Scully's Census of 1840

The following article was printed on page 99 of the Millennium Copy of Carloviana, the publication of the County Carlow, Ireland's Heritage Society. Because many of the residents of the small Townland of Knocknagee, in County Kildare, Ireland, came to Cayuga County, NY and settled in and around Auburn, we felt it appropriate to share it on our Cayuga County Genweb page. Reprinted with permission of Michael J. Wall, author and member of the County Carlow Heritage Society.

Scully's Census of 1840

Michael J. Wall

In 1840, Edward Scully conducted a census for the parish of Castledermot and Moone. This census was commissioned by the Rev. Laurence Dunne P.P. Castledermot and its purpose was to fill in the gaps of the parish registers, which were incomplete. The original census is now in private ownership, but a copy is in the National Library in Dublin. This census, along with the tithe records and Griffith's Valuation are invaluable sources for family genealogies in the parishes of Castledermot and Moone.

Edward James Scully, was married to Mary Kelly and lived on Castle Road¹, Kilkea with his family - John, Maryanne and Elizabeth. He was educated at the Charter School, Castledermot and afterwards was apprenticed to Captain Dixon of Caledon, Co. Carlow. After leaving his employment he converted to Catholicism. Scully was an orator and "legal eagle" who represented and defended the rights of the people of Castledermot particularly in regard to land matters. Local tradition states that he was also a hedge school master. Scully and his family left the area about the time of the famine.

¹ Castle road was between Ballinamona bridge and the Old road. The Old road, which traversed the side of Mullaghreelan hill and which led directly to the rear entrance of Kilkea Castle, fell into disuse after 1850 when the houses alongside it were removed and Mullaghreelan was planted with new trees; this was to give a better prospect of vista to the castle which had only been refurbished.

The following notice is to be found in the Carlow Sentinel, February 20, 1840:

Castledermot Patriot:

To be raffled:

• Saturday April 15th instant, for the benefit of Mr. Scully a neat time piece of exquisite mechanism. Tickets are 1 shilling each to be had in every shop in town. There is no person who has for the last seven years discovered the patriotic services of Mr. Scully, and the time that h e has disinterestedly spent in the convening of all our meetings. Engrossing all our Petitions to parliament and in every other legal and constitutional way engaged in every laudable pursuit having for its object the Amelioration of our Common County, but will purchase a ticker, thereby acknowledging it as a debt of gratitude to him and in some measure as it were a Remuneration for distinguished merit in a nation's cause. This patriotism in an humble individual is as much to be appreciated and valued when properly and judiciously directed, as in the first Peer in the land, and consequently should not go unnoticed or unrequited. It is therefore confidently to be expected that every lover of his county, and the enemy of every abuse in church and state in this parish will take tickets."

The following sample of the 1840 census along with its legend is given for the townland of Knocknagee. Scully's Census of 1840

Legend for Scully's Census of 1840:

^{* a}or^a1 emigrated to America between 1840 and 1849

^{* g} gone from the district between 1840 and 1849

^{* d}or^d1 died between 1840 and 1849

^{* x}or^x1 under 8 years of age in 1840

^{* b} illegitimate

^{* m}or^" got married between 1840 and 1849

Knocknagee

1. John Byrne wife Maria^a

Pat and Mother^d

2. Michael & Denis Cummins daughter Elizabeth

3. Widow Keegan sons William, James^d,a

Daughters Mary^d, Biddy

4. Widow Honor Keegan son Pat

Daughters Nancy^d, Biddy

5. Pat and Thomas Kehoe and sister Biddy^d

6. Michael Wall^d sons Edward, Matthew^x,d, Jn^o, Pat^d, Michael

Wife Nessy (Byrne) daughters Anne, Ellen^x

7. James Doyle son Denis^x,d

8. Denis^", Pat^", and Michael Neill

Sister Mary their housekeeper

9. Thomas Shaw sons Pat, Thomas -, Larry, Davy

Wife Sally (Mahar) daughter Mary^a

10. John Shaw Wife Margaret (Donohue)

Daughters Ellen^x, Mary^x, Biddy^x

11. Pat Keeffee sons Michael, James^x, Pat^x,, Jn^o

Wife Mary (Conroy) daughters Anne, Eliza^x

12. James Heyden son Bryan^x

Wife Mary (Fitzpatrick) daughter Bridget^x

13. This entry has a strike through it: John Byrne Wife Mary and the Widow Byrne

14. John Cuimns sons Pat, Thomas, Bryan, Martin, James, John

Wife Anne (Hayden) daughters Biddy, Mary

15. Ralph Maher^d sons Larry^x, John^x

Wife Jane (Byrne) daughter Anne^x

16. Thomas Donohue sons John, Thomas, Michael^d,x, Ganrett^x, James^x

Wife biddy (Dowling) daughter Mary^a

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