Graveyard Inscriptions in Killeevan
County Monaghan Genealogy
How appropriate during the Halloween season that I write something about cemeteries in County Monaghan. Our Smyth and McPhillips ancestors lived in Aghabog Parish and you have read about the gravestone inscriptions for Aghabog Catholic Church previously. However, the Aghabog Church was not built until 1812. There was an old mass rock in Latnamard used by Catholics during the Penal Law era. Where did they bury their dead before 1812? Very likely these Catholics buried their dead in the existing churchyards found in Killeevan, Edergole and Kilmore. Are these old churchyards haunted? Who knows?
The parishes of Aghabog, Currin, Ematris and Killeevan were created about 1800 from the medieval parish of Galloon. Parts of Galloon included churches in Killeevan and Edergole. Edergole is found Ematris Civil Parish and just south of Aghabog. The old churches no longer stand; however, the cemeteries still exist although neglected. Catholic chapels were built at Scotshouse (Currin) in 1790, at Latnamard (Aghabog) in 1812, at Shanco (Killeevan) in 1818. From that time onward the old Killeevan grave site was gradually abandoned for the new church sites.
The following lists only surnames connected to our own family in some way. Obviously more gravestones exist in the following old Killeevan cemeteries. Are any of these people connected to our own family? Perhaps, but who knows?
Abbreviations: d. = departed this life’ or’ died’: m. = in memory of; By Erected by’.
ST LIVINUS’ ROMAN CATHOLIC GRAVEYARD, KILLEEVAN
The graveyard is divided into three main sections by two paths which lead from the entrance gate to the church. As one looks from the gate, section A. is to the left, section B. is in the middle and section C. is to the right.
Section A
1. Annie McCarvill, Corkeeran, d. 9 Oct. 1931 a. 86.
2. Smyth, Corkeeran.
3. Patrick McCarville d. 27 Dec. 1913; Ellen McCarville d. 27 Jan. 1906; Philip McCarville d. 4 April 1909; John McCarville d. 12 April 1920.
4. By Edward Duffy m. his father Hugh, Annagoes, d. 8 March 1836 a. 91.
5. ‘Underneath this tomb lie the mortal remains of James Goodwin of Cormoy who departed this life Dec. 25th 1818 aged 65. Placed here by his son Patrick.’
6. By Patrick Carvill, Newbliss, m. his Uncle William Carvill d. 23 Aug. 1857 a. 80.
7. By Pat Smyth m. his wife d. 8 Aug. 1889 a. 80.
8. By Patrick Kieran, Monaghan, m. his father Andrew d. July 1867; his mother Bridget d. Nov. 1875; his brother John d. Aug 1885; his mother Bridget Kieran d. March 1897.
9. McCarville, Shanco.
10. Ellen McPhillips, Tyredigan, d. 15 Aug. 1904.
11. By James McPhillips, Annagoes, m. his father Henry d. 16 March 1830 a. 82; his brother Patrick d. 28 Nov. 1853 a. 56.
12. James McPhillips, Tyredigan, d. 11 July 1974; his parents John and Mary; by his wife and family.
13. By Francis Greenan m. his father Philip, Glasdrummond d. 6 March 1819 a. 68.
14. Patrick McCarville, Coghan, d. 9 Jan. 1952; his wife Mary Ann d. 4 Oct. 1980; their daughter Sarah a. 11 months.
15. By John Duffy m. his brother Thomas d. 3 Dec. 1831 a. 18.
Section B
1. McPhillips.
2. James Duffy, Drumcaw, d. 8 April 1926; his wife Catherine d. 23 1960.
3. Mary Duffy, Annagoes, d. 23 July 1926 a. 50; her husband Joseph d. 30 Sept. 1933 a. 80; their son Michael d. 23 Feb. 1935 a. 32; Rose Duffy d. 3 April 1918 a. 70.
4. Mary Duffy, Annagoes, d. 9 March 1903; her sister Elizabeth d. 1898.
5. James Duffy, Killeevan, d. 13 Aug. 1926 a. 85; his wife Mary d. 27 Dec. 1919 a. 68; their children James and Mary who d. young.
6 Duffy.
7. Hugh Duffy, Newbliss, d. 23 June 1903; his wife Julia d. 8 July 1911; their children Minnie d. 25 Sept 1892, Patrick d. 2 June 1912, Hugh d. 23 May 1918.
8. Margaret McCarvill d. 13 July 1905 a. 65; her husband Terence d. 31 Aug. 1911 a. 74; their daughter-in-law Mary Ann d. 28 Nov. 1929 a. 67.
9. Felix Keirans, Glynch House, Newbliss, d. 24 May 1932; his wife Catherine d. 14 Aug. 1940; their sons Vincent D. MA., LL.D., d. 7 Nov. 1953, Valentine
P., Coolshannagh, Monaghan d. 10 March 1955, Gerald Michael d. 31 Aug. 1967, James d. 16 Nov. 1971; John Gallagher, son-in-law, d. 7 July 1972.
Section C
1. Philip Greenan NT.,
Glassdrummond, d. 4 Feb. 1952; also his wife.
2. John Smyth d. 2 May 1928 a. 80; his nephew Owen Smyth d. 3 April
1930 a. 42, late of Crossbane; his brother John d. 21 May 1963; Bridget
d. 28 March 1970.
3. McCarville.
4. John McPhillips d. 7 July 1968.
5. By Patrick McCarvel, Crossreagh, m. his mother Anne McCarvel d. 6 Oct. 1890 a. 75; his father Thomas d. 2 Jan. 1892 a. 74.
6. Bernard Duffy, Drumswords, d. 1861 a. 50; his wife Rose d. 1848 a. 38; their daughter Mary d. 1862 a. 19.
7. Tom Smyth. Crossbane. d. 24 Oct. 1927 a, 100; his wife Catherine, d. 1 April 1910 a. 70; their daughter Mary Ann d. 30 July 1956 a. 78; their son Patrick d. 8 April 1954 a. 84; son Thomas d. 7 Oct. 1961 a. 87; Erected by their son Thomas,
8. By Michael Duffy. Annagoes, m. his father Michael d. 19 Aug. 1819 a. 73
9. Michael Duffy, Annagoes, d. 24 Feb. 1890: his sister Ellen d. 1895
10. Patrick Smyth, Lisnagore, d. 4 Aug. 1960 a. 81; his wife Kate d. 24 Jan. 1965 a. 78.
11. Dan McPhillips, Shanco, d. 29 April 1933; his wife Sarah d. 20 Oct. 1932; his daughter Minnie d. April 1909; their grand-children Eita d. 15 Feb. 1937a. 2 yrs 10 months, Nora d. 10 Dec. 1941 a. l0yrs 6 months; their son Edward d. 25 Feb. 1960 a. 68.
12. Greenan.
(At back of church.)
1. Tom McPhillips.
KILLEEVAN
The lettered stones are of one or other of three types:—
A. Upright with variable top line;
B. Circular head with coffin, hour-glass, skull etc. on back;
C. Horizontal, frequently with arms.
In most cases the type of stone is indicated.
A. Terence Coyle m. his son Thomas d. 27 November 1787 a. 21.
(Undressed stone with primitive lettering.) Here lieth the body of Maurice / Coile --- 1770 a. 60
A. By Owen Coyle of Newbliss m. his wife Mary Coyle otherwise Maguire d. 6 May 1803 a. 32. Also his son Thomas d. 20 January 1803 a. 6.
Creighton:
Duffy:
A. By Edward Duffy m. son Patrick d. 26 March 1790 a. 16.
Filips:
B. Elnor Filips d. 10 May 1743 a. 2. (Among McPhillips stones.)-
Greenan:
B. John Grenan d. 7 August 1753 a. 70.
Gun:.
McPhillips:
A. John McPhillips d. 5 July 1743 a. 38. By Cormick McPhillips brother of said John
C. By Charles McPhillips m. his son John d. 1771 a. 17 and Patrick McPhillips.
A. By Felix McPhillips m. his son James d. 4 Feb. 1792 a. 33. (See Elnor Filips buried nearby.)
Smith:
A. Patrick Smith d. 25 Feb. 1783 a. 66.
A. By Thomas Smith m. his father John Smith d. 14 April 1748 a. 70. His daughter Margaret d. 8 June 1767 a. 19.
B. Patrick Smith d. 17 March 1744 a. 26.
A. By John and Patrick Smith m. Catherine daughter to Patrick Smith d. 1787 a. 3.
C. By Owen Smith m. his father John d. August ---- - -
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The graveyard in Killeevan is sometimes known as the ‘Abbey of Killeevan’. One interesting point is that many names found buried there can be also seen in the Hearth money Rolls of 1663-65. The Hearth money Rolls is considered a census substitute and can also be found on our website. Below are examples of headstones found in this old graveyard.
The following examples show other headstones found in various County Monaghan cemeteries. Tombstones changed significantly after thousands of English and Scottish settlers descended upon Ulster after Cromwell’s march through Ireland. The Scot and English settlers brought with them their practice of erecting inscribed gravestones with highly decorated carvings.
Graveyards at Killeevan and Edergole are noteworthy for its collection of eighteenth century memorials. They are round with cross-like projections at the top and sides. The inscriptions on one face are mainly of late eighteenth century date. On the other side is a large skull-and-crossbones surrounded by the symbols of mortality. Such symbols include skull and crossed bones (means death), hourglass (means time has run out), coffin (means death) and bell (symbolizes church bell or religion). Another popular motif was the carved angel’s head.
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October 2007