Margaret Sweeney's Relatives- Sweeney's in County Meath

Sweeney's in Summerhill Parish, County Meath- Likely relatives of Margaret Sweeney Allen

Sweeney is a fairly rare name to be found in County Meath. Sweeneys and Allens lived in the same area in Laracor parish, which is near Trim- 9 Allen families and 1 Sweeney family. Laracor parish includes Dangan, Summerhill, and Umberstown.


1823 Tithe Books

In 1828, there was a Pat Sweeney with 6 acres at Ballnirigg in Laracor Parish, Meath and a Michael Sweeney with 103 acres in Great Freffans, Laracor, Meath.
Michael Sweeney was living right next to John Allen, who had 108 acres. There was also another J. Allen with 47 acres in Great Freffans. Both of these townlands (Ballnirigg and Great Freffans) are listed near Dangan Park and Dangan Demesne.

In Umberstown is marked "Late Allen's farm" of 90 acres in Umberstown. In Ballinnrigg near Dangan was Francis Allen, 1 acre, and in Umberstown John Allen 22 acres. Nearby in Clondagan was Rich Byrne with 3 acres and Martin Byrne with 2 acres. Also near Dangan at Ballinngg was Widow Allen with 3 acres and William Allen with 8 acres.

In the Griffith's Valuation of 1855, there was only one Sweeney family living near Summerhill.

Patrick Sweeney farmed 12 acres of land, renting from Charles P. Leslie.

Patrick also shared 8 acres of land with James Mulary, renting from Charles P. Leslie.

Richard Allen had 17 acres of land (renting from Charles P Leslie) and John Allen had a house and garden on Richard's land.

1901 Census

In 1901, the Sweeneys were a household headed by Anne Sweeney, age 46, a widow and farmer,  Anne Sweeney her daughter, age 24, unmarried, and Patrick Sheils, 3, her grandson. In another house was Luke Sweeney, age 57, an unmarried nurseryman.

Living nearby was John Allen, age 62, an unmarried farmer, living with Jane Moran, 19, an unmarried cousin.

1911 Census

In 1911, Anne Sweeney, now 35, was farming,  living with Ellen McLeer, age 6, a niece who was in school. In another house was Luke Sweeney, now 70, living with his brother, Michael Sweeney, age 72, both single and  agricultural laborers.

Living next door was John Allen, now 76, and his nephew Thomas Byrne, age 37.

Another common name in this area is Byrne- and we know that in 1851 in Ireland,  Mary Allen married Patrick W. Byrne, born Aug 15, 1825, son of Patrick Byrne and Anna Murray.

Living in Great Umberstown was Joseph Byrne 60, wife Brigid 52, sons Thomas 22, Michael 14, John 11 and dtr Mary 4.


Church records for Laracor parish and summerhill- see ancestry and findmypast

Baptism, marriage records available for Summerhill from Apr 1812 to 1854
Death records from 1812 to 1836

Dangan, Summerhill- all children of Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall

Hugh Sweeney b 2 March 1828
Ellen Sweeney b Apr 1829
John Sweeney b 3 Dec 1831
Catherine b 19 Feb 1833
Thomas b 1 Feb 1835
Patrick b 28 Nov 1836
Michael 12 Feb 1839
Luke Sweeney b 25 Jan 1841
Christopher Sweeney b 26 Dec 1843
Peter 28 Nov 1845 (address Mill Road)
Bernard 20 Mar 1848
Andrew b 24 Jan 1851



rootsireland best for index of parish records

Mysteries and Clues: Baptismal Sponsors

1-Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney were themselves baptismal sponsors.

In January 1818, Margaret was a baptismal sponsor for Thomas McCann, the son of Mary Sweeney and Thomas McCann of Umberstown. Pat Sweeney was the other baptismal sponsor. So it is likely that both Margaret Sweeney and Pat Sweeney were siblings of Mary Sweeney (McCann.)

In April, 1833, Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor of Margaret Sweeney, daughter of Catherine "Kathy" Sweeney and Andrew Fitzsimons of Dangan. So it is likely that Catherine Sweeney (Fitzsimons) was also a sibling of Margaret Sweeney.

In January 1841, Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor for Luke and John Sweeney, the twin sons of Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall/McCan. So again, it is likely that Patrick Sweeney was the brother of Richard's wife Margaret Sweeney.

So- Margaret Sweeney's siblings likely included:
 Mary Sweeney (McCann) of Umberstown
Catherine Sweeney (Fitzsimons) of Dangan
Patrick Sweeney of Umberstown

2-Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney were married in 1825. They then chose the sponsors for their own children. These included:

1-Sweeney Connections:
In June 1837, Pat Sweeney was a baptismal sponsor for Peter Allen.
In November 1841, Thomas McCan (husband of Mary Sweeney) was a baptismal sponsor for Thomas Allen.
 In May 1847, Ellen Sweeney was a baptismal sponsor for Catherine Allen.

So- we can likely add Ellen Sweeney to the list of Margaret's siblings, and confirm that Pat Sweeney and Mary Sweeney were likely siblings.

2-Allen Connections:
In February, 1829, Peter Allen was a baptismal sponsor for Richard Allen's first born son-Francis Allen.
So- we can likely assume that Peter Allen was Richard's brother.

So- here is a look at those most likely related families in Dangan and Umberstown.

Family of Peter Allen- Dangan
Peter, likely brother of Richard Allen, was born about 1800 in Summerhill Parish, County Meath.
On March 1, 1829, he married Mary Young. Their witnesses were Philip McKeon and Anne Allen (who themselves married a week later, on March 7, 1829.

In March, 1820, Philip McKeon (husband of Anne Allen) was a baptismal sponsor for their first child, Elizabeth.
In February 1834, Andrew Young (husband of Elizabeth "Bess" Allen) and Mary Sweeney, were baptismal sponsors for John Allen.
(Mary Young, wife of Peter Allen, was also a baptismal sponsor for Patrick Sweeney's son Thomas in February, 1825.)

So- Anne Allen and Elizabeth "Bess" Allen were likely sisters of Peter Allen.

Allens- Peter

Sweeneys- Patrick, Ellen

McCan's- Mary, Rose (married to Thomas Allen), Thomas (married to Mary Sweeney)

Ruley's- Pat, Catharine, Richard

Likely siblings of Margaret Sweeney- 

Patrick Sweeney

Ellen Sweeney

Mary Sweeney (wife of Thomas McCan)

Likely siblings of Richard Allen-

Peter Allen

Thomas Allen

John Allen

Baptismal sponsors for Peter Allen and Mary Young's (married 1829) children in Dangan include:

McKeon- Philip (husband of Anne Allen- married 1836)

Young- Andrew (husband of Elizabeth "Bess" Allen- married 1836)

Sweeney- Mary

Likely siblings of Peter Allen:

Anne Allen McKeon (married 1826)

Elizabeth "Bess" Allen Young (married 1836)

Baptismal sponsors for Thomas Allen and Rose McCann's children in Dangan include:

Allen- John

Sweeney- Catharine

Young- Elizabeth "Bess"

Baptismal sponsors for John Allen and Bridget Butler's (married 1822- Wit Wm Allen and Mary Reilly) children in Umberstown include:

Allen- Francis/Frank, Anne

McCann- Anne, Bryan, Thomas, Bridget

Likely siblings of John Allen:

Francis/Frank Allen

Anne Allen

Baptismal sponsors for James Allen and Jane Byrne's children in Dangan include:

McKoen- Philip, Ellen

Baptismal sponsors for Elizabeth "Bess" Allen and Andrew Young (married 1836) children include:

Allen- James, Mary, Peter


Baptismal sponsors for Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall's children

Patrick Sweeney was a neighbor of Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney.

The  church records show baptismal sponsors of his children include:

Richard Allen (husband of Margaret Sweeney)

Youngs- Andrew, John, Mary

Dorans- William, Catharine, 

Sweeney- Catharine and Anne plus the husband of Margaret Sweeney- Richard

Likely siblings of Patrick Sweeney- Margaret, Catharine, Anne

Baptismal sponsors for Mary Sweeney and Thomas McCan's (married 1815-Dangan- Wit Hugh Sweeney and Thos Reilly ) children- Umberstown (both were sponsors for the children of Richard Allen and Magaret Sweeney)

Sweeney- Hugh (wit at marriage)

Likely siblings of Mary Sweeney- Hugh

Baptismal sponsors for Catharine Sweeney and Andrew Fitzsimmons (married 1819 Dangan)

Allen- Richard (husband of Margaret Sweeney)
Likely sibling of Catharine Sweeney- Margaret

Allen Blog- Hugh's Story- The Fairy Fort

 

Hugh grew up in a magical place. Besides the ruins at Dangan Castle, Hugh's family farm was bordered by the most magical of places- a fairy fort.

                                  Allen farm on left and fairy fort on right

This enticing hill surrounded by rings of grass covered ridges and depressions that would have been a tempting place for young boys to play. But it was very likely forbidden- a place only entered upon by a childhood dare and then quickly exited at a full run. Or did the neighboring Allen children become so familiar with this place that they played comfortably there? If so, they were looked on kindly by the fairies.

Because this was a real fairy hill- a place surrounded by superstition. These ancient fairy forts, dotted across Ireland, belonged to the realm of the fairies and were protected by them. Rumors of mysterious occurrences surrounded them- strange dancing lights or the sounds of soft lilting music in the dark of night. These curious places were not to be disturbed by humankind. There were stories of people who had gone into a mystical trance or even disappeared if they wandered onto them. Some believed that fairy forts had secret underground caverns that led to the other world. And woe betide anyone who disturbed this protected piece of earth in order to build human abodes- this would provoke the wrath of the fairies and bring seriously bad luck. To this day, the fairy forts of Ireland, including the one next to Hugh's childhood home, remain, respected and left alone by the local people.

In fact, the fairy fort next to Hugh's home was the very one that had given the name to the area in which they lived. "An Daingean" which later became Dangan, means "the fort."

We know now, that this was an ancient ring fort, also known as a rath. Dating back to the Bronze Age- 500-1000 A.D., these circular or oval hills had been the site of fortified homesteads or farmsteads. The oval ring at Dangan was 35 meters wide- and at that size was likely the abode of a Celtic nobleman. 

During Celtic times, there were eight chieftains, or Tuaths, in Meath, who served the King at Tara. Below these chieftains were free farmers, who also had smaller raths. These were built to protect the farmstead and its most prized possession- cattle- from raids.

The raised circular/oval hill was surrounded by earthen or stone banks for protection which were then surrounded by a fosse- a ditch of water that was the progenitor of later castle moats. A winding incline led up to the rath. The family lived on top of the ring fort, and their dwelling sometimes included an underground passage- souterrain- used as storage or a refuge during attacks. Some of these went quite deep into the earth, and are probably the origins of the later superstitions that these were fairy entrances into the other world.

The rings and depressions around the Dangan ring fort can be seen clearly in the satellite image below.

                                              Ring fort at Dangan

Watch the video below to learn more  about ring forts!

A video about Irish ringforts

Irish Fairy Tales to read online

Irish Fairy Tales by Stephens

Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry by Yeats

Sources:

http://www.meathheritage.com/index.php/archives/item/me01769-dangan-ringfort-rath

Cusack, Illustrated History of Ireland, 1868 Chapt XV

Sweeneys- What is a Scottish Gallowglass??

Margaret Sweeney was born about 1805, presumably in County Meath, Ireland.
She married Richard Allen in Summerhill, Meath, on the 10th of July, 1825. They had 10 children, most of whom came to America, and most of whom settled in Jerseyville. She was my 2nd great grandmother.

I decided to look into the Sweeney's in Meath. First- a name search and a surprise! The name "Sweeney" comes from the Scottish galloglasses. What in the world is a galloglass? Sounds ominous! Indeed, it was!

This term derives from the "Galloglaich" who were an elite class of warriors of Norse and Scottish origin, who were hired as mercenaries by the Irish Kings to fight the English (they also fought for Robert Bruce in Scotland.) They were an aristocratic infantry, wearing heavy armor, and were much in demand as warriors. They were known for their skill with a broad sword or claymore, and a two handed axe. They wore mail, and an iron helmet. Each warrior was accompanied by two young squires who carried their spears and provisions.

1521 drawing by Albrecht Durer (Wikipedia Commons)

Many settled in Ireland after losing their lands in Scotland after they fought for the losing side in the wars of Scottish Independence. In return for their service, the Irish nobility granted them lands, and paid them an annual tribute of cattle and grain. The warriors fought in units of about 100 men.

Queen Elizabeth I so feared this group that in 1571 she had 700 of them executed after the first of the Desmonde (Fitzgerald) rebellions in Ireland.

The first and most famous Gallowglass families was the MacSweeneys.

An Irish Chieftan- 1581 John Derricke

MacSweeney chief at dinner being entertained by a bard and a harper by John Derricke 1581

http://www.irishorigenes.com/content/gallowglass-do-you-belong-warrior-clan

The World of the Galloglass: Kings, Warlords, and Warriors in Ireland and Scotland 1200-1600 by Sean Duffy

The Twilight Lords: Elizabeth I and the First Irish Holocaust

By Richard Berleth

Margaret Sweeny's relatives- Catharine Sweeney Fitzsimons

Catharine Sweeney

Catharine "Kitty" Sweeney married Andrew Fitzsimons in February, 1819, at the church in Dangan.

Ireland, Select Catholic Marriage Registers, Meath, Summerhill, 1812-1854, p. 9

Andrew leased 12 acres of land in Clonmahon - a townland about 2  1/2 miles south of Dangan. Clonmahon was just outside of the village of Summerhill. His landlord was the Honorable Hercules Rowley- the owner of Summerhill Demesne. Unlike the ruins at Dangan, Summerhill house was a magnificent structure- one of the finest country estates in all of Ireland.

Ireland, Griffiths Valuation 1847-1864, Meath, Laracor p 3

Clonmahon (top left), the Village of Summerhill, and the Summerhill Demesne- Ireland Ordnance Survey 1824-1846 p 44

A visit to Margaret's sister Catharine and the Fitzsimon's cousins would have likely meant an exciting visit to the village of Summerhill, which sat in the shadow of the great house and estate at Summerhill.

The children of Catharine Sweeney and Andrew Fitzsimons were:
1-Christian baptized December 1819- sponsors Ratican and Gallaher
2-Catharine baptized February 1824- sponsors Michael Dunn and Alicia ?
3-Mary baptized May 1826- sponsors Pat Keeman and Mary Blake
4-Edward baptized February 1828- sponsors John Duff and Margaret Kennan
5-Margaret baptized April 1833- sponsors Richard Allen and Margaret White
6-James baptized February 1837- sponsors White and Kiernan

History: January 6, 1839- The Night of the Big Wind

January 6, 1839- The Night of the Big Wind- the worst storm in Ireland's History



Inside their cottage, Margaret Sweeney Allen was looking forward to "Nollaig na mBan" also known as "Little Christmas," the Feast of the Epiphany. In Ireland, a sweet tradition held forth that on "Little Christmas" or "Women's Christmas," the women of the family had a much anticipated day off from their household chores. For the rest of the year, a man would be ridiculed should he lift a finger to help with women's work, but on January 6th, the men of Ireland gave their wives the night off. They cared for the children and handled the household chores so the women could leave the home to gather with their female friends and family and celebrate their own "Little Christmas" without all the cooking and other chores that had been their responsibility during the preceding Christmas season. The hard working women of Ireland looked forward all year to this, their special day. Children often gave their mother's small gifts, as children do today on Mother's Day. This year Margaret had a big family to be thankful for;Mary was 13, Frank 10, John 7, Hugh 5, Patrick 4, and the baby, Peter, was only 2.


But this year the celebration was not to be. On Saturday, a heavy snow fell across the county, the first snowfall of the year. However by Sunday, the weather turned warm and eerily still. After they attended church that morning the snow was melting to slush, and as they had their Sunday dinner, a gentle rain began to fall. As it turned dark, which happened early in the winter in that northern latitude, the rain became a storm. Soon hail. sleet, and heavy rain were pounding the windows and the roof. As the children went to bed, Richard and Margaret worried at the intensity of the storm. All night it raged, wreaking havoc upon the land around them and on their own small cottage.

Reports show that many roofs gave way or were blown off by the hurricane strength winds, many precious glass windows were shattered. Chimneys were brought down and families fled their homes to avoid being crushed or killed. Some fled to neighbor's homes or nearby churches, others huddled for temporary safety in low lying areas the countryside, soaked to the skin in the freezing rain. Many fences and stone walls were also collapsed, and livestock ran in fear. Fires spread from the turf fires which were kept burning in every cottage, alighting the thatch roofs.

In nearby Dublin, the Shannon flooded. The great trees in the parks were blown down, and even stone buildings collapsed. The bell from St. Patrick's Cathedral was tossed out like a toy. As buildings fell, fires spread throughout the city. It is said that a quarter of the buildings in the city were destroyed.



The surges of the sea were so great that it was said that waves came up over the cliffs of Moher on the east coast, and on the west coast near Dublin the flooding sea enveloped the land. Ships under sail and in the harbors were wrecked, their passengers drowned.

The aftermath found many families in Meath homeless, their roofs gone, stone cottages damaged, their crops badly ruined. In the midst of winter, it was a devastating experience that would not be forgotten in the lifetimes of those who lived through it.

(You may want to read- "The Big Wind- a novel of Ireland" by Beatrice Coogan)

Margaret Sweeney's relatives- Patrick Sweeney

Patrick Sweeney 

Patrick Sweeney was born in 1798. He was a nurseryman, who would have raised plants and tended the elaborate gardens of the nearby great estates; Dangan and Summerhill.


Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall were married in the church at Dangan in May 1827. 

They lived just down the road from Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney and like them, their farm bordered the Dangan Estate.  

Patrick Sweeney farm (outlined in white) and Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney's farm (with red house symbol) were in Great Umberstown townland, Summerhill Catholic Parish, County Meath. 

At the time of the Tithe Applotment (1828) Pat Sweeney had a farm in the Dangan lands.

National Archives of Ireland, The Tithe Applotment Books, 1828-1837

 In 1841, Patt Sweeney signed the testimonial to Loard Morpeth so we have an actual example of his signature.

At the time of Griffith's Valuation (1855), Patrick leased 12 acres of land in Great Umberstown from Charles P. Leslie, the same landlord as Richard Allen.

He also shared 8 acres of land with James Mulary.

It is almost certain that Patrick Sweeney was the brother of Margaret Sweeney Allen. His children would have been the cousins of our ancestor Hugh Allen and his siblings. Hugh Allen was born in 1834, and his siblings from 1826- 1847, so these Sweeney cousins and neighbors were close in age.

Patrick Sweeney's children were:

Hugh baptized 1828- sponsors Mick Reiley and Anne Gallaher

Ellen baptized 1829- sponsors Patt ? and Mary Reily

Catharine baptized 1833- sponsors Andrew Young (husband of Elizabeth Allen) and Christian Fitzsimons

Thomas baptized 1835- sponsors Matt Galaher and Mary Young (wife of Peter Allen) 

*Patrick baptized 1836- sponsors Richard Allen and Margaret Murry 

Michael born 1839- sponsors Pat Fitzsimons and Bridged Murry

*Twins John and Luke born 1841- sponsors Richard Allen and Catherine Doran

Christopher baptized December 26, 1843 (may have been born Christmas day!)- sponsors John Martin and Anne Sweeney

Peter baptized November 34, 1845, sponsors 
John Young and Catharine Sweeney

Bernard 1848- sponsors William Doran and Margt Murry 

Andrew 1851- sponsors Richard Byrne and Mary Ruley

Baptismal sponsors and hints to close relationships: our ancestor Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor to 3 of these children; Patrick, Luke, and John.

Catherine Sweeney was a sponsor for Peter- so she was likely a sister of Patrick Sweeney and Margaret Sweeney Allen.

Anne Sweeney was a sponsor for Christopher- so she was also likely a sister.

Patrick Sweeney died on the 6th of March, 1884, at the age of 86, in Umberstown. The record notes that he was a widower and he died of natural decline. His son, Luke Sweeney, was present at his death.

Margaret Sweeney's relatives-The Cemetery at Moy, gravesite of Hugh Sweeney- born 1760, died 1824, Dangan, Summerhill Parish

               

I had a new discovery this week! Hugh Sweeney.

Hugh Sweeney was most likely the father of our ancestor Margaret Sweeney who married Richard Allen at the church in Dangan, County Meath, on July 10, 1825. This would make him the maternal grandfather of our ancestor Hugh Allen who emigrated to Jerseyville. So- Hugh was likely named after his maternal grandfather, Hugh Sweeney. We have had quite a few "Hugh's" in our family!

The Summerhill Parish records show that Hugh Sweeney from Dangan was buried on March 3, 1824. The record shows him as married, so we know that his wife was still alive at the time of his death. (I need to do more research to find her name.)

                     Summerhill Parish Death Record

The Cemetery at Moy, gravesite of Hugh Sweeney      

Hugh Sweeney died on the 4th of March, 1824. He was buried at the cemetery at Moy, on land that was  once within the Summerhill Demesne.
His son, Patrick Sweeney, had an inscription put on his grave. Based on his age age at death, 64, we know that Hugh was born in 1760.

               Erected by Patr Sweeney
               In Memory of his Father
             Hugh Sweeney who departed
              This life March the 4th 1824
                         Aged 64 years
                    Requiescant in Pace

 There is little trace of the original Catholic church that was there before Cromwellian times, but a circular graveyard still exists, partially surrounded by a wall. There are shady trees within the graveyard, and the headstones date from the mid-eighteenth century to modern times.

The cemetery sits just south of the Knightsbrook River, on the New Moy Road just south of the village of Summerhill. 

 Moy Cemetery on New Moy Road, south of Summerhill

        If you get to visit Ireland someday, maybe you
              can visit the grave of your ancestor, 
                              Hugh Sweeney.

Allen Blog-1841 Ireland- A 420 meter scroll and a new find!

       This is the 1841 signature of my great-great grandfather,  Richard Allen. This is significant, not just because it is his signature, but because it shows that unlike many Irishmen of the time, Richard Allen was literate.

                      George Howard- Lord Viscount Morpeth

I came across this by accident today, while researching another relative. In 1841, Lord Viscount Morpeth (George Howard) was retiring from his post as Chief Secretary for Ireland. He was given a gift of a 420 meter roll of parchment consisted of 652 pieces of paper signed by 160,000 people from all over Ireland. The signatures included men from all levels of Irish society. There were some famous people of course, including the great Daniel O'Conner, but most of the signatures were those of everyday farmers and businessmen.

In 2013 the scroll was sent on a 14 month tour of Ireland, where it could be seen by the public for the first time in 170 years. It was also digitized at Ancestry.com and can be seen online.

 If you look at my Allen Family Tree on Ancestry, you can see Richard Allen's signature on the scroll. Many of his relatives and neighbors at the time also signed the scroll.

Patrick Sweeney was a neighbor of Richard Allen in Great Umberstown, and likely the brother of Margaret Sweeney.

Peter Allen and John Allen of Dangan were likely Richard's brothers and Andrew Young of Dangan was the husband of Elizabeth Allen-likely Richard's sister. 

The scroll is full of the names of many neighbors and friends of the Allen's and Sweeney's.

The names led me to more questions (of course) What relation was this Francis Allen and this John Sweeney?

Here is a look at part of page 442- can you find Rich'd Allen?

Source: page 442, The 1841 Irish Testimonial to Lord Morpeth, Castle Howard, York, England
Caste Howard Estate Ltd., Ancestry.com. Ireland, Lord Viscount Morpeth's Testimonial Roll, 1841

Historical Morpeth Roll is digitised (Click to read article)

Mysteries and Clues: Allens and Sweeneys in Laracor Civil Parish- using Griffiths Valuation to find family connections

http://askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/

Griffiths Valuation lists families by civil parish and townland.
Using Google maps we can tell the distance and walking time between each of these Allen families.

Our ancestors, Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney, lived in Laracor civil parish, Great Umberstown townland. Richard rented land from Charles P. Leslie. What other Allens and Sweeneys lived in Laracor civil parish? Might they have been related?

Richard Allen, Great Umberstown, renting 17 acres from Charles Leslie.
John Allen, Great Umberstown subletting a house and garden (no acreage to farm) from Richard Allen.

Who was John Allen, who survived with just a house and garden, on the farm of Richard Allen? Surely John was a relative of Richards. This may well be his elderly father or both of his parents. There is a John Allen in Umberstown in earlier records- in the 1828 Title Applotments. This John Allen paid a yearly tithe (generally 1/10th of the yearly production) for his 22 acre farm.

Neighbors in Great Umberstown- Ellen, Richard, James, Mary, Patrick Reilly, Patrick Flynn, Thomas Murrin, Michael Connolly, John Corcoran, William and Patrick Doran, Patrick Sweeney- we see these names as baptismal sponsors for the Allen children.

Other Allens in Laracor civil parish- see the blog for the map of all the families:

Dangan- Richard Allen's land bordered on those of Dangan.

James Allen, Dangan, renting 5 acres from Thomas Burrows
Peter Allen, Dangan, renting 3 acres from Thomas Burrows.

Ballinrig

James Allen, Ballinrig, renting 26 acres from Charles Leslie.
Rose Allen, Ballinrig, renting 10 acres from Charles Leslie.
(Neighbors Peter, James, Thomas Byrne, Michael Doran, Walter Rattigan, James Connolly)

Clondoogan

John Allen, Clondoogan, renting 21 acres from Richard Rowley
Edward Allen, Clondoogan, renting 11 acres from Richard Rowley

Stokestown

Anne Allen, Stokestown, renting 32 acres from Charles Leslie and subletting land to Jane Huntheon

The only Sweeny in Laracor Parish was Patrick Sweeny, a neighbor of Richard Allen in Great Umberstown. We can be fairly certain that Patrick and Margaret Sweeny were related. Patrick rented  two plots  of land from Charles Leslie; one 12 acres and one 8 acres.

The amount of acreage tells us a good deal about these families.  James and Peter Allen in Dangan had very little land to live on. Might they have worked for the Dangan Estate? The landlord, Thomas Burrows, had leased the estate to Roger O'Conner, an Irish nationalist, who hoped to host a conquering Napoleon there, but after a questionable fire, the  castle was just a ruin after 1841. It was said to be the hiding place of plunder, and a den of thieves!

Allen Blog- Making a Map of the Allen Farms in County Meath

Thank goodness for hedgerows and stone fences! These classic land markers have stood the test of time...

Hedgerows and an old stone wall near Richard Allen's farm in Ireland

If you take a look at Google Satellite Maps, and type in Summerhill, County Meath, Ireland, you will come to the area in Ireland where our Allen ancestors lived. If you zoom in a bit, you will see that the many fields of green are subdivided by clear lines of trees and hedgerows. In some areas, I recognize hawthorns, which grown on my land here in West Virginia. I am fairly certain that it is impossible to kill these thorny bushes, which soon grow into small trees. Cut them down, they sprout from the stump. So maybe it is no surprise that briary hawthorns, multi-floral rose, and old stone walls still divide fields in Ireland. In any case, this time they were a great help to me.

 Griffith's Valuation of 1855 lists each tiny townsland, the inhabitants, their acreage and whom they leased from. It gives a number key which corresponds to the 1855 Griffith's Map. I had found Richard Allen's farm, where Hugh Allen and his sibling grew up in Great Umberstown, (Laracor Civil Parish) not far from the town of Summerhill.

 Now I wanted to find the other Allens in the area who were likely his kin, as well as the Sweeny's, who were likely the kin of Richard Allen's wife (Hugh's mother) Margaret Sweeny. Here is a list of all of the Allens in Laracor Civil Parish in 1855.

Allens in Laracor Civil Parish


If you click on the largest "Original Page" symbol next to the name, it will go to the page which shows the person under their townland, along with information on their farms- who their landlord was, how many acres they leased, and how much tax they paid. Here is Richard and John Allen, Patrick Sweeny and their neighbors in the townland of Great Umberstown .

Great Umberstown townland- neighbors

On the left of this list is a key which shows the number of their farm on the Griffith's Map. Going Back to the Allen's in Laracor Parish list, after the "original page" symbol is a "Map Views" symbol. The one on the right will take you to the Griffith's Map. Here is what you find if you click on the map view for Richard Allen.

Griffith's Map View for Richard Allen in Great Umberstown

As you can see, you  have to zoom in and hunt a lot to find Great Umberstown, then zoom in until you find the number for Richard Allen's farm (4a.) It takes a while! And all of those tiny townslands are confusing! Where in the world is "Ballinrigg??

I wanted to get a better idea of where the Allen and Sweeny families lived in the area, so I decided to make a map of the farms from Griffiths- labeling them so I would have a better picture of where they lived and how far apart their farms were. I used Google Maps to create a map on "My Maps" and clicked on the Satellite View.

There they were- those tenacious hedgerows. They still matched up nearly exactly to the land plots in the 1855 Griffith's Valuation Map. I was able to follow the hedgerows on the Google Map to draw lines and map the properties. So- long story short, here is the map. Most of the Allen farms were within a half hour walk to the church in Dangan, and less than that to each other's farm. We have no proof at this time that they were related, but it is certainly highly likely. (Someday with more DNA evidence...)

 Here is a link so you can see the Allen farms marked on the map. You can click on each shape and it will tell you who lived there.  If you go back to You can also zoom in to explore how the farms look today. If you want to explore further, you can go back to regular Google Maps and find the farms (just follow the roads.) Street view appears to work well in this area so you can drag the little person onto the road to take a walk though our ancestor's neighborhood. Hope you enjoy!

My Google Map of Allens near Summerhill