Hi Sheila,
The evidence that Michael Considine (1812 - 1884), shoemaker and secretary of the Trades, had a connection to John Considine of Church Street, or at least to this residence, was the 2014
Clare Champion article as I had noted directly after the Dr. G U MacNamara article (which quoted the Michael Considine letter).
The 2014
Clare Champion article "The man who helped O'Connell reign above Ennis" also mentioned that Michael Considine's "proud boast of the fact that Sarsfield had lodged
with one of his ancestors was characteristic of the man."
https://astheywere.blogspot.com/2014/04 ... otten.html
Sheila, you introduced this article in your very first posting on Michael Considine. You noted that this article was written by local historian Larry Brennan, but since the article refers to Mr. Brennan in the third person, I don't think that is accurate. It is not very clear who wrote this article that refers to Michael Considine's nickname of "Dirty Mick" having a "romantic origin", the same term used by Bernard H Becker in
"Disturbed Ireland" of 1881/1882.
I reread my last posting, and my conclusion was that for the various John Considine's presented on page 5 we don't know how or if they would be related to Michael Considine, the shoemaker —
based upon the evidence presented to date. My top choice was John Considine, the news agent. Not John Considine, the victualler.
But your recent posting, the one that included the paragraph by Kieran Sheedy in
The Clare Elections, has provided an important new clue. This has led me to reevaluate who was the John Considine reported as an 1841 repeal warden and who in 1844 wore a repeal button into the Ennis Saving Bank during the so called "button war". While this new clue might not resolve any family relationships of Michael Considine, it might take us a step closer:
Nominations for the borough election [of 1852] took place on Saturday 10 July. It was the first time that the new Courthouse was used for an election……In his speech, a somewhat defensive O Gorman Mahon accused Dean Kenny of “doing him grievous harm” and denied that he had adopted an anti-Catholic stance in Parliament, and he also strenuously denied rumours to the effect that he has spent two nights in an Ennis brothel. He claimed to have visited only the houses of John Considine and William Lardner and he pointedly asked Dean Kenny, “Which of these is a brothel?"
The John Considine who was one of the electors of Ennis invited to a meeting on 21 March 1859 to protest the burning of the effigy of the Righ Hon. J.D. Fitzgerald, was reported as being from Church Street. So this Ennis elector is definitely the victualler of Church Street, and son-in-law of William Rickards. William Lardner was also one of the electors invited to the meeting. I believe the electors of Ennis would all be considered "highly respectable gentlemen".
In April 1841, the list of repeal wardens (see page 4) was made up of the "respectable inhabitants" of Ennis and included both John Considine and William Lardner. Sheila, I agree with you that John Considine, along with fellow repeal warden William Lardner, were the same men as the Ennis electors from 1859. Previously, I thought the repeal warden was the news agent John Considine who got into trouble for selling the
Irish People newspaper - but this is unlikely. It is not clear how old John Considine, the victualler from Church Street, would have been in 1841. Two men in 1875 named John Considine died in Ennis; one at the age of 60 and the other at 74, but the death records are not yet available. John Considine, the victualler, could have been born about 1801 or 1815; either way he would have been old enough to be one of the repeal wardens in 1841. A William Lardner, merchant, died in Ennis in 1872 at the age of 72, so born about 1800.
The John Considine who was the repeal warden in 1841 was likely the same John Considine, "highly respectable shopkeeper" and "staunch Repealer", who in 1844 wore a repeal button at the Ennis Savings Bank and was vice-president of the temperance society.
The O'Gorman Mahon in 1852 visited the homes of John Considine and William Lardner. These two men were also likely the same two repeal wardens in 1841 as well as Ennis electors in 1859.
Other evidence that John Considine, the victualler from Church street and Ennis elector, was highly respectable was the fact that in 1858 he married Susan Rickards, the daughter of the wealthy merchant and highly respectable William Rickards of Ennis.
In the 1881 Slater's Directory, William Rickards, Mill Street, was reported as a flour merchant. William Rickards was a substantial property owner in Ennis; the Rickards family estate papers are part of the McMahon Collection at the County Clare archives (pages 123 to 127):
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/archiv ... ection.pdf
Sheila, while you are correct in stating that there are not enough early church records in the parish of Drumcliff to determine some family relationships, there are newspaper articles and probate records. Catherine Rickards, of Mill Street, married, age 60, died on 14 November 1878. William Rickards, widower, wool merchant, of Mill Street, died on 24 June 1891 at the age of 84; informant Stephen Fitzgerald. The will of William Rickards would end up in a probate court in 1894 and provides details on his surviving children, two of whom married a Considine:
A COUNTY CLARE WILL CASE
In the Probate and Matrimonial Division yesterday (before Judge Warren without a jury), the case of Considine v Rickards came on for hearing. The action was one brought to establish the solemn form the will, dated 8th August 1890, of the late William Rickards, who had carried on business in Mill street, in the town of Ennis, and who died at an advanced age in the month of June, '91. Probate of the will was granted in the same year in common form, and now, owing to an allegation that an alteration was made in the will by one of the legatees, it was sought to prove it in solemn form. The deceased started business in Ennis as a wool and skin merchant, and had amassed a considerable wealth before his death, and was the owner of some house property in the town of Ennis. At his death, the testator had surviving him three daughters and one son, and also the children of a daughter who predeceased him. The son, William Rickards, is the defendant in the present suit, and alleged that he was left by his father's will an annuity of £150 a year, but the figure was altered subsequent to his father's death so as to reduce his annuity to £100 a year. He now sought to have the will established with what he declared was the original figure in it.
Mr. Wright, Q C; Mr Seymour Bushe, Q C; and Mr W F Kenny appeared for the plaintiff [should be plural, the surviving Rickards sisters].
For the defendants [should be singular, the son, William Rickards], the Right Hon John Atkinson, Q C, and Dr Littledale (instructed by Mr. Denning).
Mr. Wright, Q C, in stating the case, said that the daughter Margaret Considine, the principal plaintiff, had been on the most intimate and affectionate terms with her father, and [with] another daughter [Mary Anne Rickards, not married as of 1891] had lived with him [on Mill Street] up to the time of his death ["Margaret Considine" was clearly a mistake, the affectionate daughter was Elizabeth Rickards Considine of Mill Street]. The third daughter was married [Margaret Rickards Nash of Dublin], the fourth daughter was also married, but had predeceased her father [Susan Rickards Considine died in 1881]. She, however, left some children surviving [including Michael Considine, the victualler], and these with the testator's own children were named legatees in the will. The son was of intemperate habits, and his father proposed only to leave him £50 a year, but he subsequently altered that to £100 at the request of Mrs [Elizabeth] Considine.
Mrs Considine, examined, said she saw her father's will when it was returned from the solicitor's office. Her father read it over and said Mr Daly had made a mistake in putting £150 a year for his son, Wm Considine [this should state Rickards], as £50 would be quite enough for him to spend in drink. Witness said that £50 a year would be very little, and said he should make it £100, and her father took the will to the lawyers to have it altered. He also agreed to give one of her sisters, Mrs [Margaret] Nash, £200 instead of £100 at witness's request. She had often heard her father complain of her brother's intemperate habits. The will was drawn up by an attorney's clerk named Daly, since deceased. The will, when completed, was to given to witness to keep. She sealed it up before her father's death and gave it to Mr Bunting, solicitor, to take charge of. She never altered the will or got anyone else to alter it. The best proof that she had not interfered with the will was that she herself did not get one shilling under it up to the present.
Cross-examined by Dr Littledale — She could not say whether her brother saw the will, but he heard it read in Mr. Bunting's office. She did not know why no action had been taken up till now.
Dr. Thomas Coghlan, Ennis, deposed to the execution of the will by the testator. He signed the will as witness.
To Dr Littledale — He would not swear whether the alterations in the will were there when he signed it, as he did not read it, but just signed his name.
Mr. J H Harvey, Clerk of the Crown for Clare, identified the handwriting in the will as that of Patrick Daly, and said that Daly was in the habit of sending in documents to the Crown Office on which there were alterations made with chloride of lime or other acid, and he had remonstrated with him on the practice.
Mr. Wright said he had examined the alteration in the attestation clause of the will with a magnifying glass, and the word obliterated was "thereof," which it appeared the draftsman had written twice by mistake. Acid of some kind was used in the obliteration.
Dr Littledale, for the defendant, argued that the alteration in the will was not properly testified, and that his client [William Rickards] was entitled to the amount mentioned in the will prior to the alteration. He would not call any witnesses, because his client had relied on the evidence which would be given by Daly, who unfortunately had died on the 10th of the present month [per civil record, Patrick Daly, of the Causeway, Ennis, occupation clerk, died at age 75 of influenza and senile decay]. At all events, he would urge that the case was one in which investigation was necessary, and that his client should not be ordered to pay costs.
His Lordship made an order directing probate of the will to issue in solemn form. No order was made as to costs.
The Freeman's Journal, Dublin, 1 December 1894
William Rickards and Catherine Doherty of Mill Street had at least ten children in Ennis. I found it interesting researching an Ennis family of the merchant class. The Rickards family was very wealthy, and unlike the children of farmers or laborers who were likely to immigrate to America or Australia, several descendants left Ennis for Dublin. Also, their marriage partners appeared frequently to be of the same merchant class. Three grandchildren of William Rickards would marry into other flour merchant or victualler families.
Very likely, the John Considine married to Susan Rickards was a brother of Patrick Considine married to Elizabeth Rickards. Both men named their first born sons Michael Considine. Their occupations of victualler and cattle dealer would have been complimentary. Whether or not John and Patrick were brothers, their children were definitely first cousins since Susan Rickards and Elizabeth Rickards were sisters.
1.0 Susan Rickards was born about 1840, prior to the start of the Ennis baptism register in March 1841. Susan Rickards and
John Considine, both of Ennis, married on 14 September 1858 at Ennis; witnesses Edward Sheehan and Mary Molony. In the 1870 Slater's Directory for Ennis, John Considine of Church Street was listed as a butcher. Two men named John Considine died in 1875 in Ennis, but civil death records are not yet available. In the 1881 Slater's Directory, Susan Considine of Church Street was reported as a butcher. Susan Considine, Church Street, widow of a butcher, age 40, died on 25 April 1881 by "visitation of God"; informant John Cullinan, Ennis coroner.
............ 1.1 Mary Catherine Considine baptized 18 December 1859, Church Street; sponsors
Patrick Considine and
Lizzie Rickards.
............ 1.2
Michael Considine baptized 11 September 1861, Church Street; sponsors
Catherine Rickards and
William Rickards. In 1882, the young victualler Michael Considine was returning to Ennis when he came upon John Delahunty who had been shot near Knockanean National School; he provided important testimony at the inquest and special investigation prior to the trial of Francis Hynes. Michael Considine, Church Street, butcher, son of John Considine (deceased, butcher) married Margaret Baker, of Barefield, daughter of Daniel Baker (farmer), on 29 April 1907; witnesses Thomas Duggan, Delia Frances O'Halloran.
<Ennis, House 12 Church Street; House 31 Abbey Street>
......................... 1.2.1 John Considine (age 3 in 1911)
......................... 1.2.2 Patrick Considine (age 1 in 1911)
............ 1.3 Ellen Margaret Considine baptized 9 October 1863, Church Street; sponsors
John Spellisy and Mary MacMahon. Died prior to 1867.
............ 1.4 Susanna Considine baptized 24 May 1865, Church Street; sponsors J
ohn Spellesy and Bid Finn. Married to Martin Stanislaus Honan, Flour Merchant, Jail Street, on 14 June 1887 in Ennis.
<Ennis, House 32 Gaol Street; House 35 O'Connell Street>. Seven of nine children living in 1911.
............ 1.5 Ellen Considine baptized 9 April 1867, Church Street; sponsors John Cleary and Mary McMahon.
............ 1.6 John Considine baptized 9 July 1869, Church Street; sponsors James Ryan, and
Mary Ann Rickards.
............ 1.7 Elizabeth Considine baptized 11 July 1871, Church Street; sponsors John McInerny and Margaret McMahon. Elizabeth Considine, of Ennis, daughter of John Considine, victualler, married John Butler, of Limerick, son of William Butler, victualler on 14 November 1893 at Ennis; witnesses J H Peel and K Considine.
............ 1.8 Frances Mary Considine baptized 17 September 1875, Church Street; sponsors Michael Considine, and Mary Kate Considine (most likely elder siblings of Frances Mary). Died 15 February 1881, age 5; informant mother Susan Considine (who died two months later).
2.0 Elizabeth Rickards, most likely born about 1840, prior to start of Ennis baptism register in March 1841. Her age of 55 years (born about 1846) in the 1901 census was clearly understated given her marriage in 1860. "
Eliza Rickers" and
Patrick Considine, both of Ennis, married on 25 November 1860 at Ennis; witnesses John McGrath and Mary Molony. In the 1881 Ennis Directory, Patrick Considine was listed as a cattle dealer. Patrick Considine, grocer, Mill Street, age 57 years, died on 17 March 1887; informant son Michael Considine.
<Ennis, No. 2 Urban, House 9 Mill Street; House 14 Parnell Street>
............ 2.1 Ellen "Helena" Considine, baptized 17 February 1863, Mill Street; sponsors
William Rickards and
Kate Rickards.
<Ennis, House 9 Mill Street; House 14 Parnell Street> Helena Considine, 15 Parnell Street, shopkeeper, age 77, died on 2 February 1943; informant J. Considine of 15 Parnell Street.
............ 2.2 Michael Considine, baptized 9 January 1866, Mill Street; sponsors
William Rickards and
Mary Anne Rickards. Michael Considine, shopkeeper, merchant of Ennis, son of Patrick Considine (dead), married Lily Cronin, of Ennis, daughter of James Cronin (dead, previously a victualler), on 25 April 1894 at Ennis Chapel; witnesses M J (blurry) and Helena A Considine.
<Ennis, House 8 Gaol Street; House 24 O'Connell Street> Michael Considine was not living with his family at the 1901 census, but was living in Doonbeg, occupation shop keeper and cattle dealer, married, age 35.
......................... 2.2.1 Patrick Considine (age 16 in 1911)
......................... 2.2.2 Mary Considine (age 14 in 1911)
......................... 2.2.3 Margaret Considine (age 13 in 1911)
......................... 2.2.4 Catherine Considine (age 11 in 1911)
......................... 2.2.5 Ellen Considine (age 10 in 1911)
......................... 2.2.6 Veronica Considine (age 5 in 1911)
......................... 2.2.7 Francis Considine (age 3 in 1911)
............ 2.3 Patrick Rickards Considine, baptized 9 January 1870, Mill Street; sponsors
John Considine and
Margaret Rickards.
<Ennis, House 9 Mill Street; House 14 Parnell Street>. Patrick Rickards Considine, Church Street, bachelor, merchant, age 60, died 17 April 1930; informant Louis O'Dea present at death O'Connell Street.
............ 2.4 Kate Considine, baptized 11 June 1872, Mill Street; sponsors
Cornelius Nash (husband of Margaret Rickards) and
Susan Considine.
<Ennis, House 9 Mill Street; House 14 Parnell Street>. Kate Considine, Parnell Street, shopkeeper, age 56 (more like 64?), died on 25 August 1936; informant J. Considine, nephew of deceased.
............ 2.5 Mary Margaret Considine, baptized 12 May 1877; sponsors John Joseph Ryan and
Helena Rickards.
3.0 Catherine Rickards, baptized 12 January 1842; sponsors Edward Doherty and Susan Carrole. Catherine Rickards, of Ennis, age 23, daughter of William Rickards (butter buyer), married
Patrick Culleeny (or Culliny?), age 27, a draper, of America, son of Michael Culleeny, a draper, on 1 October 1868 at Ennis; witnesses Patk O'Brien and
Susan M Crowe. Appears to have died prior to 1891 death of father William Rickards, as not listed in the will. Her husband at their 1868 marriage was reported as being "of America", perhaps this couple immigrated to the United States?
4.0 James Rickards, baptized 29 July 1844, sponsors Richard Malony and Mary Coyle(?). Appears to have died prior to 1891 death of father William Rickards, as not listed in the will.
5.0 Margaret Rickards, baptized 3 June 1850, Mill Street; sponsors James Flanagan and Mary Molony. Margaret Rickards, of Ennis, age 22, daughter of William Rickards (merchant), married
Cornelius Nash (age 54 in 1901; age 64 in 1911), of Ennis, age 25, accountant, son of James Nash (merchant) on 23 April 1872 at Ennis; witnesses Daniel J Cullou (sp?) and Minnie (sp?) Carroll. The Nash family would first move to Limerick and by 1901 to Dublin; the occupation of Cornelius Nash was "wine merchant" in 1901 and "commission agent" in 1911.
<Palmerston Road, Rathmines & Rathgar East, Dublin, House 337; Kenilworth Square, Dublin, House 82> Margaret Rickards Nash (age 50 in 1901) died prior to 1911.
............ 5.1 Cornelius Nash (age 29 in 1901, born in Ennis)
............ 5.2 James Nash (age 24 in 1901, born in Limerick City)
............ 5.3 Mary Nash (age 22 in 1901, born in Limerick City)
............ 5.4 William Nash (age 20 in 1901, born in Dublin)
............ 5.5 Helena Nash (age 28 in 1911) - where in 1901?
............ 5.6 Margaret Nash (age 23 in 1911) - where in 1901?
............ 5.7 Joseph Nash (age 12 in 1901, born in Dublin)
6.0 William Rickards, baptized 10 August 1852, of Mill Street; sponsors Richard (?) Molony and Margaret Molony. William Rickards, landlord, Ennis, son of Wm Rickards (deceased, land proprietor) married
Harrietta Hoystal, of Clare Street, Limerick, daughter of Frederick Hoystal (deceased, miner), at Limerick Cathedral on 27 February 1892.
<Aughrim Steet, Arran Quay, Dublin, House 26; House 26>. 1901 occupation "living on annuity".
............ 6.1 Frederick William Rickards (age 17 in 1911, born in Dublin City)
7.0 Edward Rickards, baptized 5 February 1855, of Mill Street; sponsors Pat'k Duffy and Anne Halloran. Appears to have died prior to 1891 death of father William Rickards, as not listed in the will.
8.0 John Thomas Rickards, baptized 18 November 1857, of Mill Street; sponsors William (?) Ryan and
Susan Rickards. Appears to have died prior to 1891 death of father William Rickards, as not listed in the will.
9.0 Ellen Rickards, baptized 24 February 1863, of Mill Street; sponsors
Patt Considine (husband of Eliza Rickards) and
Mary Anne Rickards (most likely an older sister - see below). "Helena" Rickards was a baptism sponsor for niece Mary Margaret Considine in 1877. Appears to have died prior to 1891 death of father William Rickards, as not listed in the will.
10.0 Mary Anne Rickards [late edit; not in correct birth order], unknown baptism, most likely prior to 1841. First appears as baptism sponsor for younger sister Ellen Rickards in 1863, and for nephew Michael Considine in 1866. Upon death of father William Rickards, Mary Anne Rickards is listed as secondary beneficiary, with sister Eliza Considine as primary beneficiary. Appears to have been the unmarried daughter living with her father William Rickards at Mill Street in 1891, as referred to in the
Freeman's Journal article "A County Clare Will Case" of 1894. Mary Anne Rickards, of Ennis, daughter of William Rickards (deceased merchant), married Patrick Tracey, of Ennis, widower, son of Patrick Tracey (deceased merchant), on 17 January 1894 at the Roman Catholic chapel of Ennis; witnesses
Michael Considine and Margaret Walsh.