Maurice Hennebry (1859-1917) Native of Rochestown, Glenmore—Killed on the S.S. Formby
The National Archives has the Irish Merchant Navy Crew Lists 1857-1922, and it is available on line. The list has the names of two sailors who listed Glenmore as their place of birth. Previously we examined James O’Neill (1857-1933) in our post of 2 November 2025.
Today, we are going to highlight Maurice Hennebery/Henebry/Heneberry who provided to the authorities that he was born in Glenmore in 1859 or 1860 depending on the crew lists. We shall utilize the various spellings below, but because the family headstone spelled the name Hennebry that is what we consider the correct family spelling.
While researching this Glenmore native we found that not only was his surname spelled in official documents in a number of ways, but the man held a number of different jobs. Before joining the merchant navy we learned that Maurice Hennebry enlisted as a soldier in the British Army. During his enlistment in 1888 he served in the Second Afghan War. Before going to sea he was also a rural post man. However, Maurice Hennebry is perhaps best remembered for perishing with his son Walter when their ship, the S.S. Formby, was sank by a U Boat in the Irish sea in December 1917.
Native of Rochestown, Glenmore
Just like James O’Neill, Maurice Hennebry was born in Rochestown, Glenmore. Maurice Henebery was born 17 December 1859 in Rochestown, Glenmore to Patrick Henebery (c. 1821-1892) and Ellen Denn. He was the third eldest child of the family.
His Parents
His parents Patrick Henebery (c. 1821-1892) and Ellen Denn (b.c. 1824) were married at Glenmore on 22 May 1855. We believe that Ellen was baptized at Glenmore on 22 August 1824, the daughter of Edmund Den (sic) and Ellen Aide. A Patrick Henebry was baptized at Busherstown, Glenmore on 17 September 1821 the son of Walter Henebry and Mary Crooks.
His Siblings
The following children of Patrick Henebery and his first wife Ellen Denn were identified:
[1] Mary Henebery was baptized 15 May 1856;
[2] Walter Henebery was born 26 July 1858;
[3] Maurice Henebery was born 17 December 1859;
[4] Patrick Henebery was born 21 November 1861;
[5] Alice Henebery was born 7 February 1864. The birth register records that her father Patrick was working as a fisherman when she was born.
Sometime before June 1873 Maurice’s mother died. His father, Patrick Henneberry (carpenter) of Rochestown, a widower, married Margaret Dowley (b.c. 1844) of Shambo on 16 June 1873 at Shambo. Patrick’s father was listed in the marriage register as Walter Henneberry (labourer)and the brides’ father was John Dowley (labourer). Patrick’s age was recorded as 42 and his second wife was 28.
His Half Siblings
Patrick Henebery (c. 1821-1892) had at least 5 children with his second wife.
[6] Catherine Heneberry was born at Rochestown on 1 August 1874. Her father Patrick was employed as a farm labourer. Her mother’s name is recorded as Margaret Doole
[7] Bridget Heneberry was born at Rochestown on 21 February 1876. Her mother is recorded as Margaret Dowley.
[8] Richard Heneberry was born at Rochestown on 21 October 1877. His mother was recorded as Margaret Dooley.
[9] Margaret Heneberry was born at Rochestown on 7 August 1879.
[10] Michael Henebary was born at Rochestown on 29 September 1882. His father’s recorded trade is carpenter.
Patrick Heneberry died on 14 July 1892 of chronic bronchitis that he suffered with for two years. His widow, Margaret Heneberry was with him at the time of his death at home in Rochestown. His age at death was said to be 62, but he was probably 71.
1901 & 1911 Census for Rochestown, Glenmore
In the 1901 Census Margaret Henneberry is a 54 year old widow living in Rochestown with two of her unmarried children. Bridget Henneberry is 24 and working as a general servant. Michael Henneberry is 18 and working as a navvy for the railway. It is assumed that Michael was employed in the building of the New Ross to Waterford line. By the 1911 Census Margaret Henneberry was recorded as 72 years of age and blind. Her son Michael was 28 and working as a fisherman. Her daughter Bridget was 30 and also residing with her.
The Enlistment of Maurice Henebry (1859-1917) of Rochestown, Glenmore
Maurice Heneberry joined the British Army on 6 July 1877. He was 18 years and 2 months old. He was a labourer and signed up for six years army service and six years reserve service. He joined at the Currah and was recruited for the 69th Brigade at Waterford on the 2nd day of July 1844 at 8:30 a,m, by Sergt, John McLoughlin.
Maurice was described as 5 ft 7 inches tall with a chest that measured 35 inches. He had grey eyes, sandy hair and a freckled complexion. He listed his father Patrick Heneberry of Glenmore, Kilkenny as his next of kin.
His army record reveals that Maurice served in the Afghan Campaign 1880 and was awarded a campaign service medal. Maurice was married to Bridget Hennebery, at Slieverue on 17 July 1885. His character was described as good when he was passed to the Reserve on 3 July 1889. (UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920 for Maurice Heneberry of the 69th Regimental Number 69b/1410 Enlistment year 1877.)
Marriage of Maurice Hennebry of Rochestown, Glenmore
On 17 February 1885 Maurice Henneberry (labourer) married Bridget Henneberry (1857-1921) of Ballyrowan, Slieverue. The groom’s father was Patrick Henneberry (carpenter) and the bride’s father was Edward Henneberry (labourer). The witnesses were John O’Neill and Johanna O’Neill. Without addresses for the witnesses it is not clear, but John O’Neill (the brother of ferryman James O’Neill (1857-1933)) was born the same year as Maurice in Rochestown.
The bride was baptized on 13 August 1857 at Ballyrarough (sic), Slieverue. She was the daughter of Edmond Heneberry and his wife Bridget Walsh.
Known Children of Maurice Hennebry (1859-1913) of Rochestown, Glenmore
[1] Patrick Henneberry (1886-c. 1886) was born 21 January 1886 at Ballyrough, Slieverue. His father Maurice was employed as a postal letter carrier.
[2] Patrick Edward? Heneberry (1887-1919?) was born on 19 April 1887 at Ballyrowrah, Slieverue. His father was employed as a “rural postman.” Per the family headstone Edward died in the US in 1919.
[3] Walter Heneberry (1889-1917) was born 7 April 1889 at Ballyrourah, Slieverue.
[4] Ellen Heneberry (1893-1968) was born on 1 October 1893 at Kilmurry, Slieverue. Her father, Maurice worked as a farm labourer when Ellen was born. In the 1911 Census Ellen was working as a barmaid at Stepleton’s put in Slieverue although she was only 17. Ellen Henebery (1893-1968) married Thomas Larrissey (1891-1971). They had a son William Laracy (sic) (1923-2011).
[5] Bridget Heneberry was born on 27 July 1895 at Kilmurry, Slieverue. Her father Maurice was working as a farm labourer.
[6] Margaret Henneberry was born on 22 July 1897 at Kilmurry, Slieverue. Her father Maurice was listed as a labourer.
[7] Maurice Henneberry (Jr.) (1901-1983) was born on 17 February 1901 at Kilmurry, Slieverue. His father was recorded as a labourer.
Merchant Navy
The earliest record found regarding Maurice Hennebry’s merchant navy service is dated 1891. In total Maurice Henneberry (sic) was found on nine Ireland, Merchant Navy Crew Lists, spanning 1891 to 1911.
1901 Census of Kilmurry, Rathpatrick, Slieverue
Maurice Heneberry was 40 years of age and his wife Bridget was 41. Maurice was working as a labourer. Six of the children are present in the household. and all but the baby Maurice are attending school. In addition to the family there are six boarders. Four of the boarders appear to be brothers: Edward Phelan (25); James Phelan (23); John Phelan (21) and Patrick Phelan (18). There is also a Cornelis Murphy (29) and Michael Lonegan (50). All the boarders are recorded as labourers. The Phelans were all born in Waterford, Murphy was born in Cork and Lonergan in Tipperary. Given that this was when the rail line between New Ross and Waterford was being built it is likely all these men were working on that project.
Although there were 14 people residing in the three-room house, the Census states that there were only 13 inhabitants. Mary Kelly was Maurice Henebry’s landlord.
1911 Census of Kilmurry, Rathpatrick, Slieverue
Maurice is not found in the 1911 Census. He was probably at sea when the Census was taken. His wife, Bridget Henebery was 51 and living with four of their children in Kilmurry, Slieverue. She reported that she and Maurice had been married for 26 years. Seven children were born to the marriage and six were alive in 1911.The house in 1911 was owned by the Henebry’s. The following four children were residing at home:
Edward Henebery (24) worked as a coal hauler. We believe that this was Patrick no. 2 in the birth records who was born in 1887. On the family headstone Edward is listed as dying in the US in 1910. However, some of the dates of death on the head stone are not correct.
Walter Henebery (22) worked as a gardener.
Margaret Henneberry was an 11 year-old scholar and
Maurice Heneberry was a 10 year-old scholar.
Death on the S.S. Formby
The Clyde Shipping Company came to Waterford in the 1850’s and by the start of WWI it was operating a regular service between Waterford and Liverpool. The Clyde Shipping Company lost 20 ships during WWI, four from their ocean fleet and six in the short sea service such as the Waterford to Liverpool route (Munster Express, Tues. 16 January 2018, p. 40). The journey between Liverpool and Waterford took 16 hours.
On 16 December or 17 December 1917 the S.S. Formby was torpedoed by a German U-Boat as she steamed toward Waterford. She carried 37 crew and 2 passengers. All were killed. Thus, Maurice Henebry who had survived 5 years in the British Army including service during the Second Afghan War was killed one day before his 58th birthday or on his 58th birthday. Unfortunately various sources give different dates for the sinking and contemporary newspapers did not print much at the time. It is assumed that this lack of newspaper coverage was because the war was ongoing.
The following day or the day after the sinking of the Formby, her sister ship the Coningbeg was also sank by the same U Boat as she too steamed toward Waterford. It was the largest seafaring tragedy to impact on Waterford in the 20th Century (Munster Express, Tues. 19 Dec. 2017, p. 30). There were 83 total deaths on the two Clyde Shipping steamers with 67 locals killed (Waterford News & Star, Tues. 24 Dec. 2024, p. 14).
Two of the 67 locals killed were Maurice Henebry and his son Walter Henebry. The Captain of the U Boat is said to have recorded regarding the sinking of the Formby “7:58 p.m. Hit in engine room. Vessel of unknown nationality. After clearance of smoke from the explosion (3-4 minutes), ship sinks with all hands…” (Waterford News & Star, Tues. 5 Dec. 2017, p. 30).
For further information on the Formby and Coningbeg see, The Waterford Shipping Disaster 1917, (Waterford City & County Council).
Death of the Widow Bridget Hennebry née Hennebry (1857-1921)
Tragically their son Edward (per the family headstone) died in the US in 1919. Then within four years of the deaths of Maurice and Walter, Bridget Hennebry née Hennebry (1857-1921) also died. Bridget Heneberry, of Kilmurry, died of cancer of the uterus at the Waterford Workhouse Hospital on 27 October 1921. She was 57 years of age, and her daughter Margaret Henneberry was present at her death. On the death cert Bridget was described as a widow “of a fishman” (sic).
The Hennebry family marker is in the Slieverue Cemetery. It provides:
“In loving memory of Brigid Hennebry, Kilmurry, Slieverue, who Died 20th Dec. 1921. Her husband Maurice Henebry and their son Walter Hennebry both lost at sea on SS Formby 17th December 1917. Their son Edward Hennebry died in America 6th January 1919. Their son Maurice died 1st March 1983…”
Memorials to the Formby & Coningbeg Victims
A memorial was erected on the Waterford Quay across from Reginald’s Tower in 1997. A Centenary Commemoration was held in 2017 with Bridget O’Rourke and Eileen Howley photographed who remembered “Foreman Maurice Hennebry” (Munster Express, Tues. 19 Dec. 2017, p. 30).
The Mercantile Marine Memorial of Tower Hill, London also lists Maurice and Walter as well as all the merchant seamen who were killed in the war.
Hennebry, Donkeyman. Maurice SS Formby (Glasgow). Presumed drowned 16th Dec. 1917. Age 52. Son of the late Patrick and Ellen Hennebry; husband of Bridget Hennebry, of Slieverue, Kilmurry, Co. Kilkenny. Born at Rochestown [Glenmore].
Hennebry, Fireman, Walter. SS Formby (Glasgow). Presumed drowned 16th December 1917. Age 28. Son of Bridget Hennebry, of Slieverue, Kilmurry, Co. Kilkenny, and the late Maurice Hennebry. Born at Rathpatrick [Slieverue].
According to A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921. (HMSO 1927) A donkeyman was in charge of a small auxiliary engine known as a donkey engine on board a ship. The donkey engine was used primarily when a ship was in port, for working winches and pumps etc. The duties of a donkeyman included filling the donkey engine boiler with water, by a hand pump, lighting a fire under it, and stoking the fire to maintain steam pressure. When the donkey engine was not in use (usually when main engines were in steam) the donkeyman greased and cleaned the donkey engine boiler, winches etc.
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Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.hitory@gmail.com. For more information regarding shipwrecks off the coast of Waterford during WWI see, Waterford Council Archives.
Special thanks to Andrew Doherty of Tides and Tales for sharing information and sending on information and links regarding the Formby. For further information on the Formby see Andrew’s blog post.
The featured photo of the Formby was published in the Munster Express on 16 January 2018, p. 40 and was sourced from Andrew Doherty of Tides and Tales.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh