbercon, and on that day had been brining a horse which had been shod, up to Thomas Shea. James Butler began to ridicule deponent and his father as to the way in which they did their business, and said they knew nothing about shoeing except driving nails. Deponent offered to bet £5 that Butler would not get a man who would shoe as well as his father, and Butler replied that if he wanted to know anything about horseshoeing he should enlist in the army. Deponent denied this, and thereupon defendant asked him did he mean to insult him, and pulling a pistol out of his pocket, presented it at his (witness’s) head. Deponent was a little afraid of Butler, and said he did not wish to have any argument with him. Deponent (sic) [should read Defendant] then put back the pistol and offered to shake hands with him. Witness shook hands with him and then left. The defendant had drink taken, but was not drunk. Deponent at first thought the defendant was a man named Ribby, but afterward found he did not know his name. When he reached Rosbercon he reported the matter to the police, and on the following day identified the prisoner.
Cross examined by Mr. Colfer—You did not know this man before? No. And he had no previous quarrel with you or anything of the kind? No. You say you were a little afraid of him? Yes. Did you think he intended firing it at you with intent to do bodily harm? He looked like it, but did not pull the trigger. Nor did he threatened to do so? No.
The District Inspector here produced the pistol, which with ammunition, was found on the prisoner after his arrest. Constable Kiggins gave evidence of having arrested the defendant, and found the pistol and four rounds of ammunition in his pockets. The Inspector said that that was his case.
Mr. Colfer said that in appearing for the defendant it seemed to him that there was no evidence that he meant to inflict serious bodily harm. No doubt he was instructed to plead guilty on behalf of his client to presenting the pistol, but there was not the slightest evidence that Butler meant to discharge it, if there was anything to discharge in it. Having reviewed the deposition, Mr. Colfer said it was clear there was no wrong inflicted. Leigh had not the remotest idea as to whom the defendant was. Nothing came of the arguments or bets between them, and when the defendant put up the pistol, he, in the half-inaudible way in which usually drunken men speak, asked the other to shake hands.
Defendant had been employed in the county Wexford for some time, and was now acting as caretaker in the county Waterford with a man named Mullins. When in the County Wexford, the defendant was made a present of the pistol, and when during the last month he was up seeing some friends in County Kilkenny he brought the pistol with him. Being in the army, he did not think it was necessary to have a license for it.
Chairman—That’s another matter. Mr. Colfer—Yes, quite so. Sufficient for the day—at all events he had this pistol with him. He did not know the law. He instructs me to say he was 12 years in the army, and was a non-commissioned officer when leaving. He was all through the Egyptian War, and he says he received a clasp for his action at Tel-el-Kibar, and also possesses the Kheldives brass medal for heroism (laughter). Of course this can only go for his character. Mr. Colfer then read a character for the defendant from Mr. P.J. Roche, Woodville, with whom he had worked for 13 months.
Mr. Rainsford said he wished to have the case dealt with as an ordinary assault. Of course were the case brought under the Peace Preservation Act there should be a court of two resident magistrates to hear it. The Chairman said the defendant would be fined a guinea [21shillings or 1£ 1s] or a month in jail, and he requested Mr. Rainsford to recommend to the Excise to have defendant prosecuted of carrying a pistol without a license (New Ross Standard, Sat. 19 Sept. 1896, p. 4).
Peace Preservation Act 1881
Sir Robert Peel in 1814 drafted the first Peace Preservation Act which established what would become the Irish Constabulary. In 1870 and 1888 during periods of agrarian agitation and the Land Wars, these Acts allowed the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the power to suspend habeas corpus, declare specific areas or districts “proclaimed districts” where a person could not carry or possess any arms or ammunition without a licence. The defendant, James Butler was charged and tried before a special court under the 1881 Act.
Ironically, while James Butler was serving in the British Army putting down a nationalist uprising in Egypt, back in Ireland legislation was introduced to proclaim his home barony Ida a “proclaimed district” allowing for the suspension of habeas corpus etc.
“Subsequent to the court of petty sessions, Messrs Ulick Bourke, RM [resident magistrate] (chairman), and H.F. Considine, RM, sat as a court under the Peace Preservation Act, to dispose of the case of the Queen, at the prosecution District-inspector Ross C. Rainsford, against James Butler, an ex-army man, for having in his possession on the 15th of August, without license, a pistol and four rounds of ball ammunition.
Constable Kiggins deposed that on the 15th August he arrested James Butler for presenting a revolver at one Thomas Leigh on the previous day. The defendant made no statement. Witness brought him to the barrack and searched him, and found on his person a pistol and four rounds of ball ammunition (produced). The defendant held no license. The offence occurred in the barony of Ida, and witness was aware that Ida was a proclaimed district.
Chairman (to defendant)—Do you plead guilty? I do sir. I leave myself at your worship’s mercy. I have been away since I was a boy, and was most of that time in active service. I was used to arms, and did not know there was any necessity to have a license. When the constable asked me had I had it, I told him I had. [Appears to be referring to the pistol.]
Mr. Considine—How long are you back from the army? Three or four years. I had a good character. The district inspector on last court day prosecuted the defendant for presenting the pistol which was an American one, at Thomas Leigh.
Defendant—I thought no more about it then if it was a toy pistol. District Inspector—I would not like to get a pistol like that presented to me if it were loaded. All I have to do now is to hand in the Dublin Gazette of 1881, in which year the Peace Preservation Act was enforced within the Barony of Ida. The Gazette was then produced.
In consideration of the costs in the case, the fines and costs in the previous prosecution on last court day, and the good character of the defendant, he was allowed off with a fine of 5s, the pistol and ammunition to be forfeited (New Ross Standard, Sat. 17 Oct. 1896, p. 4).
The Defendant James Butler (1862-1933) Native of Flemingstown, Glenmore
James Butler was born on 26 July 1862 at Flemingstown, Glenmore to Thomas Butler (c. 1803-1888) and his wife Margaret Kneefe/Keefe.
Military Service
We were able to find the list of medals awarded to James Butler from 1881-1883 for the Egypt & India Campaigns. Corp. James Butler, Reg. No 2466, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, was awarded the Egyptian Medal 1882 with a Tel-el-Kebir Clasp; and was also awarded an Egyptian Bronze Star (Medal Rolls, British War Office, file WO-100/57).
Marriage
James Butler of Flemingstown married 18 May 1893 a widow named Ellen Norris (c. 1859-1937) a native of Ballyvaria (sic) Glenmore. James was the son of Thomas Butler (mason and farmer). Ellen was the daughter of Michael Norris (labourer).
Ellen Norris’s first husband was Patrick Murphy (c. 1848-1892). The couple were married on 6 February 1879 at Rosbercon. Patrick Murphy (38) and Ellen Norris (20) were both recorded as residing in Brownsford, [Tullogher]. Their fathers were recorded as Sylvester Murphy (deceased) and Michael Norris. Her husband Patrick Murphy died 2 December 1892.
It appears that Ellen only had one child in her first marriage, Michael Murphy (c. 1888-1966). Michael Murphy emigrated to Peoria, Illinois in about 1909, became a police officer, married and raised a family.
Family Life
James Butler was only married for a few years when he was arrested and tried in 1896. The 1901 Census provides that the family was residing in New Ross. James (39) was working as a labourer. In addition to his step-son Michael Murphy (c. 1888-1966) there were four other children in the household: Tom Butler (6); Ellen Butler (5); Nicholas Butler (3) and Maggie Butler (9 mos.).
Before the 1911 Rosbercon Census Michael Murphy had emigrated. James Butler (49) was working as a farm labourer. His wife Ellen was 53 years of age. Tom (17) was working as a Brewer’s labourer. Nicholas (13), Margaret (10) and the last of the children Mary was 7.
In the 1926 Census of Raheen, Co. Kilkenny, James Butler was 63 and reported that he was born at Flemingstown, Glenmore. He was employed as a farm labourer for Patrick Dooley (farmer) who had 130 acres. Ellen Butler reported her age as 67 and that she was born at Ballyveria, Glenmore. Their daughter Margaret Butler was 25, was born at New Ross and was self-employed as a dressmaker. Mary Butler was 23, born at Raheen, and was employed as a shop assistant at O’Leary and Butler Grocery and General Store.
Deaths
James Butler died 19 November 1933 of bronchial pneumonia at his home in Raheen. His daughter Margaret was present at his death. His widow, Ellen Butler née Norris died 7 March 1937 at home in Raheen of apoplexy. Apoplexy is an old medical term for a stroke. Her son Nicholas was present at her death.
The Victim Thomas Leigh/Lee (1875-1955)
All we gleaned from the newspapers accounts was that Thomas Lee was a blacksmith and his father was a blacksmith. The 1901 Rosbercon Census provides that James Lee (46) was a blacksmith and his sons Thomas Lee (21) and James Lee (20) were also blacksmiths.
A New Ross baptismal record reveals that Thomas Lee was born on 24 March 1875. His parents were James Lee and Ann Hanlon. Thus, Thomas Lee was 26 in 1901 and 21 in 1896 when he argued with James Butler regarding horseshoeing.
Thomas Lee and Gertrude Mary Begely were married on 4 October 1904 at St. Mary Priory, Highland St., Liverpool. They were parents of Rev. Brother J. A. Lee, Superior, Colaiste Muire, Dublin. The celebration of their Golden Wedding Anniversary was published in the New Ross Standard (Fri. 1 Oct. 1954, p. 1). The 1911 Census reveals that Gertrude was born at Pembroke Docks in South Wales. In 1911, Thomas Lee stood for the New Ross Board of Guardians (Rosbercon Ward) (New Ross Standard, Fri. 5 May 1911, p. 2). In addition to their son the couple also had several daughters.
Thomas Lee died 1 May 1955 at Sugarhouse Lane, New Ross aged 80. In his obituary it was noted that he was a man of splendid physique and despite his eighty years, he worked with the vigour and skill of a man half his age (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 May 1955, p. 8). His wife Gertrude died of influenza on the 8th of October 1959 at the age of 80 at their home on the Quay, New Ross. Her daughter Maura Lee was present at her death.
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Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com
The featured photo above is from the Royal Collection Trust, included in Queen Victoria’s Album, Afghanistan and Egypt Portraits, 1879 & 1882. For another photo of members of the Second Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment in Egypt press here.
For other Glenmore Butler families see our B surname page.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Dunphy Mill of Deerpark, Mullinavat & Its Glenmore Connection
We had the pleasure of a tour of the Dunphy water powered corn mill of Deerpark, Mullinavat. Special thanks to John Dunphy for the interesting tour and information. Thanks to Noah Bradfield for taking photos. (Any photos that are not crisp and clear were not taken by Noah). The mill rightfully won the 2025 Kilkenny Heritage Award, and the mill will be open for tours on 15 August 2026 as part of Heritage Week. It is well worth a visit to step back in time and observe the mill in action and hear the water hitting the mill wheel. John Dunphy is not only passionate concerning the mill, but he is also patient when answering questions along the tour. Please see Kilkenny Heritage Week for further details regarding tours for 15 August 2026.
The Glenmore Connection: Michael Dunphy (1839-1916)
The Mill can be found on the first black and white survey maps which were undertaken between 1829 and 1842. It is believed that the earliest miller was Patrick Hayes and his name does appear in the Tithe Applotment Books. We were able to find a marriage record for Patrick Hayes and Ellen Holden The couple married on 25 May 1839 in the Parish/District of Kilmacow. The addresses of the parties at the time of the wedding was “Park.” The couple had four known children.
The first Dunphy to operate the mill was Michael Dunphy (1839-1916) a native of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. Michael began operating the mill upon his marriage to Mary Walsh of Deer Park on 25 October 1877. The current John Dunphy believed that Richard Hayes transferred the mill to Michael Dunphy after his marriage to Mary Walsh. Mary Walsh was taking care of Richard. In the marriage records Michael Dunphy was a farmer and the son of Michael Dunphy (deceased farmer). Mary Walsh (1846-1906) was the daughter of John Walsh (farmer). The witnesses to the wedding were Richard Hayes and Mary Hynes. It is not yet known what relation Richard Hayes may have been to Mary Walsh.
Although a death record could not be located for Patrick Hayes we did find one for Richard Hayes (c. 1827-1901) in 1901. He was a 74 year old bachelor when he died at Deer Park. “Michael Dunphy, Landlord” was present when he died. Richard Hayes (c. 1827-1901) was perhaps a brother or nephew of Patrick Hayes, but given his age at death he could not have been one of Patrick Hayes’s children. Richard Hayes was about 50 years of age when Michael Dunphy and Mary Walsh married in 1877.
Training of Michael Dunphy (1839-1916)?
One of the questions that struck me was how a farmer from Ballyfacey, Glenmore, would have the experience to run a corn mill? Obviously he could have been instructed by Richard Hayes or others. However, in researching Michael Dunphy several names associated with the Gaffney Mill of Glenmore were found as godparents to Michael and his siblings raising the possibility that Michael Dunphy gained milling experience in Glenmore prior to his marriage.
William Gaffney (c. 1762-1798) of Glenmore Village, married Bridget Dunphy, of old Ballfacey, on 30 October 1783 at Slieverue. William Gaffney was a miller. During the 1798 Rebellion William was the leader of the local United Irishmen, captured and executed. His widow, Bridget Gaffney née Dunphy, kept the Glenmore mill operating and their son Nicholas Gaffney (bapt. 19 Sept. 1790-1873) eventually took it over and ran it until his death. The widowed, Bridget Gaffney née Dunphy married her second husband Richard Young and had at least three children with him.
Siblings of Michael Dunphy (1839-1916)
Michael Dunphy’s (1839-1916) godfather was William Young. Michael’s siblings include:
(1) Judith Dunphy, bapt 10 Sept. 1830, at Ballyfacey, Godparents: James Dollard and Mary Young.
(2) Mary Dunphy bapt. 13 Nov. 1831 at Ballyfacey, Godparents: Richard Phelan and Anastasia Dollard.
(3) Richard Dunphy bapt. 20 Dec. 1833 at Ballyfacey, Godparents: John Doherty and Mary Doherty.
(4) Bridget Dunphy bapt 20 Feb. 1836 at Balyfacey, Godparents: Nicholas Dunphy and Ellen Roche.
(5) Margaret Dunphy bapt 1 Oct. 1837 at Ballyfacey. Godparents: William Gaffney and Catherine Long.
It is possible that Michael Dunphy (1839-1916) worked at Gaffney’s Mill in Glenmore Village. He was not the eldest brother in the family and was not destined to take over the farm in Ballyfacey. If he worked at Gaffney’s Mill, or another mill, he would have gained milling experience. It also appears likely that his marriage may have been an arranged match as was very common at that time.
Michael Dunphy’s (1839-1916) Father and Possible Grandfather
Michael Dunphy’s (1839-1916) father per his marriage cert. was Michael Dunphy. Michael Dunphy (bapt. 1794) was the son of Nicholas Dunfy (sic) and Margaret Dunfy. Nicholas Donphy (sic) married Margaret Donphy on 18 Feb. 1792 at Ballefacy (sic). Witnesses to the wedding were: James Roach; Rev. John Deen and James Roach, Jr. We located a Nicholas Dunphy baptized at “old Ballyfacy” on 26 February 1770 to Morris Dunphy and Joane Roach. We cannot be 100% certain that this is the correct Nicholas Dunphy, but the name in Ballyfacy was not common. We were unable to locate a baptismal record for Bridget Gaffney Young née Dunphy, but if she married in 1783 she was born c. 1763 or before. The earliest baptismal records for the joint Glenmore-Slieverue parish is 1766.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
See our post of 22 Feb. 2020 regarding William Gaffney’s (c. 1762-1798) execution during the 1798 Rebellion.
See our post of 12 Aug. 2024 regarding the discovery of William Gaffney’s (c. 1762-1798) skeleton.
From Danny’s Files: The Register of Infants, Ballyfasey Female National School (1871-1928)
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) for over 7 decades collected a vast amount of information and material regarding Glenmore and other local areas. One large item that Danny collected was a copy of the Register of Infants in Ballyfasey (sic) Female National School. This register consists of 7 pages with student entrances dates from 15 July 1871 to 8 October 1928 of 247 girls (with legible names). There are also 5 students whose names are not legible. The pages are 16 ½ inches (42cm) tall by 11 ½ inches (29 cm) wide. This register is just one of the Ballyfacey School Registers that Danny collected. Today, we are going to focus on page 1 of the Register.
The old Ballyfacey National School was built in 1868 on “Jolla Hill.” Micil Moore, of Knockbrack, Glenmore, built the school building at the cost of £95. Local men drew the stones and sand required and at the end of the building the extra $5 from the grant was spent on a barrel of beer for the men who drew the stones and sand. See our post of 6 September 2020 for further details regarding the building and repairs to the old Ballyfacey National school and early local hedge road schools..
The Register
Page 1 consists of 38 legible names with entrance dates from 15 July 1871 to 6 June 1878 recording 39 students. There are 8 primary columns for recording information including: date of entrance; pupil’s name; age of pupil on last birthday; religion; residence; occupation or means of living of parents; and annual examinations. The column examinations is divided into First, Second and Third perhaps reflecting the division of the academic year. Each of the three examination periods is divided into number of days present and result. No results were provided on this page, but attendance across the three exam periods was recorded and is reflected in the charts below. School attendance was not mandated until the Irish Education Act of 1892.
One of the more interesting aspects of this register reflects that children started school throughout the year. It appears that classes were held all year with no apparent summer break. How teachers coped with students beginning at different times is unknown and attendance for some students was very poor. Some of the girls started school at the age of 3 which seems very young. It also appears that in some entries the name Johanna is misspelled, and on page 1 Ballyfacy is spelled in three different ways.
Below are tables reflecting the information contained on page 1 of the Register. Due to the fact all children were recorded as RC (Roman Catholics) this column was eliminated from the tables. The days of attendance in the table reflects the three exam periods.
1871 Ballyfacy, Glenmore, National School
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 15 July 1871 | Kate Walsh | 4 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 37—147—0 |
| 29 July 1871 | Mary Cashin | 5 | Weatherstown | Shoemaker | 26—83—178 |
| 27 May 1871 | Margaret Wallace | 4 | Ballyfacy | Shopkeeper | 62—183—0 |
| 3 July 1871 | Margaret Phelan | 6 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 0—0—119 |
| 2 Oct. 1871 | Mary Grace | 6 | Kilbride | Farmer | 0—0—161 |
1872
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 29 May 1872 | Stasia Power | 6 | Kilbride | Labourer | 0—0—85 |
1873
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 24 April 1873 | Ellen Mullins | 6 | Flemingstown | Farmer | 0—0—47 |
| 5 May 1873 | Johanna Croak | 4 | Kilbride | Labourer | 37—169—126 |
| 2 June 1873 | Bridget Duggan | 5 | Weatherstown | Farmer | 0—20—111 |
| 28 July 1873 | Bridget Hartley | 4 | Weatherstown | Farmer | 0—75—110 |
1874
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 25 May 1874 | Kate Young | 4 | Ballyfacy | Carpenter | 0—33—0 |
| Not legible | Margaret Ivory | 4 | Kilbride | Cooper | 79—0–183 |
| 1 June 1874 | Johanna Culleton | 4 | Kilbride | Farmer | 10—0—120 |
| 8 June 1874 | Kate Hennessy | 3 | Ballyfacy | Labourer | 25—136—189 |
| 30 June 1874 | Bridget MacDonald | 4 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 75—0—147 |
1875
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 6 April1875 | Stasia Malone | 5 | Weatherstown | Farmer | 0—168—0 |
| 21 June 1875 | Kate Mackey | 4 | Weatherstown | Farmer | 0—87—0 |
| 21 July 1875 | Stasia Irish | 4 | Ballinlammy | Farmer | 0—0—142 |
| 21 July 1875 | Stasia Ryan | 6 | Ballycurran (Tullogher) | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 27 April 1875 | Alice Donovan | 5 | Haggard | Labourer | 0—0—181 |
1876
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 28 Feb.1876 | Stasia Phelan | 3 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 129—0—201 |
| 28 Feb. 1876 | Johanna Grace | 3 | Kilbride | Farmer | 63—172—0 |
| 28 Feb. 1876 | Johanna Hurly | 3 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 156—0—155 |
| 1 March 1876 | Mary(?) Power | 4 | Kilbride | Labourer | 0—0—131 |
| 27 March 1876 | Kate Dempsey | 4 | Ballyveria | Labourer | 0—0—0 |
| 27 March 1876 | Stasia Grennan | 4 | Moulerstown | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 27 March 1876 | Bridget Murphy | 5 | Moulerstown | Labourer | 0—0—0 |
| Not legible | Margaret Purcell | 5 | Moulerstown | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 29 March 1876 | Margaret Crowley | 5 | Ballymartin (Tullogher) | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 8 May 1876 | Kate Donovan | 4 | Haggard | Dealer | 0—174—0 |
1877
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 6 Feb.1877 | Bridget Greene | 4 | Ballyfasy | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 21 May 1877 | Margaret Power | 5 | Knockbrack | Labourer | 0—0—138 |
| 18 June1877 | Mary Walsh | 5 | Haggard | Labourer | 0—0—74 |
| 18 June 1877 | Joanna Dempsey | 3 | Ballyveria | Labourer | 1—0—84 |
| 8 Oct.1877 | Joanna Berrigan | 5 | Ballyfacy | Labourer | 0—2—6 |
| 11 Oct. 1877 | Stasia Culleton | 3 | Kilbride | Farmer | 5—219—28 |
1878
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 28 May1878 | Kate Duggan | 5 | Weathetstown | Labourer | 0—41—92 |
| 6 June1878 | Mary Jones | 5 | Ballinlammy | Fowl dealer | 0—49—0 |
| Cut off page | Cut off page | 5 | Weatherstown | Labourer | 0—115—150 |
Most Popular First Names
The most popular first names recorded on page 1 of the Register resulted in several ties. For example, Stasia and Kate tied for first place with each name representing 7 students each. There was also a tie for second most popular name with Margaret and Joanna/Johanna each representing 6 students each. There was another tie for third most popular name with Mary and Bridget representing 5 students each. The least popular names were Alice and Ellen each representing just 1 student each.
Glenmore Townlands Recorded
There are 11 townlands recorded for residency on page 1. Nine of the townlands are within the Parish of Glenmore and two (Ballycurran and Ballymartin) are not. The top three townlands on the page are Ballyfasy (10); Weatherstown (7); and Kilbride (8) or 25 of the 39 students or 64% of the students recorded on page 1. Haggard and Moulerstown each had 3 students; Ballinlammy and Ballyveria had 2 students each and all the rest had 1 student each (ie Ballymartin, Ballycurran, Flemingstown and Knockbrack).
Ages of Students on Starting at Ballyfacey National School
There were 4 ages recorded for admissions on page 1 of the Register of Infants namely: three-year-olds; four-year-olds, five-year-olds and six-year-olds. The largest group was comprised of fifteen 4 year olds (38.5%); the second largest group was comprised of the twelve 5-year-olds (30.7%); there were seven 3-year-olds which represented 17.9 % of the admissions and the five 6-year-olds represented the lowest group (12.8%).
The 3 Year Olds
Given that 3 seems extremely early to start school we attempted to verify the ages of the girls recorded as being 3 on their admission to the Ballyfacy National School from 1874 to 1877.
Kate Hennessy (Catherine Hennessy was born 12 Nov. 1871 at Ballyfacy to Richard Hennessy (labourer) and his wife Anne Doherty. She entered school on 8 June 1874 at the age of 3 years, 7 months.)
Stasia Culleton (Anastatia Culleton was born on 16 Oct. 1873 at Kilbride to John Culleton (farmer) and his wife Bridget Walsh admitted 11 Oct. 1877 just five days before her fourth birthday.)
Stasia Phelan (Anastatia Phelan was born 8 Jan. 1872 at Ballyfacy to John Phelan (farmer) and his wife Catherine Forristal. She entered school on 28 Feb. 1876 at the age of 4 years, 1 month.)
Joanna (sic) Grace (Johanna Grace was born at Kilbride on 2 Feb. 1873 to Patrick Grace (farmer) and his wife Mary McDonald. Johanna entered school on 28 Feb. 1876 and had just turned 3.)
Joanna (sic) Hurley (Johanna Hurley was born 12 Nov. 1871 at Ballyfacy to James Hurley (labourer) and his wife Margaret Shea. She started school on 28 Feb. 1876. Johanna was 4 years 8 months old when she started school.)
Joanna (sic) Dempsey (Johanna Dempsey was born on 15 Oct. 1873 at Ballywairy, Glenmore, to Patrick Dempsey (labourer) and his wife Mary Norris. Johanna entered school on 18 June 1877, thus she was 3 years 8 months old when she started school.)
Subjects Taught
In another register the subjects the girls had in 1872 included reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography and needlework.
The Old Ballyfacey National School
Ann Grennan wrote a wonderful article “The Story of Ballyfacey School,” that was published in Glenmore Times: Millennium Memories ((2000) Glenmore Millennium Committee) pp. 19-21. The article focuses on the early 20th century but provides some interesting facts concerning the fate of the old school house. She noted 26 years ago that there was no trace left of the old school building. When the new school was built about 1957 the stones of the old school were reused for a pig house. “The only remains were a small bit of a wall belonging to the toilet and also the gate leading into the school.”
Please send any corrections or additional information or photos to glenmore.history @gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The old photo featured above was taken in front of the old Ballyfacey National School. Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for sharing the old photo.
If you believe that your ancestor may have attended Ballyfacey National School please send on his/her date of birth and townland and we shall check the registers Danny collected for information for you.
From Danny’s Files: Mr. Justice Gardner Budd (1904-1976)
Our founder Danny Dowling (1927-2021) corresponded with people from all over the world. Some were people doing family research, others were academics researching specific events or industries, and one correspondent was a sitting member of the Irish Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Gardner Budd (1904-1976).
Today, we are going to present a letter Danny wrote in 1969 to Mr. Justice Gardner Budd who was seeking apparently information on the Budd’s of Kilmacow. There were apparently other letters, but they have yet to be uncovered in Danny’s vast collection. Carefully pinned by Danny to a copy of the discovered letter was an obituary for Mr. Justice G. Budd which Danny clipped from the Irish Independent (Tues. 10 Feb. 1976, p. 12). The featured photo above is from that obituary.
The Letter from Glenmore
Below is the letter in full and any additional information has been placed in square brackets. The letter is typed, 2 ½ pages in length on thin paper, measuring 8 inches (20 cm) by 10 inches (25 cm).
Justice Budd, Esq.
73 South Hill
Dartry
Dublin 6
30th May 1969
Dear Mr. Justice Budd,
Thanks very much for your letter of the 1st May which I received but am sorry for the delay in replying which was due to the fact that I was in hospital for three weeks.
The Budd family lived in the townland of Blossomhill, in the parish of Kilmacow Co. Kilkenny, until about the year 1881, when the last male member of the family in the locality left the homestead and went to live for a short time with Mr. William Power, of Christendom, in the parish of Slieverue near Waterford. He was William Joseph Poulter Budd. Whilst with Mr. William Power he became ill and was taken to London by his daughter Florence.
According to a letter from this Miss Florence Budd from London, dated the 30th of October 1881, to Mr. William Power her father had died and was buried in London. In this letter she thanked Mr. Power for his kindness to her father and she also stated that she was leaving her father’s furniture etc. to Mr. Power. This Mr. Budd had no male issue—only two daughters. One was married to an English Army Officer—Colonel Free, and the other daughter Florence to a gentleman named Blake, who was a Deputy Lieutenant for Co. Kilkenny. Mrs. Florence Blake had a son Poulter Charles Blake and they lived in London. According to Mr. Patrick Power, the present owner of the Budd property, two sons of the Blakes are living in Culpeper, Virginia, U.S.A.
The Budd residence at Blossomhill is now in ruins but a fine residence nearby, which the said William Joseph Poulter Budd, built but never actually lived in, still stands. Due to some trouble or other, he never put the finishing touches to this fine house but went to live as already stated with Mr. William Power of Christendom. I enclose herewith photographs which I took of the ruins and the aforesaid house which is now a cattle shed.
[Rev. Joseph Poulter (c. 1738-1789) of Dunkitt]
The Budd family is buried in the old Churchyard at Dunkitt and there is a tomb there with the following inscription which is now almost undecipherable:
“Here lieth the remains of Mary Ann Budd, wife of Tobias Budd of Dunkitt Esq.; who departed this live October 6th 1817, aged 35 years”
This Mary Ann Budd (1781-1817) was the youngest daughter and co-heiress of Rev. Joseph Poulter, Rector of Dunkitt, by his second wife, Margaret, daughter of the Rev. William Dennis D.D. of Waterford, and was born on the 12th of November 1781.
On another monument in the same graveyard is the following inscription:
“Sacred to the memory of Mary, wife of Thomas Lewis Mackesy M.D., a daughter of the Rev. Joseph Poulter, who died 18th October 1818.”
This lady was the eldest daughter of Rev. Joseph Poulter and his wife Margaret Dennis and was born on the 11th June 1776. Mrs. Mary Ann Budd and Mrs. Mary Mackesy (1776-1818) were sisters. The Poulters lived in Dunkitt House which is now occupied by a Mr. Porter. The aforesaid Rev. William Dennis was Rector of Kilculliheen, and he died on the 11th of April 1815 aged 59 years. From what I can ascertain the above Rev. Joseph Poulter had only two daughters in his family, Mrs. Budd and Mrs. Mackesy, and he divided his estate between the two of them. [See generally Wiki Family Tree for Joseph Poulter (c. 1738-1789.]
Attached to the Blossomhill residence of William Joseph Poulter Budd was an estate of about 100 acres at the time of his departure from there. As well as farming he worked a white limestone quarry, situated on the lands. He had about 40 men working for him in this quarry.
[Glenmore Landlords]
As far as the parish of Glenmore is concerned, a Tobias Budd, a minor, owned in 1830 the entire townlands of Flemingstown and Weatherstown. This information is from the Tithe Applotment Books of the old Civil Parish of Kilcoan. According to the same document a Mr. Budd is shown as the occupier of 12 acres and 2 roods in the townland of Flemingstown. Whether or not this Mr. Budd lived there I cannot say. In Griffiths General Valuation or Ireland circa 1850, a Mrs. James Budd is shown as the owner of the entire townland of Ballybraghy containing 160 acres and 2 roods and 32 perches. The family of Mackesy were also extensive landowners in Glenmore Parish. [See our post of 3 March 2025 regarding Glenmore landlord Dr. Mackesy].
As a matter of interest, I will now quote two entries from the Catholic Register of Marriages for Glenmore Parish which is now preserved in the Library of St. Kieran’s College, In Kilkenny:
“14th February 1780. Joyn’d in Wedlock by ye Certificate of Mr. James Budd; Mary Brenon of Ballinlammy unto Rich. Wallice of Mullinahone. Witness ye Rev. James Newman, Mr. James Cody and Mr. Patrick Brennon.”
“12th November 1780. Joyn’d in Wedlock by ye Certificate of Mr. Tobias Budd; Michael Mullally unto Mary Murphy both of Nicholastown. Witnesses Michael O’Naile, James O’Naile and William Murphy.” [During this period landlords sometimes provided certificates to regulate the lives of their tenants, manage their estates by ensuring that unauthorized subletting did not occur, and enforce the moral and behaviour the landlord set.]
With reference to the Budd Estate at Ballybraghy in the old Civil Parish of Kilcoan which is now part of the present Catholic ecclesiastical Parish of Glenmore, I would suggest you look up Record No. S. 4931 in the Records Branch of the Land Commission at 24 Upper Merrison St., Dublin.
Any information which you have on the Budd family and estate would be much appreciated by me as I am collecting material for the history of my area. I would also like to get a copy of said Record No. S.4931 and perhaps you could help me in this as well as copies of any old Estate maps which you may have.
When next you visit the area, please let me know beforehand and I will only be too glad to show you where the Budds lived and are buried etc.
In conclusion, I would like to correct the impression which you possibly got from my previous correspondence. I am not a member of the Garda force but a Health Authority employee—a Health Inspector.
Yours Very Sincerely,
Daniel Dowling.
Mr. Justice Gardner Budd (1904-1976)
Mr. Frederick Gardner Orford Budd was born on 11 April 1904 at Ennis Co. Clare. His father, Samuel Duquid Budd (c. 1864-1934) was employed as a bank manager at the time of his birth. His mother, Fanny Beatrice Orford (c. 1865-1955) was the daughter of Dr. Frederick James Orford of Leicestershire, and she was the second wife of Samuel D. Budd. His parents were married on 12 July 1899 in Surrey, England.
Samuel D. Budd married his first wife, Susan West Stuart (c. 1854-1897) on 30 May 1882 in a Church of Ireland in Galway. His father was recorded as James Budd, a merchant and Susan’s father was John Simson Stuart, a Senior R.I.C. Inspector. Susan West Budd, of Bindon? St., Ennis died on 27 January 1897, of albuminuria at the age of 43. She was the mother of 5 children.
Gardner Budd was educated at the Manor School, Fermoy, Co. Cork; Felsted in England and Trinity College, Dublin. He was a scholar of T.C.D. in history in 1925, the year in which he obtained a B.A. (Mod.) in history in 1925 and political science to be followed two years later with an LLD. He was called to the bar in 1927 and to the Inner Bar in 1940. [He married Oonah Blennerhassett in Sligo in 1931 and the couple had four children.] In 1951 he represented TCD on the university panel in Seanad Eireann. Later that year he was appointed a Judge of the High Court, a position he occupied until 1966 when he was raised to the Supreme Court. He retired from the Supreme Court right before Christmas 1975 and died 9 February 1976 (Irish Examiner, 10 Feb. 1976 p. 14). (For a concise outline of his important decisions see, Pauric J. Dempsey, Dictionary of Irish Biography.)
Waterford City Roots
The obituary of Sanuel D. Budd (c. 1864-1934) (Irish Examiner, Mon. 27 Aug. 1934, p. 4) provides some interesting details regarding Justice Gardner Budd’s Waterford City Roots.
“The death has taken place of Mr. Samuel Duguid Budd, a Waterfordman, who reached a very high position in Irish banking circles. He was son of the late Mr. James Budd, of [Waterford City*], and father of Mr. F. G. O. Budd, the well known barrister on the Waterford circuit. After a distinguished career in the Provincial Bank of Ireland, during which time he was for many years manager in Cork, the late Mr. Samuel Budd became Chief Officer of the bank. He retired from this position [in 1919 per the Southern Star (Sat. 2 Aug. 1930, p. 10)] and, was succeeded by his son-in-law, Mr. D. Bradshaw, the present Chief Officer. The late Mr. Budd was co-opted a member of the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland.” [*per the Munster Express, 31 Aug. 1934, p. 7]
James Budd of Waterford City
Samuel D. Budd (c. 1864-1934) reported in the 1901 Census that he was born in Waterford. Danny in a handwritten note recorded that in the Thomas S. Harvey (1865) Waterford Almanac & Directory for 1866 there were two entries for James Budd in the Directory. The first James Budd was listed as a commercial traveller living on Barker St. A second listing was for James Budd & Company, Guano Merchants on Thomas Street. [Guano was the excrement of seabirds and bats. It was historically prized as a fertilizer and a key ingredient for the production of gunpowder.]
Hopefully further correspondence between Danny and Justice G. Budd is discovered and we shall be able to update this information.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Gorman’s of Ballycroney, Glenmore
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) often referred to surnames that were no longer found in Glenmore Parish as extinct names. One such name is Gorman or O’Gorman. At one point Danny noted in correspondence in 2001 with Patrick Gorman of Illinois that two Gorman families resided in Ballycroney, Glenmore.
Willie Holden, of Ballycroney, yesterday confirmed that there were Gorman’s in Ballycroney in the past. They lived where Bolger’s once lived and Bernard Walsh lives there now. Neddy Holden, of Clune, told Willie, that P.N. O’Gorman’s people came from Ballycroney. For our international readers P.N. O’Gorman and his wife in 1924 established an auctioneers/estate agents/valuers business in New Ross that can still be found on the Quay today.
Today we are going to review the early Glenmore Parish records to determine how many Gorman families resided in Ballycroney, highlight the two Gorman brothers in Illinois and attempt to determine who went to New Ross.
Review of Early Glenmore Parish Records
Denis Gorman & his wife Eleanor Murphy
A review of the combined Slieverue/Glenmore parish records reveals that the first Gorman we could confirm as being in Ballycrone (sic) was Denis Gorman and his wife Eleanor Murphy. Their son [1] Patrick was born there in 1785 and they had 5 more children the last being born in 1797 just before the 1798 Rebellion. The 5 children include:
[2] Mary Gorman (1787);
[3] Catherine Gorman (1789);
[4] Richard Gorman (1790);
[5] James Gorman (1792); and
[6] Michael Gorman (1797)).
Michael Gorman & his wife Mary Cody
The second oldest confirmed record we could find was for Michael Gorman and his wife Mary Cody. They were married at Glenmore on 13 November 1812, and had 9 children in Ballycrony from 1813 to 1835. The witnesses at their wedding were William Gorman and Walter Bolger. It is not known if this Michael was the son of Denis Gorman and his wife Eleanor Murphy. He would have been just 15 when he married in 1812, thus it is not likely. He may have been a younger brother of Denis, a nephew or no relation at all.
The children of Michael Gorman and Mary Cody include:
[1] Catherine Gorman (bapt. 13 April 1813)
[2] Juny Gorman (bapt. 16 March 1815)
[3] William Gorman (bapt. 8 Dec. 1816)
[4] Denis Gorman (bapt. 1 May 1819)
[5] Patrick Gorman (bapt. 18 Feb. 1822)
[6] Edmund Gorman (bapt. 20 April 1825-18 Nov.1888) Emigrated to Illinois before 1852.
[7] Mary Gorman (bapt. 17 July 1827)
[8] James Gorman (bapt. 24 Aug. 1828)
[9] Richard Gorman (bapt. 4 Nov. 1835-14 Aug. 1914) Emigrated to Illinois in 1867.
James Gorman & Bridget Wallis [Wallace]
The third family we found in Ballycroney was James Gorman and his wife Bridget Wallis. They had at least five children from 1826 to 1834.
Their eldest child [1] Denis Gorman was born in 1825. The record states that the father’s name was Denis. However, given that 3 of the other children were the children of James Gorman and Bridget Wallis {Wallace] we believe an error was made on the eldest two children’s baptismal records. The other children include:
[2] (father given as John) William Gorman (1826);
[3] Mary Gorman (1828);
[4] Mary Gorman (1832) and
[5] Ellen Gorman (1834).
It is likely that this James Gorman was the son of Denis Gorman and his wife Eleanor Murphy (born in 1792). The traditional naming patterns of this time holds true. The eldest male child was named Denis after his paternal grandfather. The second eldest girl was named Ellen after her paternal grandmother.
Other Gorman Families in Early Glenmore Parish Records
Carrigcloney, Glenmore
The early combined parish records also provided that one Gorman family resided in Carrigcloney, Glenmore. Richard Gorman and his wife Honor Foley married on 1 March 1810 at Kilmacow. They moved to Carrigcloney, Glenmore and had [1] Michael Gorman in 1811;[2] John Gorman (1814). The family moved to St. John’s Parish in Kilkenny where [3] James Gorman was born in 1816; [4] Patrick Gorman (1818); [5] Edmund Gorman [1820]; [6] Thomas Gorman (1823); [7] Mary Gorman (1825) and [8] Peter Gorman (1827).
Parkstown, Glenmore
Parkstown, Glenmore—Denis O’Gorman and his wife Catherine Donovan had their son Patrick O’Gorman baptized on 17 March 1827. No other baptismal records could be located for this couple.
P.N. O’Gorman of New Ross
Peter Nicholas O’Gorman (1876-1947) was the youngest child of William Gorman (c. 1829-1889) and his wife Mary Finn (c.1840-1898) His parents were married at New Ross on 10 August 1861. P.N. was baptized at New Ross by Fr. D.J. Gorman on 9 Sept. 1876. William was employed as a cooper, and the family lived on Mary Street, New Ross.
We believe that P.N. O’Gorman’s father was William Gorman (bapt. 11 June 1826) to John (sic) Gorman and his wife Bridget Wallis, Ballycroney, Glenmore. However, we have no definitive record or obituary that gives his place of birth as Ballycroney or provides the names of William’s parents.
The children of William Gorman (c. 1829-1889) & Mary Finn (c. 1840-1898)
[1] Elizabeth Gorman (1862-c. 1888) Died of meningitis, aged 25.
[2] Eleanor Gorman (1863-1920) Ellen O’Gorman, of Mary St., married a widower, Elias Thackery Vickers (c. 1864 -1908) (solicitor from South St.) on 27 April 1897 at St. Mary’s New Ross. She listed her father William as a farmer/merchant. Witnesses to the wedding were James J. O’Gorman & Lizzie Finn. Elias Thackery Vickers died in 1908. Ellen Vickers née Gorman died 16 January 1920, in Haughton Hospital, a widow, at the age of 52 of paralysis. Elias Thackery Vicker’s first wife was Caroline Fegan of Tramore, Co. Waterford. They married in the Church of Ireland on 27 Sept. 1881 at Tramore. His father was Samuel Vickers and her father was William Fegan. Both fathers were retired RIC officials. Reginald George Vickers was born at New Ross on 5 Jan. 1886. He died 20 Feb. 1914 at home on South St. he was a watchmaker (28, bachelor). His step-mother Eleanor was with him at his death.
[3] Fr. Richard Gorman O.S.A. (1865-1921) was an Augustinian priest. He died in Cork.
[4] James Nicholas Gorman (1867-1871) died of Bright’s disease at the age of 4.
[5] Mary Joseph Gorman (1873- 1884) died of enteric fever aged 9.
[6] James Joseph Gorman (1874-? ) per P.N. O’Gorman’s 1947 obit James died in the US.
[7] Peter Nicholas Gorman (1876-1947) (P.N. O’Gorman)
Sometime after the birth of the children the family began to use the surname O’Gorman. William O’ Gorman died 3 Sept. 1889 at home on Mary St, New Ross. His widow Mary was with him when he died. She provided that he was 60 and a cooper. Mary O’Gorman née Finn died the 28th of June 1898 at her home on Mary St. Her youngest son, P.N. O’Gorman, was present when she died. He provided that she was 58 years old and the widow of a butter merchant.
Peter N. O’Gorman married Elizabeth Sullivan ( ? -1959) on 26 April 1922 at St. Mary’s, Haddington Road, Dublin. She was the daughter of Daniel Sullivan (merchant) and from Northumberland Rd., South Dublin. The couple lived in Ivy Cottage, Rosbercon, and shorty after their marriage they established P.N. O’Gorman Auctioneers/Valuers in Rosbercon. The business later moved across the river to the New Ross quay.
Peter O’Gorman served in several public offices. He served as Chairman of the Urban Council which under his chairmanship completed 3 housing schemes , all streets were renovated and the quay concreted. He was a member of the Harbour Commission and served on the Wexford Co. Council during 1917-1919. He was a member of the New Ross Agricultural Society and followed the Kilkenny Hounds under Major McCalmount of Mount Juliet. He was a Governor of Haughton Hospital (New Ross Standard, Fri. 14 Nov. 1947, p. 4).
Peter Nicholas O’Gorman (1876-1947) died 7 Nov. 1947 at Ivy Cottage in Rosbercon. He was 71 years of age. At the time of his death, for his service to New Ross, he was given a public funeral. His widow, Elizabeth died in January 1959.
Gorman Brothers in Illinois
Thanks to Patrick Gorman’s extensive research and correspondence with Danny Dowling we know of at least two Gorman brothers emigrated from Ballycroney and settled in Illinois. These brothers were the sons of Michael Gorman and his wife Mary Cody. The Peoria area became the home to several Glenmore families as emigrants tended to go to family or friends already settled in the U.S. See our post of 30 Sept. 2024 regarding the McDonald Family of Ballyfacey, Glenmore in Peoria.
Edward Gorman (1825-1880) Native of Ballycroney, Glenmore
Edward Gorman (1825-1880) married Ann Morrissey (c. 1825-1893) on 27 April 1852 at Peoria, Illinois. Edward became a naturalized citizen in 1856 in Peoria. In the 1870 Census Edward was employed as a labourer and the couple had 5 children from 16 to 5 years of age.
[1] Mary A. Gorman (1855-1938)
[2] Katherine Burns née Gorman (1858-1935)
[3] Michael P. Gorman (1858-1940)
[4] William M. Gorman (1863-1921)
[5] John Edward Gorman (1865-1947)
By the 1880 Census, Edward was farming in Stark County, Illinois about 35 miles north west of Peoria. Edward died on 19 Nov. 1888 in Stark County, Illinois. He is buried in St. Mary of the Woods Cemetery in Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois and has the most amazing information recorded on his headstone. See Findagrave for a photo of his gravestone.
Edward Gorman died Nov. 19, 1888
A native of Glenmore, Kilkenny Co., Ireland
May his soul rest in Peace.
A husband kind, a father dear, a faithful friend lies buried here.We mourn his loss while here we stay but hope to meet in bliss someday. The photo of Edward Gorman is from Findagrave and was added by Patrick Gorman and he provided the transcription of the marker to Danny Dowling.
Richard Gorman (1835-1914) Native of Ballycroney, Glenmore
Richard Gorman (1835-1914) was the youngest child of Michael Gorman and his wife Mary Cody. It appears that he married twice. His first wife was Catherine Flynn (c. 1844-1884). We located a marriage between a Richard Gorman and Catherine Flynn held on 18 Sept. 1865 at Killea, Co. Waterford (near Dunmore East).
The 1880 US Census for Marshall, La Prairie Co., Illinois reveals that Richard and Catherine were farming and their son Michael Gorman (1870-1956) was 7 having been born in Illinois. Both Richard and Catherine noted that they could not read or write. A farm labourer named William Gorman, aged 16, was living with the family. William was born in Illinois, but both of his parents were born in Ireland.
Catherine Gorman née Flynn died on 29 April 1884 at Camp Grove, Marshal, Illinois. She is buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. See Findagrave. A few years later Richard married his second wife, Bridget Grant, who also may have been a native of Glenmore.
Per the 1900 US Census for Lee, Harmon Co., Illinois, Richard emigrated in 1867 and his second wife, Bridget Grant (c. 1845-1921) emigrated in 1885. In 1900, Richard was 61 and his Bridget was 54. His son Michael Gorman was 27 (b. Dec. 1872 in Illinois) and his daughter Nellie (1888-1965) was 11.
Richard died on 14 August 1914 in Wyoming, Stark County, Illinois. He is buried in St. Dominic’s Cemetery, Wyoming, Illinois with his second wife, Bridget Gorman née Grant. See, Findagrave.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com . Special thanks to Willie Holden for the information on Ballycroney and to Patrick Gorman of Illinois who provided his excellent family research and photos to Danny Dowling.
The featured photo above is an old postcard of Peoria, Illinois.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: A Glenmore Bigamy Case
In the voluminous files of Glenmore Historian Danny Dowling (1927-2021) a small newspaper clipping was found regarding an 1866 Glenmore bigamy case. In attempting to find further information in the contemporary newspapers it was shocking the number of bigamy cases that were reported in Irish newspapers in the 1860’s. Perhaps the most famous of all was the cases involved the Honourable William Charles Yelverton (1824-1883) later to become the 4th Viscount Avonmore.
We shall briefly outline this famous case because it caused the law in Ireland to change, and it provides context for some of the questions asked in the Glenmore bigamy case. Most of the following information regarding the Yelverton bigamy case came from an article by Rebecca Gill (citation below).
Thelwall v. Yelverton
William Charles Yelverton (1824-1883) was a major in the British Army and met Maria Theresa Longworth (c. 1832-1881) in 1852 on a steamer between France and London. Theresa, as she was called, had completed her education at a French Convent and was returning home to England after visiting her married sister in France. Her father was a wealthy Manchester silk manufacturer. Yelverton and Theresa corresponded and according to Theresa exchanged vows in Scotland. Subsequently, while visiting Rostrevor, County Down they were married by a Catholic priest on 15 August 1857. Theresa was Catholic, but Yelverton was a Protestant.
Yelverton and Theresa lived together in France until April 1858 when Yelverton was recalled to the Army. He left Theresa pregnant in France. There are conflicting reports, but apparently the child did not survive. On 26 June 1858, Yelverton publicly married a widow, Mrs. Emily Marianne Forbes née Ashworth, in Holy Trinity Chapel, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Emily was the widow of Professor Edward Forbes (1815-1854) the famous Isle of Man naturalist.
In September 1861, Theresa through a friend brought a case against Yelverton in Ireland, alleging that Yelverton was married to her. Yelverton responded that there was no ceremony in Scotland and that the Catholic ceremony in 1857 was merely a blessing to ease Theresa’s conscious. The three jurisdictions of England, Ireland and Scotland had different marriage laws. At that time a Catholic priest could not perform a mixed marriage between a Protestant and a Catholic or legally marry two Protestants (19 Geo. 2.c.13).
After a ten-day trial the jury in Ireland decided in favour of Theresa’s Scottish and Irish marriages. Eventually the case went to the Law Lords who ruled in Yelverton’s favour in July 1864. This case led to the enactment of the Marriage Causes and Marriage Law Amendment Act 1870 which made valid any marriages performed by a Catholic priest subject to the usual provisos of the civil law. The Civil registration of all marriages, births and deaths in Ireland became required after 1 January 1864 (An Act for the Registration of Births and Deaths in Ireland). (Rebecca Gill (2004) “The Imperial Anxieties of a Nineteenth Century Bigamy Case,” 57 History Workshop Journal 58-78: Oxford University Press).
(For further information and details on this famous case and photos see, Morvern French (2018) “The Curious Case of Longworth v. Yelverton” Historic Environment Scotland; Albert Nicholson, “Maria Theresa Longworth (c. 1832-1881),” 34 Dictionary of National Biography, para. 126 and Edward Irving Carlyle, “William Charles Yelverton (1824-1883)” 63 Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, para. 318
The Glenmore Bigamy Case
The Kilkenny Moderator (Wed. 17 January 1866, p. 3) reported that in the Rosbercon Petty Sessions under Resident Magistrate, J. Moore Esq., a considerable amount of time was spent investigating a charge of bigamy made against John Delahunty, alias Keating. The charge was brought by Constable Powell, of the Glenmore R.I.C. station. “It appeared that this man, passing by the name of Delahunty, had settled sometime since at Glenmore, and there contracted matrimony in the Roman Catholic Chapel, with a woman named Bridget Power.” [We believe that Constable Powell was William Powell (c. 1808-1880) who became the first Post master of Glenmore after he retired from the R.I.C., see our post of 24 November 2019.]
The constable reported that he received some information which led him to proceed to the Barony of Iverk and there made inquiries. He was led to ascertain that the same man, then calling himself “John” Keatings, had in the year 1861 in Owing chapel married Judtih Walsh. Soon thereafter “he forsook her” and left the locality. Unfortunately the constable did not divulge or the newspaper did not publish the information that set Constable Powell to investigate the defendant.
The Constable brought forward the two wives, and the two Roman Catholic Clergymen who had officiated at the two marriages. The defendant was identified. Mr. Moore took the information of the witnesses, and committed the defendant to the county gaol to be tried for bigamy at the ensuing county Assizes. “The other business before the court was of an ordinary character.”
Notwithstanding that bigamy was not considered an ordinary criminal case very little detail was revealed in court or at least not in the newspaper accounts regarding the defendant or his two wives.
The Trial of the Glenmore Bigamist
In the Kilkenny Crown Court on Tuesday, 13 March 1866, the bigamy trial against Michael/John Keating alias Delahunty, was held. The Kilkenny Moderator (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 14 March 1866, p. 2) reported on the trial the following day in one paragraph. Thankfully the Kilkenny Journal (Wed. 14 March 1866, p. 2) published a much longer and detailed account of the trial. This longer account was also published later in the Waterford Citizen (Fri. 16 March 1866, p. 3).
Baron Deasy, and a petty jury, tried Michael Keating alias John Delahunty for bigamy. The defendant had been “indicted for that he, having on the 10th of June 1860, married Judith Walsh during her lifetime he again remarried with Bridget Power. The prisoner, who was undefended, traversed.” (Traversed is an old legal term meaning that the defendant was disputing the facts.) The Crown was represented by Mr. Wall, Q.C.
The Rev. Matthew Brennan, P.P., Tulleroan, examined by Mr. Wall Q.C. testified that in 1860 he was curate of the parish of Ooning (sic). He produced the Owning Parish Register which contained an entry of the marriage of Michael Keating and Judith Walsh on 10 June 1860. The entry was in his handwriting, but he told the court that he could not identify the prisoner as the Michael Keating he married in 1860.
John Finnean, testified that on 10 June 1860, he was a witness to the marriage of the defendant to Judith Walsh, by Fr. Brennan. Judith Walsh he stated was still alive.
The Rev. John Delahunty, C.C. of Rosbercon, and formerly of Glenmore, produced a private book which contained a list of marriages he performed in Glenmore Chapel. It contained an entry for the marriage of John Delahunty to Bridget Power, on 1 July 1861. Fr. Delahunty could not identify the defendant as John Delahunty who he had married in 1861..
Patrick Henneberry testified that he was present when the defendant, calling himself John Delahunty was married by Fr. Delahunty on 1 July 1861 to Bridget Power.
Catherine Rourke, also testified that she had been a witness to the second marriage and observed the parties subsequently living together as man and wife.
Bridget Power, the second wife, testified as to the marriage in Glenmore, and having lived with the defendant as his wife. She testified that they had no children and they were both Roman Catholics. She stated that she never knew of the defendant being of any other religion.
The defendant in his attempt at a defence made a “rambling statement to the effect that he was declined to be married to the last witness, and told the priest that he was a married man. However, as they persisted in telling him that he might get married, he thought it was no harm to do so.”
The jury “without hesitation” found the defendant guilty of bigamy, and he was sentenced to penal servitude for five years (Kilkenny Journal, Wed. 14 March 1866, p. 2).
Sent to Mountjoy
Four convicts were transferred from the Kilkenny County gaol on Monday the 26th of March to Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, including: “Michael Delahunty, alias John Keatings convicted at the recent Assizes of bigamy (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 28 March 1866, p. 3).
The Two Marriages
Without a date or place of birth it is impossible to determine much about the defendant. However, we were able to ascertain some facts concerning his known two marriages.
Marriage 1
According to the Parish Register on 10 June 1860 at Templorum, Co. Kilkenny, Michael Keating married Judith Walsh of Curramore. Witnesses to the marriage were John Finacane and Mary Conolly. Then on 20 September 1860 Anastatia Keatine (sic) was baptized at Dunnamaggin to “John Keatinge” and his wife Judith Walsh. Godparents were listed as James Murphy and Catherine Donovan. The address provided was Kiloganny. Thus in the space of 3 months Michael became John, and Judtih Keating née Walsh moved from Curramore north to Kiloganny. The child is not mentioned in the newspaper accounts of the trial. It is likely the child was not alive in 1866 or for whatever reason the birth of the child was concealed from the investigating constable.
Marriage 2
On 1 July 1861, at Glenmore, John Delahunty married Bridget Power. The only information provided in the Parish Register is the names of the witnesses: Patrick Henebary and Kate Rourk.
Thankfully, the surname Rourke or O’Rourke is not a common name in Glenmore. It is generally found in the townland of Weatherstown. Catherine Roork (sic) was baptized on 24 December 1846 at Glenmore, to Michael Roork and his wife, Bridget Bolger. Their address is simply listed as Glenmore. Godparents were James Bolger and Honor Mullins.
We then sought baptismal records for the more common name of Bridget Power looking for girls born about the same time as Catherine Rourke. Bridget Power, of Weatherstown, was baptized 7 February 1844, at Glenmore, to Thomas Power and his wife, Mary Walsh. Godparents were Patrick Fitzgerald and Nancy Fitzgerald. If this is the correct Bridget Power she was only 17 when she married in 1861 and was 22 when she learned her marriage was a sham.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh