1840 Farewell Address to the Rev. Edward Spring, Zealous Proselytiser, Living Castletownbere. His son Sir Francis Joseph Spring, Indian Railway Engineer, Developer of Madras Harbour, Funded a Prize for Engineering at TCD.
Spring, Sir Francis Joseph (1849–1933), civil engineer, was born 20 January 1849, most likely in Magourney, Co. Cork, son of the Rev. Edward Spring, rector of Magourney; his mother’s name is not known. After receiving his early education at Midleton School, Co. Cork, Spring went on to study engineering at TCD, serving his one-year apprenticeship under Alexander McDonnell (qv), locomotive superintendent of the Great Southern & Western Railway, and graduating with his licence in 1870 (TCD did not offer a degree in engineering till 1871/2). Also in 1870, he entered the Indian public works department, where for nearly fifty years he played a major role in the development and administration of India’s major railways and ports.
The Rev. Spring and his brother were part of a band of proselytising Church of Ireland Clergy who plagued West Cork from around 1820 to 1850. Stirring up trouble, allegations that they were offering food and education to starving locals if they converted. The listing for subscribers for Teampall na mBocht Church at Toormore by the Rev. Fisher shows the background to their supporters.
1862 Testimonial to Dr. Mathew Lefebure, M.D. on Leaving Berehaven after 21 years of Service to the Poor, His wife Angelina Coppinger O’Donovan. The Lefebure family.
1844, 1846, 1859 Mathew B. Lefebure M.R.C.S.I. Child Claude Anthony Lewis wife Angelina “Parish Register. Possibly the person in Dr. John O’Donovan letters He has enquired about a document in the possession of Dr. Le Ferre who was married to an O’Donovan. 1846 donor famine relief Beara.
1840, also doctor, wife Abgelina, daughter Angelina Coppinger O’Donovan, son Cladius Anthony Lewis, 1840 “May be of Huguenot origin. Suggested related to O’Sullivan Bere through descent or marriage. James O’Donovan London and Skibbereen sub editor the Times, He also refers to a pedigree of the O’Donovans in the possession of Dr. Lefevre of Castletown Berehaven. ” “From Dr. 24 O 39/JOD/ 69 29 August – 20 September 1844 Holograph letters from Daniel Donovan, Bridge Town, Skibbereen, to John O’Donovan. Donovan explains his delay in responding to O’Donovan’s request for family information stating that he is waiting for papers from [Dr. Le Febure] which are in London. He offers his observations on the Donovan families of Carbery. He mentions Philip Donovan, the civil war and Cromwellian confiscations, destroyed manuscripts, Castle Donovan, properties currently and formally in the possession of the Donovan family and Donovan Island. [not certain if all pages belong toone letter] He offers his assistance to the work being carried out by O’Donovan. He apologises for the delay in sending the pedigree required by O’Donovan as he had lent it to the deceased Philip O’Donovan, who mislaid it. He is ‘anxious to cultivate your acquaintance and render you any assistance in my power’.
2 items 18cm O’Donovan papers Royal Irish Academy”
mong those mentioned in testimonial
‘Big’ Patrick O’Sullivan, Millcove: Castletownbere:
Peadar Ó hAnnracháin, Gaelic League Organiser, Cois Life, ‘OUR DUBLIN LETTER’ in the Southern Star. He often uses the phrase ‘long tailed family’ I think it roughly equated to a common phrase in obituaries in the Skibbereen Eagle adn Southern Star as the deceased bring of ‘an old and respected family’ applying to both Catholics and Protestants.
Looking at their obits in detail one category rarely appears and these are what Tod Andrew called ‘the people of no property’, labourers, those living in lanes in the villages and towns. The detailed obits show the immediate family then cousins, in laws, the the general public headed by the most important locals. Those who get obituaries are the middling to large farmers and business people. When you look at the over time you can discern the networks. Well known locally at the time but now forgotten.
The Gaels were defeated at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 the Chiefs went into exile. But a few increments below elements of the old families prospered as large tenant farmers and business people. The tend to be under the radar live modestly but they have the cash.Taking the triangle of Bantry/Drimoleague/Skibbereen quite a number are sufficiently well off the advance monies to local landlord families from the 1780s. See enclosed listing of deeds.
The would include the Blairs, Hutchinsons, Evanson, beggars on horseback with hardly a pot to piss in. There is an equivalent Protestant network of the same broad social and economic class like the Swantons of Ballydehob and the Shannons of Brahalish, Durrus, often they both work together as Grand Jury contractors or building work.
The class of people I am talking about tend to marry within the extended group and over a wider geographic area. Here the obits show the relationships.
Peadar Ó hAnnracháin, Gaelic League Organiser, Cois Life, ‘OUR DUBLIN LETTER’ in the Southern Star, Skibbereen, West Cork, 12th April 1947, Investigation at Castletownbere 1859 of William Power, Shopkeeper, John Kelly Smith, patrick Murphy and Michael McCarthy Shopkeepers fears of the spreading of the Phoenix Society Skibbereen (Fenians), 25 men summonsed in Bantry for lighting tar barrels to show respect for Phoenix man let out of Jail Mr. Denis Sullivan, Orange Riot caused in Kinsale 12th July 1859 by Antrim Militia stationed there.
Peadar Ó hAnnracháin, Gaelic League Organiser, Cois Life, in the Southern Star, Skibbereen, West Cork, 15th February 1947 additional article on Thomas Swanton (1812-), Farmer and petty Landlord, Crianliath, Ballydehob, Correspondence with John Horn, Neptune Engine Works, Waterford, Temperance Lectures based on the Beatitudes, delivered annually in Irish and in the Irish Script in Tig an Mhargig (Market House), Ballydehob, follower of Swedenborg Teachings Joining New Jerusalem Group, offering to write Evening Service in Bandon in Cork Irish, Proposal for Parliament of each of the 4 provinces of Ireland, references to Phoenix men (Fenians).
Big Tom (Irish Speaker) Somerville, (1797-1882), Drishane, Castletownsend, Landlord, Magistrate, Kind Friend of O’Donovan Rossa.
Even going back years I was struck by Tom Somerville intervention caused by fatalities arising from the notorious collections of tithes by the Rev. Morritt. He seemed on his landlord’s side as a lone voice of reason. His granddaughter Edith Somerville, I thought captured a lot in the Irish Rm ((Resident Magistrate) stories. I would think the Somerville family were largely assimilated into local culture, even if not always obvious.
Thomas Somerville Esq. D.L. (1797-1882), Drishane House, Castletownshend, son of Thomas, m Harriett Townsend of Castle Townsend in 1822, d Colonel Richard Boyle Townsend (1756-1827). Magistrate 1822 to 1882. For 37 years Chairman Skibbereen Board of Guardians, Pre 1830, listed 1835 Castlehaven. Freeman of Cork. Irish Speaking exhorted calm in notorious affray 1823 caused by Rev. Morritt tithe extraction. Signed public declaration in Skibbereen to Alexander O’Driscoll on his removal as Magistrate 1835 with Lord Bantry, Simon White, John Puxley, Arthur Hutchins, Thomas Baldwin, Samuel Townsend Junior and Senior, Richard Townsend Senior, Rev. Alleyn Evanson, Timothy O’Donovan, Richard Townsend, Lyttleton Lyster. 1838, sitting Skibbereen, 1835, 1850. Presentment sessions East Division of West Carbery, Skibbereen 1845. A Thomas Somerville at Bandon Brunswick Constitutional Club 1828, Cork Spring Assizes 1863 HIgh Sheriff as Thomas, Drishane. 1828 application to Dublin Castle re gas supply for Skibbereen. involved with Richard Townsend, Castletownshend and James Redmond Barry, Glandore, in setting up Agricultural and Country Bank in Skibbereen, April 1835. 1835 Subscriber Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837. Chairman Skibbereen Board of Guardians 35 years, 1848-81. Chairing Skibbereen 1847 distress meeting. 1847 distribution for Castletownshend of New England Relief Committee Famine Relief. Small estate 450 acres. Grandfather of Edith Somerville (1858-1949). Grandfather Admiral Somerville whose death in 1936 caused widespread outrage. Praised by Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa as his friend
Somerville family history:
HISTORY
The first Somerville to land in Ireland in 1690 was a refugee, fleeing persecution of the Church of Scotland of which William Somerville was a minister. He took his family and rowed twenty miles over rough water to Ulster, where they found refuge through family connections. He died four years later aged just 51.
Thomas Somerville was aged two when he made the journey by boat. The younger of two sons, he decided to make his career in the Church of Ireland. He went to Trinity College, Dublin, and became ordained. The family fortunes changed when he married Ann Neville in 1723. She came from a family of means, had an annuity of £500 a year, and they prospered and had eight children. In 1732 the family moved to West Cork, Thomas having…..
Dr. James Edward Somerville (1810-1904), M.D., Doctor, Union Hall, Skibbereen. Had an enormous repertoire of old Irish tunes, gifted with horses, beloved locally. Somerville Magistrates.
Carbery Agricultural Show, Skibbereen, 1896/7 Prizewinners with Photo of Past President 1892-7, Aylmer Coghill Somerville DL, and The O’Donovan President 1899.
Richard Skuse, Derrygarren, Barony of West Carbery, Co. Cork, Farmer, 29th April 1802, Sworn 1st May 1802.
To Michael Albridge (wrong should be Attridge), of Skibbereen, Co. Cork, Woollen Draper, and Jno (John?), Glasheen …Aulin?, Cork City, …..Allen said County farmer, all his interest in lands at Derrygarren and Ininshbeg (Inishbeg) both in Co. Cork, … held under Head Lease from Cornelius O’Driscoll, Esq. and the latter under Thomas Somerville and Burris Erwin, Esqs., in trust to pay Testator’s wife Mary Skuse, an annuity of £10 residue of profits from said lands to raise a payment of £40 each to the Testator’s seven daughters, Dorothy, Abigail, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Ann, Frances, and then to pay the profits to Testator’s son Francis Skuse for life, in default of his issue to said seven daughters. Dwelling house at Derrygarren, furniture to the said wife for life, then the furniture divided between the three youngest daughters Mary, Ann and Frances
Executors: Thomas Somerville, Michael Attridge, Jno Attridge.
West Cork History 