THE O REILLY OF MOHERREAGH John James Reilly 2006 To my son Edward James Reilly Eighth Generation Reilly This family history is my gift to you. Thanks for making the trip to Ireland possible. 1 Edward James Reilly May 31, 1978 John James Reilly September 25, 1952 Edward Reilly January 10, 1926 Edward Joseph Reilly February 18, 1900 Patrick Joseph Reilly September 9, 1870 Edward “Ned” Reilly 1837 John Reilly 1810 Edward Reilly 1780 2 The O Reilly of Moherreagh The earliest known record of the O Reilly of Moherreagh, which means “hill of the deer,” date to the 1820’s. Moherreagh (more-her-ray) is a townland in west Cavan County, Ireland and is listed in the Tithe Book (a tax record) of 1823-1827. The townland is recorded in the Tithe Book as being about 100 acres. There are 11 families named as living in Moherreagh. Each family is identified by the name of the head of the household. They are tenant farmers leasing from a man named R. Hutton. In this Tithe Book record an Edward Reilly is listed. This is the first reference to an O Reilly from Moherreagh in the historical records. There are no other historical records available which pre-date the Tithe Book. Back dating from Edward Reilly’s descendants it would be fair to say that he was born circa 1780. He is the first O Reilly of Moherreagh that can be established. The Tithe Book Edward Reilly is noted in the Moherreagh listing as having 6 acres, 2 rood and 39 perches. Through a three tier system known as the Tithe Applotment which taxed certain types and usage of land Edward Reilly was allotted to pay 2 shillings 11 pence. This would amount to about 10% of the yearly income produced by the farm. It was collected to support the protestant Church of Ireland the government established church. Everyone was to pay whether Protestant or not. The Tithe was a point of contention for Roman Catholics who fiercely resisted being forced to pay in support of the protestant Church of Ireland. 3 Griffith’s Valuation: John O Reilly The next reference to an O Reilly of Moherreagh is found in what is called Griffith’s Valuation; an effort to record the owner, tenant and amount of all land in Ireland for tax purposes. Griffith’s Valuation for all counties was published between 1847 and 1864. The name of a John Reilly is listed for the Townland of Moherreagh in the Parish of Templeport. Moherreagh is now 195 acres of which John Reilly is “occupier” of 13 acres, 1 rood and 11 perches; the owner being Robert Hutton. The total annual valuation is now 3 pounds and 10 shillings. The birth of John Reilly can be set circa 1810. The name John Reilly of Moherreagh is mentioned again in a marriage record of the Roman Catholic Chapel in Swanlinbar, Cavan County, Ireland of 1866. (Moherreagh is just a short distance from Swanlinbar) The following information comes from the marriage record. On the twenty ninth day of November, 1866 there is recorded the marriage of an Edward “Ned” Reilly. He is a 28 year old bachelor. Edward is a farmer from Moherreagh. His father is listed as a John Reilly, also a farmer from Moherreagh. On November 29, 1866 Edward Reilly married Rosy Reilly, a 20 year old maid and farmer’s daughter from Drumcanon, whose father’s name is Matthew Reilly. The townland of Drumcanon is located a short distance across a valley from Moherreagh. From Moherreagh it is easy to look across and see Drumcanon. A P. Whelan P.P., the newly arrived priest for Swanlinbar married Edward and Rose, five days after his arrival. The witnesses were a James McGovern, who is listed by Griffith’s Valuation as being from Moherreagh and a 4 Mary Reilly. Now back dating from the 1866 wedding with Edward Reilly at 28 years old would put his birth circa 1837 and circa 1846 for 20 year old Rose. Oral family history holds that Edward and his twin bother Farrell were just babies when “The Night of the Big Wind” took place all across Ireland. This is according to Frank O Reilly of Moherreagh who at age 87 is the patriarch of the O Reilly family of Moherreagh and Swanlinbar. (Tradition of dating people and events in reference to the Big Wind.) Edward and Rose O Reilly What is known about Edward and Rose O Reilly comes from Mr. Frank O Reilly who is the son of Michael O Reilly the youngest son of Edward and Rose; and their grandson. Edward and Rose farmed at Moherreagh. They lived off of what they grew or raised on their hillside farm. Cows, chickens, sheep, pigs, eggs, milk, vegetable garden and hay sustained them. They were known as “butter buyers.” They would produce their own butter from the milk of their three cows. Then they would go down into Swanlinbar to the “Old Market” and buy butter from other farmers to resell all the butter in Eniskillen or Beltubert. The couple would walk the 15 miles from Swanlinbar, behind a donkey that was carrying the butter and cream, to Eniskillen in order to sell their product. Both Edward and Rosy died in the spring of 1921. Frank O Reilly, a small child at the time remembers the event because there were lots potatoes in the potatoes bins. 5 Ned was in the “lower room” of the house which was slightly down hill. Rosy was by his side. Both were very elderly. When Edward passed away she asked to be taken to the “upper room” of the house in order to lie down because she was not feeling well. She died 20 minutes later. Frank remembers the coffins lay out on the potatoes in the potato bin because it was the coolest place to keep coffins until burial. The next day the funeral procession went from the house at Moherreagh to the Killaduff Cemetery about four miles from Moherreagh. A hearse took one of the coffins and the other was carried all the way to the cemetery. Killaduff Cemetery Edward and Rose O Reilly are buried together in front of the ruins of the St. Tigernach Roman Catholic Church at Killaduff Cemetery. Only the East Wall and some foundational stones remain. The stone church dates to the 15th century, during the Reformation; and it is said that the church was built in one night. Today Edward and Rose O Reilly and Michael and Mary Ann O Reilly, the grandparents and parents of Frank O Reilly lie side by side in front of the old church. Each August the Swanlinbar Roman Catholic Church holds a mass at the cemetery and there is an annual collection for its upkeep. The Killaduff Cemetery is beautifully maintained by the faithful with the ruins of the St. Tigernach Church and older portion of the cemetery at the top of the hill and the newer section of the cemetery sweeping down the hill in front. 6 The Children of Ned and Rose Ned and Rose O Reilly were married on November 29, 1866 and had 9 children between the years 1870 and 1885. A baptismal register from the Templeport RC Parish gives their names and date of baptism. Patt 10-Sep-1870 Marget 26-Feb-1872 Bridget 01-Nov-1873 Mary 25-Aug-1875 John 13-Jan-1877 Rosanne 05-Oct-1878 Ellen 17-Jul-1880 Francis 22-Apr-1883 Michael 18-Nov-1885 Edward and Rose O Reilly are listed as the parents of each child. The named sponsors for each baptism are either an O Reilly family member or of a neighbor from Moherreagh or Drumcanon. Mostly likely the O Reilly are brothers and sisters or aunts and uncles of Edward and Rose. The 1901 and 1911 Census of Ireland of the Townland Moherreagh, County Cavan, Poor Law Union of Bawnboy, Barony of Tullyhaw, the Parish of Templeport and 7 the Electoral District of Teircahan offers further information about The O Reilly family. 1901 Ireland Census The 1901 Census of Ireland lists the O Reilly of Moherreagh. Edward “Ned” is still head of the family at age 61 with the occupation of farmer. His wife Rose is 55. There are still four of the original nine children at the farm. They are: Bridget, a framer’s daughter, age 22; Ellen, a farmer’s daughter, age 19; Francis, a farm laborer, age 16 and Michael, in school, age 14. Each family member is listed as being Roman Catholic, being born in County Cavan and being able to read and write, except for Rose who can only read. Five of the children by 1901 are no longer at the farm: Patt, Marget, Mary, John and Rosanne. The farm house is described as being made of stone and having three rooms. It would be far to say that at one time 2 adults and 9 children lived in this three room house. Besides the house the farm is described as having: a stable, a cow house, a dairy, a piggery and a fowl house. 1911 Ireland Census For the 1911 Ireland census Edward O Reilly is now 74 and Rose is 69 and they have been married for 45 years. A barn has been added to the buildings beside the house. Only Michael remains at the farm; he is 24 and single. Of the nine children born to Edward and Rose only 7 are living in 1911. Four of the children, between 1890 and 1911 have gone to America: Patt, Bridget, John and Francis.