Early Flemings from Drumwood, starting with John Fleming (b. ~1712)
Here is my latest research on the early Flemings from Drumwood, Solohead, Tipperary. Using every scrap of information, I could find online. I hope I can prove my theory one day.
James Fleming line, 5th-great-grandparents(solid research)
James Fleming (b. ~1790), a labourer, married Mary Dwyer (b. ~1790) on the 25th February 1811 in Cappawhite. Witnesses: Martin Dwyer and Thomas Dwyer.
Five children baptisms found:
- 19th February 1812 Johanna Fleming. Drumwood, Solohead Parish.
- 26th June 1816 Mary Fleming. Drumwood, Solohead Parish.
- 8th June 1820 James Fleming. Solohead Parish.
- 2nd September 1823 James Fleming. Solohead Parish.
- 18th September 1826 Juliana Fleming. Solohead Parish.
The Tithe Applotment Books of 1829 showed James listed at lot 284 (later renumbered to 1), Upper Drumwood with 4 Irish acres (about 2.6 hectares) of 3rd (low) quality land. At lot 285 (later renumbered to 2), there was a "Widow Fleming", with also 4 Irish acres of 3rd quality land. The land looks to have been split into two. An aunt to James may live in lot 285 or at least a close family member.
On the 6th January 1846, a Mary Dywer from Drumwood got a 6-month loan of 3 pounds, paying back 3 shillings per week, with the occupation of domestic. This could mean James may have already died, and she has gone back to her maiden name. Johanna Hayes nee Fleming and Johanna Fleming were living on the land in July 1848. James could have died in the Great Famine or as early as 1826 around when Juliana was born. Having one sponsor for Juliana could signify the family was having trouble. Mary and James were likely young enough to have more children which signal an early death.Unsure when Mary passed away. There is a lack of records for James and Mary, very little is known about them.
There are no records that have been found for what happened to the other siblings of Johanna Corbett (was Hayes) nee Fleming (my GGGG grandmother).
Early educated guesses, 6th-great-grandparents
James Fleming and Mary Dwyer have gaps between baptisms which suggest that there may still be some records that are missing so using naming rules may not work well.
James Fleming (b. ~1765) married Mary (or Johanna) (b. ~1765) likely about 1785 in Solohead. They had James in around 1790 and he likely had a sister Juliana, who would have been the oldest.
? Dwyer (b. ~1770) married Johanna (or Mary) (b. ~1770), likely about 1785 in Solohead. They had Mary in around 1790, and the other siblings could have been Margaret, Catherine, James, and Anna.
7th and 8th-great grandfather
An early probate index record shows the Fleming line has been in Drumwood since at least 1795. There was a William Fleming that died in 1795 from Drumwood. Over at the Oola Village Graveyard there is a gravestone that lists a William Fleming, age 28 that died on the 5th of May 1795. Four other family members listed; James, age 58, who died 7 days before; Hanah, age 18 died July the same year; John, age 28, died January 1791; and Patt who erected the gravestone. James was likely the father and William, Hanah and John were siblings.
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/search/dw/details.jsp?id=13875
https://historicgraves.com/oola-village/li-oovl-0096/grave
There are two Flemings listed in the Religious Census of 1766 from the right area - John and James. The original returns survive for the civil parish Sologhodmore and other civil parishes near it. The census lists the head of households, so not a lot of information. What we can learn is that John and James were likely not living in the same townland but both living somewhere in the Solohead Parish (church) and both are Catholic.
With similar names and in the same townland, it's highly likely that the Fleming families are related. It is possible that the family tree looked like this:
James Fleming (b. ~1737)
Whom had at least 5 children:
- ~1763 John Fleming
- ~1765 James? Fleming
- ~1767 William Fleming
- ~1776 Patt Fleming
- ~1777 Hanah Fleming
Going by naming rules and assuming no other missing children, Jamess (b. ~1737) father may have been John (b. ~1712), that would be my 8th-great grandfather.
There is a William Fleming (b. ~1796) in the land records at lot 2 which is right beside James Flemings (and later his daughter Johanna) land of lot 1. Williams father was Patrick from Drumwood, who could likely be the same person as Patt listed on the gravestone. Its possible that the two surviving oldest sons received the lease of the land and split it into two and handed it down to their children.
Patrick Fleming (b. ~1776) married Johanna English around ~1795.
Unsure how many children they had. Four baptisms have been found:
- ~1796 William Fleming
- 19th June 1810 Bridget Fleming. Drumwood, Solohead Parish.
- 9th April 1815 Patrick Flemming. Drumwood, Solohead Parish.
- 18th July 1817 John Fleming. Solohead Parish.
- 19th July 1819 Ellena Fleming. Solohead Parish.
There was a tax on how many hearths or fireplaces a house had and the tenants had to pay which was recorded in the Hearth Money Rolls. No Flemings are listed in a census substitute, the Tipperary Hearth Money Rolls of 1665/6 and 1666/7, so the Flemings settled in the lands of Solloghodmore after 1666.