John L. Conn (1812-1893) Mount Ida of Rochestown Glenmore
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A Glenmore Landlord: Francis Harvey Devereux, Esq. (1819-1860) of Ringville House [Update]
After our recent post regarding landlord John L. Conn (1812-1893) one reader queried Francis Harvey Devereux. A quick check revealed that Francis H. Devereux lived in Ringville House from 1853 until his death in 1860 (“Kilkenny History, Misc. Houses”).
Land sales advertised at the time of his death provides that in addition to 70 acres at Ringville he was the landlord of Carrignurra, Slieverue and part of Davidstown, Glenmore. This landlord was unusual in that he was a barrister and a Roman Catholic. Additionally, he publicly and financially supported a tenant’s case before a Committee of the House of Commons.
Parents of Francis H. Devereux
Francis Harvey Devereux was baptized on 5 January 1819 at St. Mary’s of Kilkenny City. He was the eldest son of Harvey Devereux (1790-1847) and his wife, Margaret née Smithwick (1798-?). His godfather was Sir William Mavrice.
His father, Harvey Devereux, was baptised on 16 June 1790 at St. Mary’s of Kilkenny City. Harvey Devereux’s parents were Frank Devereaux (sic) and his wife Eleanor Reade.
His mother, Margaret Smithwick, was baptised 21 March 1798 at St. Mary’s, Kilkenny City the daughter of John Smithwick (1763-1842) and his wife, Catherine Butler (1762-1865?).
Siblings of Francis H. Devereux
Harvey Devereux and his wife Margaret Smithwick had at least 7 children comprised of at least one son and six daughters.
(1) Francis Devereux (1819)
(2) Cathrine Devereux (1820)
(3) Lettitia Devereux (1821) married John Bagnall, Esq. of York St., Dublin, a Solicitor in 1840. (Kilkenny Journal & Leinster Commercial Literary Advertiser (Wed. 22 April 1840, p. 3).
(4) Margaret Devereux (1823) at Kilkenny married in 1851, James Edmond Howlet, eldest son of Doctor Howlett, of New Ross (Dublin Weekly Nation, Sat. 4 Oct. 1851, p. 14).
(5) Mary Catherine Devereux (1828) died on the 8th of June 1840. (Freeman’s Journal, Thurs. 11 June 1840, p. 2).
(6) Marian “Mary Anne” Devereux (1829) died the 25th of April 1835 of scarletina, aged 6. (Kilkenny Journal & Leinster Commercial & Literary Advertiser, Wed. 29 April 1835, p. 3).
(7) Mary Frances Devereux (1831). “Frances” the youngest daughter of Harvey Devereux died aged 5 (Waterford Chronicle, Sat. 18 April 1835 p. 7).
It isn’t clear if Catherine was known as Ellen or if there was another sister. In any event, Ellen Devereux married Bernard William Delany in 1848. “On the 2nd instant [May] in Kilkenny, by the Right Rev. Doctor Walshe, Catholic Bishop of Ossory, Bernard William Delaney, Esq. of Cools, County Westmeath, eldest son of William Delaney, Esq. of Durrow, to Ellen, daughter of the late Harvey Devereux, Esq. of Kilkenny”(Freeman’s Journal, Thurs. 4 May 1848, p. 4).
Harvey Devereux was a solicitor and the family lived on Patrick Street in Kilkenny City (Dublin Evening Post, Sat. 1 Oct. 1825, p. 2). Harvey Devereux was a sub-Sheriff of Kilkenny then circa 1822 he became the Secretary to the Kilkenny Grand Jury. He held this post until his death on the 24th of February in 1847 at Kilkenny (Weekly Freeman’s Journal, Sat. 6 March 1847, p. 8). While Francis Harvey was a child his father joined with others, including the Marquis of Ormond, and placed land deeds in the names of their sons.
Francis Harvey Devereux, Barrister-at-Law
The Dublin Morning Register (Mon. 21 May 1841, p. 3) listed ten men that were called to the Bar. “Francis Harvey Devereux, eldest son of Harvey Devereux, of the City of Kilkenny, Esq.” was one of the ten. The newspaper marked each of the ten new barristers who were Roman Catholics. Francis Harvey Devereux was one of the three men identified as Roman Catholic by the newspaper. He was the only person listed from Kilkenny.
In early 1845 it was publicly announced that the Kilkenny Junction Railway was being formed with the Marquis of Ormond as the Chairman. The standing counsel were John Fleming, Esq. Lincoln’s Inn, London. Mathew O’Donnell and Francis Devereux, Esqrs, Dublin and Kilkenny (Gore’s Liverpool General Advertiser, Thurs. 9 January 1845, p. 3).
In 1847, after the death of his father Francis Harvey Devereux applied for his late father’s job as Secretary to the Grand Jury. The following article appeared in the Kilkenny Journal & Leinster Commercial & Literary Advertiser (Wed. 3 March 1847, p. 2).
“Francis Devereux, Esq.—This gentleman has addressed the Grand Jury as candidate for the office of Secretary to that body, now vacant by the death of his father, who for twenty-five years held that office, and discharged its duties very creditably and correctly. Mr. Devereux’s excellent character, and his familiar acquaintance with the onerous duties of Secretary to the Grand Jury, will, we trust, secure for him his election.” It does not appear that he was successful.
In 1849, Francis Harvey Devereux married his brother-in-law’s sister. The newspapers reported that Francis Harvey Devereux, Esq. of Kilkenny, barrister-at-law, married Fanny Mary, daughter of William Delaney, Esq., JP of Durrow, Queen’s County. The Durrow, Co. Laois, records reveal that Francis Devereux married Frances Delaney (c. 1820-1889) on 9 October 1849 (Limerick Reporter, Tues. 16 Oct. 1849, p. 3).
Ringville House
Lady Esmonde of Ringville House was properly known as Dame Letitia Esmond (c. 1781-1851). She was locally revered for helping the poor and establishing and supporting a school at Ringville “for poor children in the immediate neighbourhood of her residence.” In addition to leaving money to build the Catholic Cathedral in Kilkenny she also left £500 for Masses for the repose of souls including Harvey Devereux, late of Kilkenny City” (Dublin Evening Packet & Correspondent, Thurs. 22 Jan. 1852, p. 3).
See our post of 7 October 2023 which explains that Lady Esmonde’s uncle, Mr. Devereux purchased Ringville from Edmond Forristal. It is assumed that Harvey Devereux was a cousin to Lady Esmonde.
Update of 18 May 2025–In October 1798 “a shocking murder was committed within a few miles of Waterford by an armed bandit, who came to the house of Mr. Devereux, of Ringville, first shot him, and then plundered the house of £600. The circumstances are as follows: After having placed sentinels at the door, the murderers got upstairs, unheard to Mr. Devereux’s room, and demanded his arms; which he having twice refused to give them, two shots were fired through his door, one of instantaneously killed him” (Stamford Mercury, Fri. 2 Nov. 1798, p. 2). “The perpetrator’s of the murder of Nicholas Devereux, Esq. of Ringville, are known” and a strict search is being made for them (Freeman’s Journal, Thurs. 1 Nov. 1798, p. 3).
By 1853, Francis Harvey Devereux was residing in Ringville House. From the description provided in advertisements in 1860 it was a fine house with 9 bedrooms and 3 sitting rooms situated on 70 arable acres. Soon Francis Harvey Devereux was a local magistrate, grand juror and a member of the Board of Guardians. Within a few years he was elected chair of the Waterford Board of Guardians.
From newspapers accounts Francis Harvey Devereux appeared to enjoy his country estate and entered some of his stock in local agricultural shows. He also became a member of the Kilkenny & Southeast of Ireland Archaelogical Society. His neighbours John L. Conn of Mount Ida and Peter Strange, Esq. of Aylwardstown House were also members. (“Back Matter.” The Journal of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society 2, no. 2 (1859). http://www.jstor.org/stable/25502578.)
Perhaps the most surprising information located concerns Francis Harvey Devereux’s support for a tenant’s case before a committee of the House of Commons. Not only did he provide a £5 subscription to help fund the tenant’s case he wrote a letter of support and provided legal analysis of how a proposed piece of legislation would gravely injure tenants in Ireland and Scotland (Freeman’s Journal, Fri. 4 March 1853, p. 3).
Rise & Demise of Francis Harvey Devereux
Mr. Christmas of the Waterford Board of Guardians, in 1856, “proposed that Francis Harvey Devereux, a gentleman who had filled the office of Chairman during the last year with great ability and zeal, be re-elected to fill that honourable and onerous position during the ensuing one.” He was unanimously elected (Waterford Mail, Sat. 29 March 1856, p. 2).
A year later Francis Harvey Devereux and his wife had their daughter Elizabeth Devereux baptized at St. Mary’s of Kilkenny on 18 February 1857. This is the only baptismal record we could find for a child of the couple.
In the General Election of 1857 Francis Harvey Devereux ran for the Kilkenny City seat. He lost by 41 votes to Michael Sullivan the Independent Irish candidate.
In early 1858, it was announced that “Francis Harvey Devereux, Esq., of Ringville, has, in consequence of ill health, withdrawn from the Chairmanship of the Waterford Board of Guardians (Kilkenny Journal & Leinster Commercial & Literary Advertiser, Wed. 3 March 1858, p. 2).
On April 12, 1860 “in his forty-first year, Francis Harvey Devereux, Esq., J.P., of Ringville, County Kilkenny, a gentleman much and deservedly esteemed as a magistrate and grand juror, chairman of Waterford union, a director of the Waterford and Kilkenny Railway company, or in the capacity of a private gentleman, and in the family circle. The funeral procession from the residence of his brother-in-law, Bernard W. Delany, Esq., Castlewood, for the family burying place at Thomastown, was largely attended on Monday last by all classes of the community. R.I.P. (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 20 April 1860, p. 2).
Sale of Land Interests
Shortly before the death of Francis Harvey Devereux his interest in various lands were sold. In County Tipperary, for example, two lots were sold on the 16th of March.
LOT 1—Part of the lands of Currilough called Stonepark, containing 18, 2r, 27 p, Irish measure, and producing a net annual rent of £21 5s 10d, and of an estimated value of £43 11s 6d. and Lot 2—Other part of the land of Currilogue containing 32a, 1r, 28 p, Irish measure, and producing a net annual rent of £46 10s 2d. (Clonmel Chronicle, Wed. 15 Feb. 1860).
Carrignurra, Slieverue & Part of Davidstown, Glenmore
The Waterford News & Star (Fri. 8 June 1860, p. 3) reported that the lands of Carriganurra in the Estate of Francis H. Devereux, held in fee simple, containing 180 acres with a net rent of £180 19s sold to Mr. Cherry, in trust, for £4,750. A few days later it was revealed that the “townland of Carrignurra, situated in the Barony of Ida and county Kilkenny, the estate of the late Francis H. Devereux, J.P., and containing nearly four hundred acres … sold, in the Landed Estates Court, to John L. Comes )(sic) [Conn] Esq. of Mount Ida, in said county, to whose property it is contiguous, for the sum of £4,750” (Tipperary Free Press, Tues. 12 June 1860, p. 4).
After the sale to Conn the Kilkenny Moderator (Wed. 27 June 1860, p. 1) published a notice “that the Schedule of Incumbrances affecting the lands of Cariganurra, otherwise Carrignora, otherwise Cariganoroe, otherwise Davidstown, situate in the Barony of Ida, and County of Kilkenny, formerly the estate of Francis Harvey Devereux, is lodged with the Clerk of the Records of this Court, and any person having any claim not therein inserted, or objecting thereto, either on account of the amount or the priority of any charge therein reported to him or any other person, or for any other reason, is required to lodge an objection thereto, stating the particulars of his demand, and duly verified, with the said Clerk, on or before the 14th day of July, at 11 o’clock before the Honourable Judge Dobbs, at his Court in Dublin, when instructions will be given for the final settlement of the Schedule…”
It is not clear what encumbrances were associated with the former land of Francis Harvey Devereux other than what he may have agreed with tenants since he owned the land in fee simple.
Auction at Ringville
Within six months of Francis H. Devereux’s untimely death it was advertised that Ringville House and 70 acres would be rented “For such terms as may be agreed.” Of particular note in the advertisement was the fact that a steamer passed every day to and from New Ross and Waterford (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 5 October 1860, p. 1).
County Kilkenny—To be Let, from 29th September Instant, for such terms as may be agreed upon, The House and Demense of Ringville, containing about 70 Irish Acres of primer arable and meadow land. Ringville is beautifully situated over the river Barrow, and commands an extensive view of the picturesque scenery at the entrance of the Waterford Harbour, and afford every facility for the purposes of yachting, fishing and hunting. It is distant five miles from Waterford and eight from New Ross, a steamer passing daily to and from each place. The house is in excellent repair and contains three sitting rooms and nine bedrooms, with suitable offices, garden etc. For particulars as to terms etc. application to be made to E. Smithwick, Esq. Kilkreene, Kilkenny; or B.W. Delany, Esq., Castlewood, Durrow.
An auction of stock, crops, furniture etc. takes place at Ringville on the 1st October.”
Update of 18 May 2025–The Waterford Mail (Mon. 15 Nov. 1869, p. 2) published a notice for the Landed Estates Court of Ireland, in the matter of the estate of John Walter Devereux. Devereux was the owner and petitioner. He was seeking to sell on 7 December 1869, his life estate in part of the lands of Ringville, otherwise, Rochestown. The tract, including Marshes contained 213 statute acres and 24 perches. The land was held in fee and produced a net yearly rent of £284 4s. 7d. Devereux was described as being in his 45th year, and a proposal for an Assurance on his life was accepted by the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Company for £5,000, at £3 per cent, for which, or for any less sum, a purchaser can take out a policy on payment of the premiums.
[Editor’s note–John Walter Devereux was a solicitor. In 1853 his professional address was 4 Bachelor’s Walk (Thom’s Irish Almanac and Official Directory With the Post Office Dublin City and County Directory, p. 1072.) In 1857 he was at 5 Harcourt St, and Kilkenny (Thom’s Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: Dublin Directory, p. 1654). It is likely that John Walter Devereux was a brother or cousin of Francis Harvey Devereux].
The Widow
It appears that Frances Devereux died on 31 May 1889 at the age of 69. She lived on William St. in Kilkenny City and was the widow of a solicitor. If this is the correct Frances Devereux she survived her husband by 29 years. Unfortunately, no information could be located regarding their daughter Elizabeth (b. 1857).
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
John L. Conn (1812-1893) of Mount Ida, Rochestown, Glenmore [Updated]
Bigamist John Lamley Conn (1812-1893)
Martin Forristal, of Ballinlammy, Glenmore wrote an excellent article entitled “Mount Ida” which may be found on our guest authors’ page by clicking here. In tracing the history of Mount Ida, Martin revealed that John L. Conn (1812-1893) of Mount Ida was a bigamist keeping his lawful wife in Glenmore and his mistress and children in Dublin.
While searching for other information we came across two articles involving John L. Conn. The first is from May 1859 and involves the attempted burglary of Mount Ida. The second article is from May 1883 and involves a criminal case brought against a Glenmore man named Patrick Walsh for intimidation. Both newspaper accounts provide an interesting glimpse into the state of criminal justice in Glenmore in the mid to late 19th century.
Attempted Burglary of Mount Ida, Glenmore
On Wednesday the 4th of May 1859 men attempted to burgle Mount Ida. The following account was found in the Waterford Mail (Tues. 10 May 1859).
Burglarious Attempt—We regret to hear that on Tuesday night, or rather Wednesday morning last, between the hours of 12 and one o’clock, a party of burglars attacked Mount Ida House, the residence of John L. Conn, Esq., situate at Rochestown, barony of Ida and county of Kilkenny. They forced the shutters of a window in the east wing of the building, and were in the act of breaking open a door, with an iron bar and a wooden bar acting as levers under it, when the noise was heard of one of the maid servants who slept in the apartment over it, and who ran up and called her master. Mr. Conn, with more courage than prudence, sallied out armed with a gun, but the scoundrels heard the opening of the lock and ran off, leaving their implements behind, and the night being very dark, Mr. Conn did not get a shot at them, they were, however, disappointed of their booty.
We are astonished to hear that there is no magistrate in the district, which contains at least 30 square miles, and that the nearest police station is several miles off, and we have no hesitation in saying that the government authorities incur a deep responsibility if this exceptional state of things be not at once rectified. We hear the constable of the nearest police station made an examination of the place the following evening.
This article indicates that in 1859 there was no police barracks in Glenmore Village.
Glenmore Intimitation Case
Nearly 25 years later, a former tenant of John L. Conn was charged and convicted of intimidation concerning the letting of his former 40 acre farm. The account of the trial appeared in the Waterford Standard (Sat. 19 May 1883, p. 3). Patrick Walsh in May 1883 was in the employment of Mr. Cody and was charged with intimidation under the provisions of the Prevention of Crimes Act.
It was alleged that on 3 May 1883 at Rathinure without legal authority, the defendant used intimidation toward Michael Roche, when he advised him through his cousin to abstain from doing what he had a legal right to do—namely, to become tenant of a certain farm on the estate of John Lamley Conn, of Mount Ida. A special petty sessions court was held at Kilmacow on 17 May before Mr. Bodkin R.M. (Resident Magistrate) and H. Thynne, R.M. Mr. Hartford, the Kilkenny Crown Solicitor, prosecuted, and the defendant had no legal representation.
The defendant, Patrick Walsh, and his brother John Walsh, had been in possession of a farm which was the property of John Lamley Conn. Their uncle had the farm before they took possession. They fell into arrears on the rent, but went to John Conn and came to an agreement that in consideration for a sum of money, they agreed to give up the land and not attempt to redeem it. At the time of the trial the farm had been idle for three years.
On the 5th of February 1883, Michael Roche sent a proposal to John Conn that he would rent the farm for £1 per acre. On 3 May 1883 about ten o’clock in the evening the police were on patrol at Glenmore. The police observed the defendant with his brother John Walsh and in the company of James Costello.
The police overheard the defendant speak to John Roche, a cousin of Michael Roche. It was alleged that in a lane of Rathinure, Patrick Walsh said, “That is my land; I had the land before Conn had it. What do I care about Conn, even if he has two bobbies [police] mind him—I will pull the trigger, for I will swing for any person who takes that land.” [At this time murder was a hanging offence. The defendant’s alleged use of the phrase “I will swing” was a threat to kill anyone who took the land.]
Witness 1: John Lamley Conn
The first witness called was John Lamley Conn who was summoned to appear. It appears from the newspaper account that he would not have attended except that he received a summons. Conn testified that he lived at Mount Ida and had some land in Rochestown. He owned the lands in Rochestown for about 40 years. He acquired them by purchase in the Court of Chancery.
Conn stated that he knew the defendant and his brother John Walsh, and the farm that they once occupied was about 40 acres. They fell in arrears and were given every facility to redeem the farm. They came to Conn and asked for money as good will. Conn gave them money in exchange for them voluntarily leaving the farm. Conn testified that he had not seen the defendant since he left the farm voluntarily.
Witness 2: Constable Williiam Broderick
The second witness was Constable William Broderick who testified that he and Sub-Constable Patrick Donohue were patrolling on 3 May 1883. While in Rathinure in a lane off the public road he heard Patrick Walsh say, “That is my land. I had that land before; what do I care if Conn has two bobbies minding him. What do I care about Conn?”
Constable Broderick then testified that he believed the defendant said, he would “pull his finger if any man would take the land.” He testified that the sub-constable said that he heard the defendant say that he would “pull the trigger.” He testified that the defendant said, “advise him, advise him—you know him; for I will swing for any man who takes that land.”
The constables jumped over the ditch into the lane and from John Roche obtained the names and addresses of all the men present. The defendant walked past the constables. When the constables caught up to the defendant the defendant was asked about the language he used concerning Conn. The defendant replied that “they would be all good friends yet.”
The defendant asked Constable Broderick concerning his character and the Constable responded that he only knew the defendant about 8 months, he knew nothing against the defendant and had heard nothing against him. Magistrate Thynne asked if the defendant was “worse of drink that night.” Constable Broderick replied that the defendant had drink taken, and he had been coming from the public house, but he could have been justified in summoning him for drunkenness.
Witness 3: Sub-Constable Donohoe
Sub-constable Donohoe was called and sworn and stated that he did not want to correct the information provided by Constable Broderick. At this point the Magistrates wanted Mr. Hartford to examine Mr. Roche. Mr. Hartford refused and Magistrate Bodkin said that they would examine the man themselves. Mr. Hartford replied, “If you do, you must do it on your own responsibility—I am here on behalf of the Crown.” The defendant then called John Roche, but did not ask him any questions. The Magistrates began to ask Roche questions who merely testified that the defendant told him to tell his cousin, Michael Roche, not to take the land.
At this point from the newspaper account the magistrates appear to have lost patience with the defendant. He had a list of witnesses, but then stated he had no questions for them. The defendant was asked, “Who is John Fitzgerald?” The defendant replied, “He is the man I worked with for the last two years; he is the only man I worked with since I left the farm.”
Mr. Cody then testified, “This man is now in my employment, and I never heard anything against him.” When asked if the defendant drank much, Cody replied that he did not. However, when he did drink “he does not be very steady.” The Magistrates then began to quiz Cody on whether he wanted the land in question. Cody replied that he did not; he had enough land of his own.
The Magistrates
Prior to 1898 defendants could not testify on their own behalf. In this case the Magistrates asked the defendant if he had every been convicted. Thus, while not considered competent to testify concerning what occurred the defendant was considered competent to incriminate himself. The defendant responded, “It was for being drunk; drink is my failing; I was convicted of being drunk 11 years ago.”
Magistrate Bodkin: “You are accused of a very serious offence, which has been very clearly proved against you. The constable says you were not so drunk as not to know what you were about. However, he has taken upon himself to give you a good character so long as he has known you. That has had an influence on our mind, and, therefore, we will let you off with two months’ imprisonment at hard labour.”
Some of our readers might recall that Magistrate Bodkin was present at the Ballyfacey Eviction Riots of August 1885 and was told by Fr. Neary that his wife would be going to bed a widow if he persisted. For our article concerning the Ballyfacey Evictions click here.
Unfortunately, without first names or townlands it is difficult to determine who was the employer, Mr. Cody. Even with first names it is difficult to identify the persons in the newspaper account of the intimidation trial with common names like Walsh and Roche and without townlands or ages. If anyone can provide further information concerning any of these local men please post below or email glenmore.history@gmail.com.
[Update: Ann FItzgerald was able to identify the two Walsh brothers. John Walsh (1835) and Patrick Walsh (1837) were born in Rathpatrick, Slieverue to Nicholas Walsh and Judith Magrath. We were able to locate baptismal records for other children including: Jeremiah Walsh (1833); James Walsh (1840); William Walsh (1843) and Anne Walsh (1847). Patrick Walsh (1837) never married. John Walsh (1835) married Margaret Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, on 16 Feb. 1870. Margaret was the daughter of Richard FItzgerald. Two of John & Margaret’s sons emigrated to New York and married two Hanrahan sisters from Glenmore Village.]
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh