My ancestors - Hourigan - Contents

Hourigan of Co.Limerick

Pronounced "How-rigan".

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The Hill and Annagh, Abington parish

John Hourigan says our Hourigans acquired tenancy of these two properties in NE Co.Limerick around the late 17th century:

• The Hill (Hourigan house in Knocknagorteeny townland), Abington parish, Co.Limerick (W of Murroe).
• Annagh (Hourigan houses in Annagh townland), Abington parish, Co.Limerick (NW of Murroe).

John Hourigan says our Hourigans acquired tenancy of the above properties from Sir Thomas Hackett.
This is Sir Thomas Hackett, Mayor of Dublin 1687-1688, staunch Catholic and Jacobite, ruined after 1691, died 1706.
[Tierney, 1966, Ch.4] shows that Sir Thomas Hackett held both Annagh and Knocknagorteeny.
He first got a lease of Annagh in 1672.

Family of Sir Thomas Hackett (possibly the Hourigan landlord, died 1706).
From HACKETT on pp.536-540 of [Burkes Irish, 1976].

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Religious Census, 1766

The Religious Census, 1766 shows Hourigan in Abington parish, Co.Limerick.
NAI IHP/1/681 is return from "Union of Abbington (being 3 parishes, Abbington, Tuogh, Clonkeen)", Diocese of Cashel, dated 9 Apr 1766.

"John Hourigan", head of a family of 4, Catholic, in Abington parish.
John is a name in our family. He is a good candidate for the father of Jack and Wiggy.

"Michael Harigan", family of 2, Catholic, in Abington parish.
Michael is not really a name in our family until later.

"Matthias Hourigan" [Matthew], family of 4, Catholic, in Abington parish.
Matthew is not a name in our family.

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Our family

The early tree is from John Hourigan and the [Hourigan Tree].
But contemporary evidence is thin.
We start with:

• Unnamed Hourigan.
  John Hourigan of The Hill thinks he might be John Hourigan.
  He would be born in early 18th century.
  The Hourigan family had tenancy of The Hill and Annagh, both near Murroe, Co.Limerick.
  It is not clear which was the older home.
  He may be "John Hourigan", head of a family of 4, Catholic, in Abington parish in Religious Census, 1766.
  This unnamed Hourigan had issue:

  
  

  1. Jack Hourigan,
     John, of Annagh, Abington par, Co.Limerick.
     Probably born before 1765, since he had a dau who married before 1814.

     
     

  2. Wiggy Hourigan,
     Patrick Hourigan, Pat, Paddy,
     known as "Wiggy",
     of The Hill, Abington par, Co.Limerick.
     Probably a younger son, born maybe around 1770, since he fought in the 1798 Rebellion.

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References

• Family notes by James Hourigan (born 1893).

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Sources yet to be fully consulted

• "The Hourigan Family Tree" (2021 version).
  • Tree compiled by Mary O'Brien Hourigan and Sr. Mary Colette Hourigan.
  • Includes family history by John Hourigan.
  • Includes copy of article on Wiggy Hourigan, by John Hourigan, originally from Murroe Newsletter, 1998.

• Hourigan family tree by Yann Blake.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• Sir Thomas Hackett papers, 1688-1720. [Glenstal Abbey].
  • Papers related to the property in the Murroe area of Sir Thomas Hackett (died 1706).
  • Descriptive Calendar of these papers is Document II (pp.196-206) in [Tierney, 1966].
  • Doc.14 is a rent roll of the estate, including Annagh and Knocknagorteeny, dated 23 Apr 1708. Also a rent roll of 1706-1708.
  • Doc.15 is a rent roll apparently of 1706-1708.
  • Doc.16 is a rent roll dated 21 July 1710.
  • Doc.23 lists tenants, document dated May 1711.
  • The name Hourigan does not appear in the lists of tenants in the Descriptive Calendar. But this is only a summary. There may be more tenants named in the actual documents.

• Search for Hourigan deeds in [LR]

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• There is a Ballyhourigan townland and Ballyhourigan Wood, N of Doonane, Killoscully par, Co.Tipperary (NE of Newport, near Co.Limerick border).