Tom McCabe's Genealogy 2026

Mary born to James Kenshala of Knocknaboley. The mother's name does not match Mary Saunders but there may have been a recording error. (Margaret Connor appears as mother on 2 records in a row.)

Also recorded in a random list of baptisms before 1820 in the Hacketstown parish. Mother is named Mary Kinsella.

From Killaveny Parish Records.

Mar 3 1822 Knocknaboley Brigit for Jas Kenshala and Mary Saunders, Sponsors Jas Lambert and Mary Saunders. (I believe the priest made a mistake - the mother's name should be Margaret Saunders.)

Margaret STRAHAN Saunders was still alive in Aug 1825. She was the sponsor for her granddaughter Mary Collins, daughter of Mary SAUNDERS Collins of Knocknaboley.

Aug 7 Knocknaboley Mary for Michael collins and Mary Saunders, Sponsors Alexander ?? and Margaret Strahan.

The image: A remnant of the Probate Index for Ireland shows Andrew Saunders had died by 1828 found on findmypast.ie. The original probate records were destroyed in 1922. Andrew Saunders, Year 1828, Knockneboly, Wicklow Diocese Prerogative Court Record set Ireland Diocesan And Prerogative Wills & Administrations Indexes 1595-1858 Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers) Subcategory Wills & probate Collections from Ireland, copyright Findmypast

In 1827 the Coolatin Estate records show that James Saunders was farming the Andrew Saunders farm. However, it wasn't until the 1840s that the phrase Andrew Saunders (Executors) showed up in the Rental records. It is possible that Andrew had turned over his farm to James and did not die until much later.

Records in the NLI show that in 1827 Andrew does not appear in a list of residents of his own lease, but his son James and son-in-law Michael Collins do. This is evidence that Andrew had died by 1827, but the reference to John Griffin Exors did not appear in the Rental Books until 1845.

By 1844 the Saunders lease was turned over to John Griffin, one of the other Griffin men who lived in Knocknaboley. He was not our ancestor but may have been related. The relationship of the Griffin men living in Knocknaboley in 1810 (old John and Richard) is not known. Old John, our ancestor, was in Knocknaboley before 1780, but Richard did not appear until after 1800. As part of the Griffiths Census, government census takers identified and described tenant homes in Ireland. The description of the former home of Andrew Saunders is included in the House Books. John Griffin , living in the Saunders former home in the 1840s, was probably the son of Richard Griffin.

MS 6100 Rents 1845-46. Knocknaboley. Andrew Saunders Exors. 4.2.12. ... Allow Griffin to purchase this holding at 20 pounds ...