[Updated] From Glenmore to Clerk of the Carrick-on-Suir Union

Today, we are going to highlight James Mullins (1841-1912) a native of Flemingstown, Glenmore, who for over four decades held the post of Clerk of the Carrick-on-Suir Union. James Mullins was the eldest of fourteen children of Patrick Mullins (c. 1817-1884) of Flemingstown, Glenmore and his wife Julia Mullins née Brenan (c. 1812-1891).

Clerk of the Union

In 1834 the Poor Law came into effect. Civil parishes were grouped together to form Unions. The Catholic parish of Glenmore is made up of multiple civil parishes and because it lies between two urban centres was split. The western portion of the Catholic parish of Glenmore was in the Waterford Union and a small portion of the eastern part belonged in the New Ross union. Each union had to provide a workhouse for the housing and relief of the poor and provided medical care. Each Union was operated by the Board of Guardians. The Poor Law Guardians (PLG) were elected. The clerk of a Poor Law Union was a civil servant responsible for organising meetings and taking minutes of the Board of Guardians, organising the elections and submitting reports to the national officials. From 1871-1919 the national officials were the Local Government Board.

The obituary for James Mullin published in 1912 is very long even for that period of time. Interestingly it reflects that the deceased was still working after the age of 70. It also provides a lot of detail concerning how the funeral proceeded etc., but the obituary fails to mention that the deceased never married. His numerous sisters are mentioned, but no first names were provided for his sisters. According to the death register James Mullins died on the 10^th of June 1912, at his home on Castle St., Carrick-in-Suir, County Tipperary of “acute nephrites uremia.” Margaret Walsh was present at his death. What her relationship was to James Mullins is not recorded. However, the 1911 Census identifies three women in James Mullin’s home. His sister Johanna, aged 53, is listed as a housekeeper as is Margaret Walsh who is aged 46. Another servant Johanna Flynn is 24 years of age. All four inhabitants are single and it is recorded that they were all natives of Kilkenny.

Excerpts from the Obituary of James Mullins (1841-1912)

Munster Express (Fri. 15 June 1912, p. 5) Death of a Well Known and Popular Poor Law Official–It is with deep regret we have to announce the death of Mr. James Mullins, the well-known, efficient and popular Clerk of Carrick-on-Suir Union. The sad event took place rather unexpectedly on Monday morning last at deceased’s late residence, Castle street, Carrick-on-Suir. Deceased had been forty-three years Clerk of Carrick Union. His conspicuous ability and integrity and firmness as an official during all these years won for him the esteem and admiration and confidence of the various Boards with which his important position brought him in contact. Prior to coming to Carrick-on-Suir he served for a short time as Clerk of Thomastown Union. The late Mr. Mullins was born at Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, a few miles from Waterford City, a little over 70 years ago. He belonged to an old well-known and highly respected family, which is most respectably connected in the Counties of Kilkenny and Waterford. Deceased had been engaged at his post as Clerk of Carrick Union with his wonted devotion to duty up to Saturday week, on which day at the Guardians’ meeting he was granted a fortnight’s leave of absence. When applying for the leave he mentioned that he had been suffering for some days previously from a cold. The Guardians then present at the meeting little thought that it was to be the last which their late Clerk, who had served them with such devotion for nearly half a century, would ever attend. The Guardians and ratepayers of Carrick Union have lost in the late Mr. Mullins a most conscientious and able official, whose sole ambition in life was to serve them faithfully. Much sympathy is felt, for the relatives of the deceased in their bereavement.

The remains were conveyed on Wednesday morning last from deceased’s late residence to St. Nicholas’s Catholic Church, Carrick-on-Suir, where a Requiem High Mass was celebrated for the repose of the soul of the deceased, in the presence of a large number of relatives and sympathisers. The celebrant of the Mass was the Rev. M. Cheasty, C.C., Carrick-on-Suir assisted by two other priests. [The obit then lists 14 other priests making up the choir…The-coffin was borne to the hearse from the church by six of the senior members of the Carrick-on-Suir Board of Guardians.]

The chief mourners were:—Mrs. Garvey, Waterford; Mrs. Stapleton, Glenmore; Mrs. Hassett, Glenstown; Mrs. Duggan, Clonassy; Miss Mullins, Whitestown; Miss Mullins, Flemingstown, sisters.; Messrs. Felix Mullins, Flemingstown; Walter Mullins, Whitestown; John Mullins, London, brothers; Messrs. N. Garvey, John and Pat Hassett. P. Mullins, nephews; the Misses E. and M. Terry and Miss Fox, nieces; Messrs. Thos. Terry, Rathgormac; Michael Hassett. Glenstown; Michael Stapleton, Glenmore; J. Fox, Carrick-on-Suir, brothers-in-law.

Amongst those who sent wreaths were: Mrs. Garvey, Mrs. Stapleton, Mr. and Mrs. Fox, Dr. J. Dwan, N. Garvey and Paddy, Aggie, Julia, and Willy; Sisters of Mercy, Carrick-on-Suir: Mrs. Hassett, Messrs. W. J. and T. Mullins, the Misses E. und M. Terry; Mr. and Mrs. Vickery. Provincial Bank, Carrick-on-Suir; etc.

The funeral started from Carrick for Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, at 12.30. It was the largest and most Representative seen in the district for many years past. All the members of the Carrick-on-Suir Board of Guardians and District Council and the intern and extern officials of Carrick Union walked in the cortege. There were also present all the professional and principal merchants of Carrick, and a very large number from the Co. Waterford and from South Tipperary and South Kilkenny. On the way to Glenmore large numbers joined the cortege at Piltown, Fiddown, Mooncoin and Waterford. Mr. James Hurley, Main Street, Carrick-on-Suir, had charge of the funeral arrangements.

As the cortege passed through Waterford it was joined by the following, amongst many others whose names we were unable to ascertain:—Dr. J. H. J. Jackman; John Mackey, Clerk of the Waterford Union; Mr. David Hyland, Chairman Waterford Board of Guardians, and Mrs. Hyland; Edward Walsh, T.C., Editor “Munster Express;” Patrick Grant, J.P., Slieverue, Chairman, No. 2 District Council; the employees at Garveys, Johnstown; John Kavanagh. John Walsh, and J. and K. Walsh, George’s Street, City; Felix Walsh, Thomastown; Walter Dower, Thomas Casey, Maurice Power. DC. Moonamintra: Patrick Kennedy. Assistant Clerk. Waterford Union: Robert Moloney, do.; J. Cosgrave, Master of the Union; M. Dunphy, Assistant Master: P. Walsh and William Healy, R.O.’s; M. Walsh, Master. Carrick Union; Thomas H. Doolan, Waterford: Michael Curran, D.C., Ballincrea; Richard Mullins, Gaulstown; John Irish, Ballinlammy; Matthew O’Keeffe, John Vereker. D.C; Lloyd Hutchinson, Jas. Kirwan, Gaulestown; Tobias Vereker. Ed. Vereker, Mr. Kennedy, Raheenara: Mr. Rrowne (of Messrs. Flynn and Young; J. Mullins, E. and M. Terry, Carrick; Michael Brennan, Walter Bishop. W. Aylward, John Hartley, Slieverue: Andrew Irish, Rathpatrick; Mrs. and Miss Keating and Miss Grant, Rathpatrick: Richard A. Dee, Frank Ryan, Ringville: John O’Neill, D.C. Ullid; James Farrell D.C.; John Hynes, Milepost; P. McDonnell, Ballintlea; T. Morrissey, Carrick-on-Suir; Michael Maher. D.C.; Dr. M. P. Coghlan, and many others who joined the funeral between Waterford and the family burial ground at Glenmore. We tender our sincere sympathy to the bereaved relatives of the deceased, whom we had the pleasure of knowing for a long number of years in his official capacity.—R.l.P. (Munster Express, Sat. 15 June 1912, p. 5).

            The Leinster Reporter (Sat. 26 Oct. 1912, p. 3) reported that James Mullins left a personal estate valued at £8,112. He left £100 for the celebration of Masses; £200 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the poor of Carrick-on-Suir, and the residue he left among members of his family.  According to the Calendar Wills & Administrations (1858-1922) on the 26^th of July 1912 at Waterford the Will was probated and “granted to Julia Garvey, Widow; Walter Mullins and Thomas Terry, Farmers. Effects £3,112 18s. 7d.”

The Family of James Mullins (1841-1912)

Luckily details concerning the ancestors of James Mullins were recorded by Danny Dowling in 1971 when he interviewed Mary Stapleton of Slieverue. Mary Stapleton was a niece of James. Further details were obtained from Mullins headstones in the Glenmore cemetery, parish records and the death register. As was common in the 19^th century when a daughter named Mary died a later child born to the couple was also named Mary. As is often the case the given names of some of the children was not the name that the child used during his or her lifetime.

Partial Inscription from the headstone at Glenmore [dates need to be verified]

Erected by Patrick Mullins of Flemingstown
In memory of his mother Margaret Mullins alias Croak
Who Died SepT 1st 1827 Aged 71 years
James his son who Died Nov 1st 1883 Aged 16 yrs
Keyran his son who Died Dec 15th 1835 Aged 22 years
And James his brother who Died April 27th 1886 Aged 34 years
Above named Patrick Mullins
Died in the year 1848 Aged 59 years
And his wife Margaret Mullins nee Howley
Died in Sept 1863 Aged 87 years

Great-Grandparents—Keiran Mullins, of Flemingstown, Glenmore married Margaret Croak (c. 1756?-1827) of Tullogher. Margaret Mullins née Croak died 1 Sept. 1827 at age 71.

Grandparents—Patrick Mullins (c. 1784-1848) of Flemingstown, Glenmore married Margaret Howley (c. 1776?-1863) of  Ballytarsney, Mooncoin. [Editor’s note–Patty Brown & Ann Fitzgerald located the baptismal record for Patrick Mullins, of Flemingtown, baptized on 30 January 1784, son of Kyran Mullins & Margaret Croake. The parents of Patrick (1784-1848) have been corrected above. Updated 30 Jan. 2021]

Parents—Patrick Mullins (c. 1817-1884) of Flemingstown, Glenmore married Julia Brenan (c. 1812-1891) of Ashgrove, Mooncoin on the 2^nd of March 1840 at Mooncoin.

There are 14 known children of Patrick Mullins and Julia Mullins née Brennan and include:

• [1] James Mullins (bapt. 30 July 1841-10 June 1912) Clerk of the Carrick-on-Suir Union
• [2] Mary Mullins (bapt. 31 Dec. 1842-1863) Never married.
• [3] Patrick Mullins (bapt. 17 June 1844-1852) Never married.
• [4] Felix Mullins (bapt. 11 April 1846- 24 Jan. 1919) Farmer in Flemingstown, Glenmore, never married.
• [5] Margaret Mullins (bapt. 15 Dec. 1847- 3 Aug. 1923) Margaret Mullins married Thomas Terry (farmer) of Rathgormac Castle, Co. Waterford.
• [6] Catherine Mullins (bapt. 23 June 1849–  ) Catherine Mullins married Patrick Duggan (farmer) of Clonassy, Mullinavat on the 9th of March 1886.
• [7] Alicia Mullins (bapt. 2 March 1851-    ) Alice Mullins married Michael Hassett (c. 1854) (farmer) of Clenstown on 4 March 1889 at Glenmore. The bride gave her age as 30 when she was actually 38.
• [8] Kieran Mullins (bapt. 26 Dec. 1852–22 April 1912). Kieran Mullins (farmer) of Whitestown married Johanna Phelan, of Carbally, Tramore, Co. Waterford. They had at least one son.

• [9] Judith Mullins (bapt. 17 May 1854– ) Could this be Johanna Mullins who died on 19 September 1917, aged 62 and is buried with her brother Felix in Glenmore?
• [10] John Mullins, (bapt. 19 April 1856-Nov. 1942) Customs & Excise Officer—never married.
• [11] Walter Mullins (4 Dec. 1859-8 April 1921) Farmer at Whitestown, never married.
• [12] Elizabeth Mullins (16 Sept. 1861-
• [13] Mary Mullins (17 May 1865-16 March 1946). Married Michael Stapleton, a sergeant in the R.I.C. on 26 Nov. 1903.
• [14] Ellen Mullins (4 March 1867-    ) 

From the various obituaries we know that one of the girls, who went by the name Julia, married an N. Garvey, and another seems to have married a man named Power. Unfortunately we could not locate the correct marriage records.

[Per P. Walsh after Felix Mullins died this Mullin’s farm in Flemingstown was sold.]

The featured photo above is from an old postcard depicting the bridge at Carrick-on-Suir. Both Mullins headstones are located in St. James Cemetery, Glenmore.

Readers are encouraged to send further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

[Updated & corrections on 30 January 2021]

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh