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Is AEneas and Eneas the same name & is it feasible to work 2 pieces of land in close proximity?

ClareDoora (Clare)

My 3 x great grandparents were Eneas Heffernan [abt 1791 - 1872] & Mary McCormick [to date unknown]. I am just beginning my research into my Heffernan line using notes provided by a previous researcher and am aware some of the entries are incorrect.

I have just located theIreland, Griffiths Valuation, 1847-1864 for Clare, Bunratty, Upper Doora and located 2 people of the same name in the same year of 1855. One is for the townland of Gaurus and the other Cloonawee. It is said Eneas died in Cloonawee but no idea where his or Mary's remains may be interred. I see from a map these 2 townlands are very close together which leads me to wonder if:

  • Eneas and Aeneas are one and the same, and
  • Would it bepossible to rent and work both pieces of land?

I say close together as here in Australia the distances would be considered close however I don't know if this assumption works in Ireland?

I have not as yet located a birth/baptism record for Eneas nor any information on Mary McCormick other than they couple were Catholic.

Any assistance will be most welcome.

mxmar0

3 replies

The 2 names are the same, just slightly different spelling variations.

People did rent more than 1 piece of land in different townlands. That was quite common. However where it happened, there’s often a note in Griffiths recording the townland where they lived.  So for, example, if the person lived in Gaurus but also had land in Cloonawee, the Cloonawee entry would often have (Gaurus) in brackets beside it. Also, the second house would usually be sublet. A farmer might need 2 plots of land but he didn’t normally require 2 farmhouses, so usually the spare one was sublet.  In this particular case there’s no townland name in brackets against either entry and no subletting of either farmhouse, and so I suspect these are 2 different people. Possibly related of course.

You can trace forward to see how long each property was occupied by the 2 Aeneases, and who succeeded them, using the revaluation records, in the Valuation Office in Dublin. Those records are not on-line yet but if you contact the Valuation office they may assist you. The records run through to the late 1920s.

http://www.valoff.ie/en/Archives_Genealogy_Public_Office/

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Elwyn,

Many thanks for the reply and I will contact the Valuation office to see if they can assist me...fingers crossed.

Marie

mxmar0

Hello! Eneas/Æneas/Aeneas/Enias Heffernan 1791-1872 and Mary McCormick 1795-1870 are also my ancestors. But i dont have a location on graves, would be wonderful to know! Im more local and can visit hopeully.

aaronscales1@i…

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