The following comprises research I had performed for me by Breeda Griffice of the Irish Ancestral Research Foundation.  She did an excellent job of finding the Grahams in Tipperary.  Along with her report are lists of baptisms and weddings in the Graham family going back to the 1600s.  This information is available on request. It is too voluminous to be included.
 
 

Mr. Michael H. Donohue,
Dononue Rajkowski Ltd.,
Attorneys at Law,
11 Seventh Avenue North,
PO Box 1433
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56302
U.S.A.

May 17, 1991

Dear Mr. Donohue,

Enclosed please find results of research of the Graham family.  I have located the baptisms of all ten children as well as the marriage of their parents in the parish registers of Killenaule and Moyglass, Cashel and Emly diocese, Co. Tipperary South Riding.  Full details are given in the report.

Killenaule registers begin in 1742, which is early by Irish standards.  My research has gone back as far as 1801.  Entries prior to 1801 are extremely difficult and hence very time consuming to read.  Many of the early entries are not as informative as those in later years.  Also, I suspect that quite a few gaps exist in the early registers.  Because of this it might not be possible to establish a conclusive link to any earlier branch of Graham or Kelly families.  However, if you wish to continue the research to an earlier period I will do so.

Yours sincerely,

Breeda Griffin

RESEARCH REPORT: GRAHAM
The Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns of Ireland, 1901, National Library of Ireland, was first researched.  It gives the following details with regard to St. Johnstown: Area, Acres 818 Roods 1 Perches 21; Co. Tipperary South Riding; Barony, Middlethird; County District, Cashel; District Electoral Division, Cooleagh 45.   Baronies, of which there were approximately 273 in Ireland, represented divisions of great antiquity based on Gaelic clan and family holdings.  Enclosed with the report is a copy of a map taken from Atlas of Ireland, Samuel Lewis, first published in 1837.  This shows the location of Middlethird barony, amongst others.  Reference was subsequently made to the Index of Surnames of Householders, Co, Tipperary South Riding in order to identify the appropriate parish registers to research.  From this it was discovered that the parish registers of relevance to St. Johnstown are those of Killenaule parish in the diocese of Cashel and Emly.  The National Library microfilm parish registers index was then checked in order to determine the commencement dates and years covered by Killenaule parish registers.  It gives the following information:

RESEARCH DATA:
Killenaule:
  Baptisms December 25, 1742 - January 6, 1802
Killenaule & Moyglass:
  Baptisms January 2, 1814 - August 10, 1827
  Marriages  August 20, 1812 - September 19, 1827
  Baptisms  August 10, 1827 - February 29, 1852
  Marriages October 14, 1827 - November 29, 1851
  Baptisms March 1, 1852 - December 28, 1880
  Marriages February 1, 1852 - November 25, 1880

All Graham and Kelly marriages were first researched from 1816 - 1838 inclusive.  Patrick Graham married Bridget Kelly in 1822, August 12.  The ceremoney was performed by the parish priest, Rev. Lau.  Bourke.  Witnesses to the wedding were John Graham, John Kelly, Walter Maxcey.  Their residence was listed as Curraghtarsna.  From Kelly baptisms listed, you will note that 'Curraghtarsna' (and variant spellings) was home to quite a number of 'Kelly' families.  All Graham and Kelly marriages within the research period are listed on pp 14 - 16 of the report.

Baptismal entries between 1823 - 1850 were subsequently researched, any Graham / Kelly entry was noted.  Killenaule registers contain details of all ten baptisms of the children of Patrick Graham & Bridget Kelly between 1824 - 1844.  These are as follows:

1824, baptised May 14, John Graham,
Sp. Thomas Breen, Catherine Maher.

1826, bapt. May 22, Thomas Graham,
Sp. John Corcoran, Catherine Doheny.

1828, bapt. June 20, William Graham,
Sp. Thomas Graham, Ellen Kelly

1831, bapt. February 25, Margaret Graham,
Sp. Joseph Graham (?), Catherine Kelly.

1832, bapt. December 9, Arthur Graham,
Sp. Edmond Graham, Catherine Graham.

1834, bapt. December 16, Pat Graham,
Sp. Judy Kelly.

1836, bapt. November 5, Edward Graham,
Sp. Pierce Graham, Jude Kelly.

1839, bapt. July 20, Ally Graham,
Sp. William Graham, ?

1842, bapt July 5, James* Graham,
Sp. Edmund Graham, Judith Graham.

1844, bapt. December 29, Michael* Graham,
Sp. John Graham, Margaret Kelly.

I have placed a * beside two entries about which I wish to make the following comments.  In the 1842 baptism, the christian name entered in the registers is actually 'Thomas' not James.  However, there was already a baptismal entry for Thomas in 1826 therefore, since all other children's baptisms have been found, by a process of elimination this must be the entry for James.  The second discrepancy, which I also believe to be a mistake in the registers concerns the mother's christian name which is entered in the 1844 baptism as 'Margaret' Kelly.  This could have arisen from confusion with one of the sponsor's names, who happened to be Margaret Kelly.

All Graham and Kelly baptisms within the research period are outlined on pp 5 - 13.  In the first baptismal entry, Patrick Graham and Bridget Kelly's address is listed as 'Curraghtarsna' which is the same as that on their marriage entry, 'St. Johnstown' is listed in the second baptism, 'Bawntaforah' in the following four baptism, and in the final three baptisms 'Kilkennybeg' is the townland given.  Throughout the report you will note variant spellings of the same townland eg. Bawnthafora / Bawntafora / Bantaforah.  Also there are variant spellings of the same surnames such as Cuddihy / Quiddihy.  These variations appear in entries throughout the registers.  I have placed a question mark beside certain names to indicate those which were either difficult to read or illegible.

All marriages from 1846 - 1852 inclusive were subsequently researched for a record of Margaret Graham's marriage to Kieran Loonam.  No record of their marriage appeared within the these years.  As ususal all Graham / Kelly marriages within the period were noted and are listed on pp. 14.

There is a gap in Killenaule baptismal registers from January 6, 1802 - January 2, 1814.  Hence, if Patrick Graham was baptised in 1806, it would not be possible to obtain a record of his baptism since no records exist for the period.  However, since he married in 1822, I suspect that he was born earlier than 1806.  I checked all baptisms from January 1802 - 1801 inclusive.  Baptisms prior to 1802 are very difficult to read.  A baptismal entry for Bridget Kelly was found in 1801, October 10 (?).  Her father was John Kelly, no further details were given.  Unfortunately, because of the gap in the registers it is not possible to affirm or, indeed, dispute that this is the correct entry for Bridget Kelly.  However, it is very possible that it is.  It is also very likely that John Graham and John Kelly, who were two of the witnesses to the wedding of Parick Graham and Bridget Kelly, may have been the fathers of the bride and groom.  Since, if Patrick and Bridge had adhered to Irish custom in naming their children first born son, John, would have been named after Patrick's father.  The second born would be named after the mother's father, except of course where both the maternal and paternal grandfathers had the same christian name.  Therefore, if they followed Irish custom, Patrick Graham's parents were John and margaret Graham; Bridget Kelly's were John (Thomas?) and Ally Kelly.

Finally, two excerpts are included which have been taken from A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Samuel Lewis, which was written circa 1830's.  All details contained therein concerning St. Johnstown and Killenaule parishes are given on pp. 17.

P. 32 Johnstown (St.), or Scaddanstown, a parish in the barony of Middlethird, county of Tipperary, and province of Munster, 3 mile (S. by E.) from Killenaule, on the road to Fethard; containing 772 inhabitants.  It comprises 2223 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, consisting of good land under tillage and pasture, without waste or bog.  There are several quarries of excellent limestone.  St. Johnstown castle, consisting of a high square tower in good preservation is the property of James Millet Esq, who has a modern house in its immediate vicinity.  Lismortagh is the residence of John Millet, Esq; and Mortlestown Castle is also in this parish.  It is a rectory in the dicese of Cashel, forming part of the union of Killenaule; the vicarage is appropriate to the vicars choral of Cashel.  The tithes amount to £ 143, 6, 6 ½ , of which £ 110 is payable to the incumbent, and the remainder to the vicars choral.  About 40 children are educated in the parochial school, which is aided by £ 12 per annum from the incumbent; the school house and a residence for the master were built at the expense of the late Col. Pennefather.  There are also 3 private pay schools, in which about 170 children are educated.
P. 140 Killenaule: A small market and post-town, and a parish, in the barony of Slievardagh, Co. of Tipperary, and province of Munster, 5 3/4 miles (N.) From Fethard, and 84 (S.W.) from Dublin, on the road from Cashel to Callan; containing 3464 inhabitants, of which number, 1578 are in the town.  The parish comprises 6121 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and furnishes limestone, flagstone, potters clay, iron ore, and slate fit for making pencils.  Its large collieries are described in the article on the county.  A chief constabulary police force is stationed in the town, where there is a weekly market, and a sub-post-office to Littleton, and fairs are held on the first Thursday in May and October, and on Janaury 1st, March 25th, June 24th, and August 14th.  The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Cashel, united to the rectories and vicareges of Cooleagh, Magawry, Drangan, Isertkerin, and Barretsgrange, and the rectory of St. Johnstown, forming the union of Killenaule, in the patronage of the Archbishop; the rectory is appropriate to the Chancellorship of the cathedral of Christchurch, Dublin; the tithes amount to £ 300, of which £ 200 is payable to the chancellor, and L100 to the vicar; and the entire tithes of the benefice amount to £ 949.  The church is a small ancient building.  There are a glebe - house and five glebes in the union, comprising 47 a 21p.  In the R. c. Divisions this parish is the head of a union or district and has a chapel.  About 540 children are educated in 6 private schools; and there is a dispensary.  Here are the remains of Gralla and Graystone castles.

RECORDS / SOURCES CONSULTED
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND:
The Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns of Ireland, 1901, National Library of Ireland.
Index of Surnames of Householders, Co. Tipperary South Riding.
Microfilmed Parish Registers Index.
Killenaule & Moyglass Catholic Parish Registers, Cashell
Diocese, Co. Tipperary South Riding.
(Ref. P. 2494)
Baptisms  1823 - 1850
Marriages  1846 - 1852 October
Marriages       January 1816 - 1838
Baptisms  1802 - 1801
A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Vol. 2, Samuel Lewis; Kennikat Press, Port Washington, N.Y. / London. First published 1837, re-issued 1970. P. 32 & 140.Atlas of Ireland, Samuel Lewis; Kennikat Press, Port Washington, N.Y. / London.  First published 1837, re-issued 1970.
Atlas of Ireland, Samuel Lewis map goes here.

Mr. Michael H. Donohue,
Donohue Rajkowski Ltd.,
11 Seventh Avenue North,
PO Box 1433
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56302

October 13, 1991

Dear Mr. Donohue,

Enclosed please find results of further research on St. Johnstown parish registers.  My intention in this research was to research entries prior to 1801, and also to incorporate any years which were not covered by my previous research, e.g. marriages 1839 - 1845 and baptisms 1814 - 1823.  This would ensure reasonably comprehensive coverage of baptisms and marriages for the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century of all Graham/Kelly marriages and baptisms, including siblings of Patrick Graham/Bridget Kelly.
 

Periods covered by this research are: marriages 1839 - 1845 baptisms 1814 - 1817; also
Graham/Kelly baptisms, marriages and deaths within the period 1742 - 1762 and 1800 - 1798.  Also the Tithe Applotment books for St. Johnstown parish were researched, results are included in the report.  The results of this research in insolation are not that informative.  I suspect that its usefulness will only become apparent when taken as part of a composite whole.  For reasons outlined in the report, research of the period prior to 1801 is exceedingly time consuming.  The extent of research which I have done prior to 1801 alone has taken five hours, any additional research which is documented in the report is outside this time but is being included for the overall rate of five hours.

As you intend to visit Ireland, you should hopefully be able to develop more on both your Graham
and Kelly ancestors through a visit to the area.  The usual places people, who intend to visit, are advised to call to include the local library, post office, parish priest, graveyard, public house(s).  In addition to family history material, the library should have a current register of electors for the district (also available at local post offices) which lists the names and addresses of all people over the age of eighteen who are entitled to vote, thus informing you at a glance of the current whereabouts of Graham and Kelly families.  Also some of these might know of a local historian who would have a good knowledge of the backgrounds of local families.  If you intend to try to locate family graves, it is often advisable to get the help of a local person who would know the location of family plots.  Family headstones can include data, not recorded elsewhere, on earlier generations of a family.  Furthermore, the local public house(s) in each parish affords the means of meeting at least some of the local people who can sometimes provide interesting insights into family histories not obtainable from documentary sources.

Since writing this letter, I have had the pleasure of speaking to you by 'phone during which you
requested an assessment of additional research.  On the basis of this research, a realistic assessment of additional research time and costs would be:

The above years combined with the research documented in this and the previous report would
ensure fairly comprehensive research of Killenaule registers up to 1850.  However, as I said to you on the 'phone, I think it is preferable that you see the results of this research before deciding if you wish to proceed further.

Yours sincerely,

Breeda Griffin

RESEARCH REPORT
A note at the beginning of the registers states that "The register comprises a number of note books which had been roughly sewn together by an unknown hand in the year 1801."  Contrary to my expectations ST. Johnstown registers do not appear to contain any gaps during the research period.  The registers prior to 1801 record births, marriages and deaths on the same pages.  As anticipated, the early registers are not as informative as those roughly post 1801, in the main due to the fact that addresses are given in very few entries, which obviously reduces their value for cross-referencing, etc.  Also, the registers are difficult and hence tediously slow to read.  This is due in some cases to the faintness of the writing, in many cases because the entries are so closely packed on the pages, and in other cases because the verges of quite a few pages are smudged as well as the centres of some.  A '?' after a name signifies the closest approximation to an entry that was difficult to read, a '?' only indicates that the name was either obliterated or illegible.
In the period of the early registers up to about 1760, the name 'Graham' does not appear at all, I noted quite a few 'Grihan' entries, also some 'Greyhan' entries.  Consequently, I consulted the main books on Irish surnames.  Edward MacLysaght, in The Surnames of Ireland states as "(O) Grehan, Greaghan, O Greachain.  This name is mainly found in Connacht and the adjacent part of Westmeath.  It has a number of variant forms, e.g. Graham, Grayhan, and has even been corrupted to Grimes which, when it occurs in Tyrone, is for Gormley, not Grehan."  I then checked the name Graham itself about which Edward MacLysaght states "Graham, This Scottish name, very numerous in Ulster, is used as an anglicized form of two Irish surnames, viz. Gormely and Grehan."  Rev. Patrick Woulfe in Irish Names and Surnames lists many of the variants as follows, "O Greachain - O'Greghane, O' Greaghan, O' Grahin, O'Gryhen, O' Gryhme, O' Grame, Greaghan, Greahan, Grehan, Gregan, Greyhan, Grayhan, Greaham, Greham, Graham, Greame, Graeme, Grame, Greames, Grimes; 'descendant of Creachan' (diminutive of creach, blind), a variant of O Creachain owing to the softening of the initial C to G.  It is undoubtedly the name which has been corrupted to O Greidhm in Munster."

On the basis of the previous paragraph I think it is possible to conclude that 'Grihan' and 'Greyhan' entries in Killenauleregisters in the early part of the eighteenth century may be read as 'Graham'.  Combining the foregoing paragraph with the fact that the name was written as 'Grihan' in the early registers tends to suggest the possibility that your ancestors name could originally have been 'Grehan' and anglicized as 'Graham'.  This would further suggest that their name was not of British origin, but an anglicisation of the Irish name 'Grehan'.
As before, Kelly entries far outnumber those for Graham.  With regard to Graham/Grihan baptisms within the research period of the eighteenth century, the children of John Grihan and Honoria Cocoran are of interest.  The following three children have similar christian names to your own ancestors, William baptised 1754, Alicia (Alice) baptised 1756, John baptised 1761.  (It is very possible that this couple had further children baptised after 1862, which research to date does not cover.)  Closer inspection reveals further interesting similarities in sponsors' names.  For instance, the name Catherine Maher appears as sponsor to the baptism of Alice Grihan in 1756, a Catherine Maher also appears as sponsor to John Graham's baptism in 1824.  The name "Corcoran" itself appears as sponsor to Thomas Graham's baptism in 1826.  Unfortunately no townland name is given in any entry.
The Tithe Composition Applotment Books, St. Johnstown parish, Middlethird barony, Co. Tipperary were researched.  Tithes were taxes levied for the upkeep of the Church of Ireland, and were required from most rural landholders.  An Act of Parliament in the early part of the nineteenth century required that the tithe be paid in money rather than in kind (as had previously been the case), therefore a tithe applotment survey was carried out in each civil parish to determine the value of tithe payable by landholders.  This was the earliest surviving land survey of the nineteenth century, and owes its present significance to the fact that no census material survives for that period.  It lists the occupiers of titheable land, but is not a list of householders, since labourers, weavers, cottiers as well as purely urban dwellers were omitted.  Three Tithe Books exist for St. Johnstown, two dated 1829 and one for which no date is given.  Findings are outlined on pp. 12.

Finally, the index to Cashel and Emly testamentary wills were researched.  One Graham entry in 1829 was noted for Anna, Killenaule.  It would appear that the original will was destroyed in the 1922 fire in the Four Courts, and hence the index is all that remains.  Also the Index to Irish Wills, G. Thrift, vol. 3, Cashel and Emly, was researched without finding any entry of relevance.
 

Tithe Composition Applotment Books,

St. Johnstown Parish, Co. Tipperary. 1829
Johnstown townland:

John Graham, Plantation acres, Acres 46 Roods 3 Perches 29;
Statute Acres, Acres 76 Roods 3; Rate per Statute Acre £ 0-1-1;
Applotment £ 4-2-9 ½ .

Patt Graham, Plantation acres, Acres 57 Roods 2 Perches 26;
Statute Acres, Acres 93 Roods 1 Perches 25; Rate per Statute
Acre £ 0-0-11 ½ ; Applotment £ 4-7-7 ½ .

John Graham, Plantation acres, Acres 46 Roods 3 Perches 29;
Statute Acres, Acres 76 Roods 3; Class of land 3; Proportion
of Composition of Statute Acres 0-1-1¼;
Applotment of Composition £ 4-3-11.

Patt Graham, Plantation acres, Acres 57 Roods 2 Perches 26;
Statute Acres, Acres 93 Roods 1 Perches 25; Class of land 4;
Proportion of Composition of Statue Acres 0-0-11¼;
Applotment of Composition £ 4-9-3.

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND:
1800 Killenaule & Moyglass Catholic Parish Registers, Cashel Dioces, Co. Tipperary South Riding. (Ref. P. 2494)
Baptisms 1814 - 1817
Marriages 1839 - 1845
Baptisms 1742 - 1762
Baptisms - 1798
NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
Tithe Composition Applotment Books, St. Johnstown parish, Cashel dioces, Co. Tipperary. 3 books, 1829, 1829, and no date. Ref TAB 275 / 46.
Index to Irish Wills, G. Thrift, vol. 3, Cashel and Emly
KILLARNEY LIBRARY:
Irish Names and Surnames, Rev. Patrick Woulfe, M.H. Gill & Son Ltd., Dublin, 1923.
The Surnames of Ireland, Edward MacLysaght, Irish Academic Press, 1985.
More Irish Families, Edward MacLysaght, O'Gorman Ltd., Galway & Dublin, 1960.
Supplement to Irish Families, Edward MacLysaght, Helicon Ltd., Dublin, 1964.
Guide to Irish Surnames, Ida Grehan, Cassell & Collier Macmillan Publishers Ltd., London, 1973.

Mr. Michael H. Donohue
Donohue Rajkowski Ltd.
11 Seventh Avenue North
PO Box 1433
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56302

March 31, 1992

Dear Mr. Donohue:

Enclosed please find report on additional research performed on your behalf. All baptisms 1818 - 1823 have been researched.  Research has also been completed of all baptisms, marriages and deaths 1797 - 1773 inclusive; unfortunately, constraints of time precluded research of the period 1772 - 1763. Since at this stage documentary sources are almost completely researched, the only way of developing further insights into the early history of your ancestors would be through communicating with Graham/Kelly descendants living in the St. Johnstown catchment area.  Assuming that Patrick Graham and Bridget Kelly had brothers/sisters, they should feature as siblings in other peoples family trees which would give the vital link to an earlier generation.  This would render pre - 1801 research results considerably more valuable.
As always, if I can be of further help, please let me know.
 

Yours sincerely,
 

Breeda Griffin

RESEARCH REPORT

All baptisms between 1818 - 1823 April inclusive in Killenaule & Moyglass registers were first researched. All Graham and Kelly baptisms were checked including entries where only the mother's name is either of the former.  Graham and Kelly entries are presented separately, entries pertaining to the same family being grouped together.  Graham baptisms are on pages 3 and 4 of the report; baptism where only the mother's maiden name was Graham are listed on pages 4 and 5.  Similarly, Kelly baptisms are listed on pages 6 and 7, those entries where mother's name was Kelly are on pages 7 and 8.

Further research of all baptisms, marriages and deaths in the registers prior to 1801 has been completed as far as 1772.  While none of the entries in this period could be termed very easy to read, due mainly to either the print being faint or smudged, the following are particularly difficult:  June - December 1797, parts of 1782, 1776 & 1775.  In my last report I noted that the name "Graham" did not appear in any entry prior to 1801, the same is true of this research.  However, quite a number of entries for "Grymes" were noted within this research period which was not the case within any previous research.  Again, spellings of name and townlands vary, in most cases I list the version that appears in the registers.  Grymes entries are given on pages 15 and 16, those in which mother's name only is Grymes being listed on page 17.  All Kelly entries are on pages 9 to 12 inclusive, while pages 13 and 14 list entries where the Kelly descent is through the maternal line only.

While it is very probable that many of the Graham/Grymes and Kelly entries in the following pages are closely connected to your ancestors, the fact that neither the baptism of Patrick Graham nor of Bridget Kelly can be conclusively established from extant registers renders the common ancestral links elusive.  For example, a couple Edmund Grymes and Mary Headon (Hayden) had five children between 1773 - 1784, four of whom bear similar names to your own ancestors, i.e., Thomas (1773), Patrick (1775), Margaret (1781), Edmund (1784).  Also, since few pre - 1801 entries list an address, their informative value for cross - reference purposes is reduced.
At the end of this report, pages 18 to 26, I have given an Appendix listing miscellaneous pre - 1801 entries for Geynan, Geyton, Crihan(e).  Although I have consulted a number of guides to Irish surnames, I can find no listing of any of these.  Because of their phonetic similarity to Graham, I noted these in the course of research in the interests of comprehensiveness and am including them for the same reason.  Having said that, I am fairly dubious if indeed any of them are relevant.  Furthermore, few "Grihan" entries appeared in this research the name being mostly written as "Crihan(e)".  Because of this, I would question a conclusion which I drew in my previous report - namely that "Grihan" may be interpreted as a variant of this research period I think it is more likely a variant of "Crehan" which is a distinct surname.  In fact, the main conclusion which I have drawn from this research coupled with the lack of any definitive findings from miscellaneous guides to surnames is that "Grymes" is the only name which can reliably be regarded as a variant of "Graham".  Interpreting any others as potential variants, although they may be, shows too much propensity for spuriousness.

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