Cancelled Book Ballyveskil 1855-1970

Ballyveskil

While Ballyveskill is in the parish of Clareabbey it is included in the Killone district electoral division (DED) and revision/cancelled books. Located on the boundary of the parishes of Clareabbey and Killone, with the R473 running through the townland, Ballyveskil is 163 hectares or 402 acres in size and is bounded by Ballyea, Buncraggy, Feagh, Islandavanna Upper, Newhall and Teermaclane townlands[1]. At the 1901 census of Ireland, there were fourteen households with eighty-seven people. By the 1911 census, there were fifteen households with eighty-one people.[2]

The Ballyveskill cancelled books generally and book four 1864-79, in particular, have a number of challenging features for the family or local history researcher who usually rely on lot numbers as a base to follow changes. Book 4 documents a number of changes 1864-67, then a note at the top of the page in the ledger states out “cancelled April 1867, see new copy at end of book”.  The whole townland was cancelled and new entries are found at the end of the ledger.

There are nine Killone DED revision/cancelled books:1856-58, 1858-62, 1862-64, 1864-79, 1879-83, 1883-1902, 1902-13, 1913-34 and 1934-70.

The April 1867 “revised” Ballyveskil cancelled book shows no change in the size of the townland but, lot numbers and occupiers names changed and there was a reduction in lot numbers from forty-eight to twenty-nine lots. No explanation can be found however, one entry in the observations reads “keep W Wolfe’s valuation separate”.[3][4] The transcription includes both sets of entries recorded in 1864-79. It is interesting to note that entries for the neighbouring townland of Teermaclane, whose occupier was also Stephen R Woulfe/Wolfe were also cancelled and revised in book four.

The immediate lessor of all the land in Ballyveskill in the 1855 Griffith Valuation and Cancelled Books 1-3 was Peter Wolfe (held in chancery (1779-1865)). His nephew Stephen R(oland) Wolfe (1823-99), only son of Stephen Wolfe (1787-1840) and Mary Frances Hamill (1793-1869) is listed as immediate lessor in the 4th Cancelled book.[5] Upon Stephen R’s death in 1899 his second wife and widow, Alice Maude Wolfe (nee Blackburn 1855-1939) was recorded as immediate lessor until land was recorded as ‘in fee LAP’ ie purchased by former tenants under the Land Act purchase from 1913/14.

Inheritance patterns observed in Ballyveskil are similar to those noted in other rural townlands of the parish with the same occupiers surnames reoccurring and but with some farms being inherited through wives/widows, daughters or sons-in-law. The case study of the King/Carroll family which held 88 acres documented as lots 27 & 28 (1855- 1867) and lots 12/13 in later books illustrates one family’s history. Thanks to the information in the Cancelled books, transcribed Ballyea Graveyard records, Wills, Calendar of Wills and Administration, local church and Irish civil records it is possible to recreate this family’s story from Sarah King as occupier in 1855 through Thomas and Robert King, Robert’s wife Catherine, daughter Bridget and grandson Robert Carroll’s tenancy and ownership.[6]  By 1970 Robert William Carroll held 34 acres and the remaining was sub-divided.

[1](https://www.townlands.ie/clare/islands/clareabbey/killone/ballyveskil/) (accessed 24 Nov 2022).

[2] (https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie) (accessed 24 Nov 2022).

[3] Valuation Office, 1864-70 Ballyveskill Cancelled Book.

[4] Note the surname is spelled Wolfe in the Griffith Valuation and cancelled books but has also been recorded as Woulfe.

[5] Refer (https://landedestates.ie/estate/2078) and Joseph Power, A history of Clarecastle and its environs, Ennis 2004 (pp.327-332 for more information about the Wolfe/Woulfe family links to the area.

[6] (http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/search/cwa/details.jsp?id=1639395375) (accessed 26 Nov 2022), (irishgenealogy.ie) (accessed 25 Nov 2022) & Clare Library transcription collection of school enrolment, parish baptism/marriages & burial records (https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/genealog.htm) (accessed 25 Nov 2022).