Peter Strange of Aylwardstown House
now browsing by tag
James Heffernan (1825-1891) from Aylwardstown, Glenmore to Glenmore, Wisconsin
Recently a reader in the US, Lucy Neale Duke, found glenmore-history.com and we were able to provide some information on her ancestor’s family the Heffernan’s of Aylwardstown, Glenmore and she shared an amazing letter that was written on 1 February 1874 to her ancestor James Heffernan. James Heffernan emigrated to Glenmore, Wisconsin in 1850. We have attempted to determine whether James had a hand in the naming of Glenmore, Wisconsin or whether he was attracted to the name and settled there. We reached out to the city clerk as well as the local Brown County library but are still searching for an answer to that question. We were provided with a copy of a photo on the left of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Glenmore, Brown Co., Wisconsin that James Heffernan helped to establish.
James Heffernan (1825-1891) of Glenmore
It was difficult to find a baptismal record for James Heffernan. However, his death cert in 1891 (information was usually provided by the widow) provided several important facts and dates. James Heffernan was the son of Mary Delaney and John Heffernan. He was a farmer with a date of birth listed as 20 March 1829. He was born at Glenmore, Kilkenny, Ireland. He married Bridget O’Leary. He died on 14 November 1891 at his home in Glenmore, Brown Co., Wisconsin and was buried in St. Mary’s cemetery. (Wisconsin US Death Records, 1872-2004 for James Heffernan, Brown Co. , Vol 1-Vol 2 NO. 1744). See, Find Grave to view his headstone.
Slieverue/Glenmore Parish Records
For whatever reason no Heffernan baptism could be located in 1829 for James. However, utilizing his mother’s name on 13 September 1825 at Aylwardstown, Glenmore, a James was baptized the son of Mary Delaney and John //. The sponsors were Michael Delany and Ellen//.
John Heffernan and his wife Mary Delaney married 17 February 1808. Their eldest child was Patrick Heffernan was baptized 1 April 1809. Thus, at the time of his birth James’s eldest brother was 16 years older than James.
Aylwardstown Glenmore Farm
Patrick Heffernan married Alicia “Ally” Irish on 7 February 1842. Alicia “Ally” was from Nicholastown, Slieverue. The witnesses were Patrick Delaney and Catherine Hickey. The couple had at least 5 children. [1] John Heffernan (bapt 22 Dec. 1842); [2] Mary Heffernan (bapt 23 Nov. 1844); [3] Michael Heffernan (bapt. 2 Sept. 1847); [4] James Heffernan (bapt 22 Dec. 1852); and [5] Thomas Heffernan (bapt 1855).
It is not clear what happened to John Heffernan (bapt 1842), but Michael Heffernan (1847-1924) got the Aylwardstown farm. He married on 13 February 1879, Bridget Kennedy (1854-1947) of the Pierce Kennedy family of Rathinure, Glenmore. The couple had at least 14 children. There was an awful blizzard that winter of ‘47 when Bridgie died. According to Danny Dowling (1927-2021) Bridgie was the last deceased person in Glenmore carried across the fields to the Church in Glenmore for Mass and burial. The trek was over 2 miles and she was carried by her sons, grandsons and neighbours through the drifted fields.
The Children of Michael Heffernan and Bridgie Kennedy
[1] Patrick Heffernan (bapt 18 Jan. 1880) (Lived in London when his mother died in 1947).
[2] John Heffernan (b. 13 June 1881) married and moved to Chicago. His wife tragically died and he brought his two small children home. His parents reared them until they were teenagers and he remarried and brought them back to Chicago. His son Raymond was shortly after returning to Chicago hit and killed by a car.
[3] James Heffernan (b. 10 July 1882)
[4] Peter Heffernan (b. 31 Dec. 1883-1966) was Garda Superintendent
[5] Mary Heffernan (b. 10 May 1855] married an O’Connor from Ballyfacey.
[6] Alice Heffernan (bapt. 21 Nov. 1886) married Ned Roche of Rathinure.
[7] Thomas Heffernan (b. 28 March 1888) married into a farm in Kearneybay, Glenmore.
[8] Richard Heffernan (b. 12 June 1889)
[9] Michael Heffernan (b. 7 Oct. 1890-1974) lived in Kilkenny City. See our post of 22 October 2023.
[10] Bridget Heffernan (22 May 1892)
[11] Andrew Heffernan (20 Nov. 1893-1975) married Bridget Roche (1896-1987). He farmed
the Aylwardstown farm.
[12] Nicholas Heffernan (b. 27 June 1896) (lived in Dublin when his mother died in 1947).
[13] Mon. William Heffernan (1893-1973) ministered and died in Australia. See our post of 15 October 2023 and family photo at his ordination.
[14] Stephan Heffernan (b. 15 Jan. 1898) Baby of the family. After the War of Independence, Stephen moved to Chicago, married and had two daughters. See guest author Brian Forristal, “A Place to Hide” & “The Tans are Coming.“
Quite a lot of information can be found on our H Glenmore Surnames regarding the Heffernan’s https://glenmore-history.com/families/h-surnames/
The Early Years of Glenmore, Brown Co., Wisconsin
From a brief history provided by Glenmore, Wisconsin it appears that forests originally covered Glenmore. As the forests were removed the land was sold to settlers who established farms. James Heffernan was one of the early settlers who established a farm. See, The Story of Glenmore, by David Koenig (1976). We know from James Heffernan’s 1891 obituaries that he emigrated in 1850 and settled in Glenmore on a farm he farmed for the rest of his life.
“The first settlers to come to Glenmore, or in that vicinity, are said to have located there as early as 1850. Those who were Catholic among that number were provided with no particular place of worship at that time, but were attended by visiting priests.” Mass was said in private homes The first Mass is said to have been held in the residence of Mr. O’Leary. [We believe this was James’s father-in-law’s home]. This continued until 1874 when a church was erected. It was torn down in 1886 and entirely rebuilt (The Catholic Church in Wisconsin: A History of the Catholic Church in Wisconsin from the Earliest Time to the Present Day, Catholic Historical Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. (1895-1898) p. 640).
The 1873 Letter
On 1 February 1873, Thomas Heffernan (1856-1876) of Aylwardstown wrote to his Uncle James Heffernan in Glenmore, Brown Co., Wisconsin. The letter is below and provides some fascinating details regarding the death of Peter Strange as well as the terrible weather. Tragically, Thomas died of TB at Aylwardstown at the age of 21 of TB. The death register (online) provides Thomas died 29 Oct. 1876 and his brother, James Heffernan (bapt. 1852) was present when he died. Thomas was employed as a draper’s assistant.
Aylwardstown Glenmore
Ferrybank
Ireland
February 1st, 1873
My dear uncle James,
It is under my fathers fond directions and kind permission I now take the opportunity of sending to you this little messenger of inquiry hoping to learn by it that you and all your family and friends are in quite as perfect a state of health as this leaves me and all our family in at present thank God.
Though there are numbers of people here in Ireland dying around us with all sorts of sickness in consequence of the most unwholesome air which nearly overspread the whole land all caused by a continual fall of rain for the past two years without scarcely getting one month together fine. You may easily guess how the people stand here and what a position they hold when you hear that there is no less than Nine families living in one of our neighboring Parish Chapels all driven from their homes by the immence torrents of rain and floods of water that knocked and swept away their houses and far worse still, there is no prospect of cultivation whatsoever.
It is thought by all here that there will be a famine amongst us and even the priests are of the same opinion though they are nearly tired from praying for fine weather but now we have nothing more to do than to hope for better days to come which I am personally looking out for in my new career of life which I must suppose it is totally unknown to you as there was no communication between you and my father for the past few years with the exception of a few words The Rev. P. Dollan told of you and also a newspaper came from your sister Mary immediately after the burning of Chicago [the Great Chicago fire burned 8-10 October 1871] and even then she but merely wrote her name without any address then we could even return thanks for her persevering remembrance of the dear people and land that gave her birth. We would have written to you long before this time but for anxiously waiting daily for a letter from some of you as an answer to one my father sent some time long previous to this and then by not receiving it we were more than astonished why you could be so ungreatful (sic) as not even to drop us a line no matter how trifeling the news may be anything from you is interesting to us.
I am the youngest of the family and I am serving my Apprenticeship in one of the oldest and largest Drapery houses in Waterford Walter O’Donnell and company Quay and have about eighteen months more to serve. There is three more brothers in Aylwardstown still and one sister all of which are too old to fill any situation respectable enough to live in Ireland. Some of them say they will follow your footsteps and fly to that land where there is freedom and plenty for all.
I am sorry for having to relate to you a sad tale of Mr. Peter Strange who was interred in Kilmacavogue on Christmas day last and deplorable it is, to explain that he did not receive the blessed Sacraments since his confirmation and for the past six years did not even go to Church or Chapel but used to ride on one of his horses off to Rochestown on Sundays when the public join in union to go to Mass so that Rochestown proved fatal to him in the end and Mr. Conn invited. him to Supper on the very Sunday night before Christmas and at ten O’clock that night he walked out of Mr. Conn’s parlour and breathed his last in the Hall. The inquest was held in his own house and the verdict was he died with the disease of the heart some of his own friends begged of the Parish priest to pray for him but the application was in vain the priest’s reply was, he was a man that broke the Commandments and died as he lived and it was not his duty to pray or even bless the clay for such a man!
Dear uncle James I suppose you will think it very strange when you get this letter from me, a person that you never saw and though I never saw you there is still within me a fatherly love for you in consequence of hearing you so often praised and spoken of among all our friends and surrounding neighbors. Here as a small token of my affection I enclose my likeness which I hope you will accept not for its value but as a memorial of your own boyhood among all your dearly loved friends here in Ireland though I may be somewhat changed contrary to the picture as it is more than two years taken but in any case it will give you an idea of the person who is now communicating with you and sincerely hoping you will send your likeness also at your earliest convenience and you will bring much happiness to the mind of my father not alone to him but all the members of the family.
Dear Uncle – my father and mother are quite as strong as ever and met with but very little sickness I may say while I remember and we are fighting hard through life which is very difficult on account of the climate being so very much changed so much so that if you were to return here again I don’t suppose you would know the dear old spot, as for the people there is none of them here to be found unless a few that would be no good elsewhere. They are leaving this country in thousands daily and now wonder when they would not get freedom which is so long due to them, but left in Slavery that which the Christ Heart could not go through.
Dear Uncle – I have nothing more of any importance to communicate at present as it is my first time in addressing you but that my father and all the family join me in sending their tenderest love to you and wishing you all the compliments the present season can afford. Sincerely hoping will send a letter soon and let us know all particulars of yourself and my Aunts position in life you and state of health.
I am
Yours Sincerely affectionate Nephew
Thomas Heffernan
Obituaries of James Heffernan (1825-1891) of Glenmore
We have included two obituaries for James Heffernan as they provide additional information including that James was 6 feet 3 inches tall considered a very tall height in the 19th century.
Death of Another Old Settler–De Pere News, 21 Nov. 1891, p. 1
James Heffernan died at his home in Glenmore Saturday, the outcome of a severe attack of grip last winter. He was 63 years of age. James Heffernan was born in Ireland, and removed to this country in 1850, making his home at Glenmore, in this country, up to the time of his death. He was a public spirited citizen, and a good neighhour and a man not found wanting in any of the relations of life. His wife and eight children are left to mourn his loss. The funeral was held at the Glenmore Catholic Church, Monday morning, Rev Pellegrin, assisted by Revs. Rice and Masschelein, officiating.
An Old Settler Gone–Green Bay Advocate, 26 Nov. 1891, p. 3
An Old Settler Gone—On Saturday, November 14th, Mr. James Heffernan passed away at his home in the town of Glenmore after an illness of several months duration, his suffering having caused by a complication of diseases.
Mr. Heffernan was an Irishman by birth, and at death was about sixty-five years of age. He left his native land in 1850 and came to the United States. Soon after arriving in America, he came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in the town of Glenmore, Brown Co. where he has since resided. He was a splendid specimen of old Irish stock, standing about 6 ft. 3 inches in height, and fashioned in a strong and robust mould. He was a man of broad character and in all walks of life was a true type of manhood. He was a very popular man and took deep interest in the affairs of his town.
The funeral occurred from the Glenmore Catholic Church Monday and was a very large one. Deceased leaves a wife, six daughters and two sons to mourn the demise of a kind and indulgent husband and parent. One of his daughters, Miss Stella Heffernan, is a teacher in one of the public schools of this city.
*************************************
Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Special thanks to Lucy Neale Duke for reaching out and sharing the 1873 letter.
We also would like to thank Jeff Gilderson-Duwe, Local History Specialist of the Brown County Library for locating and sending on the obituaries as well as the excerpt regarding the church and photo of the Immaculate Conception of Glenmore, Brown Co., Wisconsin.
Also thanks to Cindy Ossmann, Glenmore, WI. City Clerk for forwarding, The Story of Glenmore, by David Koenig (1976).
One Hundred Years Ago: December 1922
What were our Glenmore ancestors talking about or experiencing 100 years ago? We cannot know for certain but local newspapers can provide some insight. Today, we are going to ignore the big events that happened in Dublin that are covered in most history books, such as the assassination of Dáil members and the State Executions. We will focus on more local events reported in local newspapers concerning the Civil War, crime and Christmas in December 1922.
Attacks on Railways
The Civil War continued and railroads continued to be a favoured target of the Irregulars.
Monday the Waterford up train (GSWR) was held up by armed men in the vicinity of Snowhill. All mail was removed, then passengers were ordered off. A length of track had been removed from the line almost at the mouth of the tunnel. When the driver refused to start the engine the raiders did it causing a derailment. The wrecked train was then burned. The engine, two carriages and the guard’s van were destroyed. The passengers walked the five miles back to Waterford (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Dec., 1922, p. 5).
It was reported on the 15th of December that four New Ross men were arrested for holding up a train of the D & SE Railway at Palace East armed with rifles and revolvers. They allegedly stole stamps worth £2500. Michael Allen, the guard, reported that when the train got to Palace East the armed men ordered him to the far end of the platform. When he was allowed back to the train, he found the mail bags bound for Waterford lying open on the platform. He made it to New Ross but was not able to travel to Waterford until the following day as a bridge between Glenmore and Waterford had been blown up (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Dec. 1922, p. 5).
On the morning of the 16th of December, the passenger train from Waterford to New Ross was held up by armed men between Waterford and Glenmore. Five or six bags of mail bound for Glenmore and New Ross were stolen (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 Dec. 1922, p. 5).
As the damage to infrastructure increased some lines shut down. The G.S.&W. line between Waterford and Wexford was one of the lines to shut down. Lorries were used to bring goods from Wexford and from Waterford via New Ross to Ballycullane. Boats were used to bring goods from Waterford to Campile, Ballyhack, Arthurstown and Duncannon. Just prior to Christmas it was not known when the rail line would be operating again (New Ross Standard, 22 Dec. 1922, p. 5).
On the Kilkenny to Waterford line the Ballyhale goods station was raided at the beginning of the month and a large quantity of goods taken. A goods train was raided and looted between Mullinavat and Ballyhale (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Dec., 1922, p. 5). In Waterford the central cabin at the Great Southern and Western Station at Waterford North was burned by armed men. The 65 lever cabin was considered one of the finest of the system (Munster Express, Sat. 9 Dec., 1922, p. 5).
Attacks in Waterford
On Saturday the 25th of November at 10:45 p.m. shooting commenced in Waterford. It started at the Waterford North Station with shots being fired from the other side of the river and from Larry’s Knock. An attack then took place at the Ballybricken Prison. A bomb also was thrown into the Infantry Barracks in Barracks street. The explosion shattered the Barracks windows as well as private homes in the area. Several people were standing in the street at the time but all escaped injury (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Dec., 1922, p. 5).
When the Waterford Corporation met on the night of the 5th of December precautions were taken. A military guard, consisting of an officer and nine men, with rifles and fixed bayonets, took up positions at the entrances and within Town Hall (Munster Express, Sat. 9 Dec. 1922, p. 2). On the night of the 13th at 8 p.m. a bomb was thrown at the GPO from Keyzier Street. A man and a girl walking on the Quay were hit by splinters of the bomb, but they were not injured (Munster Express, Sat. 16 Dec. 1922, p. 5).
Battle Near Carrickshock
At the end of November a large scale battle which lasted for several hours took place near Carrickshock, Kilkenny. “The intense machine gun fire and rifle fire could be heard for miles around.” Capt. Walsh, of the National Army and one volunteer were wounded. Three Irregulars were wounded and left behind. Capt. Walsh was a native of Hugginstown district and was in command of the National troops in Thomastown. His wounds were described as serious” (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Dec., 1922, p. 5).
Ferry Mountgarret Bridge
The damaged Ferry Mountgarret Bridge continued to provide difficulties for persons attempting to cross it. As the brewery car was crossing the broken bridge on Saturday the 25th of November the planks gave way, and the horse’s legs went down. This caused the car to tilt and two barrels of beer toppled into the river and floated. “The horse was got free” from the broken planks, and a man pursued the barrels in a cot or small, shallow fishing boat. He brought them to land. The barrels were not damaged (New Ross Standard, 1 Dec. 1922, p. 8). Unfortunately, the newspaper did not indicate what happened to the beer after it was rescued.
Criminality & Policing
As in previous months it is often difficult to distinguish between actions of the Irregulars and those of armed criminals.
At the end of November, shortly after the conclusion of the performance, five masked and armed men entered the “Coliseum picture house,” of Waterford. The armed men forced the manager to open the safe. They left with the night’s takings which was between £40 to £50 (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Dec., 1922, p. 5).
As the Cleristown (Wexford) parishioners left Mass they found four young men tied to their church gates. The young men were not natives of the parish, and they wore signs that read “Robbers beware. The I.R.A. are on your track.” The men were captured and court martialled by the local I.R.A. for having robbed several people and having burgled several homes in the Kilmannon district near Cleristown. In addition to being tied to the church gates the young men were ordered to leave the county within 24 hours (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 Dec. 1922, p. 4).
The unarmed Civic Guards, the forerunner of the Garda Síochána, sent a sergeant and four men to Mullinavat, to be stationed in the old RIC barracks (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Dec., 1922, p. 5). Just before Christmas a small detachment of the Civic Guard also went on duty in Tramore (Munster Express, Sat. 23 Dec. 1922, p. 6).
At the beginning of December the Dublin Metropolitan Police began to advertise in local newspapers for recruits. Here is the information provided:
“Min. Height, 5ft. 10ins.; Min. Chest Measurement 36ins.; Min. Weight 11 stone. Age 20 to 26 Years. A constable on joining will receive 70s. a week, rising to 95s. a week with pay of higher ranks in proportion. Single men provided with Barrack Accommodation, fuel and light free. A rent allowance, up to £30 per annum, payable to men not accommodated in barracks. All appointments to the higher ranks of the Force, up to that of Chief Superintendent (£700 to £800 per annum) filled by promotion of Members of the Force” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 1 Dec. 1922, p. 7).
Glenmore in the News: A Wedding, a Funeral & a Memorial
Capt. W.F. Carrigan, son of the late Nicholas and Mrs. Carrigan, of Clara, Kilkenny married on 2 November 1922, at St. John’s (Kilkenny) Nora Veronica Barron, daughter of William and Mrs. Baron, of Brownstown, Kilkenny. The groom’s brother Rev. N. Carrigan, C.C. officiated assisted by their uncle the Very Rev. Canon W. Carrigan, P.P. Durrow.
The groom in addition to being a member of “one of the best known and most respect families in Co. Kilkenny” was actively connected with the Volunteer movement since 1916. He received a commission on the establishment of the National Army. The bride “a charming young lady,” was a granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cashin, of Shanbogh, New Ross.” The best man was Capt. Hayes, Military Barracks, Kilkenny. The bridesmaid was Miss Mary Butler, of Moulerstown, Glenmore (Kilkenny People, Sat. 9 Dec. 1922, p. 5). Mary Butler (b.c. 1902) was the daughter of James Butler (farmer, Moulerstown) and his wife Bridget Cashin (Shanbogh).
The Rev. Edward Hartley, of New Ross, died on the 27th of November at the age of 57. He was a brother of the late Rev, James Hartley, P.P. Cushingstown and had a sister also in the religious life. At his funeral there were 27 priests in the choir. “The interment took place in Glenmore where his parents are buried” (New Ross Standard, 1 December 1922, p. 5). Rev. Edward Hartley (c. 1865-1922), Rev. James Hartley and Sr. M. Patrick (Presentation Convent, Mooncoin) were some of the children of Philip Hartley (c. 1830-1918) a native of Glenmore. See our post of 18 Oct. 2020 for information regarding Philip’s kin Edmund Hartley (1836-1915) who visited Glenmore and New Ross in 1913.
In a column entitled Fifty Years Ago—the Death of Mr. Peter Strange, of Aylwardstown was recalled from the Waterford News of 28th December 1872. “Mr. Strange was a man of profound learning, and was greatly respected for his genial disposition and his many high qualities of heart and head. At an early age he was called to the Irish Bar, and as a speaker and a writer he displayed remarkable ability. He was a near relative of the late Cardinal Wiseman…His remains were interred on Christmas Day in the family burial place in Kilmacevogue” (sic) (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 29 Dec. 1922, p. 14). The Strange grave marker is in the gable wall of the Kilivory church ruins.
Glenmore GAA
The Southern Branch of the Kilkenny County GAA committee met at Knocktopher on Sunday the 26th of November to discuss restarting games. Only eleven clubs were represented. “There was a difference of opinion as to the advisability of restarting the games in disturbed areas,” but it was decided to proceed with the fixtures. The only Glenmore fixture agreed was Hugginstown v. Glenmore (Junior Football, 2nd round) at Mullinavat on 7 January 1923 (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Dec., 1922, p. 5).
Glenmore Football Club (the 1922 Co. Kilkenny Senior Football Champions) held their annual dance in the Creamery on Sunday night last. There was a large attendance, and the event was most enjoyable and successful ((Munster Express, Sat. 23 Dec. 1922, p. 6).
On Sunday the 10th of December, the Barrow Rovers and Nore Rangers met in the opening round of the Junior Football Co. Kilkenny Championship. The teams did not line up for play until close to five O’clock. Mr. James Hanrahan, Glenmore, (a member of the Glenmore Senior Football Team) was asked at the last moment to referee. He had no option but to stop the match after half time. It was so dark that the ball could only be seen for a few yards. Hanrahan reported that he did not want to be responsible for any accident that might occur if he allowed the play to proceed in the darkness. The Barrow Rovers proved the superior team. The final score when the game was stopped: Rovers 2 goals, 2 points; Rangers NIL (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Dec. 1922, p. 6).
Unemployment
Unemployment was serious in Waterford. One building yard paid off 25 men in the first week of December (Munster Express, Sat. 2 Dec., 1922, p. 5). Railway employees that were unemployed due to the Rosslare line being closed left for Dublin the first week of December to take up work with the Labour Corps under the Railway Repair and Maintenance Department. These men were unemployed for sixteen weeks and were not eligible for any relief or assistance from any source (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 Dec. 1922, p. 8).
Christmas 1922
Christmas shopping in New Ross was brisk particularly on Saturday the 23rd. “Every street was filled with people and cars, and on the whole shops of every kind did a good trade” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Dec. 1922, p. 4). Notwithstanding the brisk Christmas trade, the St. Vincent de Paul Society assisted people in New Ross over Christmas (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Dec. 1922, p. 4). Another New Ross comment concerned emigrants. “The love of homeland and the relatives left behind…was exemplified by the large number of American letters, many of them containing cheques; …arrived this Christmas” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Dec. 1922, p. 4).
The Munster Express did not comment on Christmas shopping in Waterford City. However, it did state that Christmas “passed off quietly and uneventful, and the weather during the holidays was excellent for the time of year” (Munster Express, Sat. 30 Dec. 1922, p. 4). No midnight Mass was held in any of the Waterford City Churches on Christmas Eve (Munster Express, Sat. 23 Dec. 1922, p. 4) evidently there were fears of people being on the streets if another attack took place.
Christmas Advertisements
A couple of interesting advertisement were on the front page of the Waterford News & Star (Fri. 8 Dec. 1922, p. 1). The first concerned a pawnbroker offering his services for Christmas money and the second advertises a photographic chemist shop.
“Do you want money for Xmas? Would you like to be happy in dull times? We buy anything in furniture or clothing, miscellaneous goods of every description jewellery and cycles. Highest advances. From 20/ to £1,000 on demand. (A postcard brings our representative) Fireproof safes for the protection of valuables. Write, call or wire John Boyce (Est. 1826) Pawnbroker, Jeweller, and Musical Instrument Importer, 85-25 Michael St., Waterford.” Last month we highlighted the murder of pawnbroker Charles Reginald Boyce see our post of 20 November 2022 for further details.
“A large assortment of cameras, mounts, photographic chemicals and appliances kept in stock. Dark room free to customers. George White and Sons, Ltd. Photographic Chemists.”
Shaw’s Department Store (then known as Robertson Ledlie’s) advertised their “Great Christmas Bazaar and Toy Fair filled with hundreds of pounds worth of dolls, toys, games, scooters, prams, rifles, motor cars and every description of goods for useful Xmas presents. Matchless variety and at easy prices. 53 to 59 Quay, Waterford” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 8 Dec. 1922, p. 4).
Farming
Just prior to Christmas Mr. M. Russell, of Carrick-on-Suir, slaughtered one of his bullocks and found a sovereign in the animal’s stomach (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 Dec. 1922, p. 5).
Turkeys featured heavily in the newspapers. Practically all the turkeys in Thomastown district were purchased by Mr. Wm. Hoyne and were delivered on Monday & Tuesday. He bought hundreds of pairs and paid 1s. per lb. Other Thomastown prices included: butter 2s. per lb and eggs 9d. per dozen (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Dec. 1922, p. 8).
The largest turkey brought into New Ross for the Christmas market weighed 25 ½ pounds and several other birds “tipped the scales at 24 and 24 ½ pounds (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Dec. 1922, p. 4). In Clonroche and Adamstown districts of Wexford turkeys were stolen from several farms. One farmer had 17 birds stolen (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 Dec. 1922, p. 8.)
Waterford Glass Sold at Sothby’s
Waterford and other Irish manufactured cut glass was sold at Sotheby’s of London “with no diminution of prices.” Notwithstanding the recent War of Independence. Examples included: A rare large Irish water jug, engraved with crown and Irish harp, dated 1782, sold for £34. A rare pair of Waterford candlesticks (amber coloured) sold for £43 (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 1 Dec. 1922, p. 4).
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above was found in Danny Dowling’s voluminous files and depicts how Christmas trees were delivered in 1922 by ass and cart in small barrels. The photo is from the Freeman’s Journal (21 Dec. 1922, p. 3).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh