Skibbereen Historical Society, Phipil O’Regan:

Remembering Dr David Hadden, Skibbereen

A work in progress more information sought from the Townsend family in Australia.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1clxZHpqFbHCtl1f7E68wAldlz03kxrXNDxkoxEFFJJg/edit#

https://wordpress.com/home/durrushistory.com

Dinnseanchas. The Naming of Houses After the Homeplace, Richard Wright, Clonakilty, ‘Carbery’, Glenageary, Methodist Rev. Earnest Donovan, Foronaught, Myross, Sandycove, Dublin, Richard Townsend ‘Dunbeacon’, Horton Australia. Also include Van Morrison on Belfast.

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/38363

1844 Cork Assizes, Jagoe V Hungerford. Throwing light on Genealogy of Mizen Peninsula Genealogies of mid 18th Century Middlemen, Coughlan, Dowe, Driscoll/O’Driscoll

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/36240

1937 Dunbeacon, Parish of Schull,  Mary Joe Moynihan, School Folklore Project. Names: Collins, Connell, Croston, Driscoll,  Finn, Levis, Lucy, Maguire, McCarthy, Moynihan, O’Brien, Nugent, Pyburn, O’Sullivan, Roycroft, Scofield, Lucky Days for Marriage Thursday and Saturday, Flax Meitheals, Harvest of the Geese, Holy Wells, Penal Laws,Old Cures, Deaths at Dereenlomane Barytes Mines, Wreck of Memphis, Foghmar na nGeídhna, hard and quick days after Harvest.

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/33537

Under the Radar: Roads are discovered to yield a more profitable crop than farming, 1809 Cork Grand Jury Presentments: John Arundel, William and John Swanton, Ballydehob, Alexander O’Driscoll, Skibbereen, John and William Warner, Bantry, Samuel Townsend, Henry Ryan, Skibbereen, Later, Birds and Tobins of Kilcrohane, Moss and Nicholas Families, Durrus, Shanahans of Dunbeacon, Vickeries of Ballycomane, Fitzgeralds of Baltimore.

https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=34182&action=edit&calypsoify=1&block-editor=1&frame-nonce=aa0af4e285&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.com&environment-id=production&support_user&_support_token

Denis O’Driscoll, Dunbeacon, Harpist and WILLIAM HENRY O’DRISCOLL, Esq., of Stoke, near Plymouth. He was born on the 16th of June, 1803, and, though a fine specimen of the old Irish chieftain race, he is still unmarried. The senior line of the O’Driscolls is, therefore, likely to become extinct in the British Islands, and the genealogist of the next century will probably have to look for it in the United States of America: though, according to a wild tradition in the country, there are fishermen on Cape Clear and on other islands off the Coast of Carbery, who are lineally descended from the youngest son of Sir Finghin, (Finin) or Florence, of 1602. The Rev. James O’Driscoll, P.P. of Kilmichael in the County of Cork, is said to be the great-grandson of Denis O’Driscoll of Dunbeacon Castle, who is remembered by tradition for his skill in performing on the Irish harp, who was the son of Florence O’Driscoll, called the Captain Cam, who was killed at the siege of Dunboy in 1602. Sed cum de his nihil certi scio, nihil etiam assertive determino.

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/28668

Irish in ordinary speech 1930s, by Seosamh Ó Drisceoil, (Joe O’Driscoll), (1923-2015), NT, Dunbeacon, Durrus, West Cork

https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=18580&action=edit&calypsoify=1&block-editor=1&frame-nonce=aa0af4e285&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.com&environment-id=production&support_user&_support_token

Discovery of Bronze Palstave, c 1.400 BC, Dunbeacon Bog, Durrus, West Cork.

Dinnseanchas. The Naming of Houses After the Homeplace, Richard Wright, Clonakilty, ‘Carbery’, Glenageary, Methodist Rev. Earnest Donovan, Foronaught, Myross, Sandycove, Dublin, Richard Townsend ‘Dunbeacon’, Horton Australia. Also include Van Morrison on Belfast. Rooska Australia a Vickery house from Rooska, Bantry

A variation of dinnseanchas as in Van Morrison’s music

Durcan also utilizes the ancient Irish dinnseanchas tradition to heighten the dignity of … himself (who has also collaborated with singers like Van Morrison),

https://www.jstor.org/stable/30001549?seq=1

From The Middle Temple Admissions 1884

Rev. Patrick Ernest Donovan (1861-1953), Foronaught, Myross, Skibbereen, West Cork, Irish Speaking Methodist Missionary.

House in Dublin Myross, Sandycove, Dublin, 28 June 1953, interred

Rev. Patrick Ernest Donovan (1861-1953), Foronaught, Myross, Skibbereen, West Cork, Irish Speaking Methodist Missionary.

A branch of the Townsend family settled in Australi

http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~townsend/tree/record.php?ref=285

Jennings Family West Cork to New Zealand, Australia, USA 1800-1985.

https://wordpress.com/block-editor/post/durrushistory.com/2927

There was significant emigration of Durrus Protestant to Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick from the mid 1820s,thye brought any of the local townland names to the area of settlement.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pD0f_EX_72o_tKK8J0H8UJtHa9YJoK-s7cjISYoZ-BY/edit

Private Bankers/Moneylenders. Denis McCarthy (1816-1896), Donnacha Talún, Bantry, probably Letterlickey, Durrus. Phil Woulfe (1829-1881). William ‘Billy the Banker’ Perrott, (1809-1881), Courtmacsherry.

In Ireland the term moneylender is loaded. In looking at Denis McCarthy and Phil Woulfe of Bantry it is worth remembering that even relatively prosperous people were outside the mainstream banking system. Both lent to Landlords by way of equitable mortgage i.e. deposit of title deeds. There was no need for formal registration and in the event of default they went into possession. This probably explains how Woulfe ends up as a Landlord on the former estate of Richard O’Donovan of Fort Lodge Durrus.

 William ‘Billy the Banker’ Perrott, (1809-1881), Courtmacsherry.

He was more low key; the family background might be likened to Henry Ford’s people, small to middling Protestant farmers. There is a fascinating account of him collected by local children in the School Folklore Project in the 1930s. He would have been small scale in comparison to the other both of whom let very significant assets in their probate.

In the early 17th century equitable mortgage were frequently resorted in West Cork to by Richard Boyle, Great Earl of Cork and Sir Walter Coppinger.

https://durrushistory.com/category/sir-walter-coppinger/

It is thought that the O’Mahonys lost a great part of Mizen to Boyle in this way.

Boyle’s chicanery is often mentioned as a cause of the Great Rebellion of 1641.

Similarly the McCarthys tracts of lands at Caheragh and Durrus went to Coppinger on default. Maybe when the Land Commission records are finally made available it will explain as Land Registration in Ireland only commenced in 1708:

https://www.johngrenham.com/browse/retrieve_text.php?text_contentid=89

In the 18th century the Splaine family were major financiers in West Cork. Bandon attorney:

1786-1802 Philip Splaine Attorney Deed of 1798 also has Peter Splaine as witness. HIs apprentice 1793 Mayburry Duckett https://irishdeedsindex.net/mem.php?memorial=334665 1786 William Westropp Apprenticed to Philip Splaine 1802 James Vaughan writing clerk, probably of extended family.

1893, 1894, 1895, 1899, 1904, 1907 Easter Vestries, Church of Ireland, West Cork.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hvSt5K5S08MDUMiSDYei_8mMt7MwshhLd-fG4ruKs14/edit

Early Church Wardens, 1699, Bishop Mann Visitation of Church of Ireland Dioceses of Cork. Ref D121.1. 1827 Parliamentary Return of Vestries, 1851, 1861 Visitations, 9th January 2022

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FUf37RhSaONXYllElgpDOdwUA9nWaYACxQwxrz4QzEI/edit#gid=0

Some people may have difficulty opening the WordPress blogs, much of the content is here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kl3ZPQjOgxCdj1V23MUP1hp38w_Nx7e2PRy9BoPan7U/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hvSt5K5S08MDUMiSDYei_8mMt7MwshhLd-fG4ruKs14/edit

March 1798.  Rosscarbery, Drimoleague, Castletownbere, Select Vestries meeting to Levy a Rate to provide Four Men to Serve in  Militia and to Levy Seven  and a Half Pence Per Gneeve.  Further meeting August 1803 to levy £1-6-o per ploughland to raise 5 men for Militia and £5-13-9 on town of Rosscarbery. Cost of Levy for Cork City and County.

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/33076

Late 18th early 19th Century Interplay of the Select Vestries of the Church of Ireland (State Church) in Local Administration, Barony of Carbery, Castlehaven, Drimoleague, Durrus, Cess Payer Representatives Named.

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/33024

1827, Select Vestry Returns, Church of Ireland, Including Some Named Vestrymen and Churchwardens, Abbeystrewy (Skibbereen), Ballyvourney, Castlehaven, Creagh, Drinagh, Durrus, Fanlobus (Dunmanway), Innishannon, Kilbrogan, Macroom, Morogh, Tullagh (Baltimore)

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/32369

Meeting of Select Vestry, Skibbereen, West Cork, 10th May 1832, to appoint Officers of Health under Statute of the 59th year of His Late Majesty, King George 3

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/39744

Banking Collapse in Cork in the 1820s Roches and Leslies Bank and House of Commons, London, Select Committee Query re Collapse, only functioning Bank left Pikes.  First run 1820 Deputation including Messrs Crawford and Gerard Callaghan deputed to see Lord Lieutenant in Dublin to solicit loan o £100,000. 2nd failure of Leslies 1825.

The effects of the banking collapse were felt in all area and made a bad situation immeasurably worse. For example in Dunmanway the Church of Ireland Vestry return for 1827 state that the previous years collection was deposited with Leslie’s Bank in Cork and lost when the Bank collapsed even though that happened in 1820.

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/3440

St. James, Durrus, Select Vestry, 1827.

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/240

A Grandfather (Timothy O’Donovan, (1789-1874),  Landlord and Magistrate, Durrus) hopes for his grandson that he will go to the new Queens College in Cork. In his 1860 letter to Dr. John O’Donovan ‘Hopefully to the members of the Clan, he was educated at a French College but I mean to lead him to one of the Queen’s  Colleges which though denounced by our clergy I consider this the greatest benefit ever conferred on Ireland’

Spare me a line wishing you and yours most prosperity I remain your affectionate friend and Clansman

Timothy O’Donovan now forgotten a hugely influential figure in politics 1820 to 1870s, among his achievement was eradicating the hated tithe system in Muintervara as the first place in West Cork to do so.

Many of his extended network descend from Alexander Donovan, Squince, Skibbereen.

1785. Will of Alexander O’Donovan, Squince, Skibbereen, West Cork, Various Townlands, Farm at Myross, Fishery, Salt Store, Fishing Boat, Possible Grand Father-in-Law of Timothy O’Donovan, Justice of The Peace, and Grandfather of Rickard Donovan, First Catholic Clerk of the Peace for Co. Cork 1838 since the 17th Century.

1785 Will of Alexander O’Donovan, Squince, Skibbereen, West Cork, Various Townlands, Farm at Myross, Fishery, Salt Store, fishing Boat, Grand Father-in-Law of Timothy O’Donovan, Justice of The Peace, and Grandfather of Rickard Donovan, First Catholic Clerk of the Peace for Co. Cork 1838 since the 17th Century.

Richard, Junior, eldest or not or ill in 1850 or 1860 or William who died of liver failure in his early 30s leaving about £3,000 or he may the Richard Esq of O’Donovan’s Cove described a Flag Lieutenant at a Naval Dinner in Cobh in 1844.  Married Anne Fitzgerald daughter of Thomas Fitzgerald, Merchant, Cork by Catherine McCarthy daughter of McCarthy of Woodview and niece of Daniel O’Connell M.P., he had one son Timothy. This may be the son and heir born at maternal grandfather’s house Sydney Place Cork 26th August 1844 father then living at Drombroe Cottage (near Bantry).  He may be the son who wrongfully claimed the title ‘The O’Donovan’ at a public meeting in Cork he was challenged and abandoned the claim.  In correspondence with Dr. John O’Donovan, Timothy O’Donovan refers to his son’s extravagance and luckily the land is entailed, he is estranged and living in Germany.  His grandson is in school in France and his grandfather hopes he may go to the Queen’s College in Cork.  In his will his grandson is dead.

1871, William O’Donovan, aged  36 O’Donovans Cove.

..

..

Luckily a lot of the letters between Timothy O’Donovan and Dr. John O’Donovan, antiquarian and one of Irelands greatest scholars have survived

1841-. Dr. John O’Donovan correspondence with Timothy O’Donovan, Durrus, James O’Donovan, Gravesend, Kent.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16VJptRac8CKsG_ylR0Zm78DLE-rPwWHJ_q2n4HKpW5s/edit

To Dr. John O’Donovan, 24039/JOD/278(iv)

O’Donovan’s Cove

August 6th 1860

The recent illness of my eldest son in London has prevented me, from replying to your recent communication, and to thank you for sending the book containing the account of the funeral of my old friend Jerry na Duna, I am 

I have dictated this to be copied and laid by here with  other documents here, and with me….  then…  would cause confusion in the remainder.

In reply to your queries I  have to mention Timothy O’Donovan of Ardahill who was married to a grand niece of Daniel O’Connell died some years ago, leaving a numerous family he left a considerable fortune in land and money

The lands were sold some time ago by his sons to the late John O’Connell of Bantry and are now in the proprietorship of his brother Mr. James O’Connell of London formerly Bantry..

Richard Donovan of Lisheen is alive but has no male issue living.

Of the Squince family, the late? Captain Alexander Donovan, Captain of the Navy is the son of General Donovan who married a daughter of Colonel Hungerford of ‘The Island’ near Clonakilty was the eldest branch.  Alexander is married to a Miss Cox of County Clare by whom he got a considerable fortune, his family were all Protestants, his present   representative is a delicate little boy, who resides with his mother a Protestant in Kilrush, Co. Clare.  He is heir to an independent property situate in Dublin and Clare.

I deeply regret the disappointment of being debarred coming to this old place over the autumn.  I hope and trust  we will meet and have a ‘Confab’ together before I depart this life

I am glad to ear you have such a battalion of stalwart Milesians 

I shall be glad to introduce my little grandson now 15 years of age and the only heir to this place.

Hopefully to the members of the Clan, he was educated at a French College but I mean to lead him to one of the Queen’s  Colleges which though denounced by our clergy I consider this the greatest benefit ever conferred on Ireland

Spare me a line wishing you and yours most prosperity I remain your affectionate friend and Clansman

Timothy O’Donovan

As he points out a power struggle involving the Catholic Church and the British authorities over control of the Queens Colleges meant the a Fatwa was issued against Catholics attending. Nevertheless many attended as did many West Cork Protestants doing medicine and engineering who not have been wealthy enough to go to Trinity College in Dublin.

Significant representation of politicians, teachers, RIC men

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QH0YmhJ8OyWSSxteajmYsiqp2bg9PHLDLfRsq5gCiz0/edit

West Cork Funerals:

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

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I3qVrGobD4QG1KsGHWXF6kzc2LkeAAZ-e-1LxeMox8c/edit

These are a series of articles by Timothy Hayes under the name ‘Mitsegah’ and emigrated from Dunmanway to New York in 1890 among those on the trip was fellow Dunmanway man Goodhand Clarke.

In the articles he chronicles those who were pupils in the Model School in the 1880s and document their fate and ultimate foreign destination where appropriate.

You very much get the impression that America was the next parish.   Countless Irish were delighted to go to Britain to escape grinding poverty but in the main they melded into the British working class.   In contrast the perception was America was the land of opportunity.  It is interesting the a number of priests went on American tours from the 1880s to fund church building in West Cork I have not come across  such trips to England.

The illusions of American prosperity were fostered by ‘Returned Yanks’ who after years away caom home and bought drinks for all and sundry and entertained with  tales of wealth.

Here Mistegah has stories of meeting in NY with those from the locality, many in middle management positions.  A man who had been a young teacher in the Model School left after unhappy differences and in NY in the early 1890s was going to Law School at night hoping to qualify as a lawyer and become a US citizen.

The perception was that once people emigrated to the USA they were gone. However, not always true, various members of the Swanton family in Ballydehob were back and forward from NY from the 1790s. Many girls worked as domestics and after maybe 10 years returned with enough to buy a farm with a spouse or business.  Mrs.Wiseman in Durrus nee Daly, Kilcrohane was such adn weh she went about building their house and  business in Durrus recessed it from the road asn she thought in the 1930s that like America in the future the car would dominate in Ireland.

One of the Coakleys of Bantry, originally Tureen, Kilcrohane had been in the funeral business in the USA and returned to establish a funeral parlour in Bantry still in the family.

A testament to the industry of the people with meagre returns.

This was around the time the land was being vested in tenants by the Land commission. Various legal changes over the previous 20 years en the tenant would have to be compensated for improvements

In contrast in England the convention was that a third of the profit from land would go to the Landlord, a third to the tenant and a third for improvements.

These are middling farms if any observer was writing about 1840 of the extraordinary efforts to reclaim even an acre from mountain to grow potatoes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nfbHlasrFdfA88a7jNSUvXLAx7XBhux4PhcfFdtrQ7A/edit

In the 1901 and 1911 census there are only around 100 fullers in Ireland, Cork born. Most are C of I, some Methodists and about 25% Catholic.

In Bennett’s History of Bandon he says the family came after 1590 to the Bandon are presumably from the West Country of England.

There are many in Ireland and amount the Irish Diaspora who have Fuller ancestry.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PZWlnGngjIXdAyDUZ5O878Yw3pRD9Lq-9DLK2s7RoMc/edit

Bennett : British Settlers in West Cork c.1590

Fuller

From a Census of Ireland 1659 with supplementary material from the Poll Money ordinances 1660-1661

Ballymodan Parish  East Gully

Number of people: 118, 47 english and 71 Irish. 

Tituladoes Names: Francis Bernard, Dan Darley, Tho Geogan, John Upcole, Raph Fuller

Middle Gully  (12)

Deresullagh (20) Joseph Abbott

Glancoolebeg  (10)  William Fuller

..

John Atkins Builder provider brother in law  of Thomas Fuller, Skibbereen Drinagh Slate Quarries company Limited shareholder

Olive G. Fuller Wife  of Thomas Fuller, Skibbereen Drinagh Slate Quarries company Limited shareholder

Members Ballineen Agricultural Society 1845-7

Ballineen 

C. Crowley, family there 1946

John Culnane, family there 1946

F. Daunt, family gone 1946

J. Fuller, family gone 1946

Castletown, Dunmanway?

W. Appelbe, family gone 1946

G. Chinnery, family there 1946

J. Cummins, family gone 1946

J. Fuller, family gone 1946

K. Fuller, family gone 1946

Early Church Wardens, 1781, Bishop Mann Visitation of Church of Ireland  Dioceses of Cork.  Ref D121.1.  1827 Parliamentary Return of Vestries, 1851, 1861 Visitations, 13th DEcember 2021

Ballymoney:

1827 Parish clerk £10, sextant £4 William Fuller, Robert Good Vestry returns for 1827, by order House of Commons, London February, 1828. http://www.dippam.ac.uk/eppi/documents/10167/page/224749

Drinagh:

1932 1932 Easter Vestry:  Church wardens, Rector, John Rossley, Peoples, J.S. Kingston, Sidesmen, R.Jennings, R.Helen, Select Vestry, Messs R. Ellis, C.J. Bryan, W. J.Levis, C. Ellis, R. Levis, G. Jennings,  A. Jagoe,  Miss E. Ellis, W. Jennings, R. Jennings, W. Fuller, A. Attridge 1931,  Easter Vestry:  Church wardens, Richard Jennings, Toughbawn, Richard Helen,  Lettergorman,Sidesmen,  Select Vestry, Messs R. Ellis, C.J. Bryan, W. J.Levis, C. Ellis, R. Levis, G. Jennings,  A. Jagoe,  Miss E. Ellis, C O’Jara, W. Jennings, W. Fuller, A. Attrid

Kilbrogan:

1823, Samuel Hornibrook, John Wright

1824, John Baldwin, William Sloan

1825, William Smith, Samuel Foulks?

1826, George and Henry Cornwall

1827, Thomas Gash, Robert Fuller

1828, William Lovell, Samuel Hosford

1829, Thomas Mountjoy, William Stanley of Carhue

1830, Jonas Bernard, Thomas Barter

1831, Thomas Bullen, Benjamin Thompson

1832,Benjamin Forde, Laurence Lovell

1827:

Robert Fuller, Thomas Gash

1870 Vestry Union of KIlmacabea and Kilfaughnabeg, Leap

1924 Churchwardens, G.Kingston, Dr. Welply, R. Travers, W. Driscoll,  J.Roycroft,  D. Jennings,  R. Wolfe, Jas.Kingston,  .S. J. Fuller, A. Sweetnam,  A. Eedy,  R. Baker, 

Kilmeen: