Biographies
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Notes from Ballyfacey, Glenmore, by Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
On 22 February 1971 Danny Dowling (1927-2021) interviewed Tom Freyne and his sister Mrs. Mai Vereker, natives of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. The information from their 1971 interview is provided below and additional information gleaned from headstones and newspapers etc. has also been provided in [square brackets]. This interview provides some interesting insights into what Danny called “extinct families” whose surnames disappeared in their townland or from Glenmore Parish.
The interviewees Tom Freyne and Mary “Mai” Vereker née Freyne were the children of Michael Freyne and his wife Mary Farrell of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. Michael Freyne, of Kilbride, Glenmore, married Mary Farrell, of Ballyfoyle, Rosbercon on 1 February 1894 at Rosbercon. Michael was a 30-year old farmer, and the son of James Frehne of Kilbride. The bride, Mary Farrell, was 25 years of age and the daughter of Edmond Farrell (farmer).
The Freyne Family of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
Michael Freyne (c. 1853-1925) and his wife Mary Farrell (c. 1866-1943), had at least 7 known children.
[1] James Frehne (b. 1894) never married.
[2] Bridget Freney (sic) (1896-1974) married Bill Doherty of Ballinlammy on 21 Nov. 1928. They had a family. It is believed that Bridie was the only Freyne sibling to marry and have children.
[3] Thomas Freyne (1897-1971) never married and farmed in Ballyfacey and Ballyfoyle. He died just 8 months after Danny Dowling interviewed him.
[4] Edmund/Edward “Ned” Freyne (1899-1985) never married. He spent several years in New Zealand and returned to Ballyfacey.
[5] Mary “Mai” Freyne (1900-1987) married Patrick “Patsey” Vereker of Davidstown in 1947 (Munster Express, Fri. 14 Feb. 1947, p. 8). Patsey Vereker (c. 1901-1961) was the son of John and Catherine Vereker of Davidstown.
[6] Johanna Freyne (c. 1903-1972) never married.
[7] Margaret Freyne (c. 1909-1993) never married.
My resident expert believes that when Ned Freyne came home from New Zealand he farmed the home place at Ballyfacey and his brother Tom moved to Ballyfoyle and farmed his mother’s home place. Today, Andy and Fidelis Doherty reside on the Freyne homeplace in Ballyfacey where Andy’s grandmother Bridie was born and raised.
The Interview
Mickey McGrath (c. 1864-1936) of Newtown, Glenmore
Mickey McGrath (c. 1864 -1936) of Newtown, was said to have been born in a little house located in the Cruckuck’s haggard which bounced Jack Dollard’s yard in Ballyfacey. Tom Freyne said that Mickie used to often go up to Ballyfacey to see where he was born and where his people came from. [Mickey McGrath was a thatcher who lived in Newtown. His little house was located near where Michael Hoynes’s gate is located (next to Martin Cass’s home). It was reported that Mickey often joked that he went to bed in Aylwardstown and had his breakfast in Newtown as his house straddled the two townlands.]
[Danny Dowling recorded in another notebook that Mickie’s son, John McGrath, worked for Kelly’s of Aylwardstown and he died as a result of an accident which he sustained while working. John McGrath, of Newtown. died on 4 August 1942 at the age of 39 of colitis. Patrick McGrath was present at his death.]
[In the 1926 Census Michael McGrath was 67 and his wife Kate was 65. He declared that he was born in Kilmakevogue and Kate stated she was born in Ballinlammy. They were married for 26 years and had one child. Unfortunately a marriage record could not be located.]
Darbystown, Tullogher
A family called Cleary had a farm in Darbystown, now [in 1971] owned by Martin Woods of Ballymartin. Martin Woods’s father acquired it.
The Harte’s of Darbystown were substantial farmers in their time. They used to milk 40 cows at one period. The Harte’s had the land in Haggard that Mary Statia Ivory now has [in 1971]. The Harte’s lived up the lane from the stream in Darbystown. The Doherty’s of Moulerstown [acquired] this farm.
Ballyfacey, Glenmore
The Walsh Family of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
[Jimmy Walsh of Ballyfacey and his wife Margaret Browner had the following family:]
[1] Kitty Walsh [Catherine b. 1839] never married and spent her life in Ballyfacey.
[2] Paddy Walsh [b. (1841)] never married. He had a bad leg and spent his life in Ballyfacey.
[3] Jimmy Walsh (1845) married Mary Dermody of Crowbally, Ballyhale. [They were married on 4 November 1875 at Knocktopher. Their fathers were James Walsh (famer) and James Dermody (farmer).] The Walsh farm in Ballyfacey had 22 Irish acres.
Jimmy Walsh and his wife Mary Dermody lived in the Ballyfacey home place and had four children:
[3a] James Walsh (1876-1946) married Lil Linegar (1892-1968). [On 18 Sept. 1918 James Walsh (carpenter) of Graiguenakill, Glenmore, and his wife, Mary Ellen Linegar, had a son they named James. Glenmore will forever remember him as Jim B. See our post of 12 Oct. 2025 regarding Jim B. (1918-1988)].
[3b] Margaret Walsh (b. 1878) married Mike Maher. They had no children.
[3c] Hannie Walsh (Johanna b. 1883) never married and
[3d] Mary Walsh (b. 1884) married a man named Whelan from Kilmacow.
The Walsh family members were great musicians. Old Jimmy Walsh, the father of the last generation, played the flute. All his children played the fiddle and the melodeon. Victor Power, the writer, visited the Walsh homestead regularly. [For further information on Victor O’Donovan Power (1858-1933) see our post of 12 Oct. 2026 and 27 Oct. 2020. ]
Old Jimmy Walsh told Tom Frehne that in the Walsh field at the head of the lane on the Haggard side a fair was held there in olden times. He also told Tom that there was a crock of gold buried in this field near the ditch of the road going over toward Aylward’s gate, and that a life had to be lost to get it.
Anty Walsh (c. 1851-1925) of Parkstown, Glenmore
Anty Walsh, of Parkstown, lived down near to the Mullinahone Stream. She had 7 acres of land, which Mullally’s now have. She died about 53 years ago at Mullally’s of Parkstown. [Further information was found in Notebook 13 with an undated entry. Anty Walsh died at the Mullaly home. And they got her land. Anastasia Walsh died at Parkstown on 5 Feb. 1925. She was a 74 year-old spinster. The informant for the death registrar was “Thomas Mullally, Davidstown, who caused the body to be buried.”]
Thomas Laherty (c. 1814-1892) of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
A man named Tom Laherty lived down near Frehne’s. He had a sister named Nell. [Thomas Laherty (c. 1814-1892) died on 22 November 1892 at his home in Ballyfacey. He was 78 years of age, employed as a farm labourer and married. His widow Ellen Laherty was present at his death. Ellen Flaherty (sic) of Ballyfacey died at the age of 80 on 6 April 1920 of pernicious anaemia. She was the widow of a labourer. It appears likely that Tom Frehne and his sister Mai Vereker thought Ellen Laherty was Tom Laherty’s sister rather than his widow.]
The Greene Family of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
The Greene’s of Ballyfacey were related to the Tobin’s of Ballyogreek, Mullinavat.
[The parents were Thomas Green (c. 1832-1896) and his wife Mary Delahunty (c. 1836-1922) who were married at Glenmore on 9 February 1869. Thomas Greene was a native of Jamestown, Glenmore, and his father was Patrick Greene. Mary was the daughter of Michael Delahunty of Ballyfacey, Glenmore.]
There were five members of the Greene family of Ballyfacey:
[Patrick Green b. 13 Dec. 1869 died prior to the birth of the twins in 1875.]
[1] Mick Green (b. 1873);
[2] Pat Greene (b. 1875); [Pat and Tom Greene were twins.]
[3] Tom Greene (b. 1875) emigrated to the United States, and there was never any account of him afterwards.
[4] Briget Greene (b. 1871) and
[5] another girl. [Margaret Greene (17 Feb. 1877-1945).]
[Per the 1901 Census their mother was Mary Greene and aged 65. Mary was still alive in 1911. Her son Patrick Green (sic) was 40; Michael was 38 and Margaret 36. Per the Death Register Mary died in 1922 at the age of 86.]
[In the 1926 Census Patrick Green was the Head of the house, and aged 52. His brother Michael (48) was still in the home as was his sister Margaret (aged 42). They were farming 38 statute acres.)]
Please send any corrections, additional information or photographs to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Please see our surnames and obituary pages for further information on Glenmore natives and residents. From our main blog page surname pages are under the Glenmore Families tab and the obituaries page is found under the Roots tab.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Glenmore to Sheboygan, Wisconsin
A couple weeks ago we received a query about Nicholas Henebery (1818-1891) and his wife Anastatia Dollard (c.1820-1905). The couple emigrated from Glenmore and died in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Last week we featured their eldest son’s survival from the Sea Bird disaster in Lake Michigan in 1868. Today, we are going to present information regarding Nicholas and Anastatia Henebery and their children.
As previously published during the Famine local families often emigrated from New Ross to Quebec and then settled in Wisconsin (See our post of 29 Sept. 2026). We also know that some Glenmore people, including John Dollard (1801-1888), went to the Green Bay area and founded a town called Glenmore, Wisconsin around 1850. (See our post of 17 Feb. 2025).
The Glenmore Wedding
On 21 April 1844, Nicholas Henebery married Anastatia Dollard of Alywardstown, Glenmore. The witnesses to the wedding were James Ryan and Johanna (Oats?). Unfortunately, their fathers were not recorded in the marriage record and there was no indication of what type of work Nicholas performed to support his family. In a Sheboygan newspaper article long after his death he was referred to as “Captain” Heneberry (Sheboygan Press, 12 April 1926) p. 3).
The Glenmore Wedding Witnesses
Johanna Oats is not a local name. We did locate a baptismal record of a Johanna Oats having been baptized in Waterford City on 7 November 1813 the daughter of Daniel Oates and Bridget Neill. A marriage record for this woman could not be located. James Ryan is a common local name. A James Ryan was baptized at Glenmore on 20 June 1820 to Jac Ryan and his wife Bridget Malone of Moulerstown. Another James Ryan was baptized 11 May 1817 at Glenmore to Wm. Ryan and his wife Margaret Casshin of Ballyveria, Glenmore. A third James Ryan was baptised on 5 May 1827 to James Ryan and Bridget Kehoe of Aylwardstown. Given the third James Ryan, and his father, in Aylwardstown it is likely that the third was the witness.
Children Born in Glenmore
The couple had at least two sons while residing in Glenmore. Their eldest child, [1] Edmond/Edward Henebery was baptized on 7 February 1844. The family residence was listed as Aylwardstown. Edmond’s godparents were John Irish and Anastatia Murry. A custom of this era was that children born out of wedlock had the word “illegitimate” or “bastard” recorded in the baptismal record often with the word highlighted to draw attention to it. In fact, several such notations appear in the Glenmore baptismal records in 1844. From the records it appears that Edmond was born in February 1844 and his parents married in April 1844, yet there was no notation regarding his status. Is this an indication that Nicholas was at sea, was their an error in the record or a friendly priest?
Their second child, [2] John Henebery, was baptized on 15 June 1846. The family was still residing at Aylwardstown. John Henebery’s godparents were Richard Heneberry and May Irish. John Henebery’s baptism was the last record of the family in Glenmore.
Children born in the US
In the 1900 US Census of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Anastatia “Annie” Henebery was a 79-year-old widow, residing at 1231 7th St., she emigrated in 1850 and was the mother of 7 children and none were living in 1900. In searching the Census records after 1850 we were able to find more children, but it is not clear where all the children were born or when they died.
1855 Wisconsin State Census
The earliest Census record we could locate in Sheboygan was the 1855 Wisconsin State Census. It does not provide much information, but it does provide that there were 4 males and 3 females in Nicholas Henebery’s family, and three of the family were foreign born. Either John Henebery did not survive until the 1855 Census or the record is wrong there should have been at a minimum four foreign born family members. Subtracting the parents the family included 3 sons and 2 daughters in 1855.
1860 US Federal Census
The 1860 US Federal Census for Sheboygan provides several important names and details. The family lived in Ward 3 of the city and Nicholas (38) was employed as a gardener. He owned real estate worth $300 and personal property valued at $20. His wife, Anty was 37. [1] Edmund (sic) Henebery was 15 and his place of birth was listed as New York. [3] James Henebery was 13 and was also recorded as having been born in New York. [4] Mary Ann Henebery was 11 years of age and was also recorded as having been born in New York. [5] John Henebery was 8 and was born in Wisconsin. [6] Katy Henebery was 5 also born in Wisconsin as was [7] Richard Henebery, aged 2.
It is not clear why the parents listed their eldest son as having been born in New York when he was clearly born in Ireland. We could not locate a birth record for Mary Ann in Ireland or New York.
1870 US Federal Census
The questions were not addressed in the 1870 US Census. The family was still residing in Ward 3 of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Nicholas Hennebery (49) was employed as a day labourer for the post office. He owned real estate valued at $1,000 and personal property worth $300. Mary A. (sic) Henebery, his wife, was 52. [2] James Henebery was 22, born in Ireland, and he was employed as a sailor. It was recorded that James was out of employment for 4 months the previous year. [5] Katie Henebery was 15, born in Wisconsin, and still at school. [6] Richard Henebery was 12, born in Wisconsin and still at school.
1880 US Federal Census
By the 1880 US Federal Census, all of the children save [6] Richard were no longer living at home. However, a granddaughter had joined the household. Nicholas Henebery gave his age as 59. He was employed as a bridgetender. He was born about 1821 in Ireland and was married to Ann Henebery (58). Their unmarried son Richard (22) was employed as a sailor. Their grand-daughter Mary Henebery was just eight years of age. The family lived on Callamus Street, Sheboygan. We never determined who the granddaughter Mary Henebery’s (c. 1872-1901) parents were.
[1] Edmond/Edward Henebery (1844-1870) we do not believe that Edward ever married. For further details concerning his survival from the Sea Bird fire and sinking and his later death from his injuries see our post of 19 October 2026.
[2] John Henebery (1846-?)
[3] James Henebery (b.c. 1848) per the 1870 Census. The only other information we found regarding James was that he was in Chicago in 1891. The Sheboygan Telegram (Fri. 16 Jan. 1891, p. 3) reported that “N. Hennebury is visiting his son James at Chicago.”
[4] Mary Ann Henebery (b.c. 1849)
[5] John Henebery (b.c. 1852)
[6] Katy Henebery (b.c. 1855)
[7] Richard Henebery (1857-1899) was the youngest child of the family. Richard married a woman named Mary. The couple had 7 children, but only three were living at the time of Richard’s untimely death while at work in 1899. The Sheboygan Telegram (Tues. 31 Jan. 1899, p. 8) published the following short obituary. “Richard Henneberry died at St. Nicholas hospital at 3:30 this afternoon from injuries received this morning at the yards f the C. Reiss Coal Co. Shortly before noon he fell from one of the coals bins a distance of nearly 20 feet and was rendered unconscious. He was taken in the patrol wagon to St. Nicholas hospital where he lingered in an unconscious condition until death came. The dead man was about 35 years of age and leaves a wife and family. He was a mill wright by trade.” His widow Mary died in 1924.
Richard Henebery’s Children
[7a] Nicholas E. Henebery (1888- 1963) married Veronica Bushmer on 11 Nov. 1922 (Sheboylan Press Telegram, 17 Nov. 1922, p. 18). Nicholas E. Henebery, 75, of 1217 S. 7th St. died following a lingering illness. He worked at C. Reiss Coal Co. for 47 years prior to his retirement in 1953 due to ill health (Sheboygan Press, Mon. 20 May 1963, p. 14). His widow, Vera died 21 Jan. 1997 at the age of 92.
[7b] Elizabeth Henebery (b. 1896) married Nicholas Gruenek in 1925 (Sheboygan Press, Sat. 16 May 1925, p. 6).
[7c] Katherine Henebery (1885-1962) married Henry Seibold, of Stockbridge (Sheboygan Press, Tues. 12 May 1914, p. 8). She died at St. Nicholas Hospital in February 1962 (Sheboygan Press, Wed. 21 Feb. 1962).
Bridge Tender
In 1926 the Sheboygan Press (23 April 1926 p. 70) published an account of the two bridges that spanned the driver at Sheboygan five decades earlier. One of the bridges was called the Eighth Street Bridge and the other was at Pennsylvania Avenue. The Pennsylvania Bridge because of its high elevation was commonly called the “Shanhai Bridge.”
“Nicholas Henneberry, a pioneer in this county, was tender for both bridges. The structures were pile construction and both were provided with two leaves which could be raised by pulling on the heavy overhead frame with suspended chains. Whenever he had to hoist the leaves the bridge tender had to depend upon volunteer assistance. When a vessel was towed by a tug the passage through a draw required only a few minutes, but sail and ropes were often substituted for the tug.
Whenever the plaintive wail of the ship’s fog horn saluted his ears, Nicholas would have to quickly decide whether the ship or the land lubbers should have precedence. Many times people were rushing to catch a train at the depot which was then located at South Seventh and South Water streets, and this made things very embarrassing to Nicholas. But he was somewhat of a diplomat and he was generally successful in softening the expostulation of the irate captain or soothing the ruffled spirits of a hectic bus driver or someone who was caught at the open draw and missed the train. When the signal was given for the opening of the Shanhai bridge, Nick would hasten over and negotiate that draw.”
In addition to his diplomatic duties Nicholas also appears to have operated a lost and found. “Bridgetender Henneberry has a hat which blew off the head of a woman who was crossing the Eighth Street bridge. If the owner wants to reclaim it she can do so by calling at the bridge house” (Sheboygan Telegram, Sat. 1 Oct. 1887, p. 4).
Just months before Nicholas Henebery died the Sheboygan Telegram (Fri. 24 April 1891, p. 2) published the salaries of city employees. The Chief of the Fire Department earned $700 per annum; the Chief of Police earned $720 and the Eighth St. Bridge Tender earned $420. In June 1891 “The bridge tender of Eighth street bridge lodged a complaint with the police that the bridge had become a hangout for a large number of men and boys in the evening. The bridge was in a shaky condition and the large crowd of loungers on it made it more difficult to open it and increased the liability of a break down. “It is a further annoyance to the women and children compelled to cross it and be obliged to pass through the crowd of loungers..,” (Sheboygan Telegram, Fri. 5 June 1891, p. 3).
Death of Nicholas Henebery & Annie Henebery née Dollard
We found Death Cert 01324 for Nicholas Henebery (1819-1891). He died on 13 Sept. 1891 in Sheboygan of a disease of the liver. He was 71 years of age and employed as a bridge tender. He was born in Ireland in 1820. His wife was Anna Henebery and his parents were Edmund Henebery and Mary Henebery. We located two obituaries that provide more details concerning Nicholas.
The Sheboygan Telegram (Mon. 14 Sept. 1891, p. 3) published that “Nicholas Hennebery, died yesterday morning at his home in the Fourth Ward at the age of 71 years. The immediate cause of death was an attack of jaundice. Mr. Hennebery was an old resident, having come here forty years ago. The burial will be made Wednesday forenoon in the North side Catholic cemetery.”
DEATH OF A PIONEER—Last Sunday morning at 5:30 o’clock Nicholas Henneberry passed away after suffering an illness of about two weeks. His death caused surprise, for it was generally supposed the illness which had confined him to his home was not of a fatal nature. The funeral occurred Wednesday morning from the family residence on Chestnut street and was largely attended. Mr. Henneberry’s career was one that witnessed many strange and sad events in his allotted time of over three score and ten years.
Born in Ireland seventy one years ago he came to Sheboygan in the 40’s and excepting a brief residence in the south, continued since then to make Sheboygan his home. About twenty years ago when Seabird burned a son, Edgar, a bright and promising young man, was one of the two survivors of the ill-fated steamer. But the terrible ordeal was too great, and he only came home to die.
A younger brother who was ill at the time followed to the grave a few days later. Throughout these misfortunes the father bore his grief as became a Christian. He was ever faithful in what he considered duty, and will long be remembered for his faithful care of the Eighth Street bridge, of which he had charge the past twenty years. As kindly hands lowered his remains to their resting place in the North side Catholic cemetery, sorrowing friends said, “Peace be with thee.” [Obit posted on Find a grave without name of newspaper provided. Nicholas is in an unmarked grave in Calvary Cemetery, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. See, Find a Grave .]
We were unable to identify any younger brother who died a few days after Edward Henebery in 1870. We were also unable to identify any other reference to Edward being known as Edgar.
Annie Henebery survived her husband by 14 years dying in 1905. At the time of her death Annie had buried all seven of her children as well as her granddaughter Mary Hennebery (b.c. 1872-1901) who lived with Annie at least from 1870 until her death in 1901. In the 1900 Census Mary was living with her grandmother on 7th Street near to Richard Henebery’s widow (also Mary) and his three children. The following year Mary Henebery died at the age of 29 in the home of her grandmother, Mrs. A. Henebery, at the corner of 7th and Alabama Ave. due to pneumonia (Sheboygan Telegram, Sat. 4 May 1901, p. 3). A short death notice was found for Annie. “Mrs. Hennebery, aged 80 years, died at St. Nicholas hospital,” (Sheboygan Telegram, Tues. 15 Aug. 1905, p. 4).
Thus, Nicholas and Annie emigrated from Glenmore around 1850, and after 55 years and the birth of 7 children and at least 8 grandchildren, only three grandchildren from their son Richard survived Annie.
Nicholas Henebery’s Parents and Siblings
There were several Nicholas Heneberys in the Glenmore area. However, thanks to the information in Nicholas’s 1891 death certificate we know his father was Edmund Henebery and his mother was Mary. Nicholas Henebery was baptized at Glenmore on 8 February 1818 the son of Edmund Heneberry and his wife Mary Delahunty.
[1] Nicholas Henebery (1818)
[2] Richard Henebery (1823)
[3] Ellen Henebery (1825)
[4] Thomas Henebery (1829)
[5] Catherine Henebery (1831)
[6] Edmund Hennebery (1844)
It is not known if any of Nicholas Henebery’s siblings emigrated to Wisconsin, but a Richard Henebery was found in Hale’s Corner, Milwaukee. Richard married Mary Rooney (1834-1877) on 17 Oct. 1853 in Milwaukee. Richard died in 1891.
Anastatia “Annie” Heneberry née Dollard’s Parents
Based upon the lack of children named Anastatia Dollard/Dullard in Glenmore born around 1820, and the traditional naming pattern, there are two contenders. Annie may have been baptized at Glenmore on 29 May 1819 the daughter of John Dullard and Mary Walsh of Ballyveria. However, there was a Catherine Dollard baptized at Rochestown (next to Aylwardstown) on 28 December 1819 the daughter of John Dollard and his wife, Catherine Forristal. Perhaps if a Wisconsin death certificate could be located for Annie we could narrow down her place of birth and parents.
Unusual Newspaper Account
While researching the Henebery family we came across an article from 1934 long after the immediate Henebery family was dead. The Sheboygan Press (Fri. 6 April 1934, p. 7) published a short interview of Mrs. Adelaide Evans née Carr (c. 1859-1944) who was a resident of the Anna M. Reiss Home for the aged. Per her obituary Adelaide and her husband Franklin moved to Sheboygan in 1880 ten years after Edward Henebery (1844-1870) died.
“Mrs. Adelaide Evans a resident of the Anna M. Reiss Home for the aged as a girl was a neighbour to the Henneberry family in this city. Her personal interest in the sinking of the ship is due to her acquaintance with John Henneberry who was on the Lady Elgin when it sank in Lake Michigan after being rammed by a schooner north of Chicago. Mr. Henneberry was saved but died about a year later presumably from the effects of exposure for several hours in the cold water of the lake.”
The Lady Elgin disaster took place on 8 September 1860. It is unlikely that any member of the Nicholas Henebery family was on that ill fated boat. We believe Adelaide confused the Lady Elgin with the Sea Bird.
Please send any corrections, additional information, or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Special thanks to Kate Hephner for contacting us about Nicholas and Anastatia “Annie” Henebery.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The 1920’s postcard of the Eighth St. Bridge of Sheboygan, WI is courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. The old postcard of St. Peter Clavin, of Sheboygan, WI, featured above is courtesy of Sheboygan History. St. Peter Clavin (1580-1654) was a Spanish priest and missionary who dedicated himself to caring for Africans enslaved. He is also a patron saint of seafarers due to his ministry on the slave ships.
The Victor O’Donovan Power Touring Company
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) read a lot of Victor O’Donovan Power’s short stories when he was a lad and as an adult he became very interested in the author. Victor O’Donovan Power (1858-1933) was a prolific writer and was a native of Rosbercon. In addition to several interviews Danny recorded regarding Victor O’Donovan Power, in Danny’s voluminous collection is one of Victor O’Donovan Power’s violins. If Danny recorded how, when or where he obtained the violin, this information has not yet been uncovered. Today, we are going to share excerpts from two interviews that Danny recorded in 1971 regarding Victor O’Donovan Power and in particular his Touring Company that operated in the mid to late 1920’s as explained to Danny by a man who worked in the company. See our previous post of 28 October 2020 for further information regarding Victor O’Donovan Power .
Statia Butler (1887-1973) A Native of Ballycroney, Glenmore
The first interview was of “Statia Butler, of Ballyden” dated 28 February 1971. Anastatia Butler (1887-1973) of Rosbercon, died on 29 August 1973, single, aged 86 at the County Home in Thomastown. The interview notes do not record it, but Danny may have interviewed Statia in the County Home. He often visited the County Home in Thomastown to visit elderly Glenmore people residing there. Per the 1901 Census, Anastatia Butler resided in Rosbercon with her family. She was 14; her sister Margaret was 24 and her brother James was 17. Their parents were James Butler (60) and his wife Ellen (52). Armed with this information we found Statia’s birth record. She was born on the 28th of April 1887 at Ballycroney, Glenmore, the daughter of James Butler (labourer) and his wife Ellen Berrigan.
A Physical Description of Victor O’Donovan Power
According to Statia Butler, “Victor O’D Power was a small thin man. [He] wore a hat with his grey hair protruding out.” He used to go often to Paddy Mullally’s of Ballycroney. He would sing, and play the fiddle.
Pat Sullivan, of Raheen, Rosbercon
The second longer interview was of Pat Sullivan, of Raheen, Rosbercon. This interview took place on St. Patrick’s Day (17 March 1971). Unfortunately, we were unable to locate any information on this interviewee.
Aileen Mary Josephine Hearne née Power (1857- c. 1937)
Pat Sullivan told Danny that Victor O’Donovan Power had a sister who was married to J.B. Hearne of Chilcomb House. A review of marriage records reveals that Mary Josephine Power of Chilcomb married James Bernard Hearne of New Ross at Rosbercon on 5 July 1881. The bride was the daughter of Michael Power and Ellen O’Donovan and her baptism records her given name as Aileen Mary.
James B. Hearne and Mary J. Power had six known children: [1] Mary Florence Hearne (b.1883); [2] Harold Hearne (1883-1883); [3] Victor Hearne (1883-1883); [4] Ellen Josephine Hearne (b. 1884) Ellen’s baptismal record wrongly notes that she married A. Dempsey in 1920. [5] Ethel Margaret Hearne (b. 1888) married Dr. Alexander Dempsey ( ? -1963) on 10 Jan. 1920 in Dublin; and [6] Michael James Hearne (b.1888) married Teresa Doyle, of Brandon, New Ross, in 1915.
Harold, Mary Florence and Victor Hearne were triplets. Victor died 21 days after his birth. Harold died at the age of one month. No death record could be located for Mary Florence Hearne. Ethel and Michael were twins born on Halloween 1888. By 1883 James B. Hearne was described on the birth records as a gentleman, however, in the death records for his children his occupation was listed as grocer. By 1915 James M. Hearne was the only living son of J.B. Hearne of Chilcomb House (Limerick Chronicle, Tues. 28 Sept. 1915, p. 2).
Thomas Victor O’Donovan Power (1858-1933)
Per the baptismal records of Rosbercon “Thomas Victor” Power was born 29 July 1858 at Chilcomb House. A year later Alfred James Power joined the family on 8 August 1859.
Pat Sullivan described Victor as having a slight build of medium height, with a moustache. He was a very jolly man. Pat Sullivan said that Victor lived where Jack O’Leary lived in 1971. His parents, Jack O’Leary and Mrs. O’Leary worked for Victor. He had one half of the house. One room downstairs and one room upstairs.
Pat Sullivan stated that Victor wrote his stories in a hut erected on J.B. Hearne’s land, although in fairness the land had originally belonged to the Power family. As noted above J.B. Hearne married into Chilcomb House. Jack Doherty, of Milltown, Glenmore, built the hut and brought it down on wheels. Pat Sullivan noted that in 1971 the hut was a hen house in Pascal Doolan’s, of Hoodgrove, Rosbercon.
Victor O’Donovan Power Touring Company
Pat Sullivan, of Butterbridge, Rosbercon, travelled with Victor Power in his traveling company at the end of 1924. It was known as the Victor O’Donovan Power Touring Company. Pat Sullivan went on tour with the Company twice. In the 1924/5 trip Pat Sullivan spent 9 months with the Company. Pat joined the Company when they were playing the old cinema in New Ross. The Company wasn’t too long started when Pat joined it at New Ross. They spent three nights there. It was the only place they played in Co. Wexford. The Company lasted 6 or 7 years. Harkem Smith also travelled with the Company.
Members of the Company included:
Frank O’Donovan—Dublin;
Lewis Dalton—Dublin;
Tom Tobins—Carrick-on-Suir;
Edith Kehoe—Dublin
Kitty McMahon—Dublin
Paddy Lonegan—Carrick-on-Suir
Cecil Wiseman—Leslie, West Cork (pianist and took parts)
Pat Sullivan—Buttersbridge (took small parts and on the door taking the money).
Another girl also was in the company and she had a daughter who also took part.
Pat Sullivan took part in the play, “The Heir of Liscarragh.” Pat was also the servant in David Carrick’s play. “The Lone House on the Moor,” was another play they produced.
Victor O’Donovan Power did not take any part in the performances. He only came now and again to visit the Company. It was a general show with music, songs, dances etc. The first year that Pat Sullivan went with the company they started at Cahir, Cashel Hospital. They also went to Doneraile, Midleton, Millstreet, Bandon, and parts of Clare. The Company spent 3 nights in each place and in some places a couple nights longer.
Hearne Family
Pat Sullivan and his wife believed that Victor only had a sister that married J.B. Hearne. They noted that J.B. Hearne had at least 2 children. They did not appear to know about the triplets or twins. Their daughter Ethel Hearne went to Belfast. She was married to an English Army Officer. When JB Hearne went bust in Chilcomb he went to Belfast where he died. He is buried in the Old Chapel Yard in Rosbercon. His wife is also buried there where the old chapel was located. A newspaper search turned up an obituary for J.B. Hearne. He died in 1952 in Cork at the age of 96 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 7 March 1952, p. 2.) Victor O’Donovan Power was mentioned in the obituary as well as the fact that Victor’s uncle was the Dr. Thomas Joseph Power (1830-1893) the Bishop of Newfoundland.
1926 Rosbercon Census
JB Hearne was 69 years of age and reported being born in New Ross. He was employed as a maize miller. His wife, Mary Josephine was 75 years of age (in the 1901 Census they were recorded as the same age). The 1926 House and Building Return shows that there were two Chilcomb Houses, namely: Chilcomb House and Chilcomb Park House. One house is occupied by the John O’Leary family (3 men and 1 woman) in three rooms and Victor Power (1 male) in 2 rooms. David Mulligan (1 man and 1 woman) resided in a tent. J.B. Hearne (his wife and 1 servant) occupied 10 rooms.
Victor Power recorded his age as 67. He was single, and for his occupation he listed that he was a novelist and playwright. He could read Irish but could not speak it. According to Pat Sullivan Victor wasn’t well off and said so himself. However, he was able to earn his living.
Victor O’Donovan Power’s Ramblings
According to Pat Sullivan, Victor used to visit Pat Sullivan’s and Johnnie Power’s of Butterbridge, Rosbercon; Pat Murphy’s of Ballycroney, Glenmore; Lanigan’s of Ballylog (the Rower?); Tom Lenihan’s? of Ballycurran, Tullogher; the Ryan’s of Guilcogh; Cahill’s of Ballygurrim and several other places. Victor mainly travelled the South Kilkenny area around New Ross and West Cork. However, sometimes people came to Victor. Pat Sullivan said that he saw Lil Linegar in an ass and car coming to visit Victor in Raheen.
Death
Victor was only sick for about 3 days when he died. He died in the Haughton Hospital of New Ross. “They brought him down from the hospital to Shanbogh out the new line.”
Victor had 3 fiddles one of which he called the Fairy Fiddle. He also had and played fifes and flageolets (similar to a tin whistle). Victor wanted his Fairy Fiddle buried with him, but it was not according to Pat Sullivan.
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Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com . We are particularly interested in finding more information on the interviewee Pat Sullivan (son of Pat Sullivan) formerly of Butterbridge and Raheen.
The drawing to the right is courtesy of The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1780 – 1950). Violin from Horní Lužice. Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/f5fc8920-c558-012f-b833-58d385a7bc34
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Rest of the Story of Thomas K. Carr, Esq. (c. 1811-1869)
Sailing to Quebec
When we last discussed Thomas K. Carr (c.1811-1869) he had sold his assets in Ireland, gathered his family, boarded a ship in New Ross and set sail for Quebec. [See our previous post of 31 Aug. 2026.] The Montreal Gazette (Mon. 29 July 1850, p. 2) published that the “Ship Triton” under Captain Smith left New Ross on 13 June and arrived in the Port of Quebec on 25 July with 371 passengers. Another source provides that the Triton departed from New Ross on 1 June 1850 and landed in Quebec on 25 July 1850 (Jim Rees, “Fitzwilliam Tenants Listed in the Coolattin Estate Emigration 1847-56,” Carnew Historical Society website).
The Waterford Mail (Sat. 18 May 1850 p. 3) described the ship and her amenities as follows:
EMIGRATION FROM NEW ROSS: the following superior first class coppered and copper fastened packet ship is intended to be dispatched from New Ross to Quebec, The splendid and very fast sailing ship “Triton” 1300 tons burthen, J. Smith, Commander on the 1st June next. The above large and superior ship will be fitted up in the most approved manner for cabin, second cabin and steerage passengers; she is well ventilated and loft between decks, having a height of about 9 feet. She is to carry an experienced surgeon, and passengers by her will be supplied with water, fuel, breadstuffs, groceries etc., according to the new Government scale; she is to be followed by other equally fine passenger ships during the season. For freight or passage, as well as for fuller information, apply to W. Graves and Son.
PS—Owing to the small number of persons who landed at Quebec last year, it is expected that tradesmen and labourers landing there this summer will find a good demand for their services, and those bound to the western portions of the United States or of Canada, will find Quebec the cheapest landing port, from the great extent of cheap inland water navigation up the St. Lawrence and the vast lakes of America. New Ross, May 13, 1850.
Why Wisconsin?
Wisconsin became a State on 28 July 1848. It was the last State admitted to the Union which was located east of the Mississippi. Thomas K. Carr, per census declarations of family members, settled in Wisconsin in 1850. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Tues. 1 June 1852, p. 2) published a list of unclaimed letters at the Milwaukee Post Office which included a letter for Thomas Carr.
We know that Thomas K. Carr held his first dispersal auction at Castle Annaghs in August 1848. It appears likely, given the uncertainty regarding his lease of Castle Annaghs, that he began researching places where he might re-locate his family prior to 1848. In a newspaper search we came across several articles concerning advice for people wishing to emigrate to Canada and the United States. For example, “Emigration by Thomas Mooney” was published in the King’s Co. Chronicle on the front page of the 15 September 1847 edition. (King’s County is now known as County Offaly).
“Wisconsin Territory is about 300 miles in length—and, in the main, 150 to 200 miles in breadth. Its shape is triangular. The base line being formed for nearly 300 miles by the Great Lake Michigan; which is one of the greatest chain of inland navigation in the world…The soil and climate of Wisconsin Territory approaches nearer to the character of that of Ireland, than any other state of this union. The lands of Wisconsin are certainly the richest of the whole United States.” An adult traveling by ship from Quebec to Wisconsin (1600 miles) would cost two pounds. Children were half price and infants free.” [The correct distance between Quebec and Milwaukee is 1290 nautical miles.]
“There are three general inlets from Lake Michigan which is most open to emigrants: Milwaukee, Port Washington and Shebogan. Milwaukee is a busy growing city, of great traffic, and considerable manufacture. Ten years ago it was a dozen wooden huts that has grown into a population of 12,000 of which one third are Irish. The Irish in this place are superior to the average class of Irish emigrants, and command respect in the walks of trade, manufactures, and in the medical and legal professions, and have established a high character for Irishmen through the territory…A map of the lands to be sold by Government, can be had in Milwaukie, at the Government Land Office for 25 cents.”
Early Years in Wisconsin
Very little could be found regarding the Carr family from 1850 to Thomas K. Carr’s death in 1869 at the age of 58. We know that a farm was purchased in Oak Creek, Wisconsin where Thomas K. Carr remained for the rest of his life.
He sent his son, Edward K. Carr to the newly established Racine College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1855. Racine College was an Episcopal preparatory school and college in Racine, Wisconsin, that operated between 1852 and 1933. A total of 5 graduates delivered speeches at the third Commencement of Racine College in 1855. Edward Kough Carr, of Oak Creek, delivered his speech on the Importance of Agriculture (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mon. 30 July 1855, p. 2). “The pieces were very well written and very poorly spoken…We infer that elocution is the least cultivated of any branch of education at Racine College, at present. The degree of Bachelor of Science, was conferred…” (Daily Free Democrat, Fri. 27 Jul. 1855, p. 2).
In Oak Creek in the 1855 State Census there were 4 males and 2 females in the Carr household. In the 1860 Federal Census of Oak Creek, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Thomas K. Carr (49) farmer, had real estate worth $6400 and $1200 in personal property. He provided in birthplace as Ireland. His wife Jane Carr was 50; His son George Carr was 19 and daughter Hannah Carr was 17.
Also present in the household were:
John Butler (49) farm labourer, born in Ireland.
Olla Olsom (39) carpenter, born in Norway.
Ellen Erhase (19) house servant, born in Ireland.
The Will of Thomas K. Carr
On 6 August 1855 Thomas K. Carr executed a Will with John Jackson of Oak Creek, Wisconsin and Michael Hickey (no address provided) as his Witnesses. It appears that Thomas K. Carr drafted his Will without the aid of a lawyer.
I, Thomas Kough Carr, of the town of Oak Creek, in the County of Milwaukee and state of Wisconsin, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament, revoking all former Wills be me made. I order all my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid out of my Estate.
I give and bequeath to my wife Jane Carr, all my real and personal estate of whatsoever kind and description I may die possessed of for her sole use and benefit.
I appoint my said wife, Jane Carr, the Executrix to this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of August one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five, Thomas Kough Carr.
Per Thomas K. Carr’s headstone, he died on 23 February 1869, aged 58. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wed. 24 1869, p. 1) published a one line death notice, “DIED: February 23rd, at his residence in Oak Creek, Thomas K. Carr, aged 58 years.” No obituary could be located however, the Munster Express (Fri. 27 Mar. 1869, p. 4) also published a death notice “—Feb. 23 at Oak Creek, State of Wisconsin, United States, Thomas Kough Carr, Esq., formerly of Castle Annaghs in the county of Kilkenny, aged 58 years.”
Estate of Thomas K. Carr Papers
The Estate Papers filed by Jane Carr after her husband’s death provides some detail concerning his 19 years in Wisconsin. The farm was named “Hope Farm” and its legal description was: the South half of the South East quarter and the south half of the North half of the South East quarter of section 10 in township 5 North, range twenty-two east and containing one hundred and twenty acres. The Court awarded the real and personal property to the widow Jane Carr on 8 July 1870.
Inventory of Thomas K. Carr Estate
Real Estate consisting of 120 acres known as Hope Farm $6,000
Farming Tools $229.87
2 Horse Buggy $100
2 Sets of Harness $30
Hens, Geese & Turkeys $13.50
2 Hogs $40
5 Pigs $15
Sheep & Lambs $95
3 Horses $300
1 Yearling Colt $25
A 3 year old colt $70
5 Cows $200
3 Heifers $75
1 two year old steer $25
4 yearlings $40
1 bull $25
2 calves $10
Gun and case $15
30 ? of wood $75
Jane named their three children as his heirs and next of kin. [1] Edward K. Carr was 30; [2] George Thomas Carr was 28; and [3] Hannah Cornelia “Nina” Carr was 25.
Death of Mother, Marie Carr née Kough (c. 1791-1874)
Seven years after Thomas K. Carr left New Ross, his father Edward Carr Esq. (c. 1780-1857) died. His mother survived Thomas by 5 years. Marie Carr née Kough died at Belview Terrace, Tramore, Waterford on 22 April 1874. Her occupation was listed as Lady and her age was provided as 83. Marie’s death in 1874 and a resulting lawsuit provided some interesting information concerning the family.
The Lady With No Assets
The Munster Express in 1874 published the case of Tandy v. Carr (Fri. 25 July 1874, p. 5). Wark was suing Edward Carr for £22 1 s 6d for his mother’s rent. Maria Carr became Wark’s tenant in 1869 of 2 Bellvue Terrace Tramore, under Mr. Carew at £36 per year. In May 1872 Carew’s lease expired. Work raised the rent to £40 and entered into a lease directly with Maria Carr. Mrs. Carr paid her rent with punctuality. After she died in April 1874, her son Edward Carr asked Wark to take the house off of his hands. Wark refused. He recommended that Carr leave the furniture in the house and Carr let the house for the summer. Instead, Carr held an auction the 14th and 15th of May and all the furniture was sold. The auction realized £254 15s 4d.
Wark testified that he saw Messrs Carr at the funeral, but did not speak to them. Wark attended the auction and was told that Edward Carr was only trustees. A Mr. Mason was looking for the house and Wark agreed to take him as a tenant. Mr. Mason offered to pay £30 in rent and Wark agreed to take £37.
Carr’s attorney argued that Mrs. Carr brought the furniture and plate from Arnestown to Tramore, but none of it belonged to her. Mr. Carr made his Will on the 22nd of May 1856, and left his property to his wife for her life only. She had no right to it. It was a portion of the residue of the late Edward Carr’s estate.
Edward Carr produced his father’s Will. “I told Mr. Wark distinctly that the furniture was not my mother’s. I offered to leave it to arbitration. I offered to give him £20 to take up the house. Wark refused. Edward Carr testified that the furniture sold at the auction had been in his father’s house. It was removed to Rathmines and thence to Tramore. He stated his mother had 11 children and 53 grandchildren and one of them always stayed with her. He was not aware of his mother buying or selling any furniture since his father’s death. He paid £37 for her funeral. He noted that up until the 26th of June the rent was paid.
The judge addressed the jury stating that Carr, the executor did not dispute the date, but on the date this suit was brought his mother’s estate had no assets. They were to consider whether the furniture was Mrs. Carr’s or had she only a life interest in it. The jury retired, and after a few minutes returned with a verdict for Edward Carr.
Maria Carr (c. 1790-1874) was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Harold’s Cross Co. Dublin.
Thomas K. Carr’s Children
All three of the children of Thomas K. and Jane Carr were born in the Georgian big house at Castle Annaghs which boasted 10 bedrooms. The children were between 12 and 7 when they emigrated to Wisconsin with their parents. Between the Georgian big house and the Barrow River stood Castle Annaghs. It is not known if the Castle was inhabited or in ruins when the children lived there. It is not known if stories regarding their life at Castle Annaghs were passed down. We did find that Edward K. Carr’s daughter Frankie listed her father’s birthplace as New Ross.
[1] Edward K. Carr (1838-1907) married Eleanor Margaret Raney (1848-1914) on 24 March 1874 in Raymond, Racine Co., Wisconsin. Before 1880 the couple moved to Gillespie County, Texas. The US 1880 Census, provides that Edward K. Carr (41) was farming. The following persons were in the household: Eleanor M. Carr (wife, 31); Thomas K. Carr (son, 4); Hellen E. Carr (daughter, 2) and Nina Esther Carr (daughter, 11 mos.). Also in the household was Frank L. Raney (22) (brother-in-law).
The 1880 Gillespie, Texas, Agriculture Census provides more information. Edward K. Carr had 15 acres in grain; 545 acres in old fields not growing weeds; $3000 was the value of the farm land/buildings and fences; £100 was the value of farm implements and machinery; $260 was the value of livestock; $70 were the costs associated with building and repairs; $25 wages & board was paid in 1879 for labour; he had 3 weeks hired labour (excluding housework); $50 value of all production sold/consumed/retained for 1879. He farmed with 3 horses and 2 mules.
Edward K. Carr, died in 1907 and is buried in the Hill Crest Cemetery on the Morris Ranch, Gillespie County, Texas.
Edward and his wife had at least four children.
[1a] Edward George Carr (1886-1943) married Celeta E. Carr. Edward George Carr and his wife moved to Illinois before 1920. Edward George Carr died in Chicago, and is buried in Milwaukee. An obituary was found in the Chicago Tribune (Sun. 15 Aug. 1943, p. 24) as follows: Services for Edward G. Carr, 57 years old, 1304 Birchwood Ave. who died Wednesday, were held yesterday in the chapel at 5501 North Ashland Ave. Mr. Carr, an inventor and manufacturer, was one of the early advocates of concrete highways in Illinois. He had been engaged in building concrete runways for the army air forces. Surviving are his widow, Celeta Lewis Carr, one son Pvt. Richard L. Carr, a prisoner in a Japanese camp in the Phillippines, and four sisters. [His brother Tom also survived him].
[1b] Jean Alice Galbraith née Carr (1883-1979) married James C. Galbraith and had at least two sons. Jean remained in Texas.
[1c] Thomas K. Carr (1875-1962) married Mamie Brodie (1874-1962). He remained in Gillespie Co. Texas and was a stock farmer and ranchman on “White Oaks Ranch.” (Kerrville Mountain Sun, Wed. 17 Jan. 1962, p. 16). He and his wife had at least 3 children.
[1d] Frankie Raney Polk née Carr (1881-1948) married Sam C. Polk. Frankie was a retired school teacher when she died and had been widowed. She had at least one child. Frankie remained in Texas.
[2] George Thomas Carr (1840-1881) was the second son of Thomas K. Carr and his wife Jane Carr. George Thomas Carr married Harriet Sutton (1854-1922) on 21 Sept. 1871 at Bingham, Leelanau Co., Michigan. George T. Carr was a lumberman per the 1880 Census. George T. Carr held land in Sutton’s Cove, Michigan and we have been unable to verify that he had a mill and dock. References have also been found that he was a grocer prior to his marriage and served as a postmaster in Sutton’s Cove. In any event, George and Harriet had two children die young and 2 children survive until adulthood
[2a] George Thomas Carr (1872—1935) and
[2b] Ella A. Carr (1874-1900) was just 25 when she died of appendicitis.
[2d] Mabel Carr died as an infant on 3 Sept. 1881. The Minneapolis Messenger (Fri. 9 Sept. 1881, p. 5) published an obituary. “Little Mable, infant daughter of Mrs. George F. (sic) Carr, died in this city on Saturday morning…Mrs. Carr is a daughter of Mr. H.C. Sutton, of this place, who buried her husband a short time ago at Sutton’s Bay, Michigan…The afflicted mother has the sympathy of the community. She has two bright children left her.”
Although George T. Carr died very young we have been unable to find any reference to his cause of death.
[3] Hannah Cornelia “Nina” Carr (1843-1912) was the only daughter of Thomas K. Carr and his wife Jane Carr. Nina married in Chicago two years after her father’s death. She married Alphonse William Perrin (1848-1922). The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Sat. 21 Jan. 1871, p. 4) published a marriage announcement. “PERRIN-CARR—On the 17th inst., at St. James’s Church, Chicago, Ill., by the Rev. C.V. Kelly, Alphonse W. Perrin, of San Antonio, Texas, to Nina, daughter of the late Thomas K. Carr, of Oak Creek, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.”
A.W. and Nina had a large family and lived twelve miles from San Antonio, Texas, on “Hope Farm” in Bexar Co. (San Antonio Express News, Sat. 24 July 1909. p. 6). The family lived on a 540 acre farm. In 1923 they deeded an acre to be used as a cemetery by the heirs of A.W. and Nina Perrin (deceased) (San Antonio Express News, Tues. 30 Oct. 1923, p. 17).
[3a] Jane “Jennie” Martha Perrin (1873-1950)
[3b] Raymond Perrin (c. 1874-1912). Raymond died in May 1912 unmarried. He was survived by his parents (San Antonio Express News, Sat. 25 May 1912, p. 14).
[3c] Ruth Nina Perrin (1876-1960) married William A. Conry of Allen Grove, Wisconsin in 1909. (San Antonio Express News, Sat. 24 July 1909, p. 6). The couple were living in Avion, Wisconsin in 1912. Ruth is buried in Wisconsin, and she had a second marriage to a man named Cox.
[3d] Martha “Mattie” Perrin (c. 1878- ?) married Judson
[3e] Francis “Fanny” Caroline Perrin (1880-1959) married Francis A. McClure. Per the 1950 census Bertha, Ruth and Jennie Perrin were all living with their sister and brother-in-law.[3f] Bertha Josephine Perrin (1884-1958) never married.
[3g] George Fredrick Perrin (1882-1960) applied for a passport in 1917 to accept a post as foreman of a coke plant in Mexico. His profession was steam engineer. In his sister Jennie’s obituary, he was again residing in San Antonio. George F. Perrin is not buried in the Perrin family cemetery.
What Happened to Jane Carr née Keogh/Kough?
In the 1880 Census Jane Carr was living with her daughter and son-in-law in Bexar, Texas. Alphonse Perrin was a 32 year-old farmer. He reported that he had been born in New York. His father was born in England and his mother had been born in Ireland. Nina in 1880 was 37 and Jane Carr was 70.
Several of the Perrin family are buried in the Perrin Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexter Co., Texas. In searching the Perrin Cemetery, we came across Jean (sic) Carr (28 Feb. 1809-17 Nov. 1891). Her inscription reads “In memory of Jean, wife of T.K. Carr, born in Ireland, Feb. 28, 1809, Died Nov. 17, 1891, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”
Jane or Jean’s death notice was found in the San Antonio Express News (Thur. 19 Nov. 1891, p. 5) and provides, “Mrs. Jean Carr, a well-known old lady who has lived in this county for many years, died at her home on the Salado yesterday morning at the age of 83.”
Please send any corrections, additional information or photographs to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured map above has the Oak Creek Wisconsin area outlined in red. Milwaukee is to the North and Racine is to the south of Oak Creek. This interactive map is available on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Creek,_Wisconsin#/map/0 .
Thomas K. Carr, Esq. (c. 1811-1869) of Castle Annaghs
Recently we toured Castle Annaghs, Rosbercon, (special thanks to the newlyweds Jason Shiely and his lovely Rathinure, Glenmore, bride, Eva née Roche). The Castle is in impressive shape for its age. I began performing a newspaper search of Castle Annaghs and stumbled upon Thomas K. Carr, Esq. (c. 1811-1869) of Castle Annaghs. He was at Castle Annaghs for twenty years commencing when he was about 19 and ending with his public emigration with his family from the quay in New Ross in 1850.
To put Thomas K. Carr, Esq. into context we shall briefly present his known siblings, parents and family connections as well as a few early newspaper articles.
Parents of Thomas K. Carr, Esq. (c. 1811-1869)
Edward Carr (c. 1780-1857) and Maria Keogh/Kough (c. 1791-1874) lived primarily in Arnestown township about 3 km from New Ross. Per the Ossory, Ferns, Leighlin Dioceses Maria Kough and Edward Carr obtained a marriage license in 1808. (Indexes to Wills, Probate Administration, Marriage Bonds and Licences, 1591-1866).
We could not verify who Maria’s father was although the Keogh/Kough families of New Ross were merchants and held land interests. During the 1798 Rebellion the Kough warehouses on the Quay of New Ross housed British troops after the Battle of New Ross.
Edward Carr and his wife, Maria Keogh had 11 children according to the testimony of their eldest son Edward Carr, Jr. (Munster Express, Fri. 25 July 1874, p. 5). The Carr family was Protestant, so most dates of birth etc. have been gleaned from surviving Church of Ireland records, or contemporary newspapers. Thomas Kough Carr was born circa 1811 at Arnestown, Co. Wexford, into an Anglo-Irish landed gentry family. His family enjoyed extensive ties to local property, the Church of Ireland and civic roles across Wexford and Kilkenny.
Thomas K. Carr’s Siblings
The known children of Edward Carr and his wife, Maria Keogh include:
[1] Edward Carr (c. 1809-1892) became a solicitor. He married Sarah Drake in 1833. They resided in Camolin, Co. Wexford.
[2] Thomas Kough Carr (c. 1811-1869) married Jane Kough in 1837. They lived at Castle Annaghs until the summer of 1850.
[3] George Whitmore Carr (c. 1814-1886) married Mary Kough in 1848.
[4] Rev. Elliott Elmes Carr (c. 1818-1908) Rector of Rathsaran. Married Anne Sydney Watson in 1850.
[5] Elizabeth Carr married Rev. Thomas Uniacke Townsend, Hilltown, Co. Down (Belfast Newsletter, Tues. 23 Apr. 1839, p. 2).
[6] William Wallis Carr (c. 1816-1895). Was a married and they resided on Priory St. New Ross. He was a merchant and died aged 79, on 31 March 1895.
[7] Dr. Jonas King Carr (c.1820-1907) It is alleged that Jonas was born 29 July 1820, but we could not verify this date. It is alleged that he married three times. An obituary entitled “Death of Rossman in England” was published in the New Ross Standard, (Fri. 15 March 1907, p. 5). “We regret to announce says the Gloucester Echo to announce the death at the age of 87 of Deputy Surgeon General Jonas King Carr, MD, FRCSI which took place at his residence, 11 Hatterly Place, Cheltenham, on the 11th March. The deceased gentleman, who was born in 1820, joined the medical department of the army as assistant surgeon on the 24th June, 1886 (sic). He was for many years attached to the 25th Regiment, (King’s Own Borderers), and next in the 32nd Regiment (the Cornwalls). He was subsequently at Woolwich Hospital. The deceased gentleman was the sixth son of the late Edward Carr, Arnestown, uncle of the present Mr. George Carr, Ardross, a kinsman of the celebrated pioneer of temperance of that name.”
[8] Nicholas Grifford Carr (c. 1821-1903) married 6 August 1885 at Ballylane House, New Ross, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Vero, the eldest daughter of Christopher Vero, Esq., of Ballybrennan, Co. Wexford (Dublin Daily Express, Sat. 8 Aug. 1885, p. 1). At his death in 1903, at the age of 81, he was described as a gentleman farmer with an address of Arnestown Cottage. Present at his death was Charles W. Carr of Priory St., New Ross.
[9] Henry Carr (c. 1825-1867) died on 18 January 1867 at his home at Frankfort Avenue, Rathgar. He was the youngest son of the late Edward Carr, Esq., of New Ross (Carlow Sentinel, Sat. 26 Jan. 1867, p. 3). In 1871, William Wallis Carr brought a suit against Gifford Carr, the executor of Henry Carr’s Estate (Wexford Independent, Wed. 26 July 1871, p. 3).
[10] Sarah Carr
[11] Eliza Carr
For earlier generations of the family see the incomplete family tree at wiki trees.
Newspaper Articles from the 1830’s
The Cork Constitution (4 Dec. 1834, p. 4) published an article that appears to indicate that Edward Carr held land interests in Kilkenny near Castle Annaghs. “On the morning of the 26th, as two bailiffs employed by Edward Carr, Esq., of New Ross, (A most indulgent landlord) was driving for rent, part of which has unpaid for the last six years, they were brutally assaulted by a number of persons. They were obliged to make a precipitate retreat. This outrage took place in view of the fatal Shambo County Kilkenny, where the unfortunate Leonard was murdered whose only crime was an attempt to recover a lawful debt; and where the hired assassin, Malone, and the conspirator Meany expiated their guilt to the offended law of their country (Wexford Conservative).” See our post of 9 Feb. 2020 regarding the murder of Catholic landlord Joseph Leonard.
The following year an article appeared in the Freeman’s Journal (10 Nov. 1835 p. 4) concerning a young Henry Carr (c. 1825-1867) who appears to have traveled alone on the river steamer from Waterford.
“On Saturday evening a man of the name of David Kearney, who was coachman to Edward Carr, Esq., of Arnestown, was sent by his master, to Ross, which is distant about a mile from his place, with a pair of horses to meet and take up his Mr Carr’s youngest son, aged about 9 years, who was returning by steam packet from Waterford to Ross. When about halfway from Ross the coachman alighted to recover his hat, which had fallen, but being exceedingly drunk, he was unable to remount or proceed on foot. On seeing this the child apprehending that the unfortunate man might be injured by the horses, most prudently and thoughtfully pursued his way home taking with him the two horses. On his arrival he dispatched a man to take care of the servant and bring him home. Michael Dunphy, the man so sent, on arriving at the place, found the unfortunate Kearney just taken out of the ditch by two policemen, where it is supposed he had fallen and been suffocated.
“We forbore communicating this earlier, waiting for an account of the inquest that would be held on the body by the Sovereign of New Ross, who, by virtue of his office is coroner for the borough; but on enquiry we found that the police officer at New Ross, Mr. Hutton, never either reported the circumstances to the Sovereign, or took the necessary steps to prevent the body being interred until the inquisition was held on it. We think that such palpable neglect on the part of a public officer, ought to be inquired into, as the men who found the deceased reported the circumstance to him in half an hour after it occurred (Wexford Independent).”
Castle Annaghs
In the late 1790’s a wealthy wine merchant from Cadiz, Edward Joseph Murphy, bought Castle Annaghs and its demesne. Murphy then proceeded to build the large and imposing Georgian mansion on the hill overlooking the Castle and Barrow. When Murphy fell into debt his creditors sought his assets. Murphy is thought to have died c. 1842.
George Kough became a tenant of Castle Annagh’s under the Chancery Court at least by 1822. A notice was published in January 1825 stating that the house and demesne with 300 arable acres would be let for three years as George Kough’s lease was ending on 25 March 1825 (Waterford Mail, Wed. 9 Jan. 1825, p. ).
It is not clear exactly when Thomas K. Carr, Esq. took up residence at Castle Annaghs, but in 1836 Miss Sarah Fitzgerald filed a notice as lessee, “against the casual ejector” of her intention to let by public auction at Shanahan’s Hotel, New Ross, the House and Demesne of Castle Annaghs, “being part of the Manor of Mount Boyle, otherwise Forstalstown, situate in the Barony of Ida, and County of Kilkenny, as now held by Mr. Thomas Carr” (Dublin Evening Post, Tues. 6 Sept. 1836, p. 1).
The lands were comprised of 335 Irish acres (or 536 statute acres). The term of the lease was 3 years, “provided Miss Fitzgerald’s interest shall so long last.” Two solvent persons were required to join the tenant in the lease as security for the rent (Dublin Evening Post, Tues. 6 Sept. 1836, p. 1).
Marriage
When Thomas K. Carr married on 9 January 1837, his address was Castle Annaghs. His bride was Jane Keough, the only daughter of George Keough, Esq., of Chilcomb Lodge, Rosbercon (Evening Freeman, Tues. 17 Jan. 1837, p. 1). The couple were married in St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland, Waterford City, and it was noted that Jane was from St. John’s Parish, Church of Ireland. It is not clear if his new father-in-law was the George Kough who held the Castle Annaghs lease until 1825. It is not clear whether the bride and groom were related.
Chilcomb Lodge
George Kough in 1841 advertised in the Waterford Mirror (Sat. 20 March 1841, p. 1) the sale or lease of the house, offices, gardens and demesne of Chilcomb Lodge, situated on the River Barrow, nearly opposite to and within 5 minutes’ walk of the town of New Ross.
“The house etc. built in the most substantial manner, within the last three years, and upon which a sum upwards of fifteen hundred pounds has been expended, is replete with every convenience for the accommodation of a respectable family, and the demesne consists of seventy-one acres of prime land, with a frontage to the river of upwards of seventeen hundred feet, and depth of water sufficient for vessels of large burdens. The situation is unrivalled for the beauty of the surrounding scenery. To be duly appreciated must be seen. For particulars apply to Thomas Tisdall, Esq., 73 Upper Baggot-street, Dublin; Robert W. Cherry, Solicitor, Waterford; or George Kough, Chilcomb Lodge, New Ross.”
Resignation from Castle Annaghs
The Carlow Sentinel (Sat. 16 Sept 1848, p.1) advertised a “strictly unreserved auction at Castle Annaghs for Thomas Keogh Carr, Esq. “who is obliged to resign possession of his farms, they being about to be sold under the Courts.”
Auction 1 (1848)
Strictly Unreserved Auction
AT CASTLE ANNAGHS, CO. KILKENNY Of Pure Short Horn Cattle, Weight Carrying Hunters, Young Horses, Thoroughbred Stallion, Sheep, Vehicles, etc.
JAMES MARSHALL has been highly favoured with positive instructions from Thomas Keogh Carr Esq. (who is obliged to resign possession of his farms, they being about to be sold under the Courts), to sell by strictly unreserved auction, at Castle Annaghs, County Kilkenny, within ten miles of Waterford and one of New Ross,
On THURSDAY, the 21st day of SEPTEMBER, the following valuable property:
40 Very handsome young cows and heifers;
11 Two year old heifers, in calf;
18 Choice Yearling Heifers;
32 Promising calves;
15 One and two year old bullocks;
1 Two year old Bull, “Atlas” by “Woolman” out of “Cranberry.”
1 Two year old bull, very highly bred;
2 Very highly bred yearling bulls:
2 Bull calves.
The above justly celebrated herd of cattle are from stock imported at great expense from the most eminent breeders of Short Horns in England; they possess great milking qualities, with good size, early maturity, and all the other necessary essentials for which this breed are so universally prized.
PEDIGREE OF EACH BEAST WILL BE GIVEN AT SALE.
LEICESTER SHEEP
30 Two year old Wedders;
70 Two year old Ewes;
40 Lambs;
5 Ram lambs;
6 Rams, one and two year olds.
HORSES
No. 1, Thoro’bred English racehorse, “Plato,” 6 years old, got by “Sweet Anchor,” out of Vesper, by Vehcepeds.
No. 2, Grey horse, “Badger,” a well known first rate hunter.
No. 3, Bay mare, 6 years old, by King William, a trained hunter, with great speed.
No. 4, Powerfully strong chestnut horse, by Welcome, able to carry 15 stones with hounds.
No. 5, Handsome strong bay mare, by Doncaster, 4 off, a magnificent fencer.
No. 6, Bay Colt, four years old, by Doncaster a trained hunter, very strong.
No. 7, A superior hunter for 13 stone, with any foxhounds, he is got by Vestria, out of Goblet’s dam.
No. 8, Three year old bay colt, by Doncaster.
No. 9, do do by Blacklock.
No. 10, Yearly colt by Blacklock.
No. 11, Yearly filly by Doncaster.
No. 12, Very promising colt foal by Plato.
No. 13, & 14 Two celebrated brood mares stinted to Pluto, pedigree at sale.
No. 15 Very stout cob pony, 6 off, quiet to ride and very fast in harness.
The horses can by inspected by a Veterinary Surgeon, (if required) any time prior to sale.
VEHICLES
Doubled bodied open phaeton, fashionable tax cart, modern outside car, with patent axles etc.
Terms Cash, or accepted Bills at 3 months, with stamp, and interest added, for any sum over £20. The commission of 5 per cent to be paid by the purchaser in addition to their bidding. JAMES MARSHALL, AUCTIONEER, 96 George St., Limerick, who must approve all bills intended to be passed prior to sale. Mr Marshall as usual will be happy to attend to such Commissions as may be entrusted to him.
Auction 2 (1850)
The second unreserved auction was advertised in the Waterford Mail (Wed. 24 April 1850, p. 3).
Strictly Unreserved AUCTION at CASTLE ANNAGHS, County Kilkenny; upwards of 70 head of valuable and highly bred short horn Durham stock; 20 horses; variety of farming implements of the most improved construction; entire household furniture, and numerous miscellaneous articles etc.
MR. JOHN WALSH has been favoured by THOMAS K. CARR (who is about to leave the country) to sell by auction at CASTLE ANNAGHS, County, Kilkenny, within 10 miles of Waterford, and 1 of New Ross, on Monday, the 20th day of April, 1850, and following days.
SHORT-HORN STOCK
25 highly bred Durham Cows, calved and to calve—4 dry and 2 fat cows. 3 Year old Durham Bull, by Sir Charles—2 yearling bulls, by Atlas—6 two year old heifers—10 yearlings—7 two year old bullocks—3 yearling do—19 heifer calves—9 bull ditto. Pedigree of each will be given at sale.
HORSES
Thoro’bred English race horse PLUTO, by Sheet Anchor; dam Vespers by Velocipede. Five year old hunter by Elvas; six year old do. By Middlethoope, dam by Empress, grand-dam by Old President. Seven year old Roadster and Harness Horse. Grey horse, 9 years old, beautifully trained to carry a lady. The horses can be inspected by a Veterinary Surgeon (if required) at any time prior to sale.
BROOD MARES
Harriet, supposed thoro’bred, with a colt foal at her foot. Taglioni, thoro’bred mare, by Giles, out of Spencer’s dam, in foal to New Fashion. Mare by Liverpool, sire of Lanercost. Three year old Mare by Concaster; dam, harriet, a foal at her foot. Three year old colt by Blacklock, dam by Liverpool. Two year old colt by Plato, dam by Franey. Yearling by Pluto, dam Harriet. Yearly by Despise, dam Taglioni. Useful family horse, 7 years old. 5 good farming horses.
FARMING IMPLEMENTS etc.
4 horse threshing machine, churning ditto, 2 winnowing machines; 2 hay cutters; drill machine; drill machine; turnip slicer; 4 rollers; Finlayson’s harrow; 2 scufflers; 2 double mould-board ploughs; 8 iron ploughs; 9 new carts; 3 drays; 6 double harrows; 2 iron corn stands; set of forge tools; corn separator; dairy utensils for 50 cows; farm harness, complete for 9 horses; with a great variety of miscellaneous articles.
Covered car with parent axles; London built gig; pony phaeton; light tax cart; 3 sets of jaunting car and gig harness, with saddles, bridles etc. About 150 barrels of heavy oats, with 20 ditto in stack; about 20 barrels of horse beans; a large quantity of upland and marsh hay; large heaps of farm yard manure; quantity of grass seeds, straw and seasoned timber.
Pianoforte, with additional keys, by Broadwood; kitchen range, by Turner; mangle; forcing pump; a gabbard, gig, and pram. A well broke pointer and two brace of young black setters. 1 highly bred Berkshire sow; 1 sow with 9 young ones; 1 fat pig.
The cattle and horses will be sold the first day.
Terms—CASH, or approved bills at 3 months with interest and stamp, for any sum over £20. Commission of 5 per cent, to be paid by the purchaser. Sale to commence each day at eleven o’clock. NB—the brood mares and young horses are well worth the attention of any sporting man.
Emigration from New Ross Quay
By 1850 Thomas K. Carr and his wife Jane (née Kough) had three children.
[1] Edward Kough Carr (c. 1838-1907)
[2] George Thomas Carr (c. 1840-1881) and
[3] Hannah Cornelia “Nina” Carr (c. 1843-1912).
It was widely reported regarding this families’ emigration from the Quay in New Ross. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the famine had caused the poorest to flee if they could flee. Here was a family of some standing and resources that chose to leave. Although Thomas K. Carr was a landlord he was also a tenant to the courts during his tenure at Castle Annaghs.
“Immigration—The ship Triton sailed from port of New Ross last week for Quebec with 350 emigrants of a more wealthy and respectable class than ever left that Quay. The state cabin was occupied by Thomas K. Carr, Esq. and family. Mr. Carr rented Castle Annaghs in the county Kilkenny, for the last 20 years, under the Court of Chancery and was considered one of the best practical farmers in Ireland. Castle Annaghs was recently purchased by a Dublin gentleman, not only had Mr. Carr to pay him the dead half year, but was obliged to pay six weeks rent in addition—say from the 25th of March to the 3d of May, the day on which possession was taken. Such acts, in these times, are sufficient to drive many as well as Mr. Carr out of this country” (Wexford Independent, Sat. 29 June 1850, p. 2). The same article was published in several Irish newspapers including Freeman’s Journal, Wed. 3 July 1850, p. 3].
Next week we will trace the Thomas K. Carr family from Quebec.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com
The featured drawing above is Castle Annaghs from the Dublin Penny Journal of 30 Jan. 1836 . It was drawn during the time Thomas K. Carr, Esq. was in occupation of the estate.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
William Murphy (b. 1879) Native of Ballinlammy, Glenmore
Most people interested in football have heard of James “Jimmy” Murphy (1910-1989) the Assistant Manager of Manchester United. He is credited with keeping the franchise going after the 1958 Munich air crash that killed 20 of 40 passengers. Several of the dead were Man United players along with reporters and support staff. Jimmy Murphy’s friend, Matt Busby was the General Manager and was injured in the crash. Jimmy Murphy was not on the plane because he was coaching the Wales team that went to the World Cup finals in 1958. While Matt Busby was recovering from the crash Jimmy Murphy put together a Manchester United team and managed the hastily comprised team to the FA Cup Final.
Books have been written about Matt Busby and Jimmy Murphy that highlight how they met while serving in WWII, how they managed and built Manchester United etc. While very interesting men, today we are going to highlight the tragic and elusive life of Jimmy Murphy’s father, William Murphy, a native of Ballinlammy, Glenmore. At various times wrong information has been published concerning William Murphy, e.g. it was published that he hailed from Carlow and emigrated to Wales during the famine (see, Fergus Dowd, “Jimmy Murphy—y dyn a achubold Man United” (2021) A Bohemian Sporting Life). William was born in Glenmore almost 30 years after the famine ended. It was also published that Jimmy Murphy was “The Kilkennyman who Rebuilt Manchester United” (Kilkenny People, 27 Feb. 1998, p. 9). Jimmy Murphy was born in Wales, but his father William Murphy was born in Glenmore, Kilkenny.
William Murphy (b. 1879) native of Ballinlammy, Glenmore
William Murphy was the eldest son of Edmond Murphy (1839- 1923) and his wife Margaret Deady (1852-1894). William Murphy was born on 8 March 1879 at Ballinlammy, Glenmore. His parents were married at Glenmore on 24 February 1876.
William Murphy’s (b. 1879) Parents
Edmond Murphy was a farmer and at the time of his marriage his address was Ballinakill, Mullinavat. His bride, Margaret had an address of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. Their fathers were William Murphy (deceased, farmer) and Michael Deady (farmer). Thus, it appears that William Murphy (b. 1879) and his siblings were the first of the family born in Ballinlammy, Glenmore.
William Murphy’s (b. 1879) Grandparents
Edmond Murphy’s father, William Murphy (c. 1811-1874) died at Ballinakill on 11 April 1874. William Murphy was 63 years of age when he died of bronchitis. Robert Murphy was present at his death. In attempting to locate a record for William’s birth in 1811, we did find a William Murphy baptized on 29 June 1802 at Ballinloney (sic), Glenmore. He was the son of Patrick Murphy and Alice Welsh. We could not find any other children born to this union. We could not verify that this William baptized in 1802 was William Murphy’s (b. 1879) grandfather.
Children of William Murphy (c. 1811-1874) and Mary Wall (c. 1812-1882)
[1] Robert Murphy (bapt. 5 April 1837)
[2] Edmund Murphy (bapt. 26 Jan. 1839)
[3] John Murphy (bapt. 1 Mar. 1841)
[4] Catherine Murphy (bapt. 21 Feb. 1843)
[5] Michael Murphy (bapt. 25 Jan. 1845)
[6] Mary Murphy (bapt. 15 Mar. 1847)
All the children were born at Ballinakill, Mullinavat.
Within a few years of their father William’s death, Edmond and John Murphy married. As outlined above Edmond Murphy (1839-1923) married Margaret Deady (1852-1894) in 1876. The couple lived at Ballinlammy. In the 1926 Census, the Ballinlammy farm was described as containing 70 statute acres.
Uncle John Murphy (1841-1914)
John Murphy married Mary Dungan, of Buckstown, Mullinavat, on 4 May 1875. John’s address at the time of the wedding was Ballinakill. It is recorded in the marriage record that he was a 25-year-old farmer, the son of William Murphy (deceased, farmer). His bride, Mary Dungan was the daughter of John Dungan (farmer).
John Murphy continued to reside in Ballinakill after his marriage. His mother, Mary Murphy née Wall (c. 1812-1882) died at Ballinakill on 23 May 1882 at the age of 70. John was present at her death. John’s wife, Mary Murphy née Dungan (c. 1834-1891) died at Ballinlammy on 5 April 1891 of bronchitis. She was 57 years of age. John was present when she died. John died on 7 March 1914 at Ballinlammy at the age of 72. His nephew James Murphy was present when he died.
Children of Edmond Murphy (1839-1923) and Margaret Deady (1852-1894)
[1] Mary Murphy (b. 25 Jan. 1877)
[2] William Murphy (b. 8 Mar. 1879) Godfather was Robert Murphy.
[3] Catherine Murphy (b. 11 April 1881)
[4] Michael Murphy (b. 26 Jan. 1883) d. 1919
[5] Honor “Annie” Murphy (b. 25 June 1885)
[6] James Murphy (b. 16 Dec. 1886) d. 1961
[7] Anastasia Murphy (b. 18 Sept. 1889)
Margaret Murphy née Deady (1852-1894) died at the age of 41 on 12 January 1894 of scarlatina or scarlet fever. William Murphy (b. 1879) was 15 years old when his mother died.
In the 1901 Census there were 9 people recorded in the Ballinlammy household. Edmond Murphy gave his age as 50 and his brother John Murphy as 45. They were both widowers and their true ages were 62 and 60. William was recorded as being 21. His siblings in the 1901 Census were recorded as M. Anne Murphy (23); Mike Murphy (19); Annie Murphy (14); James Murphy (12); Stasia Murphy (10); and Eddy Murphy (7).
William Murphy’s First Marriage
The Kilkenny People (21 June 2019, p. 56) quoted a biography written about Matt Busby describing how Jimmy Murphy’s father emigrated to Wales. “Late in the first decade of the 20th century William “Billy” Murphy, a manual labourer from Kilkenny, a city in the South East of Ireland, arrived in South Wales with the intention of working in the pits. Billy was a widower and travelled with the son from his marriage, Patrick.”
As stated above William Murphy (b. 1879) was a native of Ballinlammy, Glenmore. As far as I can ascertain he never lived in Kilkenny City. In 1901 he was still single residing in Ballinlammy. At some point he married Johanna Dalton and the couple were living on Philip St. in Waterford City when their son Patrick was born on 29 October 1905. Patrick was baptized on 9 November 1905 and died on the 11th of November. His mother Johanna Murphy née Dalton (1885-1905) also died on the 11th of November 1905 of puerperal fever (childbirth fever). She was 25 years of age. William was present at her death.
Johanna Murphy née Dalton (1880-1905) Native of Knockbrack, Glenmore
We found a Johanna Dalton born on 13 March 1880 at Knockbrack, Glenmore to Patrick Dalton and his wife Catherine Whelan/Phelan. We were not able to find a marriage record for William and Johanna, nor could we locate a birth record for their son Edward Murphy (b. 1904). In the 1911 Wales Census Edward’s place of birth is recorded as Co. Kilkenny. See our post of 10 August 2026 for further information on the Dalton family of Knockbrack, Glenmore.
In attempting to find more information concerning the short marriage of William Murphy and Johanna Murphy née Dalton (1880-1905) we searched the 1901 Census of Philip St. in Waterford. In 20 Philip St., we found two Glenmore natives., namely Edward Murphy and his wife Catherine Grace both natives of Forristalstown. The couple were married on 26 April 1899 at Glenmore and one of the witnesses to the wedding was Johanna Dalton. See the obit of Edward Murphy (c. 1874-1951) of 14 Griffith’s Place on our M surname page. He worked for over 50 years at Strangman’s Brewery of Waterford.
Emigration to Wales
It is not known when William Murphy (b. 1879) moved to Wales, but in early 1910 William Murphy (b. 1879) married Florence Louisa Eynon née Scourfield (c. 1876-1960) in Pontypridd, Glanmorgan, Wales. Florence was the daughter of William Scourfield (grocer) and his wife Ada Nichols. Florence was widowed in 1905 when her first husband Benjamin Eynon (1876-1905)(butcher) died leaving her to raise their 5 children.
In 1911 there were 9 persons residing in the Murphy household. William Murphy (b. 1879) was 33 and employed as a colliery repairer. His place of birth was Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Florence Murphy née Scourfield was 33 and her place of birth was Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales. They recorded they were married 2 years and one child was born to the marriage.
The Blended Family of William Murphy (b. 1879) & Florence Scourfield (c. 1876-1960)
In the 1911 Census the following children were in the household reflecting children of the first marriages of both William and Florence and Jimmy their child together.
[1] William J. Eynon (16) Asst. coal miner, b. Narbeth, Pembrokeshire
[2] Cyril Eynon (15) Asst. Coal miner b. Narbeth, Pembrokeshire
[3] Mary Eynon (13) b. Narbeth, Pembrokeshire
[4] Sydney Eynon (12), Narbeth, Pembrokeshire
[5] Benjamin Eynon (5) b. Ystrad, Glanmorgan
[6] Edward Murphy (6) b. Co. Kilkenny, Ireland
[7] James Murphy (8 mos.) b. Ystrad, Glanmorgan
The 1921 Census finds the family residing at 43 Treharne St., Pentre, Rhondda, Glanmorganshire, Wales. Work was not good after the War. William Murphy (42), was a collier hewer, for Cory Bros. , Pentro Colliery. It is noted that he was out of work. Florence was 43.
[1] Edward Murphy (16 yrs 8 mos) son, collier boy, Cory Bros, Pentro Colliery (out of work)
[2] James Murphy (10 yrs 10 mos. ) son, was still at school
[3] William Eynon (26 years) step-son, miner, Cory Bros. (out of work)
[4] Sidney Eynon (22) step-son, miner, Cory Bros, (out of work) served in WWI. Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
[5] Benjamin Eynon (15) step-son, was a collier boy, Cory Bros. (out of work)
[6] Mary Eynon (23) step-daughter m. 1937 Arthur P. Lewis. Mary Lewis née Eynon died in August 1987.
Back in Ballinlammy, Glenmore
It is not known if William Murphy (b. 1879) ever returned to Glenmore. His father Edmond died at Ballinlammy, on 8 May 1923. His son James Murphy was present. His age was given as 67 when in fact he was 84.
James Murphy (1886-1961) played on the Inter County Kilkenny Gaelic Football team from 1910 to 1924. He also joined the Glenmore Co. of the Old IRA. His obit is on our M Surname page. See generally the list of men in the Glenmore Company of the old IRA. In 1926 only three of William’s (b. 1879) siblings were residing in Ballinlammy. All three were single. James was 35; Michael was 39 and Anastasia was 32. They had an 18-year- old servant named Thomas Murphy (b. Glenmore) also residing in the household.
Patrick Bookle contacted the Kilkenny People in 2019 and explained that William Murphy was his granduncle and hailed from Ballinlammy, Glenmore, not Kilkenny City. Patrick confirmed that William moved to Wales, Ned moved to the US, and two brothers remained in Ballinlammy. James [Murphy] was Patrick Bookle’s grandfather. James was the goalkeeper on the Glenmore football team (Kilkenny People, Fri. 13 Sept. 2019, p. 62).
Unknown End
While we were able to locate a newspaper account of the death of Florence Murphy née Scourfield we were unable to verify when William Murphy (b. 1879) died. We hope that one of our readers may be able to shed some light on when William died and where he is buried.
Florence Louisa Murphy née Scourfield of Treharne Street, Pentre, Wales, died in January 1960.
SAD TIME FOR JIMMY MURPHY—It was a unhappy homecoming last weekend for Manchester United Assistant manager, Jimmy Murphy. For his mother, 82-year-old Mrs. Florence Louise Murphy of Treharne St., Pentre, passed away after a long illness. Mrs. Murphy was a loveable character, who will be sorely missed by neighbours and also members of the Welsh international team, such as John Charles and Ivor Allchurch, who as far as she was concerned were not great footballers but boys she could mother (Pontypridd Observer, Sat. 30 Jan. 1960, p. 3).
Mrs. Florence Murphy of Pentre, Rhondda, with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Lewis reading the good news that her son, Jim Murphy (Manchester United) had been appointed Welsh Soccer team manager (Western Mail Wed. 10 Oct. 1956 , p. 10).
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Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@glenmore-history
The feature photo above is an old postcard of Pentre , Rhondda, Wales circa 1920.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh