The Tipperary Antiquarian: Hearth Money Rolls

In the Hearth Money Rolls 1665

The following names were recorded in Garraun / Rossfinch townland (Garrane / Garran & Rosfonchen).

John	House
John	Joanes
Dermott	Fyne
Bartho.	Roppingale
Wm.	McMorrrish
Robert	McMorrish
Owen	McConnelly

In the 1666-67 return the following were noted.

Ineligible
Barth.	O'Riplegate
Donnogh	Hyne
Thomas	Spaldon
Owen	O'Connor
Ellen	Roe
John	Howse
George	Wincencroft
Rory	McGrath
Mary	Ny Rory

Generally the first name in a townland seems to be the most important landowner. At least that is my impression.

So in the 1665 return that is John House / Howse. He is further down the list in the 2nd return. In the 1666-67 return the main landowner is “Illegible”, they have 2 hearths. If we compare the two lists we can see who the illegible name wasn’t but can’t really be sure who it was. Possible John Jones as he is 2nd in the 1665 list but isn’t included in the 1666-7 list but it is impossible to be sure.

These townlands seem to have had a had a good few changes. Names that appear to be of English origin and therefore likely recent settlers included the above mentioned Howse, Jones, Ripplingale, Spalden and Wincencroft.

Ripplingale seems to be the most likely modern spelling for Roppingale / O’Riplegate. It is interesting that Riplegate has a O’ attached to it and must surely be an error in transcription.

Thomas Spalden is interesting. There is also a Thomas Spalden included the return for Rossagule. That doesn’t sound that unusual but so far in my research this is the only instance of the same person being due tax in two different townlands.

The Gaelic surnames in the townland include Hynes, O’Connor, Roe & McGrath. Owen O’Connor is surprisingly one of the few O’Connor surnames recorded in the HMRs for the area, we have a number of McConnors etc. There are also Mc surnames, likely to be descendants of someone else rather than surnames in their own right eg William McMorrish might actually be William Son of Morrish Ryan. There are also two females recorded in the townland; Ellen Roe unusually seems to be a stand alone without a Ny or Ne attached to the surname.

We also have Mary Ny Rory. This seems confusing at first, however the record above her is Rory McGrath so I think she may be Mary daughter or wife of Rory McGrath.

There is the 1766 census available for the general area but unless someone has a very distinct surname it is nearly impossible to make any kind of connection.

https://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/tipperary/census/1766-rel-cens/newport.htm

There is an Owen Hines in the Census.

No variants of Ripplingate, Spalden, Jones, Wincencroft.

The next available "Census" for the area is the Tithe Appointment Books 1827

I’m not sure of the Garraun part, whether it is named differently or wasn’t recorded.

Rossfinch

https://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?surname=&firstname=&county=Tipperary&townland=Ross+Tinch&parish=Kilnarath&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=&pager.offset=0

No HMR names.

There is also an 1835 census available for the Parishes of Newport and Birdhill (transcribed by Hugh Sweeney of Newport Historical & Archaeological Society in Newport News) but Garraun / Rossfinch do not feature.

In the later Griffiths valuation (see picture), James McGrath is listed from the HMR.