Famma was once a parish in its own right consisting of one
townland of only 492 acres, called Brownsbarn. There is
a small ruined church within the walled graveyard.
The most fascinating memorial is now lying flat on the ground just outside the ruined church and is somewhat exposed to the weather. This reads "This stone was erected in memory of Michael O'Gorman who lost his life on 9th July 1841 in the city of Candahar, Bombay. He rests beneath a silent tomb, deprived of life in early manhood, not by the valiant on the (indecipherable) but by a coward's deadly weapon slain, far from his home in Ireland, he fell by the assassin's hand, whilst his (indecipherable) name shall (indecipherable) as peace win, thousands his untimely fate shall mourn and let each Christian hope ere his ashes lie, that his eternal soul has towered above the sky. Here lie interred the remains of his brother Terrance O'Gorman who departed this life March 6th 1826 aged 24. His sister Anastasia died Augt 1st 1838 aged 18 yrs. His father Denis Gorman died March 27th 1842 aged 77 years. May they rest in peace Amen". It is interesting that both O'Gorman and Gorman have been used on the same stone but apart from that minor point this memorial presented us with quite a few challenges. Candahar (now spelt Kandahar) is in Afghanistan and is nowhere near Bombay. And just how and why had this young man been assassinated?
The Internet can work wonders and produced the following explanation from an unsigned letter in The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, 1841, "The victim was a highly respected man, a Mr O'Gorman who had been employed as a writer to Major Todd on his mission to Herat. O'Gorman was quietly walking up one of the streets in Candahar which was rather crowded with natives. It was in a street leading to the citadel when an Afghan made up to him and thrust his chuco (sic) or native knife into his abdomen. Before he could repeat the thrust a sepoy of the 38th Native Infantry laid him low with a blow of a lattee (sic) on the temple and immediately secured him. He was then carried before the Political Agent and before I had time to reach my quarters I heard the report of a gun which blew him to a thousand pieces".
The Freeman's Journal for Friday 12 November 1841 supplied the following further information when they published in full a letter addressed to Michael O'Gorman's sister Mrs Murphy of Northumberland Avenue, Kingstown, Dublin, from C.F. North, Lieutenant Bombay Engineers, Assistant Political Agent at Candahar. The letter is dated Candahar July 29th 1841. " Dear Madam. it has been my painful duty to communicate to you the melancholy intelligence of the death of your brother, Michael O'Grady Gorman, who fell a victim to the knife of an assassin in the streets of this city on the morning of the 24th instant. Your brother was returning from his usual morning's walk, when a fanatic who had come in from the country on purpose to murder some European officer to which he had been excited by the Mullahs, seeing no other victim nearby and being misled by the genteel appearance of your brother, plunged the knife into his heart. The murderer was immediately secured, and almost instantaneously blown to atoms from the mouth of a gun. This is not the only instance of the kind in this hostile country. Your brother lingered from seven till noon when he expired. I received his last wishes, and read the burial service over him (there being no clergyman here the same evening) and having had everything done to his remains that his family could have wished. He had been some time under orders here, and at Heraut, and I assure you, no one can regret his loss more than I do, as his good conduct and qualities, far superior to those usually found in men in his situation, entitled him to the respect and confidence of his superiors. As soon as his affairs have been arranged, I will write to you again and let you know the amount of his estate which he desired to be sent to his mother - a few articles which he wished to be sent to your address will be taken by Major Lynch to Dublin, two or three months hence, who will inform you of his arrival at Kingstown or Dublin. The articles are coins, gems, a watch, the knife of the assassin, a portrait in pen and ink of your brother, done by himself, and testimonials from the different officers under whom your brother served. I shall have a tomb erected over your brother's grave and shall have a blank slab left for any inscription which you might wish to have carved on it. To you I leave the painful task of breaking this affecting intelligence to the members of your family and of offering them consolation under their bereavement. I will not attempt to describe my own feeling or those of all who knew your brother. It is awful to see one in the pride of life and prime of manhood this suddenly, and without provocation, sent into the presence of his Maker by the knife of an assassin and veterans familiar with battle and sudden death, stand horror-struck at such an occurrence. With every expression of sympathy in your grief and of consolation under this affliction, believe me, my dear Madam, yours faithfully C.F. North, Lieut. Bombay Engineers, Assistant Political Agent, Candahar."
The following extract from The Dublin Evening News 8th November 1841 adds a little more information and is under the heading India - Murder of Mr O'Gorman - The only news we have from the north-west is the following letter dated 26th July giving an account of the murder of Mr O'Gorman at Candahar, " I lament to inform you that a most respectable and well conducted European met with his death yesterday from the hands of a murderous Afghan. He was a Mr O'Gorman who had accompanied Major Todd on his mission to Herat in capacity as writer, and who remained here on that officer's departure for Hindoostan. He was quietly taking his morning walk through the Chasons(sic) when the villain, watching his opportunity, quietly walked up to him and buried his murderous chaco (sic) in his bowels.....the poor unoffending European survived but a few hours, when he expired from internal hemorrhage........the felon......stated that there were seven more men in the city who had bound themselves by oath on the Koran to destroy every European they could meet with, having an opportunity."
Lady Florentina Sale (1790-1853), wife of Sir Robert Sale, a courageous and indomitable lady, kept a diary during her capture as a hostage by the Afghans during the 1st Afghan war. This was published as A Journal of the Disasters in Afghanistan 1841-1842. In this she wrote a further illuminating insight into the career of Michael O'Gorman. "...............is a man of bad character; he has lately got himself into bad repute by writing letters to the newspapers under the signature of "Sharpe". He was also connected with a man by the name of O'Grady Gorman in a correspondence with the Russians; which was proved by a letter found amongst the papers of the latter after his murder in Candahar". This would seem to imply that Michael O'Gorman was spying for the Russians but I have found no further information about this.
The National Archives, London produced a copy of the Administration of the effects of Michael O'Grady Gorman, dated 7th June 1843. In this he is described as a bachelor, formerly of Ballyduff in Kilkenny, afterwards a private in the 2nd Brigade Horse Artillery, East India Company, but late of Candahar in Afghanistan. Died 24th July 1841. His estate of £200 was granted to his widowed mother Eleanor Gorman. The mother stated that he had been secretary to Major Todd at Candahar.
The Roman Catholic Baptism Registers for Inistioge start in December 1810 and for Marriages from January 1827 which is not that helpful for this family but the following family tree has been compiled using information from these Registers, the tombstone at Famma and from the Administration of his estate. The parents of Michael O'Gorman were Denis Gorman (1765-1842) and Eleanor O'Grady (still alive in 1843):-
a) Michael - date of birth not known. Killed in Afghanistan July 1841.
b) Miss Gorman - date of birth not known but married Mr Murphy and living in Kingstown in 1841.
c) Terrence born 1802. Died 16th March 1824. Buried Famma.
d) James baptised March 2nd 1812. Sponsored: Patt Ayward and Judith Hill. Ballyduff.
e) Patrick baptised 16th February 1814. Sponsors: Catherine Lee and Edmd Kenedy. Ballyduff.
f) Anastasia baptised 13th Dec 1818. Sponsors: Robert Madigan and (-----) Cody. Died 1stAugust 1838. Buried Famma.
This O'Gorman family were not wealthy. The Tithe Applotments for Inistioge taken in 1829 has Denis Gorman renting two small pieces of 3rd class land at Ballyduff, both of I acre, 6 perches. Their relatively modest circumstances might be the reason why they thought that Candahar was near Bombay, although the fact that the letter of condolence came from an officer in the Bombay Engineers might have confused the matter. Michael O'Gorman himself must have been well educated and certainly held in high esteem by his officers - that is until they discovered the letter in his papers indicating communication with the Russians. Somewhere in Kilkenny the assassin's knife may still survive - it seems a strange thing to send home to the grieving family. And possibly the pen and ink portrait may also survive. Perhaps someone out there may know - we would love to hear more.........
We have tried to find transcriptions for the Military Cemetery at Candahar in the hope of locating the tomb mentioned by Lieutenant North but have drawn a blank. We did find a photograph of the cemetery taken in 1880s showing plenty of memorials, but not one transcription. Such memorials can be listed in the records of the former India Office Library (now at the British Library), on the British Families in India website or on Eileen Hewson's wonderful site about Irish Graves in the Far East (www.kabristan.co.uk). The Hon. Secretary for the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia has kindly searched their records which report "There is a large enclosed cemetery in Kandahar holding about 500 graves but without a single marker". He suggests that the Army may have deliberately left the cemetery without any markers or headstones as they expected any such markers to be destroyed by the Afghans after the British Army withdrew.
Famma Graveyard Part 2 will follow soon.
It is not an easy graveyard to access, although there is occasionally a
tantalising glimpse of the graveyard from the Thomastown to Inistioge
road; the route in is not straightforward and has evidently not been accessed
for years. What once must have been a pathway to the graveyard is now overgrown
and the way not at all obvious.
This small graveyard is
very unkempt and untidy and has no modern burials. But it has now
revealed some of its treasures to us even though we have not yet finished
surveying the graveyard.
The most fascinating memorial is now lying flat on the ground just outside the ruined church and is somewhat exposed to the weather. This reads "This stone was erected in memory of Michael O'Gorman who lost his life on 9th July 1841 in the city of Candahar, Bombay. He rests beneath a silent tomb, deprived of life in early manhood, not by the valiant on the (indecipherable) but by a coward's deadly weapon slain, far from his home in Ireland, he fell by the assassin's hand, whilst his (indecipherable) name shall (indecipherable) as peace win, thousands his untimely fate shall mourn and let each Christian hope ere his ashes lie, that his eternal soul has towered above the sky. Here lie interred the remains of his brother Terrance O'Gorman who departed this life March 6th 1826 aged 24. His sister Anastasia died Augt 1st 1838 aged 18 yrs. His father Denis Gorman died March 27th 1842 aged 77 years. May they rest in peace Amen". It is interesting that both O'Gorman and Gorman have been used on the same stone but apart from that minor point this memorial presented us with quite a few challenges. Candahar (now spelt Kandahar) is in Afghanistan and is nowhere near Bombay. And just how and why had this young man been assassinated?
The Internet can work wonders and produced the following explanation from an unsigned letter in The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, 1841, "The victim was a highly respected man, a Mr O'Gorman who had been employed as a writer to Major Todd on his mission to Herat. O'Gorman was quietly walking up one of the streets in Candahar which was rather crowded with natives. It was in a street leading to the citadel when an Afghan made up to him and thrust his chuco (sic) or native knife into his abdomen. Before he could repeat the thrust a sepoy of the 38th Native Infantry laid him low with a blow of a lattee (sic) on the temple and immediately secured him. He was then carried before the Political Agent and before I had time to reach my quarters I heard the report of a gun which blew him to a thousand pieces".
The Freeman's Journal for Friday 12 November 1841 supplied the following further information when they published in full a letter addressed to Michael O'Gorman's sister Mrs Murphy of Northumberland Avenue, Kingstown, Dublin, from C.F. North, Lieutenant Bombay Engineers, Assistant Political Agent at Candahar. The letter is dated Candahar July 29th 1841. " Dear Madam. it has been my painful duty to communicate to you the melancholy intelligence of the death of your brother, Michael O'Grady Gorman, who fell a victim to the knife of an assassin in the streets of this city on the morning of the 24th instant. Your brother was returning from his usual morning's walk, when a fanatic who had come in from the country on purpose to murder some European officer to which he had been excited by the Mullahs, seeing no other victim nearby and being misled by the genteel appearance of your brother, plunged the knife into his heart. The murderer was immediately secured, and almost instantaneously blown to atoms from the mouth of a gun. This is not the only instance of the kind in this hostile country. Your brother lingered from seven till noon when he expired. I received his last wishes, and read the burial service over him (there being no clergyman here the same evening) and having had everything done to his remains that his family could have wished. He had been some time under orders here, and at Heraut, and I assure you, no one can regret his loss more than I do, as his good conduct and qualities, far superior to those usually found in men in his situation, entitled him to the respect and confidence of his superiors. As soon as his affairs have been arranged, I will write to you again and let you know the amount of his estate which he desired to be sent to his mother - a few articles which he wished to be sent to your address will be taken by Major Lynch to Dublin, two or three months hence, who will inform you of his arrival at Kingstown or Dublin. The articles are coins, gems, a watch, the knife of the assassin, a portrait in pen and ink of your brother, done by himself, and testimonials from the different officers under whom your brother served. I shall have a tomb erected over your brother's grave and shall have a blank slab left for any inscription which you might wish to have carved on it. To you I leave the painful task of breaking this affecting intelligence to the members of your family and of offering them consolation under their bereavement. I will not attempt to describe my own feeling or those of all who knew your brother. It is awful to see one in the pride of life and prime of manhood this suddenly, and without provocation, sent into the presence of his Maker by the knife of an assassin and veterans familiar with battle and sudden death, stand horror-struck at such an occurrence. With every expression of sympathy in your grief and of consolation under this affliction, believe me, my dear Madam, yours faithfully C.F. North, Lieut. Bombay Engineers, Assistant Political Agent, Candahar."
The following extract from The Dublin Evening News 8th November 1841 adds a little more information and is under the heading India - Murder of Mr O'Gorman - The only news we have from the north-west is the following letter dated 26th July giving an account of the murder of Mr O'Gorman at Candahar, " I lament to inform you that a most respectable and well conducted European met with his death yesterday from the hands of a murderous Afghan. He was a Mr O'Gorman who had accompanied Major Todd on his mission to Herat in capacity as writer, and who remained here on that officer's departure for Hindoostan. He was quietly taking his morning walk through the Chasons(sic) when the villain, watching his opportunity, quietly walked up to him and buried his murderous chaco (sic) in his bowels.....the poor unoffending European survived but a few hours, when he expired from internal hemorrhage........the felon......stated that there were seven more men in the city who had bound themselves by oath on the Koran to destroy every European they could meet with, having an opportunity."
Lady Florentina Sale (1790-1853), wife of Sir Robert Sale, a courageous and indomitable lady, kept a diary during her capture as a hostage by the Afghans during the 1st Afghan war. This was published as A Journal of the Disasters in Afghanistan 1841-1842. In this she wrote a further illuminating insight into the career of Michael O'Gorman. "...............is a man of bad character; he has lately got himself into bad repute by writing letters to the newspapers under the signature of "Sharpe". He was also connected with a man by the name of O'Grady Gorman in a correspondence with the Russians; which was proved by a letter found amongst the papers of the latter after his murder in Candahar". This would seem to imply that Michael O'Gorman was spying for the Russians but I have found no further information about this.
The National Archives, London produced a copy of the Administration of the effects of Michael O'Grady Gorman, dated 7th June 1843. In this he is described as a bachelor, formerly of Ballyduff in Kilkenny, afterwards a private in the 2nd Brigade Horse Artillery, East India Company, but late of Candahar in Afghanistan. Died 24th July 1841. His estate of £200 was granted to his widowed mother Eleanor Gorman. The mother stated that he had been secretary to Major Todd at Candahar.
The Roman Catholic Baptism Registers for Inistioge start in December 1810 and for Marriages from January 1827 which is not that helpful for this family but the following family tree has been compiled using information from these Registers, the tombstone at Famma and from the Administration of his estate. The parents of Michael O'Gorman were Denis Gorman (1765-1842) and Eleanor O'Grady (still alive in 1843):-
a) Michael - date of birth not known. Killed in Afghanistan July 1841.
b) Miss Gorman - date of birth not known but married Mr Murphy and living in Kingstown in 1841.
c) Terrence born 1802. Died 16th March 1824. Buried Famma.
d) James baptised March 2nd 1812. Sponsored: Patt Ayward and Judith Hill. Ballyduff.
e) Patrick baptised 16th February 1814. Sponsors: Catherine Lee and Edmd Kenedy. Ballyduff.
f) Anastasia baptised 13th Dec 1818. Sponsors: Robert Madigan and (-----) Cody. Died 1stAugust 1838. Buried Famma.
This O'Gorman family were not wealthy. The Tithe Applotments for Inistioge taken in 1829 has Denis Gorman renting two small pieces of 3rd class land at Ballyduff, both of I acre, 6 perches. Their relatively modest circumstances might be the reason why they thought that Candahar was near Bombay, although the fact that the letter of condolence came from an officer in the Bombay Engineers might have confused the matter. Michael O'Gorman himself must have been well educated and certainly held in high esteem by his officers - that is until they discovered the letter in his papers indicating communication with the Russians. Somewhere in Kilkenny the assassin's knife may still survive - it seems a strange thing to send home to the grieving family. And possibly the pen and ink portrait may also survive. Perhaps someone out there may know - we would love to hear more.........
We have tried to find transcriptions for the Military Cemetery at Candahar in the hope of locating the tomb mentioned by Lieutenant North but have drawn a blank. We did find a photograph of the cemetery taken in 1880s showing plenty of memorials, but not one transcription. Such memorials can be listed in the records of the former India Office Library (now at the British Library), on the British Families in India website or on Eileen Hewson's wonderful site about Irish Graves in the Far East (www.kabristan.co.uk). The Hon. Secretary for the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia has kindly searched their records which report "There is a large enclosed cemetery in Kandahar holding about 500 graves but without a single marker". He suggests that the Army may have deliberately left the cemetery without any markers or headstones as they expected any such markers to be destroyed by the Afghans after the British Army withdrew.
Famma Graveyard Part 2 will follow soon.
