Michael Wyse and Ellen Connors of Waterford County, Ireland

Hello Helen,

This is in response to one of the questions you have concerning St. John’s Parish, alternate name Ballygunner. In this case Ballygunner was actually a civil parish located southeast of Waterford City. Further, it was situated within the Catholic Parish of St. John’s. The alternate name of Ballygunner also tells you where to look for the location of church where Michael “Wise” and Ellen Conners were married in 1811, and where their son Michael was baptized in 1825.

You can actually see the location of the “R.C. Chapel” where Michael and Ellen were married and where their son Michael was baptized on an Ordnance Survey Map from the 1837 to 1841 time period. The map is from the GeoHive website and can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/2LzRNSE

When get the map make sure you click on “Close Menu” to view a greater surface of the map, as the R.C. Chapel is situated in the upper-left corner of the image. Across the bottom of the map in large black letters you’ll see the name of the civil parish, BALLYGUNNER.

For an enlarged view of the Ballygunner R.C. Chapel, graveyard, and National School on the Ordnance Survey Map from GeoHive, go to: http://bit.ly/2LFWJFL

Another Ordnance Survey Map from the 1888 to 1913 time period shows that the R.C. Chapel is named St. Mary’s R.C. Church, and that it is located within the townland of Knockboy. Knockboy was in the civil parish of Ballygunner as well. See the map from the GeoHive website link at: http://bit.ly/2LHrzgS

This St. Mary’s Church however would not have been the church structure where Michael Wyse and Ellen Connors where married and where their son Michael was baptized. According to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage/Buildings of Ireland website, St. Mary’s was constructed circa 1870. You can read about the architectural details and view a photo of the church at the Buildings of Ireland article at:
http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WA&…

Once at the Buildings of Ireland link go down to the “Appraisal” section of the article, and you’ll see that the church was built on the site of a previous church which was constructed before 1840. This pre-1840 church is the R.C. Chapel you see on the Ordnance Survey Map from the 1837 to 1841 time period.

A Google Map shows that St. Mary’s Church in Ballygunner is 3.2 miles southeast of Waterford City by the shortest route. See the map at: https://is.gd/4sgS43

For a Google Street View of St. Mary’s Church and cemetery, go to: https://is.gd/IIcn51

Irish Catholic marriages traditionally took place in the bride’s parish, and so it is possible that Ellen Connors was baptized in the old R.C. Chapel which is St. Mary’s Catholic Church today, although I searched for her baptism transcription at the Find My Past website for the Catholic Parish of St. John’s Waterford, but didn’t find it. One the possibilities is that she was born in another Waterford parish but moved to the Ballygunner Civil Parish after she was born.

I next went to the Tithe Applotment Books to see if there were any leaseholders named Connors, as well as Wyse/Wise residing in the Ballygunner civil parish. The tithes were enumerated in the Ballygunner civil parish between 1832 and 1834. I didn’t find anyone named Wyse or Wise recorded in the Ballygunner Parish, but did find the name Patrick Connors recorded four times leasing property in the townland of Callaghane, civil parish of Ballygunner.

You can see the Tithe Applotment Books index for the four Patrick Connors entries in Callaghane at the National Archives of Ireland link at: https://is.gd/SV3lqk

Patrick Connors in the tithe record may refer to just one individual by that name who leased 4 different properties in Callaghane. Patrick Connors may have been related to Ellen Connors Wyse.

Though the Tithes were recorded over 20 years after Michael Wyse and Ellen Connors were married, there’s the possibility that Ellen was born in Callaghane, but that is not a certainty, just circumstantial evidence that she may have been.

To view Callaghane on an Ordnance Survey Map from the 1837 to 1841 time period, go to the GeoHive link at: http://bit.ly/2LCnUB8

A Google Map shows that Callaghane, by the shortest modern day route, is only 2.1 miles south of St. Mary’s Church in Ballygunner: https://is.gd/GN761w
For a Google Street View of Callaghane, go to: https://is.gd/OjllJm

I also found a Patrick "Connor" recorded twice in Callaghane in an Irish property tax record known as Griffiths Valuation. Griffiths Valuation was enumerated in the 32 counties of Ireland between 1847 and 1864. The valuation for Callaghane was completed by the year 1848. This Patrick Connor may be the same Patrick Connors recorded in the Tithe Applotment Books.

Unlike a census, Griffiths Valuation did not enumerate individual members of a family, such as husband, wife, and children in a household residence. Those named in the valuation were individuals who paid to lease property, such as land, houses, and outbuildings. Each person who paid to lease the property was called an “Occupier.” The other person listed in Griffiths Valuation was the person who owned the property, or who worked as the middleman for the owner. This person was called the “Immediate Lessor.”

You can access Griffiths Valuation transcriptions and original copies for free at the askaboutireland website link at:
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml

Below is a transcription of the first Griffiths Valuation entry for Patrick Connor in Callaghane:

No. and Letters of Reference to Map: 7
Civil Parish: Ballygunner
Townland: Callaghane
Occupier: Patrick Connor
Immediate Lessor: William Merchant, Esq.
Description of Tenement: House and land
Area of Land: 16 Acres, 3 Roods, 25 Perches
Rateable Annual Valuation of Land: 11 Pounds, 5 Shillings
Rateable Annual Valuation of Buildings: 2 Pounds, 5 Shillings
Total Annual Valuation of Rateable Property: 13 Pounds 10 Shillings
____

Griffiths Valuation shows that Patrick Connor leased over 16 acres of land and a house from an Immediate Lessor named William Merchant, Esq. The Esquire designation probably means that William Merchant was a lawyer, though he may not have owned the property, but may have been a middle man for the owner. The land was valued at 11 Pounds and 5 Shillings while the house was valued at 2 Pounds and 5 Shillings. The total valuation for the property that Patrick leased was 13 Pounds and 10 Shillings. He would have paid a percentage of this value toward the tax.

The Reference to Map Number (7), refers to the location of Patrick’s lease in Callaghane as found on an Ordnance Survey Map from the time period. The Ordnance Survey maps that accompany Griffiths Valuation entries are similar to the Ordnance Survey Maps that you can access at the GeoHive website, the difference being the Ordnance Survey Map from GeoHive do not have a property’s map reference designation numbers and letters printed on them.

The second Griffiths Valuation entry for Patrick Connor in Callaghane shows that he leased over 2 acres of land at Map Reference 8 from Immediate Lessors named George Roberts and Michael Murphy. Patrick didn’t lease a house with this property. The land was valued at 1 Pound and 2 Shillings, which was the total valuation for the property. Patrick would not have been required to pay a tax on this lease as only those leases valued over 5 Pounds were subject to the tax.

The Griffiths Valuation transcription for Patrick is below:

No. and Letters of Reference to Map: 8
Civil Parish: Ballygunner
Townland: Callaghane
Occupier: Patrick Connor
Immediate Lessor: George Roberts and Michael Murphy
Description of Tenement: Land
Area of Land: 2 Acres, 2 Roods, 10 Perches
Rateable Annual Valuation of Land: 1 Pound, 2 Shillings
Rateable Annual Valuation of Buildings: -
Total Annual Valuation of Rateable Property: 1 Pound, 2 Shillings
____

Based on your information that Ellen Wyse had lived in Ballytruckle, I found her in Griffiths Valuation leasing over 2 acres of land, a house, and offices there at map number 11. The land was over 2 acres and valued at 6 Pounds and 11 Shillings. The house and offices were valued at 2 Pounds and 5 Shillings, for a total valuation of 8 Pounds and 16 Shillings.

The Griffiths Valuation transcription for Ellen Wyse is below:

No. and Letters of Reference to Map: 11
Civil Parish: Parish of St. John’s Without
Townland: Ballytruckle
Occupier: Ellen Wyse
Immediate Lessor: John P. Fitzgerald, Esq.
Description of Tenement: House, offices, and land
Area of Land: 2 Acres, 1 Rood, 15 Perches
Rateable Annual Valuation of Land: 6 Pounds, 11 Shillings
Rateable Annual Valuation of Buildings: 2 Pounds, 5 Shillings
Total Annual Valuation of Rateable Property: 8 Pounds, 16 Shillings
____

An office or offices in Griffiths Valuation refer to outbuildings such barns, stables, blacksmith shops, piggeries, etc. I found Ellen’s lease on the Ordnance Survey Map that accompanies Griffiths Valuation, but I have not found a way to copy these maps or link them for others to view. But, I can show you the approximate location of Ellen’s lease on an Ordnance Survey Map from the GeoHive website. To access the map of Ballytruckle, go to: http://bit.ly/2LAViZ5

In the center of the map you’ll see the name of the townland Ballytruckle in capital letters. Just above the letter K in Ballytruckle you’ll see a square of land just to the left of the road and below the Ursuline Convent. Ellen’s lease was in this square of land.

For a Google Map of Ballytruckle, go to: https://is.gd/BcVlbw

I tried to locate Ellen’s property in Ballytruckle on the Google Street View, but the road where her house would have been situated is all built up with houses and businesses now. I believe it would not have been far from the Plumbing and Heating Suppliers company along the Pearse Park road, which you can view at: https://is.gd/lUHY8g

Best Wishes Helen,

Dave Boylan

Dear Miriam & Dave: 

Thank you for the effort and thoroughness of your responses to my post.  I do appreciate the time it must have taken you to sort through this for me. 

Thank you Miriam for the additional children: James, Catherine and John.  I cannot find the baptism of John on the link that you provided (maybe due to my old eyes) but I saved a copy of the one I found and I think that it is probably for John and not Michael as you suggested. 

Andrew Wyse was my great grandfather.  He married  Jane Nickle and the marriage record lists the parents for both parties.   Here is a transcription of the marriage record: “St Joseph and Patrick Catholic Church Buffalo NY 1849 July 22 Joined in marriage Andrew Wyse son of Michael and Helen Connors and Jane Nickle daughter of John and Cera (?Sarah) Perry witnesses Michael Holland and Eliza Murphy. 

I also found the marriage record for Michael Wyse & Ellen Connors marriage as follows:

St John's Parish, County Waterford, Ireland

Date of Marriage: 24 Feb 1811

Husband's Name: Michael Denomination: Roman Catholic

Bride's Name: Ellen Connors Denomination: Roman Catholic

Parents of both are blank

Witnesses: John Connors & Matthew Machey

I have Andrew’s birth date as 1811 based on his tombstone and death record which lists his death as 24 April 1893, age 82 years old.  This is consistent with ages listed in most census report.  He was quite a bit older than his wife Jane Nickle who was born in 1825.  I have often wondered if he had been previously married in Ireland but his wife died because the first records I have of him is his marriage and then the 1850 census.  

Regarding Ellen Connors Wyse death date, I realize that I made a typo error on my initial post.  The last tithe record I found for her was in 1863 in Ballytruckle Townland, St John's Without, Gaultiere, Waterford so I estimate that she died sometime after 1863 (not 1893 as typed).  Yes, there should be a civil registration record for her death but I have not found one.  I suppose it is possible that she remarried but she would have been 72 years old in 1863. 

I did not see the Waterford Poor Law Union Board of Guardian Minute Books on Find My Past and I do not know what the implications are of those records.  Is it possible that  Laurence Power was a son-in-law of hers or some other relative who expected  inherit her property?  Or, would he simply be someone applying to be tenant after her departure from the land?  She appears in Ballytruckle in 1863 so perhaps Laurence Power was living with her at that time.

Dave, I have spent some time on the links that you have provided and I must say I have a lot more work to do on them, but what a history lesson in Irish title & griffith valuation records. And thanks so much for pinpointing Ellen's property in Ballytruckle which is probably the closest I will get to knowing where she lived. 

Best Regards,

Helen, Canada

You''re welcome Helen and thank you for writing back.

Dave