The McCormack Brothers

We were always told that the McCormack brothers were first cousins of my Great-Grandmother, Mary Anne McCormack. I have not been able to find the link such that the brothers heritage seems to have been lost in time. But here is the story that was often told to me by my Grandfather Denis Ryan.

In 1858 in Loughmore, two local men, Daniel and William Cormack, were executed for the murder of John Ellis, a land agent from Kilrush, near Templemore, County Tipperary. Ellis was hated for evicting tenants on behalf of the landlords who employed him. One night as he returned along the lane to his isolated home, his way was blocked by uprooted bushes and branches. He was shot by a hidden assailant and died an hour later. 

The police had no doubt that this was a political murder, because £90 in Ellis’s wallet was left untouched. The brothers William and Daniel Cormack were arrested and convicted at Nenagh Assizes in March 1858, largely, it was felt at the time, on the evidence of an informer – “a villainous character” – who was widely believed to have been part of the murder plot. The judge was the notoriously corrupt and harsh William Keogh.


The common belief was that a local landlord had shot Ellis in a crime of passion involving Ellis' sister, and that the Cormack brothers had been framed for murder; 2,357 people signed a petition attesting to the brothers' innocence

The brothers were hanged on Thursday, May 11, 1858 outside Nenagh Prison.

Daniel Cormack addressed the crowd at the public execution from the scaffold, saying: “Lord have mercy on me, for you know, Jesus, that I neither had hand, act, nor part in that for which I am about to die. Good people, pray for me.” According to a contemporary report, “the brother having made the same awful declaration, both were in the next moment launched into eternity”.

Years later a tenant named Michael Gleeson, who had been evicted by Ellis, confessed to the murder.

In 1910 a committee was formed in Loughmore to exhume the brothers and rebury them in the churchyard. Daniel's and William's remains were ceremonially removed from Nenagh Gaol and brought back to Loughmore with two hearses drawn by plumed horses, followed by huge crowds. After the procession arrived in the village, the Cormack brothers were buried in a mausoleum in the churchyard where people still go to see the original oak coffins and the inscription proclaiming their innocence.


I have not give up the search for connecting them to us but it would help if I could at least find a death record in Nenagh or Loughmore.

Sources:
History of Loughmore Parish
County Clare Library 
Wikipedia for Loughmore

Griffiths Valuation of Ireland - Tipperary, Castletownarra, Cloneybrien (1850)

25 persons and/or entities can be picked from Griffiths Valuation for Cloneybrien (1850)

1. Patrick Barrett (Anne Barrett): 3/4 acre leased from George Westropp, Esq., 1/4 acres leased from Heddige, Esq.

2. Elizabeth Carroll: 2 acres
3. John Carroll: 5 acres
4. Thomas Carroll: 4 acres. leasing 1 acre jointly from Joseph Walplate, Esq. and George Westropp Esq.
5. James Hickey: 1 acre, 1 acre owned jointly with 5 others
6. Patrick Londrigan: 1/4 acre
7. James Maher: 3 acres owned jointly with Michael Power, 1 acre owned jointly with 5 others
8. Lawrence McCormack: 1 acre, 1 acre, 1 acre owned jointly with 5 others
9. Roger Meara: 9 acres, jointly owns 5 acres with Martin Quinn
10. Michael Power: 1 acre, 3 acres owned jointly with James Maher, 1 acre owned jointly with 5 others
11. Martin Quinn: 7 acres, jointly owns 5 acres with Roger Meara
12. Michael Roche: 3 acres
13. John Ryan: 8 acres leased jointly from Joseph Walplate, Esq. and George Westropp, Esq., 1/4 acres with house leased from Lawrence Ryan and subleased from George Westropp, Esq.
14. Lawrence Ryan: 45 acres leased to Imperial Slate Co., 3 acres
15. Patrick Ryan: 11 acres
16. Patrick Ryan Jr.: 6 acres leased from Joseph Walplate, Esq., 14 acres leased from George Westropp, Esq.
17. Patrick Ryan Sr.: 8 acres leased from Joseph Walplate, Esq., 9 acres leased from George Westropp, Esq.
18. Denis Star: 1 acre, 1/2 acre, 1/4 acre, 1 acre owned jointly with 5 others
19. Patrick Troy: no land, tenant of William Heddige, Esq.
20. Michael Tuohy: 2 acres, 1/2 acre, 1 acre owned jointly with 5 others
21. Owen Tuohy: 12 acres and 4 acres

22. William Heddige, Esq.: 42 acres, 3/4 acre leased from George Westropp, Esq.
23. Joseph Walplate, Esq.: 261 acres, 32 acres, 5 acres leased from George Westropp, Esq.
24. George Westropp, Esq.: owns lands but apparently does not occupy any
25. Imperial Slate Co.: 38 acres, 4 acres, leasing 45 more from Lawrence Ryan, run by George Westropp, Esq.

***William Headech (or Heddige) took over management of the Imperial Slate Company when George Creevy of Garrybeg died in 1843. He and his family lived in Cloneybrien House until about 1865.
****Slater's Directory, 1846: Part 4: Killaloe: Slate Proprietors
IMPERIAL SLATE COMPANY'S WORKS, near Killaloe William Headech, Esq. secretary and manager: office for communication in London at Barnes & Co.'s, 2 Great Winchester street, City.

Tithe Applotments: Cloneybrien (1824)

From the County Tipperary Tithe Applotments
Castletownarra Civil Parish 1824
Nenagh Poor Law Union
Owney & Arra Barony
Cloneybrien Townland
As transcribed by Mike Stapleton from the Family History Library film #0256583

John Quigley
Christy Barrett
Ned Dwyer
Michael Minogue
Rodger Meara
Con Salmon & Toohey
Larry Ryan & partners
Patt Doyle & Jn Quigley
John Quigley
Jim Starr
Jim Starr - Lower Division
Thomas Carroll
Philip Leo
John Darcy
Larry Hanelly
Darby Carroll
John Quin & William Hickey
Mrs Rolleston - Molony's Division
John Carroll & Matt Ryan
John & Thos Carroll
Larry Cloone
Michael Roche
Tady Foley
Star, Leo & Ward
Dan'l McDaniel
Mrs Rolleston (Mountain)
William Kenny
Patrick Barrett
Mrs. Rolleston (Meadow)
Daniel Carroll

Link to transcribed data on ConnorsGenealogy website.

Catholic Parish Registers: Cloneybrien (1850 - 1880)

As the registers has just been released here are the transcribed records for Cloneybrien (link):

BIRTHS (Format is Date, Name, Parents, Sponsors, IG#, Page #)
19 Aug 1850 Peggy, John Ryan & Peggy Tuohey, Martin Tuohey & Peggy Tuohey, 41, 6

02 Nov 1852 Michael, John Ryan & Anne Hartnedy, Wm Ryan & Winford Marsh, 175, 10
11 Jun 1854 Martin, James Ryan & Margaret Tuohey, Larry Ryan & Biddy Tuohey, 262, 13
28 Jan 1855 Dan, John Ryan & Anne Hartnedy, Stepn Sullivan & Sally Kinnis (Kinnie?), 306, 15
10 Apr 1855 John, John Ryan & Margaret Tuohey, James Ryan & Bridget Tuohey, 320, 15
16 Jun 1856 Cornelius, James Ryan & Margaret Toohey, Laer (sp?) Ryan & Bridget Ryan, 379, 17
05 Apr 1857 Matthew, John Ryan & Anne Hartnedy, James Grady & Eliza Carthy, 414, 18
11 Oct 1857 Matthew, John Ryan & Margaret Tuohey, Matt Tuohey & Sarah Ryan, 440, 19
03 Oct 1858 Bridget, James Ryan & Margt Tuohey, Lar Ryan & Bridget Ryan, 486, 20
31 May 1859 Margaret, John Ryan & Anne Hartnedy, Pat Mora & Bridget Ryan, 527, 22
06 Nov 1860 James, James Ryan & Margaret Toohey, Jeremiah Ryan & Maria Ryan, 611, 25 ++
06 Nov 1860 Matthew, James Ryan & Margaret Toohey, Patt Ryan & Mary Gleeson, 611, 25 ++
24 May 1862 Judith, John Ryan & Anne Hartnedy, Timothy Tuohey & Honora Conner (?) 688, 27
29 May 1862 Sarah, John Ryan & Margaret Toohey, Willm Brins & Winifred Ryan, 689, 27
08 Aug 1862 Mary, James Brien & Catharine Calaghan, Denis Brien & Winifred Quinns (?), 699, 28
28 Mar 1863 Bridget, Patrick Roche & Mary Hogan, John Hogan & Margt Roche, 728, 29
09 May 1865 Mary, Pat Roche & Mary Hogan, Pat Kough & Ellen Roche, 849, 32
23 Nov 1865 Mary, James Carroll & Mary Ward, James Ward & Mrs McGrath, 867, 33
28 Dec 1865 Margaret, Jeremiah Brien & Catherine Callaghan, Michael Mara & Bridget Mara, 871, 33
15 Apr 1867 Ellen, James Carroll & Margaret Ward, pat Carroll & Ellen Ward, 934, 36
28 Oct 1867 Michael, Jeremiah O'Brien & Catherine Callaghan, Pat O'Brien & Anne Brien, 963, 36
12 Nov 1867 Honora, Pat Roche & Mary Hogan, Laurence McCormack & Bridget Hurley, 964, 36
11 Jan 1868 Bridget, Jeremiah Ryan & Bridget Malone, Pat Ryan & Bridget Hogan, 973, 37
05 Jul 1869 Margaret, Pat Roche & Mary Hogan, Michael Ryan & Winifred Ryan, 1054, 39
27 Aug 1869 Margaret, James Carroll & Margaret Ward, Jer McGrath & Margaret Cummins, 1061, 39
14 Nov 1869 Mary, Jer Ryan & Bridget Malone, Michael Ryan & Maria Quinn, 1069, 40
22 Mar 1870 Denis, Jerry OBrien & Catherine Cahalan, Wm Ryan & Anne Mara, 1094, 41
21 Apr 1871 Anne, Jeremiah Ryan & Bidy (sp?) Malone, Matt Tuohy & Mary Ryan, 1157, 43
11 Oct 1872 Patt, Jeremiah Ryan & Bridget Malone, Patt Ryan & Bridget Ryan, 1232, 45
24 Nov 1872 Owen, Owen Tuohey & Winifred Quinn, Michl Tuohey & Sarah Quinn MOD, 1241, 45
24 Mar 1873 Sarah, Pat Roche & Mary Hogan, Hugh Brien & Mary Gleeson MOD, 1260, 46
26 Feb 1874 Laurence, Jerry Ryan & Bridget Malone, John Ryan & Margaret Ryan JOH, 1301, 47
05 Aug 1874 Thos, Owen Tuohey & Winifred Quinne, Owen Ryan & Elizabeth Quinne, 1325, 49
19 Oct 1875 John, Jer Ryan & Bridget Malone, Con Ryan & Mary Ryan, MOD 1387, 51
30 Jun 1876 Maria, Owen Tuohey & Winifred Quinn, John Ryan & Mary Tuohey, MOD 1419, 52
25 Feb 1877 Catherine, Michael Ryan & Catherine Madden, Jas Madden & Catherine Ryan, 1449, 53
21 May 1877 Sarah, Jerr Ryan & Bridget Malone, John Ryan & Honora Mara, MOD 1467, 54
25 Oct 1878 Jeremiah, Jeremiah Ryan & Bridget Malone, James Ryan & Bridget Ryan MC 1540, 56
28 Jul 1879 Pat, Michael Ryan & Kate Madden, Micheal Ryan & Matilda Gleeson, MOD 1580, 57
10 Jul 1880 Anne, John McCormack & Honora Meara, Con McCormack & Bridget Ryan, C Egan, 1620, 59
---- Ends 15 Mar 1881


By Family

CARROLL

James Carroll & Mary Ward (Parents)
Mary          23 Nov 1865 

James Carroll & Margaret Ward (Parents)  
Ellen          15 Apr 1867
Margaret   27 Aug 1869

MCCORMACK

John McCormack & Honora Meara (Parents)
( Married 08 Feb 1879 and witnessed by Mich Roche & Bridget Ryan #301 p.66)
Anne          10 Jul 1880

O'BRIEN

James O'Brien & Catherine Callaghan (Parents)
Mary          08 Aug 1862

Jeremiah O'Brien & Catherine Callaghan (Parents)
Margaret   28 Dec 1865
Michael    28 Oct 1867 
Denis         22 Mar 1870

ROCHE

Patrick Roche & Mary Hogan (Parents)
( Married 25 Feb 1862 and witnessed by Mich McCormack & Mary Guerin #164 p. 63)
Bridget      28 Mar 1863

Mary          09 May 1865
Honora      12 Nov 1867
Margaret   05 Jul 1869
Sarah         24 Mar 1873

RYAN

John Ryan & Margaret Tuohey (Parents)
Margaret   19 Aug 1850

John          10 Apr 1855
Matthew   11 Oct 1857
Sarah         29 May 1862

John Ryan & Anne Hartnedy (Parents)
Micheal    02 Nov 1852
Daniel       28 Jan 1855
Matthew   05 Apr 1857
Margaret   31 May 1859
Judith        24 May 1862

James Ryan & Margaret Tuohey (Parents)

Martin       11 Jun 1854 
Cornelius  16 Jun 1856
Bridget      03 Oct 1858
James         06 Nov 1860
Matthew    06 Nov 1860

Jeremiah Ryan & Bridget Malone (Parents)
(Married 17 Feb 1865 and witnessed by Laurence Ryan & Margaret Kennedy#180 p. 63)
Bridget      11 Jan 1868
Mary          14 Nov 1869
Anne          21 Apr 1871
Patrick       11 Oct 1872
Laurence   26 Feb 1874
John           19 Oct 1875
Sarah          21 May 1877
Jeremiah    25 Oct 1878

Michael Ryan & Catherine Madden (Parents)
Catherine  25 Feb 1877
Patrick       28 Jul 1879

TUOHEY

Owen Tuohey & Winifred Quinn (Parents)
Owen         24 Nov 1872
Thomas     05 Aug 1874
Maria         30 Jun 1876


Marriages (those above plus)
3 Jun 1884 Me Carroll Silvermines to Mary O'Brien Cloneybrien Wm Feeley Honora Roche 322 p.66
27 Feb 1886 Matthew Ryan Cloneybrien to Mary McCormack Gerrybeg Denis Egan Bridget Gleeson 329 p. 66

Matthew Ryan (1857 - 1953)

Matthew Ryan is my Great-Grandfather and has been a difficult subject. He is why I first got into genealogy. I was visiting family in Ireland some 30 years ago and visited a graveyard in Nenagh and found many Ryan's and no one knew which ones were "ours". After finding it very difficult to navigate local resources and trying to extract useful information from background noise, I switched gears and since then have focused mainly on my American ancestors. Below is the scarce information that I have been able to collect on the Ryan's thus far.

1. John RYAN m. 21 Feb 1841 in Killaloe Co. Clare while living in Glenymullone, Co. Clare d. 1892 Cloneybrien
  + Anne HARTNEDY (HERTNEDY and HARTNETT) from Ballycurragan, Co. Clare, d. 1896 Cloneybrien
    2. Matthew RYAN bapt. 05 Apr 1857, Cloneybrien, Tipperary, Ireland d. 1953
      + Mary Anne MCCORMACK b. 3 Jul 1868 of Garrybeg(Curragh), m. 27 Feb 1886 in Portroe Parish d. 1947

        3. Annie (Anne) RYAN, b. 30 Nov 1886, Cloneybrien d. Cloneybrien
          + RYAN
             4. Mary RYAN
               + O'DWYER
             4. Matthew RYAN
             4. Sean RYAN
             4. Christopher RYAN
        3. John RYAN, b. 07 Apr 1888, Cloneybrien d. young, Cloneybrien

        3. Michael (Mike) J RYAN, b. 06 Jul 1889, Cloneybrien d. USA
          + Elizabeth (Lizzie)
            4. Living Male RYAN
            4. Living Male RYAN
            4. Living Male RYAN
            4. Living Female RYAN
            4. Living Female RYAN
            4. Living Female RYAN
            4. Living Female RYAN            

        3. Daniel RYAN, b. 25 July 1891, Cloneybrien d. young in Slate Quarry, Cloneybrien

        3. Patrick RYAN, b. 06 July 1893, Cloneybrien d. USA

        3. Denis Christopher RYAN, b. 17 Dec 1894, Cloneybrien d. 26 Aug 1991, Burbank California
          + Dorothy Francis DENNERLIEN b. 7 Nov 1906 m. 17 Jun 1932 d. 14 Feb 1988, Los Angeles California
            4. Denis  Christopher RYAN, b. 03 Apr 1935, New York d. 4 Aug 2014, Stella NC 
            4. Living Male RYAN
            4. Living Male RYAN
            4. Living Female RYAN
            4. Living Female RYAN

        3. Margaret (Peggy) RYAN, b. 15 Mar 1897, Cloneybrien d. USA

          + O'CONNOR 

        3. Mary RYAN, b. 24 Aug 1899, Cloneybrien d. young, Cloneybrien

        3. Norah RYAN, b. 24 Aug 1899, Cloneybrien d. young, Cloneybrien

        3. Mary (May) RYAN, b. 22 Dec 1900, Cloneybrien d. abt 1988, Cloneybrien
          + William MENOGUE 

        3. Matthew Joseph RYAN, b. 25 Apr 1903, Cloneybrien d. abt 1968, Cloneybrien
          + ???
            4. Mary RYAN

        3. Martin RYAN, b. 01 Jul 1905, Cloneybrien d. 9 Feb 1971 Brooklyn NY
          + Teresa O'BRIEN b. Tipperary
            4. Matthew Lancelot RYAN, b. 1947 d. 11 Sep 2001, New York
            4. Living Male RYAN 
            4. Living Male RYAN 
        3. Sarah RYAN, b. 03 Jan 1908, Cloneybrien

          + Tom SEXTON
     2. Margaret RYAN, b, 31 May 1859, Cloneybrien d. aft 1930, New Britain, Connecticut
      + Patrick KEOUGH
        3. Mary KEOUGH, b. 11 Nov 1885, New Britain, Connecticut, d. 26 Feb 1889, New Britain, Connecticut
        3. Michael Joseph KEOUGH, b. 18 Feb 1888 , New Britain, Connecticut, d. 19 Jul 1977, Wallingford, Connecticut
          + Margaret D., 
            4. Living Male KEOUGH (assumed)
        3. Francis Patrick KEOUGH (Bishop), b. 30 Dec 1890, New Britain, Conn., d. 6 Dec 1961, Georgetown, Maryland

Matthew Ryan lived in Cloneybrien his whole life. Born in 1857 there and dying in 1953 at 96 y.o. First occupied as an "Engine Driver" (until 29 y.o.) then as a farmer. 

----------------------------------------------

Sources:
1. Griffiths Valuation (1848-1864)
2. 1901 Census of Ireland
3. 1911 Census of Ireland
4. General Vital Records from RootsIreland.ie
     1857 Matthew Ryan Baptism
     1868 Mary McCormack Birth
     1886 Matthew Ryan and Mary McCormack Marriage
     1886 Anne Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1888 John Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1889 Michael Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1891 Daniel Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1893 Patrick Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1895 Denis Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1897 Margaret Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1899 Mary Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1899 Norah Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1900 Mary Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1903 Matthew Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1905 Martin Ryan Birth and Baptism
     1907 Sarah Ryan Birth and Baptism
5. 1930 US Federal Census - Holyoke Mass - Michael Ryan and Family
6. 1940 US Federal Census - Bronx NY - Denis Ryan and Family
7. Find-A-Grave: Martin Ryan; Teresa O'Brian

Notes:
1. The only supporting evidence for the Baptism Record with the presumed Parents is that the date is close and it is the only Matthew Ryan born to a John Ryan in Cloneybrien in that timeframe)
2. No middle names used in the documents.
3. One mystery is the Mary-Norah-Mary situation. The 2 Mary's have birth documents and Norah just has a Baptism document. The first Mary and Norah are either twins or the same person, perhaps with the full name "Mary Norah Ryan" or something similar. Then did this child die and they named the next girl born 13 months later Mary as well?

Verbal History (interviews with family from 1983-today):

1. My G-Grandfather's name was Matthew Ryan
2. My G-Grandmother's name was Mary McCormick (now believed to be McCormack)
3. They had 12 children including my Grandfather Denis, Martin, Ann, Matthew, John, and Michael.
4. Many of the male children were killed in Quarry accidents (Actually one, Daniel Ryan - other Ryan and McCormack cousins also died)
5. Matthew Ryan Sr.'s fathers name was thought to be John Ryan
6. The family is from Cloneybrien, Tipperary but has scattered to Nenagh, Killaloe and the US.
7. Annie, Mary and Matthew stayed in Ireland
8. Michael, Margaret, Patrick, Denis and Martin came to the US. In that order.

Cloneybrien

I will use this space to document the historical families in around Cloneybrien Portroe Tipperary. My line is just one of the Ryan lines prevalent in the area.

Cloneybrien (sometimes written as Cloney Brien) is a small community (called a townland) of just over 800 acres in Northern Tipperary on Lough Derg (The Red Lake) in the Arra Mountains. Most of that acreage is on the eastern flank of Laghtea hill, although there is also some lowlands that tend towards bog. The gaelic name is Cluain ui Bhriain which translates to O'Brien's Meadow. Previous to about 1318 the clan O'Donegan was in control of part of the Arra mountains but as a retreating faction of the clan O'Brien came across the Shannon they easy took the lands. The O'Briens then controlled the lands until the Cromwellian advance in the 1650s.

The other nearest townlands are Drum, Loughtea, Townlough Upper, Killoran, Corbally, Ballingeer, Coolbawn and Derrybeg. The nearest villages are Castletown, Portroe, Newtown, Gerrykennedy and Grange. The nearest towns are Nenagh and Killaloe and the nearest city is Limerick.

In Griffiths Valuation of Ireland (1848-1864) and the 1901 Census of Ireland, Cloneybrien is considered to be in Castletownarra Parish. In later documents it is often cited as being in Castletown, Portroe or Nenagh Parish (either civil or ecclesiastical).

Cloneybrien Hill (part of the Laghtea Hill complex) is most widely known for the crosses that have adorned it. In 1932 a stone cross was erected to commemorate the Eucharistic Congress. In 1945 the cross was broken when struck by lightening. In 2002 a new stainless steel cross was erected on the opposite side of the hill top.

Some landmarks of the area would be:

Cloneybrien House: A large historic home that has been home to many families including the manager of the Imperial Slate Mining Company and some Ryans (relation unknown).

Patrick's Well (not to be confused with St. Patrick's Well that is in Clonmel, Tipperary): A spring that used to be used for blessings.

St. Patrick's Rock  "It is said they were made by St. Patrick's mule & hound on the occasion on which he rested at the well in Cloneybrien."

Colley's Cowl: The remains of a small house up on the hill under the cross that could've been used as a shelter while hearding or as a hermit's haunt.

Sally's Rocks: An outcrop of stones that local Historian, Michael Joy, suggests were named for a Sally Carroll that inherited the land that had little else of note.

Cillín or Infant's Burial Ground (Killeen or Kylenabaustee): Now something of a thicket, this was the unconsecrated land for the burial of the unbaptized. These can be found all over Ireland. There is a deep controversy regarding this practice and many book written about it.  

The Gap and the Gap Slate Quarry: A very old quarry (pre-1840) that is small in comparison to Garrybeg/Curragh/Corbally next door but was said to be significant and produced high quality slates. The quarry is also the source for a small stream that was the main water source for Portroe for 50 year (again, according to Michael Joy).

Knockaunreelyon and the Graves of the Leinster Men in Coolbaun: Probably the biggest tourist draw in the area, there are a number of stories or versions of the same story that exist. I wont debate these but a common theme seems to be that after a battle in Coolbawn where the Leinstermen were defeated (The Graves) by the army of Brian Baru, King Brian and/or his men,  granted the King of Leinster's final request and took him up to the gap to be killed and buried within sight of his lands as Leinster can be seen just to the north and east of here (out over Nenagh). It is an interesting story and I suggest further reading on it.

General Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portroe

Maps:

Google

Townlands

Satellite

Griffiths Map

Thanks to Joann Hinz for helping me with some of the terminology and landmarks and of course to Michael Joy for his diligence and dedication to the parish.