"Irish" John Smith Travel Log Revisited

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(1911 Irish Census Records)

In 1908 “Irish” John Smith visited his cousins in Ireland and Scotland.  John only mentions heads of household and does not say who else lived in the homes he visited.  However, “Irish” John provides us clues in his travel log.  With these clues we piece together missing details from the 1911 Irish census.  As Terry would say, “Cousins and more cousins”! 

                        Old Cottage in Aghabog Civil Parish, County Monaghan 

John’s travel entries are added here for reference.  On a whim “Irish” John traveled to Ireland after meeting friends who had just come from a funeral.  His friends were all leaving for Ireland.  One of these travelers was Peter Smyth from Madison, Wisconsin, who formerly lived in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin.  Peter became John’s travel companion.  No doubt John considered traveling to Ireland previously, and here was his perfect opportunity.  Fifty eight years passed since John last saw Ireland, and he had cousins overseas whom he had never met. 

On July 4, 1908, John and Peter disembarked ship and spent a day in Dublin.  We assume they traveled to Ballybay by train, since train travel was the fastest mode of transportation in the early part of the 20^th century.  Once in Ballybay they probably rented a horse and buggy and continued traveling in rural Monaghan.    

“Irish” John’s Journal Entries 

Page 10: 

“July 7  250 / & Freight, 160 ft base.  Wellington  …   Miss Elizabeth Smi..    John (Smyth) & myself landed in Balabay.  Wednesday July 8. 1908 at 18:30 oclock in fore noon.   Peter F Smyth       From Ballabay we went to Monagan roads got there at 5 oclock.  From there we went to John Smith.” 

The 1911 Monaghan census shows 41 entries for ‘John Smyth’ and 25 entries for ‘John Smith’.  Many names were eliminated because they were too young (under 20 years of age) or they lived outside a 5 mile radius of Urcher Townland.  Why Urcher?  Because we know this was John’s next travel stop after visiting the Smiths.  Two names were left after this elimination process.  The first census shown below is who we think John stayed with.  This ‘John Smyth’ family lived in East Rossnaglogh Townland, a Townland about 125 Irish acres in size.  East Rossnaglogh is where “Irish” John Smith was born and where his parents lived.  Old Irish land records show ‘John Smith” or “John Smyth’ has leased land in this area for many, many years.  We suspect the elder ‘John Smyth’ was still living when “Irish” John visited this family in 1908.

However, it is possible “Irish” John stayed with the family shown below instead.  This ‘John Smith’ family lived in Faltagh Townland, which is adjacent to and south of East Rossnaglogh Townland.  Faltagh, which is 231 Irish acres, was also home to other Smyth families related to our own.   However, we consider this only an outside possibility.  Most likely “Irish” John stayed with the family listed above.

Irish John’s next journal entry was dated July 9.   

“Left Smith for Terry Greenan.  Got there at noon.  Stayed there all that day night.“ 

There was only one Terry Greenan family living in Urcher Townland at this time and the record appears below.  Urcher Townland is approximately 2 ½ miles ENE of East Rossnaglogh Townland, and contains 163 Irish acres.

Page 11: 

July 10   

“Left Terrance Greenans to go to John Greenan.  Got to John at 8 oclock.  In the afternoon we went to Terrecorbit chapel and cemetery.   Carne Falg and stayed all night at Johns”. 

Fortunately there are fewer ‘Greenan’ entries than ‘Smith’ entries, and it took less time to find the right census record.  There was one ‘John Greenan’ living in Urcher Townland, and he lived with his brother and sister.  However, John writes that he went back to Urcher after his visit with ‘John Greenan’.  Therefore, we logically assume he left Urcher Townland.  The following census record shows the other Greenan family living in Urcher Townland, and “Irish” John probably met these people too.

John wrote he went to the ‘Terrecorbit chapel and cemetery’ while visiting John Greenan.  Terrycorbet is more commonly called Tullycorbet.  The following ‘John Greenan’ lived in Tullycorbet and we believe this is the family “Irish” John visited in Ireland.

Tullycorbet Chapel and Parish

Tullycorbet, also known as Terrycorbet, means ‘The Hill of Chariot’ and was named after the steep hill at Terrygeely.  Terrygeely hill is located a short distance north from where the Roman Catholic chapel stands.  Legend says St. Patrick’s chariot broke down on this hill during his travel through the Kingdom of Oriel, from Armagh through Donagh to Aghabog.  Aghabog Civil Parish is where the Smith and McPhillips families lived in Ireland.  The first church on this site was called ‘St Patrick Church’ and is mentioned in documents dated 1415 and 1591.  During the ‘Ulster Plantation’ St. Patrick’s church was confiscated by the Established Church (Anglican) and Catholics depended on traveling monks for Mass.  Many Mass Rocks exist in County Monaghan where Mass was conducted during those turbulent times.

Today Catholics in Tullycorbet are served by ‘Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary’ church, which was built in 1794 and renovated in 1897.  This church is where “Irish” John Smith heard Mass. 

July 11  (no entries) 

July 13^th 1908 

“Went Back to Urcher to say goodby.” 

John left John Greenan and headed toward Terry Greenan’s home.  He may have stayed the night with Terry; however, it is likely he only stopped by to say goodbye. 

                         View of Present Day Aghabog Civil Parish, County Monaghan

Page 12: 

July 14^th

“Went to see my Cousin E. Greenen in Mill town.  Found them all well.”   

Milltown Townland in Ematris Civil Parish is about 4 miles southwest of Urcher Townland.  Milltown Townland is 191 Irish acres.  The following census record shows who was living in the Edward Greenan residence. 

July 15^th 1908

“Left my Cousins Smiths for Dundalk to see McPhillips.” 

No first name is given for McPhillips; however, this will be discussed later.   This last line suggests “Irish” John visited Edward Greenan but stayed overnight at the Smith home.  By the way, Milltown Townland is only a couple miles southeast of East Rossnaglogh Townland.

July 16^th 1908

“Went to see my cousins Peter Greenen . In Black Rocks.  Found them all well it was very rainy.”

This is the correct census record for the Peter Greenan family.  Peter was still living when “Irish” John visited him in 1908; however, he died soon after.  His wife, Ellen, was pregnant when Peter died.  Our Irish cousin, Joe Napier, has written extensively about this branch of the Greenan family and his Greenan family history appears elsewhere on our website.

Page 13:  

July 17^th 1908   

July 30 1908 

“Ardee Louth Co Irland morning fine.  Saw Mr McPhillips Found Him well and in good Health”

We purposely left our McPhillips research for last.  “Irish” John Smith mentioned seeing McPhillips twice – first when departing Ireland and next after he arrives back from Scotland.  Did he visit two different McPhillips families in County Louth?  The following shows all McPhillips’ census entries for County Louth.  Please note there are only 9 McPhillips families listed in these records. 

                                     Near Ardee in County Leith, Ireland 

Most McPhillips cited in these records were born in County Louth.  However, three census records show ‘Monaghan’ as a birthplace for at least one McPhillips entry.  Their records follow. 

(1)  The following three McPhillips’ siblings lived in Dundalk on Vincent Street.  The census says they were all born in County Monaghan.  Francis was a Railroad Engine driver and James was an unemployed carpenter.    

(2)  Another possibility is the following family.  James McPhillips was born in County Monaghan.  His wife, Ellen, was born in County Armagh, and their children were born in Belfast.  James worked as a hotel porter.  This McPhillips family lived in rural Dundalk 

(3)  The following McPhillips census is an outside possibility.   Daniel McPhillips was born in County Cavan and his wife was born in County Monaghan.  This family appears to have lived in County Cavan before moving to Dundalk.  The McPhillips are living with a Taggart family who originally hail from County Monaghan. 

Traveling with “Irish” John Smith in County Monaghan 

We have mentioned a lot of place names which may not be familiar to you.  The following map indicates John’s travel pattern through County Monaghan.   

“Irish” John’s travel time would have been long.  In today’s world it would take us only a few minutes to get from one location to the next.  Not so via horse and buggy, and certainly not if you were forced to walk from one location to another. You may find the following map helpful.

1  -- Ballybay

2  -- East Rossnaglogh Townland where ‘John Smyth’ family lived. 

3  -- Urcher Townland where Terry Greenan’s family lived.

4  -- Terrycorbet (Tullycorbet) where John Greenan’s family lived.

5. – Milltown where Edward Greenan’s family lived. 

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September 2009