Rowan Patrick Cashel

• References:
  • Rowan duel and trial:
    • Trial of Rowan Cashel, pamphlet pub in Cork, 1816, prob. by Thomas Fitzgerald O'Connor, [NLI] 3435 c 5
    • [Hickson, 1874, p.114]

    • Trial of Rowan Cashell, 3 pieces by James Franklin Fuller in the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, [NLI] Ir 794105 c 1
      • 1901, 7:149-66
      • 1903, 9:69
      • 1904, 10:36-47

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Rowan duel and trial:
    • Limerick Evening Post, Wed 3rd Apr 1816

  • Lissenhall:
    • OTWAY-RUTHVEN in [Burkes Irish, 1976]
    • CARROL in [Burkes Irish, 1912]

The duel and trial: he killed Arthur O'Connor in duel 1815 [him age est c.26, O'Connor age est c.17], they were friends: "he [Cashel] dined twice at our house in that week in which the dispute occurred" - James O'Connor, the argument started over a bet, Sat 5th Aug 1815, Billiard Room, Tralee, escalated into blows and notices over next two days, they met with pistols, about 9am, Mon 7th Aug 1815, in the grounds of the old building at Ballyseedy, described as in a field near the W gate of Ballyseedy, see [Hickson, 1874] and [Mc Morran, 1996], it seems to have been a cowardly duel - O'Connor missed, and then Cashel took his time aiming and shooting him, O'Connor seriously wounded, died 9th Aug, this was Cashel's 4th duel: "this man had [in his time] personally insulted one half of the young men [in Co.Kerry]" [O'Connor, 1816], Cashel described as "Gent., Attorney" of Tralee at trial in 1816, [Freemans Journal, Saturday, February 10, 1816, Page 4] notes that he has agreed to surrender himself for trial, he was tried for murder at Assizes of Tralee, which lasted from Tue 26th Mar until Sat 13th Apr 1816, Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator was counsel for defence, by this time, any homicide in a duel was deemed to be legal murder, under this definition Cashel was obviously guilty, but the judge made an extraordinary speech to the jury - attacking the law itself, saying that it conflicts with the law of society where a man must defend his honour or be shamed - after which the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty", and Cashel was acquitted, see The Times, Mon 15th Apr 1816, it turns out that the judge, Robert Day, was canvassing at this time for his grandson, Edward Denny, and Maurice O'Connor was a political opponent of Denny, further, the judge was himself an in-law of Cashel through the Rowan family, and Cashel's family had been involved in various intrigues in Cashel's favour, Lady Ventry had previously solicited the judge to give Cashel bail, then Lord Ventry wrote to the judge and his political friends, saying he "had not as yet declared whom he would support" [in the election], George Cashel was also busy registering voters (i.e. for Denny), the judge was also a friend of Daniel O'Connell, the defence, the prosecution had tried to get another judge, but to no avail, the judge's retirement soon after (1818) was said to be caused by public indignation at the verdict, Rowan never duelled again,

Rowan was living Dublin city at mar 1816,
he mar just 4 months after acquittal,
he mar 1stly, Tue 13th Aug 1816, at Silvermines church [Freeman's Journal, Mon 19th Aug 1816, p.3], also noted here,
to Alicia Lawrence [or "Elizabeth", or Eliza, only dau of William Lawrence, or poss. Laurence, of Silvermines, Co.Tipperary, the area where Cashel's family were originally from],
marriage licence, Killaloe Diocese, 12th Aug 1816, security: "William Laurence", "licence of marriage without publication of banns",
this licence would suggest he was, like her, C of I, surely it would mention if he was Catholic,
he is listed as attorney, with office at 57 Capel St (near the Four Courts), Dublin, in 1820 [Pigot's Directory],
Alicia must have died between 1824 and 1828,
as at mar 1828 Rowan was living Lissenhall (or Lissen Hall), Kilmore par, Co.Tipperary [N of Shallee and Silvermines, nearer to Nenagh],
Lissenhall was built by the Otway family in mid-18th cent, Rowan rented it from their heirs,
had issue by 1st wife:

1. (son) Cashel,
   born 11 Aug 1817, "Silvermines Castle" [Freeman's Journal, 20 Aug 1817, p.3],
   (todo) see [Limerick Chronicle, 20 Aug 1817],
   perhaps died young.

   
   

2. Alicia Rowan Cashel,
   named after mother and father, listed as "eldest dau",
   mar 14th Sept 1841, at Silvermines church, Co.Tipperary [Freeman's Journal, 17th Sept 1841, p.2], also noted here,
   to William Middleton, of Elmhill (or Elm-hill), Ballymackey par, NW of Toomyvara, NE of Nenagh, Co.Tipperary.

   
   

3. Rowan Francis Cashel, born 1824,
   Rowan F. Cashel, NOT Ronan,
   middle name must be from his great-grandfather Francis Cashell.

he must be the "Rowan Cashell" who gave evidence on 6th day of the Criminal Assizes in Clonmel, Co.Tipperary, Sat 28th Mar 1829, about dispute over some of his land at "Glenculloe" [unidentified], Feb 1829, see report in Clonmel Herald, 28th Mar - 1st Apr, (todo) see original,
a James Ryan was convicted of attacks and transported to Australia, the judge said he had no doubt that the intention of the attacks was to prevent the letting of these lands and the "object of which is to deprive Landlords of all power over their property and to enable the tenants in possession to keep lands on their own terms; but said his Lordship this practice must be put down - the law must be put in force to effect this desirable purpose.",

residence referred to as "Leeson Hall, county Tipperary" at dau's birth 1829,
Henrietta died 8th Aug 1832, Cove (now Cobh), Co.Cork, "in prime of life", leaving him again with small children with no mother [Limerick Chronicle], (todo) see original,
the [Tithe Survey] for 1834 apparently lists one Cashel in Kilmore par, (todo) see,
the entry for KILMORE (also here) in [Lewis, 1837] lists one of the principal seats of Kilmore par as "Lissen Hall, the property of R. Otway Cave, Esq., and in the occupation of Rowan P. Cashel, Esq.", Rowan is listed as a subscriber to [Lewis, 1837],
"R.P. Cashell" of "Lessane Hall" was executor of will of "William Laurence" (must be his father-in-law) 1838, Killaloe & Kilfenora Diocese, (todo) see [NAI] IAR/1838/F/80, Volume Name 4/237/36,

looks like left Lissenhall pre-1841,
listed as "of Silvermines Cottage", Kilmore par, Co.Tipperary, at dau's wedding 1841,
[Slater's Directory, 1846] and [Pettigrew and Oulton's Directory, 1846] list him as an "attorney" and "solicitor", with an office at 52 Middle Abbey St, Dublin,
[Slater's Directory, 1846] also lists him as having a seat at Silvermines Castle, Co.Tipperary (this sounds like a different place to Lissenhall),
listed as "Solicitor", apparently living Silvermines, at dau Henrietta's mar 1849 [GROI],
living Silvermines 1850 [King's Inns],
[Griffiths Valuation, 1850] lists "Rowan P. Cashel" in possession of:

• land at Garryard East, Kilmore par, just N of Silvermines
• land at Cooleen, Kilmore par, just NE of Silvermines
• "ruins" in the town of Silvermines

• a number of houses on Bourn's Lane, Nenagh
• a number of houses on Castle St, Nenagh
• a number of houses on Silver St, Nenagh

1. dau, Cashel, born must be Aug 1829, "At Leeson Hall, county Tipperary" [Limerick Evening Post, 1st Sept 1829].

   
   

2. Henrietta A. Cashel, born 1830,
   or Henrietta M. Cashel,
   she is listed as age 19, living Silvermines, at mar,
   mar 12th Dec 1849, Kilmore par church (C of I), Co.Tipperary [GROI, Protestant marriages]
   to George Bolton [son of John Bolton, gent], he is listed as "Solicitor", living Nenagh, at mar,
   in 1858 Rowan Francis Cashel first communicated his worries over his wife's infidelity to him,
   [Irish Times, March 8, 1866] describes him as "George Boulton, a solicitor in Dublin, and Crown Prosecutor for the county of Tipperary".

   
   

3. Frederick Knipe Cashel,
   age given at death suggests born 1831,
   must be named after his mother's late 1st husband.

   
   

4. (son) Cashel,
   born 24th Feb 1832 [Limerick Chronicle], (todo) see original,
   this may be Frederick Knipe.

   
   Apart from Frederick Knipe, "There were other children some of whom went to Australia" [Jacobie O'Leary Cashel].

"I must deprecate, that this law should countervail the laws of the land, and that we unfortunately cannot oppose this despotic law."
- Judge Robert Day, in his outrageous summing-up to the jury, which led to Rowan Cashel's acquittal, 1816.

• Must be related:
  • Arthur C. Cashel,
    attorney, with office at 56 Capel St (next to Rowan), Dublin, in 1820 [Pigot's Directory].

• Probably another son of Rowan Patrick Cashel by 1st mar to Alicia Lawrence:
  1. George W. Cashel,
     born Co.Tipperary, 1818 or 1819,
     mar Maria ---- [born 1824 or 1825, Liverpool],
     family listed in [UK census, 7 Apr 1861] as living 88 Rodney St, Toxteth Park, Liverpool,
     he is listed as clerk, H.M. Customs, in 1861,
     family listed in [UK census, 2 Apr 1871] as living 49 South St, Toxteth Park, Liverpool,
     he is listed as clerk, H.M. Customs, 2nd class, in 1871,
     had issue:
     1. Alicia L. Cashel, born 1851, Liverpool, must be after grandmother Alicia Lawrence, fl 1871.
     2. William H. Cashel, born 1853, Liverpool, listed in 1861, not listed in 1871 (could be away, or could have died).
     3. George A. Cashel, born 1854, Liverpool, listed in 1861, not listed in 1871 (could be away, or could have died).
     4. Rowan F. Cashel, born 1856, Liverpool, must be after grandfather Rowan Cashel, fl 1871.
     5. Annie M. Cashel, born 1858, Liverpool, listed in 1861, not listed in 1871 (prob. died).
     6. Harold Cashel, born 1860, Liverpool, fl 1871.

     (todo) see full transcripts of deeds, [LR] 1857, vol.31, nos. 69 to 75, lands in Co.Tipperary,
     agreement between Rowan Patrick Cashel of Silvermines, George William Cashel of Liverpool, and Rowan Francis Cashel of Toomyvara.

  Probably the same as:

  1. George Cashel,
     wit Rowan Francis Cashel's mar 1866 [GROI].

  Probably the same as:

  1. George Cashel,
     listed in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852] as being in possession of:
     • land at Nenagh North, Nenagh par, Co.Tipperary
     • a number of houses on Dublin Rd, Nenagh
     • a building on Summerhill, Nenagh

  Possibly the same as:

  1. George Cashel,
     gent., born 1820,
     mar -----,
     she died pre-1877,
     he died 15th Mar 1877, Toomyvara, age 57 yrs [GROI].

Send me additions and corrections to this site Updates (please include your name and contacts): Send me a file from your computer: If you don't understand this form, use the long version. Or just email me. Enter this password: