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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Tipperary => Topic started by: floppyslater on Wednesday 08 May 13 13:43 BST (UK)
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I am trying to establish a connection between the Birch family at Birchgrove and Monaincha and the Birch family of Loughans, Co. Down. Does anyone know if the families were related, and if so, how?
Thank you!
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Perhaps if you give us more details we might be able to help or suggest where you can search next.
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John Birch appears to have been a significant figure in the history of Tullylish Parish in County Down. A portion of the village of Gilford is named Birchgrove after him. I believe it may be located in the Loughans area. In the 19th century the parish of Tullylish was home to a huge linen manufacturing center set up along the Bann River. At this point in my research I am not certain if John Birch or any Birch from County Down was directly involved in the regional flax culture.
Between 1850 and 1851 the gentry of Roscrea, Ireland joined together to form a flax cooperative (Roscrea Flax Society) and establish a scutching mill at the former site of the Birchgrove Distillery just outside of Roscrea. Two of the founding members of both the Society and the Scutching Mill was George Birch, Esq. and James Birch, Esq. of Birchgrove and Monaincha.
I am trying to establish if a link between the families existed or was it simply coincidental that two wealthy Anglo-Irish families shared the same common surname. I suspect that if these families were related the southern Birch family may have tapped the northern relatives for recommendations for experts in the linen industry who would be willing to travel to Tipperary and set up the milling operation at the Birchgrove estate. From my research it seemed that it was very difficult to lure high skilled flax experts from the north of Ireland to the southern counties since flax culture never took root in the same fashion as it did in Ulster.
I hope this may offer clarification on the link that I am trying to establish.
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The landed estates database gives a number of references to the Birch family of Birchgrove that would be useful to follow-up. Quite a lot of family papers in the National Archives Bishop St Dublin . There is also a reference to a family tree that is held by a local historian in Roscrea - possibly of interest.See link
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/estate-show.jsp?id=3422
annclare
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Another source could be a Birch family tree which appears in the Blackwood Family History manuscript trees Collection {mostly County Down} in the LinenHall library, Belfast. My advice is visit yourself if possible, giving them time to have the volume available, however as is more likely you may live abroad I suggest you ask them for photocopying estimates if they think your knowledge relevant and be prepared to pay the extra for post and packing if you are tempted. “The Library welcomes all research enquiries, whether made in person, by phone, fax, letter or e-mail. Enquiries from members will be answered free of charge. Visitors from afar, and in particular those engaged in serious research projects, are recommended to make prior contact with the Library to ensure that they receive the best possible service. More complex enquiries should be made by letter, fax, or e-mail. Enquiries of this kind from within the British Isles will normally be answered free of charge, apart from any copying and postage charges. A minimum charge of £2 will normally be made in respect of overseas enquiries. A4 photocopies b&w are 20p. The Library may be able to assist those with more extensive research requirements on terms subject to negotiation with the Librarian. Contact the Library for further information on info@linenhall.com or Telephone 028 9032 1707. Their address is The Linen Hall Library,17 Donegall Square North, Belfast BT15GB, Northern Ireland, see their website for contact details or use Email:info "at" linenhall.com.
The volume reference is Vol. 47 the item has notes attached or at the end of the volume and something loose tucked into the volume.
Hoping this is includes new information for you
good luck, Jim
ps However if the material is really relevant when you get it, I suggest a further donation to this unique library that is always needing extra funds.
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Thank you for the tip Jim. I may get a chance to look at their website in a few days.
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Hi,
My grandmother is a Birch. Her family used to own Monaincha as well as Birchgrove and the other estates on the land. I can confirm all the Birch's were related. Not just share a common name. Do you happen to have any information about the family? i am interested in finding out more about my family history. there seems to be a lot here. Thank you!
- Tina
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Harriett Miller nee Birch daughter of George Birch
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Roscrea/Monaincha/1702393/
marriage 1894
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1894/10572/5851756.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1894/10572/5851752.pdf
1911
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tipperary/Roscrea/Monaincha/835340/
George age 78 and his son George age 27 both died from small pox 1878
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1878/020521/7201172.pdf
informant for both deaths was Marion Birch
Marion Birch died 1880 a widow age 53 informant was Blacker Powell
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1880/06487/4866917.pdf
Blacker Powell appears to have been her Doctor
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1883/10927/5992524.pdf
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Marion's maiden name appears to be Roe
birth of a daughter Marion Gertrude 1864
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1864/03605/2329802.pdf
Married Roscrea 1847
George son of George
Marion dtr of William
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGFQ-WYJ
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http://www.rootschat.com/links/01npl/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01npm/
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George's Will
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/search/wr/details.jsp?id=IRE/ORIG/WILL/REG/28215
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John Birch appears to have been a significant figure in the history of Tullylish Parish in County Down. A portion of the village of Gilford is named Birchgrove after him. I believe it may be located in the Loughans area. In the 19th century the parish of Tullylish was home to a huge linen manufacturing center set up along the Bann River. At this point in my research I am not certain if John Birch or any Birch from County Down was directly involved in the regional flax culture.
Between 1850 and 1851 the gentry of Roscrea, Ireland joined together to form a flax cooperative (Roscrea Flax Society) and establish a scutching mill at the former site of the Birchgrove Distillery just outside of Roscrea. Two of the founding members of both the Society and the Scutching Mill was George Birch, Esq. and James Birch, Esq. of Birchgrove and Monaincha.
I am trying to establish if a link between the families existed or was it simply coincidental that two wealthy Anglo-Irish families shared the same common surname. I suspect that if these families were related the southern Birch family may have tapped the northern relatives for recommendations for experts in the linen industry who would be willing to travel to Tipperary and set up the milling operation at the Birchgrove estate. From my research it seemed that it was very difficult to lure high skilled flax experts from the north of Ireland to the southern counties since flax culture never took root in the same fashion as it did in Ulster.
I hope this may offer clarification on the link that I am trying to establish.
have you read the marriage Settlement of John Birch to Mary Fawcett in 1826.??
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ7-99QF-N?i=290&cat=185720
John's father is William so you'd need to check who William was and if the earlier 1781 Deed was his Marrriage or Inheritance etc and if they were from Down
Plus....investigate if the set up of Roscrea Flax Society was Memorialized.
Plus how were Richard and William related to see if there are any clues that connect to Co Down lot
The Marriage Agreement is 4 huge pages and too complicated to explain.... Is Co Down mentioned?
I haven't read it all ;D
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Edward's Will mentions Richd in Dublin, other Birches, Smiths etc also mentions Roscrea.....
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH3-3361-C?i=449&cat=185720
So, do these connect with the Co. Down names?
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Tim (mentioned in above post) married Jane Carroll of Dublin
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH3-MSMM-P?i=82&cat=185720
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http://www.youwho.ie/birch.html
There was a William Henry Birch, A magistrate in Birchgrove circa 1821 to 1850
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http://www.youwho.ie/birch.html
There was a William Henry Birch, A magistrate in Birchgrove circa 1821 to 1850
Yes, that is the Fawcett marriage where Wm H(groom) is the only son of John, who was the son of Wm (deceased)....and they seem to be mentioned in Edward's Will but still no reference to Co Down that I've come across.
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Maybe there is something in Lease by Guy Coote to Richard Birch, both of Dublin, of lands in Killnastina, Co. Tipperary Dec. 2, 1796. ??
National Library of Ireland, D. 18,664
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They didn't keep things simple..... ;D
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ4-39D1?i=360&cat=185720
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Hello Tina,
I am not a descendant of the Birch family but my ancestors worked at Birchgrove for the Birch family starting around 1850 before they immigrated to the United States in the 1890s.
In my original inquiry I was seeking help in trying to establish a link between the Birch family at Birchgrove (Roscrea, Co. Tippeary) and another Birch family in Tullylish Parish in Co. Down.
The Birch family ran a famous whiskey distillery at Birchgrove before government officials shut the operation down. As the family tried to diversify, they established a flax scutching mill at the former distillery and brought an expert from the "North" or "Belfast" to set up the operation as flax scutching was not a common occupation in the south of Ireland at the time. That person was my third great grandfather Peter Devlin.
I wanted to see if the northern Birch family and the southern Birch family were somehow connected and perhaps some arrangement existed between the two families to have Devlin sent South to work for your ancestors. I have a few scant leads about Peter Devlin being born in either 1833 or 1834 but have been unable to nail down his "hometown" (I suspect it may have been somewhere around Tullyish or prehaps Belfast). The Devlins lived in the "yard" of the estate probably until the 1880s.
Since you are interested in your Birch ancestors I can direct you to a few links you may find interesting:
http://www.roscreathroughtheages.org/birchgrove-house.html
http://www.roscreathroughtheages.org/corville-house.html
https://irishwaterwayshistory.com/abandoned-or-little-used-irish-waterways/midlands-turf-waterways/the-roscrea-canals/
http://www.roscreathroughtheages.org/files/roscrea-people-2010.pdf
(pages 82 to page 87)
I hope this may help you in your research. :)