Hi Sheila, thanks for the link to the Ireland Reaching Out article on the Tulla Union Workhouse located in Garruragh townland. It clarified for me that "Tulla Union comprised the following parts of the civil parishes: Quin, Clooney, Inchicronan, Kilfinaghta, Feakle, Killuran, Kilnoe, Clonlea, Kilmurry, and Tulla". In my prior posting, I tried to estimate the number of workhouse inmates from Tulla civil parish in the 1851 census. The Clare Journal article of 9 May 1850 stated that 577 workhouse inmates were "chargeable to Tulla". These "paupers" could be from 10 different civil parishes, not necessarily from Tulla, so I deleted the two paragraphs with my earlier very incorrect estimate. The number of Tulla parish residents at a workhouse would likely be in the single digits.
With regards to Garruragh townland, and the number of houses (55) in the 1851 census and the number of tenants (24) listed in Griffith’s Valuation in 1855, my methodology states that when there were plural houses in GV, I counted as two (see note * for Garruragh and ** for Glandree below each townland summary). I suppose I could have counted as three or four houses, but there would still be a large drop in Garruragh's population from the 1851 census to the 1855 Griffith Valuation.
I think it is interesting to compare Garruragh with Glendree:
1) Why did Glendree townland between 1841 and 1851 decline by 45% and Garruragh townland declined by only 24%?
2) Garruragh had a large workhouse that was being built in 1850 and 1851. Its buildings could hold 500 people. Probably a lot of work available to Garruragh residents in its construction. A possible reason why the population of Garruragh didn't decline prior to 1851 as much as Glendree? Was the end of construction a factor in the subsequent decline through 1855?
3) Garruragh townland was nearby many large estate houses, such as Maryfort, compared to Glandree. Also it is very close to Tulla Town. Perhaps there was a larger population in Garruragh not reflected as tenants in Griffith Valuation compared to Glendree, as they had work as laborers at the large estates?
Since the Tulla parish records are from 1819 to 1881, one could easily count the number of Garruragh families (including Driminure, Rath, Ballyaskill etc) reflected in the baptism records from 1819-1846, to 1846-1861, and 1861-1881. Is the decline in the number of families in the baptism records consistent with the 1841 and 1851 census count of houses, and 19 households (18 tenants + 1) at Griffith Valuation? If 30 families in Garruragh were having children in the late 1850's, then clearly the estimate/calculation for Garruragh was understated.
Sheila, your defense of the convicted murderer, James Hurley, in stating his motive in killing John Sheehan was to get a free passage to Australia (the place to be, since he liked eating sheep's head) has conflicting evidence in the historical record. In 1850, all an Irishman had to do was steal a sheep and this would get him a sentence of 7 or 10 years transportation. Why kill someone? James Hurley was in Maryfort Wood for the sole purpose of killing another sheep for the widow McNamara, who he may have fancied, when John Sheehan confronted him. He did not want to get convicted of killing a sheep, with its sentence of transportation to Australia, so he murdered the herdsman whose job it was to protect his master's sheep flock.
In November 1850, the convicted murderer, James Hurley, was one of twenty convicts sent from Ennis Gaol to Spike Island prison in Cork (see Limerick Chronicle article in last posting). I researched these 20 convicts in the hope that a James Hurley might be found in the same prison passenger listing as another convict, perhaps under an odd spelling. No luck, but the results were interesting all the same:
Of the 20 convicts, 75% of the men (15) were convicted of stealing or killing a sheep or cow, sometimes with a "felonious intent"; 5% for murder (Hurley); 5% for assault; 5% for burglary; 5% for sacrilege; 5% unknown. See detail below.
Of the 20 convicts, 35% were sent to Western Australia (7 in total, 1 died on the way); 25% to Tasmania; 10% were discharged early (apparently in Ireland); 5% died at Spike Island prior to transportation; and 25% unknown whereabouts.
The 12 convicts who were transported all arrived in Australia in 1853. Convicts were sent to Tasmania from 1802 to 1853, so the Clare convicts were at the very tail end of that colony's convict history (only 4 later ships would arrive). Conversely, Western Australia had only just become a full-fledged penal colony in 1850, so the Clare convicts who arrived in 1853 were transported on just the 10th convict ship to arrive in Fremantle.
James Hurley was described as a "wretched looking elderly man", while all the convicts sent to Australia were men in their twenties or thirties. Western Australia did not want any convicts who were guilty of a serious crime such as murder. Thus, James Hurley was unlikely transported to Australia. Did he die in Spike Island? This was the case for one of the convicts, Thomas Hasset (#19 below), but there was no similar record for James Hurley. I also looked for Hurley under the Commane surname, as Sheila you had remembered last Christmas that “camán” is Irish for “hurley”, but still no luck.
The research for the 20 Clare convicts, first utilized the Irish National Archive's "Ireland-Australia transportation database" (which despite its name also includes convicts to Bermuda):
http://findingaids.nationalarchives.ie/ ... tegory=147
For the Clare convicts transported to Tasmania, I researched further using the "Founders and Survivors" website:
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/xmlportal/pubsearch
For the Clare convicts transported to Western Australia, I researched further using the Fremantle Prison website:
https://fremantleprison.com.au/history- ... t-database/
Tasmanian convict records are superior to Western Australia (WA) and New South Wales records, and include such detailed information as name and locations of surviving family members of each convict.
1) James Hurley: can only find newspaper accounts of murder conviction; unknown prison records.
The below convicts (2 through 12) were sentenced to 10 years prison / transportation:
2) John Minogue: no age reported, County Clare, trial 21 June 1849, cow stealing, transported on the Rodney on 24 November 1852 arriving in Hobart, Tasmania on 12 February 1853 with 339 convicts (TR 10, p31).
Note: A 19-year old John Minogue was convicted on arson at a trial on 2 July 1850, but his sentence was 7 years (and not 10 years), this other John Minogue was ordered discharged on 12 May 1855.
Unlike other convicts sent to Tasmania, could not find John Minogue on the Founders and Survivors website. However, in searching by ship (the Rodney), he was discovered as "John Minogan" with consistent trial date of 21 June 1849 and transportation for 10 years for stealing two cows. Born in 1831, single, laborer. Brothers "Patrick" and "William" of his native place (Clare); sisters "Peggy" and "Nancy", both of the Cape of Good Hope. Conditional pardon on 24 March 1857. Married Annie Bridget McNelly in Wangaratta, Victoria in 1865. Eldest son named Martin in 1867, total five children. Died on 1 January 1879 in Wangaratta, Victoria.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... ain/om7978
3) Michael McNamara: no age reported, County Clare, trial 21 June 1850, cow stealing, convict ordered to be discharged on 10 July 1856 (TR 10, p33) — discharge presumably in Ireland. Another Michael McNamara was tried for cow stealing on 4 January 1850 (TR 10, p 31), but no information on transportation. A third Michael McNamara was convicted for stealing two cows - see discussion further below.
4) Patrick McInerney: unknown, most likely an odd spelling in convict databases.
5) Patrick McMahon: no age reported, County Clare, trial 11 January 1850, "killing sheep with a felonious intent", transported on the Robert Small in April 1853 arriving in WA on 19 August 1853 with 303 convicts.
According to the Fremantle Prison convict database, Patrick McMahon was born in 1822, a laborer, a widower, with two children. Ticket of leave on 16 May 1854.
6) John Burke: age 30, County Clare, trial 20 February 1850, burglary, imprisoned on Spike Island, with documents dated in 1852 (CRF 1852 B 2 ,CRF 1852 Misc 5). Possibly, same as John Burke, age 40, County Clare, trial 27 February 1850, burglary, transported on the Rodney on 24 November 1852 arriving in Hobart, Tasmania on 12 February 1853 with 339 convicts (TR 10, p30).
The Founders and Survivors website, for Tasmanian convicts, provided additional detail: confirmed age of 40 in 1853 (born 1812); labourer; convicted of "housebreaking, stealing corn"; married; wife Ellen, of native place; three children; sisters "Julia", "Nancy", and "Mary" of native place. Information subsequent to arrival in Tasmania is unknown:
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... ain/om7810
7) Martin Hallinan: age 20, County Clare, trial 28 February 1850, sacrilege (TR 10, p30). Another document dated August 1854, finds Martin Hallinan in Mountjoy Prison (CRF 1854 Misc34). The comment on the first document states "convict ordered to be discharged, 5 March 1856".
8 ) Thomas Nihill: no age reported, County Clare, trial 18 April 1850, killing two heifers, transported on the Rodney on 24 November 1852 arriving in Hobart, Tasmania on 12 February 1853 with 339 convicts (TR 10, p31).Michael Carty and Martin Hallinan were indicted for stealing a copper poor box and a brass rail out of the Church of O'Brien's-bridge, on the 11th January—Verdict—Carty not guilty, Hallinan guilty.
Clare Journal, and Ennis Advertiser, Monday, 4 March 1850
The Founders and Survivors website, for Tasmanian convicts, has additional detail: age 27 in 1853, Thomas had a brother Michael in the 25th Regiment. Ticket of leave on 9 January 1855; conditional pardon on 18 December 1855. Died in Launceston, Tasmania, on 11 August 1877.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... ain/om8033
9) John Barrett: age 26, County Clare, trial 3 July 1850, sheep stealing, transported on the Robert Small in April 1853 arriving in WA on 19 August 1853 (with 303 convicts). (TR 10, p34).
According to the Fremantle Prison convict database, John Barrett was born in 1825, a laborer, married, with one child. Ticket of leave on 19 July 1854. Conditional pardon on 19 July 1856.
10) Richard Pilkington: age 20, County Clare, trial 3 July 1850, sheep stealing, transported on the Phoebe Dunbar in June 1853, arriving in WA on 30 August 1853 with 285 convicts (TR 10, p34).
According to the Fremantle Prison convict database, Richard Pilkington was born in 1831, a laborer, unmarried. Ticket of leave on 7 September 1854. Conditional pardon on 8 October 1859.
11) Martin Ryan: age 20, County Clare, trial 3 July 1850, sheep stealing, transported on the Robert Small in April 1853, arriving in WA in on 19 August 1853 with 303 convicts (TR 10, p34).
According to the Fremantle Prison convict database, Martin Ryan was born in 1823, a laborer, unmarried. Ticket of leave on 16 August 1854. Conditional pardon in April 1857.
12) Michael Lawlor: no age reported, County Clare, trial 9 October 1850, cow stealing, transported on the Robert Small in April 1853, arriving in WA on 19 August 1853 with 303 convicts (TR 10, p34).
According to the Fremantle Prison convict database, Michael Lawlor was born in 1827, a ploughman, unmarried. Ticket of leave on 25 August 1854. Died in 1865.
The below convicts (13 through 20) were sentenced to 7 years prison / transportation:
13) Patrick Hallinan: no age reported, County Clare, trial 16 June 1849, "killing a sheep with felonious intent", no details on transportation reported (TR 9, p191).
14) James Normoyle: no age reported, County Clare, trial 21 June 1849, cow stealing, transported on the Phoebe Dunbar in June 1853, which arrived in WA on 30 August 1853 with 285 convicts (TR 9, p193).
According to the Fremantle Prison convict database, James Normoyle died at sea on the voyage to Western Australia. He was 21 years old, or born about 1832, occupation shoemaker.
15) Patrick Lillis: no age reported, County Clare, trial 24 October 1849, cow stealing, no details on transportation reported in index (TR 9, p194).
16) Michael Darcy: no age reported, County Clare, trial 8 April 1850, ewe stealing, transported on the Robert Small in April 1853, arriving in WA on 19 August 1853 with 303 convicts (TR 10, p31).
According to the Fremantle Prison convict database, "Michael Darcey" was 27 in 1853, born about 1826, a laborer. He died on 8 October 1853, less than two months after his arrival in Australia.
17) James Hinchey: no age reported, County Clare, trial 8 April 1850, ewe stealing, transported on the Rodney on 24 November 1852 arriving in Hobart, Tasmania on 12 February 1853 with 339 (TR 10, p31).
The Founders and Survivors website, for Tasmanian convicts, has additional detail for "James Henchy": age 28 in 1853 (born 1825) ; single; labourer; father named "John", brothers "Joseph", "Patrick", "Michael", and sisters "Catherine" and "Hannah" of "np", his native place. Ticket of leave on 8 August 1854. Conditional pardon on 23 October 1855. Married Bridget McInerney on 23 February 1857 in Hobart. Six children. Died 17 June 1894 in Hobart.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... in/ai32007
18) John Pinder: no age reported, County Clare, trial 8 April 1850, ewe stealing, transported on the Rodney on 24 November 1852 arriving in Hobart, Tasmania on 12 February 1853 with 339 (TR 10, p31).
The Founders and Survivors website, for Tasmanian convicts, has additional detail: age 35 in 1853 (born 1817); married, wife Bridget, and two children; brother "Michael"; sisters "Margaret", "Mary", and "Ann"; farm labourer. Ticket of leave on 5 September 1854; conditional pardon on 17 July 1855. John Pinder married Jane Miller on 20 August 1855 in Hobart. Died 7 December 1889 in Hobart.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsea ... in/ai55639
19) Thomas Hassett: no age reported, County Clare, trial 18 April 1850, sheep stealing, "convict died in Spike Island Gaol, Co. Cork on 2 February 1851", (TR 10, p31).
20) William Ryan: no age reported, County Clare, trial 24 October 1850, malicious assault, "convict ordered to be discharged on 9 February 1855", (TR 10, p35), presumably in Ireland.
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In researching the convict Michael McNamara, #3 on the above listing, on the Founders and Survivors website, I discovered a different Michael McNamara from County Clare who was transported for 7 years (distinguishing him from #3).
This other Michael McNamara was sentenced to 7 years transportation for stealing two cows, trial on 21 June 1849, prosecutor John O'Brien of Clare. Born about 1831. A farm laborer. Father named Patrick, mother named Margaret, brother Patrick, sister Margaret. Michael McNamara was one of 342 male convicts who sailed on the convict ship Rodney departing Cork on 24 November 1852 and arriving in Tasmania on 12 February 1853. Conditional pardon on 5 June 1855. Certificate of Freedom on 8 April 1857. Married Ellen Cawley on 15 July 1858 in Hobart. Eight children. Michael died on 2 June 1876 (cemetery transcription of 1870 in below link is incorrect) in Port Cygnet, Tasmania.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... ain/om7976
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234 ... l-mcnamara
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THEORY: With a father named Patrick McNamara and his mother named Margaret, and a sister named Margaret, could the convict Michael McNamara have been from one of the missing McNamara families of Glandree (as outlined on page 13 of this thread)?
Patrick Sheedy McNamara (1803 - 1871 ?) and Margaret Doyle were the parents of three children in the Tulla baptism register (1819-1846). If their son Michael was the Tasmanian convict, then both were living in 1853.
Margaret Doyle appears to be related to the Doyle baptism sponsors for her children. Michael Doyle and Mary Enright were from Driminure / Garruragh as noted in last posting. Hugh Doyle was from Roslara.
A Patrick McNamara, of Glandree, a labourer, age 68 years, widower, died on 1 May 1871; informant Patrick McNamara (Tulla registration):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 286630.pdf
.................... 1.? missing baptism register (March 1822 through August 1825)
.................... 1.? Patrick McNamara? baptized in a period of missing baptism registers? The convict Michael McNamara had a brother named Patrick. When the 68-year old Patrick McNamara of Glandree died in 1871, the informant was a Patrick McNamara. What happened to this Patrick McNamara?
.................... 1.? missing baptism register (June 1826 through May 1827)
.................... 1.1 Judy Sheedy (1828 - unknown), of Glandree, was baptized on 1 November 1828, father "Patt Sheedy", mother Margaret Doyle; sponsors Michael Doyle and Mary Enright.
If Judy Sheedy McNamara was the sister of the Tasmanian convict, then she died prior to 1853.
.................... 1.2 Michael McNamara (1830 - unknown), of Glandree, was baptized on 26 September 1830, father "Pat McNamara"; mother Margaret Doyle; sponsors Martin Meany and Sally Cavanagh.
The convict sent to Tasmania for stealing two cows?
.................... 1.3 Margaret McNamara (1833 - unknown), of Glandree, was baptized on 28 April 1833, father "Patt McNamara", mother Margaret Doyle; sponsors Hugh Doyle and Bridget Clanchy.
The Margaret noted in the convict records as the sister of the Tasmanian convict, Michael McNamara?
Was the Michael McNamara convicted of stealing two cows and sent to Tasmania, the son of Patrick McNamara and Margaret Moloney of Glandree? A definite possibility.
Searching for evidence that would refute my Michael McNamara convict theory, I searched the ancestry website for any family trees of the Michael McNamara who died at Port Cygnet in 1876. There were 66 family trees, with more than half of them stating that Michael McNamara was born in Corofin on either 15 June 1828 or in 1834, father Patrick McNamara (1804 - 1884 or 1889) and Margaret McCullough (born 1814, or various other years). Rath/Kilnaboy (Corofin) baptism records start in 1819 but there is no Patrick McNamara married to a McCullough. Or a Michael McNamara born to a Patrick McNamara. The surname McCullough, under any spelling variation, does not appear in the Corofin baptism register, nor is at all common in County Clare. The marriage certificate of Michael McNamara and Ellen Crowley (document loaded to family trees) does not state their parents. There is no evidence, such as a death record, for Margaret McCullough being the mother of convict Michael McNamara. Nor any mention of convict Michael McNamara according to his convict records having had a brother named Patrick and sister named Margaret. Many of the family trees have Patrick McNamara, Sr., of Corofin, going to the Scariff workhouse, where he died in 1884 or 1889, which seems a long way to go especially since there was a workhouse in Corofin.
Despite 50 plus family trees on the ancestry website stating that convict Michael McNamara of Tasmania was the son of Patrick McNamara and Margaret McCullough of Corofin, I reckon there is still a good possibility that he was, in fact, the son of Patrick McNamara and Margaret Molony of Glandree.
Regardless, the discovery of the 1871 death record for Patrick McNamara of Glandree is evidence that this McNamara family, of the laborer class, was not missing after all. They just weren't recorded as a tenant in Griffith Valuation. Sheila, I reckon this was your point for Garruragh townland that had only 18 tenants leasing a house at Griffith Valuation reflecting such a large population decline from the 1851 census. However, there could have indeed been quite a few Garruragh families of the laborer class who were not reflected as tenants at Griffith Valuation. And perhaps with Garruragh being in the vicinity of many landed estates, there would be a much higher percentage of such labor class families compared to Glandree townland.