19th Century
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Local Artefacts: A Letter from 1859, A Glenmore Football Medal and a 1907 Family Photo
Over the years Danny Dowling recorded information regarding various artefacts that have been discovered in and around Glenmore including ancient burial sites, coins and common household invoices from local businesses. Today, we are going to highlight three different types of artifacts. The first is a simple letter written and mailed in October 1859. Although Danny can not recall how he obtained the letter, or when it joined his collection, it was in a shopping bag with other letters from that era and steamship sailing information and receipts. Danny in his younger days was noted for urging people to donate to local libraries and archives. Often when people were cleaning out a cupboard or attic they would bring old documents, books and records to Danny who would accept the items and try to find a suitable library or archive for the items. If unsuccessful Danny would add them to his ecliptic collection. The second artefact is a Senior Football Kilkenny Championship medal awarded in 1917 to Thomas “Tommy” Forristal, of Rochestown, Glenmore. The third artefact is the 1907 photograph of the Maddock family of Listerlin, Tullogher.
The Letter
Today, with letter writing becoming less common due to email and other electronic means of communication this 162 year old letter, although dirty, is in remarkable condition. Physically, the letter is comprised of a single sheet of paper 16 inches by 10 inches. The sheet of paper was folded in half and the letter was written on one of the halved surfaces (8 inches width and 10 inches height). In the middle 19th century envelopes were not common. After the letter was written the two ends were folded in to form a rectangle 5 ½ inches by 8 inches. The rectangle was folded and the finished rectangle was 5 ½ inches (width) by 3 ¼ inches (height). On the back the ends were secured by wax. On the front are two stamps and the handwritten name of the addressee, Miss Anne Ryan, New Ross. Also handwritten on the front is the word “Registered.” The front of the letter is very dirty, and although the two stamps are postmarked the postmark is not legible. Another postmarked is on the back and reads “New Ross, Oct 2, 1859 A.” It is assumed that this is the postmark reflecting when the letter arrived in New Ross.
Most 19th century paper was made from rags and made without most of the chemicals found in paper today. It is assumed that a stylus type pen was used to write the letter. By the mid-19th century quills were no longer the usual instrument for letter writing. Steel nibs had been developed and were dipped into ink. Fountain pens that had a reservoir for ink did not come into general use until about 1900. The handwriting on the letter is typical of mid-19th century handwriting where the first S in Ross and Miss looks like a modern f. Now that handwriting is not a taught subject in school in many parts of the world it will be interesting if future generations will have difficulty reading and deciphering surviving 20th and 21st century handwritten documents.
The last unusual physical feature is the fact that a hole that is perfectly centred through all layers of the letter. This hole is from where the letter was spindled. In most businesses a spindle, which was an upright spike of approximately 6 to 8 inches in height, was used to hold papers until the papers were filed or destroyed.
The Letter Transcribed
Dublin 1 Oct 1859
Miss Anne Ryan New Ross
Dear Miss Ryan
I have received your letter of yesterday and regret to hear of the death of Miss Murphy. I am sure Mrs. Conell when I mention the fact to her this evening will be very much hurt that it was not communicated to her when it occurred.
I enclose a credit on the Bank of Ireland New Ross for ten pounds account(?) of your half year annuity the 29th Sept of which please acknowledge the receipt(?).
Sincerely(?) Francis Conell
(Registered)
Although several women named Anne Ryan are represented in death records from 1859 to 1900 without an address or approximate age it is impossible to determine who received this letter. From the contents of the letter it would appear that Miss Anne Ryan had an investment with Mr. Francis Conell that paid her twenty pounds per year, a large income in 1859. Given that steamship related tickets etc. were found in the same sack containing the letter it may be the case that Miss Ryan or her family were engaged in ticket sales or other businesses in New Ross. The fact that no house name is provided for Miss Ryan, and the fact that no business or street name is provided on the letter suggests that Miss Anne Ryan was a well known person in New Ross.
The Thomas Forristal Senior Co. Kilkenny Championship Football Medal
The photos of the medal were provided by Brian Forristal. Brian stated that he was told that his grandfather Thomas “Tommy” Forristal (1886-1955) a native of Rochestown, Glenmore wore the medal on his watch chain. The front of the medal is very ornate and reads “T. Foristal.” The inscription on the back is “Kilkenny Senior Football C’ship 1917. Won by Glenmore.” Several hallmarks are visible on the back of the medal.
Thomas Forristal was born 23 June 1886, at Rochestown, Glenmore the son of John Forristal and Mary Forristal née Reddy. Thomas married Kate Roche, of Rathinure, Glenmore at Glenmore on 11 July 1921. Kate was the daughter of John Roche, a farmer in Rathinure. The couple moved to Waterford where they resided at 28 Morgan St. Kate died tragically at the Parliament Street Hospital on 2 March 1923 while 7 months pregnant. Thomas at the age of 41 married another Glenmore native, Sarah Foran (1896-1983) of Kearney Bay, Glenmore. Sarah was 31 years of age when she married Thomas Forristal on 21 February 1927 at St. Patrick’s of Waterford. At the time of his second marriage, Thomas was living at 20 Morgan St. and Sarah was living on Patrick St., Waterford. Sarah was the daughter of John Foran and Ellen Foran née Power.
The Maddock Family Photo
The third artefact is a photo from the collection of Michael Hoynes, of Ballybrahee, Glenmore. It is a family photo of the family of Michael Maddock (c. 1853-1910) and Bridget Maddock née Gaule (c. 1856-1933) of Listerlin in the parish of Tullogher. This 1907 photo is unique in that all family members are present. We know from the 1911 census that Michael and Bridget had 11 children born alive and all were alive in 1911. By 1911 only 5 of the Maddock children were living at home. Their father, Michael had died on 30 July 1910 of cancer of the liver at the age of 57. The photo in addition to depicting the clothing and hair styles of the time shows that Michael Maddock wore a medal on his watch chain.
Michael Maddock (farmer) of Listerlin married on 19 September 1878 Bridget Gaule, also of Listerlin. Michael was the son of David Maddock and Bridget was the daughter of Luke Gaule.
The Maddock family in the 1907 photo (front row left to right) William Maddock (b.1894) (standing); MOTHER Bridget Gaule Maddock (c. 1856-1933) (seated); Bessie Maddock (b. 1898) (seated); FATHER Michael Maddock (c.1853-1910) (seated) and John Maddock (b. 1896) (seated); (back row left to right) Ciss Maddock (b. 1880); Dick Maddock (b. 1891); Bridget Maddock (b. 1886); David Maddock (b. 1882); Luke Maddock (b.1885), Statia Maddock (b. 1889); Molly Maddock (b. 1888) and Sylvester Maddock (1892-1917). Due to Sylvester being an unusual name it was easy to discover that he tragically died at the age of 23 of TB. At the time of his death he was working as a grocer’s assistant.
One Maddock daughter, Bridget Maddock (b. 1886) on 30 January 1913, in Rosbercon married George O’Connor (1881-1965) of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. To this union ten children were born. One daughter of George and Bridget O’Connor, Catherine O’Connor (b. 1917) married Philip James Hoynes on 14 January 1948 at Glenmore.
Special thanks to Michael Hoynes for sharing the 1907 Maddock Family photo and information and Brian Forristal for taking photos of his grandfather’s football medal and sharing the photos.
If there are any errors or omissions or anyone has any information to add concerning Miss Anne Ryan of 1859 New Ross etc. please email us at glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore walsh
Nicholas Forristal Phelan (1857-1941): From Ballyfacey to the Big Apple
When we came across Glenmore native Nicholas F. Phelan’s 1941 obituary in the Munster Express, it was unusual because it was noted that Nicholas had subscribed to that newspaper for over 50 years after he emigrated to the United States. He was a member of the Ballyfacey Phelan family and was 82 years of age at the time of his death which occurred eleven months before the U.S. entered World War II. The Munster Express in February 1941 published a short notice of his death. Then on the 7th of March 1941 the Munster Express published excerpts from obituaries for Nicholas that appeared in the New York Times and Brooklyn Eagle newspapers. Below are excerpts from the Munster Express obituary published 7 March 1941 (p. 8) followed by information concerning Nicholas and his second wife, Dr. Mary Sutton Phelan of Waterford, who served with the French Flag Nursing Corps during World War I . We shall highlight his accomplished sister, Mother Marie Gerard (Anastasia Phelan), in our next blog post.
“In a previous issue of the ‘Munster Express’ we briefly reported the sad news which we had received of the death in Brooklyn, New York, of an old friend and valued yearly subscriber in the person of Mr. Nicholas F. Phelan a native of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, and who in his early years was known and esteemed in business circles in Waterford…Nicholas F. Phelan, of 165 Hull St., a retired importer and brother of Mother Gerard, president of Marymount College, Tarrytown, N.Y., died [the 25th of January 1941] after a brief illness. Mr. Phelan was born in Ireland, and lived in Brooklyn for more than half a century. In addition to his sister, he is survived by his widow, Mary Sutton Phelan; a daughter, Anastasia, and four sons, John, Nicholas J., Patrick and Thomas Phelan. The funeral will be held from the Fairchild Chapel, 86 Lefferts Place, at 9.30 a.m. Wednesday, with a Solemn Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes R. C. Church, Broadway and Aberdeen Sts., at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.
WATERFORD ASSOCIATIONS—It is with feelings of the deepest regret we take this opportunity to tender our sincerest sympathy to his bereaved widow and relatives in the States and at home here in Ireland. As for ourselves, we feel deeply the loss of a sincere life time friend, apart from his being the oldest of the yearly subscribers. His personal letters to us when forwarding the yearly postal subscription in advance were a treat and breathed deep feeling and love for his native land and enquiries regarding the friends he knew who, alas, are every year growing less in number.
Mrs. Mary Sutton Phelan, his widow, is daughter of the late Mr. Sutton, of the once-important firm of Murphy, Sutton and Quinn, 40 and 41 Merchants’ Quay, Waterford, who for more than half a century carried on an extensive grocery and spirit business in the olden days. Mrs. Phelan was sister of the late Rev. Father Sutton, an honoured and esteemed member of the Redemptorist Order of priests in Ireland.
The late Mr. Phelan was widely connected here, and was brother-in-law of the late Mr. John Ennett, D.C., P.L.G., Cappagh Glenmore, whose death we recorded about a year ago, and who was an active member of the old Waterford Board of Guardians and District Council. Mr. Phelan was also brother-in-law of Mrs. Grant, for many years residing at Knocknarea, Priest Road, Tramore, and was widely connected with families in his native townland, Ballyfacey, and adjoining districts, to all of whom we extend our sympathy on the death of one who in life was a lovable true and exemplary man.—R.I.P.”
From Ballyfacey via Waterford to New York
Nicholas Forristal Phelan (1857-1941) was the son of John Phelan and Catherine Phelan née Forristal who were married on the 20th of February 1855 at Glenmore. It is not clear when or why Nicholas began using his mother’s maiden name as his middle name, but it is found in U.S. documents such as censuses, the birth records of his children, and his passport. The parish records indicate that both of his parents were from Ballyfacey and unfortunately the father’s of John and Catherine are not listed in the records. Nicholas’s father, John Phelan, was baptized in Ballyfacy on 10 February 1832 the son of Richard Phelan and Judith Dunphy.
According to the Glenmore parish records and the Civil Birth Register, John Phelan and his wife Catherine Phelan née Forristal had at least ten children: (1) Richard Phelan, bapt. 20 Dec. 1855; (2) Nicholas Phelan, born 10 June 1857; (3) Edmund Phelan, born 14 Feb. 1861; (4) Johanna Phelan, born 25 Mar. 1862—died 1896; (5) James Phelan, born 15 April 1864; (6) Margaret Phelan, born 1 April 1866; (7) & (8) Twins John & Michael Phelan, born 2 April 1868; (9) Denis Phelan, born 15 Feb. 1870 and (10) Anastasia Phelan, born 18 Jan. 1872.
As a young man Nicholas went to Waterford and opened a business. It is believed that it was a grocery business. On the 29th of September 1882, at St. Patrick’s in Waterford, Nicholas Phelan, of George’s Street, married Catherine Condon (c. 1961-1919) of Clonmel. The groom’s father is recorded as John Phelan, farmer, and the bride’s father is recorded as Jeremiah Condon, victualler. The witnesses were James Hayes and Elizabeth Flavin. Immediately after the wedding the newlyweds emigrated to New York.
The city directories indicate that Nicholas’s business premises were at 6 Barclay St. in Manhattan, he worked as a salesman and the family home was at 635 4th Avenue (1889 New York City Directory) Sometime around 1907 the family was renting a house at 165 Hull in Brooklyn and by the time of the 1930 Census owned the home.
According to the 1900 Census Nicholas F. and Catherine Phelan had 9 children and 6 were living. The children listed in the census include: (1) Catherine J. Phelan, born 31 Oct 1861; (2) Anastasia Phelan, born 4 Nov. 1887—died 29 Oct. 1950; (3) John C. Phelan, born 6 Dec. 1888; (4) Nicholas Phelan, born 3 Jan 1893; (5) Patrick C. Phelan, born 15 April 1895– died 29 May 1968; (6) Thomas C. Phelan, born 30 Nov. 1896.
On the 2nd of September 1919, Catherine J. Phelan née Condon died at the home at 165 Hull St. of pneumonia. She and Nicholas had been married for 30 years. Her New York death certificate lists her parents as Jeremiah Condon and Mary Anne Condon. The 1920 Census reveals that his daughter Anastasia and the younger children although grown were still living in the family home and his nephew Dennis Phelan had immigrated in 1919 and was residing with the family. In 1921 Nicholas applied for his first passport. He is recorded as being 54 years of age; 5 feet 3 inches tall with blue eyes and black and grey hair. He recorded that he was born at Ballyfacy, Co. Kilkenny on 10th June 1857 and his father John was deceased. From his emigration in September 1882 until 1921 he was only out of the country in 1913 when he was in England on the 21st and 22nd June and from the 24th of June to the 22nd of July he was in Ireland. According to the application he intended to travel in 1922 to Ireland, England and France.
The Second Wife: Dr. Mary Sutton Phelan (1875-?) a native of Waterford
Sometime after Catherine died in 1919 and 1922 Nicholas F. Phelan married Mary Sutton, a native of Waterford. How or where the couple met is not known. The first record we could find indicating a marriage had taken place were records from the SS France. In June 1922 the couple sailed from Le Harve, France to New York.
Waterford birth records provide that Mary Sutton was the daughter of John Sutton (c. 1847-1898) and Johanna Sutton née O’Brien (c.1853-1928). The known children of this union include: (1) & (2) Twins, Thomas Amary Sutton and Mary were born on the 15th of December 1875; (3) Thomas Moses Sutton was born on 10 September 1877; (4) John Alex Sutton was born on the 15th of July 1883; (5) Anne M. Sutton was born on the 26th of November 1881; and (6) Margaret Sutton, was born on the 2nd of August 1886.
In 1927, the Munster Express (Fri, 22 April 1927, p. 8) published an article entitled, “Distinction for Waterford Lady in U.S.A.” Citing the March 1927 British Journal of Nursing the newspaper revealed that Mary Sutton Phelan was to be conferred a Master of Arts in June… “Mrs. Sutton Phelan quite recently took the degree of a Bachelor of Science, and in addition to this is a fully qualified and State Registered Nurse. Mrs. Sutton-Phelan is well-known among the pioneers of nursing organisations as a lady of great enterprise and initiative. She has a splendid record in her own profession, particularly in the field of welfare work, both at home and abroad. Her work as a member of the French Flag Nursing Corps was specially conspicuous for its excellence—both in French Military Hospitals and in Welfare Work after the War…
Mrs. Phelan is daughter of Mrs. J. Sutton, Lombard Street, Waterford, and formerly of the firm of Messrs. Murphy, Sutton & Co., Quay, Waterford. She is sister of Rev. T. Sutton, of the Redemptorist Order, who from time to time has conducted Retreats and Missions here in his native City of Waterford. Mr. N. F. Phelan is a native of Glenmore parish, and in his early manhood, was in business here, in this city. He is proprietor of an extensive wholesale tea and, wine business in New York, and more than once in recent years, revisited the scenes of his boyhood in and around Glenmore and Waterford. …” [For general information on the French Flag Nursing Corps, see http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/167.html ]
We believe that Mary continued with her education until she earned a doctorate. In the obituary of her step-daughter Anastatia Phelan (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mon. 30 October 1950) Mary was listed as Dr. Mary Sutton Phelan, Ed.D. Unfortunately we were unable to locate an obituary for Mary. However, we did locate one article from 1916 that reveals information regarding Mary’s work with the French Flag Nursing Corps. We have not been able to verify whether she was a nursing sister or a nun as stated in the article. The following article was published in New Ross Standard, on Friday the 25th of February 1916 (p. 4 ).
“CO. WEXFORD NUNS’ BRAVERY HAIL FROM THE ARTRURSTOWN DISTRICTS. Amongst the brave Irish Nuns ministering to the wants of the soldiers at the front and whose work have won the gratitude and admiration of both doctors soldiers are Sister Mary Sutton of Waterford, who is a first cousin to Mr John Murphy, merchant, Arthurstown; niece to Mrs Johanna Murphy, of Murphy, Sutton and Co., Arthurstown, and sister of the Rev Thomas Sutton, C.SS.R., who was one of the Fathers conducting the Mission in Ramsgrange in 1908, is now siting as Superior of the Rebeval Hospital in the Vosges and her charm of matter and warm heart made her a favourite with all. Sister Sutton has been a member of the Nursing Corps since 1914. She was one of the heroines of the Bruges and after helping to bring order out of the chaos was terribly disappointed when owing to the German bombardment, the Sisters were compelled to leave their hospitals and abandon all the comforts they had gathered together for the well-being of their patients. The Sisters who worked through the Typhoid epidemic at Bruges in the spring of last year, will never forget the terrible sufferings they relieved. Sister Sutton joined the French Flag Nursing Corps two months after the outbreak of hostilities and is now, as stated, in charge of the base hospital at Vosges. Nurse Sutton’s parents are natives of Horeswood parish to which their ancestors have given a name by which it is generally known. She is ably assisted by another Co. Wexford lady. Nurse Carmichael, who was born in Duncannon R.I.C. barrack of which her father was sergeant in charge some years ago.”
The featured photo is a postcard of Fulton Ferry and Brooklyn Bridge–N.Y. side (1900-1909) New York Public Library; NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b17538085.
Barclay St. –3rd Ward Plat Map 1855, New York Public Library Digital Collection (Image No. 1648061) 6 Barclay Street is in the Tribecca Neighborhood of Manhatton. The current building on the site was built in 2006 and has 58 stories with 400 units.
The photo of Nicholas F. Phelan is from his 1921 U.S. passport application.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
[Updated] Rev. Maurice Hoyne (1865-1930): His Time Down Under
Thanks to Michael Hoyne providing his research we are able today to present some information concerning a Glenmore native who was ordained and spent his religious life in Australia at the end of the nineteenth century and early decades of the twentieth century.
According to the short bio written by Father Michael Mernagh for Glenmore Times (2000). Maurice Hoyne was the eldest of a family of eighteen. He attended Glenmore National School and St. Kieran’s College. According to Fr. Mernagh, “Tradition has it that while out ploughing the family land he was inspired by the singing of a strange bird to devote his life to God.” According to Fr. Maurice’s 1930 obituary and the records obtained from the Melbourne Diocesan Historical Commission Fr. Maurice was educated St. John’s College, Waterford.
Fr. Maurice’s parents were John Hoyne, of Ballybrahee, Glenmore and Margaret Hoyne née Aylward, of Ballinclar, Glenmore. John and Margaret married on the 16th of February 1865 at Glenmore. Maurice was born on the 29th of November 1865. Luckily, his father registered his birth on the 5th of December as the baptisms from November 1865 are missing from the Glenmore Parish records. [Correction: Only missing from one of the online versions.]
Fr. Maurice was ordained at Waterford by Bishop Egan on the 16th of August 1890 for the Sale Diocese, Australia. Maurice sailed from London on the 21st of November 1890 on board the ship Cuzco. He arrived at Melbourne on the 5th of January 1891. The Diocese of Sale was established by Pope Leo XIII on the 26th of April 1887. The diocese covers south east Victoria, from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne to the New South Wales border including all of Gippsland.
As soon as he arrived in Australia, Fr. Maurice became the first parish priest for Bairnsdale, Victoria. The following note appears in the Diocese records:
The extensive mission having Bairnsdale for its headquarters has been divided by the Bishop, through the erection of Omeo into a separate mission. His Lordship will formally induct Fr. Hoyne as first pastor of the new but important mission. Fr. Hoyne, since his arrival in the colony some 18 months ago, has been stationed continuously at Bairnsdale, from which place the Omeo district until now has been ministered from. For some months past the residents of the latter place have been making preparations for the reception of their pastor. A house was secured, and is now fitted up with suitable furniture.
After the mission was divided Fr. Maurice served as the parish priest for Omeo from 1892 to 1900. In a Diocese note it is revealed that Fr. Maurice was a good horseman. He rode 60 miles from Omeo to Castleburn in eight hours, on rough roads, to make sick calls. While serving at Omeo, Fr. Maurice learned that his mother died in Glenmore on the 5th of May 1896 at the age of 52. Two years later, on the 6th of August 1898, Fr. Maurice narrowly escaped drowning in the flooded Mitchell River. When Fr. Maurice was leaving for Cowwarr in 1900 the parishioners of Omeo gave him a gift of 80 to 90 sovereigns.
Fr. Maurice from 1900 to 1901 was assigned to Cowwarr and then to Warragul. He was assigned to Morwell for a year and then in 1906 he went to New Norcia in Western Australia. New Norcia is the only monistic town in Australia. In 1846 a Benedictine mission was sent to this area in Western Australia, 86 km north of Perth, to convert the local Aboriginals. In 1856 Bishop Salvado acquired land and established the outstation of Wyening to provide a network of pastoral stations to provide the Benedictine Monastery at New Norcia with food and income.
Fr. Maurice appears to have been based at a Wyening Mission Farm [Correction: Fr. Maurice while employed by the Monastery from 1905 to 1909 was based near Toodyay*] that he named “Glenmore” after his home parish in Ireland. In addition to managing the farm he was the parish priest for a huge parish. In 1909 Fr. Maurice sold “Glenmore” farm to Mr. Chitty. While in Western Australia Fr. Maurice’s brother John Hoyne and his wife, Ellen née Doherty moved to Australia. John and Ellen were married at Glenmore on the 7th of June 1899. Ellen was the daughter of Richard Doherty (deceased farmer) of Milltown, Glenmore. It is not known exactly when John and Ellen arrived, but we found a listing for them in the 1910 Western Australia Post Office Directory: “Hoyne Maurice (R.C.) Goomalling; and Hoyne, Jno. Farmer, Goomalling.” Thus, John and Ellen joined Fr. Maurice before 1910.
Fr. Maurice registered a brand for his livestock “8MH” and provided his address as Hoyne, M., “Glenmore” Wyening. John also registered a brand, “Y5H,” for Hoyne, John, “Carrigcloney” Yulgering Mail via Toodyay. The farm named “Carrigcloney” was comprised of 1765 acres.
To my query as to why John and Ellen Hoyne named their farm Carrigcloney my husband stated that his father (Tom Walsh (1908-1992)) stated that the Hoynes of Ballybrahee and Carrigcloney “were all the one.” He reported that the Hoynes originated in Carrigcloney and one moved to Ballybrahee to care for a farm and the previous tenant never returned from the U.S. The naming of the farms reflects an affection for Glenmore.
According to the son of a neighbour of John and Ellen (who corresponds with Michael Hoyne), when John and Ellen settled in the Yulegering area the land was not cleared. “They would have started with all bush property” which they had to clear and develop from scratch. Carrigcloney farm was located 7 miles northeast of Ealingir. Ellen Hoyne died on the 15th October 1940 and John Hoyne suffered a stroke in 1945, sold the farm, and died on the 26th of October 1950. The couple had no living children.
In the 1920’s Fr. Maurice was assigned to Broome, Wagga-Wagga, and in 1925 he was at St. Patrick’s in Brisbane. In 1929, Fr. Maurice visited Ireland. It was the only time he came home after being ordained. Fr. Maurice left London on board the Orontes and arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on the 25th of November 1929. He travelled third class, listed his age as 63. (Fremantle, Western Australia, Passenger Lists). Five months after his return to Australia, Fr. Maurice died on the 24th of April 1930. Fr. Maurice’s obituary was carried in the New Ross Standard (30 May 1930); Munster Express (6 June 1930) and the Kilkenny People (31 May 1930). [A copy of the New Ross Standard obit is on the “H” family page.]
This would normally be the end of the story, but last summer Jo Doyle née Mernagh told a story about her aunt Mary Mernagh (1904-1973). Although Jo did not know the first name of Fr. Hoyne she related that Fr. Hoyne came home from Australia for a visit. Mary Mernagh was working at the Hoyne home in Ballybrahee. Mary was the second youngest daughter of John “Jack” Mernagh (c. 1858-1911) of Ballyverneen, who died tragically in 1911 in a threshing accident. Just before Fr. Hoyne left to return to Australia he asked Mary if she would go out to Australia to become his housekeeper. Jo said her aunt thought long and hard and finally decided she would go. Fr. Hoyne sent the fare and the ship records reveal that Miss Mary Mernagh, of Weatherstown, Glenmore, aged 24, sailed on the Themistocles from Liverpool to Melbourne leaving Liverpool on the 8th of March 1930. When Mary arrived in Melbourne she learned that Father Maurice had died the day before her arrival. Mary stayed in Australia for a number of years although little is known about her time there. The last record found was in 1949. From obituaries of two of her siblings we found that she moved to Lancashire, England where she died in 1973.
Apologies for any misspelled Australian towns or areas. Special thanks to Michael Hoyne for sharing his research and photo of Fr. Maurice. Special thanks to Peter Hocking, Archivist, of the Benedictine Community of New Norcia for further information concerning Fr. Maurice.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
* Peter Hocking, Archivist, of the Benedictine Community of New Norcia provided that the Monastry Chronicle notes that Fr. Maurice Hoyne served from 1905-1909. He arrived from Melbourne and was station at New Norcia in 1905 as one of six or seven diocesan priests. He did not reside at Wyening. Glenmore was a property outside Toodyay which is about 90km southeast of New Norcia. Wyenning is about mid-way between New Norcia and Toodyay. [Updated 24 January 2021]
Sabotaging the 1893 Hunt in Glenmore: The Burning of the Fox Coverts
In three previous posts we highlighted some of the local activities of the Glenmore Land League from its establishment in late 1880 through its split in February 1891 over the Parnell scandal. Some of the main agrarian agitation activities undertaken by members included engaging in boycotts and gathering to protest and frustrate evictions. One of the best known successful eviction frustrations occurred at Ballyfacey, Glenmore on the 27th of August 1885. On that date church bells across South Kilkenny rang out calling thousands of people to gather and stop the eviction of Ballyfacey families. Two years later in February 1893 the local people were again called together this time to resist the seizure in the middle of the night of cattle in Ballyfacey. A month later a group of local men and women stopped a fox hunt in Ballyfacey and burned the coverts, to stop future hunts. In general, fox hunting was a pursuit of the landlords and gentry. A covert is anywhere a fox may live. In various areas of Glenmore rough ground with bushes and other cover was protected by the landlords to provide a place for foxes. Generally, hounds were sent into the covert to flush out the fox and the hunt would begin.
Pitchfork Protests at Ballyfacey Glenmore
The Wexford People (Sat. 1 April 1893, p. 8) published an article entitled, “UNIONIST HUNTSMEN ATTACKED WITH PITCHFORKS: THE COVERTS BURNED.” On Tuesday the 26th of March “an exciting scene was witnessed at the hunt at Ballyfacey,” which “has been the scene of many a stubborn fight against the enemies of the people.” “…Men and women of that place were forward in showing their detestation of shoneen Unionism.” Shoneen is a derogatory word in Irish that refers to one who prefers English attitudes, customs or lifestyle to Irish ones.
On that day Sir Nugent Humble’s hounds were advertised to meet at Tory Hill. Sir Nugent Humble was from Waterford County and it is reported that by the 1870’s his estate was comprised of 6,000 acres. Humble also had lands in County Tipperary, but it does not appear that he had any land in or around Ballyfacey.
The Humble hunters met and proceeded to the covert at Ballyfacey, Glenmore. The Munster Express (Sat. 8 April 1893, p. 8) reported that “when the hounds came to the covert a number of men proceeded with pitchforks to stop the hunt. Sir Nugent Humble inquired the cause of the display, and was told the ‘Castle Catholics’ who attended the Orange meeting would not be permitted to pass, but that the other gentlemen might do so.” Notwithstanding the language used by the newspaper in covering the incident there were no injuries n either side.
Local Castle Catholics
The Munster Express did not identify the so-called “Castle Catholics” or Catholics who supported the Crown, however the Wexford People did name them and we have below provided the actual words from the article. “Mr. Bloomfield, …one of the organisers of the recent Unionist meeting in Waterford, and Mr. Nicholas Lambert, the new ‘Catholic Jay-Pay’ from Ballinakill or Dysertmoon.”
The Wexford People article went on to explain that Nicholas Lambert “before he was ‘raised to the bench’ was, like a good many more of his kind in this country, free and easy with the people as long as he thought he could be served by them, but as soon as he was made a J.P. he ‘kicked over the traces’ and became a Unionist going down to Waterford to beat the Orange drum. In his efforts to ape the grandee, however, he has overshot the mark, and on Tuesday be saw that when he was told by the lads and lasses who were stationed on the fence of Ballyfacey covert that it was to him the objection was made.”
“He began to foam, but was soon made cool, and though his conduct might have precipitated a row, yet the sight of the men with pikes in their hands made the hunters retreat, Mr. Lambert among the rest. The dogs were beaten by the girls, and when the hunters were retiring the crowd groaned for Balfour and cheered for Gladstone and Home Rule. Though the scene was at one time exciting no blows were struck. About twenty or thirty men composed the crowd which defended the covert. On the same night the covert of Ballyfacey, another at Mullinahone, in the parish of Glenmore, and a third at Greenlands, on Mr. Fitzgerald’s land at Knockbrock, were burned to ashes. The foxes which they contained ran in all directions.”
Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930)
To put the groans of the protesting crowd into context, Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930) was the chief Secretary for Ireland until 1891. While he suppressed agrarian unrest and demonstrations he did institute a few measures against absentee landlords. Balfour opposed Irish Home Rule and is attributed with saying there could be no “halfway house” between Ireland remaining within the United Kingdom or becoming independent. By 1893 Balfour led the Conservative Party in the House of Commons. In 1902 he succeeded his uncle Lord Salisbury as Prime Minister and served until 1905.
William Gladstone (1809-1898)
The cheers of the protesting crowd were for William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898). Gladstone was a member of the Liberal party and served as prime minister four times. Gladstone was personally committed to the granting of Irish home rule and in 1886 introduced the first 1886 Home Rule Bill for Ireland. Unfortunately, this Bill caused him to lose power. When he became prime minister again in August 1892, he began working on a new home rule bill. The Second Home Rule Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons in April 1892 and the third reading on 1 September. However, the House of Lords, a week later, killed the Bill when the majority of Lords voted against it.
Although no political group is associated with the article it seems likely that the agrarian agitation activities of the Land League were employed by locals to show displeasure with an apparent Catholic neighbour not supporting Home Rule. The sabotage of the Ballyfacey hunt was reported widely including to Irish exiles in the United States via The Irish Standard (Minneapolis, Minnesota) on Sat. the 29th of April 1893.
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Previous blog posts include: “The Glenmore Land League and the Ballyfacey Evictions,” available at https://glenmore-history.com/the-glenmore-land-league-and-the-ballyfacey-evictions/ , and “Glenmore and Mr. Parnell,” available at https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-and-mr-parnell/ .
The featured photo above is a John Player cigarette card, retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47de-40d9-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
The second photo is of the artwork of Alken, Henry Thomas (1784-1851), (1817-05-01) Fox hunting. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-3696-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
The Balfour photo is from Bain News Service, publisher – Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2014682753 and the photo is from the portrait section available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018697133 .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
[Updated] From Glenmore to Clerk of the Carrick-on-Suir Union
Today, we are going to highlight James Mullins (1841-1912) a native of Flemingstown, Glenmore, who for over four decades held the post of Clerk of the Carrick-on-Suir Union. James Mullins was the eldest of fourteen children of Patrick Mullins (c. 1817-1884) of Flemingstown, Glenmore and his wife Julia Mullins née Brenan (c. 1812-1891).
Clerk of the Union
In 1834 the Poor Law came into effect. Civil parishes were grouped together to form Unions. The Catholic parish of Glenmore is made up of multiple civil parishes and because it lies between two urban centres was split. The western portion of the Catholic parish of Glenmore was in the Waterford Union and a small portion of the eastern part belonged in the New Ross union. Each union had to provide a workhouse for the housing and relief of the poor and provided medical care. Each Union was operated by the Board of Guardians. The Poor Law Guardians (PLG) were elected. The clerk of a Poor Law Union was a civil servant responsible for organising meetings and taking minutes of the Board of Guardians, organising the elections and submitting reports to the national officials. From 1871-1919 the national officials were the Local Government Board.
The obituary for James Mullin published in 1912 is very long even for that period of time. Interestingly it reflects that the deceased was still working after the age of 70. It also provides a lot of detail concerning how the funeral proceeded etc., but the obituary fails to mention that the deceased never married. His numerous sisters are mentioned, but no first names were provided for his sisters. According to the death register James Mullins died on the 10th of June 1912, at his home on Castle St., Carrick-in-Suir, County Tipperary of “acute nephrites uremia.” Margaret Walsh was present at his death. What her relationship was to James Mullins is not recorded. However, the 1911 Census identifies three women in James Mullin’s home. His sister Johanna, aged 53, is listed as a housekeeper as is Margaret Walsh who is aged 46. Another servant Johanna Flynn is 24 years of age. All four inhabitants are single and it is recorded that they were all natives of Kilkenny.
Excerpts from the Obituary of James Mullins (1841-1912)
Munster Express (Fri. 15 June 1912, p. 5) Death of a Well Known and Popular Poor Law Official–It is with deep regret we have to announce the death of Mr. James Mullins, the well-known, efficient and popular Clerk of Carrick-on-Suir Union. The sad event took place rather unexpectedly on Monday morning last at deceased’s late residence, Castle street, Carrick-on-Suir. Deceased had been forty-three years Clerk of Carrick Union. His conspicuous ability and integrity and firmness as an official during all these years won for him the esteem and admiration and confidence of the various Boards with which his important position brought him in contact. Prior to coming to Carrick-on-Suir he served for a short time as Clerk of Thomastown Union. The late Mr. Mullins was born at Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, a few miles from Waterford City, a little over 70 years ago. He belonged to an old well-known and highly respected family, which is most respectably connected in the Counties of Kilkenny and Waterford. Deceased had been engaged at his post as Clerk of Carrick Union with his wonted devotion to duty up to Saturday week, on which day at the Guardians’ meeting he was granted a fortnight’s leave of absence. When applying for the leave he mentioned that he had been suffering for some days previously from a cold. The Guardians then present at the meeting little thought that it was to be the last which their late Clerk, who had served them with such devotion for nearly half a century, would ever attend. The Guardians and ratepayers of Carrick Union have lost in the late Mr. Mullins a most conscientious and able official, whose sole ambition in life was to serve them faithfully. Much sympathy is felt, for the relatives of the deceased in their bereavement.
The remains were conveyed on Wednesday morning last from deceased’s late residence to St. Nicholas’s Catholic Church, Carrick-on-Suir, where a Requiem High Mass was celebrated for the repose of the soul of the deceased, in the presence of a large number of relatives and sympathisers. The celebrant of the Mass was the Rev. M. Cheasty, C.C., Carrick-on-Suir assisted by two other priests. [The obit then lists 14 other priests making up the choir…The-coffin was borne to the hearse from the church by six of the senior members of the Carrick-on-Suir Board of Guardians.]
The chief mourners were:—Mrs. Garvey, Waterford; Mrs. Stapleton, Glenmore; Mrs. Hassett, Glenstown; Mrs. Duggan, Clonassy; Miss Mullins, Whitestown; Miss Mullins, Flemingstown, sisters.; Messrs. Felix Mullins, Flemingstown; Walter Mullins, Whitestown; John Mullins, London, brothers; Messrs. N. Garvey, John and Pat Hassett. P. Mullins, nephews; the Misses E. and M. Terry and Miss Fox, nieces; Messrs. Thos. Terry, Rathgormac; Michael Hassett. Glenstown; Michael Stapleton, Glenmore; J. Fox, Carrick-on-Suir, brothers-in-law.
Amongst those who sent wreaths were: Mrs. Garvey, Mrs. Stapleton, Mr. and Mrs. Fox, Dr. J. Dwan, N. Garvey and Paddy, Aggie, Julia, and Willy; Sisters of Mercy, Carrick-on-Suir: Mrs. Hassett, Messrs. W. J. and T. Mullins, the Misses E. und M. Terry; Mr. and Mrs. Vickery. Provincial Bank, Carrick-on-Suir; etc.
The funeral started from Carrick for Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, at 12.30. It was the largest and most Representative seen in the district for many years past. All the members of the Carrick-on-Suir Board of Guardians and District Council and the intern and extern officials of Carrick Union walked in the cortege. There were also present all the professional and principal merchants of Carrick, and a very large number from the Co. Waterford and from South Tipperary and South Kilkenny. On the way to Glenmore large numbers joined the cortege at Piltown, Fiddown, Mooncoin and Waterford. Mr. James Hurley, Main Street, Carrick-on-Suir, had charge of the funeral arrangements.
As the cortege passed through Waterford it was joined by the following, amongst many others whose names we were unable to ascertain:—Dr. J. H. J. Jackman; John Mackey, Clerk of the Waterford Union; Mr. David Hyland, Chairman Waterford Board of Guardians, and Mrs. Hyland; Edward Walsh, T.C., Editor “Munster Express;” Patrick Grant, J.P., Slieverue, Chairman, No. 2 District Council; the employees at Garveys, Johnstown; John Kavanagh. John Walsh, and J. and K. Walsh, George’s Street, City; Felix Walsh, Thomastown; Walter Dower, Thomas Casey, Maurice Power. DC. Moonamintra: Patrick Kennedy. Assistant Clerk. Waterford Union: Robert Moloney, do.; J. Cosgrave, Master of the Union; M. Dunphy, Assistant Master: P. Walsh and William Healy, R.O.’s; M. Walsh, Master. Carrick Union; Thomas H. Doolan, Waterford: Michael Curran, D.C., Ballincrea; Richard Mullins, Gaulstown; John Irish, Ballinlammy; Matthew O’Keeffe, John Vereker. D.C; Lloyd Hutchinson, Jas. Kirwan, Gaulestown; Tobias Vereker. Ed. Vereker, Mr. Kennedy, Raheenara: Mr. Rrowne (of Messrs. Flynn and Young; J. Mullins, E. and M. Terry, Carrick; Michael Brennan, Walter Bishop. W. Aylward, John Hartley, Slieverue: Andrew Irish, Rathpatrick; Mrs. and Miss Keating and Miss Grant, Rathpatrick: Richard A. Dee, Frank Ryan, Ringville: John O’Neill, D.C. Ullid; James Farrell D.C.; John Hynes, Milepost; P. McDonnell, Ballintlea; T. Morrissey, Carrick-on-Suir; Michael Maher. D.C.; Dr. M. P. Coghlan, and many others who joined the funeral between Waterford and the family burial ground at Glenmore. We tender our sincere sympathy to the bereaved relatives of the deceased, whom we had the pleasure of knowing for a long number of years in his official capacity.—R.l.P. (Munster Express, Sat. 15 June 1912, p. 5).
The Leinster Reporter (Sat. 26 Oct. 1912, p. 3) reported that James Mullins left a personal estate valued at £8,112. He left £100 for the celebration of Masses; £200 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the poor of Carrick-on-Suir, and the residue he left among members of his family. According to the Calendar Wills & Administrations (1858-1922) on the 26th of July 1912 at Waterford the Will was probated and “granted to Julia Garvey, Widow; Walter Mullins and Thomas Terry, Farmers. Effects £3,112 18s. 7d.”
The Family of James Mullins (1841-1912)
Luckily details concerning the ancestors of James Mullins were recorded by Danny Dowling in 1971 when he interviewed Mary Stapleton of Slieverue. Mary Stapleton was a niece of James. Further details were obtained from Mullins headstones in the Glenmore cemetery, parish records and the death register. As was common in the 19th century when a daughter named Mary died a later child born to the couple was also named Mary. As is often the case the given names of some of the children was not the name that the child used during his or her lifetime.
Partial Inscription from the headstone at Glenmore [dates need to be verified]
Erected by Patrick Mullins of Flemingstown
In memory of his mother Margaret Mullins alias Croak
Who Died SepT 1st 1827 Aged 71 years
James his son who Died Nov 1st 1883 Aged 16 yrs
Keyran his son who Died Dec 15th 1835 Aged 22 years
And James his brother who Died April 27th 1886 Aged 34 years
Above named Patrick Mullins
Died in the year 1848 Aged 59 years
And his wife Margaret Mullins nee Howley
Died in Sept 1863 Aged 87 years
Great-Grandparents—Keiran Mullins, of Flemingstown, Glenmore married Margaret Croak (c. 1756?-1827) of Tullogher. Margaret Mullins née Croak died 1 Sept. 1827 at age 71.
Grandparents—Patrick Mullins (c. 1784-1848) of Flemingstown, Glenmore married Margaret Howley (c. 1776?-1863) of Ballytarsney, Mooncoin. [Editor’s note–Patty Brown & Ann Fitzgerald located the baptismal record for Patrick Mullins, of Flemingtown, baptized on 30 January 1784, son of Kyran Mullins & Margaret Croake. The parents of Patrick (1784-1848) have been corrected above. Updated 30 Jan. 2021]
Parents—Patrick Mullins (c. 1817-1884) of Flemingstown, Glenmore married Julia Brenan (c. 1812-1891) of Ashgrove, Mooncoin on the 2nd of March 1840 at Mooncoin.
There are 14 known children of Patrick Mullins and Julia Mullins née Brennan and include:
- [1] James Mullins (bapt. 30 July 1841-10 June 1912) Clerk of the Carrick-on-Suir Union
- [2] Mary Mullins (bapt. 31 Dec. 1842-1863) Never married.
- [3] Patrick Mullins (bapt. 17 June 1844-1852) Never married.
- [4] Felix Mullins (bapt. 11 April 1846- 24 Jan. 1919) Farmer in Flemingstown, Glenmore, never married.
- [5] Margaret Mullins (bapt. 15 Dec. 1847- 3 Aug. 1923) Margaret Mullins married Thomas Terry (farmer) of Rathgormac Castle, Co. Waterford.
- [6] Catherine Mullins (bapt. 23 June 1849– ) Catherine Mullins married Patrick Duggan (farmer) of Clonassy, Mullinavat on the 9th of March 1886.
- [7] Alicia Mullins (bapt. 2 March 1851- ) Alice Mullins married Michael Hassett (c. 1854) (farmer) of Clenstown on 4 March 1889 at Glenmore. The bride gave her age as 30 when she was actually 38.
- [8] Kieran Mullins (bapt. 26 Dec. 1852–22 April 1912). Kieran Mullins (farmer) of Whitestown married Johanna Phelan, of Carbally, Tramore, Co. Waterford. They had at least one son.
- [9] Judith Mullins (bapt. 17 May 1854– ) Could this be Johanna Mullins who died on 19 September 1917, aged 62 and is buried with her brother Felix in Glenmore?
- [10] John Mullins, (bapt. 19 April 1856-Nov. 1942) Customs & Excise Officer—never married.
- [11] Walter Mullins (4 Dec. 1859-8 April 1921) Farmer at Whitestown, never married.
- [12] Elizabeth Mullins (16 Sept. 1861-
- [13] Mary Mullins (17 May 1865-16 March 1946). Married Michael Stapleton, a sergeant in the R.I.C. on 26 Nov. 1903.
- [14] Ellen Mullins (4 March 1867- )
From the various obituaries we know that one of the girls, who went by the name Julia, married an N. Garvey, and another seems to have married a man named Power. Unfortunately we could not locate the correct marriage records.
[Per P. Walsh after Felix Mullins died this Mullin’s farm in Flemingstown was sold.]
The featured photo above is from an old postcard depicting the bridge at Carrick-on-Suir. Both Mullins headstones are located in St. James Cemetery, Glenmore.
Readers are encouraged to send further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
[Updated & corrections on 30 January 2021]
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Prologue: Henry “Bounce” Walsh, of Catsrock, Glenmore
As previously published Henry “Bounce” Walsh was hanged on 1 September 1847 for the murder of John Walsh near Bishop’s Hall, in what was sometimes referred to as the Black Corner murder. Notwithstanding the circumstantial evidence presented in the court, Henry “Bounce” Walsh asserted to the very end that he was not guilty of the murder. Thanks to Beth Tykodi who shared the article on the “Bouncer” Walshes, which was published on 20 January 1846, as it led to locating other pre-murder newspaper articles with information concerning Henry “Bounce” Walsh as well as the name of his father and a brother. These newspaper accounts are often contradictory and confusing. Unfortunately this was common in newspaper accounts from the mid-nineteenth century. For the previous blog posts concerning the murder trial see; https://glenmore-history.com/the-murder-trial-of-henry-bounce-walsh-of-knockbrach-glenmore/ and for the execution see: https://glenmore-history.com/the-public-execution-of-henry-bounce-walsh-in-1847/ .
Convicted of Assault
In July 1845, Henry “Bounce” Walsh was arrested and charged with assaulting Mr. Gregory Lymbery. The following article appeared in the Waterford Chronicle and reveals that Bounce and another defendant both committed assaults and received similar sentences with one distinction. The other defendant assaulted a constable and was sentenced to hard labour.
“COUNTY COURT-Tuesday…Chief Justice Doherty” heard the following: “Daniel Maher, stood charged with an assault of a policeman at Abbeyside, while in the discharge of his duty. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and said, that but for being drunk on the night in question, he would not have interfered. Six months imprisonment, with bard labour. Henry Walsh was next put forward for an assault on Mr. Gregory Lymbery. He also pleaded as an excuse, that he was drunk on the night he committed the assault, and could not recollect, whether he committed the assault or not, but supposed he did. Six months imprisonment.” (Waterford Chronicle, Wed. 16 July 1845, p. 3)
Release from Jail & Victim of an Assault
On the day Henry “Bounce” Walsh was released from jail, the 15th of January 1846, having served his time for the assault on Mr. Lymbery, his brother John and his father Walter brought him some clothes. (Waterford Mail, 3 March 1846, p. 2) Thereafter, Bounce, John and Walter Walsh went drinking. On their way home “Bounce,” his father and brother were the victims of serious assaults. The article from Saunder’s New Letter (Dublin) (20 January 1846, p. 3) provides:
“DESPERATE ASSAULT—An assault, which, we regret to say, is in one instance likely to prove fatal, was committed Thursday night, about ten o’clock, on the persons of Walter Walsh, John Walsh, and Henry Walsh, the father and two sons, better known by the nickname of “The Bouncers,” and famous for their pugnacious propensities. They are residents of a place called Catsrock, about six miles from this city, in the County of Kilkenny. The occurrence took place at the county Kilkenny side of the bridge, near Alderman Forristal’s residence, and the parties by whom the injuries were inflicted are named Thomas Grant, John Halligan, James Power and James Brien. The weapon used was a bar of iron about three and a half feet long by two inches broad. Those parties are also natives of the county Kilkenny, and it appears the affray arose from a dispute of long standing. The Walshes are desperately wounded. Henry’s life is almost despaired of, and it is strange fact that he was only after being discharged from gaol on the same day, where he was confined for a wanton assault on Gregory Lymbery, Esq. Intimation of the circumstances having been given to Sergeant M’Coy, who was on duty on the Quay, he immediately proceeded to the opposite side of the bridge, and aided by his party, removed the wounded man to the police barrack, and then pursued the other parties, whom he succeeded in arresting. Grant was identified as the person who had used the bar of iron. The Walshes were removed to the Leper Hospital, and the others were on yesterday brought before the magistrates at petty sessions, and committed until the result of the injuries will be known.—Waterford Mail”
The Waterford Chronicle provided a slightly different account and falsely reported that Walter Walsh died of his injuries. This account provides that Grant, Bryan, Halligan or Hannigan and Power resided in Curraghmore, Slieverue.
“MURDER. On Thursday night about 10 o’clock four men named Thomas Grant, John Halligan, James Bryan, James Power, were proceeding from Waterford to Curraghmore, in the County Kilkenny, their residence, they had not proceeded far beyond the bridge when they overtook three men named John Walsh, Henry Walsh, and Walter Walsh. On coming up with the Walshes the attack commenced, and is stated that one the persons now in custody named Thomas Grant committed fearful havoc on the Walshes, whom he strewed about the road, with a heavy piece of new iron he had in his car. As soon as the alarm was given, Constable M’Coy and some of his men pursued the assailants, whom they succeeded in capturing, and conveyed them hack to the police barracks at Ferrybank, and also the sufferers whom they found bleeding on the road. After arriving at the barracks the sufferers identified prisoners as the persons who assaulted them. On seeing one the prisoners (Thomas Grant), Walter in identifying him said, “oh, it was you who slaughtered all with the bar of iron.” On yesterday, the prisoners were brought before the magistrates, they were identified by constable M’Coy, whose evidence corresponds with what we have stated. The prisoners were remanded. One of the Walsh’s an old man, died yesterday evening in the Leper Hospital, where his fellow sufferers are lying in a hopeless state. (Waterford Chronicle, Sat. 17, 1846, p. 3)
The trial of Thomas Grant and James Brien was held on Friday the 27th of February 1846 in the City Court of Waterford. Although the previous accounts implied that there were three Walsh victims and four defendants only two men stood trial for a “felonious assault, with intent to do some bodily injury, on the person of Walter Walsh.” The following account is from the Waterford Mail (3 March 1846, p. 2).
“Spring Assizes (City Court—Friday, before Honourable Justice Ball). Thomas Grant and James Brien were indicted for a felonious assault, with intent to do some bodily injury, on the person of Walter Walsh.
Walter Walsh examined—Is a farmer; lives at Cat’s Rock; has six sons; was in Waterford on the 15th January last; went to bring his son some clothes, as he was coming that day out of jail for having committed an assault on Mr. Lymbery; left Waterford about 8 o’clock that evening in company with two sons, Henry and John; when he came to the bridge; at the end where Mr. Forristal lives, witness was beaten on the head with a bar of iron by four men whom he met there; believes he got but one blow; when witness got the blow; Henry was struck and knocked down; he saw his sons that night in the police barrack, and they were sent to the hospital.
Henry Walsh examined—Is son to Watt Walsh; was coming from Waterford with his father and brother, and went over the bridge; when opposite Forristal’s house, witness was struck on the head with a bar of iron by Thomas Grant; Brien was with Grant, and was the first person who caught witness by the coat—[witness here identified the prisoners]—after witness was struck down with the bar of iron he became insensible, and did not speak until the morning after.
John Walsh deposed that he was with his father and brother going over the bridge on the evening in question; when at the other side of the bridge he saw three men together, the two prisoner and John Hannigan; witness caught hold of the bar of iron to defend himself when Tom Grant was about striking him with it; immediately he let go the iron bar, and was struck on the head with it and knocked down; his father and brother were down before himself; he was waiting for his father and brother at the old hotel of Mr. Forristal, when, thinking his father and brother were delaying too long, witness turned back and saw five men together his father, brother, the two traversers, and Hannigan; his father and brother were struck down, and witness was knocked down afterwards.
James Power examined—Saw Hannigan and Henry Walsh coming over the bridge staggering; they handled each other when they came over the bridge opposite Forristal’s door; Tom Grant and Jimmy Brien stood by; saw a bar of iron in Tom Grant’s hand; saw Hannigan strike John Walsh with the iron bar; he was the last man knocked down; all the parties had been drinking; heard nothing of a quarrel between them.
Laurence Sullivan examined—Remembers the night when the Walshs were beaten; accompanied the traversers over the bridge; was shaking hands with Henry Walsh and bidding him goodbye, when Hannigan struck Henry Walsh two blows with his fist; saw a bar of iron in the hands of Grant, but did not see him use it; witness was trying to make peace; was going away when Kennedy pulled him back; witness turned round and saw a man fall; saw Grant and Brien before—they were all tipsey that night—able to walk and no more.
Constable M’Coy proved the arrest of the prisoners and two others at the Mile post, in the County Kilkenny; they had a car, in which were two bars of iron [one was produced with which the injuries seemed to be inflicted]—Grant said the iron was his; when brought to the police station the prisoners were identified by the Walshes, and John Walsh stated that Grant was the man who slaughtered them all with the bar of iron.
Dr. J. Mackesy deposed to the nature and extent of the injuries inflicted, which were of so serious a nature that their lives were endangered. Mr. Rollestone addressed the jury for the prisoners. Henry Bolton, Esq., gave the prisoner Brien a character for quiet, orderly conduct. Nicholas Henneberry, a farmer, gave a good character of Grant. The Judge charged the jury at much length, who retired, and after a considerable delay, acquitted the prisoners of all the counts.”
It is not clear what defence the defendants employed, but given the acquittal it is likely that self-defence may have been plead. It is not clear, what role, if any, the life threatening head injury Henry “Bounce” Walsh suffered in 1846 played in his alleged killing of John Walsh in 1847.
Siblings of Henry “Bounce” Walsh
A quick review of the early parish records and we were able to locate six children of Walter Walsh and Mary Baldwin, of Catsrock, Glenmore. Unfortunately, we could not locate a baptism for Henry although we believe he may have been born between 1823 to 1830.
[1] John Walsh, was baptized on 11 July 1823 at Glenmore the son of Walter Walsh and Mary Beldon (sic). [2] Patrick Walsh, was baptized on 29 March 1830 at Glenmore. [3] Michael Walsh, was baptized on 17 May 1832 at Glenmore. [4] Mary Walsh, was baptized on 17 April 1834 at Glenmore. [5] Mary Walsh, was baptized on 16 July 1836 at Glenmore. [6] Anastatia Walsh, was baptized on 12 Aug. 1839 at Glenmore.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh