Bessborough Memorials in Derby Cathedral, England

Of the many memorials to the Bessborough family in the mortuary chapel at Fiddown you will not find one to William Ponsonby, the 2nd  Earl of Bessborough, nor his wife Caroline   William who was born in 1704, was the son of Brabazon (created the first Earl of Bessborough in 1739 and a peer of Great Britain).  William according to his memorial in Derby was born in 1704 and married in 1739 Caroline, the eldest daughter of William the 3rd Duke of Devonshire.  At the time of the marriage the Duke of Devonshire was the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1737-1745).  In 1741 the Duke offered William,  and William accepted,  a position as Chief Secretary.  His new father-in-law also recommended him for a place on the Irish Privy Council.  The Duke of Devonshire, or Cavendish family,  are one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England; this was an extremely advantageous marriage.  The Duke of Devonshire still owns vast estates; notably in Ireland Lismore Castle, in county Waterford.  In England the Duke of Devonshire owns Chatsworth House and estates in Derbyshire.   It is therefore entirely within reason that William, the 2nd Earl of Bessborough and his wife should have memorials in All Saints Church, Derby, also known as Derby Cathedral,  and situated in the county town of Derbyshire.  The Cavendish family vault is below the south isle; this was originally made for use by the famous Bess of Hardwick, more properly called Elizabeth Talbot,  Countess Shrewsbury who died in 1608 . Her second husband was Sir William Cavendish who then adopted it as the Cavendish burial place.  This tradition ended in 1858 after which date the Cavendish family were buried at Edensor, near Chatsworth in Derbyshire. 
William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough  had an active political life as he was MP for Newtownards, county Down 1725-1727, MP for Kilkenny 1727-58, MP for the Town of Derby, England, 1742-54,  MP for Saltash, England, 1754-56 and MP for Harwich, England,  1756-58.  He had to vacate these seats in parliament when he succeeded his father to the title of Earl of Bessborough in 1758. William was also an active Freemason. He is specifically mentioned in The Dublin Weekly Journal for 13th March 1730/31 as the Master of "a lodge of Free-Masons held at the Yellow Lyon in Warborough Street on 6th March 1731". See www.irishmasonichistory.com

The memorial to the 2nd Earl of Bessborough in Derby Cathedral. 

This Memorial was created by Joseph Nollekens, one of the most famous and most fashionable portrait sculptors of the time. Nollekens was born in London in 1737, the son of a Flemish painter Josef Frans Nollekens.   The inscription reads " In memory of William Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough,  A Peer and Privy Counsellor of Great Britain and Ireland.  He was born in 1704 and died in 1793.  He was beloved and respected by all. In Liberality and Charity he was surpassed by none.  In 1739 he married Caroline, Daughter of Wm 3rd Duke of Devonshire, By whom he had Catherine married to Auby, Duke of St Albans, Charlotte married to Wm Earl Fitzwilliam and Frederick who succeeded Him". 
According to Burke's Peerage 1893, Catherine married Aubrey 5th Duke of St Albans; she died in 1789.  Charlotte married the William, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam; she died in 1822.  The above William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough died 11th March 1793.  Frederick, his successor, married in 1780 Lady Henrietta Frances Spencer, the 2nd daughter of John, 1st Earl Spencer.

The memorial to Caroline, Countess of Bessborough in Derby Cathedral.

This magnificent memorial to Caroline, Countess of Bessborough was created by Michael Rysbrack. Rysbrack or Rijsbrack, a Flemish sculptor,  was born in Antwerp in 1694.  He arrived in London in 1720 where he rapidly established himself as the leading sculptor, a position he was to hold until the mid 1740s.   After that he remained one of the top three sculptors in Britain until shortly before his death in 1770.  The above figure of Caroline is most beautifully carved.

The inscriptions reads "To the Memory of CAROLINE, Countess of Bessborough in Ireland and Baroness Ponsonby in England.  She was the eldest Daughter of WILLIAM CAVENDISH, third Duke of Devonshire. She married at Chatsworth WILLIAM PONSONBY, eldest son of BRABAZON late Earl of Bessborough by whom she had eleven Children. Viz  Five sons and Six Daughters. Only three of them (whom God preserve) are now living. CATHERINE married to AUBREY BEAUCLERK only son of VERE, Lord Vere Baron of Hanworth in the County of Middlesex. CHARLOTTE married to WILLIAM Earl Fitzwilliam of Milton in the county of Northampton and FREDERICK commonly called Lord Viscount Duncannon. She died on Sunday the twentieth of January 1760 in the forty first Year of her Age. This Monument is only to be considered as an Endeavour to preserve the Memory of a departed Friend and as an Instance of true Affection and Tribute paid by her much afflicted Husband WILLIAM Earl of Bessborough".

The Coat of Arms on the Memorial to the William, 2nd Earl of Bessborough showing his Earl's coronet.

The inscription on the garland reads  "Pro Rege, Lege. Grege" which means "For the King, the Law and the People"

For other Bessborough Memorials in Ireland see our post Fiddown Church, Parish of Fiddown, posted on 7/10/2017.

A link between Grenan Thomastown and Dunkitt Graveyard Kilmacow Co Kilkenny

Dunkitt Graveyard and the Thomple in Grenan Thomastown

The Denn Burial Ground at Dunkitt Kilmacow consists of 3 Oblisks enclosed within  Iron railings.  The first two monuments are inscribed on the East, West and South sides. The third on the East side only.

Oblisk 1
"Here repose the remains of several of the Den family, before the confiscation of their estates by Cromwell and from the 12th century to the 17th century their forefathers were buried at Grennan in this County. On the other side is inscribed the names of the principal persons of the family interred here.
Requiescant In Pace Amen RSD EREGIT"

"The following have succeeded each other in direct descent Theobald Den of Mullinabro personal victim as was his kinsmen in Grennan of the confiscation of Cromwell. That injustice, nor adversity its consequences, never shook his steadfast principles.  He lived and died in the faith of his ancestors.  Attached to this country and Loyal to his King.  His beloved wife is also interred here.
'Blessed are they that suffer persecution for Justice sake for their is the Kingdom of Heaven Matt V. 10 '.  Laurence Den of Melville, eldest son of the precedin.  He inherited his fathers virtues and like him also was faithful subject to a Dynasty which seldom repressed the wrongs of its friends.
Elizabeth, his wife born Archdekin her name was held in Benediction by the poor.

"Nicholas, son of the last named, died November 1746 a model of edifying piety.  Eleanor his wife, neè De Frayne died March 1763.  Laurence Den of Garrandarra, eldest son of the the preceding, died 13th December 1812, aged 76. An upright virile character an humble Chrisitan Mary Anne, his first born Strange, died 1761, aged 20.  Mary, his second wife born O'Shee, died 1801 aged 66.  The unobstrusive practice of every womanly virtue distinguished her well spent life.  Besides the foregoing heads of the family many of their younger children are also buried here. De PROFUNDIS"

Oblisk 2
Erected by Nicholas Agustus Den of Santa Barbara California. To the memory of his beloved father Emmanuel Den of Garrandara, Co Kilkenny, who died April 20th 1840 aged 72 years.  Deceased was the eldest son of laurence Den of Garrandara.  REQUIESCANT IN PACE"


Oblisk 3
" In special memory of Catherine Den born O'Shee the beloved wife of Emanuel Den of Garrandarra ESQ.,  died November 4th 1860 aged 73 yeqars. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Matthew V. 5. Through many tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom  of God
 Act  X1V.21  Give her O Lord eternal rest and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.  Their eldest surviving son Richard S. Den M.D., California erected this monument to her revered name so well remembered in his heart

Fiddown Church , Parish of Fiddown, county Kilkenny

This is another of those ancient and very neglected graveyard sites, although it is now adjacent to a very busy and dangerous road  between Waterford and Carrick on Suir.   The ancient churchyard marks the site of a 6th century monastery founded by St Mo-Medog, also spelt St Momhaedhog, or Momoedoe.  Here stood in Fiddown an old church in the English style which was erected about the year 1200.  A very beautiful Holy water font was found here in 1805 in what was then called the "church field"; this font was removed to Piltown chapel and inserted in the wall of the chapel according to Carrigan (History of the Diocese of Ossory. Vol 4. 1905)   A picturesque small scale church consisting of a nave and a chancel was rebuilt and beautified by the Rev. Robert Watts, the Protestant rector in 1747; this was used as a Protestant church up to about 1870.  The nave was then taken down but the chancel retained to serve as a mortuary chapel at Protestant burials and as a mausoleum for the Briscoe and Bessborough families. (Please note that this can also be spelt Besborough and is not a typographical error when so spelt). Fixed to the wall over the east window is a stone effigy in relief representing the head and neck of a female with a crown of five points on her head; this is believed to be the virgin Mary.  The graveyard was walled about 1775 but previous to this the graveyard extended considerably beyond its present boundaries, both to the east and west sides.  The Irish Georgian Society took an interest in this mausoleum in the late 1960s and they restored and painted it at that time; this accounts for the Irish Georgian Society plaque now in the mausoleum.  Of the 48 townlands in the civil parish of Fiddown, 24 were the property of Lord Bessborough, by far the biggest landlord in the area.  In the Abstracts of Returns on the State of Popery 1766 the Protestant rector William Watts recorded 203 Popish families and 85 Protestant families in  the Union of Fiddown. He records the Catholic priest at this time as Matthias Lanigan. 
Fiddown is also recorded as being in the Roman Catholic parish of Templeorum.   This graveyard is of considerable interest, though much overgrown, and contains both Protestant and Catholic burials. 

Somewhere in the graveyard, and yet to be located by us, are some medieval tomb fragments from the ancient church site at Kilmodalla, alias Kildaton, which was destroyed in 1830 in order to make way for new stables at Lord Bessborough demesne at Piltown.  These tomb fragments include at least one from the hand of the famous Kilkenny stone carver Rory O'Tunney; this is the tomb of Redmond Daton, alias D'Autun of Kildaton and his wife Helen Butler dated circa 1550,  and is signed Roricus otyyne.  We have not found an illustration of this stone and neither is it listed in John Hunt's book Irish Medieval Figure Sculpture 1200-1600. Irish University Press and Sothebys.  2 Vols. 1974. Kildaton, also called Kilmodalla, was the property of the Daton family, as was Cloncunny,  but forfeited from them during the 17th century.  Kilmodalla was their traditional burial place.  We know that somewhere in the graveyard at Fiddown there is a fine tomb to Peter Walsh of Belline, catholic agent to Lord Bessborough and a keen antiquarian, Irish speaker and scholar; he died in 1819.  There is also a monument to his parents John Walsh of Piltown who died in 1792 aged 80 years and Catherine Butler who died in 1760 aged 30 years. We have yet to find these stones and to survey the external graveyard which we are really looking forward to undertaking. There is a pedigree for Walsh of Fanningstown, the line to which Peter Walsh of Belline belongs, in Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland (1912); this states that Katherine (sic)was of Knocktopher, county Kilkenny and John Walsh's first wife.   We are currently working on adding to this printed Walsh pedigree.    Another well documented memorial is a horizontal slab bearing the inscription "Here lyeth the body of Edward Briscoe of Crofton in the County of Cumberland in England, who departed this life the 20th day of July anno Dom 1709 and in the 58th year of his age"
For the moment though we have access to the interior of the mausoleum and recorded exactly the inscriptions on the 26 memorials found there.

List of memorials starting immediately to the left of the entrance door
1. Small stone plaque. This chapel was restored by Ambrose Congreve, grandson of the 8th Earl of Bessborough, Mary widow of the 10th Earl and Madeleine, widow of the 11th Earl.
2. Below the window. A plaque of white marble on black marble.  Signed by mason Browne & co, Bristol.  In loving memory of Eliza Cecilia Briscoe wife of Edward Briscoe Esq., late Captain 41st Regiment (The Welsh) and daughter of Robert Briscoe Esq., She fell asleep in Jesus at Bournemouth 9th September 1883. "Them that sleep in Jesus will god bring with Him".
3. White marble plaque on black marble. Signed I Carew fecit Waterford.  In the vault at the back of this lies deposited the remains of Rebecca daughter of the late Edwd Briscoe Esq., of Garnerea and wife of Wm Osborne Esq., of Silverspring who died in England at the  Bristol Hot springs where she went for the benefit of her health the 19th Sepbr 1798 aged 33 years and 3 months.  Fair was her form, more fair her gentle mind, where virtue, sense and piety combined, to wedded love gave friendships highest test, endeared the wife and made the husband blessed, now in widowed grief erects this sacred stone to make her virtues and his sorrowes known.

4. Positioned beneath No 3 above. A white marble plaque on black marble. In memory of Edward  Briscoe Late Captain 41st Regt The Welsh, son of Edward Villiers Brisoce of Willmount, born June 2nd 1792, Ensign 87th Regt 1809, engaged at Busaco Albuhera where he carried the colours and the siege of Badejos. He served as Brigade Major 41st Regt in the Burmese War 1826, died February 2nd 1881.
5. White marble plaque on black marble. Top stone, Sacred to the memory of Eliza Thomasina Briscoe wife of the above (sic) Henry Harrison Briscoe who died at Cloncunny in her 65th years Febry 13th 1875. Also to the memory of Edward William Briscoe, eldest son of the above who died at San Marion Thomasina Briscoe youngest daughter of the above who died at Cloncunny in her 35th year Febry 6th 1881.
6. White marble on black marble plaque. Below stone No 5.  In remembrance of Henry Harrison Brisoce Esq., of Cloncunny who died in Inverness Novr 14 1864 aged 65.

7. Massive and impressive memorial with 4 red/orange marble pillars, plus red marble with white marble plaque on a carving of a sarcophagus of Egyptian marble standing on large carved animal feet. Top of tomb decorated by two figures, from waist up, presumably the Earl and the Countess, dressed in what looks like roman togas. Signed by Guils Atkinson, London fecit.  The inscriptions reads "Under the marble lie the remains of Brabazon Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough, Viscount Duncannon of Sysonby in Leicester Shire in Great Britain and of Sarah his wife Grand Daughter and heiress to Primate Margetson. The virtues of their private lives need not be here recited, they are engraved in the hearts and minds of many who will deliver them from one generation to another beyond the duration of a perishable tomb.  This monument is erected not as a necessary memorial to them but as a testimony of gratitude and respect owing from their son William Earl of Bessborough.  He had the honour of serving his majesty King George the 2nd in several public employments of great trust and dignity and departed this life July 1758 aged 81. She in May 1733 aged 52".  (According to Burke's Peerage 1893 Brabazon Ponsonby married 1stly, Sarah widow of Hugh Colville and daughter of James Margetson Esq., and grand-daughter of the most Rev James Margetson D.D. Archbishop of Armagh, and had issue.  He married 2ndly in 1733 Elizabeth daughter and co-heir of John Sankey of Tenelick, county Longford butr had no issue by this second wife.  Brabazon Ponsonby died 4th July 1758 and was succeeded by his son William 2nd Earl of Bessborough, who died in 1793 and who served George 3rd in several high positions including Lord of the Treasury and Post Master General. Burke does not state which positions were held by Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough and who served King George 2nd .)

8. Ornate black and white marbl , decorated at the bottom of the panel by a supporting cherub  with the Ponsonby arms impaling Moore.  Here lies ye body of Mary ye wife of the Honble Coll William Ponsonby of Besborough, granddaughter of ye Right Honble ye Earle of Drogheda by her father and the Earle of Meath by her mother.  And her virtues were suitable to her birth. She departed this life the sixth day of May 1713 in ye 52nd year of her age.
9. Left of altar. Black marble surrounded by white marble. This chancel was rebuilt and beautified by Revd Robert Watts M.A. Dean of St Canice and Vicar of Fiddown 1747 who after a contest at law and in equity carried on for nineteen years and fifteen hundred pounds expended by him recovered the Great Tithes of the Parish from the Subtractor for the Benefit of all succeeding incumbents.  Quatenus nobis Denegatur dui Vivere Relinquamus aliquid que nos vixisse testemur.

10, Behind altar.  Stained glass window inserted at top of larger plain glass. This reads " Pro Rege lege Greae".

11. Right of Altar. Top panel.  Here lies ye body of Sir John Besborough who departed this life Anno Dom 1668 in ye 60th year of his age.
12. Immediately below the above plaque.  In memory of William Wentworth Brabazon Ponsonby, second son of John William Viscount Duncannon and Maria his wife. born Dec 19th 1812. Died at 8th July 1831 on board HMS Madagascar, who was buried at Napuli in Greece.
13. Small plaque standing on floor immediately below the above memorial. Irish Georgian Society. In grateful memory of George Murphy (1926-1994) Chicago Illinois, Co-Founder Chicago Chapter. George and Mary loved Ireland.
14. Signed by maker Kidwell, London fecit. Gulielmi Ponsonby Uice Comitis Duncannon Quod Mortuum est Hic Jacet Depositum Obiit Die Nov 17 An Dom: 1724 Aeta 67, Siste Viator & Memento Mori.
15. In memory of Anthony George Brabazon Ponsonby Fourth son of John William Viscount Duncannon and Maria his wife, Born May 17th 1820. died at Bessborough October 6th 1841.
16. Top plaque. a gothic mural monument in Caen stone.   In memory of John William Ponsonby 4th Earl of Bessborough who was born on the 31st April 1781 and died on the 16th May 1847 while holding office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Maria Vicountess Duncannon, his wife, daughter of John Fane 10th Earl of Westmoreland, who was born on the 11th May 1787 and died on the 19th March 1834.
17. Brass and placed below the above plaque. Emily Charlotte Mary Ponsonby and daughter of John William 4th Earl of Bessborough. born 17th February 1817, died 3rd February 1877. Till the day break and the shadows flee away.
18. Plaque made by F. Tatham, London. In memory of Frances Charlotte daughter of John George, Earl of Durham and wife of the Honble John George Brabazon married Sepbr 7 1835. Died Decr 17 1835 in the 23rd year of her age.
19. Top plaque in streaked alabaster, decorated with angels..  Erected by Caroline Amelia Countess of Bessborough in loving memory of John George Brabazon Ponsonby 5th Earl of Bessborough who was born 4th Oct 1809 and died 28 Jany 1880. Lord now lettest thy servant depart in peace.
20. Below the above memorial.  Frederick Edward Neuflize Ponsonby the 10th Earl of Bessborough 1913-1993. Member of the European Parliament 1972-1979.
21. Brass and top plaque. Sacred to the memory of Alfred Philip Brisoce of this parish who passed way March 18 1890 aged 53 years.
22. Back marble below above brass plaque.  Edward Briscoe of Cloncunny October 1851 aged 96 years, buried at Onchan, Isle of Man. Eiza his wife, daughter of Daniel Osborne Febraury 1837 aged 80 years, buried at Killaspy, Edward his son May 1815 aged 20 years, buried at St Saviour's London.

23. White marble plaque. Athur Mountifort Longfield Ponsonby, the 11th Earl of Bessborough 1912-2002.
24. Black marble slab on floor with brass insert. In Memoriam. Beneath this stone are laid the remains of John George Brabazon, 5th Earl of Bessborough born Oct 4th 1809. Died at Bessborough Jan 28th 1880. And also of Caroline Amelia Countess of Bessborough, his wife, born June 18th 1819. Died at Bessborough April 30th 1890. Waiting for the adoption to wit  the redemption of our body. Romans 8.23.
25. Black marble slab on floor with lozenge shaped brass plaque insert.  Topped with crest. Hic jacit Frederick George Brabazon sexii comtis de Bessborough qui decessit in pace XII die Martis MDCCCXCV. Atet LXXIX in christo spes.
26. Lecturn. Standing by the altar. A small brass plaque is attached to the wooden top of the lecturn. In memoriam William Osborne Briscoe Esq., M.D. Garnareah, Pilltown, obit Feby 6th 1874.

List of masons who signed memorials in the mausoleum
Guils Atkinson, London 7
Browne & co, Bristol 1
Carew, Waterford 3
Kidwell, London 14
F. Tatham, London 18




For further reading see:-
a) Michael O'Donnell. The Ponsonby and Briscoe Mausoleum in Fiddown in Decies No XXXIV. Spring 1987 (You can get this in full and online from the Waterford Library).
b) Daniel Dowling. Kildalton and its Past in Decies No XXXIII Summer 1986.
c) Rev . T.J Clohosey. The Ponsonbys and Fiddown Church in Old Kilkenny Review. 1967 No 19.


For other Bessborough Memorials see: Bessborough Memorials in Derby Cathedral, England which we posted on 28/1/2018.

The Thomple Graveyard, Parish of Thomastown, county Kilkenny

The Thomple,Thomple Tha Haun,Thompletheàghawin, The Church of Grenan, Thomastown Co Kilkenny.

East window

The name of this local early Irish christian saint, St Teghàn survives in the name of this Church and the many interpretations of it.  The Church stands is relief on the west hill above the Nore valley on the main access route to the Castle of Grenan. Thomas FitzAnthony who with his many Norman settlers oversaw the development of the town of Grenan, present day Thomastown. Thomastown means the town of Fitz (son of) Anthony.

Mary Casteleyn and myself surveyed and recorded this graveyard in 2015. A housing estate now sweeps right up to the boundary of this enclosed graveyard.  The surrounding graveyard wall has been broken allowing access, unfortunately of animals, to the interior of the enclosure.  There has been deterioration noticably since this graveyard was surveyed some time ago  by local historian Jerry Doyle and his son Joe.

There are signs of vandalism the graveyard is in a sorry state many broken stones lying around.

The ruined church has a magnificently carved east window.

The inscriptions are as follows;

1. James S. Blake of Ballinamona Co Kilkenny who died 16th Sept 1873 aged 56 years.

Erected by Cornelia his wife.

Blessed are those worthy, whom the Lord, when He shall find them watching St. John.X11.27.

2. Isidore Blake born June 16th 1854,  Died May 1856.

Isidore Blake  Ballinamona

Dates noted on the Memorial of Isodore

Parents James S. and Cornelia Blake Ballinamona, and on the right, within the railing their child Isidore

3. Sacred to the memory of Mr Robert Clifford of Mill View who departed this life on the 9th day of April 18(5?)1 in the (uncut) year of this age.

4. Mr John Duke late of Thomastown, Apothecary who departed this life September 5th 1815.

Here also interred his father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, aunt and sisters Mary Anne and Rebecca.  Also his infant nephew Wilm Duke who died April 25th? 1819 aged 7 months.

Also Mr Samuel Allen Duke who departed this life the 20th (30th)? day  of March in the year of our Lord 1819 in the 53rd ? of his age.

5.  J  Cody R.I.P.

6. Here lieth interd near the remains of his father Walter Devereaux and his mother Elenor Devereaux als Grace, the body of Frencis Devereaux who departed this life on the 26th of May 1794 aged 56 years. Erected by his wife Elenor Devereaux als Reade.

Iconography on this tomb; Ciboria each side of Sunburst containing within the rays the Christogram IHS with a cross resting on the bar of the H... fading. Stone may not be in its original position.

7. Devereaux vault below the church ruin broken open long since.

8. Sacred to the memory Anthony and Mary Graves ..see (d) below

9. Small stone with ancient Crucifix used as a marker or ancient grave, no name.

10. Small stone of Crucifixion on internal boundary  north wall outside of Church window.

 

Insert in north wall

11. Broken and partial stone. To the memory of....Somerset Rob..youngest ..Rev Ric...who d...

The earlier recording mentioned above and kindly clarified for us by Joe Doyle reads

"To the memory of Somerset Robert Cooke youngest son of Rev. Richard Cooke who departed this life on Saturday August the? 1815 aged?"

James B Leslie in his book Ossory Clergy under Thomastown p.366 records the following Rev. Richard Cooke was appointed Rector and Vicar of St Mary's Thomastown on 3rd July 1824. He was first appointed Curate to Ennisnag in 1817. He married Harriet Henrietta French  in 1808 he had sons John, Richard, and Somerset Robert (d) 7th August 1836 aged 16 years.

He had three daughters Harriet, Frances and Anne.

Rev. Richard died 5th Nov. 1835 Tomb being located at Grennan Thomastown.

12. The white marble base of this tomb found only, by us but listed in the earlier recording as:-

Henry Innes died  August 31st 1816 aged 15 years. Bessie Innes died January 21st 1855 aged 46 years.

13. From Vol 6 (1906/7) of the Memorials of the Dead and collected by Miss Vigors 

'Lieutenant Colonel Nichols died 1939'

We did not find this stone.

East Window

14. A note from the same volume of Memorials of the Dead

states that Mrs James Graves was the wife of the Rev. James Graves.  We did not find a memorial to Mrs James Graves in June 2015.

I found on line at http://www.gravesfa.org/gen364/htm the following references to the Graves Family burials at the Thomple for which there are no visible headstones or memorials. The information on this website concerning these Graves family burials at the Thomple are taken from a private manuscript noted as in the possession of Mrs R.E. Graves, Greedy's Orchard, Halse, Taunton in Devon, England and from Extracts taken from Thomastown Registers done by Rev. James Graves in 1871 and Anna Maria Barrington and copied by R. E. Graves in 1912. These references have not been consulted by us but they do have the ring of authenticity.

a) Richard Graves born 1713, died 1813 and buried in Thomple Tha Haun.

Richard was married to Margaret Bull born 1720, daughter of James Bull of Thomastown.

Margaret is buried at Thomastown but we do not have a date of death for her.

b) Charles Graves born Sept 1765 buried  1784 at Thomastown.

c) Margaret Graves born 1755 died 1786 and buried in Thomple Tha Haun.

d) Anthony Graves, Abbeyview House, Thomastown born 10th July 1751 died 31st January 1816 and buried at the Thomple Tha Haun.  His wife Mary Graves nèe Brett, Abbeyview House, died 4th April 1819 and buried at the Thomple Tha Haun.

e) Richard Graves bapt 14th Sept 1772 died Thomastown at 7 (years).

f) Edward Graves died at 17 (years).

g) Margaret Derenzi nèe Graves died 14th March 1828, Ballystraw, buried in the Thomple Tha Haun.

She was the wife of Captain Banjamin Derenzi.

h) James Mercer Graves, M.D Edinburgh, died at Abbeyview 21st May 1819 and buried at the Thomple Tha Haun.

i) Jane Mercer Graves never married, died 9th November 1851 and buried at the Thomple Tha Haun burial ground at Thomastown..

j) Charlotte Graves baptised 20th September 1794 and died in infancy.

k) Lydia graves died 1806 aged 14 years and buried in the Thomple Tha Haun.

l) James Graves was buried in 1788 at Thomastown. His wife Mary Flanagan born in 1762 died in 1842.

m) Elizabeth (Bessy) Graves Davis, Millview, Thomastown, died 26th July 1813 and buried at Thomple Tha Haun. She was wife of Amyas Davis.

n) Julia Davis died young.

o)William Cameron Graves, Grennan Cottage, Thomastown. Also of Wellington, Bannow, County Wexford, born 20th Jan 1820, died 23 May 1846 and  buried in the  Thomple Tha Haun.

p) Maria Graves died 25th February 1849 at Abbeyview and buried at the Thomple Tha Haun.

Taken from the Clergy of Ossory:-  Rev.James Graves was eldest son of Rev. Richard Graves and his wife Johana Anderson (whom he married 10th April 1813 at Kilkenny).

Rev. James was born in Kilkenny, entered TCD July 1st 1834 aged 19 years and B.A. in 1839.

He married Maria Dann Nicholls the daughter of Liet-Col William Dann Nicholls, R. A.

Rev. James Graves formed the Kilkenny Archaelogical Society with Prim in 1849.

He died on 20th March 1886. His tombstone in St Canices Cathedral, Kilkenny is a Celtic Cross designed by R Langrishe and modelled on the |High Cross of Clonmacnoise and is

inscribed " In loving memory of Revd. James Graves, Rector of Inisnag A. D. 1863- 86. Born 1816 Died 20th March 1886"

Index to names

Blake, 1,2. 

Brett, d).

Cameron, o). 

Clifford, 3.

Duke, 4.

Cody, 5.

Cooke, 11.

Davis, m) n)

Derenzi, g).

Devereaux, 6, 7.

Flanagan, l).  

Grace,  6. 

Graves, 8, 14. a), b,) c), d), e), g), h,) i), j),k),l),m),o),p).

Innes 12.

Mercer, h) i).

Nicholls, 13.

Reade, 6.

A beautiful window in need of protection

Index of Places 

Abbeyview, h) p)

Abbeyview House, d)

Ballinamona, 1.

Ballystraw, g)

Bannow, o)

Edinburgh, h)

Grennan, 11

Grennan Cottage, o)

Kilkenny county,  1

Mill View, 3

Millview, m)

Thomastown, 4, b) d ) e) i) l) o)

Wellington, o)

Wexford, o)

List of Occupations

Apothecary 4

Doctor h)

Rector 11, 14.

Tullaherin Graveyard (old), Parish of Tullaherin, county Kilkenny

In Irish Tullaherin means the dry green land.  It is perfectly named as the townland is slightly elevated containing rich pasture land and surrounded by low lying bog and moor.  This graveyard sits in a very old monastic site and Tullaherin was at one time an Episcopal See;  that position was terminated in 1118 by the Synod of Rath -breasail.   Carrigan dates the ruined church to about two centuries prior to the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. This gives an approximate date for the ruin as the 10th century.  As usual Bernie and I have worked on surveying this graveyard together.




View of the memorials inside the ruined church at Tullaherin

The Round Tower at Tullaherin stands within a few yards of the ruined church, is 73 feet high; according to Carrigan this tower is much older than the oldest part of the church.  The lower windows of the tower appear to be at least 7 centuries earlier than those at the top.

Placed just near the Round Tower is a damaged pillar stone with a portion of an Ogham inscription which has been read as FIR.......

It is obvious that the graveyard has been in use for centuries.  There are many stones bearing dates for the 18th century; the earliest dates on stones are 1737, 1744, 1745, 1750, 1752, 1756, 1759, 1762, 1763, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774 1776, 1777 onwards up to to 6 stones bearing the date 1799.  Those stones bearing dates from 1800 to 1850 are numerous.  This makes the genealogy and family history on these memorials invaluable as several people listed have been born in the 17th century.


Many Kilkenny city merchant families appear to have their burial places here at Tullaherin.  There are six Deloughry/DeLoughry memorials here, the earliest from 1776.  One of these memorials is to David Richard Deloughry, Freeman of London who died in 1839 and Thomas James Deloughry, also a Freeman of London who died in 1827; on this stone are other children of David and Susanna Deloughry.  Her surname is  Winchester and they are recorded as marrying in St Giles, Cripplegate, City of London on 16th February 1802.  There may have been an earlier marriage for David as a child Mary Deloughry was born 20th Dec 1795.    Also mentioned are the grandparents of the children Thomas and Ellen Deloughry of Tullaherin parish.  This is a really interesting family as Peter De Loughry, born in 1882, was responsible for making the key that was used to get DeValera out of Lincoln gaol.  The Deloughry family had moved from Tullaherin into Kilkenny city in 1816 and had established an iron and brass foundry business in Parliament Street.
Headstones and memorials numbers 81 and 82 are to the O'Donnell family of Curraghlain; stones number 83,84, and 85 are to the same family but then spelt Dannell (and in one case Donnelly) of Courahlan (various spellings) date from 1756.  There are three other O'Donnell stones, in this case dating from 1796 but these people are of Danesrath and Danesforth


Stone 44 Erected by Thomas Cullen of Enisnag in memory of his father Michael Cullen and mother Margaret Cullen alias Hughes; they both died in the 1860s. Also recorded on are other members of the family including Thomas Cullen of Woollengrange who died in 1918. For more details of the Cullen family of Wollengrange see the article "A 1937 picnic and house dance in Wollengrange" by Patricia Cullen (In the Shadow of the Steeple. Number 11. 2012).

In 2010 Duchas Tullaherin Heritage Society erected a useful map of the memorials in the old graveyard and inside the ruined church.   This map stands inside the new graveyard just at the entrance to the older section; it is indexed by name and identifies the location of each grave but does not give you the full inscriptions of each memorial. 

List of names inscribed on the memorials
Birmingham, Bolger, Brophy, Bryan, Byrne, Butler, Cahill, Carroll, Cashin, Cody, Comerford, Comford, Connell, Cooley, Cormack, Corr, Cowley, Cullen, Cummins, Dalton, Dannell, Davis, Deady, Delaney, Deloughry, DeLoughry, Denefe, Donnelly, Dooley, Dooly, Doran, Dowling, Dowran, Drennan, Dunn/Dunne, Evens, Fallon, Fannon, Fitzgerald, Fleming, Forrestal, Fowler, Freney, Galavan, Gardner, Goolay, Gowlay, Grace, Grady, Growley, Hanlon, Harahan, Hayden, Headen, Healy, Holohan, Hughes, Karney, Kavanagh, Kearney, Kelly, Kennedy, Kenny, Lannon, Lawlor, Long, Lyons, Magner, Magrath, Mahony, Malone, March(?), McNamara, Mulroney, Mulrony, Morris, Murphy, Mylan,  Neill, Nowlan, O'Donnell, O'Farrell, Peart, Pembroke, Perth, Phelan, Power, Purcell, Quigley, Quirk, Rafter, Read, Reed, Renehan, Roth/Rothe, Ryan, Shortal/Shortall, Spruhan, Teahan, Tobin, Wall, Walsh/Walshe.

List of places inscribed on the memorials
America, Ballanabooley, Ballyhohan/Ballykohan, Ballynabola, Ballyreddan, Barrowsland, Bishop's Lough, Bishopslough, Bramblestown, Castlecreen, Clashwilliam,  Cloohs......., Couraghlan, Cuiralahan, Curraghlain, Danesforth, Danesrath, Dublin, Dunbell, Dungarvan, England, Enisnag, Furhouse, Graigue, Highrath, Hudson City, Inisnag, Jerpoint,  Kilbline, Kilfane, Kilkenny, Kilkenny city of, Kilkenny county of, Kilkenny Liberties of the city, Killarney, Kilmacahill, Kilminok,  London, Maddoxtown, Neigham, New York, Newhouse, Newtown, Outrath, Powerstown, Raheenroach, Rathduff, Scart, Schorth, St Philip's Church Bristol, Stroan, Sugarstown, Thomastown, Tinecarna, Tullaherin, Tullow, USA, Warrington, Woollengrange.
Occupations listed on the memorials
Alderman, Doctor,  Freeman of the city of London, Priest.
Masons
The memorials are unsigned. No 75(Shortal) however is of outstanding quality of carving.  In design and presentation it is unlike anything else we have found, as yet, in county Kilkenny. The style is similar to those carved by Denis Cullen of Monaseed, with Roman soldiers on either side of the central cross, but not entirely the same as this stone at Tullaherin seems to have two carved archangels wielding large crucifixes, but wearing what seems to be Roman clothing.

It is possible that whoever carved this stone had seen Cullen's headstones at Kilnahue Churchyard, Gorey, Wexford, and had been inspired by them.  This is a very high class memorial stone, beautifully crafted and must have been very expensive in its day; it is now subject to erosion.  See: Gerry Mullins, Kilnahue Churchyard, Gorey; a survey of the iconography and inscriptions. Gorey Churchyard Heritage Group. 2001. 

Stone No 75 reads " Here Lieth Interred the Body of Thomas Shortal, He died May the 2nd 1780 Aged 70 Years Also the Body of Michael Shortal His Unkle. May They Rest in Peace Amen,




Tullaherin Graveyard (new), Parish of Tullaherin, county Kilkenny

There are two sections to the graveyard at Tullaherin.  This survey relates to the newer part of the graveyard which is divided from the ruined church, round tower and older section of the graveyard by a stone wall.

The old stone style inset into the dividing wall between the old and new graveyard.

The survey of the older graveyard, which we will list separately, will without doubt have some of the same families names that appear this newer section of the graveyard.  Currently are 106 memorials in the new graveyard but this is a graveyard still in use and burials still take place here.  The oldest memorials in this part of the graveyard date from the 1930s and 1940s. There is some overlap though. The older graveyard has many memorials dating from the 18th century but there are some later dates appearing on these memorials in the older part of the graveyard up to the 1940s.  There is a priests section here with 6 memorials to former parish priests. there are also at least 4 memorials to members of the Old IRA; that is men who fought in the War of Independence.  There is an ogham stone in this graveyard.  As always both Bernie and myself have worked together in surveying this site.

Index of names appearing on memorials
Aylward,  Barcoe, Barry, Bennett, Bergin, Blackmore, Bollard, Brennan, Breathanch (Walsh), Burke, Butler, Byrne, Cahalane, Cahill, Carroll,  Cassin, Cass, Cleere, Clinton, Cody, Coleman, Conway, Corcoran, Coyne, Cuddihy, Cullen, Dobbyn, Drennan, Dullard, Dunne, Egan, Farrell, Fennelly, Fitzgerald, Fleming, Galway, Gibbons, Goolay, Greene, Hanrahan, Heskin, Hogan, Holahan, Holden, Holland, Keaney, Kelly, Lawler, Lehane, Lennon, Lyons, Magee, Maher, Malone, McGauren, McGrath, Menzies, Millett, Moran, Moylan, Muldowney, Murphy, Murray, Oliver, O'Brien, O'Connell, O'Connor, O'Donnell. O'Gorman, O'Mahony, O'Neill, O'Reilly,  O'Sullivan,                     O Ciardhubhain, O h-Ulldcaer, Nolan, Phillips, Pierce, Power, Prendergast, Purcell, Reddy, Robinson, Roche, Roe, Ryan, Skehan Somers, Sullivan,  Suton, tobin, Wall, Wallace, Walpole, Walsh, White.

This is part of the dividing wall between the old and newer part of the graveyard. Note the skull carved into the top right hand of the large supporting stone.

Index of places recorded on the memorials
Baile Sugradh, Balinaboola, Ballylinch, Ballymurphy, Barronsland, Beechpark, Bennettsbridge, Bishopslough, Bishoplough House, Blackrock, Browneford, Caran, Castlefield, Castlegarden, Castle Garden, Cloughscegg, Coppenagh, Corbally, county Cork, Crowbally, Cuanogue, Dublin, Dunbell, Dundrum, Dungarven, Fermaagh, Galway, Inistioge, Kilbenny, Kilbline,  Kilfane, Kilfane House, Killarney, Killarney Cross, Kilkenny, Kilmacow, Knockanore, Leap, Maidenhall, Newhouse, Newtown, Rathduff, Sandfield, Stroan, Stoneen, Sugarstown,  Sugartown House, Summershill, Sutton Park, Thomastown, Tullaherin, Woollengrange

Memorial stone inset into the wall recording the unrecorded graves of babies and others in unmarked graves

List of Occupations as recorded on the memorials
Artist,  Doctor, Nun, Old IRA, Priest.
List of masons who signed the memorials
M. Doyle of Carlow, Gargan of Kilkenny, Gargan McDonald of  Kilkenny,  McDonald of Maddoxtown, Mullen of Kilkenny, J Nolan of Ballan, J O'Keeffe of Ballysloe Gorthnahoe, Walsh of Carlow.


The ogham stone at Tullaherin Monastic site.