Roland Curtin, born in Dysert, Co. Clare, in 1764

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Sduddy
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Roland Curtin, born in Dysert, Co. Clare, in 1764

Post by Sduddy » Sat Jul 23, 2016 10:51 am

An article on the MacCurtins, ‘The origins of Clann Chruitin: chronicler-poets of the learned Gaelic tradition’, by Luke McInerney, first published in the Other Clare vol. 38 (2014), pp 19-30, and later donated by him to clarelibrary.ie http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... ruitin.pdf gives us an idea of the standing of that family in Clare in medieval times, and later.
Some names that recur in the MacCurtin clan are Roland, Constance, Andrew/Aindrias and Austin/Aibhistin/Augustine, and I am sure that Fr. Constance Curtin, named the article in the LondonderrySentinel of 27th Apr. 1833, was a descendant. http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=204
Another descendant, I’m sure, was Roland Curtin, who (according to the entry on findagrave http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... 475&df=all&) was born in Dysert, Co. Clare, in 1764, educated in Paris and arrived in Philadelphia in 1793.
He was a son of Aibhistin Curtin, who had married Mary O’Loghlen, a sister of Colman O’Loghlen (the father of Sir Michael O’Loghlen of Drumconora). Roland set up a successful iron works in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and his son, Andrew, became Governor of Pennsylvania and was a staunch supporter of Abraham Lincoln. An entry on Andrew Curtin on Wikipedia gives plenty of information.
Some Curtin descendants were still living in the townland of Dysert, in the parish of Dysert, at the time of Griffith’s Valuation. Hugh Curtin was leasing Plot 1: a house and 80 acres from Francis H. Synge. The house was called Dysert Cottage and was very close to the castle. The later 25” map (c. 1900) shows some traces of the ruins of the house, a little to the east of the castle. There is no trace of it in the landscape now.

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: Roland Curtin, born in Dysert, Co. Clare, in 1764

Post by Sduddy » Thu Nov 24, 2016 5:27 pm

On Sunday last at his house at Dysert, at the very advanced age of 96 years, Mr. Augustine Curtin; until within a year of his death he was able to walk and ride about, and within the last two years has several times rode over 20 miles in one day – he retained his faculties to the last.
Ennis Chronicle - Wednesday, September 26th, 1827; Clare Journal - September 27th, 1827.

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: Roland Curtin, born in Dysert, Co. Clare, in 1764

Post by Sduddy » Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:29 am

Mr. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania, is mentioned in a short outline of the history of Carmody’s Hotel, Church St., Ennis, (later Abbey St.), in A Broad History of a Narrow Street: Abbey Street – Ennis, by Brian Spring. Spring names a few well known people who stayed at Carmody’s and adds, “A Mr. Curtin, the Governor of Pennsylvania, also stayed in Carmody’s in 1867.” (p 98).

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: Roland Curtin, born in Dysert, Co. Clare, in 1764

Post by Sduddy » Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:43 am

Clare Journal, Mon 3 Jun 1867:
The Daughter of a Clare Gentleman Drowned. The following extract, taken from one of the Bellefont papers, United States, refers to a gentleman, the Hon Wm Curtin Foley, who is a native of this county, and who has attained a position in America commensurate with the respectability of his family in this his native land. He is the son of the late Timothy Foley, Esq, of Edenvale, and grandson of Austin Curtin, Esq. The Honourable Governor Curtin, of the State of Pennsylvania, is also another grandson, and a gentleman who has always, we are assured, maintained the same honourable character in the land of his adoption that his have uniformly upheld at home:
‘On Saturday evening, April 6th, about 5 o’clock, our citizens were somewhat startled by the announcement that Alice Foley, aged about 13 years, and youngest daughter of Hon Wm C Foley, had fallen into the river. A large number of persons at once hastened to her rescue, but they were too late – she had sunk to rise no more. The facts of the case, as near as could be ascertained, are as follows: - Alice and a little daughter of Judge Barrett’s had gone on a raft to watch the drift wood float by, and while thus engaged, and when near the lower end of the raft, it seems Alice became dizzy and staggered backwards, until she stepped off into the water. The other little girl at once gave the alarm, and Mr Foley ran to the relief of his daughter, but by the time he reached the water’s edge the swift current had carried her a considerable distance down the stream. Mr Foley at once jumped onto his skiff, and hastened to her relief – she was still floating on the surface of the water – and had approached almost within reaching distance of her, when she sunk out of sight. Alice was a very amiable, loving, and interesting child, and hence the grief of the family is deep and heartfelt on account of their sudden and unlooked for bereavement. The entire community sincerely sympathise with their mourning in their loss. Although every effort has been made by our citizens to recover the body of Alice, up to the time they had been unsuccessful.’
Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: Roland Curtin, born in Dysert, Co. Clare, in 1764

Post by Sduddy » Sun Feb 21, 2021 11:16 am

Clare Journal, Thur 1 Aug 1867:
Visit of the Governor of Pennsylvania to Ennis. It is gratifying to us to announce the arrival amongst us, on yesterday, at Carmody’s Hotel, of the hon Governor Curtin, of the State of Pennsylvania, U.S. This distinguished gentleman, who is a barrister by profession, has been elected on more than one occasion to the rank of Governor of his native State, which – next to the rank of President – is probably the highest civic honour the citizen States can confer. The Governor, who is a person of commanding aspect, and courteous disposition, is at present after making a tour of Europe and the Holy Land; and he now comes to visit the land of his ancestors, impelled no doubt, by a high and honourable aspiration, to behold in person the cradle of his race, and to contemplate the physical objects of country and kindred, which, in the adopted country, he could only learn of by traditional lore. On this day Mr Curtin proceeded with his relative, Hugh O’Loghlen, Esq, J P, to Dysert, about five miles from this town, to visit the family residence, where his respected ancestors dwelt for many a century. He is the grandson of Austin Curtin, Esq, of Dysert, and his father, Roland Curtin (who was a student in the Irish College at Paris) fled from the terrors of the revoluntion in 1797, to America, where he had been subsequently joined by his brother, Dr Constance Curtin, both of whom speedily attained position for which their talents so eminently qualified them. The Governor has been always found to be the steady, but unostentatious friend of the Irish in America, and has ever won for himself a just reputation for the possession of those qualities of head and heart, without which man would be so imperfect. Our county representative, Sir Colman O’Loghlen, M.P., is cousin to the Governor, and in contemplating the gifts of inherited worth and intellect it is pleasing to observe how closely relatives resemble each other in the distinction of their attainments and illustrious career. The sojourn of this eminent personage is not likely to be of long duration, as he is summoned hence to his native country by the many engagements inseparable from his high rank. The honourable gentleman claims kindred with most of the old and respectable families of this county.
Sheila

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