PETTY SESSIONS COURT 1828-1912 . . . . . . #15

The Petty Sessions was the lowest court in Ireland and handled civil and some criminal matters.  This court heard minor disputes and misdemeanors such as farm animals trespassing on neighbors property, public drunkenness, petty assaults, minor thief, disputes between persons etc.  The court was lead by a Justice of the Peace who did not receive a salary therefore was headed by a local landowner or gentleman.  There was no jury.  Petty Sessions met weekly or monthly depending on the volume of cases to be heard.  The court included a clerk who recorded the details on registers and collected any fines.  These registers, which have been indexed, are available in digitized form at findmypast.com.  There were 22 Petty Session Courts in County Mayo.  The Killala Court registers are available in years 1861-1911.

Finding these records allows us to observe the daily life of elusive ancestors.  Our DONNELLY and WALSH families appeared in these court records.  The index did not show our GARVIN or MAHEDY families.

John STONES, a neighbor of John DONNELLY, had difficulty keeping his cows and pigs out of DONNELLY'S land between 1874 and 1884.  Three times John DONNELLY took STONES to Killala Petty Sessions Court because the animals were trespassing.

DONNELLY of Ballygowen

1874 - John STONES of Ballygone cows trespass on John DONNELLY'S land

1875 - John STONES of Ballygone pigs trespass on John DONNELLY'S potato patch

1884

Killala Petty Sessions  -  15 August 1884

 Complainant - John WALSH, farmer of Ballygone - Defendant - John STONES, farmer of Ballygone

Defendant's 6 pigs did trespass on complaints barley and potato at Ballygone on said Co of Mayo

on the 28th July 1884

1894  -  Edward BOURKE'S 3 horses trespass on John DONNELLY's land

WALSH of Cloonaleedin

1867 - Hugh WALSH - James MASSY'S heifers trespass on Hugh's land

1868 - John WALSH - 2 cows & 1 horse trespass on James MASSY'S land

1868 - Hugh WALSH - 2 horses trespass on James MASSY'S land

1876 - Hugh WALSH & John WALSH - Witnesses to an assault

1888 - John CUNNINGHAM - Cattle trespass on John WALSH's pasture

1891

Killala Petty Sessions  -  15 August 1891

Complainant - John WALSH, Road Contractor Cloonaleedin   Defendant - John RUDDY of Carrokeel, Road material  -  Complainant being a road contractor for the public road leading from James GALLAGER'S at Doonamoona to James JOINT'S at Carrokeel in the County Mayo require an order to obtain materials (broken stones) off said Defendant's land at Carrokeel for the repairs of said road.

1910 - John WALSH - Road contract

1910 - Pat WALSH - Dog licensing issue

1911

Petty Sessions Court  -  6 September 1911

Complainant - Sergeant Patrick O'GARA, R.I.C Killala   Defendant - John WALSH of Cloonaleedin

Br. of Sheep Dipping Order 1911

You, the said Defendant, on the 29th day of July 1911, at Killala in said District and County, did unlawfully pose for sale at a fair 3 sheep without having the same previously dipped and accompanied by a declaration that they were so dipped as required by the Sheep Dipping (Ireland) Order 1911.  Defendant is convicted of the said order and ordered to pay for fine the same of six pence and for costs, the sum of 1 shilling.  PAID

1912 - John WALSH - Violation of sheep dipping order

Cloonleedin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #14

Photos from Cloonaleedin, the townland in Co. Mayo, where our Walsh family originated.  Pictured below are two views of the flagstone floor which has been preserved at the Walsh ancestral home.  A new home has been built next to the original structure.  Pictured in the first photo is the crane which was taken from the old fireplace hearth.  The photos were taken ca 2015 by a great grandson of John Walsh and Bridget Garvin with the permission of the current resident. 



The crane, black metal structure on the right, is a horizontally swinging arm by a fireplace used for
suspending pots over the fire.  Look close to see the arm.  The trees in the background make it a bit
difficult to see.  Note kettles hanging from arm.

Griffith's Valuation

The following is from the web site - Ask About Ireland, www.askabout ireland.ie.

"Ordnance Survey Name Books & Letters published between 1824 & 1842 as part of the first complete mapping survey of Ireland.  This  project is “under construction” according

The Ordnance Survey Office was established in 1824 to undertake a townland survey of Ireland and map the entire country.  The surveyors who understood this task were also charged with the task of examining individual place-names details and variants to determine a suitable spelling for each name which did not already have a standardized English form and with recording this information in a series of volumes known as Name Books.

Other details were also recorded, such as local monuments, building of note, archaeological objects etc. making them a very interesting and useful addition to local information,

Volumes of Letters comprising the correspondence between the field researchers and the Ordnance Survey office were also published and provide further details of interest concerning the history of places countrywide."

Tne description of Cloonaleedin, from the Names Books, has been scanned and posted on the site -

This Townland belongs to a Mr. W. Handy, who resides in Birr, Kings CO., Agent Mr P McLaughlin, Crossmolina.  It is held by tenants at will at £1. p.(per) acre.  Soil a gravelly clay, the genrl. produce oats, flax & potatoes.  There are but 3 farmers living here apparently comfortable.  Houses stone.  Nothing remarkable to be noticed.  Contains 56 a.(acres) 2 r.(rood) 28 p.(perch) including about 25 a.(acres) of bog.

Years passed between the Names Books survey, the mapping, and publication of Griffith's Valuattion.  At the time of publication Cloonaleedin's owner was John Orme and the occupiers were Martin WALSH, Mary NEARY, and Martin TWOHILL

 Ask About Ireland - www.askaboutireland.ie

Townlands adjacent to Cloonaleedin are Cloonconway-north, Cloonskirtaun-north, Kilogunra-east, Knockaunderry-east, Lecarrowanteean-west, Rathoma-south

RECENT FINDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #13

1.  BRIDGET WALSH #1

 My first post on Our Mayo Families was Three Bridget Walsh's from Ireland to Ellis Island, New York.  The second post concerned who they were and location of the three Bridget's after their arrival in New York.   At that time I did not know anything concerning Bridget #1.

I am confident that I now know the parents of  Bridget #1.

Bridget Walsh, age 19, arrived at Ellis Island in 1897 with Anne DONNELLY in 1897.  Anne and family lived in the townland of Ballygowen, County Mayo.  In the 1901 and 1911 Irish census the next door neighbor of the Donnelly family was Anthony WALSH, a blacksmith, and his wife Bridget.  On the 21 of April 1877 daughter Bridget WALSH was born to Anthony WALSH, a blacksmith, and Bridget FLAHERTY WALSH of Ballygowen.

I still do not know what happened to Bridget the daughter of Anthony after arriving at Ellis Island.

Bridget #3 who immigrated in 1909 with Bridget Walsh McHale (Bridget #2) is still unknown after the 1920 census where she was enumerated as a kitchen maid/cook to a family in New York City.

My grandparents home was completely destroyed by fire in 1950.  Many of the answers to these and other Irish genealogical questions went up in flames early in the morning hours of that June day.

2.  MICHAEL WALSH, son of John WALSH & Bridget GARVIN

John WALSH and Bridget GARVIN of Cloonaleedin, Kilfian were the parents of 10 children born between 1868 and 1887.  Five of the children I have been able to document with birth, marriage, death, and census records.  Until recently the other five I only found birth dates and some census records.  The number documented is now six.

Michael WALSH, the 6th child, was born 18 August 1877 in Cloonaleedin, Parish of Kilfian.  The 1901 & 1911 census found Michael at Cloonaleedin with his parents.  By 1911 he was the only child who remained at the homestead.  Mary Ellen HARRISON from Clooneenmore, Easkey, Co Sligo became the wife of Michael 10 December 1916 in Easkey.  The only record discovered of this marriage are photos of the pages in the parish book.  Michael and Mary Ellen resided in Cooga, Easkey, Sligo.  They are buried at Roslea Cemetery, Easkey.  Michael died 22 Jan 1951 and Mary Ellen eleven years later 30 May 1962.  Michael's birth and death civil records can be founds at: https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/
                                 
At this time I only know of one child of this marriage.  Michael Joseph “Josie” WALSH was born 7 September 1919 in Cooga, Easkey, Silgo. Michael emigrated to the US in 18 April 1948 with his new bride Celia “Sheila” WALL aboard the SS Washington from Cobh.  Michael died 14 April 2004 and is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their daughter Eileen WALSH (1952-2013) married Francis DOYLE in Pennsylvania.

Michael’s great grandson Congressman Brendan Francis BOYLE has been a member of the US House of Representatives, representing a district near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since January 2015.  Brendan’s brother Kevin BOYLE is also in politics as he is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

In August 2017 Brendan F. BOYLE, his father, and brother visited County Sligo and Cloonaleedin, Kilfian, Co Mayo.  John WALSH, the current resident, of the home in Cloonaleedin presented Brenden BOYLE  sods of turf.  The floor/flagstones of the Walsh home of John and Bridget remains next to John’s home.

                                      left to right: Kevin Boyle, John Walsh, Francis Boyle, Brendan Boyle
                                                       The IrishEcho, published  8 September 2017

Still need to locate the following children of John WALSH and Bridget GARVIN:
   Child #3      Martin WALSH born 18 April 1871
   Child #4      Ellen WALSH born 14 November 1873
   Child #8    John WALSH born 10 July 1884
   Child #9    Patrick WALSH born 10 July 1887
There are stories of each of the above but no documentation other than their births.

3.   ANOTHER WALSH/GARVIN FAMILY

There was second John WALSH and Bridget GARVIN family in County Mayo during the time period as “our” WALSH/GARVIN family.  This family was from Glendagh, Ballycastle.  Currently the only information I have on this family is son Thomas WALSH born ca 1860 and a daughter Eleanor WALSH born 2 April 1868.  Thomas WALSH of Glenedagh age 25 married Bridget WINTERS of Ballycastle in 1885 at the Chapel of Ballycastle.  Thomas/1860 and family immigrated in the late 1890s to Michigan, US  Their family, at that time, consisted of six children born between 1888-1895 Ballycastle, County Mayo.

Residents of Cloonaleedin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #12

Through the Years in Cloonaleedin -

In an attempt to discover additional information on the WALSH Families of Cloonaleedin, I have compiled data on who lived in the townland.  Any addition information or corrections to this compilation will be greatly appreciated.

The following sources were used:
EEPI -  Enhanced British Parliamentary Papers on Ireland - www.dippam.ac.uk
Family History Library microfilm for Irish Birth, Death & Marriage Registration
Find My Past - www.findmypast.com
    Griffith Valuation
    Ireland Dog License Registration
National Archives of Ireland - www.national archives.ie/genealogy
    1901 & 1911 census
    Tithe Applotment Books

CLOONALEEDIN -

1830’s
    Pat & Hugh Peirce (Peace)
   
1841    Population 21 - (12 male & 9 female) - in 5 inhabited houses.
            I can account for 4 persons -

    House 1 - Martin WALSH & Mary PEACE WALSH, son Hugh & daughter Eleanor
    House 2 -
    House 3 -
    House 4 -
    House 5 -

1851    Population 34 - (18 male & 16 female) - in 5 inhabited houses.
            I can account for 9 persons -

    House 1 - Martin WALSH & wife Mary PEACE WALSH sons Hugh, John, Frank & Patrick;
       daughter Eleanor
    House 2 - Martin TWOHILL
    House 3 - Mary NEARY
    House 4 -
    House 5 -

1856    Griffith’s Valuation - Occupiers
    House 1 - Martin WALSH
    House 2 - Martin TWOHILL
    House 3 - Mary NEARY

1861    Population 7 - (4 male & 3 female) - 1 house
            I can account for 4 persons -

    House 1 - Martin WALSH and wife Mary PEACE WALSH, sons Hugh & John

1871    Population 9 - two houses
            I can account for 8 persons -

    House 1 - Hugh WALSH married Bridget HERBERT in 1865 and had daughter Mary born 1867
       & Ellen born 1869 died in 1873
    House 2 - John WALSH married Bridget GARVIN in 1866 and, at this time, had 2 children
       Thomas born 1867 and Catherine born 1869. 
   
1881    Population 19, 8 male & 10 female, in two inhabited houses
            I can account for 15 persons - 6 male & 9 female   
  
    House 1 - Hugh WALSH, Bridget HERBERT WALSH, daughters Mary born 1867, Margaret born
       1871, Ellen born 1880; son Patrick born 1875
    House 2 - John WALSH, Bridget GARVIN WALSH, sons Thomas born 1867, Martin born 1871,
       Michael born 1877, daughters Catherine born 1869, Ellen born 1873, Maria born 1875 &
       Bridget born 1880

1891    Population 21, 11 male & 10 female, in two inhabited houses
            I can account for 20 persons - 10 male & 10 female

    House 1 - Hugh WALSH, Bridget HERBERT WALSH, Margaret born 1871, Patrick born 1875,
      Ellen born 1880, Anne born 1882, Catherine (Kate) born 1882, James born 1888
    House 2 - John WALSH, Bridget GARVIN WALSH, Thomas born 1867, Catherine born 1869,
       Martin born 1871, Ellen born 1873, Maria born 1875, Michael born 1877, Bridget born 1880,
       John born 1882, Patrick born 1884, Anthony Joseph born 1887

1901     Population 12, 7 male & 5 female, in two inhabited houses
        
    House 1 - Hugh WALSH, Ellen age 21, Kate age 18 & James age 14
    House 2 - John WALSH, Bridget Garvin WALSH, Maria age 22, Michael age 21, Bridget age 19,
       John age 17 Patrick age 15 & Anthony age 13

1911    Population 9, 6 male & 3 female, in two inhabited houses

    House 1 - Pat WALSH age 33, Anne WALSH, Maria age 9, Thomas age 4, Patrick age 3
    House 2 - John WALSH, Bridget Garvin WALSH, Michael 31 son, Michael GAUGHAN servant

Our Mayo Families Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #11

I just become aware that comments to this blog have not been been forwarded to me.  Therefore an email account has been set up dedicated to our County Mayo ancestors.  Please use it to comment, correct, contribute research information or contact me.  Thank you, MaryAnn.

                                                      ourmayofamilies@gmail.com

Ireland Dog Licenses Registers . . . . . . . . . . . . #10

The first Irish dog licenses were issued in 1866.  The fee for each license was 2 shilling per dog with an extra 6 pense in administration costs.  Recorded was year issued, name and residence of the person who registered the dog, number of dogs, fees, and sex, color and breed of dog.  Findmypast has digitized images 1866-1914.

Following images from findmypast.com

John WALSH - 1880 - Cloonaleedin - #173

John WALSH(E) of Cloonaleedin was found in the following years registering dogs:

1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1889, 1890, 1892, 1893, 1895, 1896, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1913, 1914.  His dogs were mainly male sheep dogs with an occasional terrier.

Hugh WALSH  (brother of John) - 1902 - Cloonaleedin- #302

Hugh WALSH(E) registered dogs in the following years:
1873, 1880, 1881, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1902, 1904, 1906,  Hugh'ss dogs were sheep and terrier.

John & Hugh WALSH - 1894 - Cloonaleedin - #'s 265 & 266

Patrick WALSH (son of John) - 1910 - Cloonaleedin - #1

Patrick WALSH registered dogs in:
1905, 1910, 1913, 1914.  Pat had male sheep dogs and one terrier.

John "Jack" DONNELLY - 1883 - Ballygoan - #220

 John DONNELLY registered dogs in the following years:
1866, 1873, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909.  John's dogs were male sheep with a few terriers.

Thomas DONNELLY (son of John, National School Teacher) - 1904 - Kincon - #109

Thomas DONNELLY registered dogs in the following years:
1902, 1904 1906.  His dogs were female terrier and male sheep dog.

GARVIN - (Anthony not found in Dog Registers)
Thomas GARVIN (son of Anthony) - 1882 - Rathroe - #111

Thomas GARVIN registered dogs in the following years:
1882, 1893

MAHADY - (no Michael anywhere and no Mahady in Ballygoan)

The following are images of the first year that John DONNELLY and John WALSH registered their dogs.

John DONNELLY - 1866 - Ballygoen - #363

John WALSH - 1869 - Cloonaleedin - #137

Donnelly & Mahady Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .#9

  Our Donnelly Families in the Irish Census

County Mayo, Ballygowan

1901

John DONNELLY (ca1821-1912)
1. Household Return

2.  House and Building Return

3.  Enumerator's Abstract

County Mayo, Kilcon

Thomas DONNELLY (1862-1939), National School Teacher
     (son of John DONNELLY)
1.  Household Return

                                                                               

 2. House and Building Return

                                                                                                              

3.   Enumerator's Abstract

1911
John DONNELLY
1.  Household Return

  2.  House and Building Return     

   3.  Enumerator's Abstract

Thomas DONNELLY
1.  Household Return

2.  House and Building Return

 3.  Enumerator's Abstract

There are no Donnellys in the parishes of Rathreagh or Kilfian in the Tithe Applotment or Griffith Valuation.  

John DONNELLY first appears in the General Valuation List in 1867 when he becomes the tenant of the 18 acre plot in Ballygowan from his father-in-law Michael MAHADY.  Michael MAHADY died 5 February 1866.  John’s origin has not been discovered.  The DONNELLY surname rarely appears in Kilfian before .

 MAHADY

Little is presently known concerning Michael MAHADY, the father of Margaret MAHADY who married John “Jack” DONNELLY.  The name of his wife and mother of Margaret is unknown.

Michael MAHEDY was a tenant of Ballygoan in the December 1829 survey in Tithe Applotment Books, Rathreagh Parish.  Other tenants in Ballygoan at this time were Thomas Bourke, Michael Cafferey, John Divine, Thad Flaherty, Michael Flannely, John Gilroy, Bryan Grady and James Grady. FHL Film #256679.  He remained a resident of Ballygoan until his death in 1866 as noted in General Valuation Lists.  

Michael MEHEDY was in Ballygowan in Griffith Valuation 1856
The following persons were residing in Ballygowan at this tme:
John Burke, William Burke, Conroy, Patrick Devine, Margaret Flaherty, Patrick Gilroy, Michael Grady, James McDonnell, Charles Ormsby, Anne Tighe, Catherine Walsh

The spelling of the surname and townland was not consistent in the records.  Examples - MAHADY, MAHEDY, MEHEDY and Ballygowan, Ballygoan