Hi everyone firstly thanks for all your assistance to date re: Edward Sheehy born in Pallaskenry, Chapelrussel, Co. Limerick abt: 1845! I haven’t given up trying to locate my great grandfather Edward Sheehy’s parents/family and where he was born in Limerick.
However, since my initial posting I have managed to obtain Great-Grandfather Edward Sheehy’ death certificate and a copy of the Wales 1911 Census!
From both the above documents and information from Edward’s only surviving Granddaughter it appears Edward on joining the army in Aldershot had most likely given incorrect details regarding his place of birth, age and religion!
In the Wales 1911 Census, Edward appears to be making up for any error on his service records by being very specific about his age (73 years) therefore, putting his birth abt: 1838 not 1845 as initially thought!
Edward also detailed his location of birth as ‘Palace Kenery’ Limerick, which has been identified as, the town of Pallaskenry where his religion would almost certainly have been ‘Roman Catholic’ and not ‘Church of England’ as stated on his service records!
Edward’s 79 year old surviving Granddaughter has maintained that Edward was a lot older than his death certificate states and believes Edward’s was approximately 85/6 years old when he died in 1923, and not 73 years as stated on his death certificate! If Edward was 85/6 years old as his granddaughter insist this again puts Edward’s birth 1838!
In summary - If the information Edward has given in the Wales 1911 census are correct and I strongly believe they are - he was ‘Roman Catholic’ – His aged when he enlisted in 1870 was in fact 32 and not 25 years old which again puts Edward’s birth year 1838!
Re-examining other documents - It appears there are possible related baptisms records for Edward, but none of the records include an exact location.
Three possibly baptisms were found near to Edward’s birth year:
4th January 1832 John Sheehy – Parents: Edmund Sheehy and Maria Dalton. Sponsors: Patrick O’Dea and Eliza Sheahan. No address recorded.
4 January 1832 John Sheehy to Edmund and Maria Dalton. Sponsor: Patrick O’Dea and Eliza Sheahan. No address recorded.
February 11th 1838 Edmundum Sheehy – Parents: Edd. Sheehy & Maria Dalton. Sponsors: James Nash and Eliz Naughten. No address recorded!
I believe the latter baptism entry could possibly be my G/Grandfather Edward. However, no Will for Edward or Maria that might have listed children a marriage, or possible death, mainly I think ‘too many with the same name in the relevant District to choose from’!
A record in The Griffith’s Valuation hit an Edward Sheehy leasing a house in December 1850 in the townland of Pallas, civil parish Chapelrussel! I think this could possibly be my Edward’s father!
Also the Griffiths Records relating to the Parish of Chapelrussel not only finds an Edward, but also Bryan, John and Patrick living in the town but, by the time of the first Revision in 1855 only Bryan remains!
The following entries in the 1851-2 civil parishes of Chapelrussel and Kilronan:
Pallas (Chapelrussel) Map Ref. A R P Description
Edward Sheehy 44/82 0 0 0 12 shilling House
Bryan 34/21 0 0 0 12 shilling House & Yard
John 38/65 0 0 0 12 shilling House
Patrick 47/31 0 0 0 12 shilling House
From my understanding as part of the introduction of fair rateable values for properties, regular updates were made and these were kept in Revision Books which for this parish commenced in 1857 where only one Sheehy was found, a Bryan Sheehy - Ref No: 22. The numbering of plots and ownership changed considerably and without detailed surviving maps, it was difficult to determine.
The maps shown on askaboutireland are almost certainly later than the survey of 1851-2. However, an alternative, undated map, which also appears to be older than the Griffith’s survey does record some of the number changes and where St. Mary’s Church is located, plot 82!
It appears plot 82 is where Edward Sheehy (1850) was living about the time of Griffiths, but as the church was built in 1863, it is most probable he has moved elsewhere. This might explain why Edward cannot be found on later property records; he had moved elsewhere?
Searching of Griffith’s Revision Books at the Valuation Office in Dublin of the Griffiths Revision Books Pallaskenry DED, 1855 –2002, Parish of Chapelrussel also found the following changes to occupancy of these properties and curiously, the following year the adjoining property is occupied by an Edmond Dalton, (baptism of Edward Sheehy February 11th 1838 mother Maria Dalton) the only Dalton name seen in the parish of Chapelrussel! In 1892 Bryan Sheehy also occupies this House.
In 1903 both properties transfer to a Michael O’Shaughnessy.
Pallaskenry Town Map Ref. Description
Bryan Sheehy 23/12 to Michael Knowles 1863
Bryan Sheehy 23/22 from John Murphy 1863 10 shilling House
John Lynch 23/23 to Edmund Dalton 1864
To Bryan Sheehy 1892
To Michael Shaughnessy1903
