19th Century
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The Legend of Biddy Neddy Doolan née Cody (1831-1916) [Updated]
The following account or accounts was primarily obtained from the Wexford People newspaper of 11 August 1880. On 9 August 1880, a twenty-one year old newly qualified solicitor named Charles Boyd died from a gunshot wound he received the previous afternoon as he travelled in a horse drawn car with his father, brother and cousin to visit a farm near Glenmore. The father of the slain man was Thomas Boyd who immediately announced that the attack on his family was an agrarian outrage. He had purchased the lands of Shanbogh in about 1870, moved into Chilcomb House, in Rosbercon and raised the rents of some of the tenants. Thomas Boyd was approximately 60 years of age in 1880, a solicitor with a good practice in New Ross. He owned a considerable amount of property extending from his home almost two miles down the river. The newspaper reported that he was a Sessional Crown Solicitor for the county and was also Crown Prosecutor for County Tipperary.
Within a day or two of the shooting eight people, all from the area, were arrested for the murder of Charles Boyd, including siblings John, Michael and Anastatia Whelan; their cousins Walter Whelan and James Holden; and their brother-in-law Thomas Murphy. Two workmen Patrick Thompson and James Power were also arrested. The prisoners were remanded and conveyed to Kilkenny jail. In a future post we will examine the newspaper accounts of the murder itself and the murder trial, but today we would like to highlight the gossip that was freely reported in local as well as national newspapers concerning the attack being motivated by J.T. Evans Boyd’s maltreatment of the Widow Doolan known in Glenmore as Biddy Neddy. Biddy Neddy was a member of the Neddy Cody family of Ballycroney, Glenmore.
There is much confusion within the Wexford People (11 Aug. 1880, p. 5) with the Freeman’s Correspondent noting that there were all sorts of rumours as to the cause of the outrage, the most popular being that “Mr. Boyd had a dispute with a widow named Doolan.” The Freeman Correspondent then went on to directly link Thomas Boyd (the father) to the dispute with the WIdow Doolan. On the same page the Wexford People’s correspondent linked the dispute to J.T. Evans Boyd. James Murphy in his book Rosbercon Parish: A History in Song and Story (2000), covers the murder, but fails to make any mention of the Widow Doolan. It is alleged in the book that three men from TIpperary mistakenly killed Charles Boyd instead of his brother Evans who had molested in Tipperary one of their female relatives (p. 327). Unfortunately no references are provided, so the source of this allegation is not known.
Biddy Neddy became something of a local legend for refusing to abandon her farm in the face of a wealthy man, who was not her landlord, attempting to take over and push her out. Armed with a gun she fired shots over the heads of the herd he placed on her land and drove them from her farm (Bartley Holden interview 1974). When bailiff’s threatened to arrest her people from all over the parish turned out to support Biddy Neddy. These events took place just weeks before the first Glenmore meeting of the Land League and days before the murder of Charles Boyd. For information on the formation of the Land League and the Ballyfacey Eviction riots of 1885 see our previous post of 8 March 2020.
The following appeared in the Wexford People, on Wednesday the 11th August 1880 ( p. 5).
“The cause of the murder of Charles Boyd is said to be agrarian, although it has been freely hinted that there were other reasons for the attack. The following may, perhaps, throw some light upon the subject…”
Rumours reached New Ross on Saturday of an active dispute about land between Mr. J. T. Evans Boyd and a widow named Doolan, residing at Jamestown, about 3 miles from New Ross. “Wishing to ascertain the exact state of affairs” the Wexford People sent a “Special reporter” to the residence of Mrs. Doolan. Why was the newspaper interested, before the murder, concerning the dispute between Boyd and the Biddy Neddy? Boyd was not the landlord of Biddy Neddy’s holding in Jamestown. According to the newspaper, Boyd’s account was that 2 or 3 years previously the Widow Biddy Neddy Doolan found it difficult to pay her rent, and Boyd advanced the money. To cover the advance it was arranged that Boyd put some cattle on the Doolan farm to graze. Boyd alleged, according to the newspaper that a dispute arose as to amount to be paid for the grazing. Cattle that Boyd had put on the farm were driven out.
The reporter proceeded on Sunday morning, the 8th of August, the day of the attack on the Boyd family, along the old road and noted that it was in a terrible dilapidated state. After he crossed a broken down bridge over a little stream which divided Shanbogh, the townland owned by Boyd, from Jamestown, and from the top of a hill gained a view of the comfortable looking homestead of the Widow Doolan, girthed by a profusion of poplars and sycamores. He followed the path to the house and found on closer inspection…”the place wore an aspect of listlessness almost bordering on despair…” Biddy Neddy Doolan was at Mass in Glenmore, so the reporter waited. When Biddy Neddy returned from Mass she provided information concerning her side of the dispute.
“The Rev. John Lymbery, of Fethard Castle, Countv Wexford, is my landlord, and Mr. Henry Mackesy, of Waterford, his agent. This farm was taken by my husband’s brother, Daniel Doolan, in the year of the bad times (1848 probably), and I have been living in it with my husband, Patrick Doolan, since the 8th day of July, 1856.” The couple were married on that day in Glenmore church. “His death occurred about 13 years ago. There were originally 65 acres in the farm, but about three years after my husband’s death I lost the eight acres in Ballycroney. I was £100 in arrears with my landlord shortly after my husband died, but the landlord allowed me to pay it back by annual instalments of £5 each, which was added to the yearly rent, making it £7O, instead of £65. A few years ago, Mr. Evans Boyd came to me and asked to buy some straw which I had for sale. He asked me what I was going to do now, and when I said that I did not know, remarked that it was a pity that I should lose such a fine property. He said it was a great shame that I should be robbed by those Yankees, (meaning a man who had married my daughter, and who had been in Australia for some time). Mr. Boyd then said he would stand by us. This was in February, 1879. In the latter end of that month Mr. Boyd went to the agent and paid half a year’s rent £32 10s, but he got full value for that in grass, as my landlord, the Rev. Mr. Lymbery, told me. He sent 84 sheep, 29 heifers and some cows to graze on the land, from May till October, and they remained there off and on; he changed them according as he desired. He then paid a full year’s rent for 1879. For this we paid himself with five acres of hay in July, five and-a-half acres of corn—barley and oats—of my own sowing, two sows with eight bonhams each… and a yearling heifer valued at £4, which he took to my disadvantage, as if the animal remained with me I would have got twice that amount for it.”
Biddy Neddy went on to state that Boyd, apparently not happy with the grazing and the animals he took also removed two ploughs and a harrow, which deprived Biddy Neddy of the ability to till her land. Additionally, two cars and the horse tackling were removed. Biddy Neddy stated, “for the loss of which I could not go to mass, fair or market… He would never give me any reason for taking them. My own horses helped along with his horses, to till the land—even to the drawing of the manure. He then wanted me to sell the horses off the land. I did not know it then but I know it now very well that the whole thing was managed to get me out of the place—and off to America or Zululand. He gave us flour and meal, but we earned it by our own labour on the land, and we were sometimes almost cases for doctor’s treatment before he would give it to us, so much so that only for the kindness of the neighbours in lending us meal, we would have starved.”
“He said that Ireland, England, Scotland, Waterford or Dublin would not hold me, that I should go to America… He wanted to get rid of me altogether, but I would not go… He told [my daughter Brigid] on the 28th June that if myself, my son Daniel and my daughter Ellen went to America, he would get Bridget a situation in a friend’s house, and would at the end of two years, either give her up the farm or £100.”
“Last Friday week he sent up one of his workmen with the cattle. I told the man that he (Mr. Boyd) had plenty out of my place now, and that neither himself or his cattle would come in here again. …A man came next day. When I asked him for his authority he said he had none, but that he would put the cattle in there in spite of me. I drove the cattle out on Sunday morning, and sent my son and daughter with them. On Monday, Hammond, the bailiff, came for a settlement, and said he would seize on a cow of my own which I had here unless Mr. Boyd’s cattle were allowed to remain. I then asked him for his authority which he said he would get and that he would put me in jail… On Tuesday they brought in the cattle in spite of us and left bailiffs to watch them night and day, but although some men searched the place for them that night they could not be found. Mr. Evans came on Tuesday while I was in town, and asked my daughter Bridget what sort of d—n hum-bugging this was (refusing to allow the cattle in)… my daughter Bridget told him that the row was all because he wanted me to go to America…Then Hammond and four more bailiffs came on Thursday, and pretending to have authority, began to pull down the fence, and said the cattle would now go in. Bridget asked him to show his legal authority, and he said he would. He pulled a paper out of his pocket, but would not give it to her to read. She then asked him if he would give her a copy of it, but he excused himself by saying that he had no pencil and paper to write the copy, although she ran into a neighbouring house and got both pen and paper, he refused to give her a copy. There were a few of the neighbours present on this occasion, and they kept Hammond and the rest off the ground. When be saw he could not get in that day he told the people he would come next day with a lot more police, bailiffs, and the whole town of Ross, and get in in spite of us.”
“The very next day (Friday) sure the country side came to the place, armed with pitchforks, scythes, sticks, and other weapons, but the bailiffs did not put in an appearance, and have never meddled with me since.” Biddy Neddy opined that Boyd got double if not treble the amount which he paid on her account. At the end of her “graphic narration” Biddy Neddy concluded that she would prefer to have her life down upon the threshold of her own homestead, than to accept any remuneration whatever, and be banished from her native country.
With the parish register we were able to verify that Patrick Dowling married Bridget Coady of Ballycroney at Glenmore on 7 July 1856. Bridget was baptized at Glenmore on 18 September 1831 at Ballycroney. Her parents were Edmund Cody and Mary Cody née Kirwan. Patrick Dowling and his wife Biddy Neddy had six known children: [1] Edmund Dowling, bapt. 19 April 1857; [2] Mary Dowling bapt. 8 Sept. 1858 bapt. (record lists her mother as Margaret Coady (sic); [3] Bridget Dowling, b. 6 January 1860; [4] Margaret Dowling, b. 2 September 1861; [5] Daniel Dowling, b. 21 Dec. 1862 and [6] Ellen Dowling, b. 9 February 1865.
Although Biddy Neddy stated that her husband Patrick Dowling died 13 years before her confrontation with Boyd over the grazing of her farm, no death certificate could be found for 1867 which is about the time public records began to be kept.
In terms of the Yankee who Evans Boyd referenced who married Biddy Neddy’s daughter, the Glenmore parish records reveal that Mary Dowling married Edward Mullally on 4 March 1878.. The Civil records reveal that Edward was a farmer and the son of Edward Mullally of Ballykenna. On 1 Feb. 1879 Edward Mullally and Mary Mullally, née Dowling had a son they named Edward Mullally who was baptized at Jamestown. No death records could be located for Edward or his wife, or any further children. It is believed that the couple with their young son emigrated as stated in the account of Biddy Neddy in the Wexford People.
Biddy Neddy died at the age of 85 on 17 April 1916 at her home in Jamestown that she refused to leave in 1880. Her son Daniel Dowling was present at her death. She was buried in Ballygurrim Graveyard. Her son, Daniel Dowling was the paternal grandfather of our founder Danny Dowling (1927-2021).
The feature photo is the gable end of the Ballygurrim Church ruins. The photo was taken in 2020.
Special thanks to Adam Cashin for correcting the confusion over the names of the Boyd men. [Updated and corrected 15 Nov. 2021]. Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Local Accounts of Body Snatching
Long before newspapers became available on the internet to search, Danny Dowling (1927-2021) spent a considerable amount of time in libraries reading old local newspapers in his quest for information on Glenmore. Often when Danny would come across an article that he found interesting he would make a notation in his notebook recording the newspaper, date and page. Below are excerpts from several articles that Danny collected on body snatching, resurrectionists or as the Waterford Mail newspaper dubbed them the “sack-em ups.”
It is well documented that in the 18th and 19th centuries medical institutions in order to teach anatomy to medical students required fresh cadavers. Unfortunately, the majority of bodies that could be obtained legally were those of executed criminals. The demand by medical institutions far exceeded the supply. Doctors resorted to paying for “illegal” fresh cadavers without asking how the cadaver was obtained. While medical students and professional body snatchers worked at night in nearby grave yards digging up corpses two Irishmen living in Edinburgh, Scotland, hit upon a labour saving plan. William Burke and William Hare, obtained the freshest cadavers because they resorted to killing others who lived in their boarding house. William Burke (1792-1829) was hanged in January 1829 for his role in murdering and selling the bodies of 16 people over a 12 month period. Ironically Burke’s body was given to the medical institution where he sold his victims. These events led to the Anatomy Act of 1832, that increased the means of legally obtained cadavers. Now the bodies of the poor, such as those dying unclaimed in hospitals, workhouses, and prisons could now legally be taken for dissection. This legislation does not appear to have stopped the trade.
In November 1833, the Waterford Mail newspaper under a headline “Resurrectionists in Waterford,” reported that a woman named Johanna Power, was interred the previous week a few miles from town. “From the unusual circumstances of two medical young gentlemen driving into town in a peculiar kind of vehicle, long after midnight on Tuesday morning, some suspicion about the resurrection of the body were excited, and a search being accordingly instituted, the remains of poor Johanna were found entombed within a sack, on the upper floor of a store in Michael Street.” After the discovery, the body of the old woman was recommitted to the earth, in what the newspaper stated was “a much decent coffin and attended by a much larger funeral than before.”
“But curiosity was still at work to find out the “Sack-em ups,” and from a combination of circumstances with which we are not acquainted, suspicion at last settled upon the Messrs. Kenney.” In what was a resurrectionist riot, “a large mob rushed down towards the cross accordingly, about noon, on Thursday, and broke the shop windows of these gentlemen, and it was evident that the rioters would have proceeded to an attack of a more violent nature, but for the timely presence of the Mayor and constables. A party of soldiers were ordered from the barracks, but the rioters were nearly dispersed before they arrived.” Mr. Kenney’s shop remained closed, as it was feared that the mob would repeat the attack (Waterford Mail, Sat. 16 Nov. 1833, p. 2).
The problem appeared to be much worse in the Dublin area. The Waterford Mail also reported in 1833 that in Mark’s church yard “the resurrectionists raised no less than seven bodies in all, succeeded in taking away five, and left two more exposed behind them” (Waterford Mail, Sat. 9 Feb. 1933, p. 1). In December the church yard of Monkstown was entered and several graves opened with the grave clothes and coffins left scatted about the Church yard (Waterford Mail, Sat. 21 Dec. 1833, p. 4). In 1834, two resurrectionists were shot in the Rathfornham churchyard while attempting to disinter the body of a lady. The shootings were reported to the Rathfarnham police when a servant of Baron Smith reported that there was a wounded man lying in his master’s lawn. The wounded man gracing the lawn was Christopher Carney who told the police that he and two men named Dighan and Hanbury were in the Rathfarnham Church yard at 3 a.m. When they were digging into the grave two shots were fired from the watch house attached to the Church yard. Carney was wounded in the thigh and abdomen and Hanbury’s arm was broken. The police subsequently arrested James Hughes and Anthony Neil, the men who shot the resurrectionists. Hughes and Neil had been placed as guards to protect the grave of the lady. A search of the grave yard revealed that the resurrectionists had a loaded pistol with their tools (Kerry Evening Post, Sat. 4 Jan. 1834, p. 2).
After the 1830’s very little was reported in local newspapers concerning the trade. However, in 1859 a news item from the Cincinnati Gazette was published under the headline, “A Man Hung by a Corpse.” “A body snatcher who had stolen a corpse from a graveyard in the neighbourhood of that city” placed the corpse in a bag. He closed the bag with a cord which he placed around his shoulder. While attempting to climb over a high fence, the corpse fell on one side of the fence and the body snatcher on the other. The cord slipped around the body snatcher’s throat and he was choked to death (Wexford People, Sat. 26 March 1859, p. 3).
The Waterford Mirror and Tramore Visitor, published an article in 1865 concerning a related trade on the Thames. “Every night throughout the year boats start on an unholy mission. Men live by fishing for corpses. This ghastly trade is at least as profitable as regular labour…” It was noted that often there was a reward for the recovery of a corpse offered for the body by a friend or legal representative of the deceased. Also, there were sometimes valuables or money in the pockets of the deceased. However, at the very least the coroner paid six shillings for every corpse brought to him. It was alleged that after stealing the money or valuables the corpse was usually slipped back into the river to enable another man to claim the six shillings. Although it was alleged that the Thames Police took prompt charge of all bodies that they see there were not enough boats or men to cover the river. London Express. (Waterford Mirror and Tramore Visitor, Wed. 6 Sept. 1865, p. 4).
In 1890, the Waterford Standard published an article announcing, or perhaps warning readers, that luminous harness had been patented. A horse being driven at night “looks like a sheet of lightening. There are luminous match boxes, and luminous ghosts to scare away grave robbers. After every great grave robbery metallic coffins come in by the score…” “one coffin surrounded by bars of wrought iron, binding the casket and extending out from it at such a distance that when set in the earth it would be impossible to move it except by derrick” (Waterford Standard, Sat. 30 August 1890, p. 4). It appears obvious that body snatching or grave robbing continued to be a concern locally.
In Glenmore right through the early 20th century, after a funeral the chapel door would be left open and the chief mourners would spend a certain number of nights in the chapel to ensure that the new grave would not be robbed. Nicholas Forristal (1888-1979) of the Mill, Graiguenakill, told Danny that prior to around 1880 a man who lived at the bottom of the “churns” in Glenmore used to dig up a fresh corpse, place the corpse in a large basket in a horse drawn cart, drive the corpse into Waterford and sell it to a doctor who would use the corpse for training new doctors. The man on his return trip from Waterford was said to fill the basket with bread and bring it back to Glenmore. No newspaper report has been found regarding any body snatching or grave robbing occurring in Glenmore in any of the cemeteries. It may have been a fireside story told to entertain the young and based on events that occurred elsewhere and reported in local newspapers. For further information on Glenmore funeral practices see our previous post of 8 December 2019.
The drawing of William Burke above was made by a portrait artist who sat on the jury of the murder trial. Available at
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Burke.jpg.
The featured photo above is the Kilcolumb grave yard taken in 2019 by Louise Walsh.
Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Death Comes in Three: 1868 Inquests
In our previous blog of 29 August 2021 we highlighted three Glenmore inquests that took place in 1866. Today, we are going to feature three inquests that were held in 1868 involving the deaths of three men under entirely different circumstances. One died from pneumonia, another from asphyxia, and the third drowned in a well.
John Forrestal (c. 1813-1868) of Carrickcloney, Glenmore
On 18 November 1868 an inquest was held at Carrickcloney on the body of John Forrestal, aged 55. It was reported that the deceased was formerly a farmer who retired from the management of the farm in favour of his younger brother, Thomas Forrestal. Evidence was produced that the deceased had complained of having a pain since the previous week. “No doctor attended him as he said he did not want one. He had had tea and whey, but no medicine. His sister-in-law, Mrs. Thomas Forristal, deposed that she had used some of both the tea and the whey herself, and had not received any bad consequence from it. He took to his bed, in the barn, in which he remained till his death, which took place on Sunday morning. It was given in evidence that the deceased and family lived on good terms. Neither clergyman nor Doctor had seen the man, and he was discovered dead in bed about 10 o’clock, on Monday. A man slept in the barn, and had not been aware of his death.”
Dr. Cane examined the body and testified that the deceased’s death was caused by pneumonia, and that the valves of the heart were also diseased. Dr. Cane went on to explain that “pneumonia is a disease of the lungs, and the death took place from natural causes…there was nothing to indicate poison.” The jury accordingly found a verdict of ” Death from natural causes” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 21 November 1868, p. 3).
For further information concerning the dispensary doctor, James Butler Norris Cane (c. 1840-1906), who was the doctor covering Mullinavat and Glenmore for decades, see our previous blog of 29 April 2020.
Patrick Darmody of Smithstown
On 31 October 1868 the body of Patrick Darmody, a schoolteacher, from Smithstown, was found by a farmer named Walsh dying in a field at Ballynooney half way between Mullinavat and Glanmore (sic). Earlier in the week the deceased had stopped at the farmer’s house. At said time the deceased stated that he was suffering from a sore throat, and had great difficulty in swallowing. He obtained some medicines from a “quack doctor” named Doolan, at Mullinavat. The medicine comprised an internal wash for the throat, and a bottle for external application. Both of the bottles were properly labelled, and the external medicine had a caution on the bottle that it was poison. “The chief object of the inquiry was to ascertain if the man had received injury from the use of either of these prescriptions, or if he could have accidentally used internally that intended for external application. It appeared, however, from testimony adduced, that the deceased had been most careful and cautious in the use of the bottles.”
Dr. James Cane, Mullinavat, examined the body as well as the bottles and testified that the death was due to asphyxia. The deceased had a large abscess on his right parotid gland that pressed on his trachea. He observed that there was no injury on the body caused by the medicines applied or otherwise. On this evidence the jury—of which Mr. William Costello, of Mullinavat was Foreman — arrived at a verdict ‘Death from natural causes’” (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed., 4 Nov. 1868, p. 3).
John Walsh (c. 1833-1868) of Forristalstown, Glenmore
An inquest was held on 12 September 1868 at Forristaltown, near Glanmore (sic) on the body of John Walsh, a farmer’s son, who had been discovered dead in a well adjoining the farm yard, on the previous morning. The coroner’s jury heard that the deceased was going to take a cow to the fair of Ross early the morning in question. When the family got up at the usual time, about six o’clock, the cow was discovered in the field, although John Walsh was not in his room. A search was then made for the deceased, whose body was discovered at the bottom of a well 30 feet deep, head downwards, and even the feet nearly covered with water. “It appeared his sister, Ellen, discovered his coat in his room, and knowing that it had been his habit to go to the well in the morning to raise a bucket of water to wash his person, she went there, and, looking down, saw his feet above the surface. She promptly let herself down by a rope, and shortly, assisted by her cousin, named Edward Doherty, got up the body. The windlass over the well was found out of order, the iron handle, at one end, being out of its place; and it was conjectured that the deceased had lost his balance in consequence of the sudden disarrangement of the machinery and fallen into the well, head foremost. The skull was injured, and it was conjectured it came into contact with the bucket in the fall. The deceased was 35 years old and unmarried.”
Dr. Mullin, of Ross, was summoned by the constable to determine if the injury to the deceased’s head had been inflicted maliciously before death. After examining the deceased’s body Dr. Mullin concluded the head injury was accidental. The jury arrived at a finding that the deceased came to his death by having accidentally fallen into the well (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 16 Sept. 1868, p. 3).
Thus, the juries in all three of the 1868 inquests above found that the deaths were accidental although it is understandable, under the circumstances, how each of the deaths needed to be investigated. Each of the inquests gives fascinating insight into the ordinary lives of local people from the man who would not see a doctor, a teacher who relied on a “quack doctor,” to a tragic accident on a fair day and his extraordinary sister finding and retrieving the corpse by climbing down into the well.
The drawing of the well above is older than the wells of the 1860’s and it does not have a windlass. Robert, Hubert (1733-1808). Woman drawing water from a stone well. 1763 – 1764. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/90b4e4a4-4c99-1240-e040-e00a180601fd. (Accessed October 21, 2021.)
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
19th Century Glenmore Inquests
The civil registration of births, marriages and deaths began in 1864. Non-Catholic marriages were registered from 1845. It is often stated that in the early years of civil registration 15% of births were not registered. There are numerous cases reported in newspapers where fathers were fined 5 shillings for failing to register their child’s birth within the prescribed three months. It is not known how many deaths went unreported in the early years of registration. However, with the required reporting of deaths there was also an increase in the number of inquests reported in local newspapers. Today, we are going to highlight three 1866 Glenmore inquests as reported in the Kilkenny Moderator. In addition to the family research value these short articles provide details of ordinary life, customs and the state of medical knowledge and treatment 155 years ago.
In early January 1866 an inquest was reported in the Kilkenny Moderator (Sat. 6 January 1866, p. 3) concerning the death of a man who fell into the fire. Although the article incorrectly identifies Rochestown as being in the Barony of Galmoy, there is little doubt that the death was of a local man. Death as a result of falling into the fire was a common cause of death of small children and the infirm. “Thomas Haberlan, 24 years old, and unmarried, son of the smith there resident. It appeared this young man was of weak intellect and subject to epileptic fits. On the morning of New Year’s day, his father and family went to prayers at Glanmore (sic) chapel, leaving him alone in the house; but on their return they found the unfortunate creature extensively burned and almost in a dying state. He lingered on to the evening, and then expired. It would seem that he had been taken with a fit in the absence of the family, and had fallen on the fire. The jury found a verdict of “accidental death, “and it was considered no blame attached to the family. There was usually a premonitory warning of the coming on of the fits, and in such case a person had always been left to mind the deceased; but on this occasion nothing unusual had been observed previous to leaving him in the house.”
There were two Thomas Haberlin’s born in Glenmore about 1841. Through later marriage records we believe that the deceased, [1] Thomas Haberlan was baptised on 7 January 1840 at Aylwardstown. He was the eldest child of Thomas Haberlan and his wife, Ellen Gorman. His parents were married at Slieverue on the 19th of January 1839. At the time his father was married his father was living at Carrickanurra, Slieverue. This Thomas Haberlan had six siblings and three of his brothers were given the same name: [2] Edmund Haberlan (bapt. 15 April 1841); [3] Patrick Haberlan (bapt. 6 July 1843); [4] Catherine (bapt. 24 Sept. 1844); [5] Patrick Haberlan (21 January 1847); [6] John Haberlan (bapt. 15 Oct. 1847); [7] Patrick Haberlan (bapt. 20 June 1855). It is not known when Thomas Haberlan, Sr. died but Edmund’s marriage provides details concerning his profession. Edmund Haberlan (bapt. 1841) married Ellen Kehoe, of Aylwardstown on the 18th of April 1873. Ellen was the daughter of Thomas Kehoe (farmer) and Edmund was a blacksmith and the son of Thomas Haberlan (blacksmith). It was reported that both fathers were deceased in 1873. For further information on another contemporary blacksmith Haberlan/Haberlin, Rochestown family see our post of 24 June 2021.
The second inquest involved the sudden death of a previously healthy man. In May 1866, T. Izod, Esq, County Coroner, conducted an inquest at Kilbride, Glanmore (sic), on the body of William Donovan, “a labourer in the employment of a farmer of the locality, Mr. William Fitzgerald, of Wetherstown (sic), who died suddenly on the previous Sunday evening. James Donovan gave evidence as to having met the deceased on the evening in question, after supper, and walked along with him for about half an hour, in company with two other persons. The deceased, who was about 37 years old, seemed in perfect health at the time, and went up the hills, and down, without showing the slightest distress of any kind; when suddenly be caught the witness’s hand, crying out. “Oh! James,” and immediately fell down on the road. His breathing became of a snorting character, and in three or four minutes he expired. Nothing whatever had occurred, apparently, to cause the man’s death. Had not seen him eat his supper, but he did not seem to have taken anything that disagreed with him. John Walsh deposed as to having been present when the deceased took his supper that evening, and he and the rest of the family partook of the same food, which did them no injury. Both before and after supper the man appeared in excellent health and spirits. He was an unmarried man. Some other witnesses were examined, without the eliciting of any other fact of importance to the case; and the jury ultimately found a verdict of ‘Death from natural causes’” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 12 May 1866, p. 3.)
It is believed that the deceased William Donovan was baptized at Glenmore on 6 June 1824, the son of John Donovan and Mary Donovan née Norris of Ballyveria, Glenmore. His brother James Donovan was baptised on 8 March 1832. Other siblings included: Mary Donovan (bapt. 8 March 1818; John Donovan (bapt. 23 June 1819); Mary Donovan (bapt. 14 June 1826) and Honor Donovan (bapt. 9 Mar. 1834).
Lastly, late in 1866, Thomas Izod, the County Coroner, was back in Glenmore to conduct an inquest into the death of Patrick Murphy, a farm labourer residing in Parkstown, Glenmore. It was reported that the 24-year-old went to the fair of Waterford on the 1st of November. “When returning, he was riding a young horse, which was very free; and while trotting pretty smartly, the bridle broke, and he fell backwards and was thrown heavily upon the road. Assistance having been procured, he was taken up, when it was found his spine had received serious injury. He was carried home to Parkstown where he lingered on to Monday the 5th, when he expired. An inquest was held at Glanmore (sic), on Wednesday last, by Thomas Izod, Esq., County Coroner, when these fact were given in evidence; and in addition Doctor Hendrick, medical officer, of Kilmackevogue Dispensary, stated that he had been in attendance on the deceased, and that death had resulted from concussion on the spine, causing paralysis, from the effects of which he died. The jury found a verdict suitable to the facts” (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 14 Nov. 1866, p. 3). Unfortunately Patrick Murphy is a very common name and without any further details it was difficult to determine which of the multiple candidates might be the correct Patrick Murphy. Interestingly this inquest was the most reported of the three as it was also reported in all the Waterford City newspapers perhaps due to the fact he was returning from the Waterford fair.
If any readers can identify Patrick Murphy or provide further information or corrections concerning the three deceased men or their families please email glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Counterfeiting in Glenmore
During the Famine the local newspapers were full of articles where people were arrested and convicted of “coining” or counterfeiting coins or passing or possessing counterfeit coins. Today, we are going to highlight a counterfeiting case involving a Glenmore farmer who paid part of his rent with counterfeit sovereigns. The sovereign was a gold coin introduced in 1817 as part of the Great Recoinage of 1816 to replace the guinea. The guinea was worth 21 shillings or £1.05 and the gold sovereign was worth £1. Interestingly the Great Recoinage was deemed necessary to stabilise the British currency after the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars caused severe economic problems in Great Britain. The sovereign continued to be in circulation until World War I, but remains legal tender in the UK today.
The following short article appeared in the Waterford Chronicle on Saturday the 21st of March 1846 (p. 3). The case was then reported in several other newspapers including the Kerry Examiner (27 March 1846, p. 3).
“COINING. On Monday last two men named Walsh and Sweeny, farmers from the county of Kilkenny, near Glenmore, who were of good character hitherto, were arrested on a charge of coining and committed to prison. The particulars of the case are as follows: the coiners came to pay rent to their landlord, to whom they paid nine sovereigns and some notes; they received receipts and departed. In short time after the money was sent to the bank, where the gold was discovered counterfeit, but the notes were good. The following morning Constable Hughes proceeded to the residences of the prisoners, and there found some coining utensils, for making sovereigns, as well some stamps for half crowns, which, together with some metal found in the same place, the constable brought into town. The persons charged are fully committed for trial.”
The following week, two national newspapers the Pilot and the Freeman’s Journal, quoting a Waterford Freeman article, supplied more details concerning the event. Interestingly the Waterford Freemen ceased publishing in 1847 because subscribers failed to pay their subscriptions. These articles reveal that a farmer named Peter Walsh, a resident of Weatherstown, Glenmore, on the 18th of March went into Waterford City to pay his rent to his landlord Mr. Robert Smith. According to the newspaper he tendered good notes for £6 and 9 sovereigns which were “base coin.” The landlord did not suspect that the coins were counterfeit until he went to lodge them in the bank and the bank informed him that the 9 sovereign coins were not real. Sergeant Hughes was informed and he arrested Peter Walsh and a labourer named Sweeny. At the time of his arrest Peter Walsh had on his person “three bad sovereigns, two base half crowns, mixed with good coins and 9 base half-crowns concealed.” The labourer Sweeney had one bad half crown. Hughes went to Walsh’s residence where he found “the instruments for casting the coins, the dies, the metallic substances, the receipts for polishing, and chemical ingredients. Waterford Freemen.” (The Pilot, Wed. 25 March 1846, p. 1).
On the 3rd of April 1846, Peter Walsh, of Weatherstown was granted bail on the application of Mr. Hassard, a solicitor. The court required two sureties’ posting £40 each. “Walsh, the farmer, from Weatherstown [was] committed to the city jail on a charge of passing base sovereigns a few weeks back” (Waterford Mail, Wed. 8 April 1846, p. 2). Thus, for attempting to pay his rent with 9 counterfeit coins valued at £9 two men had to post £40 each in order for Walsh to be released on bail. Unfortunately, this is the last newspaper article concerning the counterfeiting and no where is the first name of the labourer Sweeney provided or whether he continued to languish in jail.
That may have been the end of the story except for the parish records and a headstone in Glenmore cemetery. From the parish records we were able to discover that a Peter Walsh, of Weatherstown, was married to Anastatia Murphy and had 7 known children: [1] James Walsh, bapt. 2 Dec. 1836; [2] Mary Walsh, bapt. 18 Mar. 1838; [3] Patrick Walsh, bapt. 1 Dec. 1839; [4] John Walsh, bapt. 19 July 1841; [5] Edmund Walsh, bapt. 17 June 1842; [6] Michael Walsh, bapt. 23 Aug. 1844; [7] Bridget Walsh, bapt. 19 April 1846. All of the children when baptized had an address of Weatherstown, except Bridget who was born about a month after Peter Walsh, of Weatherstown was arrested. Bridget Walsh’s address was provided as Busherstown, Glenmore.
The only headstone with the name Peter Walsh, in the cemetery adjacent to the Glenmore Parish Church, has the following inscription:
Erected by Mary Walsh, of Weatherstown in memory of her grandfather Michael Walsh and her grandmother Mary Walsh. Her father Peter died in 1847. Her mother Anastasia Walsh née Murphy died in 1862 (sic). Uncles Patrick and Micheal Her sister Bridget Gahan née Walsh died in America 1856 (sic) aged 42. Her brother James died 17 May 1908, aged 72.
Danny Dowling interviewed Martin Cody, of Weatherstown, Glenmore in May 1977. Martin stated that the Walsh family had a farm of 40 Irish acres in Weatherstown, Glenmore. The last of the male line of this family in Weatherstown, was James Walsh who remained a bachelor and died in 1909. He lived with his sister Main Walsh, who never married. Main or Mary Walsh died in 1919. Jim and Main spoke Irish. Their land went down to Connolly’s Cross and the old name for that part of Jim Walsh’s farm was “Flohanins.” In 1977 Martin said that the Walsh farm was owned by William Fitzgerald of Weatherstown. His father brought it. A sister of James and Main Walsh married Tom Gahan, another native of Weatherstown. They emigrated to Boston and had two sons Frank and John. Frank Gahan fought with the US Army in Europe during the First World War and visited Weatherstown at that time. Lastly, Martin stated that the Walsh’s mother was one of the Sé Óg Walshs of Tullogher, and Jim and Main were first cousins of Dickie Doherty of Ballinlammy, Glenmore.
From the parish records we believe that it was the Walsh’s grandmother, rather than mother was one of the Sé Óg Walshs of Tullogher. Also, the 1901 census reveals that Anastatia Walsh née Murphy was an 87-year-old widow in Weatherstown living with her son James Walsh and daughter Mary Walsh. James Walsh was 60 years old and Mary Walsh was 57 years of age. Also reported in the household was Andrew Cashin, aged 30 who was listed as a domestic servant with the notation “idiot”. We were able to verify that James Walsh, died on the 17th of May 1908 at Weatherstown and James Synott was present when he died. The 1911 census reveals that Mary or Main Walsh was living alone and her landlord is listed as Patrick Fitzgerald. It is assumed that when her brother Jim died she sold the farm to Patrick Fitzgerald but continued living in the farmhouse.
We also verified that Bridget Walsh, of Weatherstown married Thomas Gahan on 16 August 1881 at Glenmore. The first record located in Boston reveals that in 1883 Thomas Gahan was living at 20 Beach Chsn. and working as a labourer (Boston City Directory 1883). The couple in addition to sons Frank and John also had a son Peter who died on 18 April 1885 of measles at the age of 2. Bridget Gahan née Walsh died on 10 Dec. 1887. She and her son Peter are buried together at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Boston. Bridget’s year of birth is incorrectly recorded as 1852 instead of 1846. We were unable to locate a 1919 death record for Mary/Main Walsh and we did find that another brother of Jim and Mary or Walsh. Michael Walsh (bapt. 1844) (farmer) married Catherine Mackey, of Weatherstown, on 23 September 1866 at Glenmore. She was the daughter of Philip Mackey (farmer) of Weatherstown. There was only 1 child located for this couple. Anastatia Walsh was born on 20 January 1867 in Weatherstown. It is not known if the family emigrated or remained in Ireland.
Danny Dowling also recorded information provided by Nicky the Miller Forristal in November 1977. Nicky revealed, “Old Jim Walsh and Main Walsh, of Weatherstown were brother and sister. They had a farm. Jim Walsh was known as “Bothered Jim.” He was kind of deaf and used to talk high. He was a big man. Old Cashin, the shoemaker, was invited out by Jim Walsh to visit him. The invitation extended over a long time, and finally Cashin did visit him, thinking he was going to have a great evening with a few drinks thrown in. After sometime Jim said to Main ‘get a pawpeen for Cashin.’ That was all he got.”
Lastly, from the information provided on the headstone Main Walsh erected we were able to trace the Walsh family, of Weatherstown, back another generation.
The parents of Peter Walsh (1809-1847) were Michael Walsh, of Weatherstown and Mary Walsh née Walsh of Tennefala, Glenmore. Tennefala is near Rosbercon, Tullogher. Per the baptismal records, the following children were born to this union: [1] Bridget Walsh, (bapt. 28 Jan. 1798); [2] John Walsh (bapt. 7 May 1802]; [3] Mary Walsh (bapt. 2 June 1807); [4] Peter Walsh, (bapt. 28 Aug. 1809); [5] James Walsh, (bapt. 30 July 1812); [6] Patrick Walsh, (bapt. 7 Aug. 1815) and [7] Michael Walsh, (bapt. 23 Jan. 1820).
The grandfather of Peter Walsh (1809-1847), Michael Walsh, was baptised on 19 August 1773 at Weatherstown, Glenmore. Michael was the son of Peter Walsh and Mary Walsh.
Given the fact that Peter Walsh was quickly released on bail, that he had a solicitor, and no record of a trial could be located it may be the case that the landlord, Robert Smith, was not interested in prosecuting so long as the rent was paid. There is no conclusive proof that the Peter Walsh, of Weatherstown, charged with counterfeiting in 1846 was the Peter Walsh (1809-1847) of Weatherstown, but he is the most likely candidate at the moment based upon the available records.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo above is an 1843 gold soverign coin featuring a young Queen Victoria.
Glenmore in 19th Century Newspapers
Below are ten short articles from a range of newspapers across the 19th century featuring Glenmore people or events. Interestingly some newspapers until 1900 spelled Glenmore as Glanmore, and the language employed by the newspapers is often quaint.
The first article deals with the two inevitabilities of life, death and taxes. The article was found in the Dublin Morning Register (Sat. 8 March 1828, p. 3), but was originally published in the Waterford Chronical.
“Tithes—Horrible Barbarity—Attend reader to the following appalling fact—“A poor man, named Pat. Bryan, lives in Haggard, mountains of Glanmore (sic), having a poor hovel he built himself on half an acre of ground; the land about him is let for 10s. per acre; he has been ill for a long time, supported by the charities of the parish, having four children and a poor wife. A day or two ago, he was called on for the tithes—there were Rectorial Tithes, Corporation Tithes, and Vicarial Tithes. Having nothing to pay them, the Collectors took from him the only blanket he had. But it would be well if it ended here—hear the sequel—the zealous parish priest of Slieverue, the Rev. J. Fitzpatrick, and his Coadjutor, the Rev. Mr. Foras, were collecting, yesterday, a subscription to purchase a coffin and shroud—for what? To bury the corpse of the man who died on the night of the day that he was stripped of his blanket!!! Waterford Chronicle.”
[2] The next article concerns a tragic death in Glenmore Village at Christmastime in 1831 found in the Freeman’s Journal (Sat. 1 Jan. 1831, p. 3)
“MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT—A most melancholy accident happened at Glanmore (sic), Kilkenny, in the night of the 23d instant. A poor blind man, upwards of 90 years of age, having taken his lodgings for the night, at a man’s house (of the name of Aylward), and going out after the family had gone to bed, he missed his way, and in attempting to return, groped by the police barrack, turned in by Gaffney’s house, and fell into the tail race of a tuck-mill, and was found in the morning frozen to death. There was no water. He was heard by many of the villagers, and in the police barracks too, crying out for assistance. Some of the people did go out after some time, but the cries ceasing, they returned without affording relief. Waterford Chronicle.”
[3] Seventy years before the Glenmore Creamery opened, the theft of butter in Glenmore was reported in the Kilkenny Moderator (Wed. 18 Sept. 1833, p. 2).
“On Wednesday night some evil disposed persons removed part of the thatch from a dairy belonging to Philip Aylward, of Ballinclar, in the parish of Glenmore, and robbed it of a quantity of butter.”
[4] A hunting accident reported in the Waterford Chronicle during the Famine was republished around the country. Here is what was found in the Kerry Examiner (Tues. 3 March 1846, p. 3).
“On Wednesday evening, as a fine young man named John Whelan, from Glanmore (sic), county Kilkenny, was passing over a ditch, in his own neighbourhood, a loaded gun, which he was carrying, accidently struck against some briers, went off, and lodged the contents in his heart. He expired, we learn, shortly afterwards. Waterford Chronicle.”
[5] The Irish Times (Mon. 6 Aug. 1860, p. 3) reported on a lark that preferred the Glenmore Barracks to the Rosbercon Barracks…
“A Fact for Ornithologists. —A circumstance worthy of the attention of ornithologists has been communicated to us by a trustworthy correspondent. Head-constable Harkins, of the Rosbercon Constabulary, recently was made a present of a lark by a policeman of the Glanmore (sic) station, who had kept the bird in a cage in his room. The head-constable some days after bringing the lark home, opened the cage to allow it to fly about the room, when to his great disappointment it contrived to escape through a broken window. He expected never to see the bird again, but to his no small astonishment he learned next day that it had flown directly to Glanmore (sic), a distance of five miles, and sought refuge again in the cage of its old master, where it has since remained.— Kilkenny Moderator”
[6] Prior to the Land League very few evictions were reported in local newspapers. However, the Kilkenny Journal, and Leinster Commercial & Literary Advertiser (Wed. 5 April 1865, p. 2) printed the following sentence in 1865.
“Eviction. A widow named Mullins and her ten children were evicted last Friday from her farm at Flemingstown, Glenmore, for non-payment rent, by her landlord, C. Milward, London—an absentee.”
[7] Glenmore apparently had a wholesale beer house in 1872 which is interesting as it was about this time that the parish priest prevailed upon the three publicans in the Village to shut their businesses. Glenmore remained a dry parish until the 1960’s. The following article appeared in the Kilkenny Moderator (Wed. 7 Feb. 1872, p. 3).
“Constable Power, of Glanmore (sic), prosecuted Henry Martin,, for having persons drinking in his wholesale beer house at Ballinalammy. The defendant admitted to the court that he did sell a quart of beer to a man named Donovan. Ordered to pay a fine of 5s with 2s 6d costs.”
According to the death register, Henry Martin (c. 1813-1885) of Ballinlammy, died on the 11th of July 1885, at the age of 72. He was a fowl dealer and widower. His daughter Kate Martin was present when he died.
[8] As a rural district Glenmore was occasionally used by city dwellers to engage in illegal activities. The following article appeared in the Waterford Standard (Wed 5 June 1878, p. 2) and makes a point of stating that all people and the dogs were from Waterford.
“A DOG FIGHT INTERRUPTED—Considerable excitement was manifested in Waterford yesterday when it became known that a dog fight had been attempted during the very early hours of the morning. It has transpired that the fight was arranged between two dogs, and that it was to take place at Lucy’s Rock, near Glenmore. At a little before daylight no less than twenty-six cars, fully laden, started from Waterford for the venue of the disgraceful event; and on arriving at the spot, the two dogs had a most sanguinary fight which had lasted for thirty-five minutes when the police interfered. We trust that the police will not allow the ringleaders in such inhumane and brutal scenes to go unpunished. All the parties, dogs included, were from Waterford; and we are informed a considerable amount of money changed hands on the event.”
[9] The newspapers are full of details regarding the local petty sessions. It is interesting to see what was considered crimes in the 19th century. The following article is full of Glenmore defendants and appeared in the Waterford Standard (Wed. 12 May 1880, p. 2). The article concludes with an ironic statement that the remainder of the business conducted by the court wasn’t important.
“Rosbercon Petty Sessions—Saturday—James Kelly, Graigunakill, summoned John Hanrahan for trespass, and he was fined 1s 6d and costs. Constable John McManus, Glenmore summoned Patrick Ennett, Cappagh, for allowing an ass to wander on the public road, fined 6d and costs. Edward Murphy, Robinstown, was fined 6d and costs for a like offence. Constables McManus summoned John Hanrahan, James Cody, John Costelloe, John Fitzgerald and Philip Mackey, Weatherstown, for having unregistered dogs in their possession. Fined 1s each and ordered to take out licenses. Sub-constable Denis Cronin, Glanmore (sic), summoned Thomas Freney, Kilbride, for a like offence. Like rule. Sub-constable John Mayer, New Ross, summoned five lads for bowling on the public road. He could only identify two, who were fined 10s or 14 days’ imprisonment, the other two being discharged with a caution…The remainder of the business was unimportant.”
[10] The last article provides a glimpse of the difficulties associated with bidding for a public contract 131 years ago. It is doubtful that the public contracts of that era led to any overruns. The article appeared in the Wexford People (Wed 21 May 1890).
“THE LIMESTONE CONTRACT. In accordance with an advertisement for ten boatloads of limestones, Mr. Daniel Cody, Carrigcloney, County Kilkenny, tendered at 39s per boatload. The Commissioners did not consider this satisfactory, and on the suggestion of the Chairman, it was ordered that Mr. Cody be written to on the subject, drawing his attention to the fact that the last contract he sent the stones at 36s per load.”
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh