Griffin/Saunders Family of Knocknaboley Wicklow

John Griffin and Thomas Kemmitt received a lease based on the life of Thomas' son Charles Kemmitt in 1778. This lease lasted until the 1820's when the estate discovered that Charles had been dead since 1809, having been killed in the Peninsular War in Spain. After that, Kemmitt,Griffin, and a third partner Joseph Pollard farmed the 100 acres without having a formal lease. John Griffin's son Thomas assumed the Griffin portion of the lease by 1824 and apparently his son Peter Griffin took over the Griffin part of the operation in 1843.

A Rental Book for 1770 indicated that John Griffin and Thomas Kemmitt might have been on the land before 1770. (NLI, P.201 )

An 1840 map of the townland shows the southeast corner of Knocknaboley. The Griffin's part of the 100 Irish acre lease is 21 lots numbered 118-138.

The lease as recorded in MS 6001 and other Rental Books states:

In lease to them for the Life of Chas Kemmit Son of said Thos & 21 years from Lady Day 1778. Life in Being. Expires 1799.

Kemmitt and Griffin appeared in many rental records for the Rockingham and then the Coolatin Estates of Wicklow Ireland from 1770 through 1850s. One example was found where they received an abatement on the rental price which was carried over from the Rockingham family to the Fizwilliam family owners. Included below is a sample of entries in the Rockingham Estate books that show Kemmit/Griffin making semiannual payments to the Estate.

The Tithe Applotment for Knocknaboley in 1824 lists John Griffin as John Griffin Reps - and has Thomas Griffin, William Griffin, and Thomas Darcy listed under John's name. This offers strong proof that Thomas and William Griffin were sons of old John Griffin.

Perhaps Thomas Darcy was old John's son-in-law. Some Darcys moved to Canada in the 1850s along with the Griffins and Saunders of Knocknaboley.

By 1834 John Griffin's name was replaced with the name of Thomas Griffin - probably his son. William Griffin does not appear on the lease rolls but is a resident of Knocknaboley and is listed as farming part of John Griffins old lease in the Resident List of 1839.

This is a possible record of old John Griffin's death. Knocknaboley is in the Shillelagh Registration District.

Note: I believe this is a transcription error - the film states the Regisration was in 1925, not 1825.

Ireland, Civil Registration Deaths Index Name: John Griffin Estimated birth year: abt 1758 Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1825 Death Age: 67 Registration district: Shillelagh Volume: 2 Page: 636 FHL Film Number: 101736

The House Books, Quarto Books of 1840s in Ireland were a census of buildings and other improvements on lots. This is the entry for John Griffin in 1843 but it is hard to read. The values of the structures are visible.