Anthony Humphrys, of Rath

Rath House, 1985.
See larger
and full size.
Anthony Humphrys,
of Rath (pron. "Rah"), Abington par, Co.Limerick
(see map),
the first one in Rath
(Cracked Jack bought farms
for each of his sons),
no Humphrys in Rath in the
[Tithe Survey]
c.1825,
mar Patricia Ryan,
Description of Rath in 1848 - A letter from Matthew Duhy,
agent of
Lord Cloncurry
[2nd Baron]
for Abington estate,
to Hon. Edward Lawless
[future 3rd Baron],
8th Apr 1848, says:
"Rath - as you may perceive by the return
there are 16 families living on about 35 acres of this
townland. They scarcely ever pay any rent and are very poor.",
in [Griffiths Valuation, Dec 1850]
we find "Anthony D. Humphrys" renting 3 acres in Rath
from Hon. Edward Lawless,
but also himself renting out
the site for Liscreagh County Grand Jury
(Liscreagh, Abington par),
in that survey we also have a "David Humphrys"
renting a house and office in Rath from Robert Huston,
(todo) see records of
Lord Cloncurry's estate
1852 in [Glenstal],
had issue:
John Humphrys, of Rath,
bapt 1st June 1830 [Murroe],
mar 5th Mar 1867 [Murroe, which notes that
a dispensation was needed because they were cousins],
(todo) see
[GROI],
to Mary Humphrys
[bapt 14th Dec 1845, poss. 1st cousins,
though Bee Moynihan
said 2nd cousins],
he was Clerk of the Petty Sessions
[according to Dr.John Humphreys],
prob. got it through the Barringtons,
he died 13th Aug 1895, age 65 yrs [grave, Abingdon],
in [Glenstal]
there is an Order Fixing Fair Rent, landlord
Lord Cloncurry
[4th Baron],
tenant Mary Humphreys, widow,
for Rath House and surrounding lands
between Abington and Abington Rectory (The Glebe House),
and lands in Knockanerry and Rath townlands,
31st May 1902,
"This holding .. is chiefly used as a dairy farm.
.. Ample water supply (pump and stream).
The Buildings consist of a substantial 2 storey
slated dwelling house, and offices partly slated,
iron and wooden roofed,
and also a small slated cottier house.",
probate of will of "John Humphreys, farmer,
Rath Murroe, Co.Limerick" granted at Limerick
to "Mary Humphreys, widow" on 16th Aug 1911,
estate £619
[NAI],
when she was young, Bee Moynihan
knew Mrs.Humphreys and her sister
Mrs.Ryan,
used meet them in Kilkee, Co.Clare, every year,
they regarded her as spoiled,
Bee said if she took porridge every day
while she was there, she would get a present from them
- a cup or a teapot or something - and she did it too,
there was a puritanical upbringing in the
Humphrys household,
Mary died 30th Mar 1920 [grave, Abingdon],
age 74 yrs,
had issue [think children all adopted spelling
"Humphreys"]:
- Canon Anthony Humphreys, bapt 1868.
- Sr. Margaret Mary Humphreys, nun,
born Rath 1870,
bapt 16th Mar 1870 [Murroe],
entered Presentation convent, Ballingarry, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, 1889,
taught in primary day school,
was sacristan for most of her life,
died Apr 1964 - Feb 1967, age 94-6 yrs
[newspaper obituary, (todo) date it],
not found in [GROI] 1963-8,
bur convent cemetery, (todo) see grave, talk to convent.
- Jim Humphreys.
- Fr. John Humphreys.
- David Anthony Humphreys.
- Cathy Humphreys, born Rath,
bapt "Catherine", 7th Aug 1878 [Murroe],
think NOT Kathleen,
[Dick, 1939] says "Katie",
mar Tom Nix
and had issue.
- Tim Humphreys,
Timothy, born Rath,
bapt [Murroe] 9th Aug 1879, sp Michael Humphrys, Margaret Humphrys,
went to Dublin,
ran pub, 50 Thomas St, Dublin,
listed as "T. Humphrys, grocer and wine merchant",
50 Thomas St,
in
[Thoms]
1906 to 1910,
50 Thomas Street, Dublin 8,
is now a Centra
convenience store,
he then
ran pub, 12 and 13 Elm Grove (or Elmgrove), Ranelagh, Dublin
(later re-numbered as 79 and 81 Ranelagh),
Elmgrove was the name of a stretch of the Ranelagh road,
he is
listed as "spirit grocer", 12 and 13 Elmgrove, in
[Thoms]
1912 to 1932,
a sign survives in Humphreys' pub:
"Tim Humphreys, family grocer, wine and spirit merchant, 12 and 13 Elm Grove, Ranelagh",
pub was
re-numbered, prob. 1932, as 79 and 81 Ranelagh,
Humphreys pub listed at 79 and 81 Ranelagh
(the same building) in
[Thoms]
1933 to 1970 and beyond
(still called Humphreys pub today),
mar Molly Reilly [born c.1900, she was the housekeeper of the pub
when they married],
no issue,
Humphreys' pub was known as a "gentleman's pub"
- the type of establishment where a gentleman could go without losing face,
Flann O'Brien
used to frequent Humphreys' in Ranelagh
[Walsh, 1988],
Tim died 1954, age 75 yrs,
Molly ran the pub in Ranelagh after Tim died,
she died 1970, age c.70 yrs.
The pub passed into her family.
Humphreys' pub, 79 and 81 Ranelagh, Dublin 6, still has that name today.
- Mick Humphreys, mar Rose ---- and had issue:
- Tony Humphreys, mar Anne ---- and had issue:
- Michael Humphreys.
- Rosanne Humphreys.
- Frank Humphreys, mar Helen ---- and had issue:
- (son) Humphreys.
- Mary Humphreys, mar A.J. Sumbler and had issue:
- Janine Sumbler.
- Annie Humphreys, mar --- Frost and had issue:
- Peggy Frost.
- Breda Frost, mar Willie Meagher.
- Sean Frost.
- Dr. Joe Humphreys, bapt 1883, mar Mary Hayes and had issue:
- Eva Humphreys, mar Gerry Hurley and had issue:
- Joseph Hurley.
- Geraldine Hurley, mar Colin Lloyd.
- Dr. Louis Humphreys, bapt 1885, mar Philomena Hickey and had issue:
- Catherine Humphreys.
- Reena Humphreys, mar Paddy Meagher and had issue:
- Sally Meagher.
- Louis Meagher.
- Judith Meagher.
- Fr. John Humphreys.
- Molly Humphreys, mar Dinny O'Dwyer.
- Dr. Frank Humphreys, bapt 1891,
mar Olive Clowry and had issue:
- Dr. John Humphreys, mar Maura P. O'Quigley and had issue:
- Olivia Humphreys.
- Hilary Humphreys.
- Coleesa Humphreys.
- Brendan Humphreys, mar Gretta Lawlor and had issue:
- (5 daus) Humphreys.
- Niall Humphreys, mar Bridie Doyle and had issue:
- (2 daus) Humphreys.
- (son) Humphreys.
- Deirdre Humphreys.

Grave of John and Mary Humphrys of Rath.
Abingdon. Photo 2006.
Light adjusted digitally.
See full size
and original.
See close-up.
Photos courtesy of Richard Humphreys.
Tim Humphreys' pub, 79-81 Ranelagh Village.
Photo 2007.
See full size.
- Frances Egan said that
when there was a dance on in Rath House, they used never
invite anyone outside the family,
the family was easily big enough.
- Apparently the Rath Humphrys' had land at
"Ballyfookeen"
(presumably Ballyfookeen, Bruree par, SC Co.Limerick
- although John J. Egan
said this was nr Pallasgreen, EC Co.Limerick).
- Ch.5
of
[Cahill, 1990]
lists
"Dr. T. Humphreys" as
Resident Medical Officer to Limerick Workhouse
as at 1919.
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