IE-WEX – 1800s – Nolan-related inscriptions in the Bunclody area
Historical Context
Clohamon the townland in Ireland where George Calvert (father of the future Lord Baltimore) set up his headquater for directing his fishery and settlement ventures in America in the early 1600s is right next to the town of Bunclody.
Around 1830, Father Pelagius Nowlan (born Morgan Nowlan in Ballyrankin, Kilrush, Co. Wexford around 1787) established a Catholic mission at Little Placentia (later Argentia) as the newly-appointed “Apostle to the Micmacs” in Newfoundland. Father Nowlan was very active as a missionary and at age 84, in he passe
One key piece of information relating to a Nowlan family from the Bunclody area, which settled in Newfoundland comes to us from his cousin, Thomas Freeman, a “yoeman”(sheriff?) in Little Placentia in 1871 when he died. the late 1800s. Little Placentia being the place where, around 1830, 1830s, his cousin, a Father Pelagius Nowlan (born Morgan Nowlan in circa 1787) had established a Catholic mission as newly-appointed “apostle to the Micmacs” in Newfoundland.
In 1871, Father Pelagius Nowlan died at Little Placentia at the age of 84 and, at the time, his cousin, a Thomas Freeman, wrote that “Father Nowlan’s mother and mine were from the brother and sister”. He also stated that there were several priests in the family. He himself was a grand-nephew of the Fr. Thomas Clinch killed at Vinegar Hill and the Father “Miley (sic
Miles) Conners” who died in New York, the two Father “Humes” and the Father “Kelley” formerly P.P. of Kilquigin were all second cousins. Thomas Clinch’s grandfather had fought at the battle of the Boyne in 1690 and after the war he settled in Knockanure in the parish of Kilrush and later the family moved to Oulartwick in the parish of Oulart.
In 1798, Fr. Clinch’s two brothers, William and Michael, were members of the United Irishmen, and, enraged by the visible brutality of the English cavalry (cavalry of Newtonbarry ie. Bunclody), Fr. Clinch joined them in leading the rebels at Vinegar Hill. In the encounter, Fr. Clinch was shot and killed.
Fr. Pelagius (Morgan) Nowlan, the Catholic priest, born in Ballyrankin, parish of Kilrush, was sent to
Newfoundland around 1830 to be an “Apostle to the Micmacs”.
In the 1830s, the Catholic church appointed Father Pelagius Nowlan as “apostle to the Micmacs” of Newfoundland founding a mission church in Little Placentia (now Argentia), Newfoundland. Father Nowlan was a native of Kilrush in Co. Wexford and was related to Thomas Freeman, the then sheriff of Little Placdentia. He is also believed to have been related to other Nowlan families who settled around Placentia Bay and on the nearby French island of St. Pierre. Suzanne Power, a Nolan descendant whose family had roots in the Placentia Bay area established that the Nowlan, Clinch and Connor families were closely related and the inscriptions which follow are help to shed light on how the Nowlan, Clinch and Connor families who lived in the area of Bunclody were related.
Beginning of Inscriptions
Ballindaggin RC cemetery
CLINCH.
Erected by/
Patrick Redmond Ballinacoola/
in memory of his /stepson/
Patrick Clinch/
who died 23rd January 1873/
aged 19 years/
also Margaret Clinch who/
died 2nd January 1877 aged 21 years/
the above Patrick Redmond/
died 14th January 1879 aged 61 years/
also his wife Elizabeth who died/
12th Feb 1912 aged 87 years.
[RN: Elizabeth (c1825-1912)
m1. ??? Clinch;
children: Patrick (c1854), Margaret (c1856)
m2. Patrick Redmond (c1818-1879)]
JORDAN.
Erected by/
Richard Jordan of Clonjordan/
in memory of his wife/
Anne Jordan who died Jan 20/
1871 aged 70 years/
Also, his daughter Catherine Nolan
who died 18 Feb 1887 aged 57 years/
and grandson Richard Jordan who died/
young also the above Richard Jordan/
who died 20th April 1888 aged 84 years/
also his son Patrick Jordan who died/
May 7th 1909 aged 72 years.
[RN: Catherine Jordan (c1830-1887)
m. ???? Nolan]
NOLAN.
Erected by/
William Nolan of Ballydamore/
in memory of his father/
John Nolan who died Feb 23rd 1873/
aged 81 years/also his mother
Bridget Nolan of Ballylusk/
who died October 1th 1878/
aged 83 years/
also the above-named William Nolan/
of Ballydamore who died April/
5th 1912 aged 86 years/
also his brother John Nolan died/
March 26th 1905 aged 73 years.
[RN: John Nolan (c1792-1873) + Bridget (c1795-1878)
Children: William of Ballydamore (c1826-1912), John (c1832-)]
CONNOR. Ledger.
Erected by Edward Connor of/
Ballydaggan to the memory of his/
father-in-law Patrick Clinch dep`d/
this life June 6th 1827 aged 35 years/
also his beloved wife Eleanor Connor/
daughter to the above Mr Patrick/
Clinch depd this life December
(6 or 8)th 18(30 or 50) aged 31 years/
also Eleanor Clinch who died 25th Aug/
1865 aged 70 years also the above
Edwd Connor who died 18th Dec 1885/
aged 66 years.
[Eleanor Clinch (c1799-1830)
m. Edward Connor(c1799-1885)]
==> Clinch-Connor family connection;
“Miles Connor” may have been a brother
of Edward Connor above.
CONNORS.
Erected/by/
Bridget Doyle/
in memory of her father/
Patrick Connors/
Glasslackan who died 17th March/
1879 aged 67 years also her mother/
Cathrine Connors/
who died 20th Sept 1870/
aged 51 yrs
also her uncle/
Joseph Byrne/
who died 25th March/
1879 aged 49 yrs.
Templeshanbo RC cemetery
NOLAN. A partly obscured Table.
Erected by Moses Nolan of/
Ballymenane/
to the memory of Anne Nolan and ( his father?)/
and mother John and Anastacia Nolan/
and John Neil (Early 19th. cent, type.)
NOWLAN. Four headstones in a row,
from a) right to d) l e f t :
a) Here lieth the body of Den/
nis Nowlan who depd this life/
the 17 th of April 1804 aged 71/yrs.
b) Here lieth the body of/
Mary Nowlan who decd/
June 25th 1778 aged 17 year
c) Erected by Timothy Nolan in me/
mory of his wife Mary Nolan orets (sic – recte otherwise)/
Jordan who departed this life June/
the 2nd 1860 aged 67 years.
d) Erected by/
Timothy Nolan Wheelagoure/
in memory of his father John/
Nolan Ballycristal who died/
August 24th 1892 aged 81 years/
also his brother Moses Nolan who/
died June 24th 1894 aged 32 years/
also his sister Mary Nolan who died/
April 17th 1888 aged 27 years/
also his sister Margaret Nolan who died/
Sep’t 25th 1902 aged 28 years/
also his mother Sarah Nolan who died/
July 3rd 1906 aged 76 years/
also his nephew Patrick Nolan died/June 16th 1922 aged 9 years/
also his brother James Nolan died/August 29th 1908 aged 74 years.
WALLACE.
Erected by John Wallace of Clorogue/ (RN: Clohoghe?)
in memory of his son William who/
dep’d this life Jan’y 14th 1844 aged 17 yr/
Beneath this silent tomb I sleep/
dear parents for me do not weep/
short was my time long is my rest/
to take me from you God thought best/
also his father-in-law Martin Nowlan/
dep’d Jan’y 6th 1842 agd 67 yrs.
NOWLAN. Two headstones side by side,
a) right and b) left:
a) Here lies the body of Anastatia/
Nowlan alias Doyle who dep’d/
April 29th 1792 aged 67 yrs/
also his mother & four sisters,
b) Erected by Anne Nolan/
Ballycrystal in memory of her/
husband Peter Nolan who died/
October 15th 1884 aged 84 years/
also his brother James Nolan/
who died April 24th 1890 aged 92/
years.
NOWLAN. Ledger.
Here lies the body of/
James Nowlan who dep’d June/
1798 aged 77 yrs.
O’CONNOR. Two memorials*,
a) is a ledger at foot of b) a headstone:
a) Erected by Miles O’Connor of/
Ballindagin in memory of his father/
Terence O’Connor who depd this/
life the 1(2?)th of Feb 1813 aged 6(0?) yrs.
b) Here lies the body/
of Patrick Connor who dep’d/
this life ye 7th of August 1795/
(remainder of inscription is under ground)
Bunclody RC cemetery
NOLAN.
Pray for the/
soul of Thomas Nolan/
who died July 27th 1874/
aged 22 years/
also/Roger Nolan/
died June 26th 1879/
aged 90 yrs.
NOLAN.
Monument with inscriptions on two sides:
(East side)
Erected/by/
Mrs Eliza Nolan/
Newtownbarry/
in memory of her/
husband/Thomas Nolan/
died June 11th 1862/
aged 47 years/also
her daughter/
Mary Nolan died May/
13th 1872 aged 18 years/
also her daughter Lizzie Nolan
died July/25th 1882/aged 21 yrs/
also her daughter/Annie Nolan
died March 19th1 1936 aged 79 years.
(West side)
Of your charity pray/
for the soul/of/
Mrs Eliza Nolan/ who died/
April 15th 1890/aged 50 (RN? 60?) years/
also her daughter/Julia Clinch/
died Nov 3rd 1904/aged 51 years/
also her son/James Nolan/
died April 26th 1923/aged 66 years.
[RN: Thomas (c1815-1862) + Eliza (c1840-1890) Nolan of Newtownbarry;
Children: Mary (c1854-1872), Annie (c1857-1936), James (c1857-1923),
Lizzie (c1861-1882)], Julia Clinch (c1853-1904)]
WALL.
Erected by/
Mrs H. O’Connor/
Sherbrooke/
Canada East/
in memory of her /
father/
James Wall/
Newtownbarry/
died Sept 23rd 1863/
aged 50 years/
her sister Mary Wall/
died Sept 27, 1869/
aged 22 years.
[RN: James Wall m. ???;
Children: Mary (1847-1869), sister in Sherbrooke m. H. O’Connor]
Kilrush RC cemetery
McCREA. NOLAN.
Erected by/Patrick McCrea of Knocknalour/
in memory of his belov’d father/
John McCrea/
who died Fett 1862 aged 80 years/
and of his mother Sarah McCrea/
who died 13th Oct 1866 aged 78 years/
also his sister Mary McCrea who/
departed this life on the 12th of/
July 1875 aged 57 years/
also his wife Rose McCrea who died/
October 5th 1894 aged 55 years/
also his daughter Sarah Nolan who/
died August 14th 1899 aged 35 years/
also his son Michael McCrea who/
died Oct 10th 1906 aged 34 years/
also the above Patrick McCrea who died/
Sept 12th 1910 aged 82 years/
also his son John McCrea died March 27/
1920 aged 57 years.
NOLAN/NOWLAN. Table.
Sacred to the memory of James Redmond /
of Knockanure/
who depd this life Jan 11th 1844 aged 60 yrs/
also in memory of his wife Anne/
Redmond who depd this life on the 11th/
of May 1866 in the 77th year of her age/
also his daughter Anne Nowlan/
alias Redmond who depd this life
Dec 8th 1870 aged 52 years/
also his daughter Bridget Redmond/
depd this life Sept 1st 1886 aged 50 years/
also his son John Redmond who depd/
this life Novr 13 1889 aged 65 years/
also his son Martin Redmond who depd/
this life May 2n d 1892 aged 70 years/
also his son Daniel Redmond who depd/
this life Nov 30t h 1893 aged 70 years/
also his son Michael Redmond who depd/
this life May 23rd 1895 aged 70 years/
his daughter-in-law Mary Redmond died Sept 21st/
1902 aged 71 yrs his granddaughter Anne Redmond/
died 9th June 1912 aged 40.
NOLAN.
Two headstones side by side,
a) left and b) right:
a) Erected/by/ Charles Nolan/
in memory of/his dearly beloved Mother/
Catherine Nolan of Bolinrush/
who died Dec’r 2nd 1861 aged 57/
and his father Michael Nolan/
who died Jany 23rd 1865 aged 67/
also his grandparents/
William and Ann Nolan/
who died 1842-6/
also his brother Thomas Nolan/
who died Nov 2n d 1927 aged 83.
b) Erected by Jane Nolan of/
Raheen in memory of her husband/
Thomas Nolan who died/
April 8th 1883 aged 84 years.
NOLAN.
Two headstones side by side,
a) left and b) right:
a) Erected/by/ Charles Nolan/
in memory of/his dearly beloved Mother/
Catherine Nolan of Bolinrush/
who died Dec’r 2nd 1861 aged 57/
and his father Michael Nolan/
who died Jany 23rd 1865 aged 67/
also his grandparents/
William and Ann Nolan/
who died 1842-6/
also his brother Thomas Nolan/
who died Nov 2n d 1927 aged 83.
b) Erected by Jane Nolan of/
Raheen in memory of her husband/
Thomas Nolan who died/
April 8th 1883 aged 84 years.
NOLAN.
In memory of Thaddeus Nolan/
of Boolabawn who died 5th July/
1876 aged 76 years.
NOWLAN. Ledger.
Erected by Patrick Nowlan/ Knockanure/
in memory of his parents/
1860.
NOWLAN. Table.
Sacred/to the memory of James Nowlan Lacken/
who died Nov 10th 1846 aged 55 years/
also his wife Mary Nowlan who died Decr/
30th 1872 aged 75 years/
also their son Thomas Nowlan who died Decr/
25th 1889 aged 68 years and his two children/
James and Aiden both died young/
and his daughter/
Hannah Nowlan who died Nov/
21st 1913 aged 58 years and his son Thomas Nowlan/
died July 4th 1923 aged 64 years.
Kilrush Cof I cemetery
Table facing west.
Two inscriptions, first in Latin (precis here),
second in English (quoted in full):
a) Revd Edwardus Murphy died 30th April MDCCXCVIII. 1798
b) Near this tomb likewise lie the remains of/
his niece, Margret Nowlan alias Stafford/
with those of her only child.
(This inscription appears to be unfinished)
Kilmyshall old cemetery
CONNOR.
Here lies the body
of Moses Connor
who died the 17th of/
August 1801 aged 67 years.
ELLIS. Table.
Erected by John Ellis of N’t’Barry/
(Newtownbarry i.e. modern-day Bunclody)
in memory of his son James Ellis/
who depd this life the 7th of April/
1818 aged 15 years/
also his wife/
Mary Ellis alias Connor
dep this life/
the . . of March
1819 aged (4?)1 years.
NOULAN.
(RN: This spelling indicates a French connection, likely related to service in the Irish Brigades in France)
Two headstones side by side,
a) right and b) left:
a) Here lies the body of Thadee/
Noulan who depd May ye 30/
1784 aged 61 yrs.
b) To the memory of Darby Nowlan of Balladrough who/
depd this life Oct 2nd 1805 aged/
80 years also his wife Mary Nowlan/
alias Bryand depd Aug 10 1824/
aged 87 years.
NOWLAN. Ledger.
Here lies the body of Miles/
Nowlan of Coolmone/
who depd/
this life the 26th of February 1796/
aged 7 years.
NOWLAN.
Here lyeth the body of Bryan/
Nowlan depd 14th’JanrY 1802/
aged 73 years.
NOWLAN.
Here lies the body of Catherine/
Nowlan alias Collons [RN: Collins?] who depd /
this life April 11th 1797 aged 23/yrs.
NOWLAN. Two memorials,
a) headstone right and b) ledger left:
a) Erected in memory of Patrick/
Nowlan of Clohamon who/
dep’d this life life Octr 27th 1829 aged/
79 yrs .
b) Erected in memory of Eleanor Nowlan/
who dep’d this life March 23rd 1844/
aged 75 years.
NOWLAND see DOYLE, 18.
??continue
Kilmyshall RC
CONNORS. Ledger.
Erected in memory of/
Mary Connors alias Thorpe of Rylands/
who depd this life Jany 7th 1838/
aged 80 yrs/
O valued how adored art Thou/
Margaret Nolan died May 12™ 1842 aged/
27 years
Denis Nolan died March 18 1846/
aged 38 years
Johanna Nolan died/
February 8th 1848 aged 75 years/
Anne Kavanagh died June 7th 1850/
aged 39 years
John Ellis died Sept/
25th 1883 aged 78 years
Elizabeth Ellis/
died May 30t h 1903 aged 88 years.
CONNORS.
Erected/by/
Bridget Doyle/
in memory of her father/Patrick Connors/
Glasslackan who died 17th March/
1879 aged 67 years also her mother/
Cathrine Connors/
who died 20tn Sept 1870/
aged 51 yrs also her uncle/
Joseph Byrne/
who died 25th March/
1879 aged 49 yrs.
COMERFORD.
Here lies the body of
Esther Comerford alias Nolan/
who depd this life Jany 8t h 1836 aged 50 yrs.
NOLAN.
Erected by James/
Nolan of Glass/
lackan to the memory of his un/
cle James Nolan/
who departed this/
life January 15th/
l866 aged 61 years/
also his son Michael/
who died young/
January 1873/
also his son John/
Nolan died N’br/
2nd 1876 aged 2 years.
Kilrush RC cemetery (old graveyard)
CLYNCH. Two headstones, a) behind b):
a) Erected by William Clynch/
of Kiltilly in memory of James Kennedy/
who depd this life June 9th 1830/
aged 32 years.
b) Erected by Alice Clinch/
in memory of her father John/
Clinch of Knockanure who died/
7th July 1865 aged 72 years also/
her brother and sister.
CONNORS.
Sacred to the memory of/
Denis Connors of Knockanure who died/
Sept 8th 1832 aged 61 years also his brother/
Myles Connors who died Feb`y 6th 1847/
age 80 years
[RN: Could the Myles mentioned above
be the “Miles Connor” mentioned in the will of the Hugh Nowlan
who settled in New Brunswick in the 1830s and died there in the 1850s;
the tombstone doesn’t specify that he is buried in Ireland!]
also his wife Mary Connors/
who died January 4th 1869 aged 92 years/
also his grand-son
/ Denis Doyle/
also his son Myles Connors who died/
May 27th 1878 aged 67 years
also his son Bartholomew Connors who died Octr/
25th 1878 aged 64 years
also his grandson Denis Connors
who died Novr 12th 1878 aged 28 years
also his grandson/
Michael Connors who died Novr/
23rd 1903 aged 62 years and his grandson
Denis Connors died April 15th 1925/
aged 86 years also his granddaughter/
Terence Connors died Feb 29th 1928 aged/
81 years.
CONNORS. Two headstones side by side,
a) left and b) right:
a) Erected to the memory of
Joseph Connors of Graigbeg who/
depd this life Feb 7th 1828 aged 87 yrs/
also his wife Mary Connors
depd Augt/
9th 1828 aged 81
b) Sacred to the memory of/
Martha Connors of Graigbeg who depd/
this life Oct 4th 1852 aged 40 years/
also her mother Mary Tully depd/
March 14th 1841 aged 91 yrs
also her daughter Mary Connors depd
Nov 4th 1842/
aged 18 years also her daughter Elizabeth/
Connors depd Jan 30th 1843 aged 14 years.
CLYNCH.
Erected by Michael Clynch/
of Knockanure in memory of his wife/
Mary Clynch who died April 22nd 1868/
aged 69 years
Also his mother/
Catherine Clynch
died March 2nd 1820 aged 38 years/
also his father Patrick Clynch
died June 6th 1844/
aged 82 years/
also the above named Michael Clynch/
died Sept 27th 1892
aged 86 years.
Camolin C. of I. Cemetery
CONNOR.
Our father/
in memoriam/
Peter Connor/
born Aug 1799/
died Feb 1877.
