Sheila, thank you for your research (and of course, your transcriptions) into the Tulla baptisms back on page 14 that listed out all the 9 Andrew McNamara's baptized between 1819-1881:
12.08.1828: Andrew Mac of Andrew Mac and Bridget Mac, Uggoon; sponsors: Michael Sheedy, Mary Pepper.
18.04.1835: Andrew McNamara of Andrew McNamara and Bridget McNamara, Uggoon; sponsors: John Molony, Mary McNamara.
??.??.1841-42: Andrew of Andrew Sheedy McNamara and Peg Clancy, Glandree; sponsors: Bridget Rochford.
??.12.1843: Andrew of Martin McNamara and Bid Foley; sponsors: T. Jones, Ellen Hayes.
15.08.1856: Andrew of Mat McNamara and Judith O’Dea; sponsors: John McInerney, Bridget O’Dea
13.03.1857: Andrew of Michael McNamara and Margaret Halpin, Glendree; sponsors: Andrew McNamara, Bridget McNamara.
08.11.1871: Andrew of Andrew and Margaret McEvoy, Glendree; sponsors: Patrick McNamara, Catherine O’Neill [Patrick’s wife].
31.07.1875: Andrew of Andrew Mack and Bridget Kerucan, Bonavoree; sponsors: Patrick Kearney, Mary Kearney.
09.04.1877: Andrew of Patrick McNamara and Ellen McMahon, Glendree; sponsors: Martin McNamara, Mary Cooney.
To add to this list, an Andrew McNamara died in Tulla in 1884 at the age of 66, so born about 1818 just one year prior to the start of the baptism register:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... print=true
Sheila, as far as which Andrew McNamara was the witness at the 1860 marriage of James Madigan and Mary/Johanna McNamara (sister of the missing Thomas McNamara of Glandree), my theory is that it was the Andrew who was the closest in age to the bride and groom. James Madigan was baptized on 12 April 1841 to "James Mangan" and "Peg Costelloe". I believe Mary McNamara was baptized in 1840; her most likely parents were either (1) John McNamara and Bridget Coffey or (2) Michael McNamara and Bridget McNamara. So I reckon the Andrew McNamara, baptized in 1841/1842, parents Andrew Sheedy McNamara and Margaret Clanchy, is the most likely witness. My second choice would be the Andrew born in 1843 to Martin McNamara and Bridget Foley.
We know that the Andrew McNamara born in 1841/1842 married Margaret McEnvoy, had 7 children, lived in Glandree Plot 47 in Griffiths, and was kicked by his horse and died in 1902. We also know that a large number of evictions took place in Glandree in March 1882 carried out by Clifford Lloyd, although I believe Andrew McNamara was a tenant of Sir Robert Kane and not the Major William Mills Moloney mentioned in this article:
Evictions were carried out on March 1st and the day before at Glandree, a mountain district within three miles of Tulla. The eviction of some twenty seven families, about one hundred persons, took place on the estate of Major William Mills Moloney, Deputy Lieutenant, Kiltanon. It appeared that the tenants fell into arrears two years since. The eviction force consisted of forty men of the 31st Regiment, and a strong force under Clifford Lloyd. Lodgings were procured in the neighboring houses and in Tulla, and the members of the Ladies' Land League in Tulla were present, and administered whatever comfort lay in their power, and telegraphed to the Metropolitan League for wooden huts to shelter the homeless tenants. In the Tulla district beyond Feakle twenty five families were evicted, the greater number of whom sought shelter in the workhouse.
Irish American Weekly, New York, 25 March 1882
As stated above the Ladies' Land League provided assistance to those who were evicted on 1 March 1882. One Ladies' Land League member from Dublin had arrived in Tulla in January 1882:
A LADY LAND LEAGUER SENT TO GAOL.
Miss Bridget McCormack, a member of the Dublin Executive of the Ladies' Land League was arrested at Tulla on Friday, and sentenced to gaol for three months. She was followed by an immense crowd to the railway station, whence she was conveyed to Limerick, and lodged in Limerick Gaol. Three farmers - Denis and Michael Murphy, of Laharden, and Andrew McNamara, of Glendaree, who figured in the demonstration, were arrested, and also sent to Limerick Gaol for six months.
The Derby Mercury, Derbyshire, England, Wednesday, 25 January 1882
An article in the
Daily News of London provided much greater detail on the incident. Fortunately, I also looked at the
Irish American Weekly of New York which appears to have copied much of its article verbatim from the London newspaper. However, where the
Daily News just briefly listed the three arrested men, the
Irish American Weekly provided greater detail including a variation in the name of Andrew which raises a few questions.
THE WAR AGAINST WOMEN. MORE IRISH LADIES PROSECUTED.
Limerick, Jan. 20
Miss McCormack, of the Dublin Ladies' Land League, was brought into Limerick this morning from Ennis, under escort, and lodged in the city jail, on a committal signed by Mr. Clifford Lloyd, the Superior Stipendiary for the counties of Clare and Limerick. Miss McCormack was seen speaking yesterday in Tulla to an old woman who is about to be evicted from her farm, and shortly after a policeman entered the hotel and arrested her. The accused was taken to the police barracks, where Mr. Lloyd attended and took evidence, the charge against Miss McCormack being, it is stated, intimidation. She indignantly denied the charge, but in default of finding bail Miss McCormack was sentenced by Lloyd, to three months imprisonment. She refused to give bail. The occurrence created great excitement. A large crowd surrounded the barracks, and shouted repeatedly for Messrs Parnell and Davitt and the Land League. It was feared the people would attack the barracks. The police made a sortie and arrested several persons, who were brought before Mr. Lloyd, who sentenced three young men to six month's imprisonment. One, Mr. Sheedy, is a young man in delicate health, a brother-in-law of the Rev. C. Stuart, the respected curate of Miltown Malbay. The others are brothers, named Denis and Stephen Murphy. The excitement ran very high and one shot was fired, it is said, from the barracks. The prisoners were conveyed to Ennis under a strong escort and lodged in Limerick Jail, this morning.
Irish American Weekly, New York, 11 February 1882
At first I thought the arrested Andrew McNamara, also known as Andrew Sheedy, might be the Andrew Sheedy McNamara born 1841/1842, but he is clearly not. Those arrested were "young men", and Andrew Sheedy McNamara in 1882 would have been 40 years old. He was married with seven children, thus unlikely to be described as in "delicate health" but as a "farmer" with a large family. The arrested men were most likely single men, perhaps even out to impress Miss McCormack from Dublin? Who were they?
There is some confusion in the newspapers if the two Murphy's were the brothers "Denis and Stephen" or else "Denis and Michael" of Lahardan with no mention of being brothers. If Stephen is correct then he is the 45 year old "Publican General Grocer" living in House 23 in Tulla in the 1901 census, married with six children ages 17 to 6 years old. Stephen was baptized on 27 December 1855, the son of Michael Murphy and Catherine Molony of Lahardan, Tulla Parish. Stephen has several siblings, but I could not find one named Denis Murphy. There are three Murphy families living in Lahardan having children in the 1846-1862 Tulla baptism register; several boys baptized Michael as well as Daniel, but not a single Denis.
The "Rev. C. Stuart" is the Reverend Charles Stuart, age 46, R.C. Clergyman, living in House 1 in Goal Road in Ennis in the 1901 Census. Charles Stuart was baptized on 23 December 1854 in Ogonnelloe Parish, the son of Edmond Stuart and Bridget Minogue.
Most likely the arrested "Andrew Sheedy McNamara" was friends with the Murphy brothers and born about the same period 1855. So he could be either (1) Andrew born in 1856 to Mat McNamara and Judith O’Dea or (2) Andrew born in 1857 to Michael McNamara and Margaret Halpin of Glandree. Both these Andrews would be considered "young men" in 1882. I believe, but not 100% sure, that these two Andrews are first cousins. This would be the first time "Sheedy" was discovered to describe any of the children or grandchildren of Andrew McNamara (1879-1869) and Bridget McNamara (1793-1883) of Uggoon. Bridget McNamara of Uggoon was still living when her grandson was arrested, but which Andrew was he? One way to solve this mystery would be to determine how Andrew Sheedy is a brother-in-law to the Rev. Charles Stuart. In Ogonnelloe Parish baptism records (thank you, Jeff Fitzsimmons of Adelaide for the transcriptions), Edmond Stuart and Bridget Minogue had the following children: Charles (1855); Michael (1856); John (1862); Pat (1864); James (1865); Dominick (1867). Did one of the brothers of the Rev. Charles Stuart marry a McNamara from Glandree?
As far as Miss Bridget McCormack, after three months in jail she appears to have continued the Ladies' Land League fight in neighboring County Limerick. In the UK Parliamentary record dated 9 June 1882, a Mr. O'Sullivan asks the attorney general for Ireland if "he is aware of the fact that, on Wednesday last, while a young lady named McCormack was walking in company with two respectable married ladies in the town of Kilmallock, the head constable came up and demanded Miss McCormack's name, telling her at the time that she should leave the town; and, under what statute has a constable such power, and who directed him to take such summary proceedings?" Here is the complete response:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1 ... ssMCormack
Here is an interesting article on Anna Parnell, sister of Charles Stewart Parnell, who founded the Ladies' Land League in January 1881:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Catherine_Parnell It appears that the Ladies' Land League didn't have any support from the gentlemen Land Leaguers once the men could renew campaigning; the Catholic clergy condemned them; and finally even Charles Stewart Parnell paid off their debts in exchange for their disbandment in August 1882. Anna Parnell's account of her Ladies' Land League years is told in
"The Tale of a Great Sham" which finally found a publisher in 1986. Not sure what became of Bridget McCormack. The young woman from Dublin who fought for the rights of Tulla tenants, after 1882 her voice appears to have gone silent from the pages of Irish history.