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James “Jim the Weaver” Walsh (1870- c. 1960) of Glenmore Village: Looking Back
Sixty-one years ago today an article appeared in the Kilkenny People entitled “Glenmore Man Looks Back” written by Peter Roughhan. This 1959 article is packed full of interesting details and names of Glenmore people including early football players and brick makers. Special thanks to Glenmore-History.com reader Kelvin Johnson Treacy who found the article and sent it on so we could share it. At the end of the article information that Danny Dowling collected over the years concerning the Weaver Walsh family is provided.
GLENMORE MAN LOOKS BACK—Often it makes me wonder if one old custom, or pastime, if you like to call it, is dead and gone in the country, for you never hear anyone using the word “cuardeact” now at all, and you scarcely ever hear anyone saying in the heel of the evening, “I’m going ‘cuardeact’ for an hour or two.” Well, I know one place around here where you needn’t wait for the heel of the evening to go and have a chat; you need only ramble into Jim Walsh’s beyond in Glenmore any time of the day and you can sit and listen to Jim ‘until the cows come home, and the last thing he’ll tell you is “don’t be long before you come again.”
When I first heard about Jim Walsh and where I could find him, it put me in mind of the story we used to hear about the lad who was going to New York to a sister of his, and his mother kept reminding of where she lived, “in the first house on the left as you go in,” Well, that’s where I happened to find Jim over in Glenmore — in the first house on the left as I went in! Honest to Goodness, I thought I went to the wrong house for I never expected him to have his coat off, and his sleeves rolled up, chopping up a skeagh tree for firing.
“Hold on a minute ’till I put this hatchet away, I don’t like leaving sharp tools lying about the place, and we’ll sit up in the haggard and have a nice quiet chat for ourselves.” And upon my word, a nice quiet chat it was. I could sit and listen to him all day, and so could anyone that’s fond of a bit of ” cuardeact.” Well, now, no one can tell a fellow’s life story better than himself, but Jim Walsh caps ’em all, for his memory can nearly take him back to the day he was born, and that was November 21, 1870.
“Aye, please God, I’ll be 89 on my next birthday, and there’s plenty of work in me yet.” And, I couldn’t say “no” to that, for he looks as fresh and healthy as a lad half his age, and still able to shave himself. “I worked hard ever since I was a lad,” says he to me, “and thank God, I never had much sickness in my life. Now would you believe it, I was born in this house where I’m living, and my father lived in the same house since he was a lad. God be good to him, Pat Walsh, he was one of the old Glenmore weavers, and my mother was Mary Haberlin of Rochestown, her father was Johnnie Haberlin, the blacksmith.”
MASTER CURRAN
IT was a Father Edward Walsh that baptised me, and Johnnie Cody and Bridget Hanrahan from the village here who stood for me. God be good to them all, sure they’re dead years and years. And so is my old schoolmaster — Master Curran — a great man to handle children, and he turned out some great scholars in the village here.”
Like a lot of the lads in Jim’s young days, he left school early. ” Aye,” says he, ” I was only nine when I had to turn out to work, and the first job I ever got was over at Denis Maher’s of Ballyvarring, I was put minding cows for a bob a week. I was living over there at the farm, and they looked after me in great style. We had plenty of good, wholesome food to eat, oaten stirabout for breakfast, no tea in those days at all, spuds and bacon for our dinner, but Friday was a devil of a day, we used to get red herrings, and then we got spuds and plenty butter, and new milk in the evening”
“I stayed there for about two years, and I can remember the boss going into Waterford one day and bringing me back a pair of boots. Sure I never wore a boot in my life ’till then, always went barefooted, and when I got them on my feet, I couldn’t walk at all in them. I used to come home every Saturday night with my bob to my mother, and as soon as I got out on the road with the new boots on I took ’em off and slung ’em around my neck and trotted the whole of the five miles home. If I kept the boots on, I wouldn’t be home yet!
They nearly made a cripple of me. I got used to ’em, but it took a long time, they were like ton weights on my feet.”
When Jim said good-bye to cowminding, he took to brickmaking in the brickyard beyond at Pill. “My father was working there” says he to me, “and he managed to get me a job over there with him. The bricks were baked in what we called clamps, and there were ten arches in each clamp, and anything between three and four thousand bricks in an arch. We used to set the fires with about five hundredweight of Welsh coal, and a bed of furze, get that going in the evening after sealing up the clamp with blue mud, and then we had to look after the fires all-night until about four in the morning. We’d draw the bricks our about dinner time, and then the whole gamut had to start again.”
MADE BY HAND
“All the bricks were made by hand. We used what they called a breastboard, and ’twas a good lad who could make about twenty bricks in half an hour. Oh, there was a great gang of lads working down there at Pill in my Days, I can remember the most of ’em; Dick Rockett of Slieverue; Dan Cody of Carrickcroney; Tom and Bill Forristal of Ballyverneen; Robin Irish of Ballinalammy; Dick Hennessey of Moulerstown; George Young; Paddy Doherty; Ned and Mick Phelan of Bigwood; Pat Murphy of Killivory, and Mickey Power of Carrickcroney.”
“I couldn’t say which of ’em dug up a full branch of deer’s antlers down below in the clay pit one day, and another of the lads came across a boar’s tusk about half-a-foot long. You’d never know what you might dig up in old places like that, but we never came across any gold at all.”
“The wages in those days making bricks wasn’t too bad. On piecework a good lad could earn about thirty shillings, but you had to keep hard at it all day to earn that. It used to be a long day working from seven in the morn ’till six in the evening, still, we were all happy down there. At dinnertime we used to have many a great hunt doing tricks and giving out riddles to good eight miles from here each other. My father was a great hand at some of the questions. I remember one day, some lad asked him how many pounds in a million farthings, and he gave him the right answer in less than no time.” Jim’s memory, of course, couldn’t go back to the time in Glenmore when the weaving was done there, but he was able to tell me a lot about what he used to hear from his father who worked at the trade. They spun for blankets and sheets in the ould days, and right opposite his door he pointed out to me the spot where the old weaving sheds stood. All the spinning of flax was done there, even for bags and sacks of all sizes.”
“This village was a lively spot in my young days,” he told me, ” we had a couple of tailors working here, and one or two shoemakers as well, there was a lot of firkin making in the village too. I often walked to the sally bogs in Kilfane to cut sallies, and the firkins were made in Furlong’s yard, but that trade is gone out now, you never hear of ’em using a butter firkin now at all.”
“I often walked from here to Coolroe bogs with my father to foot sod turf. We thought nothing of walking nine or ten miles to work then, but when I was over in England at the time of the first war, I thought I was in heaven when I used to get on a bus or a tram to go to work. Aye, I remember the time I was in a shell factory in Sheffield, and we earned great money there too. But I must tell you a good story about that factory. ‘Twas in winter time, and we couldn’t stir for snow, ’twas about four feet thick on the roads, and this Saturday night I couldn’t get back to my lodgings, so I went into a pub, and had a couple of hours there with the boys, back into the factory with me, and got into one of the furnaces where I was nice and warm. They used to let the furnaces cool down every Saturday. ‘Twas the luck of God that I had my billycan with me that night. I woke up the next morn, and I was just after stepping out of the furnace when who should walk up behind me but one of the bosses.” “Now then, Walsh,” says he to me, “what are you doing in there?” “Oh, I was only climbing jn to get my billycan out, I left it in there last night when I was finished working,” says I to him, and he believed me. “If it wasn’t for that billycan. I’d be sacked on the spot. In any case, I didn’t stay long in Sheffield after that, I went to Birmingham, and had a grand job helping a couple of fitters for a few months, I got tired of England and came back home, and got a job on the Co. Council.”
STONE-BREAKING
Well, Jim’s time on the ‘ county’ must have been nearly half his lifetime — a good forty years or so. “You know Jim Robinson, don’t you,” says he to me, “well, the man who had his job then as road surveyor was a man named Bowers, and ’twas he set me on first, and put me stonebreaking over on the side of the road near Carriganurra for fourteen bob a week. I was on that job for a long time, and then I was sent over to the quarries in Christendom to work. I used to walk there, and back every day a good eight miles from here. I went scraping the roads over at The Rower as well, and that was a good ten miles. I did every kind of a job on the roads, cleaning out ditches, cutting gullies, and the last bit of work I did on the ‘county’ was to clean out a drain beyond at the Skough bridge, and I was eighty-one years and one month then. That’s nearly nine years ago, and I had to retire then, even though I was still able to do a good day’s work. I saw some great times on the ‘ county,’ but I can tell you ’twas a devil during the last war to be out on the roads all day without a smoke of a pipe, but, I made my own tobacco, Peter, I used to dry the skin, of a furze bush, and fill my pipe with that, and I didn’t feel so bad at all, I had something to pull at anyway.”
In Jim’s spotless little kitchen he showed me a few old heirlooms, which he thought the world of. “Just look at that clock” he says to me, “do you know that ’tis hanging there for the last seventy years, and ’tis one of the first two clocks — eight-day ones — that came into Glenmore, and before my father bought that clock, he had a wall-wagger that he bought from a travelling German watchmaker for four shillings. There’s a dresser there and as ould as I am, I never remember it to be made, for ’tis over a 100 years ‘ould, and that glass press was made before I was born by a man named Sullivan over in Kearney Bay.” I couldn’t make anything like a good guess at the age of a three-legged skillet, that Jim thought the world of. Honestly, it could either be 40 or 4,000 years old. You don’t see many skillets now, butJim’s is still in good condition. Well, no chat with an old Glenmore man would ever finish without something said about football, and Jim’s not the only one who likes to rake up all the great men who used to kick for the village years ago.
We had some of the best in the country here in Glenmore,” he told me, “lads like Dick Delahunty of Aylwardstown; Ned Hartley of Weatherstown; Ned Roche of Coolnaleen; Jack Morrissey of Aylwardstown; Jack Grant of Ballinahara; Peter Flannery of Ballyhobuck; Jack Power of Robinstown; Andy Freyne of Kilbride; the two Briens from Carriganurra, John and Tom; Dick and Larry Curran from The Rower, they were sons, of old schoolmaster Curran, two great men no doubt, and two powerful lads, Pat and Dick Reddy from Kilbride. I was about 17 or 18 years of age when I saw them play in a match over in Ross, and they fisted the ball from one goal to the other. It never touched the ground, and nearly everyone of them had a clout at it, and then they scored! Sure the men in those days would walk ten or twelve miles on a Sunday to kick a football, and walk it back home again, and think nothing of it, and be up the morn after at cock-crow to do a hard day’s work. But the lads today don’t eat oaten porridge that we used to be reared on. ‘Tis all tea today, but, still, Peter, we’ll have a cup before you go,” and we did, and a good cup it was.
Well, before I leave Jim Walsh, I must say that he is one of the most interesting chaps you could have a chat with, God bless him, he is wonderful for his eighty-nine years, as happy as the day is long, and sure, we all wish him many more long years with us. God be with you, Jim, and ’twas great to sit above in your haggard, and listen to you talking about ould times.
_____
Thanks to the details in the article it was easy to locate the birth records for Jim Walsh. James Walsh was born on the 21st of November 1870 the son of Patrick Walsh, weaver, of Graiguenakill and Mary Walsh née Haberlin. He was baptized at Glenmore and his Godparents were John Cody & Bridget Hanrahan. He was the second son and one of six siblings (two boys and four girls).
His parents were married on the 16th of February 1863 at Glenmore. Witnesses to the marriage were Michael Walsh and Catherine Bolger. Mary Habberlan (sic) was baptized on the 25th of July 1845 at Rochestown and was the daughter of John Habberlan (sic) and Margaret Mackey. No birth cert could be located in the Glenmore Parish records for Patrick Walsh. According to Danny Dowling, Patrick’s father, Old Jack “the Weaver” Walsh came from the Campile are of Co. Wexford to work in Gaffney’s linen mill. The birth of Patrick’s children reveals that he worked as a weaver and sometimes as a labourer.
The known children of Paddy “The Weaver” Walsh and his wife Mary Walsh née Haberlin include:
[1] Anastatia Walsh was born on the 4th of December 1863. Godparents: Martin Kelly & Ellen Bulger. [2] Alice “Ally” Walsh was born and baptized on the 20th of July 1866. Godparents: James Kelly & Bridget Ennett. The child’s grandfather, John Walsh of Gregnakill (sic) registered this birth. The father’s occupation was listed as weaver. [3] John Walsh was born on the 30th of April 1869 and baptized on the 2nd of May 1869. Godparents: Columb Halley & Mary Maher. At the civil registration Patrick Walsh was listed as a labourer. Margaret Wallace, nurse was present at birth and registered it on the 6th of May 1869. [4] James was born in 1870. [5] Margaret Walshe born 20 Nov. 1874, baptized the following day. Godparents James Murphy & Catherine Walsh. Civil registers records father’s occupation as weaver, and Catherine Butler was present at birth and registered it on 1 Dec. 1874. [6] Mary Walshe was born 18 Aug. 1878, and baptized the following day. Godparents: William Walsh & Catherine Dunne. Mary’s birth was registered by her father on the 17th of August and he recorded his occupation as farm labourer.
“The Weaver” Walsh family lived in the first house on the left on the Churns hill road when entering the Village. In the featured photo the darker house on the left of the three attached houses is the former home of “The Weaver Walsh” family. For a rough drawing of the Village see, Glenmore Village in the 1930’s https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-village-in-the-1930s/. Although Jim Walsh did not mention his wife or children we believe that he did marry and did have at least one child Walter Walsh and also raised a couple of step-daughters.
Unfortunately, the public death register ends in 1966. Only one James Walsh died over the age of 89 died between 1959-1966. As lively as James Walsh appeared to be when interviewed on 31 October 1959 it is difficult to believe that he died in less than a year. A 90 year old James Walsh died in the Waterford hospital in January 1960. His address was recorded as 41 Costello Place, Waterford and the Munster Express of 5 February 1960 provided that the deceased who died on that date had a son and daughters. Unfortunately, the names of the son and daughters is not provided. This James Walsh was buried in Ramsgrange, Co Wexford.
We hope that someone can provide the missing information concerning the colourful James “the Weaver” Walsh.
Special thanks to Jacqueline Walsh for the old photo of the Churns hill road in the Village of Glenmore. The photo was taken before the 1960’s when the Glenmore Pub opened. The old Village pump can be seen in the photo now where the pub is located.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Edmund Hartley (1836-1915) Native of Flemingstown, Glenmore: Homecoming 1913
For over 6 decades Danny Dowling corresponded with hundreds of people across the globe who sought information about an ancestor who came from the Glenmore area. One of the queries recorded in Danny’s notebooks is the information he sent to Edmund Hartley Marvin, Sr. concerning his ancestor, Edmund Hartley, of Flemingstown, Glenmore.
Edmund Hartley was baptized on the 12th of April 1836, in Glenmore, he was the son of Edmund Hartley and Mary Hartley née Kennedy of Flemingstown. It is not known what happened to Edmund, Sr. but around 1850 Mary Hartley née Kennedy died and shortly thereafter Edmund and his brothers James (c. 1825-1910); William (1 Jan. 1833 – 7 Aug. 1905); and Philip (c. 1828-7 Dec. 1889) emigrated to the United States. James and William settled in Michigan while Philip and Edmund settled in New York State. According to the 1910 Census, Edmund Hartley married another immigrant Bridget Kelly (1839-1912) in 1858. The couple had eight children and five were living in 1910.
Recently a letter written by Edmund Hartley, regarding his homecoming in 1913 was discovered in the New Ross Standard. Edmund Hartley wrote that he left Ireland in 1852 and returned 61 years later when he spent 5 weeks touring Ireland. It must have been a bittersweet homecoming when he visited Glenmore and only encountered four people who remembered him. This remarkable letter provides an insight into the changes he noted in travel, agriculture and Ireland from his emigration at the end of the famine until his return sixty-one years later. The year following his wife’s death, Edmund Hartley travelled to Europe in 1913 with two priests, his son James J. Hartley and his nephew James E. Hartley.
New Ross Standard—Friday, 14 Nov. 1913–VISIT TO IRELAND.
“During the summer Mr. Edmund Hartley, of Monroe County, New York State, with his son, Very Rev. Dr. Hartley, President of St. Bernard’s College, Rochester, and his nephew, Rev. J. E. Hartley, P.P. Rochester, made a tour to Ireland. Mr. Hartley who is 77 years, and exceedingly brisk and agile for his years, was born in Flemingstown, in the parish of Glenmore. It was his first visit since he left Ireland in 1852. The two priests, who were born in America, enjoyed their stay in the land of their fathers and left full of hope that they would at some time come back again to Erin. Since his return Mr. Hartley has given his experience in the American Press, and his letter is so interesting we reproduce it with pleasure. Mr. Hartley is a near relative of Father Hartley, P.P. Cushinstown, and to all the Hartleys in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny district.
EDMUND HARTLEY GIVES INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF HIS VISIT.
It was 61 years ago last May since I left Ireland for America. As I was young at the time, I had no notion of going to work, but Intended just to come over for some money; but my relatives got me a job the second day after landing, and I have been pretty busy since, yet I always wanted to pay a visit to the old home, if I got a chance, which happened this summer when my son and nephew were going to Europe. At the time I left Ireland it was the most desolate country in the world, for the famine and fever had carried off a million of the people and another million fled across the ocean from their unhappy land. Of course we took any boat that would carry us: mine was a sailing vessel of eighteen hundred tons that was blown about for fire weeks before we got sight of land, and some days we feared we would be blown to the bottom of the sea. Several died on the voyage and were thrown overboard. We all had to provide our own meals—that is we cooked our own potatoes in a large kettle in the kitchen and ate the bread we brought along with us.
So you can imagine my surprise at the improved conditions of travel when I boarded the steamer Baltic on June 12th. It is over seven hundred feet long, weight about twenty-four thousand tons, and can ride the wares smoothy even a rough sea, and makes nearly four hundred miles a day. The meals are like those served in the finest hotel and each morning there was a newspaper, the ‘Ocean News’ placed near our plate at breakfast, containing several pages of the latest news from all parts of the world. The menu for dinner and the list of steamers that were in communication with our boat that day. One can send a wireless message from any part of the voyage. Several greeted their friends, from mid ocean. When 1,200 miles from shore I sent a message that reached home within five hours the same day. The wireless system is not only a great aid in distress, but also a means of avoiding collision with other boats in a fog. Of course, icebergs have no wireless plant, and the captains now take a southerly route to avoid them. For three days after leaving New York, our boat seemed headed for Spain instead of Great Britain, the captain was so anxious to avoid icebergs.
There was practically no sea sickness on the outward and return trips, and the company did not save anything from passengers missing their meals. Our trip included Ireland, England, northern France and Belgium, all except Ireland, rich and prosperous countries; yes anyone who has visited Ireland will admit that it is one of the most beautiful countries of the world; and we spent five weeks journeying through mountains, valleys, and plains, viewing the ruins of its ancient schools, abbeys, and castles, the famous round towers and Celtic crosses, which it would take too long to describe. It might surprise some to be told that Ireland was once called the land of Saints and Scholars, and her schools in the sixth, seventh and eighth centuries were among the most, celebrated of Europe. Even today she has beautiful churches, well attended by the people and excellent schools and colleges, in spite of all the obstacles placed in the way of religion and education for centuries.
Ireland has few industries except in the province of Ulster and farming is the occupation of the greater part of the people; and the condition of the famers interested me chiefly. So far as I could judge from traveling through twenty of the thirty-two counties of Ireland, the farmers are now in a better condition than ever before. Formerly they had to pay an excessive rent, in some cases greater than the value of the entire crop, and if any improvements were made in land or buildings, the rent would he increased; but now they have to pay only a moderate rent, about one-third of the old rate, and with these moderate payments they can possess the farm as their own, under the conditions of the Land Purchase Acts. Many of the farmers are now free holders and no longer tenants and all the profits of the farm are theirs. The landlords have in many cases consented to sell at least the power parts of their immense estates, yet some are unwilling to sell any part. I saw one estate of fifty square miles and not an acre would the landlord sell. The recent Land Purchase Act has a clause compelling the landlord to sell some portion for the good of the community. The methods of farming have changed altogether in recent years. The potato is no longer the principal crop; for cattle raising and dairying are followed chiefly and only a small part of the farms is under tillage. Considerable oats are raised, but no wheat or barley, though flax is largely cultivated in the northern counties.
The best American implements are used on the larger farms. I attended several fairs and noticed that cattle and farm produce brought higher prices than here in Monroe county. As the Irish soil is rich and the sesame so mild that cattle can graze nearly all through the year the farmer there have an advantage over us, yet I prefer farming near Fairport. Many of the Irish prefer a change of work too, and emigrate to the States or Canada, and the wages in Ireland will hardly coax them back. Yet when Home Rule is granted them next year, there may be greater inducements to keep the young people from emigrating. It is a pity that so many homes have been cleared away to make grazing land, the cattle taking the place of the people.
In my own county of Kilkenny the population had not decreased so much as elsewhere, yet many houses I know have disappeared. The large round stones the strong men used to toss were in the same place near the churchyard where I saw them over 60 years ago; but I met only four person who knew me in boyhood, though several of the younger people proved to be my own relatives. Some were clergyman, others school teachers, or else rich farmers, and although they had become rich they were glad to see me.
I have been asked if I kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland. I climbed up the Blarney Castle, which is nearly five hundred years old, but as part of the floor is fallen away just near the famous stone, I just bent over and struck the stone with my blackthorn stick and kissed it, and if I did not get the full gift of blarney, still I may have enough to last the rest of my life.
I stood on the famous battlefield of Clontarf and the Boyne and near Waterloo, but I think more of having stood at the graves of O’Connell and Parnell in Glasnevin Cemetery and of Gladstone in Westminster Abbey.
The great cathedrals, museums, picture galleries and colleges are the first objects visited by the tourists, and we saw as many as would take day to describe. The most interesting were the cathedrals in Queenstown, Killarney, Thurles, Armagh, Condon, Brussels and Paris, the Tower of London, British Museum and National Gallery, the Louvre in Paris, the Palace of the French King at Versailles and their tombs at St. Denis. We visited the International Exposition at Ghent, the greatest exposition ever held in Europe. All kinds of manufacture were there, but the flying machines interested me most.
The weather was cool all through the trip of nine weeks, and we were surprised to read accounts of the warm weather in the United States. Edmund Hartley”
The Travellers
Edmund Hartley (1836-1915) Native of Flemingstown, Glenmore
Two years after his homecoming Edmund Hartley was tragically killed on his farm in New York State. The Syracuse Herald (New York) of the 14th of April 1915) published an article, “Aged Father of Prelate Killed by R., S.& E. Car,” detailing the tragic demise of Edmund as follows:
Fairport, April 14—Edmund Hartley was struck and instantly killed by a local car on the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Trolley road at Hartley’s private crossing a few feet north of Stop 15 shortly before 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The car was the local one here at 1:50 p.m. and was in charge of Motorman Frank Emmes of Syracuse. Mr. Hartley, who is 79 years old leaves three sons, the Rev. Monsignor J.J. Hartley, head of St. Bernard’s seminary; William who lives on the farm just south of Fairport, and Philip of this village; two daughters, Mrs. M Marvin of Adrian, Michigan and Margaret, who lives on the farm. To view Edmund’s grave marker see, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103632748/edmund-hartley .
Rev. Monsignor James J. Hartley (1860-1943)
James J. Hartley was ordained in 1885 by Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid the first Bishop of Rochester, New York. Bishop McQuaid sent the young priest to Europe, instructing him to visit the great university, reap the benefits of travel and increase his knowledge of the subjects he would teach. Much of his time abroad was spent in Louvain and Rome. In 1894, McQuaid founded St. Bernard’s Seminary and James J. Hartley was appointed Proctor. In 1907, Pope Pius X conferred a degree of Doctor of Divinity on James J. Hartley. (Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, New York, Sunday, 24 March 1907)
Although his father in his 1913 letter did not provide the name of the relative that found him a job within days of his arrival in the US, the Democrat & Chronicle 1907 article states that “Dr. Hartley is a cousin of Bishop James J. Hartley” (1858-1944) of Columbus, Ohio who was bishop of Columbus from 1904-1944.
The Right Reverend Monsignor James J. Hartley, D.D. prothonotary apostolic and rector-emeritus of St. Bernard’s Seminary died on 11 December 1943 at the age of 83. (The Ithaca Journal (New York) 13 Dec. 1943).
Rev. James E. Hartley (1852-1920)
James E. Hartley was born the 14th of October 1852 in Fairport, Monroe County, New York the son of Philip Hartley (c. 1828-1889) a native of Flemingstown, Glenmore. James E. Hartley was ordained a priest the 21st of December 1878. After ordination he severed as an administrator of St. Mary’s of Ithaca and Our Lady of Victory, Rochester. He was appointed rector of the parish of Palmyra in August 1893 where he remained until he suffered a stroke on the 18th of March 1920 and died in the rectory of St. Anne’s on the 29th. He was survived by two sisters: Mrs. Hanna Curran and Mrs. Mary A. Coffey.
The Cousin—Bishop James J. Hartley (1858-1944)
Bishop James J. Hartley of Columbus, Ohio (June 26, 1858 – January 12, 1944) fourth bishop of Columbus served from his consecration in 1904 until his death in 1944. According to the Diocese of Columbus website Bishop Hartley was born at Davenport, Iowa the eldest child of Edward Hartley and Catherine McManus. His parents were married at St. Patrick’s in Columbus, Ohio in 1858, moved to Davenport and returned to Columbus. After his return to Columbus, Ohio, Edward Hartley (1828-1910) kept a saloon on West Maple St. and the family lived upstairs. He was also a Columbus policeman for several years. See, http://www.colsdioc.org/AboutUs/TheBishopsofColumbus/tabid/276/Default.aspx .
Bishop Hartley’s father, Edward (1828-1910), according to the 1900 census came to the US in 1838. It is believed that Edward Hartley was a native of Weatherstown, Glenmore. It was reported in the 1900 census that he was born in Ireland in March 1828. Because of his son’s position in the church, Edward’s death in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio was widely reported in newspapers in November 1910.
Special thanks to Jane Marvin Dempsey for graciously allowing us to use her photo of her great-grandfather Edmund Hartley (1836-1915) which is the featured photo above.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Accused Fenian: Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore
Over a month ago one of our readers in Indiana queried if there were many Glenmore Fenians who were forced to flee Ireland for their activities. Danny Dowling related that he was only aware of one person from Glenmore identified as a fenian, John Fitzgerald of Knockbrack, Glenmore. Danny on the first of June 1973 interviewed Mick Gaule, of Killaspy, Slieverue who told Danny that a man known as Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore, was a member of the Fenian Movement in 1867. For his association with this organisation he had to flee the country and never returned. Master John Fitzgerald had the place where Paul Fitzgerald lived in 1974. Master John Fitzgerald was a cousin of old Micil Fitzgerald who lived where the late John Fitzgerald of the interviewer’s time lived.
The Fenians
The term fenian or feniasm was “… used indiscriminately to refer to the upsurge of popular ‘nationalist’ expectation among Irish Catholics…” (Comerford, R.V., The Fenians in Context: Irish Politics and Society 1848–82 (Kindle Locations 2970-2973). R.V. Comerford. Kindle Edition.) The Fenians of the 1860’s were inspired by the Young Irelanders and rebellion of 1848. The two most prominent Fenian organisations were established by two of the Young Irelanders involved in the rebellion of 1848. Both fled Ireland and sought safety in France. John O’Mahony (1815-1877) and James Stephens (1825-1901) would work together and separately to form oranisations that would actively promote Irish independence.
NYCity Library
John O’Mahony (1815-1877) was a native of Cork and was the founder of the Fenian Brotherhood in America. O’Mahony left France and settled in the US in 1853. He named his group after the Fianna the legendary warriors of Ancient Ireland. James Stephens (1825-1901) was a native of Kilkenny City. It has been noted that his early political influence was Dr. Robert Cane (1807-1858), a former Mayor of Kilkenny, a physician, a moderate Young Irelander who was jailed for several months in 1848 without charges ever having been made against him. From a Glenmore link perspective, Dr. Robert Cane was the father of the Kilmakevogue Dispensary doctor appointed in 1867, James Butler Norris Cane (c. 1804-1906) https://glenmore-history.com/dr-james-butler-norris-cane-c-1840-1906/.
Stephens remained in France until 1856 when he returned to Ireland and began what he described as a three thousand mile walk around Ireland to meet former Young Irelanders and other nationalists. In 1857 O’Mahony corresponded with Stephens who established on St. Patrick’s Day 1858 the secret Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland. Rivalry soon caused friction between the two groups as by 1865 the Fenian Brotherhood had became large and could afford to send arms to Ireland while the Irish Republican Brotherhood struggled. With the financial backing of the American Fenians Stephens published a newspaper called The Irish People commencing in 1863. This newspaper attracted a new generation of nationalists including Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, Charles Kickham, Thomas Clarke Luby and John O’Leary.
In the US the Fenian Brotherhood, although a secret society, had a public profile and for the most part engaged in fund raising and other activities without interference from the US government. While the American Civil War (1861-1865) raged Fenian rallies were held in several northern cities. The US Government’s ambivalence toward the American Fenians may have been due to the fact that the British, although professing to condemn slavery, had openly attempted to run the Union blockade of Confederate ports. In exchange for the slave produced cotton of the Confederacy the British sold munitions and other supplies to the South. Additionally, British controlled Canada became a haven for Confederate sympathisers and agents who attempted to burn New York City in November 1864. Some battle hardened Irish American Civil War Union Army veterans splintered from Stephens and led several unsuccessful invasions into Canada. The US Government did little to stop the veterans. The British newspapers in hysterical tones reported on Fenian conspiracies on both sides of the Atlantic.
An uprising was planned in Ireland for the summer of 1865. The plans were discovered and Irish Republican Brother members were arrested and sentenced to prison or transportation to penal colonies in Australia. Immediately, the Irish People newspaper was raided and Luby, one of the editors, and O’Donovan Rossa, the manager, were arrested. O’Donovan Rossa was convicted and sentenced to prison where he defied the prison authorities and was subject to abuse. Stephens was arrested and imprisoned but escaped and again fled to France. The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act was enacted on 17 February 1866 and allowed for the arrest and detention of citizens without trial.
Immediately a large number of persons were arrested and detained without charge or trial. Reports of the abuse of persons arrested and jailed for being involved in the Fenian conspiracy began to be raised in the House of Commons. For questions raised regarding Waterford prisoners see, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1866/mar/16/ireland-fenian-prisoners-at-waterford#S3V0182P0_18660316_HOC_40.
In searching for newspapers articles concerning the arrest of Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore a list of other County Kilkenny arrestees was compiled. It is not an exhaustive list.
(1) Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 10 March 1866: John Kavanagh, relieving officer of Kilkenny, Walkin St.; James Holland, a mason, upper Patrick St.; Wm. Dunphy, housepainter, Walkin St.
(2) Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 21 March 1866: John Lynch, of Callan; and Patrick Comerford, of Lady’s-well, near Danesfort; Thomas Phelan, Sergeant Tailor of the Kilkenny Fusilier Regiment of Militia, was liberated from custody as he was wrongly arrested for being Thomas Whelan, of Kilkenny.
(3) Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 30 March 1867: Richard Power and Patrick Murphy, living near Glenmore were arrested by Constable Powell, of Glenmore (who upon retirement became the first postmaster of Glenmore see, https://glenmore-history.com/the-glenmore-post-office-its-rise-and-demise/.)
(4) The Evening Freeman, Wed. 4 April 1866: Mr. Grace, of Thomastown, held in Mountjoy.
(5) Kilkenny Moderator, 1 August 1866: Edmond Coyne, of Callan (released & deported); James Cody, of Callan (released & deported); John Lynch, of Callan, released on surety; Michael Heffernan Dunne (still in prison).
(6) Kilkenny Moderator, 1 June 1866: Loche of Callan; and Downey, formerly of Goresbridge were still detained in Kilkenny gaol.
The Arrest of Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore
On Friday the 15th of March 1867 the Waterford Mail reported that Head Constable Brereton, with a party of nine policemen, arrested the previous week a respectable farmer, named John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, under his Excellency’s warrant. Mr. Fitzgerald was recently a member of the Waterford Board of Guardians, and at the same time filled the office of chairman of the Kilmackevogue Dispensary committee, and was a man of considerable means. The Kilkenny Journal & Leinster Commercial & Literary Advertiser (20 March 1867) reported that on Monday, Head Constable Breton and a body constabulary, of Rosbercon arrested Fitzgerald. The Waterford News and Star, of Friday the 22nd of March 1867 described Fitzgerald as an intelligent well-educated man “holding a large farm.”
In contrast the Kilkenny Moderator of Saturday the 30th of March 1867 reported that Constable Ward, of Kilmacow and Constable Powell, of Glenmore arrested Mr. John Fitzgerald, a comfortable farmer, living at Ballybrack (sic), near Glenmore and three labourers who worked for him. It was rumoured that Fitzgerald was charged with having acted as a Fenian paymaster. Upon his arrest he was sent to the Thomastown Bridewell “pending further orders from Dublin Castle.” The three labourers, were not named in the article and brought before a special sessions at Kilmacow. James Cody, a prisoner previously arrested was also brought to Kilmacow. While Cody was transferred to Waterford gaol the three farm labourers were released. On the 21st Fitzgerald was transferred from Thomastown to the Kilkenny gaol under a warrant from the Lord Lieutenant, under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act.
On Saturday the 1st of June 1867 it was reported by the Kilkenny Moderator that Fitzgerald was released from custody by his Excellency’s order after entering into recognizance and post £100 along with £50 each from two unnamed sureties. The terms of his release required him to the peace and orderly conduct for the next two years. It is not known whether Fitzgerald stayed in Knockbrack or went to America as reported by Mick Gaule in 1973.
Just before Fitzgerald was released a clemency meeting was held in Kilkenny City for the “unfortunate men” who were sentenced to death for high treason. The Mayor stated that no man should suffer death except for wilful murder. He hoped that the Queen would not blight her reign by the hanging, beheading and quartering of men “whose folly and whose crimes are traceable to the misgovernment of the country, and the persistent refusal of redress.” (Tablet, Sat. 11 May 1867)
By late July 1868 the last of those detained without trial under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act were released, but there were about 100 Fenian convicts (including twenty– four soldiers sentenced by military tribunals) in jails in Britain and in Western Australia. (Comerford, R.V., The Fenians in Context: Irish Politics and Society 1848–82 (Kindle Locations 3209-3211). R.V. Comerford. Kindle Edition.) O’Donovan Rossa was released and deported to the US in 1870.
The Fenian Photographs
British authorities began taking “mug shots” of convicts in the late 1850’s. After 1865 persons arrested as Fenians were photographed. Two large collections of Fenian photographs survive. The larger, of 600 photographs taken between 1867 and 1872, is held in the National Archives of Ireland. A ‘Form K’ is attached to most of these photographs, to provide a description of the prisoner. Information recorded includes the particulars for arrest or conviction, the detainee’s physical description, age, literacy, religion, marital status, occupation and place of birth and residence.
A second, smaller collection of Fenian photographs, ‘The convicted and untried political prisoners in Mountjoy’, compiled in 1866, is now held in the NYC Public Library digital collections on-line. This album contains 86 portraits (4in.x3in.), mounted four to a page. The photos of all the political prisoners are identified by name. Fiona Fitzsimmons has noted that, 31% of the Fenian prisoners are recorded as having served in the American Civil War. Despite the endorsement on the title-page, that the photos are of Mountjoy prisoners, Fiona Fitzsimmons has discovered that many of these prisoners were actually held in Kilmainham and elsewhere. See, Fitzsimmons, “Kindred Lines: Prison Photographs,” available at https://www.historyireland.com/volume-24/kindred-lines-prison-photographs/.
The two photograph albums held by the New York City Library originally belonged to Sir Thomas Aiskew Larcom (1801-1879), the permanent Under Secretary for Ireland from 1853 to 1869. Harriet Fyffe Richardson (b.1872), author of Pioneer Quakers (1940), provided the albums to Stanford University at an unknown date; the New York City Library acquired them in 1953.The contents of the two albums were digitalized and made accessible online in 2016. To view the collection Mountjoy “mugshots” of the Fenian political prisoners held by the New York City Library see, https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/search/index?utf8=%E2%9C%93&keywords=fenians.
Without being able to view the records held by the Irish Archives (closed again due to COVID 19) it is not known if this photo is Master John Fitzgerald, of Knockbrack, Glenmore. Given his dress, compared to the other Fenian political prisoners, it seems likely that this is the correct photo.
For a concise account of the importance of the Fenians in inspiring the 1916 Rising see, McNamara, Robert. (2020, August 26). The Fenian Movement and the Inspiring Irish Rebels. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/fenian-movement-4049929.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Michael Joseph Grant (1858-1920) High Constable of Waterford & His Glenmore Connections
Last month Danny Dowling was able to state where Michael Joseph Grant, the High Constable of Waterford was buried in St. James’ Cemetery, Glenmore. The location was near the Colford grave, but unfortunately no legible Grant stone is now in the cemetery for the High Constable. Danny noted that the Office of High Constable was of ancient origin and survived until the time of the Free State in 1922.
Office of High Constable
Although it might be assumed that the Office of High Constable is associated with policing the office was established long before any police forces were established. The Metropolitan Police Force, London was established in 1829 by the then home secretary Robert Peel, and the Royal Irish Constabulary was established in 1836. In contrast the High Office of Constable developed in England shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The High Office of Constable was important and ranked as the seventh great office of the Crown. The person holding the office held civil and criminal powers. In feudal times, the holder of the High Office of Constable was of military rank and became the highest judge in military offences and in questions of chivalry and honour. He was the supreme judge in tilts, tournaments and other military type games. After 1521, the title of High Office of Constable was not granted except for a special ceremony of state. In Ireland the Office of the Lord High Constable of Ireland was established after the Acts of Union in 1800 to be used during coronations of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The Irish office was abolished upon the creation of the Free State in 1922
In addition to the Office of the Lord High Constable, Irish cities or boroughs also had offices entitled High Constables. Michael Joseph Grant served as High Constable of Waterford from 1895 until shortly before his death in 1920. There is a fascinating article in the Waterford Standard of the 16th of November 1910 where Michael Grant explained his duties in a hearing concerning the city abattoir, housing, overcrowding and the lack of sanitation in Waterford City. According to the Waterford Treasures webpage from 1851 to 1901 the official residence of the High Constable of Waterford was Reginald’s Tower. The website incorrectly states that James O’Mahony was the “very last High Constable of the City and died in Reginald’s Tower in 1901. See, http://www.waterfordtreasures.com/reginalds-tower/whats-inside/the-entrance-doorway-prison-door-1819. In fact, James O’Mahony was the High Constable first elected in 1873 and held the post until his retirement in 1895 when Michael Joseph Grant was appointed. James O’Mahoney died in Reginald’s Tower in 1907 not in 1901. (Waterford Standard ,18 May 1907).
Glenmore Connections
On 20 July 2020 Danny Dowling recalled that Grant, the High Constable of Waterford, or his father was from Rochestown, Glenmore. After extensive research it has been verified that the father of the High Constable of Waterford was a native of Glenmore. The roots of the Grant family go back to before Glenmore became a parish when it was separated from Slieverue parish.
A review of the death records revealed that Michael Grant, the High Constable, died on 3 October 1920. He was married and 63 years of age when he died at his home 4 Newgate St., Waterford. His sister Mary Byrne was present at his death. He suffered from diabetes and a “carbuncle on hand that turned gangrene.” According to Waterford marriage records the High Constable was married on 7 January 1899 to Alice Devereaux, of Barker Street. Alice was the daughter of Patrick Devereaux, a farmer. No children appear to have been born to the High Constable and his wife. The High Constable’s obituary is found in the Munster Express, of Saturday the 9th of October 1920 and provides several interesting and often conflicting facts.
Death of Ex-High Constable, Michael Grant—The death took place on Sunday last at his residence Barker Street, of Mr Michael Grant, late Borough High Constable to the Corporation. For some time past deceased had been in failing health, and, though his death was not altogether unexpected, it nevertheless caused keen regret to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The late Mr. Grant was a familiar figure in the civic life of Waterford. He was for about 30 years in the service of the Corporation, first as Borough Constable and later as High Constable. Failing health induced him to retire from the latter office some months ago. He also held the office of food inspector under the Foods and Drugs Act, was inspector of markets, abattoirs and was the sanitary sub-officer. In his young days he followed the occupation of a sailmaker and kept a shop in Hanover Street. Of an unostentatious and unobtrusive disposition, he made many friends and was deservedly popular amongst all classes, He was over 6o years of age at the time of his death. The funeral took place on Tuesday to Glenmore and was attended by the members of the Waterford Corporation and officials, and a large number of the general public.
Luckily, the information regarding sail making greatly helped in locating information regarding the parents and siblings of the High Constable. The High Constable, Michael Joseph Grant was baptized in Waterford on the 18th of March 1858. He was the eldest child of Michael Grant (1823-1887) and Mary Anne Grant née Donovan (c. 1838-1899). Michael Joseph Grant had at least 7 siblings: Edward Grant (1863–? ); John Francis Grant (7 Mar. 1867- 1900); Joe Grant (c. 1878– ); James Francis Grant ( 18 Sept. 1868 –13 Nov. 1906); Patrick Laurence Grant (9 Aug. 1865–?); Sarah Grant (c. 1862– ); and Kate Grant who married Capt. Thomas Furniss.
The obituary for James Grant (brother of the High Constable) in 1906 provided the link to Rochestown. In addition to his siblings the chief mourners of the deceased included Thomas, James and John Walsh of Rochestown, as well as John and William Barry, of Carrigcloney, Matt and Andrew Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore (Munster Express 17 Nov. 1906).
In the 1901 Census for Rochestown, Glenmore the following Walsh family lived at Vereker’s Cross: Thomas Walsh, 54 farmer, Mary Walsh, 53; Bridget 27; James 24; Patrick, 23; Thomas, 26; Michael Walsh, 16; John Walsh, 15. A quick review of Glenmore marriage records revealed that Andrew Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore married Kate Power on 9 February 1875. John Barry on 3 November 1883 married Bridget Power, and Thomas Walsh, of Rochestown, married Mary Power. All three of the above Power women were the daughters of Thomas Power, of Kearneybay, Glenmore and their mother was Ellen Grant. Ellen Grant married Thomas Power (c. 1825-1880) on 3 February 1845 at Glenmore.
The father of the High Constable, was also named Michael Grant (1823-1887), and he was baptized in Glenmore on 10 August 1823. The grandfather of the High Constable, was also named Michael Grant. On the 30th of October 1809 at Glenmore he married Sally Murphy. The witnesses to the wedding were Walter Grant and Anastasia Hefernan (sic). The Slieverue/Glenmore Church records support the information that Danny recorded that the name Michael Grant is connected to Ballybrahee, Glenmore. It appears that the great-grandparents of the High Constable were Richard Grant and Mary Grant née Simpson, of Ballybrahee. Four known children were born to this union: Walter Grant (1785); Michael Grant (1780); Mary Grant (1776) and James Grant (1774).
The High Constables grandparents, Michael Grant and Sally Grant née Murphy of Glenmore had the following childrren: Bridget Grant (1809); Edward Grant (1814); Catherine Grant Colford (1815); Ellen Grant Power (1817); James Grant (1818); Michael Grant (1823)(father of the High Constable) and Patrick Grant (1826).
Thus the High Constable was a first cousin to Kate Power Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore; Bridget Power Barry, of Carrigcloney, Glenmore and Mary Power, Walsh, of Rochestown, Glenmore. He was also a first cousin to the Colford brothers who perished at sea in 1895 when their ship Zoe sank. See, https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-the-final-resting-place-of-capt-patrick-colford-1811-1887/ .
In researching this family some interesting newspaper articles were found concerning the High Constable’s parents, Michael Grant (1823-1887) and Mary Anne Grant née Donovan (c. 1838-1899). Michael Grant (1823-1887) was a sailmaker and had his business premises at 16 King Street (now O’Connell Street) Waterford. On the night of the 30th of March 1863, a fish business owned by James Kent caught fire and threatened to destroy Grant’s premises. The newspapers of the time are full of details concerning the want of water, the private fire tenders that responded from the brewery and other business, and the barracks of the military and Royal Irish Constabulary turning out to fight the fire. Grant made a claim to Kent’s fire insurance company and he was paid the full amount he sought (£16, 12 s, 8d) on 7 April 1863 a week after the fire (Waterford News & Star, 10 April 1863). Today, can you imagine any insurance company settling a claim in a week?
On the 12th of August 1870 the Waterford News & Star on page 2 carried the following notice
“I hereby caution all parties against giving credit to my wife, Mary Anne Grant, as I will not be accountable therefor. Michael Grant, 16 King Street.”
When I told Danny Dowling about this unusual notice he remarked, “That must have made for strained marital relations.”
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured engraving is “Magna Charter” (1833) (c) Trustees of the British Museum.
Glenmore: The Final Resting Place of Capt. Patrick Colford (1811-1887)
Colford is not a name usually associated with the Glenmore area, hence when we were recently transcribing headstones in the cemetery adjacent to St. James’ parish church in Glenmore an old stone with the name Colford stood out. In attempting to determine the Colford connection to Glenmore we came across a shipwreck, a sailmaker from Glenmore and the High Constable from Waterford City. The inscription on the Colford stone simply reads;
In memory of CapT P. Colford of Waterford Who Died Nov 11th 1881 And his deceased children Sarah who died young And his wife Catherine Who Died August 5th 1894 Aged 73 years Pray for the souls of the undernamed Michael & Patrick who drowned at sea 3rd October 1895 Aged 38 and 37 years
What connection this family had to Glenmore was not apparent, without the wife’s maiden name, and unfortunately Danny Dowling was unable to provide a Glenmore connection. The British Merchant Service records were able to provide some information concerning Captain Patrick Colford, of Waterford. Per his Masters’ Certificate of Service (No. 36.954) Patrick Colfer (sic) was born at Slade, Wexford on 1 January 1811. In January 1851 it was noted that he had been employed as a Seaman Master and Master for 25 years in the British Merchant Service in the coasting and foreign trade.
Attached to the certificate was a copy of Captain Colford’s service record. From 1826-1830 he served as a seaman on the Hibernia, of London which was engaged in foreign trade. From 1830-1835 he served as a Mate on the Three Sisters, of Waterford which was engaged in coasting. During the period of 1835 to 1841 he served as a Master on the Pilgrim, of Waterford which was engaged in coasting. From 1841 to 1850 he returned to serve on the Three Sisters, this time as the Master.
A couple of years after obtaining his Masters’ Certificate, Patrick Colfer (sic) married Catherine Grant on 5 April 1853 at the Cathedral, Waterford. Danny Dowling explained today that there were numerous families of Grant in several townlands in Glenmore. The Glenmore headstone provides the names of two children born to Captain Colford and his wife Catherine (Kate) Colford née Grant. Michael Colford was born in 1857 and Patrick Colford in 1858.
The death register for Patrick Colford, who died on 11 Nov. 1881, states that he was a carpenter rather than a master mariner and lived on Queen’s Terrace in Waterford City. He was married, aged 75 and his wife, Kate Colford was present at his death. Kate Colford, née Grant died on 5 August 1894, aged 73. Her niece Sarah Grant was present when she died.
After a newspaper article revealed a close relationship between Patrick Colford, Jr. and Michael Grant, the High Constable, of Waterford, Danny Dowling easily made the Glenmore connection. Danny explained that the High Constable of Waterford in the late 19th and early 20th Century was Michael Grant and he was buried in the right hand side of the Glenmore cemetery near the road wall. Unfortunately, the marker is now gone or the marker is perhaps the one next to the Colford stone and is not legible.
The High Constable, Michael Joseph Grant (1858-1920) was the son of Michael Grant (1823–1887) who was baptized in Glenmore on the 10th of August 1823. His parents were Michael Grant and Sally Murphy, and it appears that he was the youngest child in the family. Michael Grant (1823—1887) went to Waterford and became a sailmaker. His sister Catherine (Kate) Colford née Grant (1821- 1894) married Captain Patrick Colford (1811-1887). Given that the graves in the front of the churchyard are the oldest it is believed that the Colford grave was utilised by the Grant family long before Captain Colford’s death in 1887. In notebook 13 Danny recorded several townlands where Grants lived and Michael Grant is associated with Ballybrahee. The farm later went to the Henneberry’s. Today, at the mention of Michael Grant being a sailmaker on King Street in Waterford Danny thought that this Grant family may have originated in Rochestown.
The sons, Captain Patrick Colford (c. 1858-1895) and Michael Colford (c. 1857-1895)
A little over a year after their mother died Patrick and Michael Colford drowned when their ship the Zoe sank. The Munster Express on the 5th of October 1895 printed that it had received a telegram at 10 that morning from the editor of the Swansea Daily Post stating “Brigantine Zoe supposed wrecked off Mumbles with all hands. Lifebuoy picked up.” The Munster printed that the crew all “belonged to Waterford. The Skipper was Captain Colfer (sic), Thomas Terrace, and the mate was his brother. They are near relations of the (Waterford) City High Constable Mr. Grant.”
The Irish Independent on Saturday, the 5th of October 1895 reported that the Mumbles lifeboat went at 2 a.m. on the 4th after the brigantine Zoe, of Waterford, was driven on to Mizen sands during a strong gale from the north west. The first alarm was raised by the women of Mumbles Head who could hear the cries of the ship wrecked mariners. The lifeboat men, reached Mizen in time to see the schooner sink suddenly, stern first, and then break up. All of her crew were lost. The lifeboat crew picked up a board from among the wreckage, bearing the words “Zoe, Waterford.” A Waterford correspondent reported that the brigantine Zoe was on her way to Swansea from Liverpool with a cargo of pitch. The Zoe put into Waterford “on Monday week,” and sailed again on last Wednesday evening. In addition to the two Colford brothers the crew consisted of Michael Hanley and his son.
A week later the Munster Express (12 October 1895) published what it stated was the complete list of the crew of the brigantine Zoe: Master, Patrick Colfer (sic), Waterford; mate, Michael Colfer (sic), Waterford; AB, Martin Hanlon, Cheekpoint; boy, Michael Hanlon, Cheekpoint; AB, shipped in Liverpool, name unknown. “Mr Kirwan, Mall-lane, and several other Waterford people have been to, the scene of the wreck, but excepting a few things washed ashore, which were identified as being portion of the things in the Zoe, no bodies have yet been recovered, although a ceaseless watch is being maintained.”
Later, the Kerry Weekly Reporter (Sat. 19 Oct. 1895) noted that the body of a man of about fifty years of age and bearing the initials J.B. on his left arm was washed ashore at Portcawl. Although it was stated that authorities believed that it was one of the crew of the brigantine Zoe, of Waterford, no further articles could be located.
A review of the personal estates of Michael Colford (mariner) and Patrick Colford (master mariner), of Queen’s Terrace, reveals that the men had a sister, Catherine Furniss the wife of Captain Thomas Furniss, of 46 the Glen, Waterford. Michael Colford left an estate of £120.11.2 and Patrick left an estate of £79.5.2. Kate Colford had married Thomas Furniss of Henry St., Waterford on the 19th of July 1891. Kate was 28 and Thomas Furniss was 35 and working as a master mariner. It is believed that Catherine Furniss put the inscription on the Colford headstone in the Glenmore cemetery for her two brothers who were drowned when the Zoe sank in 1895.
The Brigantine Zoe: Sank Twice
In 1880 the Belfast Newsletter (Fri. 14 Nov. 1880) advertised that the Zoe would be sold at Carrickfergus by Public Auction. She was described as being 96 feet in length, 26 feet in breadth, with a depth of 9 feet. It was noted that she carried 245 tons d.w. on 10 ½ feet of water. It is noted in the advertisement that the Zoe sank in Belfast lough on the 17th of March 1879 and was raised and placed in dry dock. She was to be sold in her damaged condition, together with all Masts, Spars, Rigging, Sails, Anchors and Chains etc. The advertisement concludes that “the Zoe was built at New Brunswick, in 1868, in a very strong and substantial manner, and she is copper fastened in the bottom. She is an admirable and profitable coaster, carries a large cargo on a light draught, sails fast, and crosses Channel without ballast.”
Eight years later the Munster Express (Sat. 15 Dec. 1888) published an article stating that a new coal vessel, the “handsome brigantine, the Zoe,” was towed up the river with a cargo of 294 tons of coal. “The Zoe has been purchased by Captain Colford, and others, and is intended for the Waterford trade, principally in coal…In 1882 she was completely remodelled at Fleetwood, and is now one of the fastest sailing and thoroughly-equipped coasting vessels afloat.” Unfortunately, after only 7 years engaging in the Waterford trade under Captain Patrick Colford (c. 1858-1895) she sank for the second time, taking the entire crew down with her.
Blog update—A link has been added to the Irish page of a transcript of a recording made of the last Glenmore native Irish speaker, Patrick Power (c. 1853-1945), of Jamestown, Glenmore. This was part of the work undertaken by the Folklore Commission in the 1930’s. The original is held at UCD.
Special thanks to Louise Walsh for the photos of St. James (taken 2019) and the Colford Stone (taken 2020).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore 1916: Stolen Butter, a Mysterious Death, a local WWI Pilot and the Wrong Man Summoned to Court
Recently a reader sent a link to a file in the National Archives concerning a claim made by the Glenmore Co-operative to the military and then to the Property Losses (Ireland) Committee 1916. This Committee operated for ten months processing claims for property losses incurred due to the 1916 Rising. In a nutshell 9 boxes of Glenmore Co-op butter were stolen from the Amien St. railway station [Connolly Station] in Dublin on or about the 24th of April 1916. In attempting to locate newspaper articles concerning the stolen butter we came across a number of newspaper articles concerning Glenmore events and people in turbulent 1916.
Stolen Glenmore Butter
On 22 April 1916, 16 boxes of Glenmore Co-op butter were handed to the Dublin and SE Railway at Aylwardstown, Glenmore. The following day the consigned butter arrived at the Amien St. Station, Dublin. It was Easter and the butter could not be transferred to the Great Northern Railway that day. On Easter Monday (24 April 1916) the British Military ordered the Railway Company’s staff to leave and the military took possession of the station. When the staff left the full consignment of butter was there, but when the staff returned 9 boxes of butter were missing. The railway informed Glenmore Co-op that the military commandeered the butter.
On 28 July 1916 Glenmore Co-op’s solicitor, P.A. Murphy, of O’Connell St., Waterford wrote to the Major General, of the Irish Command, outlined the above facts, and demanded £35.2.0 to cover the loss of the 9 boxes of butter. The military refused to accept any responsibility in the matter and referred the claim to the Property Losses (Ireland) Committee 1916. James O’Donovan, the Glenmore Creamery manager, duly filed a claim on 14 August. He stated in the claim that 9 boxes of butter consigned to C. Coats, upper Arthur St., Belfast were part of a consignment of 16 boxes and were damaged by the military authorities whilst in possession of the Amien St. Station, Dublin. In November 1916 the Property Losses Committee recommended that the claim of £35.2.0 should be paid to the Glenmore Co-op Creamery for the “looting” of the boxes of butter by “insurgents.”
This link will take you to the Property Losses (Ireland) Committee 1916 file held by the National Archives concerning the Glenmore butter claim. http://centenaries.nationalarchives.ie/centenaries/plic/results.jsp?surname=&location=&title=&business_name=Glenmore%20Cooperative%20Dairy%20Society%20Limited&search=Search
The Mystery Surrounding the Death of Peter Forristal, the Mill, Graiguenakill (1889-1916)
In the New Ross Standard on Friday, the 19th of May 1916, on page 6, an article details the annual meeting of the Glenmore Co-operative Creamery where the accounts for 1915 were approved. Items discussed during the meeting included the recent purchase of a cattle weigh bridge and shedding for storage at the Creamery as well as the heightened shipping costs. The increased shipping costs were due to the enormous loss of ships as a result of the German submarine policy. Nothing concerning the Glenmore butter loss in April 1916 was mentioned.
In the column to the left of the Glenmore Creamery Report is the following little statement placed within farming advertisements. “Returned Home—Some young men from the district who were at business in Dublin have returned home during the week for a rest after the recent disturbances in the capital,” (New Ross Standard, Friday 19 May 1916, p. 6).
Just below the Glenmore Creamery article is the following article regarding Peter Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill.
“NEW ROSS MAN MISSING. SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED. The river at New Ross was dragged on Wednesday in search of the body of Peter Forrestal, believed to be drowned on the previous night. He was son of Mr. P. Forrestal, farmer, Ballyverneen, near Glenmore, and came up the river on a small boat on Tuesday with fish for New Ross. In the early part of the day it seems he took some drink and became noisy in the street. He was arrested and was detained in the police barracks until about five o’clock in the evening. After being let out he was seen down round the quay, and at about 9:30 that night some men at the Grand Canal steps heard a noise in the water, followed by what appeared to be a groan. Captain Ryder and others made an exhaustive search, but no trace, of the body was found up to Wednesday afternoon. During Wednesday a further search was made. It is surmised he went aboard the vessel “Tom Raner,” and on trying to reach his boat fell into the water one of his brothers was drowned some years ago off a boat coming up the river. The sincerest sympathy is felt with his parents and family” (New Ross Standard, Friday 19 May 1916, p. 6).
The following week the New Ross Standard reported that the body was recovered and corrected a lot of the information it incorrectly reported on the 19th.
“NEW ROSS DROWNING CASE. The body of the young man Peter Forrestal, of Graiguenakill, who drowned at New Ross in the early part of last week, was found at Garranbehy sometime on Monday morning by Patk. Fitzgerald, High-street, and John Doyle, Irishtown, fishermen. Sergeant Byrne, Rosbercon, communicated with the Coroner for South Kilkenny, but he happened to be away, from home, and Messrs. H.R. Hamilton, J.P., and A. J. Doyle, J.P., acted in his absence, and after hearing the particulars decided that an arrest was not necessary. It is surmised that the deceased lost his life whilst endeavouring to get into his boat from a coal vessel anchored in the harbour at 9 of 9:30 o’clock in the night. It is stated that on that evening he had his tea at Rosbercon. It appears he had not been at home for the past three months, and came to New Ross on that morning on a small boat. The sincerest sympathy is felt with his parents and family” (New Ross Standard, Friday 26 May 1916).
Peter Forristal was born on 27 March 1889 and was the son of Patrick Forristal and Margaret Forristal née Cardiff. He was a brother of William Forristal who was one of the Glenmore men who drowned in 1899. See, https://glenmore-history.com/a-double-drowning-at-rochestown-point-in-1899/ . No inquest was held and no death cert was filed for Peter Forristal in 1916. No further information was provided concerning where Peter Forristal had been in the three months prior to his death or concerning the short statement on the same page of the newspaper that young men from the district who were at business in Dublin returned home (during the week of the drowning) for a rest after the recent disturbances in the capital. No clarity is provided regarding how or why Peter Forristal was identified as the person who went into the river at New Ross on the 16th of May. Apparently there were no eye witnesses. Witnesses heard sounds and somehow Peter Forristal was identified as a person who was supposed drowned. The newspapers of the time are full of lists of men who were detained and arrested across the country after the Rising, yet there is no information as to why Peter Forristal was released from custody hours before his death if he had been, in fact, arrested earlier in the day.
The articles reporting the drowning are not similar to other drownings reported in the newspaper in the early years of the 20th century. The Peter Forristal articles lack the details found in other drownings reported. For example, who identified the body as being Peter Forristal? Perhaps the readers were expected to read between the lines, or perhaps the restrictions on the newspapers after the Rising were such that newspapers could not query deaths of persons released from police custody who end up in a river.
Irish Independent, Thur. 7 Sept. 1916–SITUATIONS VACANT.
WANTED, Man to follow Threshing Engine, also Man to take charge of Threshing Mill, for season. Apply to Glenmore Co-operative Threshing Society, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, stating Wages and qualifications.
New Ross Standard, Fri. 11 Aug. 1916–A One Bicycle Crash
POLICEMAN INJURED Whilst Const. Collins, Glenmore, was cycling from Glenmore to Mullinavat last week his bicycle got caught in a rut in the road and he was pitched forward and rendered temporarily unconscious. He was attended by the priest and doctor and was taken to hospital.
Mistaken Identity
Danny Dowling has explained that due to the number of people in the parish with the same name nick names were bestowed and whole families often had surnames that were not their proper surname. For example, Jim Brien was actually Jim Fitzgerald. Danny’s notebooks are full of notations that “his real name” was … In Glenmore all Whelans are Phelans. The following case reported in the newspaper in 1916 involved John Whelan, of Mullinahone being summoned for something he did not do.
“CASE AT NEW ROSS When the name of John Whelan, Mullinahone, Glenmore, for being drunk and disorderly was called at the New Ross Petty Sessions, a young man came forward on the witness table, and said that he was not the man at all. He said he had been served with a summons for the offence. Sergeant O’Sullivan—This is not the man at all that was drunk and disorderly. The man gave his name as John Whelan, of Mullinahone. A Glenmore constable gave evidence, that be served the summons on John Whelan, the man who appeared in court. Mr. Whelan—I am not the man at all, and it has caused me great inconvenience to come here. District Inspector McLean—We must only withdraw the prosecution. Mr. Whelan said there was no other man of that name in Mullinahone, and Sergeant O’Sullivan said he would know the man that was drunk and disorderly if he saw him. Mr. Griffin, R.M. (to Mr. Whelan) It was very nice of you to come to the court to-day. You showed great respect for the court by coming. We will dismiss the case on the merits. It must be understood that we are not blaming the police at all. They were led into this error by another person. They issued the summons on the name that was given to them.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1916)
Glenmore WWI Pilot: Lt. Michael Keegan
In our post on 15 February 2020 we highlighted Mick Keegan, who ranaway as a teenager to join the army, became a WWI Veteran and Ross Publican. The post was based on the 1980 interview Danny Dowling recorded of Dan Doyle concerning his time on the railway. Dan Doyle related the story of Mick Keegan who was the son of the Aylwardstown, Glenmore stationmaster. In 1916 three articles concerning Mick Keegan were found in the New Ross Standard. Here is the link to the 15 February 2020 post HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANNY! (containing Mick Keegan, from Runaway to WWI Veteran and Ross Publican.)
The first of the articles was published on 12 May 1916. Michael Keegan, the son of Mr. Keegan, stationmaster, Glenmore received a commission as lieutenant. It reported “he has been a member of the Flying Corps, and has been several times mentioned in despatches for his bravery and efficiency.” The second article appeared on 6 October 1916 and announced his forthcoming marriage to Miss Brigid Doran, the Quay, New Ross. Although it was a personal announcement the majority of the article centred on his military exploits. “Lieutenant Keegan who is a member of the Royal Flying Corps, was favourably mentioned in despatches and warmly complimented by General French, for his pluck and bravery during his flying expeditions in connection with the war, and was awarded the Military Cross. He also won several cups as a crack shot in the army.” The last article was published on 15 December 1916 and stated that his marriage had taken place that week.
Special thanks to Veronica for sharing the link to the National Archive file concerning the 1916 claim for 9 boxes of Glenmore butter.
Special thanks to Jacqueline Walsh for the old photo of the Waterford Creamery c. 1922.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh