Tom McCabes Genealogy 2022

Catholic records for Magheracloone parishes are nonexistent before 1827 - hence no information is available on this marriage. It is possible that Sarah Richards was Francis' second wife since there is a large difference in ages between Francis Jr and his younger siblings. In 1827, when Francis applied for land in Toronto, he stated he had 3 sons and 2 daughters. So there is one son and one daughter whose names are unknown to us.

James Richards was a long time resident of Aghnillard Townland in Magheracloone according to Rental records of the Shirley estate and other documents such as the Tithe Applotment list for Aghnillard.

June 5, 1847 Mary Larkin dau of Patt and Sally baptize. Sp: John Lynch and Ann RICHARDS.

Dec 21, 1849 Lawrence Larkin of Beagh son of Patt and Sally Richard Sp: Michael Martin and All?as Richards.

Dear Tom

On the basis of my indexation of the Magheracloone baptismal register for the period from 1836-63 from a photocopy of the original register the entry noted below would appear to be vital. ...

There are only 4 children listed in this vital period to a Francis or Frank (Franck) McCabe with three linked to a Margaret and one to a Nelly. Nelly was usually linked to Ellen but this one entry may have been erroneous.

After the 7 January 1857 we find a note as follows: ‘I found in the book scraps of paper in the handwriting of Patrick Carolan, PP, Magheracloone and I enter them here. It does not appear from this book that any baptisms were entered from January 1858 to March 1866. I only got this book after Father Carolan’s death and cannot tell whether he had another book in which he entered these baptisms between 1858 and ’66. Signed - John Hoey, PP. Magheracloone.’ From this you will see how registers disappeared or were mislaid. Thus there is a large gap from 1858 to 1866 although about 40 baptisms were recovered from the scraps of paper mentioned above.

This is a copy of the entry from the Shirley Estate Cottiers Book 1840:

Richards, James 6a. 1r. 29p. McCabe, Francis Aghinillard, Magheracloone House. No further comment. 1 male and 1 female

Here you will note that Francis McCabe is listed as a cottier (cottar) who was located on the farm of land being leased by James Richards from Shirley in the townland of Aghinillard where he had a cabin (house). He probably worked for James Richards and we note that at the time of this return there was a male and female in the household.

Thus Francis McCabe would have been housed in the cabin (probably mud-walled) and received his food and keep from Richards. Cottiers usually kept a pig or some chickens and existed through their hard work. Many of them never appear in the Tithe Applotment Book, of 1832, which lists those leasing land or in any other land records.

A James Richards was in Aghinillard in 1832 where in that year he was leasing just under 3 acres of land. By 1840 he was leasing just over 6 acres. By 1861 the name had disappeared from the townland.

The Richards name is rarely found in Magheracloone but they are listed as sponsors at baptisms as follows:

A James Richards and Ann Larkin were sponsors at the baptism of a Michael Larkin son of Patt Larkin and Sally Richards of Beagh in 1842. A John Larkin and Ann Richards were sponsors at the baptism of a Mary Larkin daughter of Patt Larkin and Sally Larkin 1n 1845. A Michael Martin & Alles [thus] Richards are listed as sponsors at the baptism of Laurence Larkin, parents Patt Larkin and Sally Larkin in 1849.

This gives a Richards-Larkin connection in Beagh townland in Shirley country.

The Richards were Catholics and in a rare record that I found they with others in Aghanillard and other townlands were contributing to the building of a chapel in Magheracloone in 1843. James Richards contributed 7 shillings and 6 pence in this year.

The Richards surname disappeared by 1861 but is found in Raferagh, Carrickmacross, in Catholic Church records where others of the name resided.

Yours sincerely Theo McMahon