Parish of Old Leighlin.

PARISH REGISTER, 1781 TO 1813.

MEMORANDUM.

[Contributed by Colonel Vigors.]

     "In October, 1874, the only Parish Register in existence (so far as I could
ascertain) of the Parish of  Old Leighlin, consisted of 39 loose pages,
foolscap size; they were in a very dilapidated state in an old cover, and were said to have been found on a manure heap outside the house of Thomas Jones, the parish clerk, at the Cathedral, shortly after his death (about 1840).

     About the year 1863, I bought a book and gave it to the incumbent, the Rev.Jas.Carlton, and the entries on the loose pages were copied into it, and it is now (1893) in the Public Record Office, Dublin.

     The first entry in the book is a Baptism, dated 6th March, 1781.

     The first Marriage is dated 1st April, 1790, and the first burial, 27th June 1781.?

     The entries extend to the year 1804, from which date there is a gap until 1836, when they are continued until 1848. The entries in the following pages, which are taken from a M.S. in my Grandfather's writing, are much more complete than the copy in the Public Record Office, and include Births, Marriages and Deaths from 1804 to 1813, and are probably the only record extant of these."

     The Rev.Edward Vigors was curate of all the parishes named, excepting Shankill, of which he was Rector. He died June 27th, 1797, and was succeeded by his only son, the Rev.Thomas Mercer Vigors, who was "Perpetual" Curate of these parishes until he was appointed Rector of Rathasbeck, Queen?s County, in 1815.

(the following is noted at the bottom of the page)

     "To show the importance of these, we have only to mention that within the last month application has been made to me about a birth in this parish, on the proof of which a considerable amount of money, left by a relative in America, depends.- P.D.V.

JPMD, Issue 1901, CARLOW.

     We give the following additional information of the clergy of the churches in the Diocese of Leighlin to supplement Bishop Ram's return, printed in last year's Journal. The extracts here given are taken from the "Royal Visitation Book " for 1615, Leighlin Diocese. ― P. D. V.

ROYAL VISITATION OF 1615 - LEIGHLIN DIOCESE

[In Public Record Office, Dublin, 1894.]

JPMD, Vol IV, Issue 1898 - 1900, CARLOW, Page 174.                        

Old Leighlin Cathedral burial-ground.

      Erected by ELIZABETH M'CABE in memory of her sister MARGARET HONAHAN who died Febr^y 16^th 1864 aged 69 years.    
  

JPMD, Vol VIII, Issue 1910 - 1912, CARLOW, Page 11.

ROYAL VISITATION OF 1615 - LEIGHLIN DIOCESE

     Erected by MARTHA ROBINSON in memory of M^rs Eliza Doyle who departed this life December 17^th 1836 Aged 66 years Beneath also lies the remains of Mrs ELLEN

JPMD, Vol VIII, Issue 1910 - 1912, CARLOW, Page 11.

     To the memory of WILLIAM CONNELLY of Lacken who departed This life Sep^tr 14^th 1856 aged 90 y^rs Also his wife BRIDGET CONNELLY alias Holmes who departed this life August 4^th 1856 aged 70 yrs also his son PATRICK CONNELLY who departed this life March 28^th 1850 aged 50 years and his grandson JAMES BRENNAN of Raheen who died in America aged 21 years May they rest in Peace. 

     Here lies the Body of MATHIAS DELLANY who Dep^d this Life May 1^st 1778 Aged 70 y^rs Also his Son MICH^L DELLANY Dep^d Dec^br the 22^nd 1781 Aged 27 y^rs Lord have Mercy on their Souls.  Amen  Also the body of MARY DELLANY al^s LAWLES, Wife to the above MATHIAS she dep^d this life the 13^th of April 1790  Aged 65 years.  Lord have mercy on her soul. Amen 

JPMD, Vol VIII, Issue 1910 - 1912, CARLOW, Page 12. 

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

PARISH OF [OLD] LEIGHLIN.

CATHEDRAL BURIAL GROUND.
'On the north side of the burial-ground, and close to the road leading up the hill towards Castlecomer, is a large rectangular tomb, of granite, about 7 feet long, and 4 wide, having the following inscription in incised letters on its sloping top on the south side':―

John TYNDALL
Father of John TYNDALL F.R.S.
Born 1792.  Died 1847."

'The above John TYNDALL, father of Professor TYNDALL, lived and died in Leighlin Bridge in this county, where his distinguished son was born and pass his early years.'
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'On the left as you enter the large gate':―

"Martin NEILL of Bannagagole died 1844, aged 27 years, also his father James NEILL died 1817, aged 42 years and his mother Bridget died 1848, aged 68."  [An upright stone.]
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"Patrick LAWLER died 1839 aged 64 years."

"Erected by Denish (sic) LAWLER to his son John, who died December 1793 aged 26 years."
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'A stone broken and upside down'.
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"James HOLMES of Leighlin Bridge died January 18th 1865, aged 75 years, and his wife Catherine, she died June 1869, aged 70 years, and 6 children," etc. etc.
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"Edward BERGIN of Bawnree to his wife Elizabeth BERGIN alias RICE, died June 1856 aged 58 years.  And their daughter Anne KELLET alias BERGIN, died in America, May 5th 1855 aged 28.  Also their daughter Bridget FENLON alias BERGIN, who died in America November 7th 1864 aged 42 years.'  Etc., Etc., Etc.
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"James NEILL of Leighlin Bridge to his father Hugh NEILL died May 1835 aged 52 years." 
'Others of the family are also buried here.'
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"Jane MAHER daughter of Jeremiah NEILL of Knockgarry died July 1881 aged 25 years" (and others of the same family).  [An obelisk.]
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"Erected by James BROUGHAN to his wife Catherine Mara died May 1793, aged 46 years" (and others of the same family).
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"John TIMMIN of Old Leighlin died December 1839 aged 37 years."
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"James MAHER died June 1796, aged 64 years" (and others of the same family).
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"Catherine MAHER died 1790 aged 50 years" (and others of the same family).
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"John KINSELA of Coolna Kieran, died February 1822 aged 48 years" (and others of the same family).
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'The granite base of an old cross is at the S. end of this row of stones.  It is about 2 ft. 2in. high and 2ft. 6in. square.  There is no inscription.
'Socket 16in. by 6in; the edges of the same and of the base are much worn away.
'Report says the shank and head lie buried near the base, N.W. of it, and 9ft. under ground.'

Probably this is the stone referred to by Ryan at p. 346 of his history of this county.
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"Patrick SHEEHAN d. January 1821 aged 65, Mary his wife died March 1848 aged 76 years."
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'Next row':―
"Erected by Mary HOLOHAN to her husband John HOLOHAN of the Royal Oak, who died January 1815 aged 47 years" (and 3 of their children).
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"Michael CONNOLLY died Nov. 1844 aged 26 years" (and others of the same family).
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"John CONNOLLY, of Old Leighlin, died December, 1844, aged 80" (and others of the same family).
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"Erected by ELLEN BROHAN, of Monemore, to Edward who died 1863, aged 42 years."
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'On the south wall of the choir, inside':―

"To the Dearly loved memory of | The Very Reverend Fredick OWEN, A.M. | For many years Rector of the Parish of Aghold in this diocese | and successively Prebendary, Precentor, and Dean of | Cathedral Church of Leighlin | Born 18th November 1800. | Fell on sleep 3rd July | 1895 | 'The Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance' | This brass is place here by his daughter Francis Maureen, and her husband Philip Cornish PRATT, B.A., Chaplain R.N."
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The above monumental brass was placed over the Dean's stall in Old Leighlin Cathedral in the yar 1895.  {P.D.V.]
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In 1820 a gift of £450 and £50 loan, was given for a glebe house here.
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JPMD, Volume III, CARLOW, Pages 217 - 220.