The Byrne cottage, Athgarvan

In the nineteenth century, Irish newspapers generally only catered for the upper- and middle-classes of society, and unless they had found themselves on the wrong side of the law, they rarely mentioned my working-class ancestors, but on this occasion, they have delivered a real gem:-

At some point, following the death of her brother, Edward Byrne, in 1881, my Dad’s great-grandaunt, Mary Byrne, and her husband, Owen Doran, 'inherited' the Byrne cottage, at Athgarvan Cross, Co. Kildare. This cottage, or one standing on the same site, was once the home of my third great-grandparents, Andrew Byrne and Anne Clynch.

After a few years, the Dorans emigrated to New York, and the little cottage passed out of the Byrne family for good.  Before they left, they held an auction, to sell off all the stuff they were leaving behind. The auction was advertised in the county newspaper and the advertisement tells much about our ancestral home, and hints at the perceived attraction of living in Athgarvan, at the end of the nineteenth century. 

The Byrnes never owned the cottage in Athgarvan, nor the acre of land on which it stood. They held it under some kind of lease, at an annual rent of £1 and 10 shillings. Due to the low rent, their 'interest' in the property had a value, and could be sold on. They also hoped to sell their furniture, a bit of timber, Owen Doran’s carpenter’s tools and a heap of manure.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser, 

28 February 1891, p. 4

What would bring someone (and by someone, I really mean my ancestors) to live in Athgarvan? It was barely more than a hamlet of houses. It's a beautiful part of the country, no doubt, but that didn't put food on the table. The only business was seemingly an old corn mill. Owen Doran was a carpenter, so he was selling its proximity to the market towns of Newbridge and Kilcullen, with the Curragh Camp on its doorstep.

The British Army had built a large barracks on the Curragh, housing potentially thousands of men, but not until the mid-1850s. The Byrne family had lived in Athgarvan from the early 1830s, or maybe even earlier. Plus, Andrew Byrne was a gardener, not a tradesman or a dealer, and the 'big towns' weren't exactly 'big', before the army came. Maybe, Andrew was just born in the area and stayed put.

More Clynch... and a tiny breakthrough

Do you remember Martin, Edward and Mary Clinch, who emigrated to Aurora, Illinois, in 1854? I wrote about them previously here, and mentioned Edward's tragic death in a train accident, here. They were all more than likely the children of Patrick Clynch, from Athgarvan, Co. Kildare, and I suspect my third great-grandmother, Anne (Clynch) Byrne, may have been their sister too. Well, there's more to their story. 

It seems, shortly after Edward Clinch obtained U.S. citizenship in 1860, he returned to Ireland, with his sister, Mary.[1] Imagine making that trip across the Atlantic twice! Perhaps they were homesick, or maybe Edward just wanted to avoid the American Civil War breaking out in 1861. If he did return to Ireland, it would explain why the U.S. census enumerators missed him, in 1870. 

Their brother Martin Clinch and his growing family remained in Aurora, where Martin worked for the railway. In 1870, he was found in Aurora, living with his wife Cath and six of their seven known children.[2] 

Clinch household, 1870 Census, Aurora

Back home in Athgarvan, Anne (Clynch) Byrne's son, John Byrne (my direct-line ancestor) and his first wife, Mary Markey, were raising their family. In 1862, Mary Clinch was Godmother for their son Andrew, while in 1863, Edward Clinch was Godfather for their son John.[3] Athgarvan was a small village. There were only 455 people living in the combined townland of Blackrath and Athgarvan in 1861, and Clinch/Clynch was not a common surname.[4] I'm thinking two of the emigrants returned.

Plus, there is a record of Edward Clinch, an American citizen, aged 44 years, arriving back in the U.S. on 16 October 1871. Mary Murray, the suspected married name of Mary Clinch, also an American, was listed on the ship's passenger list, two lines below Edward.[5] 

Plus, plus, Martin Clinch, aged only about 55 years, died in Aurora, one month prior, on 16 September 1871.[6] Did Edward and Mary receive an urgent message to return to the U.S., to help care for Martin's soon-to-be destitute family? It looks like it. They were together in the 'Murry' household in 1880, living with three 'adopted' children, who were easily recognisable as the children of Martin Clinch.[7] 

Murry household, 1880 Census, Aurora

Plus, plus, plus - Now, with the help of a previously mentioned descendant of Martin Clinch, I've discovered an actual DNA connection between our two families. She matches a great-granddaughter of Anne (Burns) Rogers, the youngest daughter of Anne (Clynch) Byrne. It's a small match - only one segment measuring ten centimorgans - but it's a start.

Sources
[1] Edward Clinch, 1860, 'Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998', FamilySearch.

[2] Martin Clinch household, Aurora, Kane, Illinois, in the U.S. Census, 1870, FamilySearch.
[3] Catholic Parish Registers, Baptism register for Newbridge Parish, Co. Kildare, MF 04209/06, NLI.
[4] Census, 1861, Ireland, Area, population and number of houses, Ireland, Vol I and II, Co. Kildare (pages 49-80), Barony of Connell, p. 55, histpop.
[5] Edward Clinch, 1871, 'New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891', FamilySearch. 
[6] Burial of Martin Clinch, 1871, excerpt from Calvary Cemetery, Aurora, Illinois: Tombstones & Obituaries (2006, Fox Valley Genealogical Society, Napperville, Illinois), pp 35, 141.

[7] John Murry household, Aurora, Kane, Illinois, in the U.S. Census, 1880, FamilySearch.

Further reflections: Andrew Byrne and Anne Clynch

On further reflection, I'm no longer certain I correctly identified my third great-grandfather in Griffith's Valuation. Andrew Byrne did live in Athgarvan when the survey was conducted, but perhaps not at cottage 2e, as indicated below by Griffith. Possibly, there was some confusion over two distinct Athgarvan families both sharing similar sounding surnames, with members of the extended Berns family being recorded under the name Byrne. 

Excerpt Griffith’s Valuation, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare, 1853

Some time ago, using records held at the Valuation Office in Dublin, I traced the subsequent occupiers of the properties designated 2a to 2h, above. Within a year or two of 1853, Thomas Berns had replaced Elizabeth Byrne at 2b, John Berns had replaced John Byrne at 2c, and Andrew Berns had replaced Andrew Byrne at 2e. Coincidence? It now seems more likely to me that the Berns lived in these houses all along, and Andrew Berns, not Andrew Byrne, lived at 2e in 1853.

But, there was no other Andrew Byrne listed in Athgarvan per Griffith's Valuation, and we know from church records he lived in the village. This means my third great-grandparents must have shared their home with someone else, and that person was the leaseholder. The records show Andrew Byrne soon replaced Patrick Clynch as the leaseholder of 2a, so my Byrne family may have lived with Patrick Clynch all along, too. 

Andrew Byrne's wife was born Anne Clynch. She was probably related to Patrick Clynch, and may even have been his daughter. Well, that's my working hypothesis anyway. Why else would the Byrnes have inherited Patrick's house and garden? I discussed our 'Clynch Connection' previously, and mentioned 'a fly in the ointment' about my theory.

Andrew Byrne married Anne Clynch in Suncroft Parish. And, couples typically got married in the parish where the bride was residing. If Anne was Patrick's daughter, or even his sister, and she lived with him in Athgarvan, they would normally have married in Newbridge Parish. Suncroft was over fives miles from Athgarvan. Newbridge was half the distance.

Granda’s proposed path to Patrick Clynch

Still, Suncroft was well within commuting distance, and now I've found proof Anne Clynch had ties to Athgarvan, prior to her marriage. On 10 June 1830, more than three years before she married Andrew, Anne sponsored the baptism of Judy Bernes. Judy's parents were Michael Bernes and Betty Gannon from Athgarvan - her mother may even have been the same Elizabeth Byrne, perhaps Berns, found living at 2b, on Griffith's map.

Baptism Register for Judy Bernes, 10 June 1830, Newbridge parish

This all goes in favour of Anne and Patrick being related. But, I'm still waiting for that first DNA match between a known Byrne descendant and a known descendant of Patrick Clynch, to help make my case. 

Sources: Blackrath and Athgarvan, Co. Kildare, Griffith's Valuation, 1853, Ask about Ireland; Cancelled Books for Athgarvan, Co. Kildare, Valuation Office, Dublin; Baptism Register (1820-1832), Newbridge, Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, p. 118, NLI.

Grave matters – Athgarvan Burial Ground

A recent visit to Ireland by a new-found cousin from the U.S. prompted the search for our mutual third great-grandfather's grave. Here's what we already knew about Andrew Byrne: Andrew married Anne Clinch/Clynch in Suncroft parish, Co. Kildare, in 1833. They then made their home in Athgarvan, five miles away, on the other side of the Curragh. Andrew remained in Athgarvan until his death on 25 October 1872, leaving Anne behind to mourn his passing.

Historically, burial registers were rarely maintained for Catholic graveyards in Ireland, and until the twentieth century, generally only well-off families could afford to place a permanent marker on their loved-one’s grave. So, it’s not as if I expected to ever find actual proof of Andrew’s burial. But, it would be nice to know his probable burial place.

Graveyard at Athgarvan, c.1837-42

Ordinance survey maps show there was a small graveyard in Athgarvan about 1840.[1] And, when Griffith's Valuation for the area was published in 1852, it confirmed the graveyard measured one rood (an old measure equal to a quarter of an acre). It was situated on land occupied by Joseph R. Reeves, who had by then built a large farmhouse between the Grave Yard and the Flour Mill. Andrew Byrne lived in one of the cottages shown on the left edge of the above map, so if this graveyard was still in use in 1872, it seems likely he was buried there.[2]

This was an ancient burial ground. A church stood on the site in 1640, when it was included in a list of parochial churches drawn up by the then Bishop of Kildare, Dr Roche MacGeoghegan.[3] It also appeared on a map of the county created in 1752, though it is unclear how well it was surviving the (anti-Catholic) Penal Laws.[4] There was certainly no trace of the church in 1840 (map above), when only the graveyard remained. It’s possible, numerous, as yet unknown, generations of my Kildare family were buried there.

Church at Athgarvan, 1752

In August 1888, the Local Government Board held an Inquiry to consider a petition by T.B. Reeves’ to close the Athgarvan graveyard. Sixty people claiming burial rights objected.[5] This all sounds very familiar. The same thing happened in Malahide, Co. Dublin, and, in that case, Peter Radcliffe, my fourth great-grandfather, was also forced to defend his burial rights through the courts. 

At the Inquiry, T.B. Reeves claimed the graveyard was full. This must have annoyed the locals. Several witnesses alleged the Reeves family had already appropriated a portion of the cemetery for their vegetable garden.[6] And, given the cemetery then measured only twenty-seven perches, when there were forty perches in a rood, this may have been true.

T.B. Reeves cited bad smells coming from the graveyard, with bones and skulls frequently being thrown up. Nothing like a bit of scaremongering to progress the cause!  But, medical doctors, the area sanitary officer, and even the court-appointed 'expert' disagreed with him. They concluded further burials would cause no 'threat to public health', nor 'insult to public decency', and the Inquiry adjourned to allow the people register their burial claims.[7]

It seems, there is every chance Andrew Byrne, his wife Anne, and as many of their children that so desired, were buried in this graveyard.

River Liffey, from Athgarvan Bridge, April 2018

In the above photograph, the cemetery is situated among the copse of trees, just behind the weir, on the right-hand banks of the River Liffey. Unfortunately, it remains on private property, with no access to the public. This may be as close as we’ll ever get to paying our last respects to Andrew and Anne Byrne. Still, as final resting places go, if they truly were buried here, theirs really is quite spectacular!

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[1] Ordnance Survey Ireland, Historic map 6-inch Colour, c.1837-42 (GeoHive).

[2] Griffith’s Valuation, 1853, Blackrath and Athgarvan, Greatconnell, Co. Kildare (Ask about Ireland).

[3] Michael Comerford, Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin, vol. ii (Dublin, 1886). p. 296 (Ask about Ireland). 

[4] J. Noble & J. Keenan, Map of county Kildare (Daniel Pomarede, Dublin, 1752) (logainm.ie). 

[5] Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser, 28 July 1888, p. 5.

[6] Same, 4 August 1888, p. 5.

[7] Same.

Did you wonder how Two Ball Lonnen, Newcastle got its name?

My great-grandparents lived on a street mysteriously called ‘Two Ball Lonnen’ in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. They moved there from Riddell Avenue, Newcastle, about 1934, and opened a general provision store. When I first searched Google maps for images of their home, which they named 'Wynholm', at 297/299 Two Ball Lonnen, it was hard to see where the street name had come from. 

Modern-day view of Two Ball Lonnen, Fenham (Google maps)

‘Lonnen’ means ‘lane’ in the Geordie dialect of the Tyneside, and it seems Two Ball Lonnen was an ancient lane in Newcastle. Old photographs online at the ‘Newcastle City Library Photographic Collection’ reveal the source of the street name. There really were two balls!

Entrance to Two Ball Lonnen, Fenham, c.1905, Newcastle Libraries

Entrance to Two Ball Lonnen, Fenham, c.1905, Newcastle Libraries

As you can see, the lonnen got its name from the ball-shaped ornaments sitting on top of the two pillars, once positioned at each side of the entrance. It didn’t look like this when my great-grandparents moved to the area though.

The following picture shows a view of the street in the 1930s. The entrance pillars have long been removed, but I haven’t yet ascertained when.

Two Ball Lonnen, Fenham c.1930, Newcastle Libraries

Historical images (public domain), online at Newcastle Libraries. 

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© Black Raven Genealogy

Our Wynne family in the National Register of 1939

On 29 September 1939, during the earliest days of WWII, the British government compiled a National Register of its civilian population. The Register would have many uses, but initially it was used to issue ID cards and ration books, as part of the War effort. The details for England and Wales are now available online, and included my Wynne family, who had emigrated to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[1] And, as you know, I like to collect every snippet of information concerning my direct ancestors. 

My great-grandfather, Patrick Wynne, died on 21 December 1937, so it was his wife, my great-grandmother, Teresa (Carroll) Wynne, who headed up the Wynne family, in Newcastle, in 1939.  She was one of five people living in their home - 297 Two Ball Lonnem, Fenham.

Teresa resided with her second eldest son Brendan, born in 1908, and her eldest daughter Eileen, born in 1916. But, the identity of the two other household members is officially closed. The records of anyone born within the last 100 years, who are still living, or who died after 1991, are restricted, for privacy reasons.

Patrick and Teresa had eight children.  By 1939, their eldest son Maurice was married and heading up his own household at 11 Waverdale Avenue, Newcastle, while my grandfather Kevin lived back home in Dublin. This leaves Brian (1918-1969), Nora (1920-2000), Terrence (1922-1993) and Laurence (1924-1993) unaccounted for in the survey. The records for the three youngest are likely still closed, but we should be able to locate Brian Wynne, who died well before 1991. Yet, there is no sign of him.

Newcastle was a major port and industrial centre in 1939 and an attractive target for German bombers. Young children were removed from the city to the countryside, during the War, but the National Register was probably enumerated long before the evacuation started.  So, it isn’t clear which two of the four youngest were living at home with Teresa.

The following information can currently be gleaned from the Register: -

Name	Sex	Birth date	Status	Occupation
Teresa Wynne	F	10 May 1888	Widow	General Dealer
Brendan Wynne	M	6 Apr 1908	Single	Wholesale General Warehouse
Eileen M. Wynne /Johnson	F	22 May 1916	Single	Unpaid Domestic

Eileen married John Walter Johnson in 1950, and her married-name was added to the Register, over time. 

1939 Register, Wynne household, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

[1] 1939 England and Wales Register, separately indexed and available online at ($) Ancestry and ($) FindmyPast. Click on image to enlarge.

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© Black Raven Genealogy

The Daly Brothers

I recently received an email from a distant cousin on my mother's side, who had come across my blog. Her great-grandparents were Richard Daly and his second wife, Sarah Jane McGrane. They married in St Laurence O’Toole’s Church in Dublin, on 30 July 1879. Richard worked as a car-man, like a modern-day taxi driver, but with a horse and trap. And, Sarah Jane is better known in the family as the mother of Frank Teeling and his brother, Fr Camillus, the Cistercian monk. 

My new-found cousin is actually a double third cousin - related on two separate lines. We are third cousins once removed via Sarah Jane, who was a younger sister of my great-great-grandmother, Margaret (McGrane) Byrne. And, third cousins twice removed via Richard Daly, who was a brother of my third-great-grandmother, Jane (Daly) Byrne. Both families lived in Upper Jane Place and Lower Jane Place, parallel rows of cottages, off Oriel Street, in Dublin city. 

Richard and Sarah Jane had five children born in Jane Place - William, Myles, Sarah Mary, Richard and Margaret. They were all raised by their step-father, Christopher Teeling. Their father was an old man, more than forty years older than Sarah Jane, and he died in 1888, when the children were small.

Sadly, Sarah Jane buried three of the children from her first marriage. William was twelve when he died in 1893, Sarah Mary was twenty-two when she succumbed to tuberculosis in 1906, and Margaret caught pneumonia and died in 1909, aged twenty years. What terrible heartbreak for Sarah Jane and the rest of the family. Only Myles, born on 25 July 1882, and Richard, born on 6 November 1886, lived to see old age.  

Myles Daly married Catherine Wisely on 28 September 1909, and went on to have nine children. After their marriage, and as part of the Gaelic revival taking place across Ireland at the time, they changed their surname from Daly to O'Daly. But, unlike his step-brother Frank Teeling, Myles was not politically-minded. It was his wife Catherine who joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann, an Irish nationalist women's organisation, and later Cumann na mBan. Still, during 'the troubles', when Frank was on the run, having dramatically escaped from Kilmainham Gaol, he often found refuge with Myles and Catherine. 

Richard, or Dick as he was called, kept the Daly surname, without ever adding the historical 'O'. He worked as a wood-sawyer, like his brother Myles. On 27 October 1910, he married Catherine (Kate) McGrane. His grandniece remembers hearing they needed a dispensation from Rome, before they could marry, as they were so closely related. And, it turns out, Kate was a first cousin of Dick's mother, a daughter of her uncle Francis McGrane. Kate grew up in Jane Place too. So, we have a triple relationship with Dick and Kate's children! 

Both brothers each celebrated over fifty years of marriage. Myles made his home in Shelmartin Avenue, in Marino, while Dick lived not far away in Rutland Place. Dick died first in November 1965, and Myles passed away in April 1968. Both men were buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

Here'a a picture of them together, probably taken at the celebration of Dick and Kate's 50th wedding anniversary, so about 1960.

Dick and Kate Daly (sitting) with Catherine and Myles O'Daly, c.1960

With special thanks to my cousin Barbara for sharing her extensive knowledge and pictures of the ['O]Daly family with me.

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© Black Raven Genealogy