County Carlow Journals of the Memorials of the Dead CARLOW

County Carlow
Journals of the Memorials of the Dead
CARLOW

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The following details have been transcribed from the Journals titled, "Journal for the Memorials of the Dead" which can be found at County Carlow Library, Tullow Street, Carlow, Co Carlow IRELAND.

For the original formatting:- refer to the published volumes of the "Journal for the Memorials of the Dead".

[From Colonel P. D. Vigors.]

MODERN VANDALISM.

A correspondent writes to me:―
"I am sorry to say that when the heating apparatus was put into Aghade Church, whoever was doing the work took one of the tombstones and built it in over the furnace, turning it upside down. The inscription can be seen; but whether all of it is legible or nort I cannot say.'
What have the Incumbent and Churchwardens to say to this?―ED.
Volume V, 1901-02-03, Carlow, page 5

CARLOW PARISH.

[From Colonel P. D. Vigors.]
'The following extracts are from a copy of the old Vestry Books of this parish, kindly lent me by Wm. Browne Clayton, Esq., of Brown's Hill, Carlow. They are contained in three volumes, still in his possession.
'Vol. I contains 94 pages of MS., and begins in 1675, ending in 1715.
'Vol. II begins on 2nd of April, 1716, and ends 29th April, 1746. This book consists of 90 pages of MS.
Vol. III. This book contains only seven pages of proceedings, from 5th April, 1746, to the 1st June 1750. The rest of the book is blank.
'The above books are all "folio," or foolscap size.'
We now give the names of the clergy of this parish, so far as we can compete them from the above volumes, and from other sources ; and we intend to give extracts of interest from the Proceedings of the Vestries in future Journals.

'CARLOW PARISH.―INCUMBENTS AND CURATES.

'1669 TO 1679.―RICHARD JONES, "Mynister."
'1680 " 1684.―THOMAS WESTON.
'1686 " 1694.―JO PINCENT, Rector. JERE RYDALLE, Curate.
'1694 to 1696.―JOHN FRANCIS, Rector.
'1696 " 1712.―ROBERT HARRIS, "Rector and Vicar." GEORGE CHINNERY (1710) Curate. A. UPTON (1712) Curate.
'1712 to 1713.―JOHN HEYDON, "Curate Assistant."
'1713 " 1725.―SAMUEL MOLLAND, "Minister."
'1712 " 1735.―RICHARD GRANTHAM, "Rector." MICHAEL MILLS, Curate.
'1736 to 1737.―PATRICK BENNETT, Minister or Curate.
'1738 " 1777.―REVD. CHARLES DOYNE, D.D., DEAN OF LEIGHLIN, died 31 May, 1777.
'See his monument in the Parish Church, Carlow. The inscription has been printed in our JOURNAL for 1894, page 420.
'We find the following curates named about this period:―
'THE REVD EDWARD CLIFFE, 1741.
'DAVID CHAIGNEAU, 1744, he was also. Minister of French Church in Carlow, and was buried on 11th of July, 1747.
'SHAPLAND SWINNY, 1747.
'RICHARD MILLS, 1754.
'The late Mr. Robert Malcomson, of Carlow, has supplemented the above by the following additional names:―
'1777 to 1821.―JOHN FALKINER, D.D. JOSEPH JAMESON, Curate, 1818.
'1822 " 1836.―GEORGE VENABLES VERNON, A.M., resigned in 1836.
'1836 " 1848.―JOSEPH JAMESON, A.M. [Dioceasan Schoolmaster, Erck.]
1848.―FREDICK FITZJOHN TRENCH, M.A., appointed on the death of Mr JAMESON, appointed to Staplestown same Diocese in 1858, died 1859.
'1859.―WILLIAM JOHN PURDON, A.M. Curate H. JOHNSON, 1863.
'1864.―ADAM BETTESWORTH PERRY exchanged with the REVD J. PURDON from Castle Ellis Ferns Diocese.
'1877.―Very Revd WM SMYTH KING A.M. Dean of Leighlin, Canon of St. Patrick/s, appointed Rector. Curate RODERICK OWEN O'CONNOR, 1885. WILLIAM EWER RYAN, A.M., 1877.
'Subsequently―The Very Revd JOHN FINLAY Rector of Lorum in this county was appointed Rector of Carlow. And Dean of Leighlin.'
The Reverend Thomas Weston, the second name in the above list, is described by Dinely in his "Tour in Ireland" as a "Reverend worthy gentleman heretofore a student in the Middle Temple London"―[Malcomson.]
From the "Royal Visitation Book, "Bishop Ram's return for 1615, we find under Carlow:―
"PETER WHITE, Vicar, Curate―Master B.A. Church and chancel in repair. No books!"
In another part of the same return, under the heading "Vicaria de Caterlogh," we find, "PIERS WHITE a readinge minister, of Irish birth, havinge the English Irish, and Lattin tongues, residinge on some livinge in Munster by Dispensation our of the office of Faculties―value7 sterling."

Volume V, 1901-02-03, Carlow, pages 6-7.

CLONEGAL PARISH

† I H S [Royal Oak.]
Here Lieth the Body of | Daniel Whelan who depd this | life March 6th 1987 agd 40 yrs
______

'Rough flag':― Here lieth the Body of James | Nowlan deceased Febr 1st 1762 | age 20 years Lord have Mercy on | his Soul Amen
______

Upright granite stone with ornament.'
Erected by Patrick Ryan in memy | of his Father Gregory Ryan who | Depd this life June ye 16th 1786 agd 71 years Lord have mercy on his | Soul
______

'Row 11.―Adjoining the path up to the Church door. Flat stone (corner broken off) raised on four supports:―
Here lieth the Body of Mr John Relph | late of Kilcarry who departed this life 28 January 1800 aged 106 years Also his | son John Relph who departed this life 17 | May 1803 aged 53 years.
______

'On the slope of the dun, in rows which are ony approximately in continuation of the rows in the fosse, although the same numbers are here used on the following monument.
'Row 1.―A flat stone, of which the left half is entirely obliterated, the rest reading thus, all in capitals':―

I.H.S.
. . . . THE BOY OF
. . . . NY WHO DEPAR
. . . . DAY OF
. . . . YEAR OF HIS
. . . . LYETH THE
. . . . S KENNY
. . . . THE ELDER
. . . PARTED THIS LIFE
. . . . . NOVEMBER
. . . LORD 1744
. . . OF HIS AGE
______

'Row 3.―On an upright stone, carved with the Crucifixion and two soldiers':―
I H S
Here Lieth the Body | of Mary Doyle Alias | Mahon
Who departed | this Life ye 10 Day of June | 1784 Aged 60 years | Lord have mercy on her
'The stone is boldly executed, but somewhat rough. The foremost leg of the soldier on the left is wrongly bent; and the bottom of the cross is not outlined; and all the lettering is continuous."
______

'Row 5.―Granite upright; all lettering continuous'―
HERE LYETH THE | BODY OF DENI | SH FOX DECD JA | N 17 1789 AGED | 81 yEARS.

'There is nothing to indicate whether the Christian name was Danish of Denis H.'

'Over the grave to which the last-mentioned headstone refers is a flat stone carved with the Crucifixion, accompanied by the two thieves on a cross on either side'_
Here lyeth ye body of Peter

'Row 6.―Upright flag'―
Here lieth the Body of Mary | Nowlan Alias Hues who | Depd this life Decber 12 1787 | Aged 44 yrs the lord have | Mercy on her soul amen

'Row 7.―A granite upright, almost buried in the ground, which may be legible. Has not yet been examined.'
______

'Row 8.―No stones legible.'
______

'Row 9.―Upright flag, pressed forward by an adjoining tomb and almost touching the base of the old Irish cross'―
______

†
I.H.S.
Here lieth the Body of | Peter Riley decd April 11th | 1786 Aged 47 years Also | Matw Riley age 20 yrs | Reqt in Pace Amen.

JMPD, Vol VI, Issue 1904-05, CARLOW, Pages 200 - 202.

_____

'Row 10.―An upright stone, surmounted by an elaborate device, almost obliterated, under which is inscribed "Gloria in excelsis Deo"'―
Erected by Eleanor Germaine in | memory of her husband Philip Germaine | late of Lisnuvagh who departed this life | Janry 30 1819 Aged 66 years | May he rest in Peace Amen.
______

'On the grave to which the last upright relates, is a flat stone bearing the following inscription':―
He lieth the body of Thomas Germai | ne who departed this life July 25th 1793 Aged |76 years May he rest in pace Amen
______

'An upright flagstone':―
Here lies ye body of Dani | el Hues who departed this life December 23 1773 | Aged 23 yrs Requiescat in Pace Amen
______

'Row 11.―Upright stone":―
Here lies ye bodi of John | Donoghue Dept Aprill 7th | 1787 Aged 79 years | Reqct in pace
______

'Upright flagstone':―
[Handsome ornament.]
Erected by James Fitzgerald of Bal| lenastraw in memory of his Father | Thomas Fitzgerald who depd this | life Sepr the 10th 1811 Aged 54 years.
'The 4 of 54 is inscribed in the reverse way.'
______

'Another row occurs, which also is a continuation of row 10, containing the following monuments.'
______

'AN upright granite on which all that is now readable is':―
Here lyeth the Body | --- Blake Decr | --- 1746 ---
'Though further attention might disclose more.'
______

'A flat stone moved, as it stretched over the adjoining footpath':―
Here lies the Body of William Byrne of | Balysthonogue Depd May 20 1777 Aged 56 | YRS Also his wife Onor Byrne their Dau | ghter Catherine Byrne Depd July 6th 1785 Agd | 37 years and their son Danl Byrne Depd | Feb 10th 1788 aged 26 years

JMPD, Vol VI, Issue 1904-05, CARLOW, Pages 200 - 203.

'An upright flagstone, probably also moved': ―

I.H.S.
John Tumpin Died | June the 29th 1736 | Aged 70 years | Lord have Mercy | on His Soul
______

'On the top of the dun that is on the level of the church, there is room for rive rows (corresponding with the rows in the fosse referred to below), and each could contain three graves.'

'Row 5. ―On an upright stone, of which the entire top is panelled, with a picture also panelled in the centre, evidently representing a man facing to the left, of which the legs alone now remain, and which Ryan in his "History of County Carlow," calls the presentation of a soldier "with a gun on his shoulder," bearing the inscription':―
Here lieth the | Body of the ~ | Spirited Bolun | teer Henry | Browne Depd the | 14th May 1784 Agd 26 years ~
'The first "i" of "Spirited" was written "e" but a straight line through it corrects it to an "i."
'The flat stone in the same row bears no inscription.'
______

'Row 7.―A flat stone broken': ―
Here lieth the Body of Michael | Clarke who departed this life Jane the 8th | 1807 aged 72 years | Also the Body of Honor Clarke | wife to the above Michael Clarke | who departed this life the 6th day | of January 1818 Aged 76 years | Also Thomas Clark who depd | this life June 11 1844 aged 81 years
'Recently a handsome upright stone has been added at the head of this flat stone by an American gentleman, related to the family, who was visiting Ireland, with an inscription commencing:― "Of your charity pray for the Soul's repose" of these three persons, of who Thomas is called son of Michael and Honor, of three other sons of theirs William died 1839, John died 1828, and James and of Mrs. Anastasia Clarke who died in 1869 and her son Michael who d. in
'But either by mistake or by way of correction it gives the dates of the deaths of Honor Clarke and Thomas Clarke as both on 19th day of the month.'

'Alongside of the last stone is a flat stone engraved in very large, antique type":―
HERE :
LIETH : THE : BODY : OF :
MR : LARENCE : BATERTON :
JUNIAR : WHO : DYED :
DESEMBER : THE : 12TH : DAY :
1719 : AND : IN : THE: 19TH
YEAR : OF : HIS : AGE
______

'Row 8.―A flat stone': ―
†
I H S
HERE LIETH THE BODY | OF THOMAS CODD WHO | DECEASED THE 24 D | [AY OF] DECEMBER 1744 | AGED 31 YEARS
______

JMPD, Vol VI, Issue 1904-05, CARLOW, Pages 204 - 205.

'Leaving the central portion of the south side, and crossing the path up to the church, we come to the south-west corner, and beginning at the southern end, find the following monuments':―

To
The Memory of Edward Dobbs
Late
Sergeant Major
of the
Kildare Regiment of Militia
who died at Enniscorthy
on the
30th day of October 1815
aged 36 years
This stone
is erected
By the Officers
and
Non Commissioned officers
Of the Regiment
In teftimony of their appreciation
Of his conduct
During a Period of
16 Years Service
______

'Adjoining the last-mention Dobbs tombstone is an upright stone with an ornamental heading resembling that of the Cummins stone, of which a copy is sent, but not so elaborate, and the inscription':―
Erected by Bridget Dobbs in | Mmemory of her husband George| Dobbs who Depd this life the 23rd | of March 1811 aged 40 years | Lord have Mercy on his soul
______

'On a flat stone raised on four supports':―
Here lieth the Body of Walter
Cummins who deptd this life Decem
ber 28 1764 aged 73 years. And also
Elizabeth his wife who deptd this life
January 29th 1798 Aged 101 year And
also the body of Mr Thomas Cum
=mins who departed this life Decembr
4 1807 aged 81 years Also the body
of Mathew Cummins son to the above
Thomas Cummins who dep this life 30
day of Janry 1814 aged 46 years
'At foot of stone after a large space':―
Requiescant in pace Amen

'It is evident from the mode of inscription that the stone was made on the death of Elizabeth Cummins in 1793, and that the final words were put on at the same time, the intermediate inscriptions being of the dates given.'
______

'Several uninscribed stones follow, and on the slope of the dum is a granite upright bearing the inscription':―
†
I H S
Here lieth the | Body of Wm | Redmond dec | Nou 7 1785 aged | 61 Ret in pace
______

'In the small portion of the churchyard lying due west of the church, there are no legible monuments of an early date ; but, as it is weathering prematurely, it is desirable to record the existence of a large flat monument, surmounted by a large stone sloping on each side, on one side of which is inscribed':―
MARIA H SWINNY
WIFE OF THE REVD GEORGE S. SWINNY
SOMETIME RECTOR OF CLONEGAL
DIED OCT XXIII
1854
'And on the other side':―
BLESSED ARE THE DEAD
THAT DIE IN THE LORD.
REV XIV. 12
'All the lettering is in capitals.'
______

'And it may be interesting to record with references to a raised flat monument near it bearing the inscription':―
Erected by Eliza Dixon wife to George | Dixon [sic]
Drummin who departed this life | 25 Sept aged 46 in
the year of | our Lord 1850
'that the record refers to the death of Mr. George Dixon of Drummin, Mrs. Eliza Dixon, whose death is grammatically recorded, being still in enjoyment of good health.'
______

'On the north side, on the top of the dun, beginning at the west end, are the following ancient monuments:―
'A flat stone with low supporting walls':―
Here lieth the Remains of WIlliam Hopkins | late of
Clonegall who departed this life the 26th | day of October
1809 aged 41 years | Also the remains of his beloved
Wife | Susannah who departed this life on the | first of
November 1811 aged 71 years | Also their third son |
Nicholas Hopkins who died the 11th of June 1856 in
THE [sic} 59th year of his age

JMPD, Vol VI, Issue 1904-05, CARLOW, Pages 206 - 208.

'Flat stone, broken, lying besides the last one':―
Here lies the Body of Nicholas Hopkins | who departed
this life July the 18 1787 | Also the body of Serah
Hopkins | wife of the Nicholas Hopkins who departed this |
life September the 28th 1802 aged 67 years | Also Robert
Hopkins who departed this life | May 15th 1839 Agd 77
yrs
'The 15th may be 13th ; the final "s" above the line in "years"
is a long "s."
______

'Flat stone also on six supports':―
Mrs Barbara Hopkins late of Drummin | died April 4th
1834 aged 61 years | And Mr Nicholas Hopkins late of
Drum | min died March 18th 1835 aged 52 years
'The rest of the top of the dun is occupied by the vestry of
the church.'
______

'On the slope of the dun, beginning also from the west, is an upright stone, now partly buried, but quite recently uncovered for a fresh interment of one of the family. On it there was found, perfectly legible, the following poetical inscription to William Ralph, Woodranger to Henry Tighe, Esq., M.P., of Rosanna, Co. Wicklow sho owned considerable property in the neighbourhood, and whose wife, the authoress of "Psyche" and other poems, had lived at Kilcarry Cottage, close by, but died in 1810, so that the suggestion of Ryan ("History of Co. Carlow") that she composed the inscription is unfounded':―

To the memory of William Ralph of Kilcarry who died on the 21st February 1811 aged 71 years.

Guard of the wood in settled low content
Lived William Ralph, a ramble paid his rent.
A boy in sportive toil he climbed the trees,
A man he loved them rustling in the breeze,
As he grew old, his old companions spread
A broader browner shadow o'er his head,
While those he planted shot on high and made
For many a rook a hospitable shade.
With this one change life gently crept away,
A placid stream it flowed from day to day.
His friends & children loved him as the tear
Well spoke, profusely shed upon his bier.
If he had faults, thous also hast thy share,
Strike thy own breast and feel what lurketh there.
He who sees all shall judge both him and thee :
Repent, for as it falls so lies the tree.
______

'A modern monument to a member of the Hopkins family, and then a large railed enclosure, formerly used by a family of the name of James, follow, and then the vestry is reached.'
______

'In the fosse on this side the most striking monument is in the ground formerly used for the members of the family of Rainsford, of Rainsford Lodge, and consists of a huge erection above ground, with a small door, which it is well to explain.
'It was built by Mr. Simmonds, who had married into the Rainsford family, and who died about twenty years ago, in order that he might be buried above ground.
'Within this enclosure are small modern slabs, recording the death of Mary Anne Rainsford (alias Bloxham), born March, 1794, who died 11, July, 1861, and several of her children.
'The Rainsford family has produced several celebrated preachers, including the Rev. Marcus Rainsford, of London, and the Rev. W. S. Rainsford, Rector of St. George's, New York, a contributor to the recent renovation of Clonegal Church.'

JMPD, Vol VI, Issue 1904-05, CARLOW, Pages 208 - 209.

'East of this is a flat stone, inscribed':―
Here lieth the Body of Mr Jonathan Pasley | Who
departed this life October the 4th 1787 | Aged 58 years
Also the body of Mr John | Pasley who Departed this
life February the | 26 1782 Aged 44 years | Also the
Body of Miss Eliza Pasley who | died the 29th of
December 1818 aged 86 years
'In the last of these inscriptions the "s" of Pasley is the long "s."
"All the enclosures and monuments on the north side after this are of modern date.'
______

'In the small portion of the churchyard lying due east of the Church, between lines drawn parallel with the walls of the Church, in the fosse, and close to the edge of the rath, is a large enclosure, marked "Durdin Family," in which there is a flat stone with the following inscriptions on it:―
'Original inscription':―
Here lieth the Body of | John Durdin Esqr | Barrister at law | who died the 3oth March 1817
'Later additions on the same stone recorded to complete the inscription':―
Also the Body of Alexr Durdin Esqr | who departed this life 19th of May 1829 aged 57 years
______

Also the Body of his son Charles Garde

Also on the 1st January 1849 William | Durdin Esqr
A B 7 M D in the 70th year of his age

Also Harriott Durdin who died | 21 of March 1872
aged 86
'Other later inscriptions to the Durdin family exist on stones in the same enclosure. The Durdins resided at Huntingdon Castle in this parish, where the eldest daughter of the late Alexander Durdin (Mrs. Herbert Robertson) still resides.'

'Of the Esmondes, who preceded the Durdins at Huntindon Castle, and lived there from its erection in 1625 until 1762, no memorials can now be found in the churchyard, though Ryan, County Carlow, 1833, records the following inscription':―
J.H.S.
HERE : LYETH : INTER'D : THE BODY : OF : MR : JOHN : ESMOND : | WHO : DEPARTED : THIS : LIFE : JUNE : THE : 9 : 1715. | REQVIESCAT : IN PACE : AMEN.

'The other monuments lying east of the Church, between the Durdin enclosure and the chancel of the Church, on the slope of the dun, are so far as legible, as follows':―
'On an upright stone':―

'On an upright stone':―
Erected by Lawrence O Neil in memory | of his beloved
wife Elizabeth O Neil | alias Doyle of Ratheengraney
who depd | this life 20 Octr 1818 aged 22 years
______

'On an upright stone':―
Erected by Philip Doyle in | Memory of his mother
cathe | -rine Doyle who Decd the 27th of April 1791
aged 60 Years | Lord have mercy on her Soul
______

'On an upright slab, of which the upper half has flaked off,
which was evidently a monument to a Mr. Roche and his wife and
daughter, erected on the death of the wife in 1796':―
the 2, [day of] Jan 1790 aged [ ] | Also his wife
Bridget Roche | Alias Doyle who Decd Jan 30th | 1796
Aged 57 yrs and their | Daughter Bridget Decr ye 19th |
1795 Aged 24 years
'At foot'―
Requiescant in pace.
______

'On an upright stone':―
Here lies the Body of Margaret | Browne who Departed
this | life February the 3rd 1780 Aged | 68 years
______

'An upright granite stone in the south-western corner of this eastern plot, shaped into more that a half circle at the top, reads thus':―
†
I H S
Here lyeth the

'This list cannot, of course, be taken as a complete proof that there are no other legible inscriptions of ancient date in the churchyard, as some may still be buried deep underground, and others, which have not been deciphered, may, when a clue is obtained, be found readable; although not found legible now, notwithstanding the rubbing and cleaning they have undergone, they may, some time hence, become easily readable through the actual though deferred result of such treatment and the subsequent action of the weather.

'One omission is know to occur―namely, a granite upright, inscribed':―
HERE LYETH THE | BODY OF ELIZA | BETH NEIL DECD
SEPTEMBER [ ] | [ ] | YEAR

'It was transcribed; but on taking the list to get the inscriptions in order, it was overlooked, and so cannot be located. It is probably among the numerous headstones on the south side ; but it could not be now located without minutely examining about 200 old tombstones.'

JMPD, Vol VI, Issue 1904-05, CARLOW, Pages 210 - 211.

NOT POSTED

I have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible in transcribing the information from the various sources however it is possible that errors may have occurred. Data should be verified against original copies and sources.

Webmaster: Susie Warren For problems or questions regarding this web site contact Susie Warren Copyright © 1999 by Susie Warren. All rights reserved. Revised: 13 Jul 2010 17:09:09 +1000 .

Webmaster: Susie Warren
For problems or questions regarding this web site contact Susie Warren
Copyright © 1999 by Susie Warren. All rights reserved.
Revised: 13 Jul 2010 17:09:09 +1000 .