James Gorman

James and Mary are the correct names for the parents of Thomas Patrick, James, Bridget, John Gorman - confirmed in the death registration docs, Nova Scotia, Canada for Elisabeth Gorman, one of their daughters who married John Wall.

I have confirmed that until 1822, Grange Sylvia including the townlands of Barrowmount, Low Grange, Upper Grange and the village of Goresbridge were in the Catholic parish of Graiguenamanagh, south of Goresbridge on the R Barrow. Any earlier records for Gorman or Cahill can therefore be sought in the parish registers of Graiguenamanagh. The registers are incomplete.
In effect, this means that the Gormans and Cahills might have been baptised or married at any of the settlements on the Barrow that the Graiguenamanagh priests could have visited. Some entries note the residence (townland) of the parties but not all.
From 1922, the Grange Sylvia townlands and Goresbridge were amalgamated with the parishes of Kilmacahill and Paulstown. Early pages of these registers are unreadable, but later entries are clearly our Gorman family.

BIRTH & BAPTISM
2 Feb 1775: Jas Gorman bapt at Carlow, son of Francis Gorman & Margaret Connelly. Sps were John Fogerty & Mary Gorman. Francis was a baker.
Carlow is a short boat ride up the R Barrow from Goresbridge and far from unlikely as a possible birthplace for James. Caveats are that there are so few surviving catholic baptisms from this period, so the probability of coincidence is high - and no evidence whatsoever to support it.

If James is closely related to Edward Gorman (DNA match) then it is feasible he came from Wicklow to Kilkenny.

MARRIAGE
First name(s) James
Last name Gorman
Spouse's first name(s) Mary
Spouse's last name Cody
Marriage year 1794
Marriage date ? Sep 1794
Parish St. Canice's, Kilkenny City
Judith ?? was witness
[This is the only possible marriage in Kilkenny for James. I have no way of knowing how likely it might be.]

LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE In searching for James Gorman and his family, I have focussed on townlands and towns close to Goresbridge where he definitely lived and died, as did some of his children and grandchildren. Further, I am now more confident that his name was James not John, but read the evidence and see what you think. Also, it seems pretty clear that the family were able to educate their children, never involved with the Poor House, police or poor laws, and not involved in politics on either side - in fact peaceable, law abiding, productive citizens in very difficult times.

I have now found that baptisms and marriages for the Goresbridge area were conducted by priests from Graiguenamanagh, Gowran, Leighlinbridge, Borris and probably Carlow among others in C Carlow, who sailed up the R Barrow in passenger and trading vessels, and conducted ceremonies at stops along the way. Thus, even though the Paulstown registers have missing pages, even earlier records are preserved at Graighnamanagh, Gowran, Carlow and Leighlin parishes, or possibly elsewhere, and will probably have some Gormans and Cahills. A small but important breakthrough. Unfortunately they do not always note the townlands of the people involved.

There are Gorman families in Ballyellin, the townland in Carlow directly across the Gore's bridge.

The Grand Canal also linked Goresbridge to Dublin and Limerick via Mullingar in Westmeath where there are more Gorman families. It may be a coincidence, but Mary Gorman of Mullingar married a Scottish soldier, Thomas Hardy, and after his retirement, the Hardys moved to Goresbridge. Worth investigating? Clues are so sparse that I will definitely see if there is a meaningful link.

THE BARROW NAVIGATION
The Barrow Navigation runs from Athy, in Co Kildare, down to a sea-lock at St Mullins. From there boats can go downriver, on the tidal section of the Barrow, then up the Nore to Inistiogue or down through New Ross to join the Suir near Cheekpoint.

The Barrow Line of the Grand Canal links Athy to the Main Line of the Grand Canal at Lowtown; the Main Line runs from Dublin to the River Shannon (or vice versa).

Although Athy is the head of the Barrow Navigation, there was traffic on the river further upstream, including turf from the bogs around the Finnery River. The Ordnance Survey map of ~1900 even shows a lock in the mill weir above the main bridge (Crom-a-boo Bridge) in Athy.

DNA matches through Ancestry and My Heritage suggest that our Gorman family may have worked or traded up and down the R Barrow because several matches have returned for people in towns and villages along the river in Kilkenny and Carlow, as well as Kildare in the upper reaches, and New Ross in Wicklow closer to the sea. I note also that Bridget Gorman married a man from near New Ross which may be significant, and there are other possible wives out of Carlow and possibly Laois/Queens County. Unclear though whether they are Cahill or Gorman connections - and do I really care at this point! By this means, Elizabeth/Eliza Walsh nee Gorman of Killishin up the R Barrow in Co Laoise, who lived with her husband William Walsh, in Goresbridge, has emerged as a possibility. I have created profiles for her knowable family to use for more research and possible DNA connections.

I have pretty much exhausted resources for Gormans of the local townlands with social and other connections to Goresbridge, so I will spend some time (probably quite a lot) exploring potential relationships and descendants along the river to see what turns up. A return to Gowran records is due since Thomas Patrick names it as his place of origin and it is on the Gowran River which joins the Barrow a short distance away at Goresbridge.

DEATH & BURIAL In 1837 a will for James Gorman was lodged for probate in Kilkenny ie abt. the time our James probably died. This chap was from Ballycoolan (Ballycoolad in the record) Co Laois, which is right near the Bauteogue River, a tributary of the R Barrow. Much of Co Laois (Queens County) is drained by rivers running into the Barrow and/or the Grand canal on a fairly direct route to Gorsebridge. This is probably just be a coincidence, but suggests I need to take a closer look if, indeed, the Gormans were engaged in river commerce or traffic. Research shows huge traffic of passengers and goods on the Barrow, its tributaries and the Grand Canal from Limerick to Dublin, and Dublin to Waterford. A lot of potential.
Event Type Probate Name James Gorman Residence Place Ballycoolad, Queen's County Probate Date 1837 Probate Place County Kilkenny, Ireland Probate Place (Original) Kilkenny

First name(s) James Last name Gorman Year 1837 Residence Ballycoolad, Queen's County Residence county Laois (Queen's) District Kilkenny Diocese Ossory Country Ireland Class Testamentary

6 miles or 10km is a usual radius for searching because it is possible to walk there and back in a day, or better with an over night visit to friends or family, and a day visit by pony trap or cart. Obviously, a pony trap or cart extends their scope, but not everyone had access to such expensive transport. 10 miles is considered the limit for ordinary purposes of going to market, fairs, etc. Several Gormans are farmers, so would be more mobile. Donkeys were more common than ponies for poorer people. Direct road routes are most likely, as are specific destinations such as markets, jobs, administrative centres, churches, social events, etc. but the roads were very bad. Even so, most young people married the sons and daughters of their neighbours. If the neighbours were from more distant villages it suggests that the male at least was working across wider areas and more mobile - staying places long enough or often enough to get to know and woo a wife.

If, however, the family was working in the traffic along the R Barrow, their range could extend from its mouth at Waterford, to its origins north near the canal to Dublin, and even Dublin itself, then across to Limerick on the west coast via the canal. The traffic was so heavy that there a wharves and warehouses at towns along the Barrow and Grand Canal where Gormans might well have worked or conducted business. Since Thomas, John, Daniel and James all worked in shipyards (Thomas) ran a ferry (Thomas), docks and warehouses (James), and ship chandler (Daniel, James & John) there is a very real likelihood that boats and warehouses ie water based commerce, was the family business rather than farming. I will add information about the extent of river and canal based commerce.

Paulstown is 4.6m or 7.4km from Goresbridge, and the location of their parish church after c1820. In fact the priest came to each village or home to conduct marriages and baptisms, so people would not have been traipsing up to Paulstown all the time. Lowgrange is 0.6m from Goresbridge on the road to Paulstown. Grange Upper is 2.7m south of Goresbridge near Neigham, and Mt Loftus, Jeansville, Pollough and Powerstown are a mile or so further to the south. Barrowmount is on the outskirts of Goresbridge village. Gowran township is 3.65m or 5.9km from Goresbridge on a direct road, and people clearly used the priest from there as well. [Gowran is both a civil parish and a townland] Clover is 4m from Goresbridge via Redbog on the outskirts of Gowran, an indirect route. Dungarvan is less than 5.5miles from Goresbridge via a direct route through Gowran. Kilmanahan is 7.3 miles via Dungarvan. Tullaherin is 6.9 miles from Goresbridge directly through Dungarvan, and Kilbline is about a mile further. Woolengrange is 12 miles or 18.8km from Goresbridge. Thomastown is 11.7 miles from Goresbridge via Gowran and Dungarvan, and an indirect route. on the R Nore Kilkenny City is 39km away on a direct route via Gowran and Coolgrange. Visits to Thomastown and Kilkenny City are likely to have been occasional rather than part of everyday life, so I do not expect strong relationships at those distances.

Miriam, a descendant of the Kilmanahan Gormans tells me that people would meet at crossroads for a ceilidh (pronounced cayley), which is a social get together with music, song, dance and probably some booze. I imagine this would make travelling less onerous for everyone, and meeting up easier all round. Perhaps in the days before artificial lighting, they would meet in the long northern Summer twilights, or by full moon. Either sounds pretty good.

Goresbridge, Paulstown and Gowran townships form a triangle, They belong to the civil parishes of Grangesilvia, Kilmacahill and Gowran, respectively. I have mapped the Gorman families in each civil parish, and Dungarvan as well. Next to look at Thomastown and Woolengrange civil parish because there are Gormans there, but there doesn't seem to be much connection between those centres and the Goresbridge area. Perhaps the Powerstown area, being much closer, would be more fruitful. Also, now, up and down the Barrow. People seem to have married within a few miles of home, and often in the same or a neighbouring townland. Goresbridge people tended to marry no further away than Paulstown or Gowran - or their marriages are in the registers there; Gowran people married within a radius including Dungarvan, Kilmanahan, Lowgrange. Thomastown people married out to Bennetsbridge and Woolengrange. Baptism and marriage registers are far from complete, and there are no formal death or burials until civil registration commences in the midC19th. Woolengrange at 12 miles from Goresbridge but with several Gorman families is, I believe, the farthest extent of likely family connections to "John Gorman late of Goresbridge" (who is more probably James). It now seems that many of the early register entries where no townland is named might have been from towns and villages along the rivers Barrow, Nore and Gowran. Some Goresbridge Gormans came from Co Carlow and Wexford along the R Barrow, so obviously some connections there. I will put all my data collections in docs when they are finished.

I have now reconstructed Gorman families from townlands up to abt. 10 miles from Goresbridge using all the data available online, and a small number of Ancestry DNA matches. The data is like moth-eaten old lace! Unless new resources come to light I don't believe I can advance understanding of these early generations of Gormans ie. before James, Bridget, Daniel etc., the children of John/James. Most of John's known children and their descendants are fairly well documented in England, USA and Australia, and some have joined this family tree. DNA shows there are others in Canada but not enough supporting evidence yet to claim definite relationships. Thomas is the only one where the DNA evidence is strong enough to claim a 'probable' relationship for such a remote period. Only the descendants of James' daughters remain in the Goresbridge-Gowran-Paulstown area as they often married into local families - Headen/Hayden, Wall, Walsh, etc. No Gorman, male or female owned land or was a tenant in Grangesilvia by the 1848-52 Griffith's Valuations leaving the inescapable conclusion that they either died or migrated leaving descendants only through the women who married locally. Oh, for some Kilkenny people to do Ancestry DNA tests!

My Heritage DNA shows James had NO connection to the Kilmanahan Gormans, so I am editing them out of this story. The Inistiage Gormans are already excluded - although false negatives over this period cannot be discounted.
I have also found daughter, Mary, in Liverpool, dying unmarried in 1851, so several other possibilities are now eliminated.

Since it is very probable that James had brothers including a Michael and a Patrick, some of the 'children' I have nominated for James are more likely children of his brothers except I am not sure how to tell the difference. I also have a stray baptism for James Gorman who married Margaret Holohan and baptised a son, Michael Gorman in 1789 at Thomastown, who just might fit in somewhere. I will add it to docs just in case since the priest just might have visited Goresbridge. A return to the Catholic parishes of the area shows that the priests from Thomastown were responsible for some baptisms, marriages and burials for Goresbridge and Gowran which parishes were established decades later. This requires a reconsideration of the relevance of early Thomastown records for both Gorman and Cahill families. Thomastown is on the R Nore rather than the Barrow, so not sure how likely it is to be a useful source except that it has early records, but the R Nore flows into the R Barrow near New Ross, not a million miles from Goresbridge.

Below is a summary of the evidence for James and his family, my interpretation of the data from a social history perspective, and my conclusions. The key qualification must be that I may at times have construed a story out of coincident records, so all is provisional except for the records themselves. It is centred around Goresbridge and likely range from there. The balance of probability is still that the father of Thomas, James, et al was James, not John.

There remains the likelihood that the father of Bridget, Daniel and James, was actually James Gorman; that he and his brothers had always lived in or near Goresbridge, and that I have concocted the story below out of desperation. Anyone who has tried to make a fabric out of the threads left of ordinary Irish families in this period and earlier, will know how desperate one can get to make sense of the threads and fragments available, especially on the other side of the world. I have occasionally thought of a jigsaw with most pieces missing and no picture on the box, but it is more like a piece of old lace after severe moth attack. However, I looked long and hard for that James in Kilkenny without finding a skerrick of evidence, thus, the work below. In post-script, it is worth mentioning that reframing the search and moving to the focus to R Barrow, there might be convincing evidence for James, however, Thomas Patrick reported his origins in Gowran and the others we can be confident of were in Goresbridge and Low Grange. On review, the early records for Thomastown which I have now discovered was a relevant parish for the early Gormans might just give us something new, as will the even more recent discovery of priests from Graiguenamanagh baptising and marrying up and down the R Barrow, including Goresbridge.

JAMES STORY as RECONSTRUCTED from AVAILABLE EVIDENCE
This man's name is possibly John because several Irish newspapers announcing the 1837 marriage of his daughter Bridget to James Flynn, describe him as "the late John Gorman of Goresbridge". We can further infer that he had lived in or near Goresbridge for at least 10 years because his known & definite children are married and grandchildren are baptised at Paulstown, between abt. 1824 (when records begin) and 1840. There are other marriages for likely/probable children. There is no evidence to show how long they might have been there before 1824. It is also possible that John had brothers and/or sons in Barrowmount/Goresbridge - Michael (1829 tithe applotment, Lowgrange), Thomas (1831 Tithe default, labourer, Lowgrange) and James are possibles; and a daughter, Mary (1829 Tithe Applotment, 1831, Tithe default, spinster, Goresbridge). None of them are still present after 1837.
All official evidence supports James being the name of this man, NOT JOHN which was probably a journalists mistake.

Ireland Civil Registrations after the 1850s captured a number of early Kilkenny births when the person died. They include Eliza Gorman (1775-1865), Ellen Gorman (1788-1868), John Gorman (1789-1870), Kyran Gorman (1800-1870), Honora Gorman (1798-1875), John Gorman (1799-1876), Patrick Gorman (1797-1879). Any of these could be siblings or children of James/John. The women might be daughters, or wives of the Gorman males. Collecting death certificates for these people would clarify where they died, possibly names for their parents, but not necessarily where they were born or lived and worked.

IF HE IS JAMES GORMAN

In favour of James is that Thomas Patrick names his eldest son as James with John Joseph coming way down the list;  the priest who married Bridget named her father as James rather than John;  James Gorman (1804) had a Michael and Daniel before John, his third son, and James after that; and we have a long series of James in the family.

I am now moderately confident that either the error was with whoever gave the notice to the newspapers, and his name was James.

With DNA connections to Thomas Gorman and Edward Gorman in Canada and USA, and to James Cahill in Canada, all of whom are associated with "Gowran" Kilkenny, we have to consider the possibility that the family extended further than Goresbridge and Grangesilvia. Gowran is the name given to a town, a townland, a civil parish and the barony in which they are all located, so some effort needed to sort who is who. The town is on the Gowran River which meets the Barrow a short distance away at Goresbridge and priests took boats downstream to baptise and marry in Paulstown and Goresbridge.

HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FARMER

It is possible that James was one of the tenant farmers who lost his land in the "Tithe Wars" see below. When the English decided to impose tithes on Irish landholders to fund the Church of Ireland (Anglican), they set up a legal process to survey Ireland and confirm who had title to land (Applotment). Many small farmers were unable to prove they owned their land even when their families had lived there for 200 years, and so were thrown out of their homes and farms, and ownership reverted to the great magnates, who installed new tenants on limited tenancy. This happened from C1828 to C1832 and many Irish small farmers or their sons migrated in these years. Tenants were then hit by demands for tithe payments, which often they could not meet, so tenant farmers also were thrown out with nothing, with new tenants replacing them with less security and often higher rents, and more farming families migrated. This was followed by a period of Catholic resistance to the tithes (1831 Tithe default records) where a combination of threats, violence and fund raising for evicted families kept the countryside in turmoil and led to a lot of Irish people being transported to Australia, and others migrating. The poverty was shocking, but the British continued to export agricultural production, especially grains, leaving the Irish to eat potatoes or starve. That is essentially why the potato blight led to the later famine of the 1850s. Following the period of tithe enforcement and evictions, there were several years of tithe valuations which assessed liability for each plot of land. Over this period, tenants were moved from Medieval English style terms (three life times, 100 years, etc., to 'at will' tenancy where the person could be removed at any time for any reason, or choose to leave at any time. Motivation for good farmers to remain, was limited, and only some were able to manage under the new regime. More families migrated. See below It should be noted that the same process had been undertaken in England, Scotland and Wales with somewhat less disruption, but the same upset of hundreds of years of land ownership and tenancy arrangements.

The Return of Owners of Land, 1876 for Kilkenny shows that NO GORMAN owned land in Kilkenny at that time, so all who stayed must have been tenants.

WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE
James Gorman does not appear in the 1829 tithe applotments for Goresbridge or Barrowmount, nor in the tithe default lists for the same townlands, nor tithe valuations, or anywhere in Grangesilvia civil parish. The tithe applotments recorded all owners and tenants of land and their liability for the new tithe being levied to fund the Church of Ireland clergy ie all people, whether Catholic, Protestant or Anglican would be levied a land tax to fund the Anglican church in Ireland. It did not record other people living with the tenant on the land, and the 1841 and 1851 censuses for Ireland were burned in 1922 during the rebellion. Since noJames Gorman appears in the tithe applotments we must conclude that, IF James was living in Goresbridge or nearby townlands (Low Grange, Barrowmount, etc) in Grangesilvia civil parish, he had no land and lived in someone else's household, OR that he came to live in Goresbridge after 1829.

Nor does James appear in the tithe defaulters records of 1831/32 for Grangesilvia, although Mary, Thomas and Michael Gorman, do. Many Irish were excruciatingly poor, and could not afford to pay a tax on their vegie patch or micro holding, and many Catholics, including their clergy, were outraged that they were expected to fund the Church of Ireland as well as their own clergy. These were considered in default, and the refusal to pay the tithe was often backed up by threats of violence if the tithe collector attempted to enforce the law. Rebellious Irish Catholics, often led by priests who saw a direct threat to their incomes, also attacked Catholics who DID pay the tithe. If James Gorman was living in Goresbridge or nearby townlands of Grangesilvia civil parish in 1831/32, he was not in default so must have either paid the tithe or been exempt from it, OR lived with a relative, OR he came to live in Goresbridge after 1831/2. None of the parish church records show James in Goresbridge or its surrounds from 1824 when records began and 1837 when his death is reported. It is reasonable to conclude that he was not in Goresbridge for all or most of this period unless he lived in someone else's household.

There are Gormans baptising and marrying in Paulstown/Goresbridge before 1831, who seem likely to be sons or daughters of James, so it is possible that James is farming somewhere in the area, and some of his children have moved closer to Goresbridge. Goresbridge is the 'post town' and main centre for quite a large area so it would not be surprising that young people looking for work, marriage partners, training, or their own piece of farm land, might move towards the larger centre. There were also opportunities for work in the 'great houses' of the aristocracy and gentry of the parish and its surrounds, the huge convent complex, and administrative functions. If John was farming and caught up in the tithe wars, he may have moved to live with one of these children. We do know that he was "of Goresbridge" in 1837, and that he had died before Bridget's marriage in October 1837. It is just possible that his wife was still living in 1837 but there is no evidence for her anywhere. He was not in the tithe valuations at Goresbridge that began in the 1840s and finished in the 1860s.

There is no indicative evidence to date that shows whether the Gormans were villagers/townsfolk, or farmers, although two sons had skilled trades, and one was a well known poet and songster. They could not have been peasants because the daughters married into farming and small business families, and Daniel became a successful shoemaker/business man in Liverpool. They were all literate, unusual at that time for Catholics. Nor did no-bodies have their marriages and deaths announced in English owned newspapers. They were living in a town, not a rural area and were educated. Unclear why son James stayed in labouring work, although, if his father had been a farmer, James, as a son might have had only farming/labouring skills which were no use to him in Liverpool, whereas the younger children had trades, and daughters married farmers OR he was employed on the river and in its warehouses. Trying to understand what sort of people these early Gormans were, and what sort of lives they lived is really hard when there is so little evidence. I have found an obit for Daniel that describes him in glowing terms as a writer of poetry and songs in Irish (Gaelic), a great companion, modest, good humoured and popular. He also seems to have been secretary of a group celebrating a defender of Catholicism in 1838, and obviously quite literate. (see his profile) It adds quite a lot to the bare facts - he left for Liverpool in his early 20s, worked as a shoemaker, married (a protestant) there in 1832, supported his sisters Bridget and Mary, had a business as a victualer, was godfather to his nephew John. It also adds a little to the context for James Gorman, Daniel's nephew in the Victorian bush, as a social community man, singer, reciter, and writer/producer of 'minstrel' plays, and Lawrence, the Canadian songwriter. How and where John's children were educated is a question I cannot answer yet. The large Brigidine convent of educator nunswas founded after the Gormans had left Kilkenny.

The evidence for this man being named John is primarily Bridget's marriage announcement (an error), and a son, John b. abt. 1797-1801, in the 1841 census for Liverpool. The name recurs in James and Ellen's family, and Bridget and James Flynn's, too. Thomas Patrick named his 4th son John. If Thomas followed tradition, then his parents were James and Mary which could rather confound my thinking here. Oh, for some solid evidence!

There is no further evidence for James at Goresbridge, except for the marriages of his children and baptism of grandchildren at Paulstown. Nor for his wife. All census records were lost in 1922. There are no Catholic baptisms or marriages for Paulstown before 1824, and none of the Gormans who died have permanent memorials. Nor do the parish registers include burials.

There is a possibility that there is more than one Gorman of James generation living in or near Goresbridge and baptising children at Paulstown, or whose children marry at Paulstown. His name might be Michael, and also a Patrick. If these are John's brothers, he might be living with one of them after losing a farm. We do know that his son, James(1804) was living there until c1838, so John might well have lived in the same place with James and whoever was the tenant of record.

DNA matches have shown up ancestors of this and the previous generation in Canada and the USA - Edward Gorman born Ireland 1747 died Connecticut 1832, and Thomas Gorman born 1796 Gowran died Prince Edward Island, Canada. Exactly how they are related is impossible at present to define, but it must have been very close to James Gorman to show up in descendants' DNA 250 years later, and both were born in Kilkenny, Thomas in Gowran. My expectation is that they were in the direct line rather than cousins, but DNA evidence at this distance is chancy at best. The probability is that both lived in the barony of Gowran, and not far from Goresbridge. I have placed Thomas as James' son to explore the possibilities, understanding that he might not be. The rate at which Gormans migrated out of Kilkenny over these decades seems high, but probably that is true for many families.

Personal records before 1820 are very hard to find because the Catholic churches were not supposed to keep them, and the Civil War destroyed the official ones. Large centres such as Kilkenny City, Dublin, and even Thomastown and Gowran have earlier Catholic BDMs than Paulstown, but the accident of survival does not ensure correct attributions. The NLI (National Library of Ireland) published on line in 2015, searchable Catholic parish records for baptisms and marriages that have survived - from 1824 for Paulstown, although there are still unreadable pages - but no burials. Three Irish newspapers (in Kilkenny and Dublin) report that Bridget was the "youngest daughter of the late John Gorman of Goresbridge" in the notice of her marriage to James Flynn.

Newspapers also report money collected from parishes by the large Catholic relief associations from the late 1820s when the process of evictions of Catholic tenants related to tithe collections began, until well into the 1840s. The only Gormans clearly associated with these organisations were James Gorman, parish priest of St Canice's church Kilkenny City from the C18th into the C19th, and his nephew John Gorman also parish priest of St Canice's church, who succeeded him. Neither seem to be related to us, but one never knows. Otherwise, Gormans are not shown to have contributed to the funds.

James Gorman and Ellen moved to Liverpool in 1839 or 1840 after daughter Mary was baptised. They are in Goresbridge Co. Kilkenny in 1837 at the death of James, and for the birth of Michael (1837), and Dec 1838 for the birth of Mary, then in Liverpool for the 1841 census. They are earlier mentioned as sponsors and witnesses to baptisms and marriages.

The later civil registration centre for BDMs in the Paulstown/Goresbridge part of Kilkenny is Thomastown or perhaps Graiguenamanagh, so many later records esp. deaths, will be registered for Thomastown rather than where the person actually lived. With luck it might be possible to find more of our Gormans through the Thomastown records. Gowran is also a centre only 4.43 km away, and there is a Gorman family there. The Gowran and Paulstown Catholic registers show a wide coverage across Grangesilvia, Gowran, Kilkacahill (Paulstown), Shankill, and Dungarvan civil parishes so families were socialising, mating and baptising across something like a 10 mile radius from Goresbridge to the north and to the west, but not so much to the south. The locus of civic life, legal and administrative, social and commercial seems to be a triangle of Goresbridge, Gowran/Dungarvan, and Paulstown, which presumably facilitated social netowrks.

I have now found Bridget's father named as John Gorman of Goresbridge in several Irish papers, and James and Bridget seemed to have an older brother named John at Sweeting Street in Liverpool, so the name John is possible, but James takes precedence due to the greater number of official records naming him as James. The newspaper recognition also suggests thatJames Gorman was a man of substance, as were the Flynns. Ordinary poor Catholic Irish did not get mentioned in Anglo-Irish papers, or have their marriages announced.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT The period from 1800 was very turbulent in Irish history as the English imposed their rule more and more strictly. Demanding that all Irish, including Catholics, tithe to support the Church of Ireland (Anglican) was the final straw for many Irish, and led to the "Tithe Wars" where priests, monks and friars joined with parishioners to attack tithe collectors and intimidate Irish land holders. In Kilkenny they were called 'White Feet', and 'White Ribbon Boys'.

On the other hand, James lived and died in Goresbridge, townland of Barrowmount, a small town surrounded by farms on the R. Barrow where the bridge crosses into Carlow. The Pilot (Dublin) of 28 November 1836 reports: "Henry Ryan Esq. has purchased the Barrow-Mount estate, Kilkenny, formerly the property of Colonel Gore, for the guardians of Lord Clifden, who is now in his 12th year. We are happy to learn that the guardians of this young noble gentleman are doing everything in their power to forward the condition of the tenantry on the estates." Viscount Clifden was the owner of tenancies leased/rented by Gorman families across the estate. Son Daniel was a shoemaker, and leather was one of the local primary products, son John was perhaps a tailor. Goresbridge was a centre for leather and leather work. There is a fair chance that James was also a shoemaker or tailor, since such crafts ran in families at that time, and fathers apprenticed their sons. It doesn't help explain how James (1804) ended up a dock worker in Liverpool, moving grain sacks into warehouses, but, since Goresbridge was on a navigable river through agricultural land, grain handling might also have provided local employment. James Snr could have been involved anywhere in the leatherwork industry from cleaning hides to tanning, from buying and selling leather and leather products to being an exporter, warehouse manager, or victualler to military or police barracks, etc. Or in one of the other available occupations. A list I made from the tithe defaulter records 1831, shows that Goresbridge had: 4 gentlemen, 1 clergyman 1 doctor, 1 lawyer, 1 officer of the Court of Chancery, 1 surveyor 5 farmers, two of whom were clergymen 6 widows, 1 spinster (Mary Gorman), 2 married women 1 policeman, 1 tithe collector, 1 clerk 4 shopkeepers, 6 publicans, 2 butchers, 1 dealer 1 weaver, 1 nailor, 4 tailors, 2 bakers, 4 masons, 1 glazier (weaver was Thomas Hardy, husband of Mary Gorman of Mullingar) 1 boatman, 1 carrier, 1 car man - Driver of horse-drawn vehicles for transporting goods. Carmen were often employed by railway companies for local deliveries and collections of goods and parcels. Modern day van driver. A Carter typically drove a light two wheeled carriage. 7 labourers 1 pensioner, AND THAT'S JUST THE PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T PAY THE TITHE ie a small sample of the population of the town. Goresbridge also had an army barracks and police depot, as well as criminal justice apparatus, and was a commercial centre with all of the trades and services that support towns and farming communities and river commerce. In surrounding townlands the main occupation is farming with many farmers employing brothers and sons as labourers, or partners with allied occupations such as lime burning. Many also had widowed mothers living with them. There are more 'gentlemen', widows and spinsters, as well as smiths, carpenters, millers, labourers, herdsmen, stewards and servants, an architect, and more clergy - all unable or unwilling to pay the tithe.

DEATH & BURIAL James died at Goresbridge before October 1837 (probably c1836 when Bridget and Mary left Goresbridge for Liverpool) when his daughter, Bridget married James Flynn in Liverpool. Evidence is provided by newspaper reports in 3 Irish papers, and in Liverpool. We should assume he is buried at Goresbridge or Paulstown, although burials might have continued at the ancient Goresbridge churchyard. There is no memorial, or burial register.

IRISH NATIONALIST GROUPS IN KILKENNY Whitefeet were armed bands resisting the tithe Oath of a Whitefoot 1st. I solmly sware to be loyall and true to the New Ribbon Act. 2nd. I sware, I will to the best of my power, Cut Down Kings, Queens and Princes, Duks, Earls, Lords, and all such with Land Jobin and herrisy. 3rd. I sware that I will never Pity the moans or groans of the Dying, from the Cradell to the Crutch, and that I will wade knee Deep in Orange Blood. 4th. I sware I am to Bear My right arm to be Cut of and trow over the left shoulder and nailed to the traples Door of Armagh before I will way lay or betray or go in to any Court to Prosecute a Brother, known him to be such. 5th. I sware I will go 10 miles on foot and 15 Miles on horse Back in five minutes warning. 6th. I sware I will give Money to Purchase and repair fire arms amunition and the Like, and every other weapon that may Be wanting. 7th. I sware I never will tell the man's name nor the man's name that stood By making me a Ribbonman or whitefoot to any one under the Cannopy of heaven, not even to Priest, Bishop, or any in the Church. 8th. I sware I will not stand to hear hell or confusion Drank to a whitefoot or Ribbonman without resisting the same or quitting the Company. 9th. I sware I never will Keep a robber's company Nor harbour him, except for fire Arms 10th. I sware I will not make foul freedom with a Brother's wife or Sister Known them to be as Such. 11th. I sware I will not Keep the second Coat or the Second Shilling and a Brother to Be in want or relief, Known him to be as Such. 12th. I sware I will not Be present at the Making of a ribbonman or White foot without Praper orders from our Captain. In pursuance of this spirituall Oblagation So Healp mee God. Whitefoot oath — version repeated at Queens Co Lent assizes, 1832.

In the years towards and just after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, a new series of secret societies began to emerge, that became known as “Ribbonmen”, due to their common identifying mark of a green ribbon tucked into a front pocket. “Ribbonism” was like earlier agrarian secret societies in many ways, but found much of its driving force in the farm labourer class as opposed to the farm owner or tenant. Thousands of Irish men had fought in Wellington's armies, and many of the survivors returned home after Waterloo.

BATTLE OF GORESBRIDGE 1798 The Battle of Goresbridge and Kilcumney [James Laurence of Trinity Gask was fighting in these battles with the Royal Scots Guards. See his profile for the other side of the argument]

The 1798 Rebellion in Ireland was one of the most widespread and bloody.  It lasted 6 months and left 30,000 dead.  Inspired by the 1789 French Revolution, Theobald Wolfe Tone founded the United Irishmen ​which was thought numbered up to 100,000. "To unite Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter under the common name of Irishmen in order to break the connection with England, the never failing source of all our political evils, that was my aim" ​said Wolf Tone. The Rebellion was not a military success but fanned the embers of the desire for independence from England. The Rebels suffered a heavy defeat at Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy but many of them escaped to fight on for a further month. There were many brave battles after this and one such was  The Battle of Kilcumney ​and Goresbridge. Under the leadership of Fr John Murphy from Boolavogue Co Wexford, the Rebels were on the way to Castlecomer to meet up with the colliers there. On the 22nd of June they were camped outside of Goresbridge and their plan was to attack the garrison of infantry and cavalry who were here to protect the vital crossing of the Barrow Bridge. The next morning on the 23rd, the Rebels which were reported by Sir Charles Asgill to have numbered 5000, fought against a company of the 4th Dragon Guards in Goresbridge and succeeded in pushing them back and taking many of the militia prisoner the officers having deserted their men. The Rebels advanced to Shankill and on to Castlecomer  where on the 24th June 2 columns led by Fr Murphy and Myles Byrne attacked the Crown Forces there. The town  of 'Comer was burned to the ground. Both sides seemed to retreat and it was decided that the Rebels should return to Wexford which brought them to Goresbridge again and to Kilcumney Hill the next day.​ One essay reads :

​"Arriving at Kilcumney Hill late on the evening of June the 25th 1798 the rebels set up camp. The dawn awakening of the 26th of June was a brutal one. The camp was attacked by well equipped crown troops who had moved in during the night and surrounded them. The insurgents were in no fit state to engage, retreat was the only option, or face annihilation. Most made it back across the mountain into Wexford. However some who had fallen behind met their inevitable fate. Unfortunately the crown forces did not confine their targets to rebels in arms on that fateful day of June the 26th 1798. Instead they ran amuck, wreaking their vengeance on the peaceable local inhabitants who had remained in their homes."

About one hundred and forty people were slaughtered, leaving perhaps four or five hundred unprotected orphans.

"Whether humanity or a less noble motive actuated Sir Charles Asgill, it is certain that he adopted great caution in coming to close quarters with the retreating insurgents, who kept a party of good sharp-shooters to cover their retreat; these had caused many officers and men to fall earlier in the engagement. But Sir Charles reserved his troops for an easier victory. Men, women and children were this day 26 June, butchered in cold blood…. They were all slaughtered without mercy. Some of the troops were ordered to the houses of the farmers.....the several houses they had robbed before they took their leave they burned to ashes." So described General Thomas Cloney of the massacre which took place after the battle of Kilcumney.

A BIT OF GORMAIN HISTORY I have added a document from Ireland re the clan/tribal group the Gormans belonged to in Celtic Ireland. Clearly they have fallen on bad times over a thousand years because Gormain was once king of the clan and did some invading of England at the time of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Between the Normans, the English and the Vikings, the Gormains did not do too well I suspect. They were pushed from Leinster to Co.Laois and later further west by various invaders. MacGorman (Irish: Mac Gormáin), also known as McGorman, Gorman, or O'Gorman (Irish: Ó Gormáin), is an Irish Gaelic clan based most prominently in what is today County Clare. The paternal ancestors of the clan are of the Laigin and emerged in what is today County Waterford. As leaders of the Uí Bairrche, they competed with the Uí Cheinnselaig in the 5th century for the Kingship of Leinster, ultimately losing out in that specific arena, but holding on to significant lands in the Leinster area. My feeling is that our branch stayed in Kilkenny and survived the invaders, so that by 1830 they were well assimilated into the AngloNorman commercial life.

Through influence over the Sletty monastery founded by Fiacha mac Breccáin, the family played a role in early Christianity in Ireland. The Life of St. Patrick from the Book of Armagh was authored on the request of Áed of Sletty. As well as this, the mother of Columba of Iona came from this dynasty. After working to fight off the Vikings in Dublin and Waterford, the MacGormans eventually lost out to the Normans in the 12th century. The family relocated to Thomond upon being invited by the Ó Briain. From this point on they were Lords of Uí Bhreacáin until losing influence when Thomond's sovereignty came to an end. Today the family of O'Gorman's settle and live in parts between Tipperary, Ireland and Trowbridge/ London England [from Wikipedia] The first Anglo-Norman 'plantation' was mainly Catholic like the Irish, and took over huge estates in Ireland, displacing the local people, pushing them west and north. They were followed after 1640 by the invasion by Cromwell, and the new protestant 'plantation' of former soldiers from his armies, that displaced most of the Anglo-Norman catholics. Minor Cromwellian landholders included Captain Charles Gore, Lt. Christopher Mathews, Sir George Askew, Sir Henry Pierce, Captain Thomas Tomlins, Theophilus Eaton, Colonel Oliver Wheeler, Sir Charles Wheeler, Sir John Temple, Captain John Jones, Charles Hewetson, Sir Francis Gore, Captain Isaac Jackson, Oliver Tallent, Captain Anthony Stampe, Allen Tench, John Jessop, Colonel Francis Willoughby, Captain Thomas Evans, Captain Henry Webb, Major Joseph Deane, Captain Bryan Mansergh, John Hurd, Maudlin Fisher, Major Thomas Adams, Captain George Bishop, Robert Mihill, Nathaniel Cooper, Christopher Render, Sir George Hamilton, Christopher Lovett, John Ashburnham, Sir William Petty, Captain William Shore, among others. Capt. Ralph Gore was given Barrowmount townland at Goresbridge, perhaps in lieu of wages.

I will add a picture of Barrowmount House, the Gore family's country house. A country house representing an important component of the eighteenth-century domestic built heritage of County Kilkenny with the architectural value of the composition, one annotated as "Barrowmount [of] Gore Esquire" by Taylor and Skinner (1778) and thereafter described as 'the [former] seat of the Gore family but now forming part of the estate of Viscount Clifden', confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking the meandering River Barrow with a mountainous backdrop in the distance; the symmetrical footprint centred on a restrained doorcase, albeit one largely concealed behind a later porch; the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression; and the slightly oversailing roofline. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior, including crown or cylinder glazing panels in hornless sash frames: meanwhile, contemporary joinery; chimneypieces; and plasterwork refinements, all highlight the artistic potential of the composition. Furthermore, adjacent outbuildings; a walled garden (extant 1839); and the shell of a gate lodge (extant 1839), all continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of an estate having historic connections with the Gore family including Ralph Gore (1723/4/78), one-time High Sheriff of County Kilkenny (fl. 1747); Lieutenant-Colonel John Gore (1724-94); and Colonel Ralph Gore (1765-1827); The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle 1815; and a succession of tenants of the Viscounts Clifden of Gowran Castle.

River Barrow As well as being popular with anglers, St. Mullins (Co. Carlow) is one of the stop-off points for pleasure barges and cruisers who ply the River Barrow. The building of the canal on the Barrow began here in 1750 and the Old Grain Store was built to store goods coming up the river from the sailing ships in New Ross. The horses and carts came down the tracks from the Blackstairs Mountains to gather their supplies and sell their goods for export. Horses were kept in the old stables to pull the barges up-river and the blacksmith was on hand to repair the barges and shoe the draught horses. By 1920 the Bolinder engine had arrived and with motorized barges the long serving horses were no longer needed.

The Gormans There are multiple origins for the surname Gorman. The Irish name is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Gormáin and Ó Gormáin, meaning "son of Gormán" and "descendant of Gormán". The personal name Gormán is derived from the diminutive of gorm, meaning "dark blue", "noble".

One English origin of the name is from the Middle English personal name Gormund (Old English Garmund). This name is made up of the elements gar "spear" + mund "protection". One of the earliest mentions of the name "Gorman" can be found in a reference by Geoffrey of Monmouth to a Danish king named "Gormandus" who raided parts of Britain around 593 AD and settled near South Wexford. Early English bearers of the surname are William Gorman in 1296 and Adam Garman in 1327. The John atte Gore recorded in 1296 within the Sussex Subsidy Rolls is identical with the John Gorman recorded in 1332.

Male Daughter Wife (Long) Wife (Short) Mac Gormáin Nic Ghormáin Bean Mhic Ghormáin Mhic Ghormáin Ó Gormáin Ní Ghormáin Bean Uí Ghormáin Uí Ghormáin

Wikipedia has a history of the Gorman/Mac Gorman/O Gorman clan in Ireland.

WHAT DNA EVIDENCE IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. Most DNA is from the Irish diaspora, and the Gorman bits are shown above in Canada and the UK.

However, it seems I might have been a bit too fast in eliminating Gormans from Co Carlow as possible ancestors.

1. Michael Burke from Ontario, Canada is 4th-6th cousin with 21cM across 2 segments of shared DNA. In his tree is Margaret Gorman b. 1813 at Bagenalstown (Muine Bheag) in Co. Carlow and died 30 Dec 1905 in Merrickville, Ontario. Her husband was Patrick Driscoll (1796-1 Nov 1885) from Co. Cork, so presumably they met and married in Ontario. Margaret is the same generation as our James Gorman (1804-1870) from Goresbridge. Bagenalstown is just across the R Barrow from Paulstown, and not far from Goresbridge. Margaret's son, Michael Driscoll (14/11/1852-15/11/1936) was born and died in Ontario, and is direct ancestor of Michael Burke - the only one in his tree who could share DNA with me. Lawrence Allen shares the same DNA.

2. Michael Whelan of Melbourne? Australia is a distant (5th-8th) cousin sharing 9cM across 1 segment of DNA. He has family members from Carlow Daniel Doyle (1790-?), Mary Fitzgerald (1790-1860), their son Michael Doyle (7/9/1805 Co Carlow-7 Feb Ballarat), and his wife Anne Lee 91816 Co Carlow-7/5/1901 Sth Melbourne). Two other possibles are named Denis O'Donaghue and Nellie Murphy with no county of origin.

3. Ben Kelly of Ontario Canada shares 23 cM on 2 segments with me, and with 'nairnite' of Ontario Canada, who shares 15cM across 1 segment, although I cannot identify a possible shred ancestor. A Richardson or two also went to Ontario, so possible connections there rather than Gorman or Cahill.

4. Stephan Opipari from Michigan is a distant cousin sharing 11 cM across 1 segments. His direct ancestors from Co Carlow are James Fitzpatrick (1790-1876), his wife Margaret Dolan (1777-?), their son Thomas Fitzpatrick (12 May 1814 Carlow-19 Nov 1906 Detroit), Thomas' wife Sarah Cullen (15/7/1822 Co Carlow-30/9/1915 Detroit) and Sarah's mother Rose Doyle, (C1800-1894 Co Carlow). Also sharing this DNA is Beth Bowman 4th-6th cousin with 22cM across 2 segments (no tree available).

5. barbara miller 4th-6th cousin shares 27cM across 2 segments with me (no tree); Elizabeth Jay of US shares 9cM across 1 segment, and I have no idea how we connect up except via Irish White family, county unknown.

6. William Byrne is a distant cousin who shares cM across segment. His tree includes Mary Salter (?-8/12/1897 Ballytarsna, Co Carlow), her son Charles Byrne (13/5/1864 Ballytarsna, Co Carlow-26/2/1930 Graiguelug Co Carlow), his wife Mary Ann Keogh (1905-29/3/1953 Nurney Co carlow) their son Michael Byrne (1925 Carlow, Co Carlow- 24/4/2008 Bagenalstown), Sutton family of Graiguelug Co Carlow (Patrick, James Margaret, Margaret Maher), Reddy family of Graiguelug & Ballytarsna (James, Mary and Teresa), Gordon family (Patrick, Patrick, Charles, Charles, Johannah Murphy, Kate Kelly, William Patrick) all born or died Co Carlow, and Kilkenny with William Patrick born Goresbridge in 1933.; MacCormack family of Kilkenny (Nicholas, Kate, Denis, Nicholas & Bridget Foley 1907-1985). No shared matches yet with this one.

7. Ashley Lunn (no tree), 4th cousin shares 21cM across 1 segment, and shared match with Doug Murphy (descendant of Thomas Patrick Gorman)

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A little bit about Grangesylvia from Mrs Grattan-Bellew (of Mt Loftus) in the Old Kilkenny Review:
In 1541 on the suppression of the Abbey of Graiguenamanagh James Butler, ninth Earl of Ormond, was granted a lease of the Abbey lands by the Crown. These included Lower Grange, Barrowmount, Killeen and Drumroe. Pierce Butler, who was created Viscount Galmoy, and inherited these lands, was one of the Catholic Confederate Peers in 1647. Pierce Butler of Barrow­ mount and Sir Walter Butler of Paulstown Castle were members of the Commons in the Confederate Parliament of Kilkenny.
The Lord Galmoys lived in great style at Low Grange Castle until the reign of William of Orange, when their estates were confiscated. Low Grange was granted to Richard Green, Barrow­ mount to Colonel Gore and Drumroe, with the surrounding lands, to John Eaton.
The Fee Farm Lease from the Duke of Ormond and his trustees to Eaton was enrolled in the Bills Office in the Court of Chancery in Ireland, February 17th, 1712. The place became known as Mount Eaton till in the year 1754 it was purchased by the Right Hon. Nicholas Lord Loftus, first Viscount Loftus of Ely, from John Eaton, grandson of the first Eaton.
Lord Loftus built the old house of Mount Loftus for his natural son, Sir Edward Loftus, settling the estates purchased from Eaton upon him and changed the name to Mount Loftus. The old house was demolished in 1904, when the present house was built.