KIRBY ANCESTORS


Catherine Kirby was born in about 1770 of Bruff, County Limerick, Ireland. Her birth pre-dates the parish register. She married Thomas Allen 23 November 1791 in Bruff. Witnesses at the wedding were Edmond Kirby and Daniel Kirby, possibly Catherine's brothers or a father.


Catherine and Thomas had the following children:

*1. Ellen, born in about 1800 in Bruff; married Thomas Hickey 26 August 1823 in Bruff; died in 1889 in Lough Gur. Ellen and Thomas Hickey lived in Lough Gur, about four miles away.

2. Bridget, christened 13 April 1810 in Bruff. Sponsors: James Kirby, Margaret Kirby. James may be another brother.

3. Jane, christened 4 February 1813 in Bruff. Sponsors: Charles McCarthy and Ellen Kirby.

4. David, christened 10 January 1816 in Bruff. Sponsors: Maurice Slattery and Mary Daniher.

5. Patrick, christened 26 April 1820 in Bruff. Sponsors: James O'Donnell, Mary Allen.


These Kirbys were found in the early Bruff parish registers up to 1820:

 (Bruff parish register, www.findmypast.co.uk; www.rootsireland.ie)


The Tithe Applotment was a listing of leaseholders taken in 1833 in Bruff. Two Kirbys are recorded in Bruff in the townland of Ballyreesode:

Daniel Kirby Tithe Applotment
Tithe Applotment, Bruff, for Daniel Kirby, 1833


David Kirby, Tithe Applotmen
Tithe Applotment, Bruff, for David Kirby, 1833

Daniel Kirby was a land surveyor, and was mentioned is a case recorded in the Limerick Chronicle in 1844:

Limerick Chronicle, July 24, 1844

Daniel Kirby was called to testify in a court case in 1844 for the Rev. Richard Dickson versus Count de Salis, to determine if the yearly rent on the lease in 1835 was a reasonable rent. Daniel Kirby was called as the land surveyor who had valued the property:

“Daniel Kirby, sworn – Is a land surveyor; knew the late Mr. Stephen Dickson, and was employed by him in that capacity in 1830; continued with him during his life with the exception of one-half year in ’33; knows the lands of East Genogra; made a map of them; (was handed a map) that is a true copy of the one I made; was employed surveying land for many years before he went to Mr. Dickson; considers himself a judge of the value and quality of land; formed an estimate of the acreable valuation of the sub-denominations of the lands of East Glenogra, in 1843;…in the year ’30 he was employed in squaring out the lands for letting to tenants; is in the employment of the Rev. Mr. Dickson at present; …it was the land balliff used to tell him the amount of rent.

Cross-examined by Mr. Bennett – lives at Camass near Bruff; holds a few acres of land; knows the Rev. Mr. Dickson laid out a good deal in scouring, draining, fencing, and improving the embankment; can’t say he laid out a £1000 since his brother’s death; surveyed the DeSalis estates lately, and is now the surveyor of them; the corcases were sometimes flooded, and careless farmers were caught by their hay being carried away; the banks were not as good in 1830 as they are now."



Ballyreesode Griffiths
Griffiths Valuation for Ballyreesode townland, Bruff parish, 1851

Daniel and David Kirby were mentioned in a posting in the Limerick Chronicle:

Limerick Chronicle, July 5, 1845

To Frederick Bevan, Esq. Camass-House

Respected Sir – We have heard with grief and indignation of an anonymous letter posted in Tipperary, lately received by you, threatening your life, and and imputing cruelty to you in your dealings with your tenants at Camass, and other charges of a similar nature.

We, the tenants on your property, hereby publicly declare, without fear of contradiction, that there is not the least foundation for such a charge – that, on the contrary, you have at all times acted to us as a most kind and indulgent landlord – that there are large arrears due to you by some of us – that you never yet distrained or ejected any tenants – that you are a feeling and affectionate good neighbour and friend, and that the villain who concocted such a document with a view, doubtless, to cause a division between a really good landlord and a truly attached tenantry, deserves the execration of every honest man, as well as punishment by the laws of his country.

We remain, Sir, with the greatest respect, your obedient servants and tenants,
Callaghan Egan, South Camass
Wm. Slattery, Brackvone
David Kirby, Ballyresode
Michael Murray
Mathew Duhigg, New-Town
John Cantilon
John Duhigg
James Fitzgerald, Cooleen
Patrick Kennedy, Ballyresode
James Toomey
Edmond Fitzgerald
Richard Fitzgerald
Thomas Naughton
Richd. Guare, Parkroe
Denis Horan
Richard Fitzgerald
James Mulcahy, Garbally
John Barry, &c.
On behalf of selves and fifty-one occupying tenants on those townlands, who were all present at the meeting, and drawing up of this letter, by Daniel Kirby, L. Surveyor, Bruff, July 5.


Both Daniel and David Kirby were listed in Griffiths Valuation, taken in Bruff in 1851. Both are in the townland of Ballyreesode.


OS map Balllyreesode
Ordinance Survey map for Ballyreesode, created in preparation for Griffiths Valuation, 1851
David leased Lot 4, and Daniel was in Lot 2d.


OS map Ballyreesode

David Kirby was listed in Griffiths in Lot 2d, the long building of adjoining
cottages labelled c to l.


The Ordinance Survey maps are detailed enough to show individual buildings on the property. Daniel Kirby was in Lot 2d. There is a long building on the map, labelled c to l, and may be a row of adjoining cottages along the road. Daniel must not be farming at this point, and may be elderly. If he was Catherine's brother, then he would have been born in about 1770, and be about eighty years old at the time of Griffiths Valuation.


There are Kirby gravestones in the St. Molon cemetery in Tullabracky in Bruff, about a mile from Ballyreesode.


Daniel Kerby grave

Daniel and Anne Kerby gravestone, St. Molon


There is a monumental inscription for Daniel Kerby and his wife Anne O'Donnell. Daniel was born in 1749 of Camas, an adjoining townland to Ballyreesode. He died in 1813. Anne was born in 1745 of old Clarina. Clarina is a parish in County Limerick about 16 miles north of Bruff. She died in 1823. There is a cemetery in Clarina, with one gravestone for an O'Donnell family. The stone records Michael O'Donnell who died 1809, age 53 (so born about 1753), his wife Alice, and sons Patrick and Maurice. Perhaps Michael was Anne's brother.


Daniel and Ann were of an age to be Catherine Kirby's parents.


Here lieth the remains
of Daniel Kerby of
Camass who depd life
July 29 1813 aged 64 yrs
also his wife Anne Kerby
alias O Donnell of old
Clarina depd January
22 1823 aged 78
RIP

(St. Molon Cemetery, Tullabracky, Bruff)

Daniel and Anne Kerby's grave is number 84. No monumental inscription has been recorded for number 83, but number 85 is the grave of John Kirby, and his two daughters, Mary and Bridget Kirby. The proximity of the gravestones makes it quite likely that they were also family. John was born in 1792, and died 2 November 1857.

Erected By
Mrs Kirby of Baggottstown
in memory of her beloved
Husband John Kirby
who departed this life on
the 2nd of November 1857
aged 65 years also in
memory of her two daughters Mary and
Bridget Kirby
May They Rest In Peace
St Molon cemetery map

   Map of St. Molon Cemetery in Tallabracky, Bruff parish. Daniel Kerby and Anne O'Donnell are buried in #84.
(www.historicgraves.com)



Ballyreesode

Ballyreesode townland, Bruff parish, County Limerick




In the parish of Tullabrackey, about a mile from Ballyreesode, there are Kirby, Allen, O'Donnell, and Slattery families found living next to each other in the Tithe Applotment of 1833.


Tullabrackey Tithe Applotment
Tithe Applotment, Tullabrackey in 1833

The Tithe Applotment for Tullabrackey, Ballynanty townland in 1833 lists some familiar names. David Kirby, Patrick Kirby and James Kirby leased property here. Maurice Slattery was a sponsor for Catherine's son James in 1816. John and James Slattery leased property in the townland. James O'Donnell and Michael O'Donnell also leased property. And Catherine Allen leased just over three acres. Could this be our Catherine Kirby Allen? She would have been in her 60s, possibly a widow. The connections with the Kirbys and Slattery who were listed as sponsors for Catherine's children, and were near neighbors in Ballynanty makes it likely that this is our Catherine.


OS map Ballyneety
Ordinance Survey map, showing Ballyreesode townland, where Daniel Kirby lived, Ballynanty townland where Catherine Allen, David, Patrick and James Kirby lived,
along with the familiar names of O'Donnell and Slattery, Camas, where Daniel Kerby was born, and St. Molon Cemetery in Tullabracky,
where Daniel Kerby and Anne O'Donnell Kerby were buried.


OS map Ballybane
Griffiths Valuation, Ballybane townland, Tullabracky parish, 1851

Catherine is found in Griffiths Valuation in 1851, in the townland of Ballybane with a small house and garden, but no land. She would be about 81 years old. She leased land from John O'Donnell. Near neighbors were Maurice Slattery, and Patrick Kirkby (Kirby).


Ballybane
Ballybane

A Tenure Book created in 1849 in preparation for Griffiths Valuation showed Catherine and some details of her lease.


Catherine Allen Griffiths
Tenure Book for Ballybane, 1849

Catherine is found in Lot 4e in Ballybane. She had a house and garden, and leased it from N.P. O'Gorman. She paid a rent of £4 per year. The details of her lease say "Will old take". A take was a lease. Perhaps she had inherited the leasehold by will. In the Observations column, there is a note "Including rent of garden in Ballynanty Lot 5". Patrick Kirby leased a house and garden in Lot 1d, also from N.P. O'Gorman. The details of his lease say "Very old take" or very old lease. Edmond Kirby had a house and garden in Lot 1k, but was lined out, possibly deceased. He paid no rent, but in the Observations column is a note "For giving up land". Slatterys and O'Donnells were still neighbors.


Catherine Allen House Book
House Book for Ballybane, 1849

Catherine is lined out in this entry, but appears in Griffiths Valuation in Ballybane two years later. The house was rated 3C which meant that it was a thatched house of stone walls with mud mortar, or mud walls of the best kind. The condition was old and out of repair. The house was 24.9 feet long by 17 feet wide by 6.3 feet tall. There were no other buildings on the property.

Catherine was in her eighties in Griffiths Valuation. It seems likely that she was also buried in St. Molons Cemetery, perhaps marked with a stone that is weathered and unreadable.



Ballyneety
Ballybane




These Kirby families are found in the early Bruff records:


In the late 1700s:

 Denis Kirby and Ellen Condon:
Maurice Kirby and Alice Shinnors

Philip Kirby of Rathjordan and Catherine Gleeson

James Kirby and Bridget Fitzgerald:


James Kirby of Rathjordan and Margaret (or Mary) Shinnors

This information on James Kirby has been posted on www.findagrave.com: "Born in 1754, James Kirby Sr. at age 28 married the 18-year-old Margaret Shinnors in Bruff parish on 10 Sep 1782 in Fedamore, County Limerick, probably the residence of his bride's family. Witnesses were Dermot Kirby and James Shinnors. The couple raised their children on the family farm in Rathjordan townland, Herbertstown parish, County Limerick. At age 73, James died on 30 May 1827 in Rathjordan, seven years after Margaret, who died 4 Sep 1820 at age 65. Both are buried in Cahercorney Cemetery, Herbertstown, with detailed inscriptions giving age and date of death, and residence. So far, there are records of three sons: Son Rev. Patrick Kirby was baptized on 17 Mar 1795, Bruff parish, his mother's parish, with sponsors Gerald Shinnors and Bridget Sheehy. Patrick was ordained a Catholic priest in 1808, serving in Kilteely and Kilbehenny, and died in 1835 as the P.P. of Hospital parish; - Son Dermot Kirby was baptized 6 Feb 1787, Bruff parish, with sponsors John Hayes and Mary Shinnors; - Son James Kirby, Jr. married Catherine Gubbins in 1818, also raised his family in Rathjordan, and died in 1844. His father, James Kirby, Sr. of Rathjordan, is recorded in the 1819 memorial deed of James Kirby Jr. and Catherine Gubbins' 1818 marriage settlement. The father transferred the lease "onto the said James Kirby Junior ... the farm and lands of Rathjordan known by the names of Coolbane [not the townland 17 miles north] about 87 acres ... dwelling-house and out-offices ... also two acres of turbary [peat] ... together with 40 cows, one bull and one riding horse and cattle " in the parish of Herbertstown. James Kirby Sr.'s son James Kirby Jr. and daughter-in-law Catherine Gubbins had at least seven children: Joseph Gubbins “Brother Amelian” Kirby, Rev. Patrick Kirby OMI (not to be confused with James Kirby Sr.'s brother of the same name), Mary Anne, Elizabeth, Catherine, Agnes and Mary. Since James Kirby Sr.'s son married in 1818, there are undoubtedly other grandchildren, but no baptismal records for the older ones have been found. (Research by James Kirby Sr.'s 4G granddaughter Joan Stewart Smith) Inscription: “Here are deposited the remains of Mr. James Kerby Snr of Rathjordan who depd this life May 30 1827 aged 73 yrs. Strict honesty integrity and Christian Charity”

John Kirby of Rathjordan and Alice Shinnors
Edmond Kirby and Bridget Slattery:
There is a gap in the Bruff parish register between 1790 and 1808.

In the early 1800s:

Maurice Kerby - there are three consecutive marriages for Maurice Kerby. This may be one Maurice or two or even three. Maurice is listed in the payment register for the Poverty Relief Loans in Ballynanty in 1831. 

Maurice Kerby and Bridget:
Maurice Kerby and Ellen Irwin:
Maurice Kerby and Ellen Hurley:

David Kerby - there are four marriages for David Kerby. There may be more than one David Kerby. One of these David Kerbys must be the one listed in the Tithe Applotment in Ballybane.

David Kerby and Mary London:
David Kerby married Margaret Carty in 1811.

David Kerby and Honora Slattery:

James was involved in a very strange Petty Sessions Court case in 1878:
Petty Court Sessions Court Register, 20 March 1878 – Court at Bruff
"James Kirby, complt v. John Naughtin of Crean, deft
Defendant did in the month of December 1877, at Tullabracca Church yard Co Limk exhume the remains of complainants mother (Hanora Kirby) out of her family burial ground and bury his father (Patrick Naughtin) in said burial ground contrary to the statute in such cases made and provided."
The remains were to be reinterred. 

David Kerby and Mary Fitzpatrick:
James Kerby married Mary Liffane in 1815. (James was a sponsor at Catherine's daughter Bridget's christening. This is likely the James Kerby listed near Catherine in the Tithe Applotment in Ballybane.)
John Kerby - there are two marriages for John, both to a Slattery. It is possible that they are the same woman. This is likely the John Kerby who is buried with Daniel and Anne Kerby.)

John Kerby married Ellen Slattery in 1815. This is likely the John Kirby who was buried in St. Molon Cemetery, right next to Daniel and Anne Kerby's grave. John was born in 1792, and had two daughters, Mary and Bridget, buried with him. He may be Catherine's brother.

John Kerby and Margaret Slattery (is this really Ellen Slattery? Margaret is listed as a sponsor. Perhaps the priest switched Ellen and Margaret's names):

Patrick Kerby married Anna Barry in 1815. This is likely the Patrick shown in the Tithe Applotment in Ballybane.


Edmond Kirby and Mary Slattery: (Edmond was a witness at Catherine Kirby's wedding)

Daniel Kirby and Margaret Keeiffe:



    FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
DANIEL KERBY AND
ANNE O'DONNELL
This family group is speculative, based on the christening, marriage, and land records, along with monumental inscriptions.


Daniel Kerby was born in 1749 of Camas, Limerick, Ireland. He married Anne O'Donnell of "old Clarina". Anne was born in 1745.

Daniel, along with his son Edmond, was a witness at his daughter Catherine's wedding to Thomas Allen in 1797.

Daniel died 29 July 1813 and was buried in St. Molon Cemetery, Tullabracky. Anne died 22 January 1823 and was buried with Daniel in St. Molon Cemetery: "Here lieth the remains of Daniel Kerby of Camass who depd life July 29 1813 aged 64 yrs  also his wife Anne Kerby alias O Donnell of old Clarina depd January 22 1823 aged 78 RIP".

Camas
Camas

Daniel and Anne had the following children:

*1. Catherine, born in about 1770; married Thomas Allen 23 November 1791 in Bruff; listed in 1833 in Ballynanty, Tullabrackey parish in 1833, likely widowed at this time; listed in Ballybane, Tullabrackey parish in 1849 and 1851.

2. Edmond, married Mary Slattery; witness at Catherine's wedding in 1797; listed in Ballybane in 1849, but lined out; occupation - laborer; died 12 January 1874 in Bruff, age 80; residence at time of death - Ballyresode.

3. John, christened 9 February 1784 in Bruff.

4. Ellen, christened 21 January 1786 in Bruff.

5. James, married Mary Liffane in 1815 in Bruff; sponsor at Catherine's daughter Bridget's christening; listed in Ballynanty in 1833. James is found in the Poverty Relief Loans register, taking out a loan in 1830. A note for James Kerby in the Ballynanty loan register says, "This man resided at Ballynanty at the period in question but died in 1839".

6. Patrick, married Anna Barry in 1815; listed in Ballynanty in 1833; listed in Ballybane in 1849 and 1851. Patrick is listed in the Poverty Relief Loans repayment register in Ballynanty in 1831.

7. David, christened 16 November 1787 in Bruff; listed in Ballynanty in 1833.

8. Daniel, christened 2 September 1790 in Bruff; married Margaret Keeiffe; listed in Ballyreesode, Bruff parish in 1833; listed in Ballyreesode  in 1851; occupation - land surveyor; died 29 February 1864 in Bruff of bronchitis, age 74; residence at time of death - Camas.
9. John, born in 1792; married Ellen Slattery in 1815; died 2 November 1857; buried in St. Molon Cemetery, Tullabrackey. John is listed in Ballynanty in the Poverty Relief Loans register in 1835, making a repayment of £1 on his loan. His occupation was listed as farmer. In 1839 he is listed as John Kerby senior, farmer of Ballynanty on the loan register.



"The surname Kirby comes from the Gaelic-Irish O Ciarmhaic, which was anglicized as Kerwick. The Irish name was later corrupted to O Cearba, which was Anglicized as Kirby. The surname Kirby was first found in Knockany in County Limerick located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where members of the family were chiefs of the Eoghanacht Clan of Munster. The family were descendents of Eoghan, son of King Oilioll Olum." (https://www.houseofnames.com/kirby-family-crest/Irish)


SOURCES: Bruff parish register, www.findmypast.com and nli.ie; Tithe Applotment, Bruff; Tithe Applotment, Tullabracky; Griffiths Valuation, Bruff; St. Molon cemetery monumental inscriptions, www.historicgraves.com; death record, www.rootsireland.ie; Irish Reproductive Loan Fund, www.findmypast.com. The Kerbys of Rathjordan are listed in the 1831 Tithe Defaulters List, www.findmypast.com.