Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
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From Danny’s Files: A 1924 Letter from a Glenmore Native Who Emigrated to New York
In Danny’s voluminous files, stuck between various political documents in an envelope with the name Dunphy on it, was a handwritten 3 page letter dated 23 October 1924. The letter was written four days after the author arrived in New York harbour. It was written in pencil on lined writing paper (9 inches/23 cm by 6 inches/15 cm). Although the writing has faded it is still legible. This 102-year-old letter is of immense importance because it gives a glimpse into emigration after the end of the Irish Civil War by a member of the Glenmore Co. of the old IRA. See our list of members of the Glenmore Co. of the old IRA which reflects that 15 of the 57 local men listed, or 26%, emigrated to the US after the Irish War of Independence.
The Author: William Purcell (1893-1944) of Weatherstown, Glenmore
The author of the letter was William Purcell (1893-1944) of Weatherstown, Glenmore. He was the son of Edmund Purcell (c. 1862-1924) and his wife, Mary Cashin (1866-1943). Edmund Purcell married Mary Cassion (sic) on 4 October 1887 at Glenmore. Mary Cashin (1866-1943) was a native of Weatherstown. Her father, Thomas Cashin was a shoemaker and her mother was Ellen Malone. Edmund/Edward Purcell and Mary Cashin had a large family. In the 1911 Census they reported that they had been married for 24 years and had 11 children but only 9 were living in 1911. Of the 9 children who reached adulthood, 8 of the children emigrated to New York (or 89% of the Purcell children.)
The known Purcell children include:
[1] Edmund/Edward Purcell (1887-1947) Emigrated to US. In 1930 working on the subway.
[2] Thomas Purcell (1889-1950) In the Civil Records his name was recorded as Mary. Emigrated to US in 1926 a few weeks after the Free State Census. In 1930 was working on the subway.
[3] Johanna Purcell (1891-1960) in 1912 married Patrick O’Rourke of Weatherstown and remained in Weatherstown.
[4] James Purcell (1893-1957) Emigrated to US in 1922.
[5] William Purcell (1893-1944) Emigrated to US. Never married. In 1930 working as labourer for a construction company.
[6] Ellen Purcell (1896-1942) Emigrated to US. Never Married.
[7] Richard Purcell (1898-1898) Died twelve days after birth.
[8] Mary Purcell (1899-1902) Died aged 2 ½
[9] John/Sean Purcell (1902-1975) Emigrated to US.
[10] Catherine/Katie Purcell (1904-1976) Emigrated to the US. Married another emigrant Heinrich Sellenies (1907-1970) a seaman. In his WWII draft registration Heinrich noted his wife Katherine worked at Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey at 30 Rockfeller Plaza NY.
[11] Patrick Purcell (1908-1976) Emigrated to US.
See our post of 13 June 2022 regarding the tragic death of Hannah O’Rourke née Purcell in 1960.
Volunteer in the Old IRA
William Purcell, and his two brothers Edward and Thomas, were in the Glenmore Co. of the old IRA during the Irish War of Independence. Their former officers put together a list of the volunteers in the Glenmore Company. In 1935, all three brothers were listed as living at 364 St. Ann’s Avenue in New York City. For a brief account by Michael Heffernan of “Bill” Purcell running and evading the Black and Tans, see our post of 7 July 2025.
Emigration
William’s father, Edward Purcell, died 28 August 1924 of an obstruction of the bowel. He was 56 years of age. His son Sean was present at his death. William Purcell, about six weeks later, departed Cobh, Ireland on board the Adriatic, and arrived at New York on 19 October 1924. William had $23 in his possession and gave the authorities his father Edward as his contact person in old country notwithstanding the fact his father was deceased. The person he listed in the US was his brother James Purcell, of 446 W. 27th St., New York, who emigrated to the US in 1922. William was described in the ship list as being 5’ 6” tall with a fresh complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.
The 1924 Letter Home to Glenmore
Information not contained in the original letter has been placed in square brackets [ ].
446 W. 27th St.
New York City
23 October 1924
Dear John
Just a few lines hoping to find you and all at home in good health as the posting of this leaves me in best. We got a lovely voyage. I arrived here on Sunday afternoon on 19th October. We were kept on the ship until Monday morning then we were brought to Ellis Island on a tender. Ellis Island is only a short distance from the docks in New York at the Jersey City side. We were not kept there very long, three hours or so, just while we
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were being examined. They were not very strict about the examination. We were examined on the ship by the American doctor on Sunday before we landed, he came out on a tender to meet the ship. What you hear about the Ellis Island is only lies we were treated there as good as could be expected. It is only a matter of form going there atall (sic).
I met Michael Hanrahan here, he is very old looking. He told me that he was bringing some of the footballers out. This is a wonderful place here, the traffic is something terrible, you could scarcely walk the footpath with people, Jimmie [assume this is his twin brother James Purcell] is going well here. He was inquiring about you and your mother. I will be at work in a couple of days. I will be able to tell you more in my next letter about New York. Hoping to hear from you soon, remember me to all in Ballyverneen.
From your old friend,
W. Purcell
[Michael Hanrahan (1888-1968) was a brother to Pat Hanrahan, Glenmore Shop and Jimmy Hanrahan, New Ross; both were officers in the Glenmore Co. of the old IRA. For information on Michael Hanrahan and the GAA in New York see our post of 28 Nov. 2020.]
Later Years in New York
William in 1925 filed an Intention Declaration to seek US citizenship. In 1930 he petitioned to be Naturalised and his petition was granted in 1931. One of his witnesses for Naturalisation was Michael Hanrahan, of 2342 102nd St., E. Elmhurst, New York, and formerly of Glenmore. William was issued a Social Security card in October 1939. Social Security was established in 1935 and began issuing cards in 1936. The first withholdings for the Social Security tax took place in January 1937. For further information concerning Michael Hanrahan (1888-1968) and his brothers see our post of 6 Dec. 2020.
After World War II commenced William registered for the Draft in 1942. At the time he was employed at and living at the Willard Parker Hospital on East 15th St. and East River, in Manhattan. He was 48, and listed his twin brother James Purcell of Flushing, New York, as his next of kin. He was employed as a porter at the hospital. His supervisor was Mr. Horton, the foreman of the porters.
William Purcell died aged 49 on 3 March 1944 at the Willard Parker Hospital, Manhattan. His death was the result of a fractured skull and ribs, and intracranial injury. He was buried on 7 March 1944 at Gates of Heaven Cemetery.
The Glenmore Letter Recipient
There are several clues that support the view that John Dunphy was the recipient of the letter. First, the letter was in an envelope of documents relating to the Dunphy family of Ballyverneen. Secondly, “Jimmy” inquired about John and his mother. Below we will highlight the tragic life of John Dunphy’s mother. Lastly, “remember me to all in Ballyverneen” suggests that the recipient resided in Ballyverneen.
John Dunphy (1880-1956) of Ballyverneen, Glenmore
Background
John Dunphy was the younger son of James Dunphy (1857-1887) of Ballyverneen and his wife Ellen Malone (1857-1941) of Weatherstown, Glenmore. Ellen Dunphy née Malone (1857-1941) married James Dunphy (1857-1887) at Glenmore on 9 May 1877. The groom was the son of Richard Dunphy (farmer) and the bride was the daughter of James Malone (farmer) and his wife Anastatia Kennedy.
According to Nicky “the Miller Forristal” Ellen Malone was 18 when she married and was widowed at 21. (DD Notebook 8, Interview 17 Nov. 1974). Uncharacteristically, Nicky the Miller was off by a few years. James Dunphy died ten years after he was married, thus Ellen was 30 years old when she was widowed.
Ellen’s son, Richard Dunphy (1878-1908) was on the 1906 Glenmore Football Team that won the Co. Kilkenny Championship. In 1908 he died of acute atrophy of the liver. He worked for Customs & Excise. See our post of 23 June 2025 for the obituary of Richard “Dick” Dunphy (1878-1908). See our post of 30 August 2020 regarding the 1906 Glenmore Football County Champions. After Richard’s death in 1908 the household was comprised of Ellen Dunphy née Malone and her youngest son, John Dunphy.
Marriage and Family
John Dunphy (1880-1956) (who we believe received William Purcell’s letter) was also a prominent Glenmore footballer and later became the chairman of the GAA Kilkenny County Board. John Dunphy lived in the home place in Ballyverneen, Glenmore. He married Ellen Forristal (1898-1983) also of Ballyverneen on 20 October 1926 at Glenmore. The bride’s father was Thomas Forristal (farmer). John Dunphy and his wife, Ellen Dunphy née Forristal, had four children.
[1] Seamus Dunphy (1927 -2015)
[2] Margaret “Maudie” Dunphy worked as a bookkeeper at the Glenmore Creamery. ;
[3] Mary “May” Dunphy (c. 1932-2018)
[4] Richard Dunphy
Ellen Dunphy née Malone died in 1941 after suffering a burn. Her son, John Dunphy died in 1956 of gastric cancer. It is not known how long John Dunphy (1880-1956) and William Purcell (1893-1944) corresponded, but we hope other letters may surface as we continue through Danny Dowling’s voluminous files.
Although both families descended from Malone families from Weatherstown there was no apparent link, but time today did not permit further research.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Special thanks to Ann O’Rourke for her assistance with the Purcell family.
The featured photo above is of Ellis Island courtesy of The New York Public Library Digital Collection, of The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “Immigrant Station, Ellis Island, with ferry docked at adjacent pier.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 19, 2026. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/2d10a530-c6da-012f-2f4a-58d385a7bc34
The photo of the Willard Parker Hospotal is also courtesy of the New York Public Library Digital Collection of The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. “The Willard Parker Hospital” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 19, 2026. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/c437ab60-c55d-012f-83c4-58d385a7bc34
From Danny’s Files: Robert Hamilton Edwards, Esq. (c. 1872-1932) & The Freeman’s Journal
It is common to come across unusual items in Danny Dowling (1927-2021) voluminous collection. This past week we discovered in the back of a drawer several folders of documents regarding Robert Hamilton Edwards, Esq. (c. 1872-1932). We could not find any link to Glenmore except the documents have been preserved in Danny’s collection. The most unusual item was an envelope containing a medical report and two x-rays from 1908. These x-rays were taken by Dr. William Ironside Bruce (1876-1921) an early radiologist who died young from exposure to his work. King George in 1921 publicly expressed sympathy at Bruce’s death (North Star & Farmer’s Chronicle, Sat. 2 April 1921, p. 8). Dr. Ironside Bruce’s widow, Violet, survived him by 39 years dying in 1960 (Middlesex Independent (Fri. 9 Sept. 1960, p. 7). Danny may have collected the Hamilton Edwards’ files because of his association with the demise of The Freeman’s Journal.
Early X-Rays
X-rays were discovered in 1895 with the first x-rays in Britain being made in 1896. From the typed report and the envelope containing the x-rays we know that “Mrs. Hamilton Edwards of Wenbley Orchard Wembley, Middlesex,” was the patient. For a concise article on the history of x-rays see, the British Society for the History of Radiology, “X-Rays in Medicine: The First Century.” For further information on Dr. William Ironside Bruce (1876 -1921) of Charing Cross Hospital, London, see, Dr. Adrian Thomas, Chairman of the International Society for the History of Radiology, (2021) “Ironside Bruce and the Sacrifices Made by the Early X-Ray Martyrs.”
The Patient
In 1898, Robert Hamilton Edwards married Marjorie L. W. Alexandersen (c. 1868). Thus the 1908 x-rays belonged to Marjorie. Per the 1901 Census the couple were living at Hertfordshire, Harpenden. Robert was 29 working in journalism. He reported being born in St. Pancreas, Middlesex. His wife Marjorie was 33 and was born in Leicester, Market Harborough. While little could be found in a quick search regarding the private life of the couple, Robert Hamilton Edwards became famous due to some Irish business dealings.
The Report is typed, dated 17 March 1908 and signed W. Ironside Bruce, M.D. He found that there was a fracture of the ulna, the radius and the metacarpal bone of the index finger. The two photographs of the x-rays are on green card stock with the “Case of Mrs. Hamilton Edwards” written in the upper right corner of the card stock. At the bottom of the cardstock is written “With Dr. Ironside Bruce’s Compliments.”
The Freeman’s Journal
The Freeman’s Journal was the first national newspaper published in Ireland. It was in production from 1763 to 1924. See, Felix M. Larkin (2006) “A Great Daily Organ: The Freeman’s Journal, 1763-1924” 3(14) History Ireland website.
About 1919, the Freeman’s Journal became a two man company. The only shareholders and directors were Hamilton Edwards and Martin Fitzgerald. The commercial or business side of the management of the undertaking was in the hands of Hamilton Edwards and running of the newspaper and its policy were, for convenience, entrusted to Martin Fitzgerald who lived in Dublin (Irish Independent, Tues. 31 Oct. 1922, p. 5). Martin Fitzgerald was a wealthy Dublin wine merchant and Robert Hamilton Edwards was a well-known Fleet Street personality and formerly the managing director of the Amalgamated Press.
In 1919, the authorities raided the offices of The Freeman’s Journal. Hamilton Edwards proclaimed that “this was the greatest abuse of authority yet perpetrated on the Press of Ireland and the proper Freedom of the Newspaper was non-existent, at any rate in Dublin.” (Freeman’s Journal, Tues. 15 Dec. 1919, p. 9).
Six charges were brought under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations against Fitzgerald and Hamilton Edwards for publishing statements likely to cause disaffection. In late November and early December 1920 they were Court Martialled. The Military Court found the two defendants not guilty to charges, 2, 4, 5 and 6. However, the defendants were informed by the court that they were being conveyed to Mountjoy Prison for charges 1 & 3. Prior to said time they were never arrested and attended their trial without any issues (Irish Independent Tues. 31 Oct. 1922, p. 5).
Per Hamilton Edwards’ obituary, the men were sentenced to six month’s imprisonment. “This action of the military authorities, and the sentence, provoked great resentment in England. Questions were asked in Parliament, and within a few days the British Government ordered the immediate release of the men” (Belfast Telegraph, Mon. 6 June 1932, p. 5).
Civil Cases
Reading the 1932 obituary for Hamilton Edwards’ it appeared this was the end of the Freeman’s Journal saga. However, on 12 May 1920 Robert Hamilton Edwards signed four contracts for the delivery of 7,800 tons of paper at the price of £429,528. At the time of the signing of the contracts, they were only using 15 to 29 tons of paper a week. The purchase price was four times the nominal capital and eight times the actual issued capital of the company. Martin Fitzgerald did not learn of the four contracts signed by Hamilton Edwards until both men were in Mountjoy Prison in July 1920 (Irish Independent, Tues. 31 Oct. 1922, p. 5).
A judgment was entered against the two men and Fitzgerald argued that Hamilton Edwards had signed without authority. On appeal when the judge asked where Hamilton Edwards was it was stated that he was not available. Hamilton Edwards was in Justice Pinn’s Court and had not yet been discharged from it. He had been declared bankrupt (Irish Independent, Tues. 31 Oct. 1922, p. 5).
The last edition of the Freeman’s Journal was published in January 1924. It was sold to its rival the Irish Independent. In 1925, details of the Hamilton Edwards’ bankruptcy were published. It was reported that his total liabilities amounted to £13,576. A dividend of 6s. 8.d on the £ was ordered to be paid to his creditors (Irish Examiner, Sat. 25 July 1925, p. 11).
Obituary
The Belfast Telegraph (Mon. 6 June 1932, p. 5) published an obituary for Hamilton Edwards that did not mention his civil cases or bankruptcy.
A former well-known personality in Fleet Street, Mr. Robert Hamilton Edwards, at one time managing director of the Amalgamated Press, died suddenly, aged 60, in the West End of London.
The son of Mr. John Edwards of Oswestry and London, Mr. Edwards was educated privately. Following an early teaching in financial journalism and on the staff of the late Sir George Newnes, he was for 20 years associated with the late Lord Northcliffe in the publication of “Answers” and other publications now issued from Fleetway Houses. Later Mr. Edwards became interested with Mr. Martin Fitzgerald in the direction of the Dublin Freeman’s Journal, on which he spent a large sum of money.
During the Irish troubles in 1920 both he and Mr. Fitzgerald were before a military court martial in Dublin and accused of publishing statements likely to cause disaffection. They were sentenced to six month’s imprisonment. This action of the military authorities, and the sentence, provoked great resentment in England. Questions were asked in Parliament, and within a few days the British Government order the immediate release of the men.
Latterly Mr. Edwards had been living for a great deal of his time in Paris. He was at one time the owner of a number of racehorses and had many interests. Mr. Edwards was largely interested in the land question, and had done much to assist in the development of small ownership.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photographs to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Register of Infants, Ballyfasey Female National School (1871-1928)
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) for over 7 decades collected a vast amount of information and material regarding Glenmore and other local areas. One large item that Danny collected was a copy of the Register of Infants in Ballyfasey (sic) Female National School. This register consists of 7 pages with student entrances dates from 15 July 1871 to 8 October 1928 of 247 girls (with legible names). There are also 5 students whose names are not legible. The pages are 16 ½ inches (42cm) tall by 11 ½ inches (29 cm) wide. This register is just one of the Ballyfacey School Registers that Danny collected. Today, we are going to focus on page 1 of the Register.
The old Ballyfacey National School was built in 1868 on “Jolla Hill.” Micil Moore, of Knockbrack, Glenmore, built the school building at the cost of £95. Local men drew the stones and sand required and at the end of the building the extra $5 from the grant was spent on a barrel of beer for the men who drew the stones and sand. See our post of 6 September 2020 for further details regarding the building and repairs to the old Ballyfacey National school and early local hedge road schools..
The Register
Page 1 consists of 38 legible names with entrance dates from 15 July 1871 to 6 June 1878 recording 39 students. There are 8 primary columns for recording information including: date of entrance; pupil’s name; age of pupil on last birthday; religion; residence; occupation or means of living of parents; and annual examinations. The column examinations is divided into First, Second and Third perhaps reflecting the division of the academic year. Each of the three examination periods is divided into number of days present and result. No results were provided on this page, but attendance across the three exam periods was recorded and is reflected in the charts below. School attendance was not mandated until the Irish Education Act of 1892.
One of the more interesting aspects of this register reflects that children started school throughout the year. It appears that classes were held all year with no apparent summer break. How teachers coped with students beginning at different times is unknown and attendance for some students was very poor. Some of the girls started school at the age of 3 which seems very young. It also appears that in some entries the name Johanna is misspelled, and on page 1 Ballyfacy is spelled in three different ways.
Below are tables reflecting the information contained on page 1 of the Register. Due to the fact all children were recorded as RC (Roman Catholics) this column was eliminated from the tables. The days of attendance in the table reflects the three exam periods.
1871 Ballyfacy, Glenmore, National School
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 15 July 1871 | Kate Walsh | 4 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 37—147—0 |
| 29 July 1871 | Mary Cashin | 5 | Weatherstown | Shoemaker | 26—83—178 |
| 27 May 1871 | Margaret Wallace | 4 | Ballyfacy | Shopkeeper | 62—183—0 |
| 3 July 1871 | Margaret Phelan | 6 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 0—0—119 |
| 2 Oct. 1871 | Mary Grace | 6 | Kilbride | Farmer | 0—0—161 |
1872
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 29 May 1872 | Stasia Power | 6 | Kilbride | Labourer | 0—0—85 |
1873
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 24 April 1873 | Ellen Mullins | 6 | Flemingstown | Farmer | 0—0—47 |
| 5 May 1873 | Johanna Croak | 4 | Kilbride | Labourer | 37—169—126 |
| 2 June 1873 | Bridget Duggan | 5 | Weatherstown | Farmer | 0—20—111 |
| 28 July 1873 | Bridget Hartley | 4 | Weatherstown | Farmer | 0—75—110 |
1874
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 25 May 1874 | Kate Young | 4 | Ballyfacy | Carpenter | 0—33—0 |
| Not legible | Margaret Ivory | 4 | Kilbride | Cooper | 79—0–183 |
| 1 June 1874 | Johanna Culleton | 4 | Kilbride | Farmer | 10—0—120 |
| 8 June 1874 | Kate Hennessy | 3 | Ballyfacy | Labourer | 25—136—189 |
| 30 June 1874 | Bridget MacDonald | 4 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 75—0—147 |
1875
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 6 April1875 | Stasia Malone | 5 | Weatherstown | Farmer | 0—168—0 |
| 21 June 1875 | Kate Mackey | 4 | Weatherstown | Farmer | 0—87—0 |
| 21 July 1875 | Stasia Irish | 4 | Ballinlammy | Farmer | 0—0—142 |
| 21 July 1875 | Stasia Ryan | 6 | Ballycurran (Tullogher) | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 27 April 1875 | Alice Donovan | 5 | Haggard | Labourer | 0—0—181 |
1876
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 28 Feb.1876 | Stasia Phelan | 3 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 129—0—201 |
| 28 Feb. 1876 | Johanna Grace | 3 | Kilbride | Farmer | 63—172—0 |
| 28 Feb. 1876 | Johanna Hurly | 3 | Ballyfacy | Farmer | 156—0—155 |
| 1 March 1876 | Mary(?) Power | 4 | Kilbride | Labourer | 0—0—131 |
| 27 March 1876 | Kate Dempsey | 4 | Ballyveria | Labourer | 0—0—0 |
| 27 March 1876 | Stasia Grennan | 4 | Moulerstown | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 27 March 1876 | Bridget Murphy | 5 | Moulerstown | Labourer | 0—0—0 |
| Not legible | Margaret Purcell | 5 | Moulerstown | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 29 March 1876 | Margaret Crowley | 5 | Ballymartin (Tullogher) | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 8 May 1876 | Kate Donovan | 4 | Haggard | Dealer | 0—174—0 |
1877
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 6 Feb.1877 | Bridget Greene | 4 | Ballyfasy | Farmer | 0—0—0 |
| 21 May 1877 | Margaret Power | 5 | Knockbrack | Labourer | 0—0—138 |
| 18 June1877 | Mary Walsh | 5 | Haggard | Labourer | 0—0—74 |
| 18 June 1877 | Joanna Dempsey | 3 | Ballyveria | Labourer | 1—0—84 |
| 8 Oct.1877 | Joanna Berrigan | 5 | Ballyfacy | Labourer | 0—2—6 |
| 11 Oct. 1877 | Stasia Culleton | 3 | Kilbride | Farmer | 5—219—28 |
1878
| Entrance date | Name | Age | Residence | Occupation | Attendance |
| 28 May1878 | Kate Duggan | 5 | Weathetstown | Labourer | 0—41—92 |
| 6 June1878 | Mary Jones | 5 | Ballinlammy | Fowl dealer | 0—49—0 |
| Cut off page | Cut off page | 5 | Weatherstown | Labourer | 0—115—150 |
Most Popular First Names
The most popular first names recorded on page 1 of the Register resulted in several ties. For example, Stasia and Kate tied for first place with each name representing 7 students each. There was also a tie for second most popular name with Margaret and Joanna/Johanna each representing 6 students each. There was another tie for third most popular name with Mary and Bridget representing 5 students each. The least popular names were Alice and Ellen each representing just 1 student each.
Glenmore Townlands Recorded
There are 11 townlands recorded for residency on page 1. Nine of the townlands are within the Parish of Glenmore and two (Ballycurran and Ballymartin) are not. The top three townlands on the page are Ballyfasy (10); Weatherstown (7); and Kilbride (8) or 25 of the 39 students or 64% of the students recorded on page 1. Haggard and Moulerstown each had 3 students; Ballinlammy and Ballyveria had 2 students each and all the rest had 1 student each (ie Ballymartin, Ballycurran, Flemingstown and Knockbrack).
Ages of Students on Starting at Ballyfacey National School
There were 4 ages recorded for admissions on page 1 of the Register of Infants namely: three-year-olds; four-year-olds, five-year-olds and six-year-olds. The largest group was comprised of fifteen 4 year olds (38.5%); the second largest group was comprised of the twelve 5-year-olds (30.7%); there were seven 3-year-olds which represented 17.9 % of the admissions and the five 6-year-olds represented the lowest group (12.8%).
The 3 Year Olds
Given that 3 seems extremely early to start school we attempted to verify the ages of the girls recorded as being 3 on their admission to the Ballyfacy National School from 1874 to 1877.
Kate Hennessy (Catherine Hennessy was born 12 Nov. 1871 at Ballyfacy to Richard Hennessy (labourer) and his wife Anne Doherty. She entered school on 8 June 1874 at the age of 3 years, 7 months.)
Stasia Culleton (Anastatia Culleton was born on 16 Oct. 1873 at Kilbride to John Culleton (farmer) and his wife Bridget Walsh admitted 11 Oct. 1877 just five days before her fourth birthday.)
Stasia Phelan (Anastatia Phelan was born 8 Jan. 1872 at Ballyfacy to John Phelan (farmer) and his wife Catherine Forristal. She entered school on 28 Feb. 1876 at the age of 4 years, 1 month.)
Joanna (sic) Grace (Johanna Grace was born at Kilbride on 2 Feb. 1873 to Patrick Grace (farmer) and his wife Mary McDonald. Johanna entered school on 28 Feb. 1876 and had just turned 3.)
Joanna (sic) Hurley (Johanna Hurley was born 12 Nov. 1871 at Ballyfacy to James Hurley (labourer) and his wife Margaret Shea. She started school on 28 Feb. 1876. Johanna was 4 years 8 months old when she started school.)
Joanna (sic) Dempsey (Johanna Dempsey was born on 15 Oct. 1873 at Ballywairy, Glenmore, to Patrick Dempsey (labourer) and his wife Mary Norris. Johanna entered school on 18 June 1877, thus she was 3 years 8 months old when she started school.)
Subjects Taught
In another register the subjects the girls had in 1872 included reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography and needlework.
The Old Ballyfacey National School
Ann Grennan wrote a wonderful article “The Story of Ballyfacey School,” that was published in Glenmore Times: Millennium Memories ((2000) Glenmore Millennium Committee) pp. 19-21. The article focuses on the early 20th century but provides some interesting facts concerning the fate of the old school house. She noted 26 years ago that there was no trace left of the old school building. When the new school was built about 1957 the stones of the old school were reused for a pig house. “The only remains were a small bit of a wall belonging to the toilet and also the gate leading into the school.”
Please send any corrections or additional information or photos to glenmore.history @gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The old photo featured above was taken in front of the old Ballyfacey National School. Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for sharing the old photo.
If you believe that your ancestor may have attended Ballyfacey National School please send on his/her date of birth and townland and we shall check the registers Danny collected for information for you.
From Danny’s Files: Mr. Justice Gardner Budd (1904-1976)
Our founder Danny Dowling (1927-2021) corresponded with people from all over the world. Some were people doing family research, others were academics researching specific events or industries, and one correspondent was a sitting member of the Irish Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Gardner Budd (1904-1976).
Today, we are going to present a letter Danny wrote in 1969 to Mr. Justice Gardner Budd who was seeking apparently information on the Budd’s of Kilmacow. There were apparently other letters, but they have yet to be uncovered in Danny’s vast collection. Carefully pinned by Danny to a copy of the discovered letter was an obituary for Mr. Justice G. Budd which Danny clipped from the Irish Independent (Tues. 10 Feb. 1976, p. 12). The featured photo above is from that obituary.
The Letter from Glenmore
Below is the letter in full and any additional information has been placed in square brackets. The letter is typed, 2 ½ pages in length on thin paper, measuring 8 inches (20 cm) by 10 inches (25 cm).
Justice Budd, Esq.
73 South Hill
Dartry
Dublin 6
30th May 1969
Dear Mr. Justice Budd,
Thanks very much for your letter of the 1st May which I received but am sorry for the delay in replying which was due to the fact that I was in hospital for three weeks.
The Budd family lived in the townland of Blossomhill, in the parish of Kilmacow Co. Kilkenny, until about the year 1881, when the last male member of the family in the locality left the homestead and went to live for a short time with Mr. William Power, of Christendom, in the parish of Slieverue near Waterford. He was William Joseph Poulter Budd. Whilst with Mr. William Power he became ill and was taken to London by his daughter Florence.
According to a letter from this Miss Florence Budd from London, dated the 30th of October 1881, to Mr. William Power her father had died and was buried in London. In this letter she thanked Mr. Power for his kindness to her father and she also stated that she was leaving her father’s furniture etc. to Mr. Power. This Mr. Budd had no male issue—only two daughters. One was married to an English Army Officer—Colonel Free, and the other daughter Florence to a gentleman named Blake, who was a Deputy Lieutenant for Co. Kilkenny. Mrs. Florence Blake had a son Poulter Charles Blake and they lived in London. According to Mr. Patrick Power, the present owner of the Budd property, two sons of the Blakes are living in Culpeper, Virginia, U.S.A.
The Budd residence at Blossomhill is now in ruins but a fine residence nearby, which the said William Joseph Poulter Budd, built but never actually lived in, still stands. Due to some trouble or other, he never put the finishing touches to this fine house but went to live as already stated with Mr. William Power of Christendom. I enclose herewith photographs which I took of the ruins and the aforesaid house which is now a cattle shed.
[Rev. Joseph Poulter (c. 1738-1789) of Dunkitt]
The Budd family is buried in the old Churchyard at Dunkitt and there is a tomb there with the following inscription which is now almost undecipherable:
“Here lieth the remains of Mary Ann Budd, wife of Tobias Budd of Dunkitt Esq.; who departed this live October 6th 1817, aged 35 years”
This Mary Ann Budd (1781-1817) was the youngest daughter and co-heiress of Rev. Joseph Poulter, Rector of Dunkitt, by his second wife, Margaret, daughter of the Rev. William Dennis D.D. of Waterford, and was born on the 12th of November 1781.
On another monument in the same graveyard is the following inscription:
“Sacred to the memory of Mary, wife of Thomas Lewis Mackesy M.D., a daughter of the Rev. Joseph Poulter, who died 18th October 1818.”
This lady was the eldest daughter of Rev. Joseph Poulter and his wife Margaret Dennis and was born on the 11th June 1776. Mrs. Mary Ann Budd and Mrs. Mary Mackesy (1776-1818) were sisters. The Poulters lived in Dunkitt House which is now occupied by a Mr. Porter. The aforesaid Rev. William Dennis was Rector of Kilculliheen, and he died on the 11th of April 1815 aged 59 years. From what I can ascertain the above Rev. Joseph Poulter had only two daughters in his family, Mrs. Budd and Mrs. Mackesy, and he divided his estate between the two of them. [See generally Wiki Family Tree for Joseph Poulter (c. 1738-1789.]
Attached to the Blossomhill residence of William Joseph Poulter Budd was an estate of about 100 acres at the time of his departure from there. As well as farming he worked a white limestone quarry, situated on the lands. He had about 40 men working for him in this quarry.
[Glenmore Landlords]
As far as the parish of Glenmore is concerned, a Tobias Budd, a minor, owned in 1830 the entire townlands of Flemingstown and Weatherstown. This information is from the Tithe Applotment Books of the old Civil Parish of Kilcoan. According to the same document a Mr. Budd is shown as the occupier of 12 acres and 2 roods in the townland of Flemingstown. Whether or not this Mr. Budd lived there I cannot say. In Griffiths General Valuation or Ireland circa 1850, a Mrs. James Budd is shown as the owner of the entire townland of Ballybraghy containing 160 acres and 2 roods and 32 perches. The family of Mackesy were also extensive landowners in Glenmore Parish. [See our post of 3 March 2025 regarding Glenmore landlord Dr. Mackesy].
As a matter of interest, I will now quote two entries from the Catholic Register of Marriages for Glenmore Parish which is now preserved in the Library of St. Kieran’s College, In Kilkenny:
“14th February 1780. Joyn’d in Wedlock by ye Certificate of Mr. James Budd; Mary Brenon of Ballinlammy unto Rich. Wallice of Mullinahone. Witness ye Rev. James Newman, Mr. James Cody and Mr. Patrick Brennon.”
“12th November 1780. Joyn’d in Wedlock by ye Certificate of Mr. Tobias Budd; Michael Mullally unto Mary Murphy both of Nicholastown. Witnesses Michael O’Naile, James O’Naile and William Murphy.” [During this period landlords sometimes provided certificates to regulate the lives of their tenants, manage their estates by ensuring that unauthorized subletting did not occur, and enforce the moral and behaviour the landlord set.]
With reference to the Budd Estate at Ballybraghy in the old Civil Parish of Kilcoan which is now part of the present Catholic ecclesiastical Parish of Glenmore, I would suggest you look up Record No. S. 4931 in the Records Branch of the Land Commission at 24 Upper Merrison St., Dublin.
Any information which you have on the Budd family and estate would be much appreciated by me as I am collecting material for the history of my area. I would also like to get a copy of said Record No. S.4931 and perhaps you could help me in this as well as copies of any old Estate maps which you may have.
When next you visit the area, please let me know beforehand and I will only be too glad to show you where the Budds lived and are buried etc.
In conclusion, I would like to correct the impression which you possibly got from my previous correspondence. I am not a member of the Garda force but a Health Authority employee—a Health Inspector.
Yours Very Sincerely,
Daniel Dowling.
Mr. Justice Gardner Budd (1904-1976)
Mr. Frederick Gardner Orford Budd was born on 11 April 1904 at Ennis Co. Clare. His father, Samuel Duquid Budd (c. 1864-1934) was employed as a bank manager at the time of his birth. His mother, Fanny Beatrice Orford (c. 1865-1955) was the daughter of Dr. Frederick James Orford of Leicestershire, and she was the second wife of Samuel D. Budd. His parents were married on 12 July 1899 in Surrey, England.
Samuel D. Budd married his first wife, Susan West Stuart (c. 1854-1897) on 30 May 1882 in a Church of Ireland in Galway. His father was recorded as James Budd, a merchant and Susan’s father was John Simson Stuart, a Senior R.I.C. Inspector. Susan West Budd, of Bindon? St., Ennis died on 27 January 1897, of albuminuria at the age of 43. She was the mother of 5 children.
Gardner Budd was educated at the Manor School, Fermoy, Co. Cork; Felsted in England and Trinity College, Dublin. He was a scholar of T.C.D. in history in 1925, the year in which he obtained a B.A. (Mod.) in history in 1925 and political science to be followed two years later with an LLD. He was called to the bar in 1927 and to the Inner Bar in 1940. [He married Oonah Blennerhassett in Sligo in 1931 and the couple had four children.] In 1951 he represented TCD on the university panel in Seanad Eireann. Later that year he was appointed a Judge of the High Court, a position he occupied until 1966 when he was raised to the Supreme Court. He retired from the Supreme Court right before Christmas 1975 and died 9 February 1976 (Irish Examiner, 10 Feb. 1976 p. 14). (For a concise outline of his important decisions see, Pauric J. Dempsey, Dictionary of Irish Biography.)
Waterford City Roots
The obituary of Sanuel D. Budd (c. 1864-1934) (Irish Examiner, Mon. 27 Aug. 1934, p. 4) provides some interesting details regarding Justice Gardner Budd’s Waterford City Roots.
“The death has taken place of Mr. Samuel Duguid Budd, a Waterfordman, who reached a very high position in Irish banking circles. He was son of the late Mr. James Budd, of [Waterford City*], and father of Mr. F. G. O. Budd, the well known barrister on the Waterford circuit. After a distinguished career in the Provincial Bank of Ireland, during which time he was for many years manager in Cork, the late Mr. Samuel Budd became Chief Officer of the bank. He retired from this position [in 1919 per the Southern Star (Sat. 2 Aug. 1930, p. 10)] and, was succeeded by his son-in-law, Mr. D. Bradshaw, the present Chief Officer. The late Mr. Budd was co-opted a member of the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland.” [*per the Munster Express, 31 Aug. 1934, p. 7]
James Budd of Waterford City
Samuel D. Budd (c. 1864-1934) reported in the 1901 Census that he was born in Waterford. Danny in a handwritten note recorded that in the Thomas S. Harvey (1865) Waterford Almanac & Directory for 1866 there were two entries for James Budd in the Directory. The first James Budd was listed as a commercial traveller living on Barker St. A second listing was for James Budd & Company, Guano Merchants on Thomas Street. [Guano was the excrement of seabirds and bats. It was historically prized as a fertilizer and a key ingredient for the production of gunpowder.]
Hopefully further correspondence between Danny and Justice G. Budd is discovered and we shall be able to update this information.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: The Gorman’s of Ballycroney, Glenmore
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) often referred to surnames that were no longer found in Glenmore Parish as extinct names. One such name is Gorman or O’Gorman. At one point Danny noted in correspondence in 2001 with Patrick Gorman of Illinois that two Gorman families resided in Ballycroney, Glenmore.
Willie Holden, of Ballycroney, yesterday confirmed that there were Gorman’s in Ballycroney in the past. They lived where Bolger’s once lived and Bernard Walsh lives there now. Neddy Holden, of Clune, told Willie, that P.N. O’Gorman’s people came from Ballycroney. For our international readers P.N. O’Gorman and his wife in 1924 established an auctioneers/estate agents/valuers business in New Ross that can still be found on the Quay today.
Today we are going to review the early Glenmore Parish records to determine how many Gorman families resided in Ballycroney, highlight the two Gorman brothers in Illinois and attempt to determine who went to New Ross.
Review of Early Glenmore Parish Records
Denis Gorman & his wife Eleanor Murphy
A review of the combined Slieverue/Glenmore parish records reveals that the first Gorman we could confirm as being in Ballycrone (sic) was Denis Gorman and his wife Eleanor Murphy. Their son [1] Patrick was born there in 1785 and they had 5 more children the last being born in 1797 just before the 1798 Rebellion. The 5 children include:
[2] Mary Gorman (1787);
[3] Catherine Gorman (1789);
[4] Richard Gorman (1790);
[5] James Gorman (1792); and
[6] Michael Gorman (1797)).
Michael Gorman & his wife Mary Cody
The second oldest confirmed record we could find was for Michael Gorman and his wife Mary Cody. They were married at Glenmore on 13 November 1812, and had 9 children in Ballycrony from 1813 to 1835. The witnesses at their wedding were William Gorman and Walter Bolger. It is not known if this Michael was the son of Denis Gorman and his wife Eleanor Murphy. He would have been just 15 when he married in 1812, thus it is not likely. He may have been a younger brother of Denis, a nephew or no relation at all.
The children of Michael Gorman and Mary Cody include:
[1] Catherine Gorman (bapt. 13 April 1813)
[2] Juny Gorman (bapt. 16 March 1815)
[3] William Gorman (bapt. 8 Dec. 1816)
[4] Denis Gorman (bapt. 1 May 1819)
[5] Patrick Gorman (bapt. 18 Feb. 1822)
[6] Edmund Gorman (bapt. 20 April 1825-18 Nov.1888) Emigrated to Illinois before 1852.
[7] Mary Gorman (bapt. 17 July 1827)
[8] James Gorman (bapt. 24 Aug. 1828)
[9] Richard Gorman (bapt. 4 Nov. 1835-14 Aug. 1914) Emigrated to Illinois in 1867.
James Gorman & Bridget Wallis [Wallace]
The third family we found in Ballycroney was James Gorman and his wife Bridget Wallis. They had at least five children from 1826 to 1834.
Their eldest child [1] Denis Gorman was born in 1825. The record states that the father’s name was Denis. However, given that 3 of the other children were the children of James Gorman and Bridget Wallis {Wallace] we believe an error was made on the eldest two children’s baptismal records. The other children include:
[2] (father given as John) William Gorman (1826);
[3] Mary Gorman (1828);
[4] Mary Gorman (1832) and
[5] Ellen Gorman (1834).
It is likely that this James Gorman was the son of Denis Gorman and his wife Eleanor Murphy (born in 1792). The traditional naming patterns of this time holds true. The eldest male child was named Denis after his paternal grandfather. The second eldest girl was named Ellen after her paternal grandmother.
Other Gorman Families in Early Glenmore Parish Records
Carrigcloney, Glenmore
The early combined parish records also provided that one Gorman family resided in Carrigcloney, Glenmore. Richard Gorman and his wife Honor Foley married on 1 March 1810 at Kilmacow. They moved to Carrigcloney, Glenmore and had [1] Michael Gorman in 1811;[2] John Gorman (1814). The family moved to St. John’s Parish in Kilkenny where [3] James Gorman was born in 1816; [4] Patrick Gorman (1818); [5] Edmund Gorman [1820]; [6] Thomas Gorman (1823); [7] Mary Gorman (1825) and [8] Peter Gorman (1827).
Parkstown, Glenmore
Parkstown, Glenmore—Denis O’Gorman and his wife Catherine Donovan had their son Patrick O’Gorman baptized on 17 March 1827. No other baptismal records could be located for this couple.
P.N. O’Gorman of New Ross
Peter Nicholas O’Gorman (1876-1947) was the youngest child of William Gorman (c. 1829-1889) and his wife Mary Finn (c.1840-1898) His parents were married at New Ross on 10 August 1861. P.N. was baptized at New Ross by Fr. D.J. Gorman on 9 Sept. 1876. William was employed as a cooper, and the family lived on Mary Street, New Ross.
We believe that P.N. O’Gorman’s father was William Gorman (bapt. 11 June 1826) to John (sic) Gorman and his wife Bridget Wallis, Ballycroney, Glenmore. However, we have no definitive record or obituary that gives his place of birth as Ballycroney or provides the names of William’s parents.
The children of William Gorman (c. 1829-1889) & Mary Finn (c. 1840-1898)
[1] Elizabeth Gorman (1862-c. 1888) Died of meningitis, aged 25.
[2] Eleanor Gorman (1863-1920) Ellen O’Gorman, of Mary St., married a widower, Elias Thackery Vickers (c. 1864 -1908) (solicitor from South St.) on 27 April 1897 at St. Mary’s New Ross. She listed her father William as a farmer/merchant. Witnesses to the wedding were James J. O’Gorman & Lizzie Finn. Elias Thackery Vickers died in 1908. Ellen Vickers née Gorman died 16 January 1920, in Haughton Hospital, a widow, at the age of 52 of paralysis. Elias Thackery Vicker’s first wife was Caroline Fegan of Tramore, Co. Waterford. They married in the Church of Ireland on 27 Sept. 1881 at Tramore. His father was Samuel Vickers and her father was William Fegan. Both fathers were retired RIC officials. Reginald George Vickers was born at New Ross on 5 Jan. 1886. He died 20 Feb. 1914 at home on South St. he was a watchmaker (28, bachelor). His step-mother Eleanor was with him at his death.
[3] Fr. Richard Gorman O.S.A. (1865-1921) was an Augustinian priest. He died in Cork.
[4] James Nicholas Gorman (1867-1871) died of Bright’s disease at the age of 4.
[5] Mary Joseph Gorman (1873- 1884) died of enteric fever aged 9.
[6] James Joseph Gorman (1874-? ) per P.N. O’Gorman’s 1947 obit James died in the US.
[7] Peter Nicholas Gorman (1876-1947) (P.N. O’Gorman)
Sometime after the birth of the children the family began to use the surname O’Gorman. William O’ Gorman died 3 Sept. 1889 at home on Mary St, New Ross. His widow Mary was with him when he died. She provided that he was 60 and a cooper. Mary O’Gorman née Finn died the 28th of June 1898 at her home on Mary St. Her youngest son, P.N. O’Gorman, was present when she died. He provided that she was 58 years old and the widow of a butter merchant.
Peter N. O’Gorman married Elizabeth Sullivan ( ? -1959) on 26 April 1922 at St. Mary’s, Haddington Road, Dublin. She was the daughter of Daniel Sullivan (merchant) and from Northumberland Rd., South Dublin. The couple lived in Ivy Cottage, Rosbercon, and shorty after their marriage they established P.N. O’Gorman Auctioneers/Valuers in Rosbercon. The business later moved across the river to the New Ross quay.
Peter O’Gorman served in several public offices. He served as Chairman of the Urban Council which under his chairmanship completed 3 housing schemes , all streets were renovated and the quay concreted. He was a member of the Harbour Commission and served on the Wexford Co. Council during 1917-1919. He was a member of the New Ross Agricultural Society and followed the Kilkenny Hounds under Major McCalmount of Mount Juliet. He was a Governor of Haughton Hospital (New Ross Standard, Fri. 14 Nov. 1947, p. 4).
Peter Nicholas O’Gorman (1876-1947) died 7 Nov. 1947 at Ivy Cottage in Rosbercon. He was 71 years of age. At the time of his death, for his service to New Ross, he was given a public funeral. His widow, Elizabeth died in January 1959.
Gorman Brothers in Illinois
Thanks to Patrick Gorman’s extensive research and correspondence with Danny Dowling we know of at least two Gorman brothers emigrated from Ballycroney and settled in Illinois. These brothers were the sons of Michael Gorman and his wife Mary Cody. The Peoria area became the home to several Glenmore families as emigrants tended to go to family or friends already settled in the U.S. See our post of 30 Sept. 2024 regarding the McDonald Family of Ballyfacey, Glenmore in Peoria.
Edward Gorman (1825-1880) Native of Ballycroney, Glenmore
Edward Gorman (1825-1880) married Ann Morrissey (c. 1825-1893) on 27 April 1852 at Peoria, Illinois. Edward became a naturalized citizen in 1856 in Peoria. In the 1870 Census Edward was employed as a labourer and the couple had 5 children from 16 to 5 years of age.
[1] Mary A. Gorman (1855-1938)
[2] Katherine Burns née Gorman (1858-1935)
[3] Michael P. Gorman (1858-1940)
[4] William M. Gorman (1863-1921)
[5] John Edward Gorman (1865-1947)
By the 1880 Census, Edward was farming in Stark County, Illinois about 35 miles north west of Peoria. Edward died on 19 Nov. 1888 in Stark County, Illinois. He is buried in St. Mary of the Woods Cemetery in Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois and has the most amazing information recorded on his headstone. See Findagrave for a photo of his gravestone.
Edward Gorman died Nov. 19, 1888
A native of Glenmore, Kilkenny Co., Ireland
May his soul rest in Peace.
A husband kind, a father dear, a faithful friend lies buried here.We mourn his loss while here we stay but hope to meet in bliss someday. The photo of Edward Gorman is from Findagrave and was added by Patrick Gorman and he provided the transcription of the marker to Danny Dowling.
Richard Gorman (1835-1914) Native of Ballycroney, Glenmore
Richard Gorman (1835-1914) was the youngest child of Michael Gorman and his wife Mary Cody. It appears that he married twice. His first wife was Catherine Flynn (c. 1844-1884). We located a marriage between a Richard Gorman and Catherine Flynn held on 18 Sept. 1865 at Killea, Co. Waterford (near Dunmore East).
The 1880 US Census for Marshall, La Prairie Co., Illinois reveals that Richard and Catherine were farming and their son Michael Gorman (1870-1956) was 7 having been born in Illinois. Both Richard and Catherine noted that they could not read or write. A farm labourer named William Gorman, aged 16, was living with the family. William was born in Illinois, but both of his parents were born in Ireland.
Catherine Gorman née Flynn died on 29 April 1884 at Camp Grove, Marshal, Illinois. She is buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. See Findagrave. A few years later Richard married his second wife, Bridget Grant, who also may have been a native of Glenmore.
Per the 1900 US Census for Lee, Harmon Co., Illinois, Richard emigrated in 1867 and his second wife, Bridget Grant (c. 1845-1921) emigrated in 1885. In 1900, Richard was 61 and his Bridget was 54. His son Michael Gorman was 27 (b. Dec. 1872 in Illinois) and his daughter Nellie (1888-1965) was 11.
Richard died on 14 August 1914 in Wyoming, Stark County, Illinois. He is buried in St. Dominic’s Cemetery, Wyoming, Illinois with his second wife, Bridget Gorman née Grant. See, Findagrave.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com . Special thanks to Willie Holden for the information on Ballycroney and to Patrick Gorman of Illinois who provided his excellent family research and photos to Danny Dowling.
The featured photo above is an old postcard of Peoria, Illinois.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
From Danny’s Files: A Glenmore Bigamy Case
In the voluminous files of Glenmore Historian Danny Dowling (1927-2021) a small newspaper clipping was found regarding an 1866 Glenmore bigamy case. In attempting to find further information in the contemporary newspapers it was shocking the number of bigamy cases that were reported in Irish newspapers in the 1860’s. Perhaps the most famous of all was the cases involved the Honourable William Charles Yelverton (1824-1883) later to become the 4th Viscount Avonmore.
We shall briefly outline this famous case because it caused the law in Ireland to change, and it provides context for some of the questions asked in the Glenmore bigamy case. Most of the following information regarding the Yelverton bigamy case came from an article by Rebecca Gill (citation below).
Thelwall v. Yelverton
William Charles Yelverton (1824-1883) was a major in the British Army and met Maria Theresa Longworth (c. 1832-1881) in 1852 on a steamer between France and London. Theresa, as she was called, had completed her education at a French Convent and was returning home to England after visiting her married sister in France. Her father was a wealthy Manchester silk manufacturer. Yelverton and Theresa corresponded and according to Theresa exchanged vows in Scotland. Subsequently, while visiting Rostrevor, County Down they were married by a Catholic priest on 15 August 1857. Theresa was Catholic, but Yelverton was a Protestant.
Yelverton and Theresa lived together in France until April 1858 when Yelverton was recalled to the Army. He left Theresa pregnant in France. There are conflicting reports, but apparently the child did not survive. On 26 June 1858, Yelverton publicly married a widow, Mrs. Emily Marianne Forbes née Ashworth, in Holy Trinity Chapel, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Emily was the widow of Professor Edward Forbes (1815-1854) the famous Isle of Man naturalist.
In September 1861, Theresa through a friend brought a case against Yelverton in Ireland, alleging that Yelverton was married to her. Yelverton responded that there was no ceremony in Scotland and that the Catholic ceremony in 1857 was merely a blessing to ease Theresa’s conscious. The three jurisdictions of England, Ireland and Scotland had different marriage laws. At that time a Catholic priest could not perform a mixed marriage between a Protestant and a Catholic or legally marry two Protestants (19 Geo. 2.c.13).
After a ten-day trial the jury in Ireland decided in favour of Theresa’s Scottish and Irish marriages. Eventually the case went to the Law Lords who ruled in Yelverton’s favour in July 1864. This case led to the enactment of the Marriage Causes and Marriage Law Amendment Act 1870 which made valid any marriages performed by a Catholic priest subject to the usual provisos of the civil law. The Civil registration of all marriages, births and deaths in Ireland became required after 1 January 1864 (An Act for the Registration of Births and Deaths in Ireland). (Rebecca Gill (2004) “The Imperial Anxieties of a Nineteenth Century Bigamy Case,” 57 History Workshop Journal 58-78: Oxford University Press).
(For further information and details on this famous case and photos see, Morvern French (2018) “The Curious Case of Longworth v. Yelverton” Historic Environment Scotland; Albert Nicholson, “Maria Theresa Longworth (c. 1832-1881),” 34 Dictionary of National Biography, para. 126 and Edward Irving Carlyle, “William Charles Yelverton (1824-1883)” 63 Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, para. 318
The Glenmore Bigamy Case
The Kilkenny Moderator (Wed. 17 January 1866, p. 3) reported that in the Rosbercon Petty Sessions under Resident Magistrate, J. Moore Esq., a considerable amount of time was spent investigating a charge of bigamy made against John Delahunty, alias Keating. The charge was brought by Constable Powell, of the Glenmore R.I.C. station. “It appeared that this man, passing by the name of Delahunty, had settled sometime since at Glenmore, and there contracted matrimony in the Roman Catholic Chapel, with a woman named Bridget Power.” [We believe that Constable Powell was William Powell (c. 1808-1880) who became the first Post master of Glenmore after he retired from the R.I.C., see our post of 24 November 2019.]
The constable reported that he received some information which led him to proceed to the Barony of Iverk and there made inquiries. He was led to ascertain that the same man, then calling himself “John” Keatings, had in the year 1861 in Owing chapel married Judtih Walsh. Soon thereafter “he forsook her” and left the locality. Unfortunately the constable did not divulge or the newspaper did not publish the information that set Constable Powell to investigate the defendant.
The Constable brought forward the two wives, and the two Roman Catholic Clergymen who had officiated at the two marriages. The defendant was identified. Mr. Moore took the information of the witnesses, and committed the defendant to the county gaol to be tried for bigamy at the ensuing county Assizes. “The other business before the court was of an ordinary character.”
Notwithstanding that bigamy was not considered an ordinary criminal case very little detail was revealed in court or at least not in the newspaper accounts regarding the defendant or his two wives.
The Trial of the Glenmore Bigamist
In the Kilkenny Crown Court on Tuesday, 13 March 1866, the bigamy trial against Michael/John Keating alias Delahunty, was held. The Kilkenny Moderator (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 14 March 1866, p. 2) reported on the trial the following day in one paragraph. Thankfully the Kilkenny Journal (Wed. 14 March 1866, p. 2) published a much longer and detailed account of the trial. This longer account was also published later in the Waterford Citizen (Fri. 16 March 1866, p. 3).
Baron Deasy, and a petty jury, tried Michael Keating alias John Delahunty for bigamy. The defendant had been “indicted for that he, having on the 10th of June 1860, married Judith Walsh during her lifetime he again remarried with Bridget Power. The prisoner, who was undefended, traversed.” (Traversed is an old legal term meaning that the defendant was disputing the facts.) The Crown was represented by Mr. Wall, Q.C.
The Rev. Matthew Brennan, P.P., Tulleroan, examined by Mr. Wall Q.C. testified that in 1860 he was curate of the parish of Ooning (sic). He produced the Owning Parish Register which contained an entry of the marriage of Michael Keating and Judith Walsh on 10 June 1860. The entry was in his handwriting, but he told the court that he could not identify the prisoner as the Michael Keating he married in 1860.
John Finnean, testified that on 10 June 1860, he was a witness to the marriage of the defendant to Judith Walsh, by Fr. Brennan. Judith Walsh he stated was still alive.
The Rev. John Delahunty, C.C. of Rosbercon, and formerly of Glenmore, produced a private book which contained a list of marriages he performed in Glenmore Chapel. It contained an entry for the marriage of John Delahunty to Bridget Power, on 1 July 1861. Fr. Delahunty could not identify the defendant as John Delahunty who he had married in 1861..
Patrick Henneberry testified that he was present when the defendant, calling himself John Delahunty was married by Fr. Delahunty on 1 July 1861 to Bridget Power.
Catherine Rourke, also testified that she had been a witness to the second marriage and observed the parties subsequently living together as man and wife.
Bridget Power, the second wife, testified as to the marriage in Glenmore, and having lived with the defendant as his wife. She testified that they had no children and they were both Roman Catholics. She stated that she never knew of the defendant being of any other religion.
The defendant in his attempt at a defence made a “rambling statement to the effect that he was declined to be married to the last witness, and told the priest that he was a married man. However, as they persisted in telling him that he might get married, he thought it was no harm to do so.”
The jury “without hesitation” found the defendant guilty of bigamy, and he was sentenced to penal servitude for five years (Kilkenny Journal, Wed. 14 March 1866, p. 2).
Sent to Mountjoy
Four convicts were transferred from the Kilkenny County gaol on Monday the 26th of March to Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, including: “Michael Delahunty, alias John Keatings convicted at the recent Assizes of bigamy (Kilkenny Moderator, Wed. 28 March 1866, p. 3).
The Two Marriages
Without a date or place of birth it is impossible to determine much about the defendant. However, we were able to ascertain some facts concerning his known two marriages.
Marriage 1
According to the Parish Register on 10 June 1860 at Templorum, Co. Kilkenny, Michael Keating married Judith Walsh of Curramore. Witnesses to the marriage were John Finacane and Mary Conolly. Then on 20 September 1860 Anastatia Keatine (sic) was baptized at Dunnamaggin to “John Keatinge” and his wife Judith Walsh. Godparents were listed as James Murphy and Catherine Donovan. The address provided was Kiloganny. Thus in the space of 3 months Michael became John, and Judtih Keating née Walsh moved from Curramore north to Kiloganny. The child is not mentioned in the newspaper accounts of the trial. It is likely the child was not alive in 1866 or for whatever reason the birth of the child was concealed from the investigating constable.
Marriage 2
On 1 July 1861, at Glenmore, John Delahunty married Bridget Power. The only information provided in the Parish Register is the names of the witnesses: Patrick Henebary and Kate Rourk.
Thankfully, the surname Rourke or O’Rourke is not a common name in Glenmore. It is generally found in the townland of Weatherstown. Catherine Roork (sic) was baptized on 24 December 1846 at Glenmore, to Michael Roork and his wife, Bridget Bolger. Their address is simply listed as Glenmore. Godparents were James Bolger and Honor Mullins.
We then sought baptismal records for the more common name of Bridget Power looking for girls born about the same time as Catherine Rourke. Bridget Power, of Weatherstown, was baptized 7 February 1844, at Glenmore, to Thomas Power and his wife, Mary Walsh. Godparents were Patrick Fitzgerald and Nancy Fitzgerald. If this is the correct Bridget Power she was only 17 when she married in 1861 and was 22 when she learned her marriage was a sham.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh