19th Century
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Glenmore and the United Irish League’s Rosbercon Rally 1908
The land question was the political issue that dominated Glenmore and other rural areas of Ireland from before the Great Famine until shortly before the Easter Uprising in 1916. As an oversimplification, under British rule land in Ireland was owned by English landlords and the Irish people working the land were impoverished and faced the constant threat of eviction. After the famine, there was less of a need for Irish farmers and farm labourers because farming moved from tillage to grazing. This led to more clearances and evictions. Between 1851 and 1911 arable land in Ireland halved from 1.8 million hectares to 0.9 million. Live cattle exports to Britain increased from 200,000 animals in the 1840’s to 400,000 animals in the 1860’s. In the 1890’s this increased to 800,000 animals (Kevin Whelan (1997) “The Modern Landscape from Plantation to Present” in Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape, p. 67).
Reforms
There were some efforts to reform land laws such as the establishment of the Encumbered Estates Court in 1848. The landlords most heavily in debt were weeded out and more enterprising landlords replaced them. In the 1860’s other land legislation followed, but tenancy continued to be based on contract and not on tenure. The insecurity of tenure, and the actions of the new landlords caused political and social unrest which helped give birth to the Fenian movement. The Land Act (1870) is cited as the first real effort to deal with the grievances of the Irish tenant. However, the Act was inadequate particularly after the bad harvests starting in 1877. (C.F. Bastable (1903) “The Irish Land Purchase Act of 1903,” The 18(1) Quarterly Journal of Economics (Nov. 1903) p. 3-4). During bad harvests even reasonable rents were often difficult to pay.
The Land League
In October 1879 Michael Davitt, the son of an evicted farmer founded the Land League. Charles Stewart Parnell, leader of the Irish Home Rule Party, presided over the League and linked the land reform movement with his home rule political party. Glenmore formed a Branch of the Land League in 1880. The Irish Land Committee in November 1880 published a document entitled, The Land Question, Ireland: Confiscation or Contract? It was apparent that change was going to happen. The only question was whether the Government would force the landlords to sell their lands.
Fierce agitation by the Land League led to Gladstone’s Land Act of 1881 which accepted the three F’s: (1) Fixity of tenure; (2) Fair rent; and (3) the right of Free sale of the tenant of his interest. In essence the 1881 Act fixed rents. The fixing of rents did not stop evictions. For example, in August 1885 people from across the area rushed to Ballyfacey, Glenmore and successfully stopped the eviction of several families. (See our post of 14 June 2020 for further details regarding the Ballyfacey evictions). Notwithstanding the shortcomings of the 1881 Act it was viewed as a victory for the Land League.
United Irish League
The momentum gained by the Land League was lost in 1891 when Parnell became embroiled in a public scandal because of his long association with a married woman. The Glenmore Branch of the Land League split as did the national group. Parnell died later that year. (For further information on the splitting of the Glenmore Branch of the Land League see our post of 27 March 2020 and our post 29 March 2020).
In 1898 the United Irish League was established by William O’Brien with the help of Michael Davitt and others. The League was comprised primarily of the divided Parnell and anti-Parnellite factions. By 1903 the main political parties in Britain were in agreement that Irish tenants should be allowed to purchase their holdings. However, the question remained whether the transfer of land would be voluntary or whether it would be compulsory on the landlords.
The Land Act (1903), also known as the Wyndham Act, was the long awaited land purchase Act. However, not everyone agreed with the provisions of the Act and the United Irish League did not remain united. In 1908 the land question raised its head locally when there were calls for dividing the “grass ranch” of the Boyd estate. (For an interesting article on the 1903 Act, see, Patrick John Cosgrove (2008) The Wyndham Act, 1903; The Final Solution to the Irish Land Question? (PhD Thesis, National University of Ireland, Maynooth).
The Boyd Estate
On the 9th of August 1908, the clergy and people of Glenmore travelled to Rosbercon to attend a “monster” demonstration. The purpose of the demonstration was to agitate for the division of the Boyd estate. The Shanbogh landlord Thomas Boyd died in 1904.
Thomas Boyd (1818-1904) of Chilcomb House, Rosbercon, in addition to being the landlord of Shanbogh, was also the Crown Solicitor for Tipperary. He also owned land in Tipperary. Thomas bought Shanbogh around 1870. His land was described as running from his residence in Rosbercon for two miles to the river. A decade after he purchased Shanbogh, Thomas, his two sons and nephew were ambushed. His son Charles died from his injuries. Although several local people were arrested for the murder of Charles Boyd (c. 1859-1880) no one was convicted. (For further information on the ambush see our post of 7 Nov. 2021).
Thomas survived both of his sons and left his estate to his grandson Thomas Crawford Boyd (1886-1967). Thomas Crawford Boyd was the son of John Thomas Evans Boyd (1855-1900) and his wife Emily Martha Crawford (1863-1934). Thomas Crawford Boyd was in the British army in 1908.
The 1908 Meeting of the United Irish League at Rosbercon
The New Ross Standard (Fri. 14 August 1908, p. 13) covered the meeting and started its coverage with “Just across the river from New Ross, at a little distance above the village of Rosbercon, on a well known South Kilkenny Gaelic battle ground, on Sunday afternoon an exceptionally well attended, enthusiastic and determined public demonstration was held, under the auspices of the United Irish League. The object of the demonstration was the breaking up the ranch land of the Boyd estate.” It was also mentioned that a special train from Waterford brought a contingent of about 200 including the Barrack Street Brass and Reed Band. The Kilkenny People (Sat. 15 Aug.1908, p. 3) also carried similar coverage of the meeting.
Glenmore Clergy & Evicted Tenants
The meeting was “largely attended by farmers, labourers and artisans.” A long list of the men on the platform was provided in local news accounts. There were clergymen such as the Very Rev. Canon Holohan, P.P., Rosbercon; Glenmore’s Very Rev. Thomas Phelan, P.P.; and Glenmore’s Curate, Rev. Martin Crotty. Politicians from all over the South East of Ireland were also well represented on the platform. Evicted Tenants made up the remainder of the persons on the platform. The newspapers linked the parishes of Glenmore and Sliverue when listing the evicted tenants on the platform. The evicted tenants included: James Forrestal (Rosbercon); R. Egan (Tullogher, restored); P. Cody (Tullogher); Ed Harte (Listerlin); Frank Ryan (Glenmore & Slieverue), Daniel and John Doolan (Glenmore & Slieverue); P. Doherty (Glenmore & Slieverue) and R. Grace (Glenmore & Slieverue).
Canon Holohan’s Speech
The Very Rev. Canon Holohan, P.P., Rosbercon, chaired the meeting. Below is an extract of his speech.
“Fellow countrymen, and men and women of Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, and Waterford—I am delighted to see you assembled here today in such vast numbers. Your presence here today gives me an assurance that your breasts are filled with the same feelings of patriotism and bravery which animated the breasts of your forefathers who fought at the battle of New Ross (applause)—that you are still filled with the same enthusiasm that characterised meetings of twenty-five or thirty years ago (applause).”
“You are also prepared to support an agitation today on the same lines as you formerly did when the Land League was started by Michael Davitt (applause).” At this point a man called out, “And the great Parnell.” Fr. Holohan carried on with his speech. He outlined that the gathered men would be asked to adopt a number of resolutions concerning the question of Home Rule. He stated that “without which Ireland can never exist or be happy, prosperous or contented (cheers). This resolution concerning Home Rule occupies the first place. The question of the evicted holds a prominent place in the programme of today, and in like manner the distribution of untenanted lands amongst the sons and representatives of the evicted tenants and amongst the landless of the district (applause)…”
“We all deplore the evils of emigration, but we all know and feel there is no place in the world for Irishmen like their native land. Nowhere do they feel as happy and contented as at home amongst their own friends. They may go to foreign lands and pick up some gold, but they are never happy out of Ireland (applause)…”
Canon Holohan went on to state that his old friend, Mr. Meagher, the Member of Parliament for North Kilkenny, had secured in north Kilkenny possession of seven or eight ranches of untenanted land for distribution. ..”I had the pleasure of meeting him 28 years ago in the days of the Land League, when we stood shoulder to shoulder on many a platform, when the prospect was not so bright as it is today, when the people with the priests agitated. They persevered and keep pegging away, and they have obtained many redresses of their grievances. They have obtained a reduction of rent, the land purchase Clauses, the various Land Bills for the last 30 years. They have obtained the Town Tenants Acts and the Labourers Acts. Those are the various Bills obtained and improvements made through the agitation of the Irish Parliamentary Party. We can get something from time to time. We cannot get all that we are entitled to, but by agitating we will get something from time to time.”
“Many tell us that Home Rule is almost within sight. If we had it, it would embrace everything, and it is not sops and straws we would be getting. Let us keep agitating and by the assistance of the Irish Parliamentary Party and a good strong agitation we are assured that Home Rule is in sight (applause). We have the sympathy of all Nationalists, not only in England, Scotland, Australia and America, but wherever the Irish race is spread all over the world. Englishmen who come over here to govern us after a little experience of the country find that nothing can be done without Home Rule. We are all Home Rulers…”
The Sought Resolutions
[1] That we, the Nationalists of South Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, and Waterford, reiterate the National demand for a native Parliament sitting in College Green, with full powers to make laws for the government of the Irish nation.
[2] We earnestly call upon the Government to hasten the reinstatement of the evicted tenants and to supply the necessary funds for this purpose.
[3] We demand the distribution of the untenanted lands of South Kilkenny among the evicted tenants, the wounded soldier of the land war, or their representative, and among the adjoining small farmers and landless people, to enable them to live in the land of their birth and to prevent their emigration.
[4] We strongly protest again the rejection of the large number of labourers’ cottages, especially on the large areas.
Speech of Michael Meagher, MP for North Kilkenny
The political speech delivered by Michael Meagher had several interesting facts presented. According to Meagher people were leaving Ireland at the rate of 44,000 a year, while there were 68,000 acres of gazing land to be broken up. He noted that forty years previously the lands were cleared of human beings and “handed over to bullocks.” Through the Estates Commission “ranches” in the north of the county were being split up. He gave the example of the Scully ranch where 39 families comprised of 357 human beings were evicted—not for non-payment of rent but to turn the land to grazing. This land was in 1908 being made available for supported purchase by evicted tenants, small farmers and the landless.
Rev. Thomas Phelan of Glenmore
Fr. Thomas Phelan (Glenmore) declared the vote of thanks to Canon Holohan and recited:
Ill fares the land
To hastening ills a prey,
Where bullocks thrive
And men decay.
Canon Holohan (Rosbercon) concluded the meeting with
“We’ll have the land that bore us,
The land shall be our chorus,
We’ll have it yet, tho’ tis hard to get,
With the green flag flying o’er us.”
It is interesting the simplistic approach taken that splitting up large “ranch” holdings would stop emigration without any discussion of birth rates or available alternative employment. Unless the people purchasing the untenanted land provided for each of their children by dividing their land the project would not stop emigration. However, dividing the purchased holding would result in the pre-Famine subsistence farming on smaller and smaller holdings and also would not stop emigration after a generation or two.
See our post of 14 June 2020 regarding creative boycotting in the late 19th century.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Killing in 1822 of Catherine Hanrahan of Rochestown, Glenmore
Due to a typographical error, 1822 was placed in a newspaper search engine rather than 1922. However, from this simple mistake sprang an apparently long forgotten story concerning a young pregnant mother, named Catherine Hanrahan, of Rochestown, Glenmore, who was shot and killed by a one-armed Waterford bailiff in July 1822.
Catherine Hanrahan née Power (c. 1798-1822)
From the newspaper accounts of her killing we know that Catherine was the daughter of Thomas Power and her husband was Thomas Hanrahan. We were able to find a marriage record for Catherine Power and Thomas Hanrahan. Thomas Hanrahan and Catherine Power of Rochestown married 14 February 1820 at Slieverue. The witnesses to the wedding were: William Hanrahan, Thomas Hanrahan and James Cashin. The following year the couple had their first child, Judith Hanrahan. Judith was baptised 12 April 1821 at Rochestown. Her godparents were Luke Power and Nelly Foristal (sic). It does not appear that Luke Power was a brother of Catherine because the newspapers in reporting on her killing noted her parents and younger sisters mourning her death. One newspaper recorded Catherine being aged 23 at the time of her death and another gave her age as 24. The only Catherine Power we found in the Slieverue records for the years 1797-1799 was Catherine Power, of Boherbee, baptized 25 May 1797 to Thomas Power and Mary Welsh. Glenmore did not become a separate parish until 1844, so the earliest parish records are in Slieverue.
1822
The year 1822 was a year when food was not plentiful in Ireland and famine visited the west of the country. This was also the year that the Royal Irish Constabulary was established by Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850). Catherine was shot on Monday, 1st July 1822 and lingered in agony until her death Sunday, 7th July 1822. The Waterford Chronicle (Thurs. 11 July 1822, p. 3) stated that a report was circulating in Waterford City for a couple of days “…that a poor woman had been fired at and severely wounded, near Rochestown, by a man from this City, named Marks, employed to watch some property distrained. We forbore to notice the rumour at the time, having been unable to trace it to any authentic source; but we have since learned the melancholy fact, that the unfortunate woman died of the wound on Sunday. As the circumstances will of course undergo a judicial investigation, we refrain from saying more at present.” The Waterford Mirror (reprinted in the Carlow Morning Post, Mon. 15 July 1822, p. 3) noted that it had twice reported on the “unhappy occurrence” at “Rochestown, Barony of Ida, County Kilkenny, a place not under proclamation.”
“Not under proclamation” was a phrase used to describe the area as law abiding. Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850) was the chief secretary of Ireland from 1812 to 1818 and the driving force behind “An Act …to provide for the better execution of the laws in Ireland, by appointing Superintending Magistrates and additional constables in Counties in certain cases…[that] are in a State of Disturbance (54, George III, c. 131, 25 July 1814). Generally, if it was declared by a public Proclamation that an area was in a state of disturbance additional police and magistrates were put in place to quickly quell disturbances. Due to Sir Robert Peel’s establishment of professional police groups police were often referred to as “peelers” and “bobbies.” These terms are still used today.
The most detailed account of Catherine’s killing was found in the Leinster Journal (Sat. 13 July 1822, p. 2).
COUNTY POLICE—On the morning of the 1st instant, six or seven bailiffs were sent to Rochestown, in this county, to distrain of Thomas Power, for rent due to Pierce Edward Forrestall (sic), Esq. They arrived at the village long before sun-rise, and appear to have endeavoured to seize the pigs. Power’s daughter, Catherine, a good young woman, aged 23, wife of Thomas Hanrahan, who was gone to the bog, having heard the noise, got up, and seeing no person in the bawn, went to drive back the pigs to rest, when one of the bailiffs, a ruffian of the name of Thomas Marks, a pensioner, who has only one hand and has an iron hook fixed on the stump of the other, jumped from a loose stone wall, and hooked her by the throat with that substitution for a hand. She screamed which roused her mother, sisters, and a neighbour. Having disengaged herself from the miscreant’s iron hook, she fled towards the house, on which this ruthless barbarian placed his foot on an elevated stone in the yard, rested his pistol on his knee, took deliberate aim at the poor woman, and fired. She received the ball to the region of the kidney and fell to the ground. Surgical aid was soon procured, but in vain. The ball could not be extracted, and she lingered in excruciating agony until Sunday morning last, when she died in the arms of her heart broken mother, and in the presence of her afflicted father, husband, four younger sisters, uncles, aunts, other relatives, and of her own babe which is only 14 months old. The hapless victim of the fiend was in a state of pregnancy. John Snow, Esq. on hearing of the affair, attended to take her information, but she was in too great tertiary to give the necessary details. On Monday last, that Gentleman and Samuel Warring, Esq., held an inquest on the body, when a verdict of wilful murder was returned against Marks. The ruffian was publicly and most unaccountable at large in Waterford until the woman died, and he was seen last Monday in Clonmel. Happily for ourselves, perhaps we have no space left for commentary. Never in our recollection did so many police murders and outrages occur in the same space of time as during the last three months, but happily the population of the county have been guilty of neither, and notwithstanding the provocation we have recorded above, the inhabitants of Rochestown, always distinguished for their good conduct, offered no insult to the wretches who had brought mourning late their peaceful village.
It is assumed that Thomas Hanrahan and his father-in-law Thomas Power had left the house earlier to travel to a bog to cut peat. From the newspaper account it appears that only Catherine, her mother, and four younger sisters were at home when Catherine was shot by a one-armed pensioner employed as a bailiff.
A little over a month after Catherine Hanrahan died, her killer Thomas Marks was tried on Saturday the 12th of August 1822 in the Kilkenny Assizes for her murder. Unfortunately, there is some confusion among the newspaper accounts as to the outcome of the murder trial. It was reported in one newspaper that he was found guilty of murder (Saunder’s News-Letter, Tues. 20 Aug. 1822, p. 3). Several newspapers reported that Thomas Marks was found guilty of the manslaughter of Catharine Hanrahan and sentenced to six months imprisonment (e.g. Freeman’s Journal, Thurs. 15 Aug. 1822, p. 4; Dublin Weekly Register, Sat. 17 Aug. 1822, p. 3). The Leinster Journal (Sat. 17 Aug. 1822, p. 2) provided further detail regarding the punishment. A verdict of manslaughter was returned and the sentence was “to be burned in the hand and confined six months.”
Unfortunately, no newspaper appears to have covered the murder trial itself, so we do not know why Thomas Marks was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. In the 19th century “malice aforethought” or pre-meditation had to be proven, or was it the case that the jury was swayed by the killer’s disability, age, or occupation? The burning of the killer’s hand raises an interesting point. During the Middle Ages clergy were immune to the civil law and could claim “Benefit of Clergy.” Later “Benefit of Clergy” became a procedural device where laymen could mitigate the harshness of the common law which provided that murders were hanged. To make certain that a layman was not able to claim the benefit more than once his thumb would be burned to mark him. Benefit of Clergy was greatly curtailed when transportation to a colony became a sentencing option and eventually it ended in the early 19th century. It is doubtful that the killer Thomas Marks sought the Benefit of Clergy. It seems more likely that the Judge believed that the jury had exercised mercy and wanted the killer marked to keep him from enjoying further mercy if he killed again.
In attempting to find more information on the killer we came across another man named Thomas Marks sentenced in 1821 to six months imprisonment with hard labour. This sentence of six months with hard labour puts the sentence of six months for killing a pregnant woman, running away from her killer, into perspective. The other Thomas Marks was convicted of stealing “four ducks, four hens and a cock, the property of Mr. Robert Macaulay of Crumlin” (Belfast Commercial Chronicle, Sat. 22 Sept. 1821, p. 4).
Killing No Murder
Perhaps the best clue as to explanation as to why Thomas Marks was convicted of manslaughter may be found on other pages of the Leinster Journal. In addition to the statements made in the article provided above entitled “County Police,”– that in his recollection there were never as many police killings and police outrages as in the previous three months of May, June and July 1822–the editor of the Leinster Journal wrote several other articles concerning the police killings in County Kilkenny. One entitled “Killing No Murder” (Wed. 7 Aug. 1922, p. 2) states,
A correspondent promises to send queries and observation for the consideration of the Grand Jury or Judges of the Assizes, relative to the apparent indifference of the functionaries of Government in the case of an aimable girl, Mary Delaney, who was killed on the spot by the rash and unwarrantable firing of the police on the people assembled at Bawn fair. He also bespeaks our indulgence for a few remarks on the employment of Ralph Deacon as a Peeler at this place where he so recently killed James Aylward, by shooting him through the body, having previously declared, according to the testimony of three witnesses, that he would do something of the kind. He [correspondent] thinks if the services of this man cannot be dispensed with in Ireland, he might be employed in more advantage at a distance from the justly irritated friends and relatives of the deceased.
Lastly, although Griffith’s Tithe Applotment books (1829) records the names of tenants of townlands was performed in 1829 neither Thomas Power nor Thomas Hanrahan are found listed in Rochestown or adjacent townlands.
If anyone has any further information or corrections, please send to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Special thanks to Bernie Ryan of the Local Studies unit of the Kilkenny Library for her aid and patience as I pursued this very cold case through old newspapers not yet digitalised.
The featured photo of the two pistols is a cigarette card and is courtesy of the New York City Library. George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library. “Pistols.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed November 6, 2022. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/5e66b3e8-c668-d471-e040-e00a180654d7
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
John L. Conn (1812-1893) of Mount Ida, Rochestown, Glenmore [Updated]
Bigamist John Lamley Conn (1812-1893)
Martin Forristal, of Ballinlammy, Glenmore wrote an excellent article entitled “Mount Ida” which may be found on our guest authors’ page by clicking here. In tracing the history of Mount Ida, Martin revealed that John L. Conn (1812-1893) of Mount Ida was a bigamist keeping his lawful wife in Glenmore and his mistress and children in Dublin.
While searching for other information we came across two articles involving John L. Conn. The first is from May 1859 and involves the attempted burglary of Mount Ida. The second article is from May 1883 and involves a criminal case brought against a Glenmore man named Patrick Walsh for intimidation. Both newspaper accounts provide an interesting glimpse into the state of criminal justice in Glenmore in the mid to late 19th century.
Attempted Burglary of Mount Ida, Glenmore
On Wednesday the 4th of May 1859 men attempted to burgle Mount Ida. The following account was found in the Waterford Mail (Tues. 10 May 1859).
Burglarious Attempt—We regret to hear that on Tuesday night, or rather Wednesday morning last, between the hours of 12 and one o’clock, a party of burglars attacked Mount Ida House, the residence of John L. Conn, Esq., situate at Rochestown, barony of Ida and county of Kilkenny. They forced the shutters of a window in the east wing of the building, and were in the act of breaking open a door, with an iron bar and a wooden bar acting as levers under it, when the noise was heard of one of the maid servants who slept in the apartment over it, and who ran up and called her master. Mr. Conn, with more courage than prudence, sallied out armed with a gun, but the scoundrels heard the opening of the lock and ran off, leaving their implements behind, and the night being very dark, Mr. Conn did not get a shot at them, they were, however, disappointed of their booty.
We are astonished to hear that there is no magistrate in the district, which contains at least 30 square miles, and that the nearest police station is several miles off, and we have no hesitation in saying that the government authorities incur a deep responsibility if this exceptional state of things be not at once rectified. We hear the constable of the nearest police station made an examination of the place the following evening.
This article indicates that in 1859 there was no police barracks in Glenmore Village.
Glenmore Intimitation Case
Nearly 25 years later, a former tenant of John L. Conn was charged and convicted of intimidation concerning the letting of his former 40 acre farm. The account of the trial appeared in the Waterford Standard (Sat. 19 May 1883, p. 3). Patrick Walsh in May 1883 was in the employment of Mr. Cody and was charged with intimidation under the provisions of the Prevention of Crimes Act.
It was alleged that on 3 May 1883 at Rathinure without legal authority, the defendant used intimidation toward Michael Roche, when he advised him through his cousin to abstain from doing what he had a legal right to do—namely, to become tenant of a certain farm on the estate of John Lamley Conn, of Mount Ida. A special petty sessions court was held at Kilmacow on 17 May before Mr. Bodkin R.M. (Resident Magistrate) and H. Thynne, R.M. Mr. Hartford, the Kilkenny Crown Solicitor, prosecuted, and the defendant had no legal representation.
The defendant, Patrick Walsh, and his brother John Walsh, had been in possession of a farm which was the property of John Lamley Conn. Their uncle had the farm before they took possession. They fell into arrears on the rent, but went to John Conn and came to an agreement that in consideration for a sum of money, they agreed to give up the land and not attempt to redeem it. At the time of the trial the farm had been idle for three years.
On the 5th of February 1883, Michael Roche sent a proposal to John Conn that he would rent the farm for £1 per acre. On 3 May 1883 about ten o’clock in the evening the police were on patrol at Glenmore. The police observed the defendant with his brother John Walsh and in the company of James Costello.
The police overheard the defendant speak to John Roche, a cousin of Michael Roche. It was alleged that in a lane of Rathinure, Patrick Walsh said, “That is my land; I had the land before Conn had it. What do I care about Conn, even if he has two bobbies [police] mind him—I will pull the trigger, for I will swing for any person who takes that land.” [At this time murder was a hanging offence. The defendant’s alleged use of the phrase “I will swing” was a threat to kill anyone who took the land.]
Witness 1: John Lamley Conn
The first witness called was John Lamley Conn who was summoned to appear. It appears from the newspaper account that he would not have attended except that he received a summons. Conn testified that he lived at Mount Ida and had some land in Rochestown. He owned the lands in Rochestown for about 40 years. He acquired them by purchase in the Court of Chancery.
Conn stated that he knew the defendant and his brother John Walsh, and the farm that they once occupied was about 40 acres. They fell in arrears and were given every facility to redeem the farm. They came to Conn and asked for money as good will. Conn gave them money in exchange for them voluntarily leaving the farm. Conn testified that he had not seen the defendant since he left the farm voluntarily.
Witness 2: Constable Williiam Broderick
The second witness was Constable William Broderick who testified that he and Sub-Constable Patrick Donohue were patrolling on 3 May 1883. While in Rathinure in a lane off the public road he heard Patrick Walsh say, “That is my land. I had that land before; what do I care if Conn has two bobbies minding him. What do I care about Conn?”
Constable Broderick then testified that he believed the defendant said, he would “pull his finger if any man would take the land.” He testified that the sub-constable said that he heard the defendant say that he would “pull the trigger.” He testified that the defendant said, “advise him, advise him—you know him; for I will swing for any man who takes that land.”
The constables jumped over the ditch into the lane and from John Roche obtained the names and addresses of all the men present. The defendant walked past the constables. When the constables caught up to the defendant the defendant was asked about the language he used concerning Conn. The defendant replied that “they would be all good friends yet.”
The defendant asked Constable Broderick concerning his character and the Constable responded that he only knew the defendant about 8 months, he knew nothing against the defendant and had heard nothing against him. Magistrate Thynne asked if the defendant was “worse of drink that night.” Constable Broderick replied that the defendant had drink taken, and he had been coming from the public house, but he could have been justified in summoning him for drunkenness.
Witness 3: Sub-Constable Donohoe
Sub-constable Donohoe was called and sworn and stated that he did not want to correct the information provided by Constable Broderick. At this point the Magistrates wanted Mr. Hartford to examine Mr. Roche. Mr. Hartford refused and Magistrate Bodkin said that they would examine the man themselves. Mr. Hartford replied, “If you do, you must do it on your own responsibility—I am here on behalf of the Crown.” The defendant then called John Roche, but did not ask him any questions. The Magistrates began to ask Roche questions who merely testified that the defendant told him to tell his cousin, Michael Roche, not to take the land.
At this point from the newspaper account the magistrates appear to have lost patience with the defendant. He had a list of witnesses, but then stated he had no questions for them. The defendant was asked, “Who is John Fitzgerald?” The defendant replied, “He is the man I worked with for the last two years; he is the only man I worked with since I left the farm.”
Mr. Cody then testified, “This man is now in my employment, and I never heard anything against him.” When asked if the defendant drank much, Cody replied that he did not. However, when he did drink “he does not be very steady.” The Magistrates then began to quiz Cody on whether he wanted the land in question. Cody replied that he did not; he had enough land of his own.
The Magistrates
Prior to 1898 defendants could not testify on their own behalf. In this case the Magistrates asked the defendant if he had every been convicted. Thus, while not considered competent to testify concerning what occurred the defendant was considered competent to incriminate himself. The defendant responded, “It was for being drunk; drink is my failing; I was convicted of being drunk 11 years ago.”
Magistrate Bodkin: “You are accused of a very serious offence, which has been very clearly proved against you. The constable says you were not so drunk as not to know what you were about. However, he has taken upon himself to give you a good character so long as he has known you. That has had an influence on our mind, and, therefore, we will let you off with two months’ imprisonment at hard labour.”
Some of our readers might recall that Magistrate Bodkin was present at the Ballyfacey Eviction Riots of August 1885 and was told by Fr. Neary that his wife would be going to bed a widow if he persisted. For our article concerning the Ballyfacey Evictions click here.
Unfortunately, without first names or townlands it is difficult to determine who was the employer, Mr. Cody. Even with first names it is difficult to identify the persons in the newspaper account of the intimidation trial with common names like Walsh and Roche and without townlands or ages. If anyone can provide further information concerning any of these local men please post below or email glenmore.history@gmail.com.
[Update: Ann FItzgerald was able to identify the two Walsh brothers. John Walsh (1835) and Patrick Walsh (1837) were born in Rathpatrick, Slieverue to Nicholas Walsh and Judith Magrath. We were able to locate baptismal records for other children including: Jeremiah Walsh (1833); James Walsh (1840); William Walsh (1843) and Anne Walsh (1847). Patrick Walsh (1837) never married. John Walsh (1835) married Margaret Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, on 16 Feb. 1870. Margaret was the daughter of Richard FItzgerald. Two of John & Margaret’s sons emigrated to New York and married two Hanrahan sisters from Glenmore Village.]
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The 1837 Killing of Michael Phelan of Rochestown, Mullinavat
In Danny Dowling’s files an article was found which was copied from the Waterford Mail (Sat. 15 June 1839, p. 2). It provides that Laurence Foley, who brutally murdered his landlord, Pat. Phelan, of Rochestown, County Kilkenny in October 1837 evaded arrest for two years. Foley was arrested in County Tipperary and identified by the mother of the deceased. According to the Ballyshannon Herald (Fri. 21 June 1839, p. 3) Foley was arrested by Chief Constable Roney and Head Constable Mason. This is an interesting pre-Famine case because no motive was revealed for the killing although the newspapers at the time drew attention to the fact that the victim was a landlord of the defendant Foley. However, it appears that the victim had a modest holding.
Unfortunately, the Waterford Mail published the wrong name of the man killed, and from the information presented it was not clear which Rochestown in Kilkenny was the home of the victim. The victim was identified as Patt Phelan, Michael Phelan and sometimes Whelan in the newspapers. Knowing that trial accounts often are the more reliable of newspaper information we located reference to the trial of Laurence Foley in the Freeman’s Journal (Wed. 24 July 1839, p. 1). Baron Foster arrived from Clonmel for the Kilkenny Assizes the previous day and opened the Kilkenny Commission in the County Court at 10 a.m. Baron Foster addressed the Grand Jury and stated that he was happy to be able to congratulate them on the state of the court calendar. There were sixteen defendants for trial. He said that it was gratifying to find that agrarian outrages had ceased in County Kilkenny. However, he regretted that of the few cases to be heard there were four homicides. The totality of the report on the Laurence Foley case in this particular newspaper was that he was indicted for the manslaughter of Michael Whelan (sic) and found guilty.
Luckily, the Kilkenny Moderator (Sat. 27 July 1839, p. 20) provided details concerning the case that arose with the slaying of Michael Phelan (sic) near Mullinavat on the 3rd of October 1837. From this article and a review of Griffith’s Valuation we were able to determine that the victim lived in Rochestown, Mullinavat rather than Rochestown, Glenmore. The article provided the names of the jurors that heard the case: Richard Lalor, John Power, Edward Hunt, Edward S. Delaney, John Brenan, Anthony Nugent, James Butler, Emmanuel Fitzpatrick, Nicholas Cahill, Robert Walshe, Daniel Lalor, and Daniel Phelan.
The first witness to give evidence was John Phelan, a brother of the victim. John Phelan testified that the defendant, Laurence Foley, struck his brother Michael two years previously at Moonvoor, near Mullinavat. He had seen the defendant at the Mullinavat fair that day, and the defendant walked part of the way home with John and his brother, the victim. The brothers stopped at Patt Browne’s house on their way home to enquire about shoes that Browne was making for the victim. Soon after they went into Browne’s house the defendant Foley came to the door with a stone in his hand. Browne saw the defendant and as Browne went to push him out of the house the defendant dropped the stone. He then “caught up” a spade. With the help of the brothers, Browne pushed the defendant out of his house. The brothers then pushed the defendant outside the yard and “desired him to go home.” They turned to go back into Browne’s house and the defendant took up a stone and threw it at the victim, Michael Phelan, who was knocked down. John Phelan turned and saw defendant at the yard wall after throwing the stone. He heard one blow. The stone hit his brother in the back of the head. John immediately collared the defendant and tripped him up. When his brother did not rise he called out “murder.” He let go of the defendant and ran to his brother, but his brother could not stand. The victim lived till the following day. He did not see anyone other than the defendant near his brother when his brother was struck.
John Phelan testified that the defendant had taken “a sup” that night, and had been in the Police barracks that evening before he struck the victim. There had been no previous quarrel and he could not say why the defendant struck his brother. After striking the victim the defendant ran away, and the defendant left the place where he had been living. John Phelan admitted that he struck the defendant when he had him collared.
To questioning by the Judge, John Phelan stated that the defendant was not very drunk that night as he was well able to walk and talk when he came to the door with the stone in his hand. John Phelan could not say whether the defendant said anything. Prior to the attack the three men walked about a quarter of a mile together. The defendant called Browne a Whitefoot. John Phelan stated that Browne was a cousin of the Phelan brothers. He admitted they were all in dread of the defendant Foley because he was a bad character. The defendant was their tenant for some ground.
Patrick Browne then testified that he was working in his shop on the evening when the Phelan brothers came in to look for a pair of shoes. They were with him a few minutes when he heard shouting on the street. The defendant came and called the boys out to fight. Browne wanted to keep the defendant out, but the defendant managed to enter his door. Browne wanted the defendant to go home. While Browne was pushing the defendant out of the door a stone dropped from his hand. The defendant then seized a spade, but they shoved him out. The defendant then said to Browne, “You have my two landlords with you—to the devil with them—I’ll have my revenge.” He heard the cry of “murder” soon after, but when he heard it a second time he ran out and saw Michael Phelan nearly dead. He did not see the defendant then or later in the neighbourhood after that occurrence, nor since until the present assizes.
Doctor A. Cuilinan proved the nature of the wound which, he said, caused the death of the deceased. The Judge shortly “recapitulated the evidence” and the Jury, in a few moments returned a verdict of Guilty of Manslaughter. Foley was sentenced to transportation for 7 years.
The Kilmainham Prison Register provides that Laurence Foley, prisoner number 2405, was sentenced to 7 years for manslaughter by Baron Foster on 20 July 1839 at Kilkenny. The New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 reveals that Laurence Foley, of Kilkenny, arrived in Australia on 8 October 1839 aboard the Nautilus although this appears to be too quick a sailing time even if the ship left immediately following the trial. Perhaps the 8 October 1839 date reflects the date the ship sailed from Ireland? The records reveal that Foley was 30 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches tall and had hazel eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion.
Three Rochestown townlands were located in Kilkenny. In the Griffith’s Valuation: Tithe Applotment Books there were no Phelan/Whelan in Rochestown, civil parish of Kilcolumb, Glenmore. Likewise, there were no Phelan/Whelan in Roachestown, civil parish of Rathkieran of Mooncoin (1833). Rochestown in the civil parish of Ballylarkin in 1827 had a Thomas Whelan who held 14 acres. It appears that Ballylarkin was originally in the Catholic Parish of Kilmacow but was transferred to Mullinavat Parish in the early 1840’s about the time Glenmore became a parish distinct from Slieverue.
In searching for Michael and John Phelan, utilizing the possibility that Thomas was their father, we located a John Phelan baptised on 16 June 1811 in Templeorum the son of Thomas Phelan and Catherine Crowly with an address of Kilonerry. Michael Phelan was baptized on 26 December 1807. Unfortunately, we cannot be certain that this is the correct family, and we were unable to locate a baptismal record for Laurence Foley.
Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured sketch above is from the New York Public Library, Digital Collection, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture CollectionShelf locator: PC IMM. “London : printed and published at the Office, 198 Strand, in the Parish of St. Clement Danes, in the county of Middlesex, by William Little, 198, Strand, aforesaid. Saturday, June 19, 1852.”Source note: Illustrated London news. (London : Illustrated London News and Sketch Ltd., 1842-).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
A Glenmore Monday Mystery: A Wayside Cross?
While searching for information for a reader, we came across the following interesting short article in the Limerick Reporter in 1850 that mentions Glenmore.
“There are very few “wayside Crosses” in Tipperary, which is extraordinary, when we consider the many religious monuments it contains in the ruins of Holy Cross, Athassel, the Rock of Cashel etc. The largest crosses of this kind we have ever beheld are Kilcullen, County Kildare, and another between Glenmore and Rosspercon (sic), County Kilkenny” (Limerick Reporter, Tues. 9 July 1850, p. 2).
In Ireland there are a variety of roadside memorials or death markers. Wayside crosses were erected from the early 17th century and were often like headstones with the name of the deceased and date of death provided. Many of the county archaeological inventories document wayside crosses (Una MacConville and Regina McQuillan (2005) “Continuing the Tradition: Roadside Memorials in Ireland,” 19(1) Archaeology Ireland 26, p. 28). The wayside crosses were made of almost any durable material from metal to stone and ranged from simple crosses carved on roadside large stones to imposing Celtic crosses cut by masons. The early wayside crosses were the memorials for the affluent.
An 1865 article in the Kilkenny Moderator explains further. “It was an ancient custom to plant skeoghs, or white thorn trees, on places deemed of a sacred character, or where lives had been lost. Modernly these skeoghs are frequently known as ‘Monument Trees.’ They were to the poor of bygone times what the wayside crosses were to the rich—the memorial which invited a prayer for the soul of the person in honour of whom they had been there placed or planted” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 4 Feb. 1865, p. 2).
Is anyone aware of a “wayside cross” in or around Glenmore-Rosbercon or heard where the wayside cross referenced in 1850 used to reside?
Please post your comments, ideas or memories below or send to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Thank you for your help in solving this mystery.
The featured photo is a road in Glenmore Parish.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Search for Missing Friends, Part II
Last month we highlighted six entries that Danny Dowling (1927-2021) found in a set of books entitled The Search for Missing Friends: Irish Immigrant Advertisements Placed in the Boston Pilot. These books were published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society of Boston. Today, we are going to highlight several more Glenmore related entries. The original missing person advertisements are in italics and where possible we have listed the baptismal date and parents of the missing emigrant. Readers can access Part I published 13 February 2022 by clicking on the date. Most of the missing emigrants below are from the 1850’s and appear to have fled the famine and lost contact with their family as they attempted to seek opportunities in the US on the eve of the Civil War.
(1) James Roche, native of Ballyfascie (sic), Glenmore, the following advertisement was published in the Boston Pilot on 6 March 1852 (Vol. II, p. 186)
James Roche, native of Ballyfascie, Parish of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who sailed from Waterford 1st of May 1849 & landed in Quebec. When last heard from was in Peru, Clinton County, N.Y. Any information from him will thankfully received by William Gaul, North Brookfield, Worcester County, MS.
We located two possible James Roche’s from Ballyfacey. (A) James Roche (bapt. 13 July 1834) son of James Roche and Ellen Costelloe of Ballyfacy, Glenmore, and (B) James Roche (bapt. 23 Sept. 1826) son of Richard Roche and Catherine Mullins of Ballyfacey, Glenmore.
While searching for records on the above James Roche we came across some other Glenmore Roches missing in the US in the 1850’s.
(2) Martin Roach, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, advertisment in the Boston Pilot was published 8 Feb. 1851 (vol. II, p. 16).
Martin Roach, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny who sailed for Quebec in June, 1849, and not heard from since. Any information of him will be thankfully received by his brother, James Roach, care of James Coughlan, South Groton, Ms.
Although we could not locate anything on Martin Roach in the US we did find a James Roach (aged 25) in the 1855 Massachusetts State Census, for Newton, Middlesex, Mass. This James Roach was living with the Lord family who were merchants.
(3) James & Martin Roach, of Ballyfacey, Glenmore, advertisment published in the Boston Pilot on 11 Oct. 1851 (Vol. II, p. 126)
James & Martin Roach, from parish Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny. The first left Ireland 1st May, 1849, in the Lavina for Quebec; the other left 29th June 1849, in the Alert, for Quebec. Any information respecting them will be thankfully received by their brother Patrick Roach, Peoria, Ill.
We did not locate a Martin Roche from Ballyfacey, but we did locate one from Ballyhobuck (bapt. 10 April 1829). This Martin Roche was the son of John Roche and his wife, Catherine Corcoran.
In the 1870 Census for Peoria, Illinois we found a Patrick Roach (aged 33) employed as a miner and married to Johana (aged 31). The couple have a 3 year old daughter Anna. In the 1880 Peoria Census, Patrick is working as a labourer, provides his age as 45 and Johana’s age is also recorded as 45. Their daughter’s name is recorded as Anna Stacey (aged 13), but it is more likely Annastatia.
(4) Martin Malone, native of Glenmore, this advertisment was published in the Boston Pilot on 4 Dec. 1858 (Vol. IV, p. 319)
Martin Malone, a native of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, when last heard from was in Albany, New York, 8 years ago. His wife Ellen (maiden name Morrissey) is anxious to hear from him, care of M.O. Grady, Canandaigua, New York.
An Irish wedding record was found for Martin Malone and Ellen Morrissey. The couple were married on 6 November 1847 in Rosbercon. Martin Malone’s address at the time of the wedding was listed as Kilbrahan. A daughter, Ellen Malone was baptized on 30 March 1849 at Rosbercon. According to the advertisment Martin emigrated in 1850 and his wife appears to have followed in 1858.
(5) Margaret Murphy (bapt. 1834) of Ballinlammy, Glenmore, the advertisement below was published in the Boston Pilot on 1 Aug. 1855 (Vol. V, p. 218)
Margaret Murphy, of Ballinlammy, Parish of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who sailed from Ireland in 1855, and landed in Quebec, Canada. Any information respecting her will be thankfully received by writing to her brother Nicholas Murphy, Waverly, Morgan County, Illinois.
Danny Dowling’s mother was a Murphy from Ballinlammy. Nicholas and Margaret Murphy were his mother’s aunt and uncle. Per the Glenmore church records Margaret Murphy was bapt. 13 July 1834. For further information on Nicholas Murphy (1836-1917) see our page “Finding Glenmore Needles in US Haystacks” by clicking here.
(6) Thomas Powers of Glenmore, this advertisment appeared in the Boston Pilot on 13 January 1855 (Vol. III, p. 241)
Thomas Powers, of parish Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who came to this country 3 ½ yrs ago, and when last heard from was in Ohio. Information will be received by his sisters Bridget and Mary, care of Aaron D. Williams, Roxburs (sic), Mass.
There were four Thomas Powers baptized in Glenmore from 1826 to 1834. (A) Thomas Power of Knockbrack, Glenmore bapt. 14 April 1826, son of Maurice Power and Mary Henneberry. (B) Thomas Power, of Glenmore bapt. 3 Dec. 1832 son of Richard Power and Mary Moore. (C) Thomas Power, of Ballanguile (Gaulstown), Glenmore, bapt. 12 Oct. 1834, son of Edmund Power and Joney Aylward. (d) Thomas Power, of Ballanguile (Gaulstown), Glenmore, Bapt. 1 Aug. 1834, son of James Power and Ellen Shea
However, the only Thomas Power who had sisters named Mary and Bridget was the son of Edmund Power and Joney Power née Aylward. Mary Power (bapt. 23 Oct. 1838) and Bridget Power (bapt. 3 Nov. 1836).
Census records revealed that Aaron D. Williams was an industrialist in Roxbury, Mass. It is likely that either Mary or Bridget were working for him in 1855 when the advertisment was placed in the paper.
(7) Margaret Norris, James & Patrick Hartley, of Glenmore, the following advertisment was published on 23 January 1869 in the Boston Pilot (Vol. 6, 1866-1870, p. 430)
Margaret Norris, a native of the parish of Meelinharaga,(sic) Co. Kilkenny, Ireland; when last heard from, in 1861, was in New Orleans, La. Also of James Hartley and Patrick Hartley, of the parish of Glenmore, county Kilkenny. Any information will be gratefully received by their cousin, Alice McSweeny (maiden name Alice Norris), daughter of Michael Norris and Mary Hartley. Direct to William Moore, Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Margaret Norris (bapt. 28 May 1835) at Gurteen was the daughter of Michael Norris and Mary Hartly. Her parents were married in Glenmore on 5 Jan. 1822. Her mother, Mary Hartly, was from Weatherstown, Glenmore. James Hartley and another Mary Hartly were witnesses at the wedding.
While looking for information on the above we found the following:
(8) James, John and Margaret Norris, of Gilcugh (sic), this advertisment was published 12 January 1861 in the Boston Pilot (Vol. 2, p. 4)
James, John and Margaret Norris, children of Michael and Mary Norris, of Gilcugh (co. Kilkenny), supposed to be in New Orleans. Information of them or either of them, will be thankfully received by their sister, Alice Norris. Direct to Bryan McSweeny, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
We located Alice McSweeney née Norris (b. 1835) in the 1860 US Census. She was married to Bryan McSweeney (aged 35) and the couple had two daughters Mary (aged 5) and Ellen (aged 3). The family was living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Both Bryan and Alice were born in Ireland. Alice could not read or write and Bryan was working as a labourer. The 1870 Census provides that Alice was still living in Cape Girardeau and gave her age as 34. With her daughter Ella (age 13) who cannot read or write; John (aged 4) and Alice (aged 1). Apparently, Bryan died before the 1870 census and Alice McSweeney married John Dade on 20 January 1873 at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Cape Girardeau is on the Mississippi River about 100 miles south of St. Louis. During the Civil War Missouri was a Confederate State and directly across the river Illinois was a Union State. In 1863 a small battle took place at Cape Girardeau. Alice McSweeney née Norris was living in Cape Girardeau before, during and after the Civil War.
(9) Patrick Doyle, native of Glenmore, the following advertisement was published in the Boston Pilot on 7 January 1865 (Vol. V., p. 436)
Patrick Doyle, native of Glenmore, county Kilkenny, who left Ireland for America about two years ago. His friend in America has neither seen or heard from him since his arrival, save a rumor that he was seen in the city of Newport about ten days ago. Any information respecting him will be thankfully received by his sister, Mrs. Mary Powers (maiden name Doyle). Direct to her No. 13 Lincoln street, Boston, Mass.
We found a Patrick Doyle (bapt. 30 Jan. 1836) the son of Thomas Doyle and Bridget Brian of Ballyveria, Glenmore. The couple had a daughter Mary Doyle (bapt. 17 Sept. 1840) and the address given at the time of her birth was Darbystown, Rosbercon.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured drawing is courtesy of The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1851). Irish emigrants leaving home — the priest’s blessing Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-37f2-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 .
The photo of the riverboat “Glenmore” (c, 1904) was taken on the Ohio River at Tell, Indiana. (The original photo is in the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Ohio).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh