Newford

Standard Name: Newford

Irish Form: An tÁth Nua

Situation:

Newford is situated in the Barony of Athenry, 1 mile SW of Athenry bounded on the North by Prospect and Ballygarrane South, on the East by Gortnahown and Furzepark (Fursypark), South by Mulpit and West by Cloughraun (Clorane).

O’Donovan’s Field Name Book

Records from this source (1860’s) list Newford as the property of Lord Oranmore – 220.5 Statute acres. The whole townland forms a demesne and at its East side stands a house, the residence of _______ Fitzpatrick Esq. called Newford House. (Local knowledge names him as Patrick Fitzpatrick)

These townlands share a border with Newford townland:

Ballygurraun South

Ballygurraun West

Clorane

Furzypark

Gortnahown

Mulpit

Prospect

The Down Survey Map (1641 pre-Cromwell; 1671 post Cromwell) 

This source gives the owner as Richard O’Kelly, a Catholic in 1641 and Lord Trimleston, a Protestant in 1671.

The map of this Barony was destroyed in 1711. No copies have, so far, come to light.

Griffith’s Valuation (1855) records one land occupier in the Newford townland:

James Perry and “in fee”.  In fee were freehold tenures, derived from a grant from the Crown.

This Griffith’s Valuation gives the Area as 219 Statute acres, 2 Roods and 15 perches. The land valuation at that time was £141. 00s. 06d (old pence). Buildings were valued at £10.00. The total annual valuation of the rateable property was £151. Money then was £. s. d. -Pounds, shillings and pence.

The property was land, house, offices and a gate-lodge.

This source states that this townland is all under cultivation. It was then the property of Lord Oranmore.

Tithe Applotment Books (1827)

On 18^th April 2022, no record of Newford can be found in the Applotment Books.

1901 Census

There were 2 dwellings in Newford in 1901, each being a private dwelling and inhabited. There was a total population of 15 people, 8 males and 7 females. The 2 houses were private dwellings. 3 of the inhabitants of Newford were born in County Galway, 4 in Co. Meath and 8 in Co. Kildare. All were Roman Catholics. The walls of the 2 houses were made of stone, brick, or concrete. The roof of each dwelling was made of slate, iron, or tiles. On 14^th April 2022, there is no available record on out-offices and farm-steading (i.e no Form B2) Houses were classed by the construction type, number of rooms, and front windows. The two houses were Class 2.

The heads of the households were as follows: Christopher Kennedy and James Dobbyn. The census was taken on 31^st March and collected on 6^th April 1901. Constable M. Ruddy was the enumerator. There was just one distinct family in each of the houses.

Kennedys

Christopher Kennedy, Head of the household, aged 64 was a land steward and spoke Irish and English. His wife Catherine was aged 57. Their daughter Rose, (25) was a clerk and unmarried. Their son Patrick (19) was a herdsman, unmarried. Brigid (16), a daughter was a scholar. They lived in a house with 5 front windows and four rooms were occupied. This house was a second class house. There were 3 out offices and farm steadings. The landlord was JP Goodbody.

Dobbyns

James Dobbyn, aged 50 was the head of the household and was born in Co. Kildare. He was a shepherd and his wife Kate, aged 45, was a seamstress, born in Co. Meath. They lived with their 8 children, all except the eldest child were born in Co. Kildare. James was born in Co. Meath. All the children were unmarried.

James aged 20 was an agricultural labourer; Mary aged 19 was a seamstress, Ellen aged 16 was a scholar as were the next 3 children, Thomas (14), Margaret (11) and Daniel (9). All could read and write in English. The 2 youngest children Edward (6) and William (2) couldn’t yet read or write. All the others could read and write.

The family lived in a private 2 room house with 2 front windows. It was a second class house. There were no outhouses. The landlord was JP Goodbody.

1911 Census

Constable J. Carroll was the enumerator of the census taken on Sunday 2^nd April 1911. The forms were collected on 13^th April 1911. Three dwelling houses are listed, one of which was a private inhabited dwelling, one uninhabited house (House 3) and one described as a “police hut”. There were 16 males and 2 females in the townland. 14 males and 2 females were Roman Catholic, and 2 males were designated IC (Irish Church) otherwise known as Church of Ireland. The head of the “police hut” household was Sergt T. Lenehan. James Somers was the head of the other house.

Police Hut

This is the information from the Return of the Royal Irish Constabulary or Metropolitan Police, who were quartered at Newford Hut. They were enumerated using Initial Letter(s) of their Christian and Surnames. There were 13 males there. The particular profession or trade of each of them prior to enlistment or appointment was “farmer’s son”.  All of them could read and write.

1. T. L. (48), Sergeant, was married and born in Co. Leitrim
2. W.g.A (48), Sergeant, was single and born in Co. Monaghan
3. J. O’D. (22), Constable, was single and born in Co. Kerry
4. J.D. (31), Constable, was single and born in Co. Tipperary
5. T. McG, (29), Constable, was single and born in Co. Roscommon
6. J. W. (27), Constable, was single and born in Co. Mayo
7. W.L. (26), Constable, was single and born in Co. Kilkenny
8. JJ. L. (25) Constable, was single and born in Co. Sligo
9. P. F. (25), Constable, was single and born in America
10. J.S. (23), Constable, was single and born in Co. Mayo
11. W. McG. (22), Constable, was single and born in Co. Roscommon
12. G. A, (21), Constable, was single and born in Co. Fermanagh
13. P. F. (20), Constable, was single and born in Co. Roscommon

The walls of the hut were of brick, stone or concrete and the roof was slate, iron or tiles. The hut had 2 front windows and was designated a second class house. 6 rooms were occupied.

The police huts had 2 outhouses named as wash houses.

James Somers, aged 38, head of the household was born in Co. Wicklow. He was a herdsman and lived with his wife Jane, aged 40 who was described as a housekeeper. She was born in Co. Kildare. Their 3 children lived with them, Julia (8), a scholar, born in Dublin; Michael, (5), a scholar, born in Wicklow and Patrick (4) born in Cheshire. James, Jane and Julia could read and write in English. They lived in a house with 5 front windows. 5 rooms were occupied. This house was a second-class house. There were 3 out-offices named as a stable, a cow house, and a piggery.