Tom McCabes Genealogy 2022

The date of John Saunder's death is not precisely known, but several records point to it being about 1827.

John received a lease on a farm on Rathbawn Townland, next to Knocknaboley, from the Fitzwilliam estate about 1819. Before that, it is known he was an undertenant of Joseph Coates on Rathbawn and received his own tenancy when the larger farm leases expired.

John Saunders was listed on the Rathbawn Tithe Applotment of 1822 but was not on the list of tenants on the estate in 1827 (MS 6082, NLI). His (probable) 18 year old son John and his (probable) nephew James were the only tenants on his lease at that time. John Saunders remained on the official Rent Books for the Coolatin Estate for many years but his lease changed to John Saunders Exors by 1844.

Rathbawn Townland 1827 John Saunders age 18 No wife Farmer James Saunders age 38 28 4 male 1 female children Farmer

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 ...