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Dunbeacon Church, 1849 Ballydehob Petty Session Court

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IVYutxU3xnT9QLLSd_ligORTe0tRT0oUxGgwisJpgwc/edit

1907 Death of Captain Anthony Morgan (1825-1907). Bunaulin/Bun na Lon: Caheragh/Skibbereen.  Magistrate 40 years. Landlord, Crimea war, Glowing Tributes at Skibbereen Petty Session Court. Significant Local Employer. Master West Carbery Hounds 1859. His son Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Hickman Morgan, unsuccessful as Unionist Candidate for Isle of Wight Constituency, UKhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1sox-v3IFXp1SlOxvBobuMcQbA10fp0gjsIEx5QTHyTQ/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1244yMgsGwusLV5Yu2kpMAmbz2tXaGpWXR8siQNhkra8/edit

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West Cork Railways 1890

1940

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1877 Opening of The Ilen Valley Railway

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wlDjsig8nbwiId-_-c6rbD9EYqb5YESFNR7qw94JnZc/edit

As a child I remember my father talking about Father Kearney. As my father was born in 1921 clearly Father Kearney had entered the folk history.

Rev Michael Kearney P.P. of Durrus 1835-1897, attended Diocesan College Cork and Maynooth from a substantial farming family in Manch, Dunmanway, Durrus 9 Feb.1886-1897 built a new church Kilcrohane 1895. The Skibbereen Eagle reported in September 1865 on his move as a curate from Kilcrohane to Inchigeela that his move was universally regretted by all denominations. He preached in Irish. He bought or rented Durrus Court from Lord Bandon. He featured in some of the Ballydehob Presentments for road building at Rossmore with Thomas Shannon in May 1896 and appeared before the Bantry Poor Law Guardians appealing for relief for a blind evicted tenant in Kilcrohane. He is reputed to have been a major purchaser of land on his own account and there are a number of properties in Rossmore and Brahalish listed in the 1901 Census as being owned by William Kearney, Manch, his brother.   One of these are lands (25 acres held yearly from the Bandon Estate) at Rossmore which he acquired by mortgage from Mary Evans of £88 5s in 1887.  She acquired the interest from her late husband William and paid off another mortgage in favour of George Rawlings, shopkeeper, Bantry and it is possible that Fr. Kearney advanced the money for this.  Attending funeral, Bantry Jane Dillon nee Roycroft (1843-1892)

His land expertise was called upon by the Dukelow family in Brahalish to divide a farm between two brothers to ensure both had water and access did not interfere with the others This he did to both their satisfaction this is the holding of the late Richie Dukelow and Pat McCarthy.

He was lampooned by a local poet, part of the words referred to his brother who married a Protestant (one of Luther’s breed) perhaps reflecting the then thinking.

In 1885 he was a nominator with Father T. O’Leary, C.C. to James Gilhooley, Bantry who was elected.  Gilhooly was returned unopposed as an MP for West Cork and Father Kearney was his assentor.  

William Kearney also owned Cummer farm which was put up for auction in 1898 and

consisted of 250 acres with 80 good acres yielding 31/2 tons of hay to the acre.  He acquired Durrus Court and various lands from the Earl of Bandon in 1894 by way of lease for 99 years from 29^th Sept 1894 at a rent of £25 he died on the 2^nd July 1897 and let his interest to his successor Parish Priest of Durrus Daniel Foley he in turn assigned his interest to his successor Timothy O’Leary.  On his death the Bantry Poor Law Guardians adjourned for a week.

In a court case in Bantry June 1908 arising from the burning of hay ricks belonging to his brother William, who gave evidence that he had acquired two farms (one at Gearameen one at Rossmore, the lands on which the hay ricks had been acquired from Mr Moss and were near the village) from his brother Michael in his will.  One at Gerahameen his brother had acquired from the Evans family and he had made provision for Evan’s daughter in his will, however when William Kearney tried to sell that farm the child’s grandfather O’Connell turned up and said he had no right to sell and there were no bids, the implication was the grandfather considered that Father Kearney’s acquisition may have been improper. 

He appears in the folklore of Coomhola as collecting money for church building.  He died in the Mercy Hospital in Cork and the funeral leaving Bantry was described as one of the largest seen in years with a cortège over a mile and a half to Kilcrohane and 159 vehicles.  The contents of his house in Durrus Court were auctioned off the following month.  There is a memorial plaque to him at Kilcrohane Church.

Probably the donor of £500 in his will toward the building of the new church in Durrus

Henry Wintrop ‘The O’Donovan’ (1812-1890),  TCD, MA, DL. Pre 1910, Clann Cathal, Lis Ard, Skibbereen, son Rev. Morgan, Cork ed Dr. Coughlan, m Amelia d ‘The O’Grady’, Courcy O’Grady, Kilbollyowne, Co.Limerick.  Son Colonel Morgan William MA, J.P., ‘The O’Donovan’ and Alicia Jones. 1869 Public Appeal for Mr. Patrick Walsh, Skibbereen and His Family Whose Flax Mill Destroyed by Fire. His Landlord The O’Donovan had Encouraged him.,  1864 Cattle Show West Carbery Agricultural Society, Lissard, Skibbereen held in his grounds.  Attending 17 Grand Jury presentments. Supporter Nicholas Leader, Conservative,  1865 County Cork Election.  Interest in antiquities. Donor to the church bell fund, 1869, St. Nicholas, Cork.  (Cork Daily Southern Reporter 26th March 1869).   1884, signed a protest against the dismissal of Lord Rossmore, head of Orange Order, Monaghan.  Probate to Morgan O’Donovan, Lissard, Bishop Gregg, Cork, John Carson, Fellow Trinity College Dublin, £30,292.

West Cork Flax, Linen, Textiles

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u0vIz1nxG34pJua7qC7jtTCKWLjwVY81jSl0usPdojk/edit

See the enclosed from 1812 Skibbereen, after 2 bodies were discovered the inquest recorded a verdict of wilful murder and some of the suspects escaped.   Presumably this verdict would only be the start of a process culminating in a criminal trial?   There is provision her for payment ot informers a favoured tactic of irish 19th century criminal law.   There is probably more to this then the 2 murders looking at the massed number of Magistrates offering rewards but we will probably never get the full story.

All of the fugitives are aka Trá. I wonder what that means? It surely can’t have anything to do with trá as in strand.

Most likely a sub branch of the O’Donovan of which there are numerous branches.   Trá is probably a strand most likely this branch originated near the coast.

The lake at Castle Jean (Jane) probably Bawnlahan ancestral home of The O’Donovan. The O’Donovan in the mid 18th century a widower in his 60s contracted a second marriage to Jane Beecher either 14, 15 or 16 depending on the version and had a 2nd family. He renamed the Estate Castle Jane but the name never stuck.

1812 Meeting of Magistrates in Skibbereen Offering a Reward for the Apprehension of Persons (Florence and James Donovan Trá and John Driscoll) Against whom a Verdict of Wilful Murder was Recorded but Absconded

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_HjvNcjcUWnxsaZVEhduPgLEv3Ov9-NRb4z9Cze-TM8/edit?pli=1

 

From the School Folklore collection:

In the Harbour of Leap there is a very small point known as Simon’s point. Simon was a Landlord’s Agent and he lived at Bán Leáthan with his mother. Bán Leáthan is the second next townland directly west of Leap Harbour. At the appointed time he collected the rents from the tenants and arranged to take the money to Cork to the Land Lord. At that time the nearest market for produce of the farm etc was Cork and the only method of conveyance was a horse or boat. There was a family of the Donvan’s living in Myross Mick [?] Donovan Trágha. The were going marketing on Certain day to Cork. Simon arranged to travel with them. They set out at midnight on their voyage or their journey. The Donovan family both men and women had arranged to murder Simon and rob him. And so they did close to his home. They cut off his head and threw both his head and body into the sea at this point known since as Simon’s Point. His body after some time floated When Simon was not returning his mother raised an alarm. When the Headless Body was picked up it was believed to be that of Simon. The Donovan family fearing that the mother would give any information against them, watched her going to the well, and put her head downwards into it. When she was dead they made a grave in the Kitchen of her own home, and buried her there. The Donovan’s were arrested and tried in Cork for the murder of Simon. There was scarcely any evidence against them, and there was no one would would recognise the body. The mother was reported missing. The Donovans were set free and the Pólies were ordered from Cork to find the missing woman. When the Donovans got outside the city, one of the men offered to go back and confess to the murder of both. He thought it better to have one hanged, than the whole family. The women refused to allow him to do so. One of the women took off her boots, and some of her clothing and ran from Cork to Bán Leáthan She arrived there before the Polies. She got some friend with her and they removed the body from the grave in the kitchen. Where they hid it us one ever knew. When the polies arrived they saw the Grave and knew the body had been removed. They made a close search but failed to find the body.At that time there were a number of sand Loitess[?] dredging sand in the harbour. According to the tide they were often late coming up give any information against them, watched her going to the well, and put her head downwards into it. When she was dead they made a grave in the Kitchen of her own home, and buried her there. The Donovan’s were arrested and tried in Cork for the murder of Simon. There was scarcely any evidence against them, and there was no one would would recognise the body. The mother was reported missing. The Donovans were set free and the Pólies were ordered from Cork to find the missing woman. When the Donovans got outside the city, one of the men offered to go back and confess to the murder of both. He thought it better to have one hanged, than the whole family. The women refused to allow him to do so. One of the women took off her boots, and

some of her clothing and ran from Cork to Bán Leáthan She arrived there before the Polies. She got some friend with her and they removed the body from the grave in the kitchen. Where they hid it us one ever knew. When the polies arrived they saw the Grave and knew the body had been removed. They made a close search but failed to find the body.

At that time there were a number of sand Loitess[?] dredging sand in the harbour. According to the tide they were often late coming up.  o Leap, and they were startled by the voice at Simon’s point. They could see no one but they could plainly hear “Cur mo Ceann i dteannta mo Coirp”. They decided to drag the water close to where Simon’s body was found. They found the head and buried it in the same grave with Simon’s body and the voice was never heard since

 

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Courtesy Irish Times:

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/annie-stephens-obituary-one-of-ireland-s-first-female-newspaper-editors-1.3795193

Her fathers homeplace:

Re: Annie Roycroft, this is what I have regarding her family line:

GG-Grandfather: John Roycroft of Ardravinna.

>G-Grandparents: Thomas Roycroft (b. Jan. 11, 1824 in Ardravinna; d. Oct. 17, 1898 in Ardravinna) m. Elizabeth Roycroft  (b. 1827 in Lissacaha; d. bef. 1898). They were married Feb. 5, 1852 in Schull Parish Church. Elizabeth Roycroft’s parents were William Roycroft (b. abt. 1800 in Lissacaha) and Mary (or Margaret) Connell.

>>Grandparents: John Roycroft (b. Nov. 7, 1853 in Ardravinna, Schull; d. Feb. 18, 1941 in Ardravinna) m. Sarah Johnson of Ardravinna in 1877.

>>>Parents: Thomas Roycroft (b. March 15, 1881 in Schull; d. Dec. 29, 1962) and Annie Stephens (b. Aug. 31, 1891, from Milltown, Co. Kerry; d. Dec. 29, 1977). Thomas enlisted in the R.I.C. in 1906, and settled in Bangor, Co. Down in the 1920s.

>>>>Annie Roslyn Roycroft m. Joseph Stephens

Grandmothers homeplace

1907, Evidence of Councillor Ned Roycroft, Mount Gabriel Schull to The Royal Commission On Congestion in Ireland.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oFxY_yQmV2Vf2xp4Jh2TY67R4Ue-47uQyT3JtWmfGQE/edit

Roycroft Wills

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19vqQffa3YQZuXOjCw8gTa44dxK_KL082bLOVIzLnGdQ/edit

Roycroft Magistrate, both Catholic

Charles Racraft/Raycroft (Roycroft), (1824-1900), Possible relatives. 1857 stamp distributor, Macroom.  1878, Gurteenroe House, Macroom, Resident, £21. Native Bountenagh, Bantry. Attending the funeral of his sister Mrs. Thomas Dillon Bantry 1892. Started in Welplys Drapery, Macroom then went to Dublin but on the death of his former boss he took over and expanded the business.   Married to the daughter of Dr. Barrett, Macroom, he is a Landlord 1890s in the greater Bantry area probably from his brother Edward Barrett whose wife inherited a substantial amount of her father’s property; he was William O’Sullivan, Esq., Carriganass Castle, Kealkil. Director Cork to Macroom Railway. Ex-Officio Poor Law Guardian, Macroom. Uncle of the Catholic Bishop of Waterford,  Dr. Sheehan. Probate to son in law Henry B. Minihear, Bank Manager, £7,457.

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Edward (Ned) Roycroft (1850-1937), 1894, Mount Gabriel, Schull, farmer, listed 1913. 1892 Poor Law Guardian.  Attending the funeral, Bantry Jane Dillon nee Roycroft (1843-1892). 1899 Chairman Schull Board of Guardian and District Council. Farmer 1901 has one servant. One of the first to be elected to Cork County Council. Signed Requisition   1905. Cork Junction Railway Bill.  Requisition to the Right Honourable The Earl of Bandon K.P., to Call a meeting for the purpose of Approving the Cork Junctions Railway Bill. 1907 Evidence Of Ned Roycroft, Mount Gabriel, County Councillor, Magistrate, Merchant at Schull to Royal Commission on Congestion in Ireland.  Widespread Congestion and Poverty, Fisheries, Half Cottiers Half Fishermen, Minerals and Mines, The Rev Hinks, Landlord cut Down 100 acres of Forestry before he Sold to the Land Commission, Proposes Central Bacon Curing Station for West Cork.  1911 executive committee Carbery Show.    1913 attending funeral of  Mrs. Mary O’Sullivan nee O’Driscoll, Kilthomane, Crottees, Durrus. 1914 County Council election assentors Dr. John Shipsey and Rev. G.B. Fairbrother. Vice President Carbery Show 1915.  Married Kate McCarthy associated with the Irish Parliamentary Party, probably ancestor of spouse of Michael Pat Murphy, TD, and spouse of John O’Donoghue, TD and former Cathaoirleach Dáil, Co. Council 1910, listed 1921.  West Cork Roycrofts according to family lore descend from two Cromwellian brothers who came to Bandon.  His son William who succeeded him on the Co. Council.  Quite a number of the extended Roycroft family were employed at the workhouse or Union.  Chairman Schull Board of Guardians, Skibbereen to Schull Railway, Committee member Cork Mental Hospital. Supported Treaty, nominated and supported Jasper Wolfe as a TD.  Partner with his son in a drapery shop in Schull.  Huge funeral.

Roycroft County Surveyor Bantry 1920s probably of Mount Gabriel.Schull line, among his grandchildren, the late Kevin Feeny, High Court Judge:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/death-of-kevin-feeney-deprives-state-of-a-great-judge/29510170.html

His brother John, journalist, died in an aircrash 1984:

http://www.ricorso.net/rx/az-data/authors/f/Feeney_J/life.htm

Funerals West Cork, Roycrofts included here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A8vkAzsRVEhpiP2EOryWiYcEryJw0ic4DmnKe6vZEqI/edit

The Holmes Justice of Kanturk may have West Cork roots. The Secretary Nicholson of Cork may be of the family that controlled Woodford Bourne’s wine merchants.

What Is a Tontine?

Tontine is the name of an early system for raising capital in which individuals pay into a common pool of money and receive dividends based on their share of returns from investments made with the pooled money.

As members of the group died, they were not replaced with new investors so the proceeds were divided among fewer and fewer members. The surviving investors profited from the deaths of people they knew, a feature that many considered macabre.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Tontine is the name of an early system for raising capital where individuals pay into a common pool of money.
• In the U.S., tontines were popular in the 1700s and 1800s, then faded in the early 1900s.
• Tontine investors paid lump sums upon joining and received annual dividend-like payments until death.
• Shares of a deceased tontine investor were divided among the surviving members, and the shares for remaining members increase as more members die.

Understanding a Tontine

Although they seem alien today, tontines have a storied pedigree that reaches back at least half a millennium. The name comes from a 17th-century Italian financier, Lorenzo de Tonti.1 It is not clear whether he actually invented the tontine, but Tonti did famously pitch a tontine scheme to the French government in the 17th century as a way for King Louis XIV to raise money.

For this reason, historians suggest that Tonti’s idea originated with the financial folkways of his native Italy. The idea didn’t catch on at first, and Tonti eventually landed in the Bastille.

A few decades later, in the late Middle Ages tontines became widespread in Europe as a financing tool for the royal courts. Because levying taxes was often out of the question, European monarchs borrowed, predominantly via tontines, to fund their internecine wars.

At the height of their popularity in the 1900s, tontines represented almost two-thirds of the insurance market in the United States and accounted for more than 7.5% of the nation’s wealth. By 1905, there were an estimated nine million active tontine policies in the U.S., in a country of only 18 million households.2

courtesy pat liddy.