James Comerford

JAMES COMERFORD (1799-1867), of Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. He was born in 1799. He owned the Comerford mill in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, and in 1863 he built Ardavon House, which remained the family home of this branch of the Comerfords for a number of generations. Barney Comerford says the mill was built in 1826 and that the mill operated for 100 years. But other family sources says the Comerford family bought Rathdrum Mill from Dr Tomlinson, whose ancestors had lived in Rathdrum from about 1680. In 1840, James Comerford acquired a second mill at Laragh, a mill formerly owned by the Barton family of Glendalough House. This mill was held from the Archbishop of Dublin until James Comerford died in 1867.
James Comerford married Julia Anne Ellis. Julia Comerford died on 26 July 1865; James Comerford died on 28 May 1867, aged 65. His effects at administration were valued at almost £12,000. James and Julia were buried in Ennisboyne with many of their children. They had ten children, six daughters and four sons:

1. Kate, married T... O’Donnell and had children.
   
2. Julia Dymphna, born ca 1831/1832, died on 24 June 1846, buried Ennisboyne.
   
3. Helen Julia (Sister Mary Gertrude), a nun. She was the first novice to be received by Saint Bridget’s Convent, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. She died on 8 February 1883.
   
4. Mary, died on 22 September 1859, buried in Ennisboyne.
   
5. Edward Comerford (1837-1874), engineer, Liverpool, and corn broker of Rockferry, Chester. Born in 1837, he died aged 37 in 1874. He married Mary P. Jones (born in 1840, died aged 72), and they had six sons and three daughters:
   
   1. Eugene Comerford (1862-1862), born in January 1862, he died an infant on 29 November 1862.
      
   2. James Comerford (1863-1863), born on 21 June 1863, he died an infant on 19 August 1864.
      
   3. Edward Comerford (1864-1942). He was born on 25 June 1864, he died on 3 September 1942, aged 78, and is buried in Ennisboyne, Co Wicklow. He was an engineer in the Kimberley Diamond Mines, South Africa, and a shareholder in Rathdrum Mill. He married in 1922 Violet McDermott (1891-1975), daughter of Charles McDermott and Margaret Margaret Elizabeth Ellis, who were married in Saint Mary’s Parish, Maynooth, Co Kildare, on 28 August 1878. Violet (McDermott) Comerford was born on 21 December 1891 and died on 11 November 1975. They had a son:
      
      1. Edward (‘Ted’) Comerford (1924-2003). He was born in 1924, and died in 2003. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare, and Trinity College Dublin, and was a civil engineer. He married Mary Fallon, a teacher. Their son, Alexander John Edward Comerford (born 28 March 1970), is a motorsports photographer.
         
   4. Mary (1866-1925), born on 1 January 1866, she died unmarried on 26 March 1925, aged 59.
      
   5. James Comerford (1868-1924), born on 9 August 1868, he died unmarried, aged 56, on 11 October 1924.
      
   6. Owen Comerford (1869-1945), a shareholder in Rathdrum Mill. He was born on 11 December 1869. He married K... Byrne (who died on 17 October 1932). Their daughter, Norrie (died 1972), married ... Montgomery; they had no children.
      
   7. Helen Polding (1870-1913). She was born on 8 June 1870, and died unmarried on 3 September 1913, aged 43. She is buried in the family grave, Ennisboyne, Co Wicklow.
      
   8. William Comerford (1872-ca 1925). He was born in 1872, and he died unmarried aged 53.
      
   9. Julia (1874-1945). She was born on 27 May 1874, married E... Gargan, and died on 7 April 1945.
      
6. William Comerford (1838-1893). He was born in 1838, died on 26 October 1893, aged 55, and was buried in Ennisboyne. He was a shareholder in the Rathdrum Mill, which was built in 1828, closed for a short time in 1928, and finally closed in 1935.
   
7. James Charles Comerford (1842-1907), of Ardavon House, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow (of whom next).
   
8. Anne Elizabeth (1841-1937). She was born in 1841, and died on 26 January 1937. She married W... Hartnett (who died on 2 June 1903).
   
9. Alexander Comerford (ca 1844-1895), of Greenfield House, Hoole, Chester, and 11 Brunswick Street, Liverpool, born ca 1843/1844, he died unmarried on 26 May 1895. A corn merchant, he was killed when he was thrown from a horse. Administration of his effects in Ireland, valued at £3,022 12s 10d, was granted to Edward Comerford in 1907.
   
10. (Sister) Harriet (1846-1915), a Sister of Charity (Sister Mary Joseph), died on 30 June 1915.
    

Chapter 13: Comerford of Ballinakill, Rathdrum and Courtown, Comerford Family History