Thomas Swanton (1812-1861), Crianlarich, Ballydehob, among his correspondents, James H.Dodd D.D. Trinity College, Seán O’Daluig, Anglesea St., Dublin,Editor of Poets and Poetry of Munster, John Windle Cork, Richard Mac Adam Belfast A Scholarly Citizen, John O’Donovan L.L.D. Translator of the Annal of the Four Masters, Rev. James Freke (Rector Durrus), Mrs Josephine Wright, Moreigh Cottage Dunbeacon/Durrus), Timothy O’Donovan. O’Donovan’s cove, Durrus, John Collins, (son of Seán Ó Coileáin (the Silver Tongue of Carbery) File, Dr. Goyder, Ipswich, Suffolk, I. Pittman, Shorthand Inventor. The article also deals letter from Rev Charles Bushe, Rector, Castlehaven to Dublin Castle 1847, seeking assistance to promote fisheries on the Cork Coast.

Courtesy, Barry Bradfield.

Thomas Swanton of Sparrograda.

Thomas Swanton was a very interesting character. He appears to have moved to Sparrograda, after the family inherited it from Judge Robert Swanton in 1840. He gave up these lands at the end of the famine and moved to Skibbereen. He was an antiquarian and Irish scholar. He  appears to have married late in life. The only marriage which can fit is the marriage of  William Swanton to Jane Sullivan in 1835. This marriage is somewhat backed up by the dates of birth of his daughters.   A Jane Swanton death is listed in the Skibbereen District it looks like Jane Sullivan Swanton.

I have not viewed the original to confirm.

Name: Jane Swanton

Event Type: Death

Event Date: 1875

Event Place: Skibbereen, Ireland

Registration Quarter and Year:1875

Registration District: Skibbereen

Age: 61

Birth Year (Estimated): 1814

Thomas gave up ownership of Sparrograda in the early 1850’s and went to live in  Skibbereen.   There is no record of the death of Thomas in either Civil or Church burial  records. Thomas appears to have had no sons. One of his daughters was still alive in 1940 (She gave a copy of his papers to Peadar Ó h-Arnacháin)  and living in Skibbereen.  These are the known daughters of Thomas Swanton.

12

1) Maria (1840-1852) details from her grave in Skibbereen.

2) Ellen (1838-1856) details from her grave in Skibbereen.

3) Annie (1839-1857) details from her grave in Skibbereen.

4) Jane (1839-1927) details from Skibbereen Eagle.

5) Hannah (1851-1941) details from Skibbereen Eagle.

6) Frances (1855-1916) per death cert and census.

1901 Census. The Swanton’s lived in house 21 Cork Road Skibbereen.

From this we know that Thomas was alive in 1855 when his youngest daughter was born and

that he most likely died before 1864 and the introduction of Civil Registration for deaths.

There is mention of him in Skibbereen in 1860.

Welply’s Wills

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Cloonee,+Co.+Cork/@51.6397685,-9.5003781,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x484575544508be9f:0x03e00f77fb6f9148

Copy of Will of Richard Roycroft  (Obliterated in the Destruction of the Public Record Office, Dublin, 1922 but copied by William Henry Welply) of Clouney (Clonee, Bog Road), Parish of Durrus, agd 9th May 1801, Proved 1st August 1801, Son-in-law, George Swanton, Grandson Richard Lavers (Levis), granddaughter,  Avis Notter, son Thomas Roycroft deceased, daughter Grace O’Sullivan.   Executors George Swanton, Richard Lavers (Levis). Witnesses:  Robert Lavers. Charles Dalton, John Vickery.

The Swantons referred to probably came from ‘over the hill’ from Gortnagrough, Ballydehob.  The Notters were originally German Protestants who settled in Crookhaven c 1630.  There were various Vickery families in the vicinity one across the Durrus River in Ballycomane others in neighbouring townlands.  Various Sullivan families were around, intermarried with the Vickeries.  There are a number of references to Roycroft families in the Bantry Estate Rent books for neighbouring townlands.

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Skibbereen,+Co.+Cork/@51.55507,-9.3036724,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4845a5b8ee671cad:0x28dab316351c3ffb

From Irish Manuscript Commission Registry of Deeds

Will 3

Will of Thomas Becher,  Property Magnate, Sherkin Island,  Co Cork, Esq.,  21 August 1705.  Proved 11th March 1708.

11 March 1708.  Brothers in Law, Henry Turner, Richard Turner and John Roberts, Trustees and Executors. Wife Elizabeth Becher. Sons Edward and Michael Becher both married. His Henry John and Lionell Becher daughter Susan Becher.   Kinsman Francis Becher Tallough (Tallow),  Co Waterford Clerk.    Legacy to Parish of Ballymodan (Bandon)

Ardtentane, Cahiroleckeny, Ratooragh, Gortloen, Banratonacane, Kiltomane, Mauladinny and Coomfarna in parish of Schull.   Ballyrisode, Dunkilly,  Callirisoughtra,  Baltenoughtra, Kilbean, Lynane, Cahir, Quorisk,  Co Cork. Baneaknockakane and Quolaigh,  Parish of Schull, Co. Cork. Old Court, Kilfenan, Glaunaroura. Leasehold lands of Aghadowne, Kilkilleene, Callitrumore, Callitrumbegg, Drumnacahara, Lysheenoughra, Kilmoonagh, Cluddagh, Smorane, Quoecurine, Rinedolane, Gortnaclough, Skibbereene alias New-Stapletown, Coronra, All in Co Cork.

Witness: Dive Downes (Son-in-Law)

Lord Bishop of Cork and Ross.    Robert Conrad, Kinsale, Co. Cork, Esq.   Benjamin Weekes, Cork, Notary Public, James Russell servant to Bishop of Cork.

Memorial witnessed by John Connell P.G.P. Skyaner

1 456, 356.                                                                            John Roberts seal

His son in law Dives Downes toured West Cork c 1700 and is widely quoted in Maziers Brady’s History of the Dioceses of Cork and Ross:

http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/history/batch2/bradyvol2/

Landed Estates Database:

http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/family-show.jsp?id=2442

From Burkes Peerage:

Evanson Family Members Ordained for the Church of Ireland including Rev. Alleyn of Four Mile Water (Durrus), 1812, West Cork.

Visit to Rev Evanson 1834.

Rides through the County of Cork, Castle Donovan, Dublin Penny Journal 11th November 1834

Evanson Family and Estates, Durrus

Genealogy of Cork Huguenot Madras family post 1750 from Amsterdam to Cork 1735 by letter from India Office 1939, interconnected families Longfield Connor Fort Robert, Evanson Durrus, Travers Butlerstown, Baldwin Curravody, Alleyn, Daniel O’Connell, Catholic Descendants.

Mizen, West Cork and the Evanson, Dukelow and Jeremy (Jeremiah) Coghlan family of Carrigmanus Mizen

Perpetual Commissioners For Taking Acknowledgement Of Deeds By Married Women In Ireland For Co. Cork, 1886.

Abraham Watkins Esq, Cork Extensive Property Owner in Bandon, Will dated 12th July 17  My Daughter Mary Watkins ‘Not to have one penny if she marries Darby Cartie the Fiddler’

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/5125

Will 176:

The name Abraham Watkins appears in Coolfadda as early as 1626.

http://www.bandon-genealogy.com/bandon_rent_roll_1720.htm

The Irish Manuscript Commission have digitalised some of their old publications.  This is from a series on Memorials in the Registry of  Deeds.  These survived the destruction of 1922.

http://www.irishmanuscripts.ie/servlet/Controller?action=digitisation_backlist

Will  405, of Mrs Eliza Gethin (late husband Percy), Cork, extensive property owner including Upton (Garryhenkera) mentioned Dr. Boyle Coughlan, leaves £20 to ‘To the mulatto boy known as James Kelly, the sum of £30 the interest to provide for his clothing’

The Irish Manuscript Commission have digitalised some of their old publications.  This is from a series on Memorials in the Registry of  Deeds.  These survived the destruction of 1922.

http://www.irishmanuscripts.ie/servlet/Controller?action=digitisation_backlist

There are references from time to time in contemporay Cork records to mulattos/negroes/blacks in wills, deeds and newspapers. Cork had extensive links with the West Indies and had a number of sugar mills.

Many of the Irish who went to the West Indies, as Sugar Planters, Merchant or Administrators had concubines or second families with women of African origin.

Among the slave owners in Barbados who were compensated in 1820 for emancipation was the Nathaniel Evansons who were related to the same family of Cork, Bandon and Durrus. One of the Durrus family had married in Antigua c 1750.

Will 267

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.

Witnesses: Richard Sinnick, Gent. Denis Donoghue servant to said John Denis. John Denis Gent.

Witnesses to Memorial Richard Sinnick, John Denis Gent.

Registry of Deeds Reference 551   395  363727

The Irish Manuscript Commission have digitalised some of their old publications.  This is from a series on Memorials in the Registry of  Deeds.  These survived the destruction of 1922.

http://www.irishmanuscripts.ie/servlet/Controller?action=digitisation_backlist

Dr. Richard Caulfield, Cork Antiquarian and later Librarian of what is now University College Cork  in his transcriptions of the records of St. Fnbarr’s Cathedral Cork has a number of references to the Attridges of Glasheen and Bandon Road.  They were the arteries to West Cork from the South Gate Bridge of hr City.   Glasheen that time was a thriving centre of the textile industry run by the Shears family two of whom, the brothers were executed for rebelion in 1798.  The family house was later used as a school by Mr. Donolly.

Another name which crops in those records is the Protestant O’Leary family of Glasheen, most likely connected to the family of Art O’Leary of Inchigeela/Macroom.

John Denis is an Attorney at George’s Quay, Cork:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mMDGaZCW9Z6Cq_C_gwm_FB2orzTe2WxR0WcLXjZZO40/edit#gid=0