n 1881 the Valparaiso Herald made its bow to the public. It was edited by P. O’Sullivan, was full of news and met with favor apparently, but after three years it passed out of existence.

Introduction, p.1

General Charles Vallancey (1731-1812) Survey Report 1778, p.3

Sir Richard Griffiths report to Parliament 1828, p.3

An earlier account 1819 of the Mizen peninsula, Eliza (Dizzie) Townsend (Mrs. Lionel Fleming), p.4

Rev. Caesar Otway 1831, p.5

Projected Bandon to Bantry Railway 1845, p.6

Appeal to Sir Robert Peel to make Bantry a packet station, p.7

Courthouse meeting Dunmanway re projected railway, p.9

Report of Commission re Irish Packet Stations background, p.10

Extracts re West Cork report of Commission re Irish Packet Stations, p.12

Thomas Hungerford, Inspector Coastguards, family background, p.29

Emigration from Cork 1847-1850, p.34

Anthony Marmion author The Ancient and Modern History of the Maratime Ports of Ireland, p. 35

Crookhaven, p.36

Berehaven, p.41

Dunbeacon/Dunmanus, p.51

Viscount Bernard/Lord Bandon, p.55

1847 Report a memorial presented to the Lords of the Admiralty with regard to the Harbours and Lighthouses of Co. Cork, p.59

1863.  Julius Reuter and William Siemens  and  the South-Western of Ireland Telegraph Company, Linking Cork to Crookhaven by Telegraph  and  British & Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company, Cork to Cape Clear, p.59

The start of the Communication Revolution, Picture of ‘The Atlantic Telegraph Cable Fleet’ at Berehaven, Bantry Bay, 28th July 1866, held at Cable and Wireless Archive, p.59

Bere Island British Naval Base, p.61

Introduction

Traditionally a packet station was a port used to carry mails or passengers over short channels.  Here, in the 1851 report,  however, what is contemplated is what port on the west coast of Ireland  would be suitable for vessels going or coming to America.

The introduction of steam engines changed everything and competition with the Americans also.   The level of technical detail considered in making their choice is fascinating.  Then 8 years later they laid the first transatlantic cable for communication across the Atlantic from Valentia. That put the packet station to bed.

In terms of the earlier background you have  a paradox, from the late 17th century West Cork was just off some of the main shipping lines in the world. At the same time transport links even to Cork were limited. By the end of the 18th century reasonable roads connected the main towns to Cork some had been built as turnpikes, an early version of tolled..

Click here:

1851 Proposed West Cork Packet Stations General Background.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FLpxJZX0PnDg1V5F-H2WgxlyseAUS5QfrDZqrhJ7CpM/edit

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https://www.dippam.ac.uk/eppi/documents/12900/pages/325732

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https://www.dippam.ac.uk/eppi/documents/12900/pages/325715

Emigration Returns Cork, 1847-1850:

1795 deed.  

Richard Donovan/O’Donovan here as well as having lands at O’Donovan Cove in Durrus held under long lease from Lord Riversdale held the ancient family land at Ballyhadowen, Drimoleague/Caheragh.

1725 deed, William and Mary Sullivan leased land at Dereeny to George Wood, Dereeny.  Witnesses,  Timothy Donovan, Gent., Ballaghadown.  I assume Timothy ancestor of the O’Donovan family of O’Donovan’s Cove, Durus

Another O’Donovan of Clann Cathail held land by way of 999 year lease from Lord Riversdale and their house was at Tullig, O’Donovan’s Cove near Ahakista. 

It is conjectured that this branch of the O’Donovans are O’Donovan Bán, an offshoot of Clan Cathaill

It is interesting that the wider O’Donovan family (Protestant) were related by marriage to the Lord Riversdale/Hull/Tonson family by marriage in the early 18th century and this may be a factor in the Durrus O’Donovans acquiring the Estate from Lord Riversdale’s extended family.  Jeremy Donovan, a Protestant sold his lands around Leap to the Tonsons c 1737.

Dr. James O’Regan, Mallow,  is a descendant of Sir Teague O’Regan whose land was forfeit built restored to his minor descending by the ‘Court’ at Chichester House in Dublin. the land remained with the family until the land acts c 1905.

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Jack O’Mahony, life, ancestors ‘piss weavers’, p. 1-4

Jimmy Coakley, Tureen, Kilcrohane, Memoir (1995)   With Contribution by Jack Sheehan Frank O’Mahony, Solicitor, Bantry, p. 1

Funeral description, p. 5-10

Funeral attendance, 11

Genealogical chart prepared by the late Frank O’Mahony, solicitor, Bantry, p. 22-29

Florence O’Mahony (1853-1932), life and times, politics, p. 30

Florence O’Mahony, kingpin of the fishing industry, maritime disasters, p. 33, 40, 46, 55

Florence O’Mahony, funeral, p. 57

Jeremiah O’Mahony, (1847-1915), Magistrate, p. 62

…

Click here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FWMOJo8tOHE37kIKX1Ru9CE7erQ2qNSRtbUowhDjbQM/edit

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Black Jack (John) O Mahony, (1810-1909), Kileen

The funeral attendance captures the local importance of the the local power networks of people now largely forgotten

1833. Failure of Alexander and Company, Bank, Calcutta and West Cork and East India Company Connections with Some Military Service.

1833. Failure of Alexander and Company, Bank, Calcutta and West Cork and East India Company Connections.

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CSO/RP/1833/5063. Chief Secretary’s Office. Letter from Lyttelton Lyster, magistrate Rosscarbery [Ross Carbery, County Cork], to Edward John Littleton, [Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle], asking to be made a stipendiary magistrate, stating that he suffered financially from the failure of Messieurs Alexander and Company, Calcutta [Kolkata, India].

Thanks To Brian Limrick:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/DmwnWrRpddGZGjdFBRWSnbgFJTxfnpQQKmxZCFpWtpTbFxRfzrKPVtGgrBgbGmbSNbJJwfKnvNSl?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

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The Private Bank set up by Alexander & Co. The Bank of Hindustan was the first bank to introduce Bank Notes for the first time in India. These Bank notes were representative money only. The actual money was Gold and Silver coins. The Bank of Hindustan maintained reserves of actual money i.e., coins of Gold and Silver which were known as Rupia. The notes issued by the Bank always contained a Promise Clause to pay the bearer the actual money (Gold or Silver) on demand in exchange of notes issued by the Bank. Run on is a banking term when some sort of panic is created among the general public creating a fear that the Bank is not able to exchange its notes by the actual money(Gold or Silver) and depositors start running towards the bank to withdraw their money from the bank. In modern day banking it is called Bank Failure. The Bank Of Hindustan faced such run on three times but it survived every time only because of the fact that the bank was keeping sufficient stock of actual money and only that much notes were issued which were backed by equivalent or more reserves. In commercial crises of 1832 the Bank of Hindustan was closed and went under its parent firm M/S Alexander & Co.

Advanced search

http://www.nationalarchives.ie/search-the-online-catalogue/advanced-search/embed/#?secret=9wNIKRBJC8#?secret=l0csIovLau

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https://books.google.ie/books?id=kxwYAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA385&lpg=PA385&dq=failure+of+alexander+and+company+calcutta&source=bl&ots=z16SVypuL6&sig=ACfU3U0h-Q0ksBhFk2sAbjOPW1rdD9BIAw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjWpMPz2NrhAhWaThUIHXBRCjAQ6AEwAXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=failure%20of%20alexander%20and%20company%20calcutta&f=false

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Madras, this family moved from France to Cork via Amsterdam c 1750.  They are included as the Rev. John Madas married Miss Evanson of the Durrus Landlord family c 1805.  Rev John Madras son of Rev. John Madras of Huguenot ancestry via Amsterdam married Martha Evanson daughter of Nathaniel Friendly Cove.  Later Vicar of Aglish.  Her mother Swanton, Ballydehob, niece of Judge Swanton New York, United Irishman.  Voted 1826 City election for Conservative Callaghan.  HIs son JOHN MADRAS, A.B., Incumbent of Abbeymahon, P. Donoughmore, and Curate of Templequinlan later a magistrate:  County Freeman of Cork City voting in Cork City Election 1837. 

Numerous descendants Protestant and Catholic.   A granddaughter, Miss Curtis married Daniel O’Connell’s grandson, his father was a Resident Magistrate in Bantry.  

Courtesy one of his descendants Mark Wickham:

 Mark Wickham Bantry: Carey’s Lane, Cork. Huguenot graveyard.

That’s him.  The Madras on the headstone was from Amsterdam and came with a French wife.

Some years ago I went to a Cork Corporation Heritage Week function in Carey’s Lane, Cork..

The Heritage officer, along with Dr Alicia St Leger, a Hugeonot historian, pronounced Madras with the silent French ‘s’.

My poor great-grandmother Margaret (Peggy) Madras-O’Callaghan died aged 46 in Drumahumper near Killarney. Her husband lived to be a hundred and was quite prominent in local politics.  Although Dr Robert Conner Madras appears on her birth certificate and marriage certificate as her father I have no actual proof that he was her father.

Her mother was Joanna Linehan.

Edward Roche, (1771-1885),  1795, Trabolgan, Midleton.  Son of Edmund Roche and Frances Coghlan, his mother probably a descendant of Jeremiah Coughlan, Carrigmanus, Mizen and Nathaniel Evanson, Durrus, ancestors of Lady Di. His brother Edmond ‘Mon’ Roche, extensive landowner Kildinan, Glenville, United Irishman, later acquitted when charged. Listed supporter of Act of Union, 1799. 1828 seeking reform of the House of Commons address Kilshannig bought off Devonshers bankers Cork  Fermoy. Deputy Lieutenant 1838.  Father Lord Fermoy. 1835 Subscriber Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland  1837.  1840 calling for Testimonial to late William Crawford Cork benefactor.  Trablogan  built circa 1780, for the Roche family who’d held the 16,000-acre estate since about 1645. The original manor was most likely rebuilt with money from Edward Roche’s prodigious marriage in 1781 to the daughter of Sir George Wombwell, 1st Bt., Chairman of the Honourable East India Company. In Irish, “Tra” means ‘strand’ or ‘beach’ and “Bolgan” is either ‘bulging’ or ‘big wave’. Sometimes the gales off the Atlantic were so strong, it was impossible to open the hall door! Despite the estate’s size, it was poor agricultural land and brought in a comparatively low annual income of £7,000

July 1800, Co. Limerick, Alan (Alleyn?) Evanson Esq.,  Mary McMahon, Groom in South Cork Militia.

…

If you have Irish Huguenot ancestry good luck:

France DNA

From a friend who has Levis ancestry

Amongst my TV viewing recently was an episode of ‘DNA Family Secrets’, and one of the things mentioned was surprising news to me. Until I had seen this programme, I was completely unaware that is illegal for anyone in France to do a DNA test, I remember asking one of my Levis relatives if his DNA test had shown up his French heritage in his ethnicity background, which brought the response that it did not, which I was struggling to understand. But now I know about the fact that the population of France are not allowed to take DNA tests then this I feel explains the lack of any French heritage showing up in the Ancestry DNA tests!  

I have since Googled to see why this is and I have pasted in one of the items on this subject –

Why is DNA testing illegal in France?

Private DNA paternity testing is illegal, including through laboratories in other countries, and is punishable by up to a year in prison and a €15,000 fine. The French Council of State has described the law’s purpose as upholding the “French regime of filiation” and preserving “the peace of families.”

Maybe you were aware of this issue but I was definitely taken aback by this news. Things of course may change in the future, but at the present the law is banning the tests being done in France, unless there is a medical, judicial or scientific reason but definitely not family history!

Evanson family:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c550F3fK7ZT0qUzH4DjP4I87TPHU5-yK-l4D-_cH-E4/edit

Huguenot families West Cork

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qeKIlUN4YVRMp2z5ZqXBCOMlyDGWgQavWIhAyqCMt3k/edit

I was reading Dr. Jane Ohlmeyer, book on Ireland and empire.  Following the book and lecture on the British acquisition of Bombay I  started looking at my notes on those with a West Cork background who had colonial experience. I was surprised by the number, military, medical, engineering, legal and religious.   I had not realised that forfeit Irish Land as well as producing revenue was used to give collateral security to fund slavery and sugar and tobacco enterprises.  It seems that many of the grantees of Irish Land were associated with London networks such as the Thompson family heavily involved in the East India Company.  Later in the end of the 17th century they were also probably involved in the Hollow Blade Company, a consortium of London merchants who financed Parliament in its war against the English King and surprise surprise they were repaid in grants of Irish confiscated land.  In the same book she described in forensic detail the Irish involvement of both Irish Catholics and Protestants in the slave trade and  tobacco and sugar plantations.

Ireland did not have colonies but was in the peculiar position of both being a colony and Irish people both Catholic and Protestant of all classes being complicit in slavery.  This was not just with the English but with all colonial powers. Dr. Ohlmeyer cites a number of examples, the Danes had a small colony in the West Indies but no commercial network to sell the sugar from the slave plantations.  Apparently their Lutheran religion proved no barriers to using Irish Catholic merchant networks on the Continent to sell their sugar.  The Irish Catholic Caroll family had extensive plantation in Maryland and slaves.  Charles Carroll of the family signed the American Declaration of Independence.

Richard Boyle the Great Earl of Cork acquired much of the land granted to Phane Beecher around Bandon.  The iron from his works were used to bribe African Chiefs to sell their own people into slavery.   The McCalmont family of Co. Derry had extensive plantations in Barbados and multiple slaves.  when slavery was abolished.  From the compensation they received they invested in West London real estate and initially leased Mount Juliet in Co. Kilkenny from the Butler family eventually acquired it outright.

The Munster ports ( like Bristol ) were heavily involved in the Atlantic ‘Triangular Trade’ and that was explicitly tied into securing and  transporting slaves, and dealing in the products that then came from their work….cotton, indigo, rice, sugar and molasses etc. Of course Munster butter, bacon and beef ( the Provisions Trade) partly went to feed those enslaved too. Behind all were the investments, security on loans and profits coming back. The big houses, fine streets, public buildings and squares didn’t only come from Irish rents! There is no getting away from widespread complicity.  

Dr. Ohlmeyer makes the point that work on the colonial archives of The Netherlands, France, Portugal and Spain has only begun and it is probable that many more Irish Connections will surface.

Click here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hwx3oyFqP3TgEVeUJBJbcDzHCJMSMih_dPrbYKMiHW0/edit?pli=1

1884, Michael Deasy, Oldcourt, Bandon, Co. Cork, Lieutenant Siamese Navy, later harbour Master, Bombay, India.