Building a bigger picture: hunt for the Ryans of Coolnapisha Part 2
How far can we go with Limerick records? 380 years?!
In my previous article, I found a wealth of information about an Irish family, initially starting with a gravestone and working my way down. So, my research continues with the Ryan Darbys to see if they are connected to my family. But how far can the records take us this time? I will examine sources I've never explored and attempt to ascertain more about the Ryans at Coolnapisha, also known as Lough.
To summarise the previous article, the Ryan family tree from Coolnapisha might look something like this:
John Ryan (b. ~1738, d. May 1818) married Catherine Ryan (b. ~1752, d. May 1798):
Tobias Ryan, who married Bridget Ryan
John Ryan, who married Mary Carthy
Darby Ryan (Darby), who married Mary Spelman
James Ryan, who married Judith English
Machi Ryan
Ellen Ryan
William Hayes shared a Coolnapisha lot with the Ryans, as shown in the Tenure book and Griffith’s Valuation, so I thought he was a husband to one of John's and Catherine's daughters. But I've found no evidence of this. So, how does he fit into all this? This could be the family…
Gulielmo/William Hayes/Hays marries Catherina/Catha/Catherine Glasheen/Glasheene.
Missing records?
07 Aug 1811 Mary from Lough, Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Theod (Tobias) Ryan and Julia Ryan.
26 Apr 1813 Joannes (John) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Joannes (John) Ryan & Hanna (Honora) Hayes.
20 Feb 1815 Dionisius (Dennis) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Gulielmo (William) Hayes & Maria (Mary) Glasheene.
30 May 1816 Michael from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Edmundus (Edward) Lyston & Ellena (Ellen) Fitzgerald.
06? Apr 1819 Patritius (Patrick) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Mallachus (Malachi) Ryan & Catherine Ryan.
24 Aug 1820 Catherina (Catherine) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Joannes (John) Glashune & Catherina (Catherine) Hayes.
04 Feb 1822 Joanna (Johanna) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Jacobus (James) Ryan & Judith English.
By the looks of it, the brothers at Coolnapisha are sponsors of the Hayes family—Tobias, John, Malachi, and James, plus James’s wife, Judith. A Catherine Ryan is mentioned; perhaps she is another sister?
Or there is this Hayes family, but I think the above family is more likely with all the Ryan baptism sponsors.
05 Feb 1815 Gulielmus/Gulielmo (William) Hays (Hayes) marries Maria (Mary)/Margaret(priest's mistake?) Glasheen/Glasheene from Lough at Pallasgreen Parish. Witnesses: Martenus (Martin) Glasheene, Gulielmus (William) Hays (Hayes).
25 Nov 1815 Maria (Mary) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Gulielmus (William) Crude & Ellena (Ellen) Glasheene.
19 May 1817 Margarita (Margaret) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Edmundus (Edward) Ryan & Winifreda (Winifred) Hays (Hayes).
31 Jul 1819 Judith from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Elizalita (Elizabeth) Leamy.
22 Sep 1821 Michael from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Thomas Magrath & Catherine Ryan.
19 Jul 1823 Brigida (Bridget) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Timothus (Timothy) Byrane & Maria (Mary) Glasheene.
07 Jun 1825 Joannes (John) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Gulielmus (William) Hayes & Catherina (Catherine) Glasheene.
25 Feb 1827 Catherina (Catherine) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Timothus (Timothy) Byrane & Margarata (Margaret) Liamy.
28 Oct 1828 Ellena (Ellen) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Thomas Haze (Hayes) & Margarata (Margaret) Glasheene.
02 May 1830 Elizabeth from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Laurentius (Laurance) Ryan & Maria (Mary) Byrane.
22 Apr 1834 Martinus (Martin) from Pallasgreen Parish. Sponsors: Gulielmus Hays (Hayes) & Griatia (Grace) Glason.
In the 1826 Tithe records, there is a William Hayes Senior with 13 acres and William Junior with 48 acres, next to John Ryan’s lot. The papers show that William Hayes applied for freehold land in Coolnapisha in 1832, but this must have fallen through as all the land in the Tenure book shows him still renting all his lots. There was a record in the Court of Exchequer for the recovery of tithes in 1836—there was a tithe war at the time, and people did not want to be forced to pay toward the Church of Ireland. It lists defendants Patrick Kilbride, John Ryan, Toby Ryan, and William Hayes. No location is given, but it is possibly them. I found a Patrick Kilbride living in Toomaline, Doon, Limerick, and he married Hanora Ryan (perhaps another relation?).
I don’t know how William Hayes fits in with the Ryan family at this stage. Perhaps the relationship is further back.
Under lot 1 in the 1847 Tenure book (Oola): Ellen Ryan and Toby Ryan (1/2 each). Lease 2 lives in 1832. On every other land lot, all the leases have three lives. Does that mean someone died between 1832 and 1847? The Tithe record showed a land lot shared with Tobias and John. Did Tobias's brother John die? I did find a record of a death in the newspaper, but I wasn't exactly sure where to place it, and now it’s looking like it could be this John.
"At Coolnafeesha, Pallasgrean, deeply and sincerely regretted by his family and friends, Mr John Toby Ryan"
-Limerick Chronicle. 29th of April 1843.
The number of lives in the lease indicates that Tobias Ryan, James Ryan, and Ellen Ryan were likely still alive in 1847. Since there were no significant changes in Griffith's Valuation, it is possible that they were still alive in 1853. No one likely died because of the famine because The Schools' Collection on Duchas (1930s) shares:
“No person died of famine in the Townlands of Brackile, Coolnapisha, Reask and Cross; and Dromlara. It appears that the people helped each other through the years.”
But hold on! As I was ready to publish this article, I found one more death in the paper with help from a new project I’m working on, which I’ll touch on in the next article.
"This morning to the inexpressible regret of his family and friends, at Lough, Pallasgreen, James Ryan Esq, a gentleman of most amiable deportment, and possessing many good and sterling qualities"
-Limerick and Clare Examiner. 21st of February 1849.
Again, it's annoying that this doesn’t identify any family or even share his age. This sounds like James Ryan, who married Judith English.
The Schools' Collection is an excellent resource for obtaining local history. It also tells of the story of Tobias Ryan (b. ~1820) and James Hamersly (Tobias's cousin-in-law) losing their lands:
“The four local estates were Brackile, Coolnapisha, Reask, and Cross. The landlords of those estates were men that were led by their agents, and the agents, in turn, were spurned on by their land-bailiffs. The latter were the chief cause of trouble on every estate always, trying to get either himself or some friend into his neighbour's homestead, if the latter was unable to pay the rent when it became due. In the townland of Coolnapisha about eighty years ago, a man named Ryan, when paying his rent, asked to be compensated for the loss of a cow. The agent turned to him + asked what became of the price of the eight or ten pigs he has sold a few days previously - useful information from the bailiff Hayes. The agent was John Henry Weldon of Kilmallock - the greatest scourge that ever trod this Island. On another occasion when the tenants on the Coolnapisha estate applied for a reduction in rent, (about fifty-five years ago) he boldly told them that £3 per acre was not rent for a bog. He put £3 per care on them with the result that three of the tenants - Hammersley, Ryan, and Franklin - were evicted in 1882. The Land Corporation took over their land for some time, but were working at a loss, and after sixteen or seventeen years, the evicted tenants once again became occupiers of their farms, and the landlord, his agent, and his bailiff are all gone! The same treatment was meted out to the Tenants on the Reask Estate.”
No name is given as to who gave this information, but there is another mention of Coolnapisha (and Lough) just before the stories above; it is a poem, “Where Mulkear River Flows”, by J. Ryan (likely a descendant).
I
I'll sing for you of this lovely place, and 'tis there I like to be,
Where I can spend my leisure time in merriment and glee.
The maidens fair, I do declare, with them I like to go,
And have a stroll along the banks, where the Mulkear river flow.
II
The hills of Lough and of Brackile, amongst them I'll remain,
And where I spent my youthful days round lovely Pallasgreen.
Fond memory do bring to me the days of long ago,
When I would range the valleys where the Mulkear river flow.
III
I love the hill of Coolnapisha and the valley lying around,
Where in my youth with dog, and gun the game in plenty found.
'Tis through this rich and fertile plain each day I used to go,
And often lay in the grassy bank where the Mulkear river flow.
IV
I'll often think on the good old day I spent around those hills;
In merry chat I often sat down by their rippling drills;
And on a summer's evening, when the sun was sinking low,
I'd ramble through that lovely place where the Mulkear river flow.
V
And I will praise those happy days, when in my youth and bloom,
I hunted on the mountains by Cappawhite and Doon.
Through Carrigmore and Castletown, that place I do well know,
With Gurtavalla's moory land, where the Mulkear river flow.
VI
Along those banks I daily strayed in days when I was young,
When wild duck fell a victim to the barrell of my gun.
The partridge, snipe, and pheasant were plentiful also,
VII
So now today - my comrades gay, I'll bid tou all adieu,
And before I finish those few lines, one word I'll say to you -
Train your youth to hunt and shoot, with dog and gun to go,
And kill the game that do remain where the Mulkear river flow.
Scrolling back to the beginning of the book, the Cnoc Cairn, the Imleach Iubhair school in Knockcarron, shares that James Ryan (Malachy) compiled the information. He was from Coolnapisha, Pallasgreen, born in 1867. There are a few James Ryans in this family, but one fits best: James Ryan (b. 2 Mar 1867), the only James living in Coolnapisha in the 1911 census, whose grandfather is James Ryan (wife: Judith English). But why the Malachy Ryan nickname? There is another possible James (b. 1854) son of Malachy, and again, James was his grandfather, but I don’t have any details about this person.
How long has this Ryan family been living at Coolnapisha? It seems clear that the land is special to them. I’m going to try something I haven’t done before. Let’s go far back, to the Books of Survey and Distribution on virtualtreasury.ie. The English government confiscated lands after the Irish Rebellion of 1641 (an uprising by Catholics). The Books of Survey and Distribution were created in 1674 and were a survey of the owners of forfeited and other lands as they stood in 1641. There is a record on page 80 for the Parish of Ulla (Oola) & Cluggin (Tuoghcluggin): Lot number 21, William Heeky, Melaghlin Reagh, Thomas Ryan, Dermott Ryan, Andreas McWilliam Heaeky, Mahon Ryan Jr, Papists, of Cullinanpishy (Coolnapisha) & Leakamore—52 acres of land.
The Civil Survey 1654 Vol IV (1654–56) provides more details, or at least is easier to understand—just ignore the inconsistent spelling (my spell checker certainly didn’t!). For Ula (Oola) and Cluggine (Tuoghcluggin) Parish, there is a record on page 23 for William Heekie, Mleaghllin Reagh, Thomas Ryan of Doone (Doon), and Dermott Ryane (Ryan), who are Irish Papists—107 acres of land.
"Cullinapissie one octomeere meareg on the East wth Droumnalea on the South wth the River called Owbegge on the Weast wth Leackamore and on the North wth the River of Muilcherde all in the Parish of Ula devided as followeth. William Heekie and Mleaghllin Riegh two ptes thereof Mahone Mc Owen the fift pte thereof Thomas Ryane of Doone the 5th pte thereof & Dermott Ryane the 5th pte thereof.
The proportion of Thomas Ryan was by him mortgadged long before the Rebellion to Kennedy Mc Brien of Ballynecloghy & yet unredeemed"
Another record on the next page for Andreas and William Heeky of Cullinnapissy (Coolnapisha), Thomas Ryane (Ryan) of Doone (Doon), Dermott Ryane (Ryan), and Mahone Ryane (Ryan), who are Irish Papists. Again, with 107 acres of land.
"Halfe an otcomeere in Leakamore meareinge on the Easte wth Cullinapissy on the South wth the River of Owbegge on the Weast wth Breakeile all in the pish of Ula, and on the North wth the River of Mulcherde.
Andreas and William Heeky propritors of two ptes thereof and morgadged to Sr Morish Hurllie of Killduffe for £6 odd moneys Mahon Ryan propritor of one pte thereof Thomas Ryane propr of one pte thereof.
Dermott Ryane propritor of one pte thereof.”
I tried to pinpoint where the townland of Leakamore/Leackamore was, but I found no other records of it. The Civil Survey stated that Leakamore/Leackamore was east of Coolnapisha and west of Brackyle. I guessed that it merged into Coolnapisha, which may be why Coolnapisha is weirdly in two parts on Griffith’s Valuation maps.
Thomas Ryan of Doon, who was mentioned above, had 200 acres of land in lot 17. He shares a large lot (16) of 1180 acres with eight others. Both lots are in the townland of Doon. In the book Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical, of King James's Irish Army List, 1689, Thomas Ryan of Doon receives a brief mention as a member of the Supreme Council (1642), the executive body of the Irish Confederation, which governed the affairs of the Irish Catholic Confederation during the war. He appears connected to the Ryan sect that held Connor O'Mulryan Castle in Owney, Tipperary. The Castle was destroyed by the Earl of Ormond, Lord Justice of Ireland, in 1452.
The Civil Survey also show these Ryans shared many of the same lots:
Cromwellian Transplantation from Limerick, 1653, explains that only five of 91 families accepted transplantation from Coonagh Barony, one of which was Teige Ryan (b. ~1599) from “Doone Camogh" (no such place - was it Coonagh?), wife Sona (b. ~1613), and two children. No Teige of Doon is mentioned in The Civil Survey other than as one of the Inquisition Jurors.
The Pender "Census" of 1659 showed that 37 people (all Irish) were living in Coollenepesley (Coolnapisha), Ulla (Oola). In the parishes of “Doone, Castletowne, Ulla, Clogin, Bailvnycloghy and Ballynecloghy”, only ten “Raynes” and five “Reignes” lived there. What happened to the rest of the Ryans?
It looked like the Ryans from Coolnapisha stayed around, and they just might be the ancestors of John Ryan (b. ~1738, d. May 1818), but that's a hard one to prove. I’ve found nothing for the 18th century to bridge the gap that will help. There is the 1766 census, which the Doon records have survived, and Coolnapisha may be included. I couldn't find Oola or Tuoghcluggin, so maybe nothing survived from those parishes.
Doon census records have the following Ryans:
Thomas (3), William (8), Mathew (2), Timothy (5), John (9), James (6), Daniel (6), Michael (8), Cornelius (4), Patrick, Philip (2), Mary (2), Owen, Demot (5), Charlies, Stephen (2), Winifred, Peter, Malachi, Catherine, Luke, Denis, Lawrence, Martin.
No other information is recorded, so it doesn't exactly help me. But we can see some familiar names, such as John, James, Catherine, Malachi, Mary, Daniel, Stephen, Dermot, and Thomas.
I found a hint that Tobias Ryan (b. ~1820) could be linked to the ancient and powerful Ryan family. In 1882, a large funeral for Surgeon Major Mathew Joseph Ryan was reported in the newspaper. Many Ryan names were listed, including some of the wealthiest Ryans in the area (the few Ryans who owned land in Limerick) are listed. Only the men were listed. One paper lists the names "Tobias Ryan, James Hamersly, Tobias Hamersly, Joeseph Hamersly", who are likely the families at Coolnapisha. Tobias Hamersly and Joeseph Hamersly are the only sons of James. So here we have farmers Tobias Ryan and James Hamersly, who will lose their lands in about two weeks, mentioned with a bunch of wealthy people. No relationship was given in the paper, but I wonder if they are 2nd or 3rd cousins. By combining two articles about Mathew's funeral, I have created an extensive list of their names, positions, relations, and places of origin. I’ve put any significant differences in brackets and corrected any obvious mistakes.
The clergymen who officiated at the Mass:
Rev Edward Ryan, P.P., Sologhead; celebrant; Rev M. Ryan, P.P., Pallasgreen/Templebredan, deacon; Rev James Ryan, C.C, Tipperary, sub-deacon; Rev J. Power, C.C., Sologhead, Master of Ceremonies.
In the choir were:
Very Rev Canon Cahill, P.P., V.F., Latin; Very Rev P. Kirby, O.M.I., Inchicore; Very Rev P. Ryan, P.P., V.F., Galbally; Rev M. Callanan, P.P.; Rev M. Power, P.P.; Rev M. Ryan, P.P., Rev W. O'Connor, C.C.; Rev T. Cullen, C.C.; Rev D. O'Neil, C.C.; Rev P. Hanly, C.C., Blissington [Blessington?]; Rev J. Crowe, C.C.; Rev P. O'Donnel, C.C.; Rev J. Murphy, C.C.; Rev J. O'Sullivan, C.C.; Rev J. Shelly, C.C.; Rev M. Ryan, C.C., Rev M Ryan, P.P.; Rev J. Ryan C.C., Rev D. Ryan P.P., Clonoulty; Rev D. Humphreys, C.C.; Rev P. O'Donnell, C.C.
The chief mourners were:
Brothers of the deceased: John Ryan, Esq, Solicitor, Limerick; Valentine Ryan, Esq, Woodpark, Castleconnell; Very Rev P. Ryan, P.P., V.F., Galbally.
Uncles of the deceased: Rev Edward Ryan, P.P., Sologhead; Timothy Ryan, Esq, Sandylane.
Cousins of the deceased: Valentine Ryan Esq, J.P., Mountrath; P. Kilbride, Esq, Toomline; J. Ryan, Esq, M.D., Castleconnell; Francis O'Connor, Esq, M.D., Limerick; J. Ryan, Esq, Killinure; Martin Ryan, Esq; John O'Connor, Esq; D. Ryan, Esq; Valentine Ryan Esq; R. Ryan, Esq; Edmound Ryan, Esq.
The following also attended:
Messrs(or J.) Bolton Massy, D.L., Ballywire; R. Heuston/Heustin, Esq, J.P., Tipperary; Austin (or Arthur) Heuston/Heustin, Esq; Joseph Duggan, Esq, Tipperary; J. Ryan, Esq, M.D., Newpallas; R. Laffan, Esq, J.P., Cloverfield; Thomas Costello, coroner, Castleconnell; Wm Loyd, Esq, senr, Limerick; B. Laffan, Esq, Killonan; Tobias Ryan; James Hamersly/Hammersley Esq; Tobias Hamersly/Hammersley, Esq; Joseph Hamersly; J. Beavy (or Beary), Esq; R. Ryan, Esq; D. Kirby, Esq; Edmund Ryan; James Kirby; R. Gubbins, Esq; James Moloney, Esq; J. O'Brien, Esq; P. Raleigh, Esq; M. Fahey, Esq; M. Meehan. Esq. Holycross; Charles M'Carthy; Wm Ryan; M. Barry; Michael Ryan; Robert Wheeler, Esq; T. Hayes, Esq.
Abbreviations:
Esq: Esquire
P.P.: Parish Priest
C.C.: Catholic Curate
V.F.: Vicarius Foraneus
D.L.: Deputy Lieutenant
M.D.: Doctor of Medicine
J.P.: Justice of the Peace
O.M.I.: Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
I've been slowly building a family tree for Mathew Joseph Ryan, and if that leads anywhere, I’ll share the details in a later piece. I almost missed it, but “P [Patrick?] Kilbride, Esq, Toomline” appears on the list as a cousin; it cannot be the same one we mentioned earlier (since he died in 1872), but perhaps his son, Patrick. The relationship is likely through his mother, Hanora Ryan.
Guns were very restricted in Ireland, but around 1832-6, Tobias Ryan of Coolnapisha registered for a gun. A John Ryan of Cross (a townland next to Coolnapisha) also registered his two guns—is this Tobias’s brother? It’s possible that John only had land in Coolnapisha and lived elsewhere. His children’s baptisms don’t give an exact place.
The townland Cross in the Tithe records was called Cross Ryan and Cross Franklin, with a few Ryans in both but no John. Funny enough, no Franklins are listed in Cross Franklin, but one lived in Cross Ryan. One John Ryan was listed in the 1847 Tenure book and Griffith’s Valuation.
From what I’ve found in the papers, John Ryan of Cross was a cess-payer in 1838 and 1841 and the master of the Kilmallock and Bruff Union Workhouse in 1840. The book The Story of Kilmallock has a piece on the history of the Workhouse, and it says that John Ryan resigned before taking up duty, and instead, Roger Ryan was appointed. In 1848, John helped Michael Slattery pay for Michael’s wife's burial (a victim of the Great Hunger) when no one else would. In 1852, John was listed in the Bankrupt & Insolvent Calendar, and his estate was insolvent and up for sale. I have found no more mentions of John Ryan of Cross in the papers after that until 10+ years later.
Annoyingly, Findmypast doesn’t pick up “Joannes” as John, but I eventually located two of John's marriages at Cross, but no children were found.
26 Feb 1838 Joannes (John) Ryan marries Ellena (Ellen) O'Neill from Cross at Pallasgreen Parish. Witnesses: John O’Neill and Margaret O’Donnell.
25 Feb 1843 Joannes (John) Ryan marries Brigeda (Bridget) Ryan from Cross at Pallasgreen Parish. Witnesses: Simon Ryan and Catherine Ryan.
I don’t think the John of Cross is the one who married Mary Carthy and is a brother to Tobias Ryan, as I believe he died in 1843, but I can’t entirely rule it out either. He could also be a cousin.
The maps (such as Griffith's Valuation) show that there is a graveyard at Coolnapisha. It's called "Kilmore Burial Ground", also known as "Kyle Church Yard." I thought maybe this might have some more gravestones of lost family members. I put out a call to ask if anyone had more information about this burial ground but soon found out I’d be out of luck. Genealogist Gerard Greaney shared some helpful information that all kyles or cillíns were graveyards for those deemed unsuitable by the Church. This included unbaptised children, murderers, victims of suicide, strangers of unknown religions, and women who died in childbirth without last rites. Michele Bourke Lowe went out of her way to make contact with a cousin and a local landowner. Her cousin said the graveyard is now under forestry, and no one knows the exact location for sure, although a patch of ground was left unplanted at the time as it was believed to be the likely location. And as I feared, there are no headstones; it predates the famine and (sadly) wasn't maintained for generations. The locals still call the area Lough.
I’ve touched on many sources I’ve never used before and gotten a lot of ”maybes” and “could bes”, but this article is starting to get long, so I think I’ll leave it here. Derek Ryan left me with a thought: he wondered if any of those people could imagine that a guy in New Zealand would be researching them in the year 2024! I wonder if any of my works will survive in 200 years, but I’m not sure I can imagine who would be researching me. A cyborg living on the moon? A clone of myself remembering the good old days? A decentralised, distributed consensus AI, piecing together the fragments from the faint echoes left behind? Who knows… so I doubt those in the past could have imagined who would be researching them :)
P.S: All the different spellings of Coolnapisha from various documents I’ve collected thus far:
Coolnapisha, Coolnapish, Coolineapishy, Coolnapishe, Coolanapish, Loughcoolunapish, Coolunapish, Coolapish, Coolnafeesha, Cullinnapissy, Cullinapissy, Cullinapissie, Cullinanpishy, Cúil na Pise, Coolinanpishy, Coollenepesley, Coolineapashy, Coolinapishe, Coolinapishy, Coolnapisgue, Coolinapish, Culliuanpissie, Cullinanpissy, Cullinepissy, Cullynapissy, Coolnapesha, Coolennapisha, Coolanapish Lough, Coolnapishy.