Gullane

East Gullane - 2017

Gullane is located in Kilconly Parish.
 In 1841 there were 2210 residents in the parish.  In 1851 there were 1521.  Of those 728 were male and 793 were female.  There were 247 families with 37 % in 4th class houses.  There had been 370 families in 1841 with 55.7% in 4th class houses. In 1841 85% of heads of household were in agriculture.





  By 1851 the number had dwindled to 66.7%.  In 1841 only 16.1% of the male population were literate and 5.2% of females.  Those numbers increased to 40.3% for males and 14.4% for females in 1851.



 

Edmund English didn't emigrate until 1880, but some of his extended family members left much earlier.  His uncle, Jeremiah Lawler was in Minnesota by 1850 and many of his family as well as many neighbors from Kilconly Parish soon joined him.  Among those Edmund would have found when he stopped in Rochester were the Scanlons, the O'Connors, the McElligots, the Mulvihills, as well as numerous Lawler and English cousins.



Statistics from the Irish Famine Project led by Alan Fernihough of Queen's University Belfast

Old Kilconly Burial Ground

The Old Kilconly Burial Ground lies in the townland of Gullane West.  Archaeologists date the remains of the church on the site to the 12th century.  

We know that the English family was in Gullane East no later than the 1820s, and we know that there are English stones for burials after Edmund left Ireland.  It seems likely that this would be the burial place of all our Gullane ancestors.  There is a "new" Kilconly cemetery, but it was a bit further away from Gullane.  


"Kilconly graveyard and the remains of Kilconly church nestle in a small field just off the scenic Wild Atlantic Way route (S) as you head towards Ballybunion on the Beale coastal road. A walk around this church and small graveyard is a spiritual and uplifting experience. The church itself is very, very old; according to archaeologists, the building dates back to the 12th century. This would place Kilconly at the end of the Early Christian Period and the dawn of the Medieval Period."  Ballybunnion.ie

• Find A Grave - Old Kilconly Burial Ground  
• Kerry Burials 

Edmund English - part I

In December 1920 The Progress, North End Newspaper, St. Paul, Minnesota reported

"The funeral of Edmund English,99 Litchfield Street, who died at St. Joseph's Hospital at 2:20 a.m. Thursday, December 23, 1920, following an operation on the Tuesday previous, occurred from the family residence on Monday morning with solemn serviced at St. Patrick's Church.  The funeral was largely attended, and the floral tributes were many and very beautiful.  The remains were laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.

Edmund English was born in Gullane, Co. Kerry, Ireland, sixty years ago and came to America when a lad of eighteen, coming to Rochester, Minn.  About 36 years ago he came to St. Paul and entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad, and has been with this institution since.  Hes work was that of switchtender, and he was active in this to within a few days of his death.  On October 10, 1889, at Rochester, Mr. English was united in holy matrimony with Miss Anna Baier of that city.  Together they then made their home in St. Paul and have resided in this district for about 25 years.  Ten children were given them all of whom survive and together with their mother mourn the loss from their circle of a most loving and devoted soul.  The children are: John, William (at Anchorage, Alaska), Frank (of Seattle, Wash.), Mary (Mrs P.F. Carroll, Mark, Cecelia, Loretta, Leo, Paul and Edmund.  With the exception of William, the entire family was at his bedside at the hospital when he peacefully fell asleep in the Lord.

"Although not in the best of health for some time, Mr. English was always at his post with the exception of two months this fall, which he and Mrs. English spent together on the West Coast.  He was a man who possessed many sterling traits of character and had staunch friends wherever he was known.  He was considered much of a home man, but this never deterred from him performing his duties and more, toward his neighbors and fellowman.  He was a member of the GN Ry Veterans, the ancient Order of Hibernians, the B.of A. Yeoman, and the Telegraphers Union.

"In the sudden and unexpected death of Mr. English the North End lost one of it's finest and most beloved citizens and his pleasant smile will be greatly missed among a large circle of neighbors who join The Progress in extending to the bereaved ones deep sympathy and profound condolance in this their time of affliction, sorrow and temperal solitude."

___________________________________________________________________________

Like so many obituaries this one contains a few vital mistakes.

Edmund English was christened at Doon Church on 26 Jan 1857.  Throughout the years his age and day of birth changed according to the record.  Every record with a month gives October with the date being either the 12 or the 16. While the obit above and other records would put his birth in 1861, the reality is he couldn't have been christened four years before he was born.  Therefore, it seems likely his birth was in October 1856.

Edmund's father died when he was about four and his mother Mary Lawler married John Carmody in April of 1864.  Little is known of his childhood in Gullane. He had three older brothers and two known sisters.

SS Abyssinia

According to family stories, Edmund left home when one of his parents remarried, traveling with his sister Kate. The date of his mother's marriage gives the lie to the story. He was only seven at the time.  There is also no evidence that he sailed with Kate who according to a later letter settled in Saint Louis.

In fact a ship passenger list dated 11 Jun 1879 in New York harbor, states the S S Abyssinia had sailed from Liverpool with Edward English, age 18 a laborer from Ireland on board.  Directly above him on the list is James Carmody age 22. Is this the James Carmody born in Gullane in 1854?  This may not be the right record but we know that Edmund was in Stockton, Winona County in 1880. He is living with his cousin Edward, the son of Jeremiah English.  His age is given as 20.

Edmond filed a Declaration to become a citizen in Rochester that same year.

In 1885 Edmund is living with this cousin Mary, a daughter of Jeremiah, in Viola, Olmsted County.

By 1889 Edmund had moved to St. Paul where he worked as a switchman for the Great Northern Railway.

On 10 Oct 1889 he returned to Rochester to marry Anna Marie Baier

"One of the social events of the season was the marriage of Mr. Edward English of St. Paul, formerly of this county and Miss Ann Buyers of Haverhill, at St. John's church, on the 11th inst., Rev. Father Riordon officiating.  the groom is in the employ of one of the railroad companies of St. Paul, and the bride is well known in this county.  the best wishes of a host of friends accompany the newly wedded pair to their future home in St. Paul." Rochester Record and Union 18 Oct 1889 p3c4

Edmund  is listed in the city directories for 1890 and 1891 at 123 Viola St in Saint Paul.


 

Lawsuits

We can thank our litigious ancestors for the glimpses their often petty lawsuits gave into their lives.

So a complaint by Johanna Lawler, widow, against John English (farmer) on 9 Apr 1872, informs us that on the 26 and 28 of March he let five pigs trespass on her new fences.  They uprooted the quicks planted in said fences.

On 5 Sep 1870 John English (farmer)  filed a complaint against Margaret English (married) stating that on the 20th of August in Gullane she assaulted him by stricking him several blows on the face with her fist.  Thomas and Honorie English also both of Gullane spoke in her defense and the charges were dismissed on the merits and without costs.

John then accused Thomas English Sr. (farmer) of Gullane of assaulting his wife Margaret on the same day by taking from her by force and violence a tin can and cut her in the leg.  John asked that Thomas be bound to peace towards himself and his family.  Thomas English spoke for John.  These charges were also dismissed without merit.

The drama had just begun, John next accused Thomas English Jr. (laborer) of causing him a personal injury. He accused Honoria and May English of aiding and assisting Margaret English of assaulting his wife (Margaret English) and asked that they be bound to peace toward him and his family.  All the charges were dismissed on merit and without cost.

Thomas English then accused Margaret English (married) of wilful trespass for entering his land and taking water from his well, he went on to accuse John of trespass and using force and violence to assist his wife in taking water from his well.  These charges were also dismissed on merit and without cost.

Relations between these brothers and their families did not necessarily improve.  On 15 Apr 1872 Margaret (married) most likely the wife of Thomas complained that John had called her scandalous names without any cause.  Stating that she is afraid that he will do so again, she asks that he be bound for future good behavior towards her. John in turn complained that she had assaulted and beaten him and also accused her son Thomas Jr. of calling him a perjurer and of  encouraging his mother to assault and beat him.  He asked for Thomas Jr. to be bound in peace towards him.  All three complaints show there was no appearance in court.

On 8 Oct 1877 Thomas English accused John of allowing his pigs to trespass on his land cropped with potatoes. You can find these as well as many other "family" petty court sessions by clicking on the link below.

Adding to the confusion of the records is the fact that both brothers had married Margarets.  John married Margaret Carroll and Thomas married Margaret Costello.  And both Thomas and John had sons Thomas and John.  Thomas remained in East Gullane where he passed away in 1884, but at this point it is unknown whether John remained.  His name remains in the Valuation books, but no death has been found for him.  There is a census record in 1880 in Minneapolis that could be him.  Perhaps the digitization of the remaining death records for Gullane will give further clues.

Gullane Petty Sessions Court Records (English, Lawler, Carmody connections)

Irish Petty Sessions Court Records - Irish Genealogy Toolkit (more about the records)

Ireland, Petty Sessions Court Registers on Find My Past  index free

An Gallán Thoir

Courtesy of Logainm.ie

Gullane East

Gullane is prominent in the early Down’s Survey map of County Kerry, situated right in the Middle of Kil(l)conley Parish.  The earliest references I've found to East, West and Middle Gullane seem to appear to be in the Boundary Surveyor notes circa 1830, leaving the question of when they in fact were considered three separate townlands. 

Logainm.ie offers two notes on the name besides the dated references.  The first says Cárta – An Gallán 9.10.00 DED and the second An Seabhac: Gallán = cloch mhór ina seasamh An Chloch Lia sa chuid thiar – Cnoc beag which translates to The Hawk: Pillar large upright stone; the Stone ? in the western part - a small hill.

Cill Chonnla/Kilconly

Oireacht Uí Chonchúir/Iraghticonnor

Ciarraí/Kerry

Gullane East, Kerry, Ireland
Gullane

References

·        1655       Gallane · DS[i]  The Barony of Fraght I Connor in the County of Kerry The soyle in generall is cold Boggy and Wiidy is the arable land yeing in little places invironed wth Bog and wood, corne it will yield by standing and other Manure but the Knight of Kerryes Land all along by the Feale side to Listehill and the Land of Listowell they are Rich land for Corne and also ye Mannor of Harbert is rich and dry both for corne and pastureing and lyeth very convenient bordering with the River of Shannon where the Slate, fireing, corne and all other profits may be sent by Boat to Limerick or else where there is noe River in this Barony other than is already sett forth onely the River of Galey that runs from ye County of Limerick This barony is in breadth from Listowhill the most southward part to Carrigenfoyle the Northeast part five Miles Irish and in length from the Castle of Ballysmone in the west in the Spring called Glassincarrinirily on the East tenn Irish Miles  The Down Survey of Ireland

• 

  The Down Survey of Ireland

  ·        1660      Gallane· BSD (Ci), 145[ii]  
  ·        1671      Gallan· ASE, 47:38[iii]        
  ·        1685      Gallan · Hib. Del.[iv]           
  ·        1841      Sources from Ordnance Survey Ci063,12 There are identical references for Gullane Middle Ci063,13  and Gullane West Ci063,14
  o   Gullane etc. · OD (corr.):AL [v]              
  o   Gallán, 'a standing stone' · OD:AL[vi]
  o   Gallane · Vallancey Map:AL [vii]              
  o   Gullaun East · Buckley, Rev. J.:AL      
  o   Gullane East · Cess Coll.:AL[viii]               
  o   Gullane East · Map of Land:AL               
  o   Gullane East · Rent Receipt:AL[ix]               
  o   Gullaun East · Local:AL; BS:AL [x]
  o   Gullane East · Applot. 1839:AL[xi] 
  
  

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  [i] Down Survey (Barony Maps - Hiberniae Regnum, 1654, cóipeanna a rinne an tSuirbhéireacht Ordanáis ó na bunchóipeanna i bPáras, 1908) Léarscáil Bliain foilsithe: 1655-7  The Down Survey of Ireland

  [ii] Books of Survey and Distribution (Co. Kerry) Lámhscríbhinn

  [iii] Abstracts of Grants of Lands..under the Acts of Settlement and Explanation, A.D.1666-1684 (Appendix to Fifteenth Annual Report from the Commissioners of Public Records of Ireland, 45-280; 1825) Lámhscríbhinn Bliain: 1666-84

  [iv] Hiberniæ Delineatio, William Petty Léarscáil Foilsitheoir: Irish University Press (1969)

  [v] Seán Ó Donnabháin, ceartúchán in AL/ John O'Donovan, correction in AL Faisnéiseoir

  [vi] O'Donovan (leagan Gaeilge de logainm nó nóta agus é scríofa le dúch; John O’Donovan / Seán Ó Donnabháin a scríobh de ghnáth), ex AL. A note or an Irish form of a placename in the Ordnance Survey Parish Namebooks, usually written by John O'Donovan. Lámhscríbhinn Bliain: 1838

  [vii] Charles Vallencey and the Map of Ireland (Jstor), Charles Vallencey

  [viii] Cess Collector, fianaise in AL / evidence in Ordnance Survey Parish Namebooks Faisnéiseoir Bliain: c1840

  [ix] Rent Receipt, foinse in AL / source in Ordnance Survey Parish Namebooks

  [x] Foirm in úsáid áitiúil / Finné nó úsáid áitiúil de réir AL fianaise áitiúil Bliain: 1832-38; Boundary Surveyor c. 1830 as AL Lámhscríbhinn Bliain: 1830

  [xi] Applot. 1839, foinse in AL / source in Ordnance Survey Parish Namebooks. Fianaise áitiúil 

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Thomas Lawler and Catharina Sweeney

Olmsted County Democrat
Friday 20 January 1898 p3 c7

Mary Lawler left no records that named her parents, however, her brother John's death gives us the name of his father. When she died in 1909 her age is listed as ninety, giving an approximate birth date of 1819.  This would most likely make her the oldest child of Thomas Lawlor.

John's  obituary names all of his living siblings and lists where they live. Mary is the only one still living in Ireland, two are living in New York and the rest are in Minnesota.

The Olmsted County Death Register (Book D Page 151 Line 16 Jan 18, 1898) 
names his father, Thomas but, unfortunately, not his mother.  So it was a wonderful surprise to find an entry in the Lawlor Mortuary Book Bk 6 page 256 that named his mother 

Kath Sweeney.  She is named in the christening records of three children, Bridget, Margaret and Catherine.  The information was provided by John's brother Thomas, so is likely to be correct.  No christening records have been found for the six older children or for the youngest, Hannah.   

One problem with trying to identify Kath as the mother of all the children lay in the mistakes in the contemporary records.  The first was the immigration record for the family in 1851 which gives her age as 25 and then lists all her children except Mary who already married stayed in Ireland.

It is unknown whether Thomas had died or perhaps had emigrated earlier and had now sent for his family.  Either way no record after 1850 has been found for Thomas. There is a burial listed on Find-A-Grave in Holy Cross Cemetery in Ellicottville, New York for a Thomas Lawler with no dates.  This is the cemetery where his son William and his family are buried.  Might it be our Thomas Lawler.

The search is on for Thomas emigrating prior to May of 1851. We know the family was in Buffalo for a time as that is where William married in 1854.  If Thomas is buried in Ellicottville, that might put his death before 1855.  It is possible that he had acquired land and actually died before or during the time the rest of the family was in Buffalo. 

The 1855 NY shows Catherine living with her newly married son William and the rest of her children.  Her age is shown as 70. 1860 Census record for Catharine Lawler shows her living with son John and daughter Hannah in Great Valley, Cattaraugus, New York. An age of seventy would make her old enough to be the mother of all the known children of Thomas Lawler.  There is no doubt that this is the correct Hannah and John, the ages are correct, both were born in Ireland and neither is found in New York in 1870. John's obituary states that he lived for a time in New York, and the eldest son William is also living in Cattaraugus County, New York.

Katharine died in 1867 but we are unsure whether she died in New York or Minnesota.  No record was found.  However, she is listed on the tombstone in St. Bridget's cemetery, Olmsted County MN with her daughter Honnorah (Hannah) who died in 1918. Adding to the age confusion, the had been indexed as  1887 in a book of St. Bridget burials.  The stone does say 1867 and age 74 which puts Catharine's birth about 1793.

The Children of Thomas and Catharina  

Note all birth years except Bridgit, Margaret and Catherine are in question.  Only those three were found in the christening records. No two records found for any child gave the same birth information.  

Mary 1819-1909

William 1820 -1911

Thomas 1828-1917

John 1833-1898

Julia 1835-1912

Johanna 1835-1927

Bridget 1836-1908

Margaret 1839-1898

Catherine 1843

Honnorah 1846
 

Edmund (Ned) English

No date of birth or exact death date has been found for Edward English.  His parentage is assumed by the fact he is one of the four English men who at the time Griffith's Valuations were taken in 1852 was living on the land that had been the home of Thomas English when the Tithe Applotments were taken.  This well founded assumption and records of his known siblings led to a supposed mother as well.  As it is unlikely he was under twenty at the time of his marriage to Mary Lawler on 29 Nov 1845,he most likely was born before 1825.

Ballybunion Parish Register pg 298

  

Thomas English used the 1851 census to apply for a pension.  The following extract shows he is the son of Ned and Mary Lawler who were married in 1845 and living in Gullane in 1851.

In 1852 Edmond English was leasing three properties from George Gun in Gullane East.  One property was a house, offices (out buildings) and approximately 27.5 acres of land with a net annual value of £9.0 shillings for the land and £1 for the building.  The second parcel was a garden with a net annual value of 3 shillings.  The third parcel of 88 acres was held jointly with Thomas, John and Jeremiah English with an annual value of £3.15 shillings for each lot. 

Griffith's Valuations - Kilconly Parish, Kerry 1852

It seems possible that Edmund is the eldest son as the lands in the possession of the brothers that are leased to others are listed in the name of Edmund English and others. If the naming patterns hold true here that might make the father of Thomas English, Edmund. The home of  Edward English and Mary Lawlor, was Ireland's characteristic grey, rectangular, sod house with a thatched roof.  The home was still standing in 1967 when Dolores English Young visited.

 The death date of Edmund is assumed from the cancelled valuation books.  He was crossed off in the 1860/61 listing and Mary inserted in his place.  As this is before civil registration of deaths, and no burial record has been found, this is the closest to a date we are likely to find.  As his daughter Mary was born in 1860/1 the death could not have been before 1860.

Valuation Books - Listowel Rural District, Gullane Electoral Division v.15 p.9-11

Ned and Mary had six known children:

• Catherine - christened 7 Apr 1847 thought to have emigrated in 1875 but no documentation found to date
• John bn about 1851 m 17 Apr 1874 to Margaret Flahavin
• Thomas bn abt 1852 m 24 Feb 1875 to Mary Moloney d. 1940 in Gullane
• William christened 3 May 1855, nothing more known
• Mary (Minnie) bn abt 1855 m Michael O'Connor
• Edmund (12 Oct 1856 - 23 Dec 1920)

Thomas English of Gullane East

We do not know the birth or death dates of Thomas English, yet we can estimate within a couple of decades. As daughter Margaret was born about 1807 using a date of 1780 as an approximate birth date seems reasonable.  We know that he had probably passed away by 1852 when Griffith's valuations were taken as his supposed four sons were in possession of the land.  There is the remote possibility that he was living with one of them or with a daughter, but it seems unlikely.  We do know that he was living in Gullane East in 1837 when the Tithe Applotments were taken for the area.

This record was supplied by the Kerry Family History Center in 1998.  This record is not among those now available on the National Archives website.  It appears to have been lost. Hopefully it will be found and a better copy made available in the future.

At that time, Thomas was the sole resident listed in Gullane East, although the OSI Name Book implied there were many on small lots. In fact each of the townlands we find in the district lists only one leaseholder. It seems probable that only those with sizable leaseholds were assessed at the time.  Also of note is the fact that Thomas has 113 acres of bog land out of 932 in the parish, while Lewis' Topographical Dictionary, written about the same time states there are only 114 acres of bog in the entire parish of Kilconly.

Griffith's valuations lists 407 acres of land in the townland, using that as a guideline Thomas's holding of 235 acres was over half the available land.

Although we do not know that all the children of Thomas had the same mother, we do know that Margaret, who was born about 1807 has parents Thomas and Catherine recorded on her death certificate.

 (Minnesota District Court Olmsted County, Death Records 1871-1997, Book A page 151 No 2 March 1 1887) 

Her sister Deborah (Gobnet) who was born about 1815, married Dermot (Jerry) Scanlon and also emigrated to Minnesota.  Her death certificate also lists Thomas and Catherine as her parents.

Minnesota District Court Olmsted County, Death Records 1871-1997,
book A, page 116 4 Oct 1884

Unfortunately, the death records for their male siblings in Ireland, if they do exist, do not name parents, we can only use the assumption of relationship based on the land they lived, the many interlinking family relationships, and sponsors on available documents to link them to Margaret and Gobnet.

The children of Thomas and most likely Catherine are

• Dermot (Darby) abt 1810 to abt 1876
• Margaret (1807-1887) m. Jeremiah Lawler
• Gobnet (Deborah) (1815-1883) m. Dermot (Jerry) Scanlon
• Thomas (1817- 1884) m. Margaret Costelloe
• Edmund
• John (1820? - ?) m. Margaret Carroll

Gullane East, Kerry, Ireland

When Colonel Thomas Colby was was placed in charge of the newly commissioned Ordnance Survey Office in 1824, the goals was to map the entire country using a scale of 6" to the mile. Additionally they were tasked with examining and standardizing place names and recording the information in a series of volumes known as Name Books. these books contain information details about ownership of the land, archaeological objects, monuments and more. 

The following is a copy of the listing for Gullane East:

Ask About Ireland - Name Book
This is a very interesting

 In 1837 Samuel Lewis described the parish of Kilconly in his Topographical Dictionary.

KILCONLY, a parish, in the barony of IRAGHTICONNOR, county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER, 10 ½ miles (W. by S.) from Tarbert, on the southern shore of the estuary or mouth of the Shannon; containing 1660 inhabitants. Near the shore are the ruins of the ancient castles of Beale and Lick, the former of which (designated "Beau-lieu" in the Pacata Hibernia) was once a residence of the Earls of Kerry. In 1600 its fortifications were demolished by Patrick, the then earl: in the same year, however, the brave Maurice Stack, one of Queen Elizabeth's officers in the desultory war then carried on, was invited here by the earl's lady and treacherously murdered by her attendants. A dangerous bar, or quicksand, extends about a mile north from Beale Point, and nearly opposite Carrigaholt bay. The parish comprises 2942 statute acres, of which 188 are coarse pasture, 114 bog, and the remainder arable land, for manuring which sea-weed and sand are generally used. The mountain of Knockanure, 665 feet above the level of the sea, is partly in this parish; from its summit an extensive view of the Shannon is obtained, the shores of which are in this vicinity extremely pleasing.

Litter House is the residence of G. Wren, Esq. The parish is in the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe; it is a rectory and vicarage, forming part of the corps of the treasurership of Ardfert. The tithes amount to £83. 1. 5 ¾., and there are two glebes, containing together about four acres. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of Lisseltin. About 100 children are educated in a public school, and there are two private schools, in which are about 130 children. Near the ruins of Lick castle is a columnar cliff, called by the peasantry the "Devil's Castle," inaccessible except to sea fowl: its summit is sometimes frequented by eagles. In the vicinity are several caves, formed by the dashing of the waves against the cliffs.

Ordnance Survey 6" Map circa 1840-1860
Townland of Gullane East

Kilconly Parish Records in Cath's Dropbox (Griffith's, Cancelled Valuation Books, Tenure Book, Census Records, etc.)
Gullane East Townland
A List of Untenanted Lands 1906 - Gullane East 
Ballybunnion Parish Registers - Library of Ireland
Church Records County Kerry  (use as an index to Parish registers, also burial registers)