John Humphrys, "Cracked Jack"
- References:
- Sources yet to be consulted:
Grave of John Humphrys, "Cracked Jack".
Abington, Co.Limerick.
Photo 2009, after cleaning.
See
larger
and
full size.
This says:
"In memory of John Humphrys aged 115 years"
See
wider shot.
John Humphrys, "Cracked Jack",
born est c.1760,
born
Doonane, Co.Tipperary.
He mar pre-1788 to --- Humphrys.
She was heiress of
Glenstal, Co.Limerick (near Co.Tipperary border).
She was meant to be a cousin of his.
He came to Glenstal by this marriage.
He farmed at Glenstal.
There are stories told of his eccentricity:
When he got married
he was supposed to have put his wife on a horse behind him, and rode horse over threshold into the house.
He would take extraordinary long cuts, ride up and down roads, travel for miles, just to get to Murroe.
He would head off into the mountains on his horse and wouldn't be seen for days.
Deed of 1809:
[Deed, 1809]
is a Deed of Lease dated 10th Aug 1809
from John Humphrys Senior, farmer, of Glenstal, Co.Limerick,
to John Humphrys Junior of Glenstal, farmer.
Cracked Jack's father was William.
Think
John Humphrys of Glenstal
had no son.
This must be
Cracked Jack and his son John.
In
[Deed, 1809]
Cracked Jack is giving over to his son
some lands in Glenstal
currently in the possession of Cornelius Ryan and William Tucker.
Ryan and Tucker will continue to live there for now.
Deed of 1817: Cracked Jack's link to old John Humphrys of Glenstal.
John Humphrys, farmer,
of Glenstal
(this has to be Cracked Jack)
is party to
[Deed, 1817]
about the lands of Glenstal after the death of old
John Humphrys of Glenstal.
It says that the living John of Glenstal:
"claims an interest in that part of the lands of Glenstall in his possession
at the yearly rent of £50".
It
shows that all the
Humphrys of Glenstal
(including Cracked Jack)
hold their land ultimately under the deed of 1782
[Deed, 1782].
This 1782 deed
was made by old
John Humphrys of Glenstal.
[Deed, 1817]
says that the landlord
John Hyde
"has brought an ejectment for non payment of rent".
The deed is about a new, complex arrangement whereby the rents due are discharged
and all the Humphrys stay at Glenstal.
Later, the
[Tenure Book for Glenstal, 1850]
shows that all the Humphrys of Glenstal
(including Cracked Jack's son
James Humphrys, "The Squire")
hold their land in Glenstal under an unknown deed of 1797.
This 1797 deed
would also be in the time of old
John Humphrys of Glenstal.
Barrington
acquired Glenstal in 1818.
|
[Deed, 1819]
is a lease of lands at Glenstal from
Patrick Humphrys of Glenstal
to Henry Rose.
The plot is:
"that part of Glenstal lately held by James Devane,
together with the meadow held by John Humphrys last year
from said Patrick Humphrys
adjoining the meadow part of said lands so held by said Devane".
Deed of 24 June 1822
[Barrington papers, Glenstal]
transfers the Humphrys lands in
[Deed, 1782]
from Rose
to Joseph Barrington (future 1st Baronet).
There are two listings
for
"John Humphrys"
at
Glenstal
in [Tithe Survey, 1826].
These must be John Humphrys senior and junior,
renting 107 acres and 17 acres from
Matthew Barrington
(future 2nd Baronet).
Cracked Jack
was alive in 1831.
He erected the gravestone to his sons Michael and Nicholas at Abington.
His wife possibly dies, 1833:
Cracked Jack's wife may be "Mrs. John Humphrys" of "Glenstar", Co.Limerick,
whose death is announced in
Limerick Chronicle,
9 Feb 1833.
There is no Glenstar or similar in Co.Limerick.
This must be Glenstal.
The wording of the notice suggests John Humphrys is still alive.
Cracked Jack died Glenstal, Co.Limerick, at advanced age, est c.1850, age est c.90 yrs.
He was
bur Abington, Co.Limerick.
His gravestone says
"In memory of John Humphrys aged 115 years"
(which would be the
oldest Irish person ever).
The
story is that he put it up before he died,
for the crack, wanted to be the oldest man in Ireland.
It was common to put up a stone before death in order to secure a spot in the graveyard,
but not obviously to put an age on it.
[Ó Ceallaigh, 1957]
though
says that this stone is of the Squire's brother John
rather than of the Squire's father.
Cracked Jack arranged farms for each of his sons.
He
had issue:
- John Humphrys, junior,
Jack, of Glenstal.
He
must be John Humphrys Junior of Glenstal,
in
[Deed, 1809].
He must be one of the two listings for
"John Humphrys"
at Glenstal
in [Tithe Survey, 1826].
He must be
"John Humphrys"
who wit his brother James' mar 1841.
He is probably
"John Humphrys" listed in
[Griffiths Valuation, 1851]
as occupying
88 acres (with a house)
and 23 acres (no house, just land)
in Glenstal townland, leasing from
Sir Matthew Barrington, 2nd Baronet.
He also rents out to others 3 small plots.
- Michael Humphrys, born 1788.
He might be "Mickey of Murroe"
who mar 8 Jan 1816
[Murroe RC par records]
to Mary Degan [of Murroe].
See image.
The marriage was wit by "John Humphrys"
(who could be brother or father).
Michael
died 18 Jan 1818, age 30 yrs [grave, Abington].
-
Anne Humphrys,
think born 1794,
listed at death as dau of "the late John Humphreys, Esq., Glenstall",
mar William Burke
[of think "Killnragh", think this is Kilnarath parish, NE side of Newport],
they fell on hard times,
her brother James "The Squire" gave them land,
he died pre-1878,
she died Glenstal, 1 Sept 1878, think age 84 yrs,
see death notice
in Cork Examiner, 12 Sept 1878,
(todo) see better quality copy.
- Margaret Humphrys.
She mar --- Ryan.
[Claire Humphreys]
said she married
Ryan "Buide", of Killoscully, Co.Tipperary,
"whose mother was a Hourigan".
But this could be confusion with James' wife
Margaret Ryan,
who was Ryan "Tim",
and whose mother was a Hourigan.
- James Humphrys, "The Squire", of Glenstal,
born 1805, Glenstal, Co.Limerick.
Inherited Glenstal.
Timmy Humphreys
said he was "known locally as the Squire".
- Nicholas Humphrys, born 1806,
died 8th Apr 1831, age 25 yrs [grave, Abington].
Cracked Jack is also probably father of:
- William Humphrys, of Brittas,
born 1794.
Would be after grandfather.
[Deed, 1810]
shows that Humphrys had
Brittas in 1810.
- Debora Humphreys,
born 1809,
of Clare St, Limerick.
Sister of William.
Never married.
She died at 12 Clare St, Limerick, 12 Feb 1895, age 86 yrs.
See death cert
from here.
Death registered by William Humphreys, nephew, of Cornwallis St.
Will proved at Limerick by her nephew
Michael Humphreys, farmer, Dromloughan, Co.Limerick, sole executor,
on 1 Mar 1895, value £424
[NAI].
William of Brittas is a close relation of James the Squire
William of Brittas (born 1794)
is very closely related to
James the Squire
(born 1805).
Probably his brother.
William's sons
William and Michael and Fr. David
are
listed as "cousins" at Dr.David's funeral 1903.
The funeral list of
William's son
Fr.David Humphrys
in 1930
shows he is very closely related to the family of
James the Squire.
Apart from his niece and nephew,
Fr.David's funeral list
shows his closest living relations ("cousins") as
the James the Squire family:
And other "cousins":
- Dr. Humphrys, Boher (unidentified).
- Dr.Andrew Foley of Cashel.
This is curious.
While Foley is a cousin of the James the Squire family,
I cannot see how he could be a cousin of Fr.David.
Cracked Jack is also probably father of:
-
Anthony Humphrys, of Rath.
It is unclear if we should put "DNA proven" here.
A descendant of Anthony Humphrys,
Caitriona Pearl,
is a DNA match to descendants of James "the Squire", namely
Niall Humphreys and me.
However Caitriona herself descends from James "the Squire"
through Mary Humphrys.
That could explain her DNA match with my line, independent of Anthony Humphrys.
It is likely that she is a double relation.
Grave of John Humphrys, "Cracked Jack".
Photo 2009, after cleaning.
See
larger
and
full size.
[Deed of 1809]
from John Humphrys Senior, of Glenstal,
to John Humphrys Junior, of Glenstal.
John Humphrys Senior, of Glenstal,
listed on
memorial of
[Deed of 1809].
Signature of John Humphrys Junior, of Glenstal.
On memorial of
[Deed of 1809].
What must be John Humphrys senior and junior
listed
in [Tithe Survey, 1826]
as
renting 107 acres and 17 acres
at Glenstal.
The death of "Mrs. John Humphrys" of "Glenstar", Co.Limerick.
Limerick Chronicle,
9 Feb 1833.
This may be Cracked Jack's wife.
The sons of William of Brittas,
Fr. David and Michael and William,
are
listed as "cousins" at
Dr.David's funeral 1903.
See full size
top and
bottom.
Proven DNA relation
The following branch has descendants who are
proven close DNA relations of me and of
Niall Humphreys.
So
Mary Humphrys must be a close relation (sister or close cousin)
of James "The Squire".
At the very least, since this is not a daughter of James "The Squire", it means the link through James "The Squire" is DNA proven.
Marriage of Mary Humphrys in 1822.
From
here.
See
other scan
from
here.
Debora Humphrys who married Furlong
was thought to be a sister of Cracked Jack (or maybe a sister of his wife)
since
Tobias English and Emily Humphrys
were thought to be fairly close cousins.
- Debora Humphrys,
NOT Margaret,
mar 1805
to George Furlong
and had issue.
- Cracked Jack may be the following:
- John Humphrys.
He
had lands at Meentolla, Abington par, Co.Limerick
(just N of Glenstal).
His lands at Meentolla are subject of
[Deed, 1810]
and [Deed, 1811].
- The Spring Assizes, Barony of Owneybeg, 18 Mar 1811,
makes £30 payment "to Roger Scully, David Humphrys and John Humphrys,
to [make repairs] on the road from Limerick to Cashel,
between the large crab. tree on the lands of Capparnahanna
and the cross road at Wilton".
(Capparnahanna would be Cappanahanagh, NW of Murroe.
Wilton was just S of Murroe.)
- The Spring Assizes, Barony of Owneybeg, 1812,
makes £24 payment "to Roger Scully and John Humphrys
to repair ... on the road from Nenagh to Bruff,
between the cross of Wilton
and the small bridge at Castlecomfort".
(Castle Comfort is SW of Murroe.)
- There is a much younger John Humphrys in Glenstal in the late 19th century. Perhaps this line.
-
John Humphreys,
listed as
owning 69 acres in Abington parish in
[Owners of Land, 1876].
- "John Humphries, P.L.G." (unidentified)
was present at the attempted sale of Glenstal in 1882
(as well as James, P.L.G.).
- John Humphreys, of Glenstal, farmer, held 113 acres in 1885,
but was in arrears of rent with the landlord
Sir Croker Barrington, 4th Baronet.
He was at risk of eviction.
By deed of 18 Sept 1885
[Barrington papers, Glenstal]
Barrington took possession of Humphreys' land in payment of rent,
and leased back to him a smaller plot of 50 acres:
"that portion lying below the road to Flavans"
(maybe this is mis-read for Farnane, Abington par).
- Deed of 17 Nov 1887,
John Humphreys of Glenstal, farmer,
to David Begley, of Limerick.
[LR] 1888, book 1, no.265.
Humphreys owes Begley money.
He mortgages to him his lands of 50 acres until sum is paid.
- Deed of 28 Apr 1888,
David Begley to John Humphreys.
[LR] 1888, book 22, no.248.
Humphreys has paid debt,
gets his lands back.
- John Humphreys,
died 1903. Apparently gravestone in Abington.
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