Early Appearance of Woulfe Family (Merchants) in Durrus 1730s possibly in connection with Pilchard Trade.

Deeds from Registry of Deeds project:

https://irishdeedsindex.net/mem.php?memorial=62742

https://durrushistory.com/2016/11/06/woulfe-family-of-west-cork-10-generations/

https://durrushistory.com/2015/09/23/an-account-of-the-kilgariff-clonakilty-west-cork-eedy-family-to-clifton-and-bathurst-new-brunswick-canada-some-of-the-names-mentioned-knowles-bateman-beamish-french-morris-stanley-woulfe-c-2/

In a series of deeds transcribed by Ron Price the Woulfes appear, for the first time to my knowledge in the Durrus area.  David, Merchant, Four Mile Water (Durrus), Robert Woulfe, Merchant, Dublin, later in 1737 David wife appears with a clerk John Flanagan. Other names are Robert Winspear who is a farmer in nearby Rossmore but described as Gentleman aged 45 in 1727 (born 1682). The Winispeares are shipwrights in Bantry since around 1630. A Winispeare Toye appears in Clonakilty around 1810.  Richard Coppinger Gent appears 1737 as does Andrew Beazley. A lot of the old Cork Merchant families are in the Bantry area early 18th century as merchants in connection with the pilchards.

 

There are Beasleys in Cork early 19th century coopers. They are related to the Harris family.  The Harris are married into Evenson family mid 18th century with a base in Four Mile Water related to Harris medical family in Cork.

 

It is likely they are all involved in the pilchard industry which collapsed in 1745 where the fish disappears

 

Type of deed Date of current deed 11 Oct 1737 Vol Page Memorial
Demise Date of earlier deed 90 102 63144
No Role(s) in earlier deed(s) Role in current deed(s) Family name Forename Place Occ or title A
A P1 EVANSON Elizabeth of Four Mile Water. COR Mrs
B P2 WOULFE David of Four Mile Water. COR Mrs A
C O WINSPEARE Robert of Rossmore. COR
D WD+WM GERAN Michael of Four Mile Water. COR Gent A
E WD CALLAGHAN Charles of Four Mile Water. COR Gent
F WM FLANAGAN John of Four Mile Water. COR Clerk to B A
Abstract
MS Date registered 22nd Mar 1737/8 Date abstract added 20161222

Abstract made by: Halifax

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Type of deed Date of current deed 3 Mar 1727 Vol Page Memorial
Assignment Date of earlier deed 82 159 57378
No Role(s) in earlier deed(s) Role in current deed(s) Family name Forename Place Occ or title A
A P1 BERNARD Francis of Castlemahon [Bandon], Co Cork Esq; The Hon
B P2 P2 EVANSON Charles of
C P2 P1 EVANSON Nathaniel of A
D P2 P1 COUGHLAN Jeremy of A
E WD BEAZLY Andrew of Four Mile Water [Durrus], Co Cork Gent
F WD WM WINSPEARE Robert of Four Mile Water [Durrus], Co Cork Gent; aged about 45 yrs A
G WD EVANSON Arthur[?] of Four Mile Water [Durrus], Co Cork Gent
H WM COPPINGER Richard of Four Mile Water [Durrus], Co Cork Gent A
I mentioned EVANSON Elizabeth of Widow & Adm of Charles Evanson [B] A
Abstract C&D assigned to B, their share of a lease from A of lands of Coulnahorna, Rossmore, Rossavan, Gerameen [Gearhameen, Durrus] & Classadoo [Clashadoo, Durrus].
MS Date registered 16 Dec 1735 Date abstract added 20180730

Abstract made by: RonPrice

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Type of deed Date of current deed 3 Oct 1735 Vol Page Memorial
Demise [Lease] Date of earlier deed 87 503 62839
No Role(s) in earlier deed(s) Role in current deed(s) Family name Forename Place Occ or title A
A P1 EVANSON Elizabeth of Four Mile Water [Durrus], Co Cork Widow
B P2 WOULFE Thomas of City of Dublin Merchant A
C O adj EVANSON Nathaniel of had adjoining land
D O adj WINSPEAR Robert of had adjoining farm
E WD WOULFE David of Four Mile Water [Durrus], Co Cork Merchant
F WD WM GERAN Michael of Four Mile Water [Durrus], Co Cork Gent A
G WM FLANAGAN John of City of Dublin Gent A
Abstract A leased to B, that part of the lands of Gearymine [Gearhameen, Durrus] called Rossavany, for 24 years
MS Date registered 11Feb 1737 Date abstract added 20180730

Abstract made by: RonPrice

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The record of Bishop Dives Downs’ visits to Bantry in 1699 referred to ‘a lack of pilchards’.  In an article by the Archbishop of Dublin in the 1726 Edition of ‘Boates Natural History’ it was stated that prior to 1688 there was good fishing of pilchards in the South coast, but since the fight in Bantry Bay the pilchards have not been seen on the coast.  There is however reference in 1735 by Mr. Jenkins, giving evidence before a Commission on the state of Irish fisheries. He had seen the books of Mr. Meade who was involved in the fisheries in Bantry Bay from 1730 to 1745, and exported enormous quantities of pilchards. In 1749 Meade of Bantry obtained a premium from the Royal Dublin Society for having caught and cured 380,000 fish.  Horatio Townsend 1810 writes of the disappearance of the pilchards and the gradual disappearance of herring and sprats. He says that by Smith’s time 1750 the pilchards had disappeared.

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Possibly Beasley connection

 

P2 P1 KINGSTON Samuel of Gurtnahorna. COR Gent
B P2 MOORE John of Inishonan. COR Cleric A
C P1 MOORE Hannah of Inishonan. COR Spinster
D WD HODNETT William of Trinity Coll. Dublin
E WD+WM BEASLEY James of Inishonan. COR Farmer A
F WM MOORE Charles of Inishonan. COR Rev A
G W Reg KELLY William of City of Cork Justice
H W Reg MEADE William of City of Cork
I W Reg SPREAD William of City of Cork
Abstract C leased lands in Gurtnahorna, Co. Cork to A who then deeded them to B
MS Date registered 1st Feb 1737/8 Date abstract added 20160301

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