Hello Terry,
You had mentioned that Thomas Nash was recorded in Griffiths Valuation living in Askeaton. I accessed the Griffiths Valuation entry for Thomas Nash in Griffiths Valuation at the Ask About Ireland website, which gives further information that Thomas was living in "Muscle Lane," in the Clonreask section of Askeaton.
He leased a house but no land from an Immediate Lessor named William Hueson.
The absence of land in his lease indicates that Thomas was not a farmer, but was employed in a trade or a profession.
Griffiths Valuation for Askeaton was completed by the year 1852, which according to your information, is the year that Thomas and Margaret Meskill were married.
I did a Google Map and Google Street View search for the location of Muscle Lane in Askeaton, but didn't find it on the Google Map, or the Google Street View with an Image Capture in the year 2022.
However, with further research I found an Instagram entry of a ceremony in 2024 for the unveiling of a new "Mussel Lane," street sign in Askeaton. See: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9cnb8hMBci/
This indicates that the spelling "Muscle" Lane in Griffiths Valuation, was a misnomer by the Valuers who compiled Griffiths Valuation in Askeaton.
The Instagram entry explains that:
"Mussel Lane has had no marker denoting its presence in the middle of the town, despite its important location as part of Askeaton’s once rich fishing industry and maritime history, subjects now to be remembered and valued."
The Instagram account also explains that Mussel Lane is located on the corner of Brian Collins Bookmakers.
With this information I went back to the Google Street View and found that Mussel Lane is located between the Brian Collins Bookmakers and Kennedy's Lounge and Bar. You can access the Google Street View at: https://tinyurl.com/2b84vuas
Here is a closeup of the Mussel Lane sign from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=897852289053062&set=pcb.897852362386388
The Google Street View from 2022 calls Mussel Lane "Abbey View." See: https://tinyurl.com/4abk7w62
A link from the www.limerick.ie website shows a contemporary map of Askeaton and the location of Mussel Lane, heading north from Main Street and the West Square. Just south of Main Street and Mussel Lane is Desmond Castle. See the map at: https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/askeaton_lap_2009.pdf#:~:text=Mussel%20Lane%20is%20also%20likely,homes%20for%20the%20fishing%20community.
Terry, you may want to add Mussel Lane to your itinerary when you and your family go to Askeaton on April 11 of this year.
Another Google Street View of Abbey View, now Mussel Lane, shows there are still very old houses located along the right-hand side of the road, in back of which is a Bed and Breakfast. See this Google Street View from the year 2009: https://tinyurl.com/3v54b8b5
I don't know if that Bed and Breakfast is still open as of January 2026.
This next Google Street View, also from 2009, shows the houses along the Abbey View Road/Mussel Lane, appear to be abandoned: https://tinyurl.com/yb2khwuy
If a volunteer familiar with Askeaton is found through the Meet and Greet program, they will likely be aware of the 2024 ceremony for the installation of the Mussel Lane street sign on the side of the Brian Collins Bookmakers building.
I found an Ordnance Survey Map in color at the Tailte Éireann of Askeaton. The map is from the 1829 to 1841 time period. Muscle/Mussel Lane is not printed on the map. I inserted a black arrow on the map showing the location of "Muscle/Mussel Lane.”
"The Ordnance Survey Map shows that just north of Mussel Lane, across the River Deel, is the R.C. Chapel. This chapel was replaced by St Mary's Catholic Church, Chapel Road, according to information from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage/Buildings of Ireland website.
The Buildings of Ireland website explains that St. Mary's Catholic Church was constructed in 1851, "to replace an earlier church in Askeaton, which burnt down in 1847."
See the Buildings of Ireland link for more information about the architectural details of St. Mary's, and also a slide presentation of the interior and exterior of the church: https://tinyurl.com/mr2bwmrz
Going back to the Ordnance Survey Map of Askeaton, you'll see the location of two schools along what is present-day Main Street. The closest school to Mussel Lane on the map is labeled, "School Ho."
To the west along Main Street is the "National School." Thomas Charles Nash Jr., may have attended one of these schools before he and his family emigrated to the U.S. in 1862.
While searching Griffiths Valuation I also came across an Occupier named Michael Meskill, who leased a house and garden on William Street, Askeaton, from William Hueson. Thomas Nash also leased his house on Muscle Lane from William Hueson.
In addition, Griffiths Valuation also shows that Michael Meskill was the Immediate Lessor for a house on William Street leased by Thomas Dunn.
The Google Map at the following link shows that William Street is just 0.2 miles southwest of Abbey View, presently Mussel Lane: https://tinyurl.com/53nv9ntt
Here is a Google Street View of William Street looking south from Main Street: https://tinyurl.com/2kc5sd9k
Did you find Michael Meskill on William Street in Askeaton when you were searching Griffiths Valuation? He may have been related to Margaret Meskill Nash.
THE 1901 AND 1911 IRISH CENSUS RETURNS
Moving ahead in time I wanted to see if there were any families or individuals with the surnames Nash or Meskill living in Mussel Lane or Williams Street in Askeaton in the 1901 and 1911 Irish census returns. You can search the census returns at the National Archives of Ireland link at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/
In the search for the surname Nash in the 1901 and 1911 census returns, I also looked for the alternate spelling of the name, "Naish"
In the 1901 census I located 32 year old widow, Mary "Naish," and her six children.
The census transcription shows the Naishes were the "Residents of a house 40 in Mussel Lane (Askeaton West, Limerick)."
Mary's children are 12 year old Michael; 9 year old James; twins 8 year old Christopher and 8 year old John; 5 year old Joseph; and 3 year old Annie.
A person's age in the 1901 and 1911 census enumerations are not always accurate.
See the 1901 census transcription at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Limerick/Askeaton_West/Mussel_Lane/1511552/
Once the page downloads, make sure to check the box, "Show all information" to view the transcription.
A copy of the original 1901 census can be accessed at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001013781/
Mary Naish would not be in your ancestral line, but her deceased husband may have been. To find out what his first name was and what Mary's maiden nameswas, I looked for the civil registration birth records for thier twins, Christopher and John at the irishgenealogy.ie website.
I found the birth records for Christopher and John Naish.
The birth record for John shows he was born in Askeaton at 6 am on 10 December 1892. His father is Michael Naish, employed as a "Labourer." John's mother is Mary Naish, formerly Corbett.
Christopher Naish was born in Askeaton at 6:10 am. You can access their birth records for free at the irishgenealogy.ie link at:
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1892/02321/1869439.pdf
Their births are the last two recorded in the register at numbers 345 and 346.
I was hoping the birth records for John and Christopher recorded the street in Ashkeaton where they were born, but the birth records didn't.
I next found the death record of Mary's husband Michael, who died in Askeaton on 5 October 1899 at the age of 36. The cause of death was "phthisis," or what we know today as tuberculosis. The death record shows he had phthisis for 5 months
The street in Askeaton where he died is not recorded.
Michael Naish's death record is number 499 in the register at: https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1899/05776/4633263.pdf
Marriage records often record the street where a person was living at the time of marriage, and so I looked for the marriage of Michael Naish and Mary Corbet/Corbett at the irishgenealogy.ie website, and found it.
Michael and Mary were married in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Askeaton on February 7, 1897. At the time of marriage both were "of age," meaning 21 years old or older.
Michael's occupation was "Labourer." No occupation is recorded for Mary.
At the time of marriage both Michael and Mary were living on Mussel Lane, Askeaton.
The marriage record further shows that Michael's father was Patk (Patrick) Naish. Below Patrick's name is the addendum, ""Deceased," but the word Deceased is crossed through, meaning Patrick was alive at the time of marriage. Patrick's occupation was "Labourer."
Mary's father was also a "Laburer" named Michael Corbett, who was "Living."
The marriage record is faded in places, and so I couldn't make out the full name of the priest who married Michael and Mary. His first name was Joseph.
The witnesses to the marriage were Thomas Madigan and Bridget Madigan.
See number 43 in the marriage register at: https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/marriage_returns/marriages_1887/10798/5938049.pdf
I believe I found Mary Corbett's father, 60 year old Michael Corbett, mother Margaret, and four siblings in the 1901 census, showing the family were the "Residents of a house 39 in Mussel Lane (Askeaton West, Limerick)."
The 1901 census shows that Michael Corbett Sr., and two of his sons, 26 year old James and 24 year old Michael, were employed as "Fishermen."
See the census transcription at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Limerick/Askeaton_West/Mussel_Lane/1511551/
A copy of the original census can be accessed at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001013780/
The 1901 census also shows that 9 year old Mary Ann "Mescall" was living in the household of her grandmother, 68 year old widow, Catherine Shaughnessy. They are the "Residents of a house 33 in Mussel Lane (Askeaton West, Limerick)." See the census transcription at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Limerick/Askeaton_West/Mussel_Lane/1511545/
A copy of the original 1901 census for Mary Shaughnessy and Mary Ann Mescall can be accessed at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001013774/
I didn't find any Nashes/Naishes or Meskills/Mescalls living on William Street in Askeaton in the 1901 census.
By the 1911 census Mary Nash is recorded as a 38 year old widow, employed as a "Housekeeper."
Mary and her three children were the "Residents of a house 5 in Mussel Lane (Askeaton West, Limerick)."
Her oldest son, 21 year old Michael is employed as a "Fisherman." The twins, 16 year old John and 16 year old Christopher, are scholars, meaning students.
You can access the 1911 census transcription at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Limerick/Askeaton_West/Mussel_Lane/640260/
Once you check the box, "Show all information," the transcription reveals that Mary had been married for 13 years, and in that time had 6 children, with 3 children still living.
This means that Mary's children James, Joseph, and Annie, who were in the 1901 census, had died.
Earlier in the 1901 census you saw that 9 year old Mary Mescall was living in the household of her 68 year old grandmother, Catherine Shaughnessy, in Mussel Lane.
The 1911 census however, shows that a 12 year old Annie Meskill was living in the household of her grandmother, 78 year old widow, Catherine O'Shaughnessy. They are the "Residents of a house 4 in Mussel Lane (Askeaton West, Limerick)." The 1911 census shows that Catherine was a "House Keeper, and that her niece Annie was a "Scholar."
See the census transcription at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Limerick/Askeaton_West/Mussel_Lane/640259/
After clicking the box, "Show all information," you'll see that Catherine O'Shaughnessy had been married for 24 years and in that time had 10 children, with 7 children still living.
A copy of the original 1911 census can be accessed at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai002785561/
Terry, what the 1901 and 1911 census enumerations tell you is that there were still people named Nash and Meskill living in Mussel Lane, Askeaton, into the 20th century, long after your Thomas Nash and family had left for America in 1862.
If you connect with an Askeaton volunteer through the Meet and Greet program, ask them if they know of anyone named Nash and Meskill who may still be living in Askeaton, or one of the surrounding towns.
You can also stop by the Askeaton Post Office and ask the postmaster if there are any Nashes and Meskills living in the area.
The publican at Kennedy's Lounge and Bar, on the corner of Main Street and Mussel Lane, may be aware of anyone named Nash and Meskill still living in Askeaton or a surrounding towns.
With Best Wishes for a fantastic trip to Askeaton this coming April.
Dave Boylan
Sources
Ask About Ireland: Griffiths Valuation
Google Maps
Google Street Views
Instagram
Brian Collins Bookmakers
Kennedy's Lounge and Bar
Facebook
www.limerick.ie
Tailte Eireann: Ordnance Survey Map of Askeaton
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage/Buildings of Ireland
National Archives of Ireland: 1901 and 1911 Irish Census Returns
irishgenealogy.ie
