Letterdeskert

Leitir Deiscirt

Roger Harrison / Forum Connemara

Townland:                                Letterdeskert

Civil Parish:                              Moyrus

Barony:                                     Ballynahinch

Church Parish:                        Carna

District Electoral Division:   Knockboy

Area:                                        335.20 acres / 335 acres, 0 roods, 31 perches

 

Baptism and Marriage records for Carna R.C. Parish 1821-1881

Old Pension Census (1841-1851) for Letterdeskert (No records)

Map

Galway Library for Letterdeskert

Logainm for Letterdeskert

NUI Galway Digital Collections for Letterdeskert

West Connemara men who lost their lives in WWI (Clifden and Connemara Heritage Society)

 

1911 Census for Letterdeskert

Overview of Letterdeskert in 1911

According to the census of 1911 there were a total of 15 houses and all were listed as being private dwellings and all were occupied. All were constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and house 15 had slate, iron or tiles for roofing while the others had thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. House 15 was a 1st class dwelling, houses 2, 8 and 14 were 2nd class dwellings and the others were all 3rd class. Houses 9 and 13 had 2 rooms and 1 window, houses 1, 3-7 and 10-12 had 2 rooms and 2 windows, houses 2, 8 and 14 had 2 rooms and 3 windows and house 15 had 4 rooms and 7 windows. According to the out-offices and farm-steadings return (form B2), there were a total of 22 out buildings consisting of 3 stables, 1 coach house, 15 cow houses, a piggery, a fowl house and a shed. The enumerator’s abstract return (form N) shows that there were a total of 73 people living in the townland of Letterdeskert, 42 male and 31 female. The enumerator for the area was Const. John Gallagher.

Geary

The head of the first house in Letterdeskert was Coleman (59) and he had been married to Bridget (60) for 36 years and in that time they had had 14 children but only 8 of those had survived. They shared the house with 5 of their children and they were Michael (27), Julia (21), Martin (19), Val (14) and Maggie (12). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English Coleman and Bridget could not read but all the children could read and write. Coleman was listed as being a farmer, Michael and Martin were farmer’s sons and Val and Maggie were scholars. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and they had a cow house. Coleman Geary was the landholder.

Geary

The head of this Geary family was Bartley (59) and he had been married to Bridget (37) for 11 years and in that time they had had 5 children, all of whom had survived. Those 5 children lived with them and they were John (8), Mary (10), Coleman (7), Maggie (5) and Valentine (2). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English but only John and Mary could read and write. Bartley was a farmer and John, Mary and Coleman were scholars. The house they all lived in was a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and they had a cow house. Bartley Geary was the landholder.

Green

The widow Bridget (71) was the head of this family and she shared the house with 2 of her sons, James (30) and Patrick (28). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and James and Patrick could read and write. Bridget was listed as being a farmer and the sons were both farm labourers. The house they lived in was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house. Bridget Green was the landholder.

Geary                                  (additional surname: Geary Ned)

Head of this family was Martin Geary Ned (39) and he was married to Catherine (34) and had been for 9 years and in that time they had had 4 children and all of those had survived. Those 4 children were John (7), Bridget (5), Patrick (3) and Edward (1). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English except baby Edward. John could read only and Martin and Catherine could read and write. Martin was a farmer and John was a scholar. The house they lived in was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and they had a cow house. Martin Geary Ned was the landholder.

Geary

Ned (80) was the head of this Geary family in house 5 and he was married to Mary (72) and had been for 50 years and un that time they had had 11 children but only 8 of those had survived. Two of those children lived with them in the house and they were Bridget (31) and John (29). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and Bridget and John were only ones to be able to read and write. Ned was listed as being a farmer and John was a farm labourer. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and they had a cow house. Ned Geary was the landholder.

Geary

House 6 was home to another Geary family and the head of this family was Martin (46) and he had been married to Mary (33) for 11 years and in that time they had had 4 children and all of those had survived. Those 4 children lived with them and they were Coleman (9), Bridget (7), Mary (5) and Martin (1) and also in the house was Martin’s father, Martin (90), a widower. All were born in Galway and were Roman Catholic. Martin (90) spoke only Irish, they was nothing entered for baby Martin (1) but the others all spoke Irish and English. Only Martin (46), Coleman and Bridget could read and write. Martin (46) was a farmer, Martin (90) was a retired farmer and Coleman and Bridget were scholars. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house. Martin Geary (Martin) was the landholder.

Barrett

William (68) was the head of this family in house 7 and he was married to Mary (67) and had been for 31 years and in that time they had had 6 children and 4 of those had survived. 3 of those children lived with them and they were Mary (26), Patrick (24) and Willie (20). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic, except Mary (26), who was born in England. All spoke both Irish and English and all the family, except Mary (67), could read and write. William and Patrick were wool weavers and Willie was a farm labourer. They all shared a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house and a piggery. Michael Lee was the landholder.

O’Malley                             (additional surname: Mannion)

Michael (42) was the head of the family in house 8 and he had been married to Barbara (29) for 7 years and in that time they had had 4 children and all of whom had survived. Those 4 children lived with them and they were Mary Bridget (6), Anne Maria (5), Patrick Joseph (3) and George (11mths) and also in the house at that time were 3 nephews, Martin (16), Thomas (14) and John (13). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English except baby George. Mary Bridget, Anne Maria, Patrick Joseph and George could not read but all the others could read and write. Michael was a farmer, Martin and Thomas were farm labourers and Mary Bridget and John were scholars. The housie they all loved in was a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling with 2 cow houses. Michael O’Malley was the landholder.

Lee                                       (additional surname: Cloherty)

Michael (92) was the head of this family in house 9 and he had been married to Barbara (74) for 43 years and in that time they had had 9 children and only 5 of those had survived. They shared the house with their daughter Nora (35) and Barbara’s brother, Bartley Cloherty (76). All were born in Galway and were Roman Catholic. Nora spoke both Irish and English and the rest only spoke Irish and only Nora could read and write. Michael was a farmer and Bartley was a farm labourer. The house they lived in was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house. Michael Lee was the landholder.

Fitzpatrick

The head of this family in house 10 was Patrick (58) who had been married to Bridget for 18 years and they had had 4 children and all 4 had survived. Those children also lived with them and they were Mary (15), Kate (13), Joseph (8) and Martin (6). All were born in Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English except Bridget, who only spoke Irish. Only Patrick, Mary and Kate could read and write. Patrick was a farmer and Mary, Kate and Joseph were scholars. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house. Patrick Fitzpatrick was the landholder.

Nee

The head of this Nee family was John (76) and he had been married to Barbara (76) for 50 years and they had had 7 children, all of whom had survived. Both were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Both spoke only Irish and could not read. John was listed as being a farmer. The house they lived in was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and John Nee was the landholder.

Mulkerrin

The widow Bridget (68) was listed as the head of this family in house 12 and she shared the house with 2 of her sons, James (29) and John (21). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and only James and John could read and write. Bridget was listed as being a farmer and James and John were farm labourers. The house they all lived in was a 2 roomed, 3rd class house with a stable and a cow house. Bridget Mulkerrin was the landholder.

Mulkerrin

The head of this Mulkerrin family in house 13 was Patrick (63) and he had been married to Mary (65) for 30 years and they had had 6 children and 4 had survived. Those 4 children were living with them and they were Joseph (26), Patrick (21), Nappy (16) and John (15). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English except Mary, who only spoke Irish. All, except Mary, could read and write. Patrick (63) was a farmer and Joseph, Patrick (21) and John were farm labourers. They all shared a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house. Patrick Mulkerrin was the landholder.

Green

The widow Barbara (70) was listed as the head of the family and she shared the house with her daughter Katie (30). Barbara was born in Co. Galway, but there was nothing entered for Katie, and they were Roman Catholic. Both spoke Irish and English but only Katie could read and write. Barbara was listed as being a farmer. The house they both shared was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and they had a stable and a cow house. Barbara Green was the landholder.

McHugh                             (additional surname: Walsh)

The Revd. Michael (55) was listed as the head of this household. He shared the house with a servant, Mary Walsh (45). The Revd. Michael was born in Co. Mayo and Mary was born in Co. Galway and both were Roman Catholic. Both spoke Irish and English but only Revd. Michael could read and write. Revd. Michael was a parish priest and Mary was a housekeeper. The house was a 4 roomed, 1st class dwelling with a stable, coach house, cow house, a fowl house and a shed. The Revd. M. McHugh P.P. was the landholder.

 

 

1901 Census for Letterdeskert

Overview of Letterdeskert in 1901

The 1901 census shows that there were a total of 14 houses in the townland of Letterdeskert and all were listed as being private dwellings. They were all constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and had thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. All the houses were 3rd class dwellings. Houses 11 and 12 had no rooms entered but had 1 window, houses 2-4, 7, 8, 10, 13 and 14 had 1 room and 1 window in the front, house 6 had 1 room and 2 windows, houses 5 and 9 had 2 rooms and 1 window and house 1 had 2 rooms and 2 windows. The out-offices and farm-steadings return (form B2) shows that there were a total of 9 outbuildings in the townland consisting of 4 cow houses, 4 piggeries and a barn. The enumerator’s abstract return (Form N) shows that there were a total of 59 people living in Letterdeskert, 33 male and 26 female. The enumerator was Const. Patrick Gaffney.

Geary

Barthy (sic) (34) was listed as the head of the first family in Letterdeskert and he was married to Bridget (26). Both were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Both spoke both Irish and English but only Barthy (sic) could read and write. Barthy (sic) was listed as being a farmer. The house they shared was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a piggery. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Geary

Coleman (46) was the head of this family and he was married to Bridget (43) and they shared the house with 8 of their children, Michael (20), Pat (18), Martin (17), Barthy (sic) (13), Colman (10), Doat (sic) (9), Julia (8) and Maggie (6). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and all could read and write. Coleman (46) was listed as being a farmer, Michael, Pat, Martin, Barthy (sic) and Colman (10) were listed as sons and Doat (sic), Julia and Maggie were listed as daughters. The house they lived in was a 1 roomed, 3rd class dwelling. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Geary

House 3 was home to another Geary family and the head of this family was Ned (70) and he was married to Mary (60) and they shared the house with 3 of their children, Thos (20), Bridget (18) and John (16). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and only the 3 children could read and write. Ned was listed as being a farmer, Thos and Bridget were listed as farmer’s daughtersi and John was listed as a farmer’s son. They all lived in a single roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Green

John (66) was the head of the family in house 4 and he was married to Bridget (60) and they shared the house with 3 of their children, James (18), Mary (36) and Pat (16). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and only the 3 children could read and write. John was a farmer, James and Pat were listed as sons and Mary was listed as a daughter. They all lived in a single roomed 3rd class dwelling. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Barrett                                (additional surname: Madden)

The head of the Barrett family in house 5 was William (52) and he was married to Mary (50) and they shared the house with 5 of their children, Michael (18), Mary (16), Pat (14), Thomas (11) and William (8) and also in the house at that time was a visitor, Pat Madden (60), who was a widower. All were listed as being Catholic with Michael and Mary (16) being born in England, William (52) was listed as being born in I, C Galway, Mary was listed as being born in C Galway and Pat (14), Thomas, William (8) and Pat (60) were listed as being born in I Galway. All spoke both Irish and English and all except Mary (50) and Pat (60) could read and write. William (52) and Michael were wool weavers, Mary (16) was listed as a daughter, Pat (14) was listed as a son, Pat (60) was listed as a labourer and Thomas and William (8) were scholars. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a Piggery. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

O’Malley

The head of this family was Patrick (70) and he was married to Anne (60) and they shared the house with 3 of their children, Michael (31), Anna (21) and Martin (19). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and all, apart from Patrick, could read and write. Patrick was listed as being a victualler (sic) and Michael and Martin were listed as sons and Anna was a daughter. They all lived in a 1 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a piggery. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Mulkerrin

Pat (51) was the head of this family and he was married to Mary (52) and they shared the house with 5 of their children, Joe (17), Mary (15), Pat (12), Nappy (6) and John(4). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke, both, Irish and English and only Mary (15), Pat (12), Nappy and John could read and write. Pat (51) was listed as being a farmer, Joe, Pat (12) and John were listed a sons under the occupation heading and Mary (15) and Nappy were listed as daughters. They all lived in a 1 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Fitzpatrick

There were 4 members of the Fitzpatrick family in house 8 and the head of the family was Patrick (40) and he was married to Bridget (30) and they shared the house with their daughter Mary (1) and a visitor, Kate (60), a widow. All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English but only Patrick could read and write. Patrick and Kate were listed as being labourers and Mary was listed as being a daughter. They all lived in a single roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a barn. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Greene                                (additional surname: McDonough)

The head of this Family was Peter (58) and he was married to Babra (sic) (56). Also in the house were their son, Pat (22), Daughter, Annie (19) and a nephew, Colman McDonough (12). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English except Babra (sic), who only spoke Irish. Peter was a farmer, Pat was a farmer’s son, Annie was a farmer’s daughter and Colman was a scholar. The house they all lived in was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a cow house. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Nee

The head of this family was John (67) and his wife Babra (sic) (66) and they shared the house with their daughter Bridget (22). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All 3 spoke only Irish and could not read. John was listed as a farmer and Bridget was listed as a daughter under the occupation heading. Their house was a single roomed, 3rd class dwelling. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Lee                                       (additional surname: Cloherty)

The head of the family in house 11 was Michael (80) and he was married to Barbara (70) and they shared the house with 2 of their daughters, Nora (24), Maggie (20) and Barbara’s brother, Barthy (sic) Cloherty (63). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and none of the family could read. Michael was listed as being a farmer, Nora and Maggie were listed as being daughters under the occupation heading and Barthy (sic) was listed as being a labourer. They all lived in a 3rd class house with a cow house. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Geary

The head of the Geary family in house 12 was the widower Martin (80) and he lived with his son Martin (35) and daughter, Mary (20). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and only Martin (35) and Mary could read and write. Martin (80) was a farmer, Martin (35) was a farmer’s son and Mary was a farmer’s daughter. They all lived in a 3rd class dwelling with a piggery. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Mulkerrin

Barthy (sic) (60) was the head of this family and he shared the house with his wife, Bridget (54) and 5 of their sons, Patrick (24), James (20), Colman (18), Thos (17) and John (15). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English and all could read and write. Barthy (sic) was a farmer and all the boys were listed as sons under the occupation heading. The house they all lived in was a 1 roomed, 3rd class dwelling. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

Connolly

The head of the last family in Letterdeskert was John (39) and he was married to Kate (28) and they lived with 5 of their children, Mary Anne (8), Bridget (5), Patrick (3), Joseph (2) and John (9mths). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Patrick and Joseph spoke only Irish, there was nothing listed for baby John and the rest all spoke both Irish and English. Only John (39), Kate and Mary Anne could read and write. John (39) was listed as being a farmer, Mary Anne and Bridget were listed as daughters and Patrick, Joseph and John (9mths) were listed as being sons under the occupations heading. They all lived in a single roomed, 3rd class dwelling. The landholders don’t match with the households on the house and building return form and for that reason the landholders cannot be reliably listed here.

 

 

Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1864) for Letterdeskert

Patrick and Thomas Mulkerrin leased 35 acres, 2 roods and 37 perches of land from Maryanne Nolan and both paid £2 15s each for land and Patrick also paid 12s for a house. Thomas Devine leased a house for 8s from Maryanne Nolan and 24 acres and 7 perches of land from her for £2 15s, Thomas Mulkerrin leased a house from Maryanne Nolan for 12s, Edward and Martin Geary jointly leased 24 acres, 2 roods and 2 perches of land for £1 15s each and Edward and Martin Geary also leased another plot of 19 acres and 19 perches of land for 8s each and a house that they shared for 10s annually. Martin Cahilin (sic) leased a house on 24 acres and 13 perches of land from Maryanne Nolan for £3 for the land and 10s for the house, Martin Cahilin (sic) had a vacant house with an annual ratable valuation of 5s and Patrick Barrett, Michael Lee and Bridget Barrett jointly leased houses on 23 acres, 1 rood and 6 perches of land and Patrick paid £1 14s for land and 10s for a house and Michael and Bridget paid 17s each for the land and 8s for the house. Patrick Mulkerrin leased 22 acres and 32 perches of land from Maryanne Nolan for £1 13s and the tenants of the townland paid 10s to Maryanne Nolan for 90 acres and 12 perches of common land. There was also 1 island of 16 perches belonging to Patrick and Thomas Mulkerrin that had no agricultural value.

 

 

1670 Down Survey for Letterdeskert

The 1670 Down Survey name for this area was Litterdesker and the 1641 owner was the catholic Roger O’Flaherty and in 1670 the owner was Francis Matthews, a Protestant. There were 69 plantation acres of unprofitable land, 3 plantation acres of profitable land and 3 plantation acres were forfeited.

 

i Obviously a mistake and Thos should be a farmer’s son.

 

This page was added on 02/07/2018.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.