Translation: a rock
The Down Survey:
The Down Survey of Ireland is the first ever detailed land survey on a national scale anywhere in the world. The survey is a cadastral survey of Ireland and was so called simply by its topographic details all laid down by admeasurements on maps. It was carried out by William Petty an English scientist in 1655 and 1656. The survey sought to measure all the land to be forfeited by the Catholic Irish, in order to facilitate it’s redistribution to merchant adventurers and English officers and soldiers in Oliver Cromwell’s army. It was to repay them and the many English politicians and adventurers who had funded Cromwell’s military campaign in Ireland.
The name for Carrick Middle at the time this survey was undertaken was ‘Carownacarga’. It was in the half barony of Ross in the parish of Cong, in County Galway. The survey revealed that in 1641 (pre Cromwell) Teige O’Flaharty (sic), a catholic was the owner of the townland. By 1670 (post Cromwell) it was in protestant ownership of College of Dublin; John Brown.
O’Donovan’s Field Name Books 1838: According to O’Donovan’s Field Name Books, 1838, the standard name given to the townland was Carrick Middle, and Carraig Láir was the official Irish form. Other forms of the name are Corrig Middle (County Surveyors Sketch Map), Carrickbeg (County Map), Carrick Middle (Meresman), Carrick (Tithe Ledger), Carrick (Rev. Michael Waldron, P.P.), Carrick (Local) and Carrick (County Cess Collector).
Description: O’ Donovan’s survey reveals that the townland of Carrick Middle was comprised of 370 acres and 39 perches. The proprietors were the Earls of Leitrim and Charlemont, Dublin. The agent was Mr. James Fair, Fairhill. The land was all held under lease and sublet to tenants for a bulked rent of £38 and 1shilling, paid yearly. O’ Donovan describes the soil as part spent mountain with some mixed arable land and part a steep mountain. The land was heath mixed and some pasture and the County Cess was 11 ¼ d. paid per acre for 111acres. A mountain stream runs by a bridge dividing Carrick Middle from Corrig (sic) east.
Situation: Carrick Middle is in the civil parish of Cong, in the barony of Ross and is in County Galway. It is a central townland; bounded on the north by the parish of Ross, on the west by the townland of Corrig West (sic) to the south by Curnamona (sic), Dooris (sic) and Lough Corrib, and on the east by Corrig East (sic).
Griffith’s Valuation 1855:
According to Griffith’s Valuation, Carrick Middle had a total acreage of 370 acres, 2 roods and 31 perches. The Earls of Leitrim and Charlemont were the owners of Plot 1. Michael Higgins leased the land from the Earls; he kept a sizeable piece for himself, and he sublet the remainder to sixteen tenants.
Plot 1:
1 (a): Michael Higgins had a house and land. The land had an annual valuation of £9 and 15 shillings and the house was valued at 5 shillings. His total annual valuation of rateable property was £10.
Michael Higgins sublet to the following tenants:
1 (b) – Peter Reilly had a house and land. The land was valued at £2. 5 shillings and the house valued at 7 shillings. His total annual valuation of rateable property was £2 and 12 shillings.
1(c) – James M’Daniell (sic) had a house and land; his piece of land was valued at £2.5 shillings and the house was valued at10 shillings. His total annual rent was £2 and 15 shillings.
1 (d) – Charles King had a house, office and land. His parcel of land was valued at £1. 15 shillings and the buildings valued at 10 shillings; his total annual rent was £2 and 5 shillings.
1 (e) – Bridget Kinlogh (sic) had a house and land. Her portion of land was valued at 15 shillings and the house valued at 3 shillings. Her total annual valuation was 18 shillings.
1 (f) –Hugh Molloy had a house and land. The land was valued at £2 and 5 shillings and the house valued at 10 shillings. His total annual rent was £2 and 15 shillings.
1 (g) – Henry Millet (sic) had a house and land. The land was valued at £1and 7 shillings and the house valued at 5 shillings. His total annual valuation was £1 and 12 shillings.
1 (h) – Michael Coyne had a house and land; the parcel of land was valued at 15 shillings and the house was valued at 5 shillings. His total annual rent was £1.
1 (i) – John Kearney had a house, office and land. The land was valued £1 and 5 shillings and the buildings were valued at 5 shillings. He paid a total annual rent of £1 and 10 shillings.
1 (j) – Thomas Barrett had a house and land. The portion of land was valued at 10 shillings and the house valued at 5 shillings. His total annual valuation was 15 shillings.
1 (k) – Bridget Conway had a house, office and land; the land was valued at £1 and 8 shillings and the buildings were valued at 7 shillings. Her total annual rent was £1 and 15 shillings.
1 (l) – James Herwood (sic) had a house, office and land; the land had an annual valuation of £2 and 10 shillings and the buildings were valued at 10 shillings. His total annual rent was £3.
1 (m) – Catherine Varley had a house, office and land; the land was valued at £1 and 5 shillings and the buildings were valued at 7 shillings. Her total annual valuation was £1 and 12 shillings.
1 (n) – William Discan (sic) had a house, office and land. The land was valued at £2 and10 shillings and the buildings were valued at10 shillings. His total annual rent was £3.
1 (o) – Thomas Discan had a house, office and land with a similar valuation. The land was valued at £2 and 10 shillings and the buildings were valued at10 shillings. His total annual rent was also £3.
1 (p) – William Varley had a house, office and land; the land was valued at £2 and 13 shillings and the buildings were valued at12 shillings. He paid a total annual rent of £3 and 5 shillings.
1 (q) – Thomas Coyne had a house that had an annual valuation of 5 shillings.
There were six small islands in Lough Corrib with an area of 1 acre, 2 roods and 10 perches that belonged to Michael Higgins and were of no agricultural value.
Census 1901:
The Census for Carrick Middle was collected on the 8th of April 1901 by Constable William Ruane. (William was a twenty six year old single man attached to the Royal Constabulary Hut in Cornamona). It indicates that fifty seven people resided in the townland; twenty five males and thirty two females. There were fifteen houses; five were 2nd class, nine were 3rd class, one was vacant and all had perishable roofs that were presumably thatch. Farming was the main occupation and one man and his son were blacksmiths. One five year old girl was born in the United States of America, the rest of the people were born in County Galway and all were Roman Catholic.
No1: Myles Varrilly (sic) a farmer was head of this household. He was (45) years old and lived with his wife Mary (42), their six children and his widowed mother in law Bridget Thomas (74). His sons; Patrick (26), Myles (18) and Michael (14) were listed as farmer’s sons and John (7) was a scholar. His daughter; Bridget (11) was a scholar and Mary (5) who did not yet attend school. Myles and his wife could not read but were bilingual; Bridget senior could not read and spoke Irish only; the children with the exception of young Bridget; could read and write and were bilingual. The house was 3rd class with two windows to the front and the family of nine occupied two rooms. They had a cow house on the premises.
No 2: James Varrilly (57) a widower was a farmer and he lived here with his daughters Mary (20) and Julia (18), who were listed as farmer’s daughters. James could not read; the girls could read and write and all spoke Irish and English. The house was 3rd class with one window in front and three people shared two rooms. They had a cow house on the holding.
No 3: James Herwood (sic) (35) and his wife Kate (34) were farmers. Their daughters were Mary (3) and Kate (1) year old. James could not read while Kate could read and write and both were bilingual. The house was 3rd class with one window in front and the couple and their two children occupied one room. They had a cow house and a piggery on the property.
No 4: Martin Herwood (60) lived with his wife Bridget (46) and their (20) year old son Martin. Father and son were farmers. Martin and his wife could not read and spoke Irish only. Martin junior could read and write and was bilingual. The house was 3rd class with two windows to the front and three people occupied two rooms. They had a cow house on the premises.
No 5: William Disken (51) a farmer was married to Catherine (48) and they had six children. Michael (14) was a farmer’s son; John (13), Bridget (12) and Kate (9) were scholars, Ellen was (4) and young William (2) years old. William and his wife were bilingual but could not read; the older children could read and write were bilingual. The house was 2nd class and had three windows in front and the family of eight occupied three rooms. They had a stable and a cow house on the premises.
No 6: Patrick Disken (58) a farmer, lived in this house with his wife Mary (48) and their children. Mary (22) and Julia (20) were farmer’s daughters and John (19) a farmer’s son. Patrick’s grand – daughter, Mary Anne Philbin (6) was also in the household. Patrick, his wife and grand – daughter could not read. His children could read and write and all in the household were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and the family of six occupied three rooms. They had three outbuildings; a stable, a cow house and a piggery.
No 7: Sarah King (58) a widow was head of this household and lived with her daughters Catherine (25) and Sarah (23). Farming was their livelihood. Sarah and her daughters spoke Irish and English and they could read and write. Sarah filled and signed her census return which was unusual at the time. The house was 2nd class and had three windows in front and the mother and daughters had three rooms. Three out houses contained; a stable, a cow house and a piggery.
No 8: Was a vacant house. Sarah King was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.
No 9: Edward Jennings (52) was married to Honor (48) and they had one daughter and three sons. Annie (20), John (18), Eddy (16) and Ulich (sic) (13) years old. Edward was a farmer and a black smith and John also worked as a blacksmith. No occupations were recorded for Annie or Eddy, and Ulich was a scholar. Edward could not read or write; his wife and children could read and write and all the family were bilingual. The house was 3rd class; it had two windows in front and six people occupied two rooms. They had a stable, a piggery and a forge on the property.
No 10: Mary Flynn (58) was a widow and farming was the family occupation. Her son Pat (23) a farmer’s son; her daughter in law Sarah (28) and her granddaughter Mary Donohue (5) were in this house with her. Mary was bilingual but could not read; young Mary born in America was a scholar, and she could read and write and was bilingual. Pat could read and write and he spoke Irish and English; Sarah could not read and she spoke Irish only. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and the family of four occupied three rooms. They had a cow house and a piggery on the holding.
No 11: John Casey (70) and his wife Mary (73) were farmers. Their son Thomas (37) a farmer’s son, his wife Mary (35) and their seven children also lived here. Ellen (18) and Molly (16) were farmer’s daughters; Bridget (12) Michael (10) and Patrick (8) were scholars; Peet (sic) was (5) and Kate (2) years old. John and his wife could not read; Thomas, his wife and children from age eight upwards, could read and write. All the family spoke Irish and English. The house was 2nd class with three windows to the front and the family of eleven occupied three rooms. They had a stable and a cow house on the property.
No 12: Mary Conroy (80) a widowed farmer was head of this household. Her son John (30) a farmer’s son, his wife Margaret (22) and their sons Patrick (3) and infant Martin (6) months old were living in this house with her. Mary could not read and she spoke Irish only. Pat and Margaret could read and write and were bilingual; Patrick although only three was listed as a scholar that could read and was bilingual. The house was 3rd class with two windows to the front and the family of five occupied two rooms. They had a piggery and a fowl house on the property.
No 13: Catherine Coyne (80) lived in this house. Catherine a widowed farmer could not read and she spoke Irish only. The house was 3rd class with one window in front and she had two rooms. She had a cow house on the premises.
No 14: Ellen Molloy (80) a widow was the head of the family and lived with her daughter Bridget (40) who was not married. Farming was their occupation. Ellen spoke Irish only while her daughter was bilingual and neither could read. Michael Varrilly (40) a single man was listed as farm servant; he could not read and was deaf and dumb. The house was 3rd class with one window in front and three people occupied two rooms. They had a cow house on the premises.
No 15: Margaret Conway (76) a widow had no occupation listed. Margaret could not read and she spoke Irish only. The house was 3rd class with one window in front and she had one room. There were no outbuildings on the holding.
Census 1911:
Constable Thomas Fallon collected the census return for Carrick Middle on the 10th of April 1911. Thirteen private dwelling houses were recorded for the townland, all were occupied; eleven were 2nd class, two were 3rd class; all had perishable roofs that were most likely thatch. Fifty four people resided in the townland; twenty two males and thirty two females. Three of the residents were born in Co. Mayo, two were born in the United States of America and the remainder were born in County Galway. The families were all Roman Catholic and farming was the predominant way of life. Edward and Ulick Jennings were blacksmiths and one man was a lead miner. The 1911 Census were expanded to include particulars of marriage; how long the current marriage had lasted; how many children were born alive and how many were still living. However in the case of a widow or a widower this information was not always recorded.
No 1: Edward Jennings (69) was married to Honor (68) for thirty seven years and they had eight children; six were still living. Ann (27) and Ulick (22) both single were recorded here. Anne had no occupation listed and Ulick was a blacksmith. Edward and Honor could not read, (according to the 1901 census Honor could read and write). Anne and Ulick could read and write and the family were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows to the front and four people occupied three rooms. There was a stable, a cow house, a piggery and a forge on the premises.
No 2: Sarah King (76) a widowed farmer was head of this household. Her daughters Catherine (33) and Sarah (31) had no occupations listed and both were single. Also in the house was Sarah’s granddaughter Eileen King (6) born in Kings County (Co. Meath). Eileen was a scholar; she could read and write and she spoke English only. Sarah could read only while her daughters could read and write and all spoke Irish and English. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and three rooms were occupied by the family of four. They had a cow house, a piggery and a fowl house on the property.
No 3: Mary Flynn (73) a widowed farmer and was head of the household. She could not read and spoke Irish only. Her son Patrick (40) and his wife Sarah (41) were married for twenty years and they had no children. Pat and his wife could not read. (Census for 1901 states that Pat could read and write). Her grand – daughter Mary Donahue (19) born in the United States of America was also living here. Mary’s family were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three widows in front and the family of four occupied three rooms. There was a cow house and a piggery on the holding.
No 4: Mary Casey (81) a widow was an old age pensioner. She had six children; five were still living. Her son Thomas (48) and his wife Mary (47) were married for twenty eight years and they had eight children; (five were recorded in this census) Bridget (20) a farmer’s daughter and Patrick (17) a farmer’s son; Peter (14), Kate Ann (11) and Sarah Jane (8) were scholars. Mary was an Irish speaker and could not read; her son, his wife and family could all read and write and were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows to the front and eight family members occupied three rooms. They had a cow house, a piggery and a barn on the property.
No 5: Martin Joyce (28) a farmer was married to Mary (31) for two years. Their son Michael was (10) months old. Martin and Mary could read and write and were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and the family of three occupied three rooms. The out buildings consisted of a cow house, a piggery and a barn.
No 6: Patrick Diskin (66) a farmer and his wife Mary (70) were married for forty years. Nine children were born to the couple; four were still living and two are recorded. Their daughter Julia (32) and son John (30) were single and had no occupations listed. Their granddaughter Mary Philbin (15) a scholar and grandson John Sarsfield (2) were also in this house. Patrick and Mary could not read; Julia, John and Mary Philbin could read and write and all spoke Irish and English. The house was 2nd class with three windows to the front and the family of six occupied three rooms. Four out buildings contained; a stable, a cow house, a piggery and a shed.
No 7: William Diskin (63) a farmer was married to Kate (53) for thirty years. They had nine children; seven were still living and four are recorded here. John (22), Kate (18) and Ellen (16) did not have an occupation listed and William (13) was a scholar. William senior and his wife could not read and he spoke Irish only. Their children could read and write and were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and six people occupied three rooms. There was a stable, a cow house and a piggery on the holding.
No 8: Bridget Herwood (sic) (71) was a widowed farmer. Bridget could not read and spoke Irish only. Her son Martin (35) and his wife Kate (34) were living with her. They were married for five years and had three children; John (3), Martin (2) and the infant Michael (10) months old. Martin could read and write while Kate could not read; both spoke Irish and English. The house was 3rd class with two windows to the front and the family of six occupied two rooms. They had a cow house and a piggery on the property.
No 9: James Herwood (sic) (40) a farmer and lead miner was married to Kate (38) for fourteen years and they had six children; five were living and four are recorded here. Mary (13) and Kate (10) were scholars; Bridget was (5) and Michael (2) years old. James and his wife could not read while the scholars Mary and Kate could read and write; all were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows to the front and the family occupied three rooms. They had a cow house and a piggery on the premises.
No 10: William Laffey (40) and his wife Mary (32) were married for nine years and they had two children; only Mary (2) was still living. William a farmer spoke Irish only and could not read; his wife could not read but was bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and the parents and daughter occupied three rooms. There was a cow house and a piggery on the holding.
No 11: Myles Varrilly (sic) (63) a farmer was married to Mary (61) for thirty seven years. They had eight children, six were still living and three are recorded here. Bridget (21), John (18) and Mary (16) have no occupation listed. Michael Varrilly (58) a step brother to Myles was also in the house. Michael worked as a labourer; he could read and write and it states he was dumb. Myles and his wife could not read; their children could read and write. Mary senior spoke Irish only; her husband and their children were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and six people occupied three rooms. The out offices consisted of a cow house, a piggery and a barn.
No 12: Mary Conroy (73) was a widowed farmer. Mary could not read and she spoke Irish only. Her daughter in law Margaret (36) was in the house with her. Margaret was married for fifteen years and had five children; Patrick (13), Martin (10) and Michael (8) were scholars and they could read and write; Bridget was (5) and Mary (3) years old. Margaret could not read; she and the older children spoke Irish and English, three years old Mary spoke English only which may indicate that English was the language of the home. The house was 2nd class with three windows to the front and the family of seven occupied three rooms. They had three outbuildings; stable, a cow house and a piggery.
No 13: James Varrilly (sic) (70) a widower was a farmer. He could not read and he spoke Irish only. The house was 3rd class with two windows to the front and James had two rooms. He had a cow house on the holding.
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