Eilish Ellis


 Articles by this Author

Kinnitty - Notes on the emigration scheme from Kilconcouse, Kinnitty 1847-52

Source: Eilish Ellis in Analectica Hibernica, xxii, (1960), pp 329-394.

The crown estate of Kilconcouse was situated in the parish of Kinnitty, King's Co., and comprised 871 acres. This estate differed from Ballykilcline, Irvilloughter and Boughill in that in this case, from 1829 onwards, leases had been granted to the tenants for a twenty-one year term. The rents appeared to have been paid fairly regularly until the year 1846 when the famine intervened. In a report from the secretary of Kinnitty District relief committee, it was started with twelve families of 68 person where without any provisions and 'in most precarious state'. Forty individuals were unable to work. Subscriptions amounting to £35 were contributed by the commissioners of Woods.

In April, 1847, the Commissioners authorised the collector of excise, Parsonstown, 'to give such indulgence in payment to each tenant as their circumstance may require', when a number of tenants appealed for lenience.

The leases foe twenty-one years expire in 1850 when an arrear of rent of £1,531 14s. 9d. had accumulated. It was then decided to remove the 'surplus population'; to redivide the land among those selected from the remaining tenants and to abandon the collection of arrears. The friction and unrest which arose from this redivision was the cause of an inquiry by a select committee of the House of Lords into the management of the estate. Fifty-six persons left Kilconcouse at a cost of £363 19s. 8d.

EMIGRANTS FROM KILCONCOUSE
Itinerary Dublin - Liverpool - New York
Name
Age
Personal Details Date of Departure Liverpool Date of Arrival New York Ship
Blake:

Edward

50
No relationship specified 11th June 18524
James
03
Ann
25
Sarah
20
Sarah
01
Dunn William
45

Ann
43
Wife
James
08
Son
William
06
Son
Biddy
19
Daughter
Fitzgerald: James
55
Margaret
58
Wife
James
16
Son
Hanoria
18
Daughter
Margaret
19
Daughter
Fitzgerald: John
42
Ellen
30
Wife
Denis
12
Son
Thomas
08
Son
Margaret
10
Daughter
Horan: Patrick
30
Catherine
29
Wife
John
03
Son
Ann
07
Daughter
Catherine
05
Daughter
Margaret
12
Daughter
Mary
10
Daughter

Karney or
Kearney:

Patrick
45
Ann
37
Wife
Joseph
11
Son
Pat
18
Son
Thomas
16
Son
William
08
Son
Ann
14
Daughter
Mary
21
Daughter
Kenehan: John
45
Mary
37
Wife
Jeremiah
16
Son
John
12
Son
Matthew
18
Son
William
06
Son
Ann
08
Daughter
Kennedy: Peter
63
Mary
50
Wife
Lowry5: Patrick
40
Ann
43
Wife
John
20
Son
Ann
12
Daughter
Sarah
17
Daughter
Spain: Biddy
30
Catherine
25
Sister
White: Mary
38
James
13
Son
John
08
Son
Bridget
16
Daughter
Mary
05
Daughter

Notes:

  1. Q.R.O., O.W. Land Revenue Series Letter Books, Report of H. Tyrrell on Distress, c. 21 May 1846.
  2. Ibid., Commissioners of Woods to Burke, 8 April 1847.
  3. Report from the select committee of the House of Lords . . . into the Management. . . of Kilconcouse, etc., 1854, xxi, 3.
  4. All the emigrants from Kilconcouse sailed from Liverpool on the 11 June 1852 with one exception, Patrick Lowry. It is therefore unnecessary to repeat dates of departure with each family group.
  5. Q.R.O., Files of Forfeiture Office and Miscellaneous Papers, File No. 5, Burke to Commissioners of Woods, 3 September 1852, states that as Patrick Lowry has only one eye he was judged 'unfit for New York' and was sent to Philadelphia instead.