19th Century
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Mary Malone (c. 1841- ) A Poignant Letter Home to Glenmore in 1877
Last week we featured the letter written by Edmund Hartley ( 1836-1915) published in the New Ross Standard regarding his trip to Ireland in the summer of 1913. Edmund Hartley was accompanied home to Ireland by two priests, his son, Monsgr. James J. Hartley and his nephew, Father James E. Hartley. Monsgr. Hartley was the President of St. Bernard’s Seminary, Rochester, New York. Hoping that Monsgr. Hartley may have had records or photos of the trip we were disappointed to find that St. Bernard’s Seminary closed in the 1980’s. However, when we checked with the Archives of the Diocese of Rochester New York, Sister Connie Derby, Director of the Archives, located and copied a notebook kept by Monsgr. Hartley of the 1913 trip. Also found in the archive was a transcription of a letter written by a cousin of Monsgr. Hartley, Miss Mary Malone. Sister Connie also graciously forwarded good quality photos of Monsgr. and Father Hartley.
It is not known how Mary Malone’s letter came into Monsgr. Hartley’s possession and ultimately ended up in the archive. It is surmised that it was kept, hopefully cherished by her brother who received it in Glenmore in 1877, and when Monsgr. Hartley brought his father home to Glenmore in 1913 he was given the letter written 26 years earlier. The transcription with spelling errors and little punctuation is copied below as it was provided to us by Sister Connie. For such a short letter it is very poignant.
Mary Malone, Fairport, New York, to her brother, Glenmore, Co. Waterford, 24 January 1877
24 January 1877 Fearport January the 24, 1877 My Dear Brother I take the opportunity of writing to you I hope you will forgive me for not writing to you be fore this but I was tost about I left my first place that I was in 2 years and a half I am now living near my aunt I have not but 1 Dolard aweek this winter this is a verry severe winter in america. I got a letter from home about two weeks after I got yours letter they told me it was better for him to go now than any other time but he is a grate loss to my Father and mother it is they feel his loss but they tells me that they are not bad off
[page 2]
That you dont forget them may the Lord spare you your health I do not get to healp them much my wages is so little and I am not cap[a]ble of earning big wages like other girls who can cook and [do] the large washings and fine ironings I cannot do this you know I was not brought [up] to anny such thing I was sent away frum my Mother when young to the farmers to work out in the fields and I never got much in sight about house keeping or to be handy to sew but I don’t have is anny one to blame for that but my Sellf I never tried to lerren I must onely do the best I can now I am verry lonseom and down harted I wish my Sister Margaret was here if ever I can bring here out if times will get better I will try and do my best for her
[page 3]
Dear brother I would wish verry much is you would send me your picture and I will send you mine I never had anny of my pictures taken since I came to america My aunt and cussins are all well and my cussin James Hartley is getting elong splended with his studies he expe[c]ts to be dordained in about 1 year and a half from now. You asked me could I reed your writting I could with out anny troble I hope you will write to me soon again I have no more to say at preasant from your affectionate Sister Mary Malone
Unfortunately the name of Mary Malone’s brother is not revealed in the letter. The only clues are that he lived in Glenmore, she lived in Freeport, New York, she had a sister named Margaret and cousin James Hartley who was to be ordained in 1878. It appears that Mary Malone may have emmigrated about 1875 as she was in her first place for 2 ½ years. Monsgr Hartley was not ordained until 1885, but the fact that the letter ended up in his possession suggests that Mary was related although the closeness of the kinship is not apparent.
Given the fact that Mary makes no reference to a husband or children it is assumed that Mary Malone was her maiden name. The 1880 Federal Census of Rochester, Monroe County, New York reveals that there was a Mary Maloney (sic) living in a boarding house on South St. Paul Street. She was born about 1842 and worked as a servant. It is not known whether Mary Malone remained in New York or returned to Ireland. No further obvious census records were found in New York state. In Monsgr. Hartley’s travel journal one evening while in the Glenmore area the men had “supper” with Mary Malone. It is not known if the 1913 referenced Mary Malone was the same woman that wrote the letter home to Glenmore in 1877.
The Glenmore Parish records reveal that there were a number of Mary Malones born in the early 1840’s from Rochestown to Weatherstown. There is no obvious match of a Malone married to a Hartley or Kennedy (maiden name of Edmund Hartley’s mother). Also, there were much fewer baptismal records for a Margaret Malone. The best fit so far is the Michael Malone family of Weatherstown, Glenmore. Michael Malone and his wife, Catherine née Burke had a daughter Mary who was baptized on the 10th of November 1841. Their daughter Ellen was baptized on the 27th of July 1839 and their daughter Catherine was baptized on the 1st of June 1849. However, no sons were discovered in the parish records for this union.
Perhaps a reader who descends from Mary and/or Margaret Malone can point us in the right direction.
As soon as we can transcribe the travel notebook kept by Monsgr. Hartley we will publish excerpts particularly the notes from their time in Glenmore. Monsgr. Hartley throughout his journal refers to his elderly father affectionately as Pa.
Special thanks to Sister Connie for all her help this week copying and sending on information and photos. The featured image is entitled Irish Immigration from Queenstown (Cobh, Cork) (1874 from the Miram & Ira D. Wallach Collection, Digital Public Library of America
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Ireland is again in lock down due to COVID 19. We shall attempt to provide more posts as we did last lock down. If anyone has a subject or idea, or has an article for our guest author page please contact us at glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Edmund Hartley (1836-1915) Native of Flemingstown, Glenmore: Homecoming 1913
For over 6 decades Danny Dowling corresponded with hundreds of people across the globe who sought information about an ancestor who came from the Glenmore area. One of the queries recorded in Danny’s notebooks is the information he sent to Edmund Hartley Marvin, Sr. concerning his ancestor, Edmund Hartley, of Flemingstown, Glenmore.
Edmund Hartley was baptized on the 12th of April 1836, in Glenmore, he was the son of Edmund Hartley and Mary Hartley née Kennedy of Flemingstown. It is not known what happened to Edmund, Sr. but around 1850 Mary Hartley née Kennedy died and shortly thereafter Edmund and his brothers James (c. 1825-1910); William (1 Jan. 1833 – 7 Aug. 1905); and Philip (c. 1828-7 Dec. 1889) emigrated to the United States. James and William settled in Michigan while Philip and Edmund settled in New York State. According to the 1910 Census, Edmund Hartley married another immigrant Bridget Kelly (1839-1912) in 1858. The couple had eight children and five were living in 1910.
Recently a letter written by Edmund Hartley, regarding his homecoming in 1913 was discovered in the New Ross Standard. Edmund Hartley wrote that he left Ireland in 1852 and returned 61 years later when he spent 5 weeks touring Ireland. It must have been a bittersweet homecoming when he visited Glenmore and only encountered four people who remembered him. This remarkable letter provides an insight into the changes he noted in travel, agriculture and Ireland from his emigration at the end of the famine until his return sixty-one years later. The year following his wife’s death, Edmund Hartley travelled to Europe in 1913 with two priests, his son James J. Hartley and his nephew James E. Hartley.
New Ross Standard—Friday, 14 Nov. 1913–VISIT TO IRELAND.
“During the summer Mr. Edmund Hartley, of Monroe County, New York State, with his son, Very Rev. Dr. Hartley, President of St. Bernard’s College, Rochester, and his nephew, Rev. J. E. Hartley, P.P. Rochester, made a tour to Ireland. Mr. Hartley who is 77 years, and exceedingly brisk and agile for his years, was born in Flemingstown, in the parish of Glenmore. It was his first visit since he left Ireland in 1852. The two priests, who were born in America, enjoyed their stay in the land of their fathers and left full of hope that they would at some time come back again to Erin. Since his return Mr. Hartley has given his experience in the American Press, and his letter is so interesting we reproduce it with pleasure. Mr. Hartley is a near relative of Father Hartley, P.P. Cushinstown, and to all the Hartleys in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny district.
EDMUND HARTLEY GIVES INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF HIS VISIT.
It was 61 years ago last May since I left Ireland for America. As I was young at the time, I had no notion of going to work, but Intended just to come over for some money; but my relatives got me a job the second day after landing, and I have been pretty busy since, yet I always wanted to pay a visit to the old home, if I got a chance, which happened this summer when my son and nephew were going to Europe. At the time I left Ireland it was the most desolate country in the world, for the famine and fever had carried off a million of the people and another million fled across the ocean from their unhappy land. Of course we took any boat that would carry us: mine was a sailing vessel of eighteen hundred tons that was blown about for fire weeks before we got sight of land, and some days we feared we would be blown to the bottom of the sea. Several died on the voyage and were thrown overboard. We all had to provide our own meals—that is we cooked our own potatoes in a large kettle in the kitchen and ate the bread we brought along with us.
So you can imagine my surprise at the improved conditions of travel when I boarded the steamer Baltic on June 12th. It is over seven hundred feet long, weight about twenty-four thousand tons, and can ride the wares smoothy even a rough sea, and makes nearly four hundred miles a day. The meals are like those served in the finest hotel and each morning there was a newspaper, the ‘Ocean News’ placed near our plate at breakfast, containing several pages of the latest news from all parts of the world. The menu for dinner and the list of steamers that were in communication with our boat that day. One can send a wireless message from any part of the voyage. Several greeted their friends, from mid ocean. When 1,200 miles from shore I sent a message that reached home within five hours the same day. The wireless system is not only a great aid in distress, but also a means of avoiding collision with other boats in a fog. Of course, icebergs have no wireless plant, and the captains now take a southerly route to avoid them. For three days after leaving New York, our boat seemed headed for Spain instead of Great Britain, the captain was so anxious to avoid icebergs.
There was practically no sea sickness on the outward and return trips, and the company did not save anything from passengers missing their meals. Our trip included Ireland, England, northern France and Belgium, all except Ireland, rich and prosperous countries; yes anyone who has visited Ireland will admit that it is one of the most beautiful countries of the world; and we spent five weeks journeying through mountains, valleys, and plains, viewing the ruins of its ancient schools, abbeys, and castles, the famous round towers and Celtic crosses, which it would take too long to describe. It might surprise some to be told that Ireland was once called the land of Saints and Scholars, and her schools in the sixth, seventh and eighth centuries were among the most, celebrated of Europe. Even today she has beautiful churches, well attended by the people and excellent schools and colleges, in spite of all the obstacles placed in the way of religion and education for centuries.
Ireland has few industries except in the province of Ulster and farming is the occupation of the greater part of the people; and the condition of the famers interested me chiefly. So far as I could judge from traveling through twenty of the thirty-two counties of Ireland, the farmers are now in a better condition than ever before. Formerly they had to pay an excessive rent, in some cases greater than the value of the entire crop, and if any improvements were made in land or buildings, the rent would he increased; but now they have to pay only a moderate rent, about one-third of the old rate, and with these moderate payments they can possess the farm as their own, under the conditions of the Land Purchase Acts. Many of the farmers are now free holders and no longer tenants and all the profits of the farm are theirs. The landlords have in many cases consented to sell at least the power parts of their immense estates, yet some are unwilling to sell any part. I saw one estate of fifty square miles and not an acre would the landlord sell. The recent Land Purchase Act has a clause compelling the landlord to sell some portion for the good of the community. The methods of farming have changed altogether in recent years. The potato is no longer the principal crop; for cattle raising and dairying are followed chiefly and only a small part of the farms is under tillage. Considerable oats are raised, but no wheat or barley, though flax is largely cultivated in the northern counties.
The best American implements are used on the larger farms. I attended several fairs and noticed that cattle and farm produce brought higher prices than here in Monroe county. As the Irish soil is rich and the sesame so mild that cattle can graze nearly all through the year the farmer there have an advantage over us, yet I prefer farming near Fairport. Many of the Irish prefer a change of work too, and emigrate to the States or Canada, and the wages in Ireland will hardly coax them back. Yet when Home Rule is granted them next year, there may be greater inducements to keep the young people from emigrating. It is a pity that so many homes have been cleared away to make grazing land, the cattle taking the place of the people.
In my own county of Kilkenny the population had not decreased so much as elsewhere, yet many houses I know have disappeared. The large round stones the strong men used to toss were in the same place near the churchyard where I saw them over 60 years ago; but I met only four person who knew me in boyhood, though several of the younger people proved to be my own relatives. Some were clergyman, others school teachers, or else rich farmers, and although they had become rich they were glad to see me.
I have been asked if I kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland. I climbed up the Blarney Castle, which is nearly five hundred years old, but as part of the floor is fallen away just near the famous stone, I just bent over and struck the stone with my blackthorn stick and kissed it, and if I did not get the full gift of blarney, still I may have enough to last the rest of my life.
I stood on the famous battlefield of Clontarf and the Boyne and near Waterloo, but I think more of having stood at the graves of O’Connell and Parnell in Glasnevin Cemetery and of Gladstone in Westminster Abbey.
The great cathedrals, museums, picture galleries and colleges are the first objects visited by the tourists, and we saw as many as would take day to describe. The most interesting were the cathedrals in Queenstown, Killarney, Thurles, Armagh, Condon, Brussels and Paris, the Tower of London, British Museum and National Gallery, the Louvre in Paris, the Palace of the French King at Versailles and their tombs at St. Denis. We visited the International Exposition at Ghent, the greatest exposition ever held in Europe. All kinds of manufacture were there, but the flying machines interested me most.
The weather was cool all through the trip of nine weeks, and we were surprised to read accounts of the warm weather in the United States. Edmund Hartley”
The Travellers
Edmund Hartley (1836-1915) Native of Flemingstown, Glenmore
Two years after his homecoming Edmund Hartley was tragically killed on his farm in New York State. The Syracuse Herald (New York) of the 14th of April 1915) published an article, “Aged Father of Prelate Killed by R., S.& E. Car,” detailing the tragic demise of Edmund as follows:
Fairport, April 14—Edmund Hartley was struck and instantly killed by a local car on the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Trolley road at Hartley’s private crossing a few feet north of Stop 15 shortly before 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The car was the local one here at 1:50 p.m. and was in charge of Motorman Frank Emmes of Syracuse. Mr. Hartley, who is 79 years old leaves three sons, the Rev. Monsignor J.J. Hartley, head of St. Bernard’s seminary; William who lives on the farm just south of Fairport, and Philip of this village; two daughters, Mrs. M Marvin of Adrian, Michigan and Margaret, who lives on the farm. To view Edmund’s grave marker see, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103632748/edmund-hartley .
Rev. Monsignor James J. Hartley (1860-1943)
James J. Hartley was ordained in 1885 by Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid the first Bishop of Rochester, New York. Bishop McQuaid sent the young priest to Europe, instructing him to visit the great university, reap the benefits of travel and increase his knowledge of the subjects he would teach. Much of his time abroad was spent in Louvain and Rome. In 1894, McQuaid founded St. Bernard’s Seminary and James J. Hartley was appointed Proctor. In 1907, Pope Pius X conferred a degree of Doctor of Divinity on James J. Hartley. (Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, New York, Sunday, 24 March 1907)
Although his father in his 1913 letter did not provide the name of the relative that found him a job within days of his arrival in the US, the Democrat & Chronicle 1907 article states that “Dr. Hartley is a cousin of Bishop James J. Hartley” (1858-1944) of Columbus, Ohio who was bishop of Columbus from 1904-1944.
The Right Reverend Monsignor James J. Hartley, D.D. prothonotary apostolic and rector-emeritus of St. Bernard’s Seminary died on 11 December 1943 at the age of 83. (The Ithaca Journal (New York) 13 Dec. 1943).
Rev. James E. Hartley (1852-1920)
James E. Hartley was born the 14th of October 1852 in Fairport, Monroe County, New York the son of Philip Hartley (c. 1828-1889) a native of Flemingstown, Glenmore. James E. Hartley was ordained a priest the 21st of December 1878. After ordination he severed as an administrator of St. Mary’s of Ithaca and Our Lady of Victory, Rochester. He was appointed rector of the parish of Palmyra in August 1893 where he remained until he suffered a stroke on the 18th of March 1920 and died in the rectory of St. Anne’s on the 29th. He was survived by two sisters: Mrs. Hanna Curran and Mrs. Mary A. Coffey.
The Cousin—Bishop James J. Hartley (1858-1944)
Bishop James J. Hartley of Columbus, Ohio (June 26, 1858 – January 12, 1944) fourth bishop of Columbus served from his consecration in 1904 until his death in 1944. According to the Diocese of Columbus website Bishop Hartley was born at Davenport, Iowa the eldest child of Edward Hartley and Catherine McManus. His parents were married at St. Patrick’s in Columbus, Ohio in 1858, moved to Davenport and returned to Columbus. After his return to Columbus, Ohio, Edward Hartley (1828-1910) kept a saloon on West Maple St. and the family lived upstairs. He was also a Columbus policeman for several years. See, http://www.colsdioc.org/AboutUs/TheBishopsofColumbus/tabid/276/Default.aspx .
Bishop Hartley’s father, Edward (1828-1910), according to the 1900 census came to the US in 1838. It is believed that Edward Hartley was a native of Weatherstown, Glenmore. It was reported in the 1900 census that he was born in Ireland in March 1828. Because of his son’s position in the church, Edward’s death in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio was widely reported in newspapers in November 1910.
Special thanks to Jane Marvin Dempsey for graciously allowing us to use her photo of her great-grandfather Edmund Hartley (1836-1915) which is the featured photo above.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Another Fenian Arrest: Patrick Culleton (1848- ) of Kilbride, Glenmore
In attempting to locate more information on Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore it was discovered that at least one other Glenmore man was arrested in March 1867 on suspicion of being a Fenian. The arrest and detention of Patrick Culleton, of Kilbride, Glenmore clearly illustrates the fear authorities had of the Fenians and the fact that the flimsiest of evidence led to arrests and long detentions without trial.
The Waterford News and Star on Friday the 8th of March 1867 commences with “[o]nce again the Fenian bubble has come to the surface to disturb the face of the country, to retard its prosperity, and to give victims, it may be for the gallows, but certainly for the gaols and the convict ship.” It was reported that a “great rising” took place across the country on Tuesday the 5th of March. The “hungry… unarmed, deluded warriors, the dupes of mischievous and misguided men,” fought in many places, particularly in Tipperary. However, in all places the “insurgents” retreated on the first volley of the police or military. According to this article the Fenian plan was for the men to assemble in night in rural districts to be led by a Fenian military commander to attack a rural police barracks to obtain arms. Other articles report that the telegraph wires along the Waterford and Limerick railway was torn down in several spots and rumours abounded in Waterford that the bridge was going to be destroyed.
It was stated that several young men and boys departed from each of the cities of the South on the day before the uprising. The place of rendezvous of the Waterford Fenian contingent was in the neighborhood of Tory Hill near Mullinavat. After obtaining arms the group was to move up through County Kilkenny taking more barracks and securing more arms. Although it is not stated in the newspaper it seems likely that Fenians of South Kilkenny would also have joined the Waterford contingent. The newspaper surmised that the first attack of the Waterford Fenians was to be the police barracks at Kilmacow. Although the article does not explain why Kilmacow would be the target rather than the Mullinavat barracks the newspaper notes that in the field near the Kilmacow Barracks, 80 pikes wrapped in matting and a box of ammunition containing about 800 bullets was found on Wednesday. The pikes and ammunition were located on information given to Mr. Elliott, J.P. residing in the district.
According to the article the Fenians were frustrated because the Fenian commander did not appear. It was surmised that he was arrested on his way to the meeting point near Tory Hill. Some of the Waterford men, returned to Waterford on Wednesday, “sadder and wiser, it is to hoped, and impressed with the wickedness and folly of their first night’s campaign.” The police at Ferrybank, under “Constable Grant, arrested two of the last stragglers as they were making their way back, and they presented a pitiful spectacle, full of mud and filth, fatigued and heartsick, and just armed with one penny to pay the bridge.” The two arrestees were Thomas Byrne, aged 18, apprentice printer, living at high street and John Cahill, aged 16, a chandler. Other men were arrested as they re-appeared in Waterford City and several did not return and it was presumed that these men had joined another Fenian group.
On Friday the 29th of March 1867 the Waterford News and Star reported that Patrick Culleton, the son of a respectable farmer, of Kilbride, Glenmore, County Kilkenny was arrested under the Lord Lieutenant’s warrant and brought to Waterford City the previous Saturday. Patrick Culleton had been living in Waterford and employed as a draper’s assistant in Waterford City. “He absented himself on the night of the 6th, but having returned to his father’s house after the rebellion with which he was supposed to be connected.” On this evidence that he wasn’t in Waterford and was at his father’s home Patrick Culleton was arrested by five armed policemen and brought to Waterford City in handcuffs. At the time of Culleton’s arrest there were nine men in the Waterford gaol on suspicion of Fenianism.
It was also reported that James Cody was arrested in Wexford on board a vessel as “he had the appearance of being out.” He claimed to be a native of Kilmacow, and forced out of his house on the 6th to assist in a projected attack on Dangan. He escaped the Fenians and made his way to Wexford. Cody was taken to Kilmacow where he was not known then taken to Waterford gaol.
On Monday the Kilmacow police arrested three men, named Richard Power, Patrick Murphy and Joseph Whelan, on a charge of Fenianism. The men appeared to have travelled from a distance, “and consequently excited the suspicion of the police.” Mr. Elliott, J.P. committed them to Kilkenny gaol. On Tuesday the Kilmacow police arrested James Power, Patrick Casey and William Gaule, laborers, residing in the Kilmacow area as they were “missing from the Argus eyes of the constabulary.” Mr. Elliott, J.P. admitted the three to bail. Not being visible enough to the local police appears to have been enough evidence of wrongdoing for arrest.
On Monday at Waterford, James Walsh, a labourer, was charged with having been on Sunday evening in Barrack street where he sought to induce two artillery men to desert the British army. Walsh told the two men that they should desert and go to America to join in the invasion of Canada under the green flag. Walsh was charged with “tampering with soldiers.” Walsh was committed for trial at the assizes, bail was accepted of £40 (Two sureties posted £10 each, and Walsh posted £20.)
The Waterford Prison Register of 1867 reveals that Patrick Culleton was prisoner number 54. It is recorded that he was 19 years of age and 5 feet, 9 inches in height. His eyes were described as dark grey, his hair was brown and he had a “fresh complexion.” His place of residence was recorded as Kilbride in County Kilkenny, he could read and write, and was employed as a draper’s assistant. He was committed on 12 March and 23 March on the charge of “suspected of being in treasonable practice,” and committed by “His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant.”
Two other prisoners recorded on the same page in the Register were similarly charged. Stephen Farrell, aged 27, and employed as a tailor was also charged with “suspected of being concerned in treasonable practices.” William Kennedy, of the Glen, was aged 20 and a draper. He was charged with “being a member of the Fenian conspiracy.”
After languishing in the Waterford gaol four Fenian prisoners were transferred to Mountjoy Prison in Dublin in the first week of October 1867 (Waterford News & Star 11 Oct 1867). Patrick Culleton, William Kennedy, Stephen Farrell and Michael Cosgrove were taken from the Waterford gaol with 30 armed police in attendance as well as the cavalry. A railway bus entered the jail yard, collected the prisoners and their guards and delivered the prisoners to the railway Station to catch the 12:40 train for Dublin. On emerging from the gaol the prisoner it was noted that the “prisoners were in the best spirits, were received with handshaking and cheers” of a crowd that assembled.
A photograph of Patrick Culleton was not found in the photos held by the New York City Library and no further information was found in the various newspapers. No head stone for Patrick Culleton (1848- ) could be located in St. James’ Cemetery which is adjacent to the Glenmore Parish church. It is not known if Patrick Culleton was one of the prisoners released from Mountjoy Prison and deported to the US.
The Glenmore parish records do reveal that Patrick “Colleton” was baptized on the 18th of July 1848. Patrick was the son of Michael “Colleton” and Ellen Morissy, of Kilbride. His sponsors were Edmund Ready and Nancy Mackey. Patrick had five known siblings. James “Colleton” was baptized on the 8th of October 1845. Mary “Colleton” was baptized on the 11th of April 1850. John “Colleton” was baptized on the 27th of March 1852, and Bridget “Colleton” was baptized on the 4th of February 1855. Lastly, Walter “Colleton” was baptized on the 19th of April 1857.
Hopefully a reader may be able to shed some light on what happened to Patrick Culleton or Patrick Culleton will be added to the growing list of items to be researched with the libraries and archives re-open.
The featured painting is St. Cornelius who was an early pope and martyr persecuted and killed for his beliefs that the Roman authorities feared.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Accused Fenian: Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore
Over a month ago one of our readers in Indiana queried if there were many Glenmore Fenians who were forced to flee Ireland for their activities. Danny Dowling related that he was only aware of one person from Glenmore identified as a fenian, John Fitzgerald of Knockbrack, Glenmore. Danny on the first of June 1973 interviewed Mick Gaule, of Killaspy, Slieverue who told Danny that a man known as Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore, was a member of the Fenian Movement in 1867. For his association with this organisation he had to flee the country and never returned. Master John Fitzgerald had the place where Paul Fitzgerald lived in 1974. Master John Fitzgerald was a cousin of old Micil Fitzgerald who lived where the late John Fitzgerald of the interviewer’s time lived.
The Fenians
The term fenian or feniasm was “… used indiscriminately to refer to the upsurge of popular ‘nationalist’ expectation among Irish Catholics…” (Comerford, R.V., The Fenians in Context: Irish Politics and Society 1848–82 (Kindle Locations 2970-2973). R.V. Comerford. Kindle Edition.) The Fenians of the 1860’s were inspired by the Young Irelanders and rebellion of 1848. The two most prominent Fenian organisations were established by two of the Young Irelanders involved in the rebellion of 1848. Both fled Ireland and sought safety in France. John O’Mahony (1815-1877) and James Stephens (1825-1901) would work together and separately to form oranisations that would actively promote Irish independence.
NYCity Library
John O’Mahony (1815-1877) was a native of Cork and was the founder of the Fenian Brotherhood in America. O’Mahony left France and settled in the US in 1853. He named his group after the Fianna the legendary warriors of Ancient Ireland. James Stephens (1825-1901) was a native of Kilkenny City. It has been noted that his early political influence was Dr. Robert Cane (1807-1858), a former Mayor of Kilkenny, a physician, a moderate Young Irelander who was jailed for several months in 1848 without charges ever having been made against him. From a Glenmore link perspective, Dr. Robert Cane was the father of the Kilmakevogue Dispensary doctor appointed in 1867, James Butler Norris Cane (c. 1804-1906) https://glenmore-history.com/dr-james-butler-norris-cane-c-1840-1906/.
Stephens remained in France until 1856 when he returned to Ireland and began what he described as a three thousand mile walk around Ireland to meet former Young Irelanders and other nationalists. In 1857 O’Mahony corresponded with Stephens who established on St. Patrick’s Day 1858 the secret Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland. Rivalry soon caused friction between the two groups as by 1865 the Fenian Brotherhood had became large and could afford to send arms to Ireland while the Irish Republican Brotherhood struggled. With the financial backing of the American Fenians Stephens published a newspaper called The Irish People commencing in 1863. This newspaper attracted a new generation of nationalists including Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, Charles Kickham, Thomas Clarke Luby and John O’Leary.
In the US the Fenian Brotherhood, although a secret society, had a public profile and for the most part engaged in fund raising and other activities without interference from the US government. While the American Civil War (1861-1865) raged Fenian rallies were held in several northern cities. The US Government’s ambivalence toward the American Fenians may have been due to the fact that the British, although professing to condemn slavery, had openly attempted to run the Union blockade of Confederate ports. In exchange for the slave produced cotton of the Confederacy the British sold munitions and other supplies to the South. Additionally, British controlled Canada became a haven for Confederate sympathisers and agents who attempted to burn New York City in November 1864. Some battle hardened Irish American Civil War Union Army veterans splintered from Stephens and led several unsuccessful invasions into Canada. The US Government did little to stop the veterans. The British newspapers in hysterical tones reported on Fenian conspiracies on both sides of the Atlantic.
An uprising was planned in Ireland for the summer of 1865. The plans were discovered and Irish Republican Brother members were arrested and sentenced to prison or transportation to penal colonies in Australia. Immediately, the Irish People newspaper was raided and Luby, one of the editors, and O’Donovan Rossa, the manager, were arrested. O’Donovan Rossa was convicted and sentenced to prison where he defied the prison authorities and was subject to abuse. Stephens was arrested and imprisoned but escaped and again fled to France. The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act was enacted on 17 February 1866 and allowed for the arrest and detention of citizens without trial.
Immediately a large number of persons were arrested and detained without charge or trial. Reports of the abuse of persons arrested and jailed for being involved in the Fenian conspiracy began to be raised in the House of Commons. For questions raised regarding Waterford prisoners see, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1866/mar/16/ireland-fenian-prisoners-at-waterford#S3V0182P0_18660316_HOC_40.
In searching for newspapers articles concerning the arrest of Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore a list of other County Kilkenny arrestees was compiled. It is not an exhaustive list.
(1) Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 10 March 1866: John Kavanagh, relieving officer of Kilkenny, Walkin St.; James Holland, a mason, upper Patrick St.; Wm. Dunphy, housepainter, Walkin St.
(2) Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 21 March 1866: John Lynch, of Callan; and Patrick Comerford, of Lady’s-well, near Danesfort; Thomas Phelan, Sergeant Tailor of the Kilkenny Fusilier Regiment of Militia, was liberated from custody as he was wrongly arrested for being Thomas Whelan, of Kilkenny.
(3) Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 30 March 1867: Richard Power and Patrick Murphy, living near Glenmore were arrested by Constable Powell, of Glenmore (who upon retirement became the first postmaster of Glenmore see, https://glenmore-history.com/the-glenmore-post-office-its-rise-and-demise/.)
(4) The Evening Freeman, Wed. 4 April 1866: Mr. Grace, of Thomastown, held in Mountjoy.
(5) Kilkenny Moderator, 1 August 1866: Edmond Coyne, of Callan (released & deported); James Cody, of Callan (released & deported); John Lynch, of Callan, released on surety; Michael Heffernan Dunne (still in prison).
(6) Kilkenny Moderator, 1 June 1866: Loche of Callan; and Downey, formerly of Goresbridge were still detained in Kilkenny gaol.
The Arrest of Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore
On Friday the 15th of March 1867 the Waterford Mail reported that Head Constable Brereton, with a party of nine policemen, arrested the previous week a respectable farmer, named John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, under his Excellency’s warrant. Mr. Fitzgerald was recently a member of the Waterford Board of Guardians, and at the same time filled the office of chairman of the Kilmackevogue Dispensary committee, and was a man of considerable means. The Kilkenny Journal & Leinster Commercial & Literary Advertiser (20 March 1867) reported that on Monday, Head Constable Breton and a body constabulary, of Rosbercon arrested Fitzgerald. The Waterford News and Star, of Friday the 22nd of March 1867 described Fitzgerald as an intelligent well-educated man “holding a large farm.”
In contrast the Kilkenny Moderator of Saturday the 30th of March 1867 reported that Constable Ward, of Kilmacow and Constable Powell, of Glenmore arrested Mr. John Fitzgerald, a comfortable farmer, living at Ballybrack (sic), near Glenmore and three labourers who worked for him. It was rumoured that Fitzgerald was charged with having acted as a Fenian paymaster. Upon his arrest he was sent to the Thomastown Bridewell “pending further orders from Dublin Castle.” The three labourers, were not named in the article and brought before a special sessions at Kilmacow. James Cody, a prisoner previously arrested was also brought to Kilmacow. While Cody was transferred to Waterford gaol the three farm labourers were released. On the 21st Fitzgerald was transferred from Thomastown to the Kilkenny gaol under a warrant from the Lord Lieutenant, under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act.
On Saturday the 1st of June 1867 it was reported by the Kilkenny Moderator that Fitzgerald was released from custody by his Excellency’s order after entering into recognizance and post £100 along with £50 each from two unnamed sureties. The terms of his release required him to the peace and orderly conduct for the next two years. It is not known whether Fitzgerald stayed in Knockbrack or went to America as reported by Mick Gaule in 1973.
Just before Fitzgerald was released a clemency meeting was held in Kilkenny City for the “unfortunate men” who were sentenced to death for high treason. The Mayor stated that no man should suffer death except for wilful murder. He hoped that the Queen would not blight her reign by the hanging, beheading and quartering of men “whose folly and whose crimes are traceable to the misgovernment of the country, and the persistent refusal of redress.” (Tablet, Sat. 11 May 1867)
By late July 1868 the last of those detained without trial under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act were released, but there were about 100 Fenian convicts (including twenty– four soldiers sentenced by military tribunals) in jails in Britain and in Western Australia. (Comerford, R.V., The Fenians in Context: Irish Politics and Society 1848–82 (Kindle Locations 3209-3211). R.V. Comerford. Kindle Edition.) O’Donovan Rossa was released and deported to the US in 1870.
The Fenian Photographs
British authorities began taking “mug shots” of convicts in the late 1850’s. After 1865 persons arrested as Fenians were photographed. Two large collections of Fenian photographs survive. The larger, of 600 photographs taken between 1867 and 1872, is held in the National Archives of Ireland. A ‘Form K’ is attached to most of these photographs, to provide a description of the prisoner. Information recorded includes the particulars for arrest or conviction, the detainee’s physical description, age, literacy, religion, marital status, occupation and place of birth and residence.
A second, smaller collection of Fenian photographs, ‘The convicted and untried political prisoners in Mountjoy’, compiled in 1866, is now held in the NYC Public Library digital collections on-line. This album contains 86 portraits (4in.x3in.), mounted four to a page. The photos of all the political prisoners are identified by name. Fiona Fitzsimmons has noted that, 31% of the Fenian prisoners are recorded as having served in the American Civil War. Despite the endorsement on the title-page, that the photos are of Mountjoy prisoners, Fiona Fitzsimmons has discovered that many of these prisoners were actually held in Kilmainham and elsewhere. See, Fitzsimmons, “Kindred Lines: Prison Photographs,” available at https://www.historyireland.com/volume-24/kindred-lines-prison-photographs/.
The two photograph albums held by the New York City Library originally belonged to Sir Thomas Aiskew Larcom (1801-1879), the permanent Under Secretary for Ireland from 1853 to 1869. Harriet Fyffe Richardson (b.1872), author of Pioneer Quakers (1940), provided the albums to Stanford University at an unknown date; the New York City Library acquired them in 1953.The contents of the two albums were digitalized and made accessible online in 2016. To view the collection Mountjoy “mugshots” of the Fenian political prisoners held by the New York City Library see, https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/search/index?utf8=%E2%9C%93&keywords=fenians.
Without being able to view the records held by the Irish Archives (closed again due to COVID 19) it is not known if this photo is Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore. Given his dress, compared to the other Fenian political prisoners, it seems likely that this is the correct photo.
For a concise account of the importance of the Fenians in inspiring the 1916 Rising see, McNamara, Robert. (2020, August 26). The Fenian Movement and the Inspiring Irish Rebels. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/fenian-movement-4049929.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
A Glenmore Version of the Ballad of Carrickshock [updated]
As outlined in our last post, concerning the tithe tax and tithe war of the 1830’s, a ballad was penned and sung in Glenmore concerning Carrickshock. On the 25th of February 1970, Danny Dowling recorded the Ballad of Carrickshock as told to him by Nicholas Forristal (1888-1979), of the Mill, Griaguenakill, Glenmore. In 1970, Nicky Forristal was 82 years of age and the subject of the ballot had occurred almost 140 years previously. Nicky’s father, Patrick Forristal (1849-1931) was born 18 years after Carrickshock and died on the Carrickshock centenary in 1931. Thus, Carrickshock took place during the lifetime of Nicky Forristal’s grandfather. Thanks to Danny’s work 50 years ago we have a version of the Ballad of Carrickshock that was sung in Glenmore.
According to an online exhibit in the National Archives entitled “Singing Sedition: Ballads and Verse in the Age of O’Connell” ballads are particularly important as a reflection of the interests and opinions of ordinary people of nineteenth century Ireland.
“Arising out of unofficial channels ballad sheets express the opinion and sentiment of the ordinary people of nineteenth century Ireland, often revealing their private attitudes to the great questions of society, politics and religion. As a medium of communication from an otherwise unrepresented class, such verses and songs provide a critical counterbalance to the views of the landed elite. … Certain types of ballads may not be readily accessible to the modern reader, since they can contain cryptic references to local persons or events.”
“Singing Sedition: Ballads and Verse in the Age of O’Connell” is available at https://www.nationalarchives.ie/article/singing-sedition-ballads-verse-age-oconnell.
Within the exhibit is a copy of a ballad entitled “The Downfall of the Tithes,” this ballad makes reference to Carrickshock, and is available at https://www.nationalarchives.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CSORP_OR_1832_2928_0001.jpg .
Below is a transcription of the Carrickshock Ballad recorded by Danny in 1970.
Ballad of Carrickshock (Sang in Glenmore)
Those valiant sons of the Irish Nation, Where is the country that can boast of more? Through extensive Europe they gained rank and stature, And for their loyalty great credit bore. May Britain boast of their fame and glory, Auld Scotsman too, King William’s name, But Irish valour won’t lie from story, While lives a bard to record their fame. T’was a December on a Wednesday morning, Strange rumours circled our country round, And it was confirmed by chief ??? Warning to force the tithes or our cattle pound. Our chapel bells they were kept sounding, The people hearing in great number clocked, Our ??? and ditches with all speed bounding, To meet the peelers in Carrickshock. They hired Bert Butler to serve citations, To force the peasant from home or tithes, To feed the gluttons of the reformation, Whom honest Catholics always deride. The first to start was courageous Power, He beat(?) Butler with manly skill, Saying rally boys for the very hour, Well pay no tithes but those traitors kill. And chief Gibbins saw that his dog lay sprawl, And to his forces did loudly call, Saying prime and load boys it is appalling, And he shot brave Power with a pistol ball. And then commences the bloody slaughter, For 15 minutes we had but fun, With pikes and scythes we gave them no quarter, We stood our ranks without fife or drum. But 26 and their chief commander, Was left them lifeless without a groan, And not to conquer like Alexander, We left 3 survivors to bring them home. Sergeant Wylie that orange traitor, That day he ran with great force and speed, Tis well he knew if he was overtaken, His body like the rest would be left to bleed. If you were to see them of the after ??? Like pigs or ??? they were drown, Along to standing ??? in Reid’s barn. In Kilmaganny they all did say, May providence crown you Tracy and Whelan, Who fell Tithe victim upon that day, They stood the brunt without courage failing, And fought courageously in that bloody fray. Now my song is ending and all is over, Come fill your Bumfords and drink brown ale, And where you’ll meet them in rapture, Greet them the jovial champions of Ballyhale.
Gary Owen, “The Carrickshock Incident, 1831: Social Memory and Irish Cause Célebre,” 1(1) Culture and Social History (2004) pp 36-64 available at http://www.traceyclann.com/files/carrickshock.pdf
The National Archives also has the correspondence of the Chief Secretary’s Office concerning the “Carrickshock murders” including costs of burials of constables, doctor bills for the treatment of injured constables, the efforts to arrest, and the efforts of two Catholic clergy in raising funds to hire Daniel O’Connell to defend those accused of murder etc. [CSO/PR/OR/1831/1328 et seq]
Update 2 Feb. 2021–while going through the Munster Express newspaper of 27 Dec. 1946 the following poem or ballad concerning Carrickshock was discovered. It appears to have been penned in the 1930’s.
Update: 24 Dec. 2022–
Munster Express (Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 6)–Death of Mr. James Treacy, Ballymagill—it is with much regret we have to record the death of M. James Treacy, who passed away on Friday, 3rd inst. The deceased was one of the famous Carrickshock Treacy’s. The interment took place at Kilcurl. We tender our sympathy to his relatives in their bereavement.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore and the Tithe Tax [Updated]
It is difficult to believe today, that taxes were imposed to support the clergy of the Established Church, the Church of Ireland. Thus, other protestants and Catholics were taxed to support a religion to which they did not belong. To address the resentment of the people toward the tithes, the authorities offered to share the collected tithes with the Irish Catholic Church. The Irish Catholic Church refused the offer fearing that it would lead the Church to come under the control of the Government. In order to evade the tax some Catholic priests encouraged their parishioners to place their livestock in the ownership of the parish priests to keep the animals from being seized by authorities attempting to collect the hated tax.
Not all Catholic Priests sided with the people against the tax. It was reported in January 1831 that threatening notices, against tithes and tithe-payers were posted on the Chapel doors of Kilmacow and Glenmore Catholic Churches. (Kerry Evening Post, Sat. 8 Jan 1831). In both places the clergy expressed disproval for the notices from the altar. In Danny Dowling’s notes an article in the Waterford Chronicle on the 7th of August 1830 reported that there was great “public distress” in the parish of Glenmore. Rev. Fr. Foran, the Curate, obtained a ton of oatmeal from the corporation of Waterford valued at £20; Lady Esmond donated £5 and several other individuals including Mr. Wallis, the Church of Ireland Rector, of Rosbercon, donated £1. The money was used to improve the high road and provide wages to the labourers to enable them to feed their families. It was noted that “during this time of general distress,” Lady Esmonde relieved or fed at least thirty poor people per day. Priests like Father Foran, who sought the aid of the authorities to feed starving parishioners, may have felt unable to support the objectors and risk the withholding of aid.
In March 1831 at Graiguenamanagh, Kilkenny, 120 troops tried to enforce seizure orders on cattle the local priest “owned” and clashed with locals. In June 1831, in Newtownbarry, Wexforrd (since 1952 the town is now called Bunclody) locals again resisted the seizure of cattle, and The Royal Irish Constabulary killed 12 and wounded 20. Thus began what is often referred to as the Tithe War.
Objectors to the tax began to organise and employed church bells in the Catholic Churches to warn the local people to hide livestock and gather to resist the armed collectors. In December 1831 a detachment of about 40 Royal Irish Constables served notices and seized animals around the Carrickshock, Kilkenny area. On the third day objectors answered the call of the church bells. In 1977, Danny Dowling interviewed James Bookle, of Grennan, Thomastown who was aged 83. James recalled that as a lad he was told that a lot of people from various Kilkenny areas, went to Carrickshock. Two brothers named Shea from Coolhill, in the Rower, walked to Carrickshock with two sprongs (pitch forks) on their shoulders. They crossed Ida and travelled via Tullogher and Ballyhale.
On the third day, the detachment of Constables collecting animals in the Carrickshock area was ambushed in a boreen flanked by stone walls. Armed with only sticks, stones, hurleys and farm implements such as sprongs the gathered objectors surrounded the Constables. The Constables were able to fire upon the objectors once, but due to the rain of stones from the assembled protestors the Constables were unable to re-load their muskets. It is believed that 13 of the Constables and 3 local objectors were killed at Carrickshock. Danny in July 1962 interviewed Nicky Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore who reported that Pand Irish of Carrigcloney, Glenmore stated that when they were fighting that day in Carrickshock the battle cry was “Remember Newtownbarry.”
Nicky Forristal also provided the lyrics to a song sung in Glenmore regarding Carrickshock. He also reported that he heard his father say that Sergeant Wylie, who was referred to as “The Orange Traitor” in the song, was at Carrickshock and was later stationed in the Glenmore RIC barracks, as a sergeant.
“Sergt. Wylie the Orange Traitor, that day he ran With great force and speed, And well he knew if he was overtaken his body, Like the rest would be left to bleed.”
Carrickshock appears to have had a long term effect on Sergeant Wylie according to Nicky Forristal. Years after Carrickshock the Glenmore Chapel bell began to ring suddenly and Wylie took fright. He ran down to Gaffney’s yard and “got in under a barrell to hide.” Danny explained that Gaffney was in with the landlord, Lord Bessborough, and Wylie thought he would be safe at Gaffney’s.
Immediately after Carrickshock local men were charged with murder, and in 1832 about 200,000 people gathered in Ballyhale, Kilkenny to support the men. The large crowd was addressed by Daniel O’Connell. The men were not convicted.
The following list of persons tried and acquitted in the Kilkenny Assizes 1832 was provided to the House of Commons and included: [1] John Kennedy (murder, Carrickshock case); (the remaining defendants had the same notation “Carrickshock case, no proseution;” [2] John Ryan; [4] Thomas Ryan; [5] Patrick Carty; [6] John Daly; [7] Richard Grennan; [8] Patrik Dwyer; [9] Edmond Duggan; [10] William Walsh; and [11] Thomas Egan. It was noted that the defendant John Ryan on two consecutive days was tried before two different juries and both juries were discharged after they could not agree to a verdict (Return of Number of Persons tried found Guilty or acquitted in Counties of Kilkenny, Mayo and Queen’s). digitalized by the University of Southamptom available at www.jstor.org/stable/community.29946989).
After continued violence when authorities attempted to collect the tithes, parliament enacted the Church Temporalities Act in 1833 and thereby reduced the size of the Church of Ireland hierarchy and abolished the parish cess or church rate which was a separate but also resented tax. Resistance to the tithes continued and it became increasingly difficult for the authorities to find and collect livestock. Often the cost of attempting to collect far exceeded the value of the property seized. The government in the face of continued violence and strained police relations suspended collections.
Shortly after the first anniversary of Carrickshock a proclamation was published in the Dublin Gazette (3 Jan. 1834) stating that several houses in the village of Ballyhale, on the high road between Waterford and Thomastown, were illuminated and bonfires lighted to “celebrate the murder of the police at Carrickshock” on the 14th of December 1831. A reward of 50 pounds was offered to any person who could within 6 months provide information that would lead to the apprehension and conviction of all or any of the persons involved in the celebrations.
The Waterford Chronicle, of the 19th of March 1836 provides an interesting account of an Anti-Tithe meeting held in Glenmore. The article not only provides the names of several Glenmore men, but also provides a different non-violent approach some took to protest the tithes.
“At a numerous and highly respectable meeting of the above Parish, held in the Chapel-yard, on SUNDAY, the 13th Instant, LAURENCE STRANGE, Esq., Aylwardstown, was unanimouslv called to the chair. Mr. JOHN BOLGER, acted as Secretary. The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to :
Moved Mr. Andrew PheIan—seconded by Mr. Richard Fitzgerald. Resolved—That as we view the compulsive payment of Tithes by the professors of one religion, to the support of a different creed, unjust in principle as it is pressive and vexatious in its operation, and that so anomalous an impost, in the estimation of an enlightened world, reflect immeasurable discredit on the legislative, and on its passive victims.
Moved by Mr. Richard Phelan—seconded Mr. Robert Grant. Resolved—That the unrighteous system last yielding to the progress of intelligence, and a sense of right among all classes of people, we, the Inhabitants of this Parish, in common with every friend of human happiness, feel ourselves imperatively bound to resist, by every legal and constitutional means, the payment of so iniquitous an impost.
Moved by Mr. Mark Walsh— seconded Mr. Nicholas Gaffney. Resolved—That as we view the blessing of peace and preservation of life of paramount importance among all grades of society, we cannot but cry aloud against that system which so heavily pressed on the industry of the people, and was, alas the prolific cause of so many revolting scenes too shocking for human nature to contemplate; and no modification whatever of tithes short their entire annihilation both in name and substance, can satisfy the country or consistent be with justice.
Moved Mr. James Holden—seconded by Mr. Silvester Murphy. Resolved—Should any attempt be made levy the payment of that iniquitous impost, Tithes, in this Palish, we, one and all, pledge ourselves to resist it every legal means in our power, and do hereby promise to indemnify such person or persons persecuted.
Moved Mr. Thomas Heneberry—seconded Mr, Michael Freney. Resolved —That Petition presented to Parliament grounded on the foregoing resolutions, to be presented by our County Members, the Hon. Colonel Pierse Butler, and W.F. Finn, Esq.
Moved Mr. Michael Gahan—seconded Mr. Andrew Phelan. Resolved —That the foregoing resolutions be published in the Waterford and Weekly Waterford Chronicles. LAURENCE STRANGE, Chairman. JOHN BOLGER, Secretary.
Laurence Strange, Esq., having left the Chair, Mr. Andrew Phelan being called thereto, the thanks the Meeting were given to Mr. Strange for his very dignified and proper conduct in the Chair. ANDREW PHELAN, Chairman. John BOLGER, Secretary. “To the Right Honourable and Honorable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Parliament assembled. The humble Petition of the inhabitants of the Parish of Glenmore, in the county of Kilkenny, Humbly Shewether, That your petitioners, in approaching your honorable House, beg to state their unqualified loyalty and attachment to his Majesty’s person, and their entire confidence in his Majesty’s Government, and constitutional advisers. Your petitioners, persuaded of the kind and benevolent disposition of your honorable house, redress the grievances which affect the people of Ireland. Among their grievances the Tithe system holds a prominent portion, it has uniformly been the source of dissatisfaction and jealousy, and has in very many instances caused the shedding of the blood of several of his Majesty’s subjects in Ireland. Your Petitioners humbly submit your Honourable House, that it is not consonant with the principles of justice, that six millions of his Majesty’s loyal and dutiful Roman Catholic subjects in Ireland, should be taxed for the spiritual instruction of half a million members of the Established Church–a tax, from which the said Roman Catholics derive no benefit, and from which they receive no equivalent. Your petitioners further beg to state to your Honourable House, that as the amount of Tithes in Ireland is far above the want of the Established Church and more than adequate renumeration for its Ministers, it would as unjust as it would he impolitic continue it. Your Petitioners therefore pray your Honourable House, so to modify the Tithe system in Ireland, that it may be no longer a burden on those who receive no benefit. And your Petitioners will ever pray, etc, etc.”
In 1838, parliament enacted the Tithe Commutation Act for Ireland. This reduced the amount payable directly by about a quarter and made the remainder payable in rent to landlords. The landlords were required to collect the tithe as part of the rent and send it on to the authorities. Two Glenmore landlords, Sir John Newport and Major Gahan, of the lands of Kilmakevogue, Graigunakill and Carrigcloney were heralded as patriots when they publicly agreed not to demand the tithe as a rent charge (Dublin Morning Register, 14 September 1838).
Full relief from the tax was not achieved until the Irish Church Act 1869. One of the local events that may have helped bring about the Act was the highly publicised case of Elizabeth Simpson v. Reverald Henry Helsham. For several months in 1864 notices appeared in the Kilkenny Moderator advising people in Ballygurrim and Kilmakevogue, Glenmore not to pay their tithe rent to Reverend Henry Helsham. Under a court order a plaintiff owed moneys could appeal to the bishop of the releant diocese to execute on the goods and chattles (personal property) of the debtor in his diocese. In an article in the Saunder’s News-Letter on Thursday the 14th of May 1868 (in another case where Reverend Helsham was being sued) it was noted that in 1861 he “became embarrassed by his circumstances and had to leave the parish [Rosbercon] for awhile.” The tithe rent charges were collected by a sequestrator who paid the judgments against the Reverend from the rents collected. The tithe rents collected amounted to about £220 a year and clearly illustrates that the tithes which were levied against all holdings in the Union of Rosbercon, to support the Church of Ireland, were directed to support the lifestyle and debts of the Vicar even when he was not working as the Vicar of the parish.
For further details concerning Carrickshock see, http://snap.waterfordcoco.ie/collections/ejournals/101014/101014.pdf Richard Lahert, The Mayor and the Outlaw: A Postscript to the Carrickshock Affray 1831 (Decies, spring 1994).
The featured drawing is from sheet music, The Irish Peasant (Ireland 1800-1870) © Trustees Indiana University http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/lilly/starr/LL-SSM-2-136-0014.
Updated 1 Dec. 2021. The Return of Number of Persons Tried Found Guilty or Acquitted in Counties of Kilkenny, Mayo and Queen’s was digitalized by the University of Southamptom is available at www.jstor.org/stable/community.29946989.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh