Rowan Patrick Cashel
The signatures at Rowan's 2nd marriage, 4 Mar 1828
[St.Mary's CoI Church, Dublin].
See
full size.
Rowan Patrick Cashel,
Rowan Cashel, or Cashell,
born est c.1789.
Descendant of
Edward III.
He seems to have signed himself Cashel,
but then his descendants are found again using Cashell.
He was educ Donnybrook, Co.Dublin.
He was an attorney,
admitted to
[King's Inns] Hilary term 1806, age over 16.
Killed a friend in a duel, 1815:
He killed
Arthur O'Connor
in a duel in Aug 1815 [him age est c.26, O'Connor age est c.17].
They were friends.
James O'Connor
said:
"he [Cashel]
dined twice at our house in that week in which
the dispute occurred".
The argument started over a bet, on Sat 5 Aug 1815, at the Billiard Room, Tralee.
It
escalated into blows and notices over next two days.
They met with pistols, about 9 am, Mon 7 Aug 1815,
in a field near the W gate of
Ballyseedy,
close to the
old building at Ballyseedy.
See
[Hickson, 1874, p.114]
and
[Mc Morran, 1996].
[Mc Morran, 2008]
says the duel was in
"Ardbawn, the spacious field on the west side of Ballyseedy Wood".
It seems to have been a cowardly duel.
O'Connor missed, and then Cashel took his time aiming and shooting him.
O'Connor was seriously wounded.
[
Limerick Gazette, 8 Aug 1815] reports the duel and injury.
O'Connor died on 9 Aug 1815.
This was Cashel's 4th duel.
[O'Connor, 1816]
says:
"this man had" [in his time]
"personally insulted one half of the young men" [in Co.Kerry].
Tried for murder, acquitted, 1816:
Cashel is described as an "Attorney" of Tralee at trial in 1816.
The judge for the trial was
Judge Robert Day.
See a letter of 27 Jan 1816
from
Judge Day to his cousin the Knight of Kerry.
It does not mention Cashel by name, but it is clearly about the upcoming case.
An item
in
Freemans Journal, Saturday,
February 10, 1816,
notes that Cashel has agreed to surrender himself for trial.
Cashel was tried for murder at the Assizes of Tralee, which opened Tue 26 Mar 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,
Robert Day, 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 notice in
Limerick Evening Post, Wed 3 Apr 1816,
[LCL] microfilm,
announcing his acquittal.
See item
in The Times, Mon 15 Apr 1816.
Allegation of corruption in the trial:
There were various allegations of bias levelled at Judge Robert Day:
- Judge Day
was canvassing at this time for a future election run
for his grandson, Edward Denny (future 4th Baronet)
for
Kerry.
And Maurice O'Connor was a political opponent of Denny.
-
Cashel's family had been involved in intrigues in Cashel's favour.
Lord Ventry
was 1st cousin of Rowan's father
George Cashell.
His wife
Lady Ventry had solicited the judge to give Cashel bail.
But more importantly,
Lord Ventry had written to the judge and his political allies,
saying he "had not as yet declared whom he would support"
(in any upcoming election).
George Cashel the younger was also busy registering voters (i.e. for Denny).
-
The judge was also a friend of Daniel O'Connell, the defence,
who was also a supporter of Denny.
- The judge was himself a distant in-law of Cashel through Rowan.
The prosecution had tried to get another judge, but to no avail.
Judge Day's retirement in 1818 was said to be caused by public indignation at the verdict.
Day's grandson
Edward Denny
failed to become an MP for Kerry
in the
1818 election.
He instead
became MP for
Tralee
at same election.
Rowan never duelled again.
Rowan was living in Dublin city at marriage 1816.
He married just 4 months after acquittal.
He
mar 1stly, Tue 13 Aug 1816,
to
Alicia Lawrence [or "Elizabeth", or Eliza].
She was
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,
12 Aug 1816.
Security: "William Laurence".
They mar
at Silvermines church.
See
notice
in
Freeman's Journal,
Mon 19 Aug 1816.
Also noted
here.
He is listed as attorney,
with office at 57 Capel St
(near the Four Courts), Dublin, in
[Pigot's Directory, 1820].
Alicia must have died between 1824 and 1828.
As at his 2nd mar 1828 Rowan was
living
Lissenhall, Co.Tipperary.
Rowan
had issue by 1st wife:
- George William Cashel,
George Cashel, born Co.Tipperary, 1818 or 1819.
Would be after grandfather.
He may be the unnamed son of Rowan who was
born 11 Aug 1817 at "Silvermines Castle".
See notice
in Freeman's Journal,
20 Aug 1817.
(todo) See Limerick Chronicle, 20 Aug 1817.
- Alicia Rowan Cashel,
eldest dau,
named after mother and father.
She mar 14 Sept 1841
to William Middleton.
He was of Elmhill (or Elm-hill),
Ballymackey par, NW of Toomevara, NE of Nenagh, Co.Tipperary.
They mar at Silvermines church, Co.Tipperary.
See notice
in Freeman's Journal,
17th Sept 1841.
See
other notices.
-
Rowan Francis Cashel,
born 1824,
Rowan F. Cashel,
NOT Ronan.
Middle name may be from his
great-grandfather Francis Cashell.
Rowan
mar 2ndly, 4 Mar 1828,
to
Henrietta Emilia ----
[or Emelia or Amelia].
She was widow of Capt. Frederick Bennett,
of the
3rd (poss. 2nd)
Bengal Native Cavalry.
[Rhodesia family tree]
thinks she is
--- O'Leary
and is Catholic.
Note that O'Leary is a middle name in the family
later,
and Frederick is a first name.
They mar at
[St.Mary's CoI Church, Dublin].
See marriage in
[
Kerry Evening Post, Wed 12th Mar 1828,
[KCL]
RR microfilm].
See
[
Chute's Western Herald or Kerry Advertiser, Sat 15th (NOT 1st) Mar 1828,
[KCL]
RR microfilm].
(todo) See
marriage licence, Diocese of Dublin,
in
[13th Report of
the Deputy Keeper of Public Records,
Appendix, p.26].
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 a dispute over some of his land at "Glenculloe" [unidentified],
Feb 1829.
See report
in Clonmel Herald, 28th Mar - 1st Apr 1829.
(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."
His
residence is referred to as
"Leeson Hall, county Tipperary"
at dau's birth 1829.
Henrietta died 8 Aug 1832,
Cove (now Cobh), Co.Cork,
"in prime of life",
[Limerick Chronicle].
(todo) See original.
Left him again with small children
with no mother.
[Tithe Survey]
for 1834 apparently lists one Cashel in Kilmore parish.
(todo) See.
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 he 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
but apparently himself in occupation of a house
at Ballygown South,
Kilmore par, just S of Silvermines.
He is
listed as "Attorney" at his son Rowan's mar 1851
[GROI].
[Griffiths Valuation, 1852]
lists him
in possession of:
- 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
|
He is
listed as "Patrick R. Cashel, Solicitor"
at his son Frederick Knipe's mar 1853
[GROI].
[Slater's Directory, 1856]
lists him
at "Silvermines Castle".
Listed as "Rowan Patrick Cashel of Silvermines Cottage"
in [Deeds, 1857].
Rowan dies, 1859:
He
died Silvermines, morning of Sat 15 Jan 1859, age est c.70 yrs.
See death notice in
Limerick Chronicle, 19 Jan 1859.
Says he died in Nenagh, on Saturday.
Incorrectly calls him "Rowland Cashel".
See obituary
in Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advertiser, 19 January 1859.
"Mr. Cashel was a member of one of the oldest and respectable families in Kerry,
but was for many years resident in the county Tipperary
where he was in extensive practice as solicitor, but lately retired from the profession."
Rowan
had issue by 2nd wife:
- dau, Cashel,
born must be Aug 1829,
"At Leeson Hall, county Tipperary"
[Limerick Evening Post, 1st Sept 1829].
- Henrietta A. Cashel,
or Henrietta M. Cashel, born 1830.
She is listed as age 19, living Silvermines, at mar.
She
mar 12 Dec 1849
to George Bolton
[son of John Bolton, gent].
He is listed as "Solicitor", living Nenagh, at mar.
They mar at
Kilmore par church (C of I), Co.Tipperary
[GROI, Protestant marriages].
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".
-
Frederick Knipe Cashel.
Age given at death suggests born 1831.
He must be named after his mother's late 1st husband.
He may be identical with:
Unnamed son of Rowan Cashel,
born 24 Feb 1832.
See notice
in Limerick Chronicle, 7 Mar 1832.
"There were other children some of whom went to Australia"
[Jacobie O'Leary Cashel].
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 century.
Rowan Cashel was living there as at 1828 to 1837.
He rented it from the Otway heirs.
He apparently left by 1841.
Now in ruins.
See modern
satellite view.
See
abandonedireland.com.
(Includes 360 degree views.)
- References:
- Sources yet to be consulted:
Greenhall and
Bushfield and
Shallee and
Garryard and
Silvermines and
Lissenhall.
From
p.98
of
[Taylor and Skinner, 1777].
Lissenhall House, Co.Tipperary, in
1887 to 1913 map.
See also
1829 to 1842 map.
References
- Trial of Rowan Cashel,
pamphlet pub in Cork, 1816,
prob. by Thomas O'Connor,
[NLI] 3435 c 5.
- Rowan Cashel duel and trial in
[Hickson, 1874, p.114]
- Rowan Cashel duel and trial in
[O'Carroll, 2004, pp.243-249].
- Trial of Rowan Cashell, 3 pieces by
James Franklin Fuller in
[JCHAS],
[NLI] Ir 794105 c 1
Sources yet to be consulted
- Limerick General Advertiser, 8, 10, 11 Aug 1815.
- Story about another duel involving Rowan Cashel.
Kerry Evening Star, March 28, 1904.
- Deed, Rowan P. Cashell to Ryan, 1826,
[LR]
813 186 547921.
- Deed, Rowan P. Cashel and others, 1828,
[LR]
832 507 559642.
- Deeds,
[LR]
1857, vol.31,
lands in Co.Tipperary.
- No.69, Rowan Patrick Cashel to Nolan, dated 28 Sept 1857.
- No.71, Rowan Patrick Cashel to Rock, dated 28 Sept 1857.
- No.72, Rowan Patrick Cashel to Fitzgerald, dated 28 Sept 1857.
- No.73, Rowan Patrick Cashel to Hayes, dated 28 Sept 1857.
- No.74, Rowan Patrick Cashel to Burr, dated 28 Sept 1857.
- No.75, Rowan Patrick Cashel,
George William Cashel of Liverpool
and
Rowan Francis Cashel of Toomevara
to Burr, dated 28 Oct 1857.
"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.
