My ancestors - Cashel - Contents

Callaghan

Or O'Callaghan.

Daniel Callaghan,
or O'Callaghan. Dan.
He was a publican.
He mar post-1819 to Agnes Noonan [of Tralee].
She was widow of Stephen Cashel of Tralee.
Daniel and Agnes lived in Cork for some years.
Then came back to Tralee.
Living at "Clashyammon", near Ballyseedy, in at least 1837 to 1842. This is Clashedmond (Clais Éamainn), S side of the Ballyseedy estate, Ballyseedy par.
(The Ballyseedy estate was owned by Arthur Blennerhassett from 1815 to 1843. It was then owned by his young sons until 1859.)
Daniel and Agnes later lived in Boherbee, Tralee town.
An insurance policy was taken out on the life of Agnes in March 1847. She was described as wife of Daniel Callaghan, of Tralee, gentleman.
Her mother died Apr 1847. Agnes went back to Cork in summer 1847. Came back to Tralee, but returned to Cork. Died within months.

The suspicious death of Agnes, 1847:
Agnes and Daniel lived in Douglas St, Cork. Possibly no.94.
She fell ill in late Nov 1847.
She died Thur 16 Dec 1847, Cork.
There was a coroner's inquest into her death, opened Sat 18 Dec 1847.

There were suspicions that her husband assaulted her and caused her death. Just before and just after her death, her husband is reported as talking disturbingly about her life insurance policies. She seemed to have injuries on her body.
Inquest resumed on Wed 22 Dec 1847. The jury returned a verdict of uncertain cause of death.

The insurance dispute in 1849:
There was then a legal dispute in 1849 about the insurance policy for Agnes.

The insurance company did not want to pay out. They said she was in poor health and this had not been declared. They also said she drank spirits to excess and this was not declared. Suspicions about the husband also emerged during the case.
The insurance dispute is complex because there is another individual, apart from the husband, involved in the insurance on her life, namely William Chute of Tralee. He is brother of a Dr. Chute. This must be the brothers William Maunsell Chute (died 1850) and Dr. Richard Chute of Tralee (died 1856), sons of Richard Chute by his 2nd wife.
Agnes, or Daniel, owed Chute money, and her life was in two leases. Chute took out a life insurance policy on her life. So the insurance company owed a payout to both Callaghan and Chute, and was disputing both.
Some witnesses in the insurance case disputed that she drank, and said she was in good health and not intemperate. One said: "she was a healthy, comely woman, rather fat". But other witnesses said she did drink heavily. Some described her as a drunkard. Multiple witnesses said her husband drank heavily, and beat her and had broken her ribs.
In the end, Chute's case against the insurance company succeeded. And so, it seems, did the husband's.

Daniel Callaghan fl 1849.

Agnes' death, 1847

The suspicious death of Agnes Noonan in Cork in 1847.
From Cork Examiner, Mon 20 Dec 1847, p.2.

The coroner's inquest into Agnes' death returns a verdict of uncertain cause of death.
From Cork Examiner, Fri 24 Dec 1847, p.3.

References

Coroner's inquest into Agnes' death, Dec 1847.
- Report of first day in Cork Examiner, Mon 20 Dec 1847, p.2.
- Report of second day in Cork Examiner, Fri 24 Dec 1847, p.3.
- See also Kerry Examiner, Fri 24 Dec 1847, p.2. This incorrectly calls her "Julia".
1849 legal case about the insurance policy for Agnes Noonan.
- This case was regarded as of great interest and importance.
- Plaintiff: William Chute. Defendant: The India and London Life Assurance Company. The jury found for the plaintiff.
- There is a huge detailed account of this case in the Kerry Evening Post, 1 Aug 1849, all of p.1 and most of p.4.
- Copied in Kerry Examiner, 10 August 1849, p.1. and p.2. To do: Check if anything added.

Sources yet to be consulted

Find the leases involving William Chute and the life of Agnes Noonan.
1849 legal case said there was some litigation between Dan Callaghan and Mr. Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy. Dan and his wife had a lease of a farm under Mr. Blennerhassett, which they gave up, getting an annuity. This must be Arthur Blennerhassett (died 1843).