James Humphrys, "The Squire", of Glenstal
Marriage of James Humphrys and Margaret Ryan,
16 Feb 1841
[Newport RC par records].
James Humphrys,
"The Squire",
Poor Law Guardian,
born 1805, Glenstal, Co.Limerick.
See
wikipedia.
[Dick, 1939]
said he went to a
hedge school.
He became a
prosperous tenant farmer in
Glenstal, Co.Limerick,
renting from
Barrington.
Listed as "James Humphrys, Murroe" at marriage.
He
married a girl from Newross, Co.Tipperary,
near
Doonane
where his own family had recently come from.
He
mar 1841 to
Margaret Ryan
[bapt 19th Sept 1819].
"James Humphrys (John)" (i.e. son of John)
is listed in
[Griffiths Valuation, 1851]
as occupying 127 acres (with a reasonable size house)
in Glenstal
townland, leasing from
Sir Matthew Barrington, 2nd Baronet.
He also rents out one small plot.
Humphrys has
the largest plot of any tenant in Glenstal townland.
It is not the biggest house in the townland though.
Barrington owned Glenstal townland.
Humphrys leased their land but did not own it outright.
"James Humphrys" sp the bapt of his nephew
Michael Ryan
1855.
He
bought
Bohergar, Boher, Co.Limerick,
in 1856 for £900, from George Wilkinson.
Bohergar would later be farmed by his eldest son John.
The old
Humphrys lease of Glenstal
[Deed, 1782]
apparently expired after 80 years in 1862.
It is referred to in
[Affidavit, 1862].
Poor Law Guardian:
He became a
Poor Law Guardian
(would be for the Poor Law Union of Limerick).
He is
described as P.L.G. in 1876 newspaper and
in 1882 dispute.
He was NOT
Clerk of the Petty Sessions.
That would be confusion with the Rath branch
here and
here.
When in early 1882,
Lord Cloncurry evicted tenants
on nearby properties,
James gave them sites to live on.
The evicted included
his possible brother
William Humphrys,
who was given a site at Boher.
Landlord dispute:
James had a dispute in 1882 with his own landlord
Sir Croker Barrington, 4th Baronet
about payment of rent.
The old
Humphrys lease of Glenstal,
[Deed, 1782],
which pre-dated Barrington, expired,
and then Barrington doubled the rent.
See Irish Times,
August 7, 1882.
This
describes how as a result of the dispute,
Barrington put the lease on Humphrys farm at Glenstal up for sale,
and Humphrys had to buy it back,
which he did successfully.
The farm is described in 1882 as 157 acres.
However earlier in
[Griffiths Valuation, 1851]
it is 127 acres
and later in
[Deed, 1899]
it is also 127 acres.
In 1883, he summoned
Sir Croker Barrington, 4th Baronet
for having "on 16th and 20th Dec last" allowed 20 sheep to trespass on his lands at Glenstal.
(He had considerable rights, even though only renting.)
He won his case, and Sir Croker was fined.
See
[Tierney, 1966, p.181].
|
James dies, 1899:
He died 4 July
[GROI]
or 24 July
[grave]
July 1899, Glenstal, age 94 yrs.
He was bur Abington, Co.Limerick.
He is referred to as "the late James Humphreys, P.L.G." and "farmer" at his wife's death.
Margaret continued to live at Glenstal.
See entry
at Glenstal in 1901 census.
Spelt "Humphrys".
Margaret is head of household,
listed as farmer's widow.
Tim and his family are living with her,
and two servants.
Glenstal listed in 1901 census as having 7 rooms,
9 windows in front of house,
with 6 out-buildings - 1 stable, 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 piggery,
1 barn and 1 shed.
Margaret was the only grandparent Dick and Sighle knew.
Sighle said her grandmother was an
"extraordinary woman", very austere, religious, her mind fixed on the next world.
She
had a harsh way, didn't care about making the house nice,
"she would have been quite happy if all her sons were priests".
Sighle said the
Humphrys family was very spiritual, no attachment to things of this world, boys brought up very spartan.
Margaret dies, 1909:
She died Sat 6 Feb 1909, Glenstal, age 89 yrs
[GROI].
See death notice
in Limerick Chronicle,
Sat 6 Feb 1909.
She was
bur Mon 8 Feb 1909, Abington, Co.Limerick.
Spelt "Humphreys" in death notice, but "Humphrys" in
[GROI].
There was a vote of sympathy at meeting of Limerick Guardians,
"Mr. Hayes seconded the motion, and said he was sure the loss of Mrs. Humphries
must have been felt very much in the neighbourhood,
because she was an exceptionally good woman"
[Limerick Leader, Wed 10 Feb 1909].
James and Margaret had issue:
- Margaret Humphreys,
"Molly", after mother,
born Jan-Feb 1842, Glenstal House,
bapt "Margaret Humphrys" [Murroe par records], 5 Feb 1842,
sp Michael Ryan, Deborah Humphrys.
Spelling "Humphrys" at mar.
She mar 19 Feb 1867
to John Lloyd and had issue.
- John Humphrys,
of Bohergar, Boher, Co.Limerick,
born Glenstal House,
bapt 10 Nov 1843 [Murroe par records].
- Mary Humphrys,
Mary T. Humphrys, born Glenstal House,
bapt 14 Dec 1845 [Murroe], sp Catherine Bourke.
She wit her sister Margaret's mar, Feb 1867.
She mar 5 Mar 1867 to
John Humphrys, of Rath
[bapt 1830] and had issue.
- Catherine Humphrys,
Catherine Mary Humphrys,
Kate,
born Glenstal House,
bapt 3 Dec 1847 [Murroe RC par records],
sp Tom Humphrys, Anne Ryan.
"Kate Humphrys" sp bapt of her niece
Margaret Mary Humphreys in March 1870.
She
mar 26 June 1870
to Dan Ryan [born 1830]
and had issue.
They mar at Murroe RC church.
See entry.
From here.
They were mar by
Fr.David Humphrys.
Mar wit by William King and Anne Humphrys (would be her sister).
See mar cert.
From here.
The mar cert seems inaccurate. Probably filled in later.
It has him as "Dennis Ryan", of "Bough", age 30,
mar date as 27 June,
and mar wit by "Jane Humphrys".
We suspect all of this is inaccurate.
- Annie Humphrys,
born Glenstal House,
bapt Anne, [Murroe] 12 Nov 1849,
sp Timothy Foley, Nancy Ryan.
Living Glenstal at mar.
Living Toem at son's birth 1890. He is farmer.
Annie and Patrick were at Dr.David's funeral 1903.
The funeral list incorrectly says the brother-in-law is "Michael Quirk".
Patrick died early of TB.
[Obituary of Nora Humphrys, 1919]
says Annie is then living at
"Toome House, Cappawhite".
They had issue:
- Pat Quirke,
Patrick,
only son,
born 2 Sept 1890, Toem.
See birth cert
from here.
He married. No issue.
[Dick's family tree]
has a note: "DRANK".
- Jo Humphrys,
born Glenstal House,
bapt Johanna, 12 Feb 1852,
sp Simon Humphrys
and Margaret Foley
[Murroe RC records].
"Joanna" on death cert.
She became a nun
in the
Presentation Sisters.
"Sister M. Aloysius"
or
"Mother Aloysius".
She professed 1875 or 1877.
(Grave says professed 38 years before death, but thinks death is 1913 not 1915.)
She was a nun
at
Ballingarry convent, Co.Tipperary.
Also at Ballingarry was her niece
Sr. Margaret Mary Humphreys
who came there in 1889 or 1891.
See both of them listed
at Ballingarry convent in 1901 census.
See both of them listed
at Ballingarry convent in 1911 census.
She is nun at Ballingarry convent at death.
She died 3 June 1915, Ballingarry, age 63 yrs.
See death cert
from here.
She was bur Ballingarry convent cemetery.
Probably died 1915 not 1913:
Her grave says died 3 June 1913, but this is probably an error.
The memorial crosses were apparently erected decades later.
Her death cert says died 1915. However death not registered until 1918.
Finally, age "64" on grave fits 1915 not 1913.
- Tim Humphrys,
of Glenstal,
born Glenstal House,
would be after grandfather,
bapt Timothy, 17 Mar 1854 [Murroe], sp John Burke,
Catherine Hourigan
- Fr. James Humphrys,
Fr. Jimmy, poss. Jim, born Glenstal House,
bapt 19 May 1856 [Murroe RC par records], sp John Humphrys, Anne Foley.
- Mick Humphrys,
born Glenstal House,
bapt Michael, 9th June 1859 [Murroe],
sp Ben Young,
Mary Foley.
- Dr. David Humphrys (later Humphreys),
called "David" by his wife,
called "Dave" in letters from his Humphrys relations,
Timmy Humphreys
said he was "affectionately known to the family and neighbours as Dr. Dave",
born Glenstal House, Glenstal, Co.Limerick,
bapt "Humphrys", 30th Mar 1861,
sp David Humphrys, Mary Humphrys [Murroe parish records].
- Nora Humphrys (later Mother Francis Humphrys),
born Glenstal House,
bapt Honora, [Murroe] 14 May 1864,
sp John Foley
and Kate Foley.
She was a
nun in Australia.
Called "Sister Nora Francis"
and later
"Mother Francis Humphrys".
The grave of James Humphrys.
Abington, Co.Limerick.
Photo 2009, after cleaning.
See
larger
and
full size.
See
wider shot.
Stained glass window erected after 1909 in memory of
James and Margaret Humphrys
by their son Fr. James Humphrys, Murroe church.
Photo 2009.
See larger
and full size.
See alternate shot
and wider shot
and wider shot.
Baptism of David Humphrys, 30 Mar 1861 [Murroe parish records].
Elderly lady found in
Humphreys photos at Quinsborough
c.1902.
Could this be
the children's grandmother Margaret Ryan?
Eibhlín
thought this was Margaret Ryan.
[P106/507]
includes this in a group of pictures of "former employees" of the Humphreys and Rahilly families.
But she seems a bit well dressed for that.
Also, Margaret Ryan lived until 1909.
Surely she visited Quinsborough.
She must be in at least one photo there.
See
larger
and
full size.
Image 6017 in
Humphrys glass negatives.
Light-adjusted.
See
original.
See
other scan
and
other scan and
other scan.
See
copy
in
[P106/507(1)].
See
almost identical shot
(slight difference in mouth).
Image 6814 in
Humphrys glass negatives.
Light-adjusted.
See
original.
Unknown older lady.
Could this be Margaret Ryan?
Probably at
Quinsborough House.
Same room as Julia Curry
photo.
See larger
and full size.
Image 4151 in
Humphrys glass negatives.
Colour modified.
See original.
Similar shot to above.
See larger
and full size.
Image 6355 in
Humphrys glass negatives.
Light-adjusted.
See original.
Unknown. Found in Sighle's photos.
Could these be her Humphrys grandparents?
See full size.
This is
[P106/3923(5)].
Unidentified couple. Sticker says 1899.
[P106/507]
includes this in a group of pictures of "former employees" of the Humphreys and Rahilly families.
And in this case that seems right.
They seem too poor to be James "The Squire" and his wife.
See larger
and full size.
Image 5893 in
Humphrys glass negatives.
Light-adjusted.
See original.
See copy
in
[P106/507(2)].
See other copy.
See other scan and
other scan and
other scan.
Sources yet to be consulted
- Affidavit
of
Sir William Barrington, 3rd Baronet,
17 May 1862.
[Glenstal Abbey papers].
- The Tipperary People, 11 Aug 1882.
[Barrington papers, Glenstal].
- Find James funeral list, 1899.
Have searched
Limerick Chronicle 4-11 July, 25 July-8 Aug,
and
Limerick Leader 3-14 July, 24 July-7 Aug.
- Find Margaret funeral list, 1909.
Have searched
Limerick Chronicle 6-18 Feb 1909,
and
Limerick Leader 8-17 Feb 1909.
-
[Obituary of Nora Humphrys, 1919]
lists
"Mrs. Martin Butler (Glebe), a cousin".
Not sure whether cousin on mother or father's side.
Alive in 1919.
Cared for Nora in her final months in hospital in Australia, 1918-1919.
