Gortnaclassagh

Gort na Clasach

Tomas O Flatharta

Tomas O Flatharta

Gort na Clasach meaning field or garden of the trench

Names:

According to O’ Donovan’s Field Name Books 1838, the standard name given to the townland was Gortnaclassagh and Gort na Clasach was its official Irish form.  Other names this townland has been known as are Gurtnaclossagh (Boundary Surveyors Sketch Map), Gurthnaclossagh (County Cess Collector, Local, Rev. Michael Waldron P.P. and Tithe Ledger) and Gurtnacrossagh (County Map).

Situation:

This townland is located on the North side of the parish.  Gortnaclassagh is bounded on the north and west by the townland of Breanduin.  It was bounded south by Cregdothia.  Bounded east by the parish of Cong in Mayo.

Description:

Down Survey:

The Down Survey was a cadastral survey of Ireland carried out by William Petty, English scientist in 1655 and 1656.  The survey was apparently called the “Down Survey” by Petty because the results were set down in maps ‘‘admeasurement down’ was used; it is referred to by that name in Petty’s will.’ (Wikipedia).  The name used by the Down Survey for this village was Gortnaclassagh & Brendrum.  In 1641, the owner was Sir Thomas Blake who was a Protestant.  In 1670 the owner was College of Dublin (Protestant) and Thomas Deane (Protestant).  There was 130 acres of profitable land and 130 acres were forfeited.

O Donovan’s (1838):

The proprietor for this village was Lord Oranmore, Castlemontgarret (sic.), Co. Mayo.  The agent for this townland was Laurence Glynn or Jerrard Strickland, Esq. of Portarlington.  The soil in this village was middling good.  The farms ranged from 2 to 15½ acres.  According to O’ Donovan’s Field Name Books this village was split into 2 parts. This village was held under lease by Robert Brown, Esq. of Portarlington and sublet to tenants.  The rent was 23 shillings per acre.  The Co. Cess paid 11 ¼ d. per acre from 43 acres.  There was an antiquity of a fort called Cahertislarge and fortified by a wall 5 or 6 feet thick in this village.

Griffiths Valuation

According to Griffith’s Valuation, Gortnaclassagh had a total acreage of 78 acres, 2 roods and 31 perches.  The total valuation for this village was £40.2s.0d.  The immediate lessor for this townland was Benjamin L. Guinness.  This townland was divided into 8 plots.

Plot 1 was composed of 23 acres, 1 rood and 0 perches.  This plot belonged to Rev. Michael Waldron.  Total valuation for this plot was £10.0s.0d.

Plot 1 Rev. Michael Waldronhad land valued at £10.0s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £10.0s.0d.

Plot 2 was comprised of 9 acres, 1 rood and 0 perches.  This plot was divided into two plots one was unlabelled; the other one was labelled 4b.  Both plots belonged to Denis Kearney.  Total valuation for this plot was £4.0s.0d.

Plot 2 Denis Kearneyhad land valued at £3.12s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £3.12s.0d.

Plot 2 4d Denis Kearneyhad a house valued at £0.8s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £0.8s.0d.

Plot 3 was composed of 8 acres, 1 rood and 10 perches.  This plot belonged to Patrick Glynn.  Total valuation for this plot was £4.5s.0d.

Plot 3 Patrick Glynnhad a house and land. The land was valued at £4.0s.0d. and the house was valued at £0.5s.0d. Total valuation for this plot was £4.5s.0d.

Plot 4a was composed of 7 acres, 1 rood and 26 perches.  This plot belonged to John Kearney.  Total valuation for this plot was £4.15s.0d.

Plot 4a John Kearneyhad a house and land.  The land was valued at £4.5s.0d. and the house was valued at £0.10s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot £4.15s.0d.

Plot 5 was comprised of 9 acres, 2 roods and 13 perches.  This plot was divided into two plots which were unlabelled.  The first plot belonged to James Kearney and the second plot was owned by Michael Walsh.  Total valuation for this plot was £5.5s.0d.

Plot 5 James Kearneyhad land valued at £1.15s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £1.15s.0d.

Plot 5 Michael Walshhad land valued at £3.10s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £3.10s.0d.

Plot 6 was composed of 10 acres, 3 roods and 28 perches.  This plot was divided into two sub-plots labelled a and b. a was owned by Thomas Ward and b was owned by Bridget Walsh.  Total valuation for this plot was £6.10s.0d.

Plot 6 a Thomas Wardhad a house and land. The land was valued at £3.0s.0d. and the house was valued at £0.5s.0d. Total valuation for this plot was £3.5s.0d.

Plot 6 b Bridget Walshhad a house and land.  The land was valued at £3.0s.0d. and the house was valued at £0.5s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £3.5s.0d.

Plot 7a was comprised of 9 acres, 3 roods and 34 perches.  This plot belonged to Jeremiah McGrath.  Total valuation for this plot was £5.0s.0d.

Plot 7a Jeremiah McGrathhad a house and land.  The land was valued at £4.10s.0d. and the house was valued at £0.10s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £5.0s.0d.

Plot – b had a house. This plot belonged to Patrick Malley. Total valuation for this plot was £0.7s.0d.

Plot –b Patrick Malleyhad a house valued at £0.7s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £0.7s.0d.

Census 1901

The Census 1901 states there was 6 houses in this village and 5 of them were inhabited.  House numbered 6 was uninhabited and was owned by Thomas Carney.  There were 12 males and 13 females in this village.  Everyone in this village was Roman Catholic according to the Enumerators Abstract (Form N).  There were fifteen outhouses in this village.  There were five stables, five piggeries, two barns and three sheds. There was an error on the Enumerators Abstract as it stated there was one calf house in this village but there weren’t any calf houses in this village in 1901.

House 1-Nicholas and Mary Glynn

Nicholas(60) and Mary (45) Glynn resided in house 1 with their son, daughter and Nicolas’s mother in law, Sarah Flaherty(80). Their son was John (15) and their daughter was Mary(12).  Nicolas was a farmer.  Mary (Snr.) was a housekeeper.  John and Mary were scholars.  The parents and Sarah could not read or write, the rest of the household could read and write.  Sarah spoke Irish only; the rest of the household spoke Irish and English. Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with three rooms.  They had a cow house and a piggery.

 

House 2-Thomas and Sarah Kearney (spelt as Carney in the 1911 census)

Thomas (40) and Sarah (30) Kearney lived in house 2. Thomas was a farmer.  Sarah could read and write.  Thomas could read only.  Both Thomas and Sarah spoke Irish and English.  Thomas was from Galway and Sarah was from Mayo.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with three rooms.  They had a cow house, a piggery, a barn and a shed.

 

House 3-Edward and Bridget Moran (spelt as Morrin in the 1911 census)  

Edward (60) and Bridget (50) Moran resided in house numbered 4 with their four children.  Their children wereMargaret (21), Catherine(19), Michael(15) and Ellen (26).  Edward was a farmer and Michael was a scholar.  Bridget and Ellen could not read.  Edward could read only.  The rest of the household could read and write.  Everyone in this household, except Ellen, spoke Irish and English. Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 3rdclass house with three rooms.  They had a cow house, a piggery and a shed.

 

House 4-Patrick and Mary Moran (spelt as Morrin in the 1911 census)

Patrick(55) and Mary (55) Moran resided in house 4 with their three children.  Their children were Michael(30), Ellie(17) and Liggie (sic.)(15). Patrick was a farmer.  Michael was a labourer.  Liggie was a scholar.  The parents could not read or write, the children could read and write.  Everyone in this household spoke Irish and English. Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with three rooms.  They had a cow house, a piggery and a barn.

 

House 5-Michael and Catherine McGrath

Michael(60) and Catherine(48) McGrath lived in house with their two daughters and three sons.  Their daughters were Julia (17) and Anne(15).  Their sons were John(14), Michael(12) and Dermott(10).  Michael (Snr.) was a farmer.  Anne, John, Michael and Dermott were scholars.  Micheal (Snr.) could not read or write.  Catherine could read only.  The rest of the household could read and write.  Everyone in this household spoke Irish and English.  Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with three rooms.  They had a cow house, a piggery and a shed.

Census 1911

Ten years later the census questions were expanded to include the following: Particulars as to Marriage (which included – completed years the present marriage has lasted, children born alive to present marriage, total children born alive to this marriage, and children still living).   There were six houses in this village and all six were inhabited.  Everyone in this village was Roman Catholic.  There were twenty five outhouses in this village. There was one stable, six cow houses, one calf house, five piggeries, six fowl houses, one barn, one turf house and four sheds.

 

House 1- Michael and Kate McGrath

Michael(75) and Kate (called Catherine in 1901)(61) McGrath resided in house 1, previously numbered house 5 in the 1901 census, with their three children.  Their children were Anne (26), Michael(22) and Darby (called Dermott in 1901) (19).  There was no mention of Julia or John in this 1911 census.  Michael (Snr.) and Kate were married for 33 years, had nine children and seven of them had survived until 1911.  Michael (Snr.) was a farmer.  Michael was an agricultural labourer.  Michael (Snr.) could not read or write, the rest of the household could read and write. Everyone in this household spoke Irish and English.  Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with three rooms.  They had a cow house, a calf house, a piggery, a fowl house and a shed.

 

House 2- Patrick and Mary Morrin (called Moran in 1901)

Patrick(72) and Mary (71) lived in house 2, previously numbered house 4 in the 1901 census, with their two children and their nephew.  Their children were Micheal (38) and Liggie(sic.) (21). Patrick’s nephew was Tom Walsh(18).  There was no mention of Ellie in this 1911 census; she was previously recorded in the 1901 census.  Patrick and Mary were married for 52 years, had thirteen children and 11 had survived by 1911.  Patrick was a farmer and Tom was an agricultural labourer.  Patrick could not read or write.  Mary could read only.  The rest of the household could read and write.  Everyone in this household spoke Irish and English. Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with three rooms. They had a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house and a shed.

 

House 3-Bridget Morrin (called Moran in the 1901 census)

Bridget Morrin (70) resided in house 3, previously numbered as house 3 as stated in the 1901 census, with his three children.  His children were Ellen (40), Kate (called Catherine in 1901)(26) and Michael (25).  There was no mention of Edward or Margaret in this 1901 census; they were present in the 1901 census for this household.  Bridget was a widow.  Bridget was a farmer.  Kate was a dressmaker.  Bridget could not read or write, the rest of the household could read and write. Everyone in this household spoke Irish and English.  Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 3rdclass house with four rooms.  They had a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house and a shed.

 

House 4-John and Bridget McGoldrick

John (36) and Bridget (40) McGoldrick lived in house numbered 4.  This was a new household in Gortnaclassagh.  They had one child, Mary(5).  John and Bridget were married for six years.  They had one child which survived until 1911.  John was a farmer.  John could read and write, the rest of the household could not read or write. Bridget spoke Irish and English. The rest of the household spoke English only.  John was from Longford.  Bridget was from Mayo.  Mary was from United States of America.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with three rooms.  They had a cow house and a fowl house.

 

House 5- Sarah Carney (called Kearney in 1901 census)

Sarah Carney (46) lived in house 5, previously numbered house 2 in the 1901 census, with her mother, Bridget Moran (sic.)(78). There was no mention of Thomas in this 1911 census; he was previously mentioned in the 1901 census for this village.  Both Sarah and Bridget were widows.  Sarah was a farmer.  Sarah could read and write.  Bridget could not read or write.  Sarah spoke Irish and English.  Bridget spoke Irish only.  Both Sarah and Bridget were born in Mayo.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with 3 rooms.  They had a stable, a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house, a barn and a turf house.

 

 House 6-Nicholas and Mary Glynn

Nicholas(69) and Mary (68) Glynn lived in house 6, previously numbered house 1, with their two children and Mary’s mother.  Their children were John(25) and Mary(20).  Mary’s mother was Sarah Gannon (was called Flaherty in 1901) (101).  Nicholas and Mary (Snr.) were married for forty nine years, had ten children and seven of them survived until 1911.  Nicholas was a farmer.  John was an agricultural labourer.  Nicholas, Mary (Snr.) and Sarah could not read or write.  John and Mary could read and write.  Sarah spoke Irish only; the rest of the household spoke Irish and English. Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 2ndclass house with three rooms.  They had a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house and a shed.

This page was added on 16/10/2018.

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