Dr James Quinlan, Templeorum, Kilkenny & Moscow, Russia

Dr James Quinlan supposedly took part in the Napoleonic siege of Moscow in 1812 as a medical officer with the French Army.  According to family tradition he was captured by the Russians but used his medical knowledge to care for both the wounded French and Russian soldiers.  The Russians, impressed by his medical knowledge and whose own medical services were not so advanced,  offered him a post as Head in the Royal Hospital in Moscow and he reputedly was also appointed as personal physician to the Czar and the Imperial family.  


The gateway into the Irish College in Louvain established in 1607

Again, according to family tradition he studied at the University of Louvain but his name is not listed there; it is worthy of note that these records are not complete.   Russian records have him in Moscow as early as 1809; this is prior to the Napoleonic invasion of Russia. Other accounts have him in Russia as early as 1790.  There is much then that is conflicting in the accounts of his early career but he definitely existed as in his Russian Will, written in French and dated 1826,  he left 28,000 roubles for the education of the lineal descendants of his family left back in in Ireland.  There is no evidence that he ever married.
James Quinlan was of Templeorum, county Kilkenny and son of Robert Quinlan of Manganstown near  Kilsheelan and Clonmel (in Tipperary).  The origin of the Quinlan family starts with William Quinlan of Corbally, Templeorum, south Kilkenny in the parish of Owning. 

Main entrance into the Templeorum graveyard with belfry.

Still to be found in the graveyard at Templeorum are six memorials to this family. One reads "Here lies the body of Mary Quinlan who died December the 3rd 1769 aged 55 years, also the body of John and Ellen, her son and daughter; as also the body of her father and mother-in-law Thomas and Ellen Quinlan aged both together 173 years".

Headstone to Robert Quinlan of Meaganstown (sic) who died 1804.  It is highly decorated with a sunburst, hourglasses at each side of the sunburst and an ornate IHS.  This is the father of Dr James Quinlan of Moscow.

The second relevant stone reads " Sacred to the memory of Robert Quinlan of Meaganstown (sic) who departed this life the 20th of February 1804 aged 96 years; his wife Mary (Gaul) who died on the 17th January 1806 aged 84 years; his son Thomas who died the 17th September 1788 aged 44 years; John who died the 14th November 1793 aged 34 years. Patrick who died on the 27th September 1806 aged 56 years". 

 A large alter tomb belonging to the Quinlans of Managanstown now stands in the exact spot of what was once a lofty presbytery called Templeorum Castle which fell in about the year 1800.  This reads  "Here are deposited the mortal remains of Mrs Catherine Daniel of Clonmel who .....resigned her soul.....on the 15th of June 1846 in the 86th year of her age.  Here also repose the remains of her father Mr Robert Quinlan of Manganstown who departed life on the 20th Feby 1804 aged 96 years and of her mother Mrs Mary Quinlan (alias Gaul) who died on the 17th of January 1806 in the 84th year of her age. Requiescant in Pace. Amen".  The information for these last three memorials can also be found in Carrigan's History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, Vol 4.. 1905.   William Quinlan, Robert Quinlan's grandfather who was born circa 1645, was buried at Kilkieran graveyard in 1696. 
Dr James Quinlan's death was reported in The Tipperary Free Press for 16th May 1827 and in the Kilkenny Independent  for 30th May 1827.  Both reports are exactly the same "Died on the 19th of July (that would be 1826) last in Moscow Dr James Quinlan, son of the late Mr Robert Quinlan of Manganstown, near Carrick on Suir. This respectable gentleman was during 36 years Head Physician to the Royal Hospital of Moscow. the noble qualities of his heart endeared him in a foreign land to all who were acquainted with him.  His society was courted by the highest personages attached to the Russian Court, as letters received from his executor, Prince Sergei de Galitzin affirm, and at the same time evince the most sincere sorrow for his death".   This is high praise indeed but if this obituary is correct it means that Dr Quinlan must have arrive in Russia at least prior to 1790 and not with Napoleon's invading army in 1812. Judging by the ages of his 3 brothers and sister Catherine (from the headstones at Templeorum), all of whom appear to have been born between 1744-1760, I think it is fairly safe to suggest that Dr James Quinlan could have been born between 1745-58.  This would put his age at late 70s to early 80s, when he died in Russia.  Given he must have been at least 20 years old but probably as young as 12 or 14 yrs when he left Ireland, he could not have arrived in Russia as a Surgeon, as has reported, until at least the mid 1780s. If he had first gone to France, which seems likely, these dates would have put young James bang in the middle of the French Revolution of 1789; like many others he would have been seeking a way out of France and somehow family tradition has possibly become entangled with facts.  In 18th century Russia medical experts were eagerly recruited from the West; several hundred surgeons and 266 medical doctors were invited from abroad to join the Russian medical service during the course of the 18th century.    Learned physicians from the West were favoured by the Czarist Government because of their expertise in administration, their practical abilities, powers of organisation and prevention of diseases. These medical men were positioned socially just below the ruling aristocracy.  Once their main duty would have been to care for the Czar and his family and other high ranking nobles. But they became a new "imperial elite" employed to strengthen the army and other pillars of the imperial empire as medical innovations were imposed by the Czar from above.  This gave enormous status and but also obligations to these Western trained doctors and surgeons, all bound by oath to serve the Czar and the imperial dynasty   Most court doctors would have been relatively isolated and without exception came from foreign, that is non Russian, families and non aristocratic backgrounds but their special duties as court physicians place them in the highest status of Czarist society. This Russian "recruitment" of Western trained medical men may provide the answer to the arrival and subsequent prosperity in Russia of the young Dr James Quinlan.

The fine iron work on the gate into the graveyard at Templeorum

In his Will Dr Quinlan left 28,000 roubles for the education of his father's descendants in what he described as The Roman Catholic College in Ireland.   Prince Serge de Galitzin, the Imperial Chamberlain at the Czarist court of Czar Alexander 1, was the executor of Dr Quinlan's Will.  He visited London to prove the Will but there was an immediate and persistent problem.   Which college in Ireland had Dr Quinlan meant by The Roman Catholic College in Ireland?   Battle lines were drawn by conflicting claims from Irish Colleges, all claiming they were the College intended to receive the bursary of 28,000 roubles. These Colleges included:-
1. St Patrick's College, Maynooth,
2 .St John's College, Waterford,
3. St Kieran's College, Kilkenny
4. Farranferris College, Cork
5. St Patrick's College in Carlow,
Unable to resolve the matter, Prince Galitzin deposited the money with the Banker Baron Schroder of the firm of J.H.Schroder, of London and incredibly there the money sat for the next 50 years almost forgotten about.  It was not until the 1880s, a legal decision having been taken in favour of St Patrick's College, Carlow, when members of the Quinlan family, including O'Neills, O'Donnells, O'Connells, Fitzgeralds and O'Clerys were able to access the benefits of the bursary.   This decision was taken on the understanding that this College would have been the only Roman Catholic College in Ireland Dr Quinlan would have know about when he left Ireland for foreign parts. St Patrick's College, Carlow was legally constituted in 1784.
It has also been difficult to ascertain which "Royal Hospital of Moscow"  he had been appointed to as Head Physician.   There are several!   These were:-
1. A Military Hospital patronised by the Emperor Alexander, had been established in 1705
2 .Emperor Paul's Hospital established in 1768
3. Empress Catherine II(Catherine the Great) had opened a Hospital in Moscow 1775
4. The Alexander Institute founded in 1802 by the Emperor Alexander
5. The Imperial Hospital for the Poor of the Foundling Hospital, established in 1805. 
Additionally,  as was fashionable in the 18th century Prince Galitzin had built a hospital on his large Moscow estate. This Galitzin hospital was built in Moscow between 1796-1801 and it is interesting that Prince Galitzin was executor to Dr Scanlan's Will as it would suggest a social connection but possibly also one of an employer.   This Hospital is a magnificent building with the main entrance facing the street and with two wings extending from the courtyard to the street.  There is a fine stone staircase climbing from either side to the main entrance.  Behind was a lovely park extended to the river. The hospital was designed with the then latest ideas of medicine in mind.   In 1999 it was still in use as the Moscow First City Hospital.  And the massively powerful Sheremetiev family, one of the richest and most powerful with philanthropic interests and antecedents going back to Ivan the Terrible, also erected an architect designed hospital between 1794-1807 which was for the general pubic. These last two families had an Imperial connection, as would any hospital they established.   Frankly Dr Scanlan could have been employed in any of these Moscow hospitals.

The Galitzin Hospital, Moscow

As a Catholic Dr Quinlan was almost certainly buried in the Foreign  and German Cemetery of Moscow, called the Vvedenskoye Cemetery.  This was the main burial ground for the Catholics and Protestant inhabitants of Moscow and certainly contains Irish people.  The Irish composer and inventor of the nocturne, Dubliner John Field (1782-1837) is buried in this cemetery. Field was an acquaintance of  Dr Quinlan when in Russia.  Unfortunately there are no written records for Vvedenskoye Cemetery although pictures of some memorials are available online via a Goole search..
The remaining three Scanlan memorials at Templeorum graveyard are as follows:-

Almost illegible stone to John Quinlan who died 1761. Decorative and typical Catholic carvings are just about visible on the top of the stone

Here lies ye body of John Quinlan who departed this life ye 21st of March 1761 aged 35 years. with two of his children. This is an upright stone decorated with a typical sunburst, also called a Corona Radiata, with an IHS and cross resting on the bar of the H.

Upright and very clearly cut headstone erected by James Quinlan of Carrick on Suir to his wife Mary Kennedy who died in 1832.  The later additions incised further down  the stone are not at all so well cut. This headstone is to the immediate right of the stone erected to Robert Quinlan of Manganstown.

Erected by Mr James Quinlan of Carrick on Suir, Woollen Merchant, in memory of his wife Mary Quinlan, Alias Kennedy whose gentle and engaging manners endeared her in the estimation of all with whom she had intercourse thought life. She Dept this life 27th July 1832 in the 50th year of her age. Also four of her infant children. Richard Power died March 1900. His wife Bridget nee Quinlan died 1909.
The final stone reads "Erected by James Quinlan of Cuirbally (sic) in  memory of his son John Quinlan who departed this life Feb ye 17 (year not clear) aged 8 years".
My thanks to Bernie for her photographs from Templeorum graveyard.
Further reading
1. Kathleen Berton, Moscow: an architectural history. I.B.Taurus, London. 1990.
2. Eoghan O Neill.  the Golden Vale of Ivowen between Slievenamon and Suir. Geography Publications, Templeogue, Dublin.
3. Andreas Renner. Progress through power? Medical Practitioners in 18th Century Russia as an Imperial Elite in Acta Slavica Iaponica.  Tomus 27, pages 29-54.   http://scr-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp  - accessed 4th April 2018.
4. J. McAuliffe-Curtis..  James Quinlan, formerly surgeon general to the Czar of Russia, 1826. in Irish Journal of Medical Science. 6th Series, No 493, pages 7-15. January 1967.(This is an interesting article about the Will of Dr Quinlan but some of the family genealogy has got tangled up. He has much interesting material relating to Dr Quinlan's Will from the Office of Charitable Requests. there is an undated hand drawn family tree in these papers, used as part of the legal case).
5. Robert Lyall. The Character of the Russians and a Detailed History of Moscow. 1823. Viewed online via Google on 5th April 2018.

Kilree Graveyard, Parish of Dunnamaggan, Co Kilkenny.

Kilree monastic site in the Parish of Dunnamaggan, Co Kilkenny. You will be relieved to know that Kilree is pronounced exactly the same in Irish and in English. Carrigan (History of the Diocese of Ossory. 1904) says this is usually taken to mean the Church of the King but that this is wrong. He says this is actually the church of a saint called Ruidhche (pronounced Ree).  St Ruidhche is a female saint and her feast day is on 8th February.  However she shares her glory here with St Bridget whose feast day is 1st February and who has been recognised as patron saint of the parish and ancient church for centuries.  St Bridget's Well is still to be seen on the north approach road from Kells.

Signpost on the road from the ruined Augustinian Priory of Kell, also known as Kells Monastic site

Wonderful view of the Kilree High Cross which stands 7 feet from its pedestal.

The ruin of the church appears to date from circa 1000 A.D and has strong Celtic characteristics.
The graveyard wraps around the ruined church within a walled enclosure which includes Round Tower which dates from about the same time as the church. The High Cross is west of the enclosure and in line with the church door and undoubtedly in full view of the celebrant standing in the Chancel of the church and facing his congregation.   There is also a Bullaun stone which is a stone with a hollow that collects water. This is thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes and in folklore to have had healing attributes; it is located in the corner of the field north-west of the Round Tower.  This is a unique Christian monastic site with Celtic church, Round Tower and High Cross all being on the National Monuments Register. The site is in state ownership and cared for by the Office of Public Works.  The interior of the ruined church has at least two ancient tombs. One is to Thomas Howling,  who died on the 11th day of May 1534.  The Howlings were a Welsh or Anglo Norman family and Lords of Kilree.  Edmund Howling forfeited his lands and was transported to Connaught in 1653.  But there are still many Howlings in the area and along the nearby Walsh mountains but they now generally call themselves Holden.  Tradition has it that their name is really Welsh and that they belong to old Catholic stock.  Also within the ruined church is an altar tomb whose front panel is decorated with carvings of the instruments of the Passion.  The inscription is in Latin but translated reads " Here lie Mr Richard Comerford who died ....(left blank) and Johanna St Leger, his wife, a matron pious, hospitable and charitable to all who died Oct 4th 1622".  You can see a short film of Bernie taking a rubbing of the Passion symbol decoration including the 40 pieces of silver, a ladder, a flail, a cock crowing and the seamless garment at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUQ3mItJ5b0

The Chancel arch from the nave showing the many attempts to maintain and hold the essence of the original building.



 

Image from South East of graveyard

Round Tower from within the Chancel Arch

This over exposed image also captures the majic of the light





In this very well cared for historic graveyard many of the family names recorded still live locally and  have burial rights here to this day.  In all we recorded 106 memorials, but this does included a few markers. This graveyard has very old and decorative stones. Apart from the memorials dated 1534 and 1622, there are 18 memorials dating from the 18th century.  These are worthy of examination. The spelling can seem strange to modern eyes. Stone No 79 erected in 1759 by the Toole family spells Elsie as Ealce.  There are 26 headstones with dates from 1801 to 1847.  Stone 39 Erected by the Butler family in 1822 has the following verse carved in copperplate at the bottom of the stone.  The verse, or versions of it, are to be found in many graveyards in Kilkenny but here you have a direct sentiment and the voice of a person living in 1822 if you look at the penultimate line. Look at the work main. It should of course, in our time read mean but main is spelt exactly as it would have been pronounced at the time:-
Stand by dear friends
Wipe off your tears
Here I must remain till Christ appears
and when He comes
I main to rise
Unto a life that never dies.

Novel butresses on west wall also showing the Antae where
 the side wall extends beyone the end walls

When Mary and I record details from a headstone we immediately think through the relationships of all the people buried in that plot, from the first person mentioned on the stone,  to the last.  This often sets out the geneaology of the family. You can't but be moved also when confronted with the emotional story of grief and loss that some of these families had to confront.
One such story, and I suppose it is like reading a book for until you begin to read it, it is nothing more than words on a page,  but when the words on the stone are read by us,  the story of that family begins to be apparent. 
At Kilree (stone 42) Patrick Phelan of Newchurch erected a tomb in memory of his parents but later  met many tragedies with the loss  of his children.   His mother Honora (nee) Shortal died March 5th 1872 aged 70 years and his father John Phelan died July 25th 1876 aged 70 years. His daughter Margaret died Sept 10th 1879 aged 14 years.  His sons John died January 25th 1886 aged 24 years,  Rev. Michael Phelan died July 30th 1894 aged 27 years,  Thomas died Oct 27th 1898 aged 32 years. His wife Elizabeth (nee) Walsh died March 12th 1915 aged 87 years.  Patrick died 26th March 1918 aged 85 years. His daughter Elizabeth Morris died 17th Oct 1916 aged 45 years.  Also his son David Phelan died  20th Sept 1933 aged 76 years. James Phelan died 14th Feb 1938 aged 66 years. Also his daughter  Mary Brennan died 11th March 1939 aged 80 years. Elizabeth Morris died 17th Jan 1985 aged 83 years and Johanna Morris died 22nd Dec 1995.  Elizabeth and Johanna, grand-daughters of Patrick and Elizabeth,  were well known in the locality up to their passing as very gentle, kind and capable ladies.

Index of names appearing on the headstones
Adams, Baron, Barry, Bowe, Brenan, Brennan, Brian, Brown, Butler, Burke, Cahill, Callanan, Carroll, Carthy, Carty, Clancy, Clooney, Cody, Collier, Comerford, Corcoran, Corkoran, Costelloe, Coyle, Culleton, Daughton, Davis, Deady, Delany, Dempsey, Dloughry, Deloughny, Dempsey, Doran, Durney, Egan, Fahey, Fahy,  Fennelly, Field, Fleming, Gorey, Hanrahan, Hearn, Henson,  Holden, Holohan, Houlahan, Howling, Izod, Johnson, Kearney, Keeffe, Kerivan, Kerivaun, Lahey Lannen, Lannon, Lawlor, Lee, Lyons,  McCarthy, McDonald, Maher, Marnell, Martin, Meala, Meighan, Merriman , Morris, Neale, Neill, Nail, O Keeffe, O'Shea, Pendergast, Phelan, Power, Purcell, Robinson, Rowe, Ryan, St. Leger, Shaw, Shee, Sinclair, Shortal, Shortall,  Stephens, Stewart Tobin, Toole, Wallace, Walsh, Waring, Way, Whitaker.

Index of occupations recorded on the memorials
Baron of Danganmore - Richard Comerford.
Lord of Kilree - Thomas Howling.
High Sherriffs - Robert Way, 1802 and 1809, William Henry Izod 1810, William Nixon Izod 1885.
M.C.S - Mr Evans Johnson Esq. 
Priests - Rev Michael Phelan, Rev. Francis Walsh.
Nun - Sr Mary Dominic.
Rector - Reverend Thomas Collier.
E.N.T. - Elizabeth Meighan. 
R.I.C. ex Constable - William Merriman.
T. D. - John Gorey. 

Index of Place names appearing on the memorials
America, Ballinamona, Ballycaum, Barestown, Burnchurch, Callan, Chapelizod, Coolagh, Connecticut, Cotrells Rath, Cottrellsrath, Danganbeg, Danganmore, Dunnamaggan, Dunamaggin, Goodwin's Garden, Goodwinsgarden, High Street Kilkenny, Jerpoint, Jerpoint Abbey, John Street Kilkenny, Kells, Kellsgrange, Kilkenny, Kilkenny (City of), Killeny, Killiney, Kilmaganny, Kilree, Ladyswell, Leixlip, Lemonstown, Liverpool, Merseyside, Newchurch, New London, Newtown, Newtownbaker, Ohio, Oldtown, Olmsted Falls, Ossory,  Patrick Street Kilkenny, Rahallikin, Rathduff, Rathduff Upper, Shortallstown, Stonecarthy,  Stoneford, Stoneyford (sic), Tinvane, Tinvaun, Tinvawn, USA, US, Vermont, Wallslough.

Index of Masons who have signed memorials in this graveyard
Foley Grovine, Gargan Kilkenny, Mullen Kilkenny, Molloy Callan, Hoban Kilkenny, P Hoban Irishtown Kilkenny, Pat O Shea, Callan.  Arthur Malone.

 

Carrved detail of the under arm of the High Cross





 The footfall of visitors or should we say pilgrims to this place is surprising.  People come and go from all over the world.  They arrive quietly and slowly begin to appreciate the beauty of the site, a place to really delight the senses. The wonderment of the enclosure, the craftsmanship, the stone work, the birdsong, that light in both summer and winter which is magical and of course, the solitude,  the peace. They stand still, listen,  look,  take photographs, read a few inscriptions and then slip away.