Francis Ryan - Rathcormac - estate - boatman

[PastyMan]

I'm looking for any record of Great-Grandfather Francis Ryan who had relatives in or near Rathcormac.

He spent some time there as a boatman on a large estate - any details of estates in the area would be appreciated.

He was born 1830-1833 depending on which UK census and which age you use. He fetched up in the Scilly Isles and then Penzance, Cornwall. He died in 1905 here in Plymouth, age 73.

His parents were Thomas Ryan and Ann Neale/O'Neill (uncertain which). It is said that he "came from Wexford".

Any information would be appreciated - Keith Patrick

[Vabre]

Keith,

I found where there was a John O'Neill and a Thomas Ryan living in the same Civil Parish in Wexford. That is in the Parish of Duncormick. Thomas was from the townland of Rochestown and John O'Neill was from the townland of Duncormick.
More interesting is I found a John O'Neill and a Thomas Ryan in Wexford living in the same Parish and the same townland. That is the Parish of Horetown in the townland of Cullenstown.

The latter could be of interest.

Hope this helps.

John...Sydney

[PastyMan]

John

Many thanks - your help looks very promising. Can I ask how you found these records - I am now a novice again? I gave up in 1981 when I got busy with work and have only just returned to the quest. I was writing to Wexford newspapers - things have changed in both genealogy and the internet since then! I was wondering if you used Griffiths Valuation - I stumbled upon this last night and ran some print-outs for Wexford Ryans and O'Neills! Haven't properly looked yet but I'm guessing maybe that's what you did?

I want to visit Ireland. I did a lot of European driving in my job but almost nothing since I retired. We have sisters-in-law in both Enniscorthy, Wexford and Cork city - ideal bases for our quest! It a question of narrowing down the records to search on the ground, if needs be.

Regards - Keith

[shanew147]

Some details on Rathcormac from Samuel Lewis's topographical  directory of Ireland - 1837 :

Rathcormac, a market and post-town and a parish, in the barony
of Barrymore, county of Cork, 14 miles North East of Cork,
containing 5143 inhabitants, of which number,
1574 are in the town, which is situated on the river
Bride, and on the mail road from Cork to Dublin. It
comprises one principal street with some smaller diverging
from it, and consists of 244 houses, several of which
are well built of stone.....
.....
There are several large and handsome seats - the principal
are :
 Lisnegar, the elegant mansion of the Rt. Hon. Lord Riversdale,
in the midst of a small but highly improved demesne, comprising a great variety of rural scenery within a limited compass.
 Kilshannick, the ancient mansion and winter residence of Edm. Roche, of Trabolgan, Esq.
 Ballyglissane, of F. G. Reeves,Esq.
 Shanbally, of John Welsh, Esq.
 Bushy Park, of R. G. Campion, Esq.
 Kildinon, the highly improved property of Edm. Roche, Esq.
 The glebe, the residence of the Rev. W. Bourne
 Ballinahina House, of Gerard Barry, Esq.
 Ballinahina Cottage, of the Rev.Dr. Barry, the parish priest of Fermoy
....


Shane

[PastyMan]

Thanks again .... I just replied to you on the Wexford board!

All I need to find out now is which of these landowners employed boatmen - it suggests that they had river access. Francis Ryan  went on to become a seaman for a time around Cornwall, steaming in Scilly, where he settled as a farm labourer/boatman. Later, as a porter/wagoneer in Penzance. We know he had relatives in the Rathcormac area, around the 1850s.

regards - keith

[Vabre]

Keith,

Yes I used GV. I have a disc with it all on which makes searching a little easier. You need to find where there is commonality with the two nmaes within a County then a Parish and then a Townland. If you can match all of those then there is a chance that you may have hit "pay dirt".

John...Sydney