Claffey Connections

Last Revised: April 2, 1998

Athlone Freeman Journals

Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland records
LDS Microfilms 0100214-6

Index to Athlone Freeman Journals, Manuscript #678

Volume I 1690-1799

No Claffeys listed

Volume II 1780-1850

Daniel Cluffey page 377

James Claffey page 496

Mary Claffey page 243

Michael Claffey page 507

Volume III 1850-1884

Michael Claffey page 433

Patrick Claffey page 574

Peter Claffey pages 429, 375, 372, 371, 433

Ferbane - Clashes between friends at Rigney & Claffey on market day, page 375

Ferbane - Michael or Martin Rigney shot at a Kilmurry wake; Peter Claffey charged with crime, pages 429, 371

Ferbane - Riots between Rigneyites & Claffeyites in Ferbane, page 433
Moate - Patrick Claffey & 11 others charged with stopping hunt at Donegan, page 574

Volume IV 1885-1900

Claffey of Carn Park page 22

Daniel Claffey page 290

James Claffey page 218, 357

Miss Claffey page 523

Mr. Claffey page 259

Patrick Claffey page 218, 296
Thomas Claffey page 218
William Claffey page 245

Athlone Freeman's Journal, Volume II, 1780-1850, Manuscript 675

13 August 1827 Page 243

At Westmeath Assizes, before Lord Justice Bush, Mary Claffey was indicted for setting fire to the dwelling-house of James Farrell of Boggagh [near Moate] on the 16th June last. James Farrell deposed that his house was set fire to on the above night. He was in bed at the time and was alarmed by his brothers. Witness then got up and went out with one, Luke Brown, and found the end of the room on fire. They and the neighbours quenched the flames. About 2 1/2 hours afterwards they met the prisoner on the road. He charged her with the act which she denied - alleging that she slept at her fathers that night. Luke Brown corroborated Farrell on the main parts of his evidence and was about detailing a confession made by prisoner Claffey, when upon observing in reply to a question from his lordship whether he held out any inducement to her, that he promised to save her harmless in case she told the truth, he was allowed to go no further and in absence of conclusive evidence the prisoner was acquitted.

His lordship at the opening of the Assizes congratulated the jury on the light calendar and any cases on it were committed before the last Assizes, and he hoped that disturbance had been effectively suppressed by the dreadful examples made at the last Assizes.

1835 Page 377

Evidence taken before the Royal Commission on the State of the Poor in Ireland, sitting at Moatgrenogue, Baroney of Clonan, Year 1835.

Witnesses:

Charles Arabin Esq. J.P.
Dr. Biwley?, Physician
the Cuthbert Clibborn Esq. J.P.
Danil Cluffy, Labourer
Joseph Morton Daly, Esq.
Mr. George Dixon, Farmer
Mr. Egan, Landholder
Mr. Barney Farrell, Farmer
Patrick Kennedy, Labourer
Hugh Lanigen, Farmer
Rev. Patrick Lee P.P.
Mr. John Lowe, Farmer
Mr. Edward Meares?, Farmer
Patrick Mulvanny, Labourer
Rev. Wm. O'Brien, Roman Catholic Curate
Rev. Arthur Rolliston, Protestant Rector
Mr. Charles Sweeney, Farmer

27 September 1842 Page 496

A repeal meeting was held in Athlone on Friday 23rd instant. Owing to some misunderstanding many of the people had left town for home hearing that Mr. O'Neil Daunt, who was to address the meeting, could not attend, but when he arrived a crowd gathered around the chapel house to the number of 3000 persons, and were addressed by Mr. Daunt and the local clergymen as to the organization of the repeal movement. After the meeting the people dispersed on giving cheers for the Queen, Larnett?, and Repeal. The following wardens were approached:

Athlone: James and Henry Murray, L. Kelly, Rev. McDardis, St. Peters, and Mr. Tipping.

Kilkenny West: James Corrigan, Patrick Molloy, Joseph Walker, Gerald Dillon.

Drumraney: Edward Nugent, Peter McAnley, and Michael Cline.

Ballylonghloe: Ed Gayner, Gerald Dillon.

Moate: John Coote, James Claffey and Farrel Brien. Ballymore: John Farrel, John Casey and Rev. Wm. O'Brien.

25 February 1843 Page 507

The committee of Banagher Catholic Church have received the following subscriptions towards the cost of their erection of their church:

Rev. Kieran Egan - 10 pounds
Mrs. John L. Harton - 5 pounds
Kieran Molloy - 5 pounds
Dr. John Sharpe - 50 pence
John Tallon - 50 pence
and Michael Moylan - 50 pence

The following gave 30 pence each:

John Hannon
Edward Dolan
John Boyle
James McCarthy
John Sherlock
Michael Doorly.

one pound each:

Andrew Morrin
ML. Claffy
MLI. and Timothy Carroll

Athlone Freeman's Journal, Volume III, 1850-1884, Manuscript 676

18th March 1875 Page 371

A man named Martin Rigney went to a wake of his relation at Kilmurray, near Ferbane, and while in the wake, a gun was put through the window of the house and he was shot dead. A shopkeeper named Peter Claffey, Ferbane, and others have been arrested in connection with the affair. Rigney and P. Claffey had litigation recently over land.

24th March 1875 Page 372

Six men have been arrested, charged with the murder of Martin Rigney near Ferbane on the night of the 17th March, including Peter Claffey, the man with whom Rigney had litigation. Fearful scenes were enacted at the funeral of the murdered man. When it was passing through the town of Ferbane, the coffin was left at Claffey's down in the town, and the people hooted and yelled as the funeral passed through the town. The coffin was then taken and laid in the field from which Claffey was dispossessed.

When the prisoners came to Ferbane for magisterial inquiry, a crowd of 4,000 people waited for them. An attempt was made to lynch Peter Claffey, and the police had to bring their carbines to bear on the crowd threatening to fire on them. They yelled and hooted and shouted "blood for blood". Claffey's house was completely wrecked and the entire family had to leave the district. The sign board of the house was taken down and half of it was painted red and the other half black. Claffey's effigy was dragged through the street and hanged at his door. Claffey's solicitor had a narrow escape from being killed by the crowd.

15th May 1875 Page 375

On the last market day in Ferbane the friends of Peter Claffey who is charged with the murder of Mcl. Rigney, marched through the town. Subsequently the Rigneyites came and drove the Claffeys from the town.

6th March 1877 Page 429

At the Kings County Assizes, Peter Claffy was indicted for the murder of Michail Rigney at Killoriney near Ferbane on the night of the 17th March 1875. The prisoner was arraigned at three previous Assizes but for various reasons the case was adjourned.

Rigney was about to evict Claffy from land which he wrongfully held. On the 17th March a young woman named Anne Cusack of Hillonney was waking. Her cousin Michael Rigney went to this wake feeling assured that in the house of mourning he would be safe. While sitting near a window he was shot dead. Witnesses gave evidence that prisoner threatened Rigney and offered 200 pounds (monetary) to any man who would shoot him. Witnesses also swore that prisoner and another man passed the house of Anne Devery in the direction of Cusacks house on that night and wore an Ulster coat; and while wearing such a coat 2 little girls saw him looking into the window through which the shot was afterwards fired. He was seen in the avenue leading to the house by Anne Ryan.

After the murder the police went to Claffys house and found prisoner in bed with Patrick Corcorran who was one of the men recognized by the two little girls as looking through Cusacks window. Michael Claffy, the prisoner's brother, was also arrested. When the police visited his house he was changing his boots. The boots he took off were wet and fitted into a track found near in the direction of Cusacks house. This man had a gun and pistol which were found in potato stalks in a field off the road and this was the direction a person would take going from Cusacks to Ml. Claffey's house. The shot in the undischarged barrel corresponded with that with which Rigney was shot.

The jury retired at 1.20 and returned at 6.10 with a verdict of not guilty. There was a regular yell of applause from all parts of the courthouse which continued for some time. One man was arrested, who took a prominent part in the demonstration, and on ascertaining he was a brother of the prisoner, his lordship discharged him from custody. Great excitement prevailed through the town in the evening.

24th May 1877 Page 433

Arising out of the murder of Mcl. Rigney near Ferbane and the acquittal of Peter Claffy who was five times tried for the offence, rival factions have sprung up, the Claffeyites and Rigneyites and at every fair riots are taking place. At Cloghan fair there was a riot, and Mcl. Claffy and others were arrested.

3rd March 1882 Page 574

At Moate Pilty? Sessions Mr. Patk. Claffy and eleven other defendants were prosecuted, H.W. Dillon R.M. presiding, for assault on the officers of the 64th Regiment at Dunegan on the 20th January. Mr. Jacques prosecuted, Mr. McInerney? defended. He was instructed by Mr. Gargh?. The charge was that defendants forcibly prevented the officers from hunting on their lands, having previously stopped the Westmeath Hounds and declared that there should be no more hunting in the locality during the imprisonment of the suspects.

The case of eight of the defendants was dismissed, complainants being unable to identify them, and the case against the other 4 was withdrawn after a full hearing.

Athlone Freeman's Journal, Volume IV, 1885-1900, Manuscript 677

3rd October 1885 Page 22

Returning to Mountemple from Athlone a quarrel took place on the Moydrum Road near Retreat in which two men, named Claffey of Carn Park and a man named Shortall of Cappabrack were stabbed. A man named Cunningham, their neighbour, was arrested, and charged before the R.M.

16th November 1889 Page 218

Peter Cunningham occupying the position of gardener to the Rev. Thos. Gray T.C.D. at Carn Park, near Mount Temple was shot dead on Sunday night last, and his head was battered in. He lived in a cabin on the roadside with his wife and 10 children. He was found dead by his daughter Honor. He is supposed to have been shot at 6 pm. The locks and stocks of 2 double barrel guns were found near deceased and two sets of shots were embedded in his body. It is stated that the deceased was of a rather quarrelsome disposition and was the cause of the discharge of James, Thos. & Patk. Claffey from employment. This murder took place a year after the death of Patk. Gulligan, in the employment of Mr. John Egan, Coolrock, a few miles distant.

The dead body was found about 200 yards from Corn gate on the avenue leading to the house. Cunningham prosecuted the Claffeys for assault about a year ago and one of them got a months imprisonment for it. Cunningham was under police protection for a while.

14th June 1890 Page 245

James Corrigan residing in the county of vicinity of Moate was assaulted on his way home from town near Aghenarget. Bernard Daly, Wm. Claffey, Daniel Donoghue and Jas. Hickey have been arrested charged with the assault. No motive can be given for the assault.

18th October 1890 Page 259

A meeting of Moate B. I. N. L. under the chairmanship of Canon Keaney was held and the question of expelling Mr. Claffey was put to the meeting, and only two members voted for his retention. His yr. (or 1/2) subscription was handed to him but he refused to accept it, and the money was knocked about on the ground having no owner. The grounds on which he was expelled were his buying of McDonnell's farm from which Mr. Brian Martin's father was evicted.

11th July 1891 Page 290