Farrell family in Kilkenny registers 1755 to 1887

An Ann Farrell from Kilkenny arrived in Geelong in 1840. At this stage it is not known who she was or if she was connected with the convicts Andrew Farrell and William Farrell, also from Kilkenny, who arrived before that date.

The following is a listing of Farrell family events from 1755 to 1887. The list is designed to identify as many people as possible who were born, married or died in Kilkenny to try to identify who Ann Farrell was. If you happen to come across this listing and have any connection, please contact me.

Marriages - 1750s

Marriages and Baptisms - 1760s

Marriages and Baptisms - 1770s

Marriages and Baptisms - 1780s

Marriages and Baptisms - 1790s

Marriages and Baptisms - 1800s

Marriages and Baptisms - 1810s

Marriages and Baptisms - 1820s

Campaign for Catholic emancipation: 1828 - 1829

The origins of the Catholic empancipation movement and the later so-called 'tithe war' lay in the English reformation, when King Henry VIII transferred the assets of the existing churchs to the new established Irish church.

The campaign for Catholic emancipation in Ireland arose in the early 1800s. In 1829, the Duke of Wellington's government promoted and parliament enacted the Roman Catholic Emancipation Act. But the obligation to pay tithes to the (protestant) Church of Ireland remained, in addition to voluntary constributions to the Roman Catholic churchs, caused much resentment.

Incensed farmers resisted paying for the support for two clerical establishments.

Marriages - 1831

The 'tithe war': 1831 - 1836

The majority of the Irish continued to adhere to Roman Catholicism. Tithe payments to the Irish church increasing the financial burden particularly on subsistence farmers, many of whom continued to make voluntary contributions to the Roman Catholic church.

After emancipation in 1829, an organised campaign of resistance to collection of the tithes began. By 1831, the financial effect of these non-payments caused the government to compile lists of defaulters and issued collection orders for the seizure of goods and chattels. Violence broke out in parts of Ireland, including in Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford. The Irish constabulary, established in 1822, attempted to enforce the orders.

A campaign of passive resistance, with the support of the Catholic church, commenced in Maryborough in February 1831, led by Patrick (Patt) Lalor. The first real 'clash' in the tithe war took place on 3 March 1831 at Graigeuenamanagh, County Kilkenny when the constabulary attempted to seize assets that were temporarily kept by a Catholic priest. The revolt then spread.

On 18 June 1831, at Bunclody (Newtownbarry) in County Wexford, twelve were killed and twenty wounded when the constabulary opened fire on protestors. This massacre resulted in more resistance. On 14 December 1831, resisters ambushed a detachment of forty constabultary at Carrickshock in County Kilkenny. Twelve constables, including the Chief Constable, were killed.

Regular clashes, including fatalities continued for the next two years. Even the army reinforced its barracks. On 18 December 1834 the conflict came to a head at Rathcormac, County Cork, when armed Constabulary and the regular British Army killed twelve and wounded 42.

See below from 1838 for a final comment on this.

1832 - Kilkenny Farrell convict to Australia - Andrew Farrell

The following is a summary of details known about Andrew Farrell who was transported to Australia.

1834 - Kilkenny Farrell convict to Australia - William Farrell

The following is a summary of details known about William Farrell who was transported to Australia in 1834.

1838 - Tithe war ends

Finally, in 1838, the UK parliament introduced the Tithe Commutation Act for Ireland. This Act reduced the amount payable by about a quarter and made the remainder payable in rent to landlords, who were then to pass on the payment to authorities. Tithes were thus 'effectively added to a tenant's rent payment'. The elimination of the confrontational collections ended the violent aspect of the Tithe War. Full relief from the tax was not achieved until the Irish Church Act of 1869, which disestablished the Church of Ireland.

By 1839 - Ann Ferrall makes a decision to leave Ireland

Her family and other details are not yet confirmed but Ann Ferrall, from Kilkenny, somehow ended up in Plymouth by early 1840.

Ann Farrell, said to be aged 20 and a housemaid, boarded the Andromache, a 500 ton sailing ship that left London on 15 February 1840, from Plymouth on 28 February 1840 as one of 60 single females travelling as a 'bounty' passenger organised by the migration agent John Marshall. There were also 32 families and 43 single men plus 36 paying passengers.

Ann Farrell, born in Kilkenny, and a Roman Catholic who could neither read nor write arrived in Port Philip on 27 June 1840 and somehow ended up in the new town of Geelong where she would meet the former convict Stephen May.

DEATHS in Kilkenny - 1865 to 1887

Page created 25 March 2020, updated 25 March 2020. Copyright © 2021 Andrew Warland. (andrewwarland(at)gmail.com)