My ancestors - Humphrys - Contents
James Humphrys, "The Squire", of Glenstal
Unidentified elderly lady found in Humphreys photos at Quinsborough c.1900.
Quite likely this is the children's grandmother Margaret Ryan.
See larger and full size.
James Humphrys, "The Squire",
born 1805, Glenstal, Co.Limerick,
went to hedge school [Dick, 1939],
prosperous tenant farmer in Glenstal, Co.Limerick, renting from Barrington,
listed as "James Humphrys, Murroe" at mar,
married a girl from Newross, Co.Tipperary, near Doonane where his own family had recently come from,
mar 1841 to Margaret Ryan [bapt 19th Sept 1819],
"James Humphrys (John)" (i.e. son of John) is listed in [Griffiths Valuation, 1850] as occupying 127 acres (with a house) in Glenstal townland (the largest farm in Glenstal townland), leasing from Sir Matthew Barrington, 2nd Baronet,
he became a Poor Law Guardian (would be for the Poor Law Union of Limerick), described as P.L.G. in 1882,
he was NOT a Clerk of the Petty Sessions,
he had a dispute in 1882 with his landlord
Sir Croker Barrington, 4th Baronet
about payment of rent,
the Humphrys lease of Glenstal, which pre-dated Barrington, finally expired,
and then Barrington doubled the rent,
[Irish Times,
August 7, 1882]
describes how as a result of the dispute,
Barrington put the lease on Humphrys farm at Glenstal up for sale,
and Humphrys had to buy it back,
which he did successfully,
the farm is described in 1882 as 157 acres,
however earlier in
[Griffiths Valuation, 1850]
it is 127 acres
and later in
[Deed, 1899]
it is also 127 acres,
in 1883, he summoned
Sir Croker Barrington, 4th Baronet
for having "on 16th and 20th Dec last" allowed 20 sheep to trespass on his lands at Glenstal
(had considerable rights, even though only renting), won his case, and Sir Croker was fined
[Tierney, 1966],
he died 4th
[GROI]
or 24th
[grave]
July 1899, Glenstal, age 94 yrs,
bur Abington, Co.Limerick,
can't find funeral list or death notice,
have searched
Limerick Chronicle 4-11 July, 25 July-8 Aug,
and
Limerick Leader 3-14 July, 24 July-7 Aug,
he is referred to as "the late James Humphreys, P.L.G." and "farmer" at his wife's death,
Margaret is head of household at Glenstal in
[Census, 1901],
she was the only grandparent Dick and Sighle knew,
Sighle said her grandmother was an
"extraordinary woman", very austere, her mind fixed on the next world,
had a harsh way, didn't care about making the house nice,
"she would have been quite happy if all her sons were priests",
Sighle said the
Humphrys family was very spiritual, no attachment to things of this world, boys brought up very spartan,
she died Sat 6 Feb 1909, Glenstal, age 89 yrs
[Limerick Chronicle, Sat 6 Feb 1909],
[GROI],
bur Mon 8 Feb, Abington, Co.Limerick,
no funeral list found in
Limerick Chronicle 6-18 Feb 1909,
or
Limerick Leader 8-17 Feb 1909,
spelt "Humphreys" in death notice, but "Humphrys" in
[GROI],
there was a vote of sympathy at meeting of Limerick Guardians,
"Mr. Hayes seconded the motion, and said he was sure the loss of Mrs. Humphries
must have been felt very much in the neighbourhood,
because she was an exceptionally good woman"
[Limerick Leader, Wed 10th Feb 1909],
had issue:
- Margaret Humphreys,
"Molly", after mother, born Jan-Feb 1842, Glenstal House,
bapt "Margaret Humphrys" [Murroe par records], 5th Feb 1842, sp Michael Ryan, Deborah Humphrys,
"Humphrys" at mar,
mar 19th Feb 1867, Murroe, wit Thomas Lloyd, Mary Humphrys [Murroe par records], [GROI],
to John Lloyd [born 1835] and had issue.
- John Humphrys, of Boher, Co.Limerick,
born Glenstal House, bapt 10th Nov 1843 [Murroe par records].
- Mary Humphrys [Mary T.], born Glenstal House,
bapt 14th Dec 1845 [Murroe],
she must be "Mary Humphrys" who wit her sister Margaret's mar, Feb 1867,
mar 5th Mar 1867 to John Humphrys, of Rath [bapt 1830] and had issue.
- Catherine Humphrys, Kate,
born Glenstal House, bapt 1847,
must be "Kate Humphrys" who sp her niece Margaret Mary Humphreys' bapt Mar 1870 (shortly before she married),
mar 26th June 1870 [Murroe] to Dan Ryan [born 1830] and had issue.
- Annie Humphrys,
born Glenstal House,
bapt Anne, [Murroe] 12th Nov 1849, sp Timothy Foley, Nancy Ryan,
mar [Jack or Michael] Quirke [poss. Quirk],
his family were farmers, Tuam, Cappawhite, Co.Tipperary (see map),
though Fred Faulkner thought he was of Caherconlish, Co.Limerick,
she was at Dr.David's funeral 1903, both Jack and Michael Quirke are also there,
he died young of TB,
had issue:- Pat Quirke, only son,
he is NOT Patrick Quirk, bapt 1876, Silvermines, Co.Tipperary,
he is NOT Patrick Quirke, bapt 1882, Abbeyfeale, Co.Limerick,
mar ----, no issue.
- Pat Quirke, only son,
- Jo Humphrys,
born Glenstal House,
bapt Johanna, 12th Feb 1852, sp Simon Humphrys, Margaret Foley [Murroe],
nun, in Ballingarry, Co.Tipperary.
- Tim Humphrys, of Glenstal,
born Glenstal House,
would be after grandfather,
bapt Timothy, 17th Mar 1854 [Murroe], sp John Burke, Catherine Hourigan
- Fr. James Humphrys,
Fr. Jimmy, poss. Jim, born Glenstal House,
bapt [Murroe] 19th May 1856, sp John Humphrys, Anne Foley,
[Maynooth] lists "James Humphrey", matriculated 15th Jan 1876, diocese of Cashel, ordained 1881-82,
though he was meant to be ordained 1884,
he was a priest at St.John's Catholic church, Beverley, Yorkshire, from 1884 to 1890,
he was recalled to Limerick 1890, an address from 1890 survives to Rev. James Humphrys on his leaving St.John's, Beverley, July 1890,
see item in [The Irish-American newspaper, August 2, 1890], which says his flock "presented him with a handsomely illuminated and framed address",
he was poss. P.P. at one point of Caherline, Co.Limerick (where his sister was),
P.P. and C.C. (Curate), Hospital, Co.Limerick,
he married his brother Dr.David and Nell, 1895, listed as "Rev. James Humphrys, C.C., Hospital",
he is listed at Hospital in [Census, 1901],
he married his niece Margaret Lloyd 1902,
delivered an address at his brother Dr.David's funeral 1903, listed as C.C., Hospital,
he later became P.P. of Caherconlish, Co.Limerick,
at some point after his mother died 1909 (but probably in 1909) he erected a stained glass window in Murroe church (near altar, on LHS) in memory of his parents, spelt "Humphrys", Fr. James was then P.P. of Caherconlish,
he is listed
in
[Census, 2 April 1911]
as priest (curate), living 14 Jail Street,
Newport, Co.Tipperary,
spelt "Humphrys",
he became president of the Newport Town Tenants' League, campaigning for the right of the local tenants to buy out their holdings from the landlord,
he chaired a large tenants' rights meeting at Newport, Sun 23 Feb 1913,
this is clearly him rather than his activist cousin Fr. David Humphrys, the newspaper says he is the local priest in Newport, and talks of a procession "arriving at Father Humphries' residence",
see Nenagh Guardian, Saturday, March 1, 1913. - Mick Humphrys,
born Glenstal House,
bapt Michael, 9th June 1859 [Murroe], sp Ben Young, Mary Foley.
- Dr. David Humphrys (later Humphreys),
or Dr. Dave,
born Glenstal House, Glenstal, Co.Limerick,
bapt "Humphrys", 30th Mar 1861, sp David Humphrys, Mary Humphrys [Murroe parish records].
- Nora Humphrys,
born Glenstal House,
bapt Honora, [Murroe] 14th May 1864, sp John Foley, Kate Foley,
could she be "Honora Humphrys" who sp bapt of Cathy Humphreys in 1878? (only age 14),
nun, in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia,
Nell wrote letter to her a month or two after 1916 Rising, gave whole story.
The grave of James Humphrys, Abington, Co.Limerick.
Light adjusted digitally. See full size and original.
Photo 2006 courtesy of Richard Humphreys.
Close-up of above.
Photo 1985.
See also 2006 close-up
courtesy of Richard Humphreys.
Stained glass window erected after 1909 in memory of
James and Margaret Humphrys
by their son Fr. James Humphrys, Murroe church.
Photo 2009.
See larger
and full size.
See alternate shot
and wider shot
and wider shot.
- "John Humphries, P.L.G." (unidentified) was also present at the attempted sale of Glenstal in 1882 (as well as James, P.L.G.).
