John Keas I (abt. 1777 - 1845)

Descendants

Died 8 Aug 1845 at about age 68 in Ballyveloge, Limerick, Ireland

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Biography

Sources

The earliest surviving information concerning the Keas family of Conigar and of Ballyveloge [House] in county Limerick appears to be contained in:

1. five deeds relating to the Conigar and Ballyveloge properties, four of which are quoted in full below:
   1. lease for lives of Ballyveloge from Hodder to Keas, dated 1 Jan 1819 and registered 13 Nov 1828;
   2. lease for 21 years of Conigar from Bishop Jebb to Keas, dated 25 Jul 1825 and which has not yet been located;
   3. lease for lives of Ballyveloge from Hodder to Keas, dated 8 Feb 1830 and registered 1 May 1830;
   4. assignment of Conigar from John Keas I to his son Edward Keas dated 10 Feb 1834 and registered 30 Jun 1834; and
   5. assignment of Ballyveloge from John Keas I to his son John Keas II dated 25 Jun 1834 and registered 12 Jul 1834.
2. the baptismal registers of the Catholic parish of Patrickswell - Ballybrown for 1828-1845;
3. Presentments made by the county Limerick Grand Jury in 1822 (pp 143-4), 1834, etc.; and
4. the minutes of a Vestry held at Kilkeedy Church (of Ireland) on 17 Dec 1832 and of the adjourned Vestry held there on 24 Dec 1832 (at which commissioners were appointed to certify the amount of Compositions of Tithes).^[1]

The townlands of Conigar and Ballyveloge are both on the boundary between the civil parishes of Mungret and Kilkeedy, Conigar on the Mungret side and Ballyveloge on the Kilkeedy side of the boundary.

There may be other relevant material in the Hodder estate papers. In the 1940s the Irish Tourist Association noted that their former residence in Hoddersfield was then the residence of B. Nicholson, who had bought the property from the Hodders, and that the Library and other Hodder materials remained intact at the house. Hoddersfield is now a roofless ruin and it is not clear what has become of the Hodder materials.^[2]

Spelling

The aforementioned signatures in the Kilkeedy Vestry minutes and the tombstone inscription on the family plot in Kilkeedy Cemetery are the earliest and only surviving primary evidence as to how John Keas I and John Keas II spelt their surname, namely Keas. Three of the four deeds recited below also use the spelling Keas. It appears, however, that the spelling changed over the years. The forms Keas, Kay (John O'Donovan), Keys (e.g. Griffith's Valuation and subsequent handwritten valuation books for Ballyveloge), Keyes, Keayes (e.g. baptismal sponsors for Dundon children in Mungret parish) and Keays (e.g. TAB for Cunnigar, newspaper obituary for John Keas I) seem to have been used interchangeably by other descendants.

"John Keas I" refers herein to the man who signed his name as "John Keas" to the minutes of the two vestry meetings and "John Keas II" refers to the man who signed his name as "John Keas Jnr." to the minutes of the first vestry meeting. These two men are almost certainly the "John Keas & Son" shown as the occupiers of 247a 3r 13 2/3p in the townland of Ballyveloge in the resulting Composition of Tithes. The area of the Keas holding in Ballyveloge is 145a 1r 20p (235a 0r 19p statute measure) in the 1819 deed; 153a Irish measure (247a 0r 33p statute measure) in the 1830 deed; and 256a statute measure in Griffith's Valuation.

John Keas II is almost certainly the father of the ten children born to John Keas and Catherine Dundon, and baptised in the Catholic parish of Patrickswell - Ballybrown between 1828 and 1845 (including John Keas III chr. 12 Feb 1830).

Birth

According to his tombstone, John Keas I was 68 years old when he died in 1845.

Religion

It is not clear why two men whose children/grandchildren were christened in the Catholic church should have attended a vestry meeting of the established church, although it may have been the case that large Catholic (tenant) farmers generally attended vestries associated with determining the Composition of Tithes. Various members of the Catholic Dundon family from Barnakyle and other nearby townlands also attended this vestry.

Life and landholdings

The Grand Jury Presentment Books in the Limerick County Library reveal that John Keas I was regularly appointed High Constable of the Barony of Pubblebrien between 1815 and at least 1837. In 1817, his address is given as Conigar and in 1822 it is given as Ballyveloge.

Prior to 1819, John Keas I lived in Conigar, presumably on the 86a 3r 3p of land which he later held from the Right Revd. Father in God John Lord Bishop of Limerick Ardfert and Aghadoe under a lease dated 25 Jul 1825 [still to be located].

There are three Keas (or variant) entries in the undated TABs for "Cunigar".

1. Kayes John Cunighan Mungret Limerick. 88 acres.^[3]
2. Keys John Cunigu Mungret Limerick "Mr John Keys" has 6 acres of potatoes and wheat and 4a 2r 28p of meadow.^[4]
3. Keays Edward Cunnigar Mungret Limerick 50a 2r 2p.^[5]

The earliest known lease of Ballyveloge from Hodder to Keas is dated 1 Jan 1819, when "John Keas of Conigar the liberties of Limerick" executed a deed leasing lands in Ballyveloge from William H. Moore Hodder, but John Keas I may not have switched his residence until a few years later.

On Friday 15 Mar 1822, the Grand Jury granted "to Mr John Keas, High Constable of said barony [Pubblebrien], being nine pence in the pound, for having paid the treasurer the amount of the public cess or levy on said barony, per treasurer's receipt, £ 21 14s. 2d." They also nominated and appointed "Mr John Keas to be High Constable and Collector of the Public Cess or Levy on said Barony". Securities were provided by "William Monsell, of Tervoe, and George Tuthill, of Faha, both in said county, Esqrs."

The Freemen of Limerick included "Keays, J., Mr. Cunnigar, S. Libs., 1421823," but "There is no mention of a J. Keays in the original Freeman Register so he must have been added to the Freeman List from the Book of Claims or an additional List which may have some other comment added."^[6]

John Keas I probably moved his residence to Ballyveloge shortly after his election as a Freeman on 14 Feb 1823 and before the marriage of his son Edward on 24 Nov 1824.

A new lease of Conigar from Bishop Jebb to John Keas for 21 years was dated 25 Jul 1825, by when Edward was married and John had probably moved his residence to Ballyveloge.

The earliest known lease of Ballyveloge from Hodder to Keas, dated 1 Jan 1819, was not registered until 13 Nov 1828.

A new lease of Ballyveloge from Hodder to Keas was dated 8 Feb 1830 and registered 1 May 1830. Four days after the new lease was signed, John Keas III was baptised. Eight days after that, the witnesses at the marriage in Patrickswell - Ballybrown parish on 20 Feb 1830 of William Hayes and Margaret Burns were listed in the register as John Keas Sen and Jnr.

The Second Annual Report Of The Commissioners For The Extension And Improvement Of Public Works In Ireland^[7] reports that under the United Sees of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe, John Keas in Cunnigar held 140a 2r 7.75p of profitable land at an annual rent of £ 193 17s on a lease of 21 years, of which 13.5 years remained unexpired on 29 Sep 1832 (obviously the lease of 25 Jul 1825 mentioned above). This acreage is in statute measure, as the deeds give the acreage in Irish measure as the very slightly smaller 86a 3r 3p (140a 0r 22p statute measure).

John Keas & Son were jointly assessed for Tithes on Ballyveloge on 24 Dec 1832.

John Keas is listed as a lessee or tenant of Cunnigar under the United Sees of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe in the first report of His Majesty's Commission on ecclesiastical revenue and patronage.^[8]

John Keas I assigned his interest in Conigar to his son Edward Keas on 10 Feb 1834 (registered 30 Jun 1834) and his interest in Ballyveloge to his son John Keas II on 25 Jun 1834 (registered 12 Jul 1834), by when John Keas I was late of Conigar and John Keas I and John Keas II were clearly occupying separate dwelling houses on the Ballyveloge property. John Keas Jr. of Ballyveloge and Edward Keas of Conigar each witnessed the assignment to the other.

On Friday, 11 Jul 1834, the list of "names of Cess Payers selected by the Grand Jury, agreeably to the above [which?] Act, to be associated with the Magistrates at the Road Sessions in their respective Baronies" included for Pubblebrien "John Kease [sic] Ballybelogue [sic]." This was the day before the deed transferring the interest of John Keas I in Ballyveloge to John Keas II was registered.

In the "Field Name Books of the County and City of Limerick with the Place-Names, English and Irish, as explained and fixed by John O'Donovan" (Ordnance Survey of Ireland, 1839-1840), Ballyvelogue is described as follows:

Situated in the East of the parish [Kilkeedy], and contains 354 statute acres. It is bounded on the West by a road. The property of Col. Hodder, Hoddersfield, Cove. Agent, Charles Lister, Esq., Cork. Let to 5 tenants on a lease of 5 years. Rent per acre from 40s. to 45s. Co. Cess per acre yearly from 2s. to 3s. Tithe per acre 20d. to 2s.6d. Size of farms, 4 acres to 150. Soil agrillaceous, producing wheat, oats, barley and potatoes. Prevailing Names: Kay and Fahy. Barnakile River waters this townland, and is supplied with trout and eel.

Until 1897 or later, the Keas family and some of their descendants continued to occupy this large farm in the townland of Ballyveloge. The main Keas house is marked on some O.S. maps as "Ballyveloge House". It is not named on the Ordnance Survey map formerly at http:/maps.osi.ie/publicviewer#V1,551938,651758,7,9

Jack Waldron in several places associates his greatgrandmother Mary Keas with Ballyveloge (various spellings). Various deeds in the Registry of Deeds, the Composition of Tithes (see above), Griffith's Valuation, and later records in the Valuation Office, Ely Place, Dublin, confirm that the Keas family held over 200 acres in Ballyveloge (the vast majority of the townland) throughout this period. John Keas also held 64a 3r 7p in Carrig in the Composition of Tithes and 66a 0r 37p in Carrig West in Griffith's Valuation but that land had reverted to the possession of Lord Clarina shortly afterwards, according to the Valuation Office records.

Death

The Limerick Chronicle of Wednesday 13 Aug 1845 reports the death "On Thursday night last [evidently the early hours of Friday morning from his tombstone inscription], at Ballyvalogue, in this county, Mr John Keays [sic], an honest and well disposed man".

Tombstone Inscription

Fragments of a broken tombstone in Kilkeedy Cemetery read

"Erected by [...] in memory of h[...]
Keas who dep life
August 8th 1845 aged 68 years
Also
John Keas Jun
died 4th of Dec 1878
aged 70 years
May he rest in peace Amen
KEANE" [sculptor].

The following is inscribed on the wall of the grave:

"Erected by Thos Smith in memory of his mother Ellen Smith wife of Joseph Smith of Breska."

Deeds

The following, in chronological order are memorials of four deeds relating to the Keas properties in Ballyveloge and Conigar transcribed at the Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1.

The later deeds refer to another lease of Conigar from the Right Revd. Father in God John [Jebb] Lord Bishop of Limerick Ardfert and Aghadoe to John Keas I dated 25 Jul 1825. John Jebb was born in 1775, was consecrated on 12 Jan 1823 and died on 9 Dec 1833 and his statue stands in St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick. The Representative Church Body Library could not offer much help in locating this lease.

1. To the registrar [...] a memorial of an indented deed of lease bearing date and executed the 1st day of January 1819 between Col. William H. Moore Hodder of Hodder’s Field of the county of Cork of the one part and John Keas of Conigar in the liberties of Limerick of the other part whereby the said William H. Moore Hodder for the considerations therein demised granted let and to farm let unto the said John Keas in his actual possession then being by virtue of a bargain and sale therein rented all that and those that part of the lands of Ballyvelogue in the county of Limerick as lately held by Daniel Riordan[-9702?, although perhaps too old] containing by a survey made thereof by Michael Rahilly 145 acres 1 rood and 20 perches which said lands are situate in the barony of Pubblebrien and county of Limerick aforesaid. To hold same unto the said John Keas his heirs executors administrators and assigns from the 25th day of March next ensuing the date of said indenture for and during the natural life and [...] John Keas the lessee and Edward Keas and John Keas, 2nd and 3rd sons of lessee and of the survivor of them at under and subject to the yearly rent of 400 pounds sterling payable as therein which said deed containing several other clauses as to the execution thereof by the said parties is witnessed by William Thomas Munsell of Tervoe in the county of Limerick esquire. And this memorial as to the execution thereof by the said John Keas is witnessed by said Wm Thomas Munsell and George Dartnell of Limerick solicitor. John Keas SEAL. Present Wm. Thomas Munsell, George Dartnell the above named Wm. Thos. Munsell, aged upwards of 40 years maketh oath and sayeth that he is a subscribing witness to the deed whereof the above is a memorial and also to said memorial that he saw the original deed of which the above writing is a memorial duly executed by the said Wm. H. Moore Hodder and John Keas and this memorial duly executed by the said John Keas and that the name Wm. Thos. Munsell subscribed as witness thereto and to this memorial is deponent's proper name and handwriting. {signed} Wm. Thos. Munsell. Sworn before me at the city of Limerick this 4th day of November 1828, a commissioner of his majesty's court of common pleas in Ireland for taking affadavits in said city and I know the deponent. {signed}Thos. Peacocke.^[9]
2. To the registrar appointed by Act of Parliament for registering deeds and so forth or to his deputy a memorial of indented deeds of lease and release the release dated and executed the 8th day of February 1830 and made between Col William Henry Moore Hodder of Hodders Field in the Co. of Cork of the one part and John Keas, Ballyvelouge, in the county of Limerick farmer of the other part. Whereby the said Wm Henry Moore Hodder for the considerations therein mentioned devised released and set unto the said John Keas in his actual possession then being by virtue of a bargain and sale therein recited and to his heirs and assigns all that and those part of the lands of Ballyvilogue aforesaid with the dwelling houses and out offices thereon containing 153 acres plantation measure be the same more or less. And in as large ample and beneficial a manner as part of said lands had been theretofore held and enjoyed by Daniel Riordan and Michael Molony and as the entire of said lands and premises had been for some time then passed in the possession of said John Keas which said premises are situate lying and being in the parish of Killeady [?] barony of Pubblebrian in the county of Limerick aforesaid. To hold said demised premises with the appurtenances unto the said John Keas his heirs and assigns from the 25th day of March then last past which was in the year 1829 for and during and untill the full end and term of the natural life and lives of Edward Keas, 2nd son, of the said lessee and John Keas, 3rd son of said lessee and William Keas, 6th son of the said lessee and the survivors and survivor of them at the yearly rent of 353 pounds British payable as therein mentioned on every 25th day of March and 29th day of September by half yearly payments which said deed of release contains the usual clauses between landlord and tenant and a clause of surrender on any 25th day in March of any year during said term giving 6 years previous notice as therein mentioned and said deed as to the execution thereof by the said parties is witnessed by William H. Hodder Jr of Hodder’s Field of aforesaid and John Keas Jr. of Ballyvelouge aforesaid son of lessee and this memorial as to the execution thereof by the said John Keas the lessee is witnessed by said John Keas Jr and Edward Costello of the city of Limerick gentleman Clerk to George Dartnell John Keas SEAL. Present John Keas Jr Edward Costello.John Keas Jr of Ballyvelogue in the county of Limerick gentleman aged 20 years upwards maketh oath and sayeth that he is a subscribing witness to the deed whereof the above writing is a memorial and also to said memorial sayeth he saw said deed duly signed sealed and delivered by the above named William Henry Moore Hodder and John Keas respectively and this memorial also duly signed sealed and delivered by the said John Keas and sayeth the name John Keas subscribed as a witness to said deed and memorial respectively is this deponent's proper name and handwriting. John Keas Jr (signature). Sworn before me at the city of Limerick this 20th day of March 1830 a commissioner of his majesty's court of exchequer for taking affidavits at said city and I know the deponent. William Smyth. A True Copy.^[10]
3. To the Registrar appointed by Act of Parliament for Registry of Deeds, Conveyances and so forth, a memorial of a deed of assignment bearing date 25 June in the year of our Lord 1834. Made between John Keas, Sr. of Ballvolouge in the County of Limerick, farmer of the one part, and John Keas Jr., son of the said John Keas Sr of Ballyvolouge aforesaid farmer of the other part reciting an indented deed of lease, bearing date the 8th day of February in the year 1830 and made between Col. William Henry Moore Hodder of the one part and the said John Keas Sr of the other part whereby the said William Henry Moore Hodder did for the consideration in said lease [...] grant devise and set unto the the said John Keas Sr all that part of the lands of Ballyveloge aforesaid with the dwelling and outhouses thereon containing 153 acres be the same more or less situated in the parish of Kilkeedy, barony of Pubblebrien, in county of Limerick, to hold unto the said John Keas, Sr., and his heirs and assigns from the 25th day of March then last for and during the natural life and lives of Edward Keas, John Keas Sr and William Keas all sons of the said lessee at the yearly lump rent of 353 pounds sterling and said deed did further recite that for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which the said John Keas Sr., then bore to his said son, the said John Keas Jr and also the further consideration of 10 shillings sterling to him in hand paid by the said John Keas Jr, the said John Keas Sr did by said deed grant bargain sell assign transfer and make over release and confirm unto the said John Keas Jr. as therein mentioned all that and those the aforesaid part of said lands of Ballyvelogue and the dwelling house wherein the said John Keas Jr then resided. And the other out offices on said rected premises containing 153 acres and situated as aforesaid save, saving and reserving thereout the grazing of 4 cows and 1 horse with a certain part thereof called the Orchard Garden and New Garden adjoining same containing all together 5 acres or thereabouts subject to the rent of 1 pound per acre for the use of the wife of the grantor and his unmarried children and subject to the conditions and restrictions therein mentioned of and concerning the same. To hold unto the said John Keas Jr and his heirs and assigns for and during the full end and term of the said lease theretofore granted unto him the said John Keas Sr by the said William Henry Moore Hodder and then to come and unexpired subject to the yearly rent and convenance in said lease contained and said deed did also contain various charges and encumbrances on said lands for the younger children of the assignor and did also grant bargain sell assign transfer and makeover unto the said John Keas Jr and his executors administrators and assigns the stock of cattle then on said lands consisting of 10 cows 10 horses young and old and the farming utensils thereof (save and except the dwelling house of the said John Keas Sr and the household furniture therein which were also reserved by said deed for the use of the wife and children of the grantor in said deed mentioned). To hold the said stock of cattle and farming utensils unto the said John Keas Jr as his proper goods and chattels forever which deed contained other convenance and is witnessed as to the execution thereof by both parties by Edward Keas of Conigar in the liberties of Limerick, farmer and Thomas Keas of Castlecanter in the Liberties of Limerick farmer and said memorial as to the execution thereof by the said John Keas jr is also witnessed by the said Edward Keas and also by Joseph Kincross of the city of Limerick gentleman. {Signatures of John Keas Jr} SEAL Signed and sealed in presence of Edward Keas Joseph Kincross the above named Edward Keas aged 20 years and upwards maketh oath and sayeth that he is a subscribing witness to the deed of which the above writing is a memorial and also to the said memorial and sayeth he saw said deed duly executed by the said John Keas Sr and John Keas jr the parties thereto and say he also saw said memorial duly executed by the said John Keas and sayeth the name Edward Keas subscribed as a witness to said deed and memorial respectively is the proper name and handwriting of this deponent Edward Keas. Sworn before me in the city of Limerick this 28th day of June 1834. A commissioner of his Majesty's Court of Kings Bench in Ireland for taking affidavits in said city and I know the deponent. Holmes O'Brien. {Footnote a true copy}.^[11]
4. To the Register appointed by Act of Parliament for Registering Deeds Conveyances and so forth - A memorial of a Deed of Assignment bearing date the tenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four and made between John Keays late of Cunnigar in the liberties of Limerick but then of Ballyvolouge in the County of Limerick, farmer, of the one part and Edward Keays of Cunnigar aforesaid farmer the son of the said John Keays of the other part reciting an indenture of lease bearing date the twenty fifth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five and made between the Right Revd. Father in God John [Jebb] Lord Bishop of Limerick Ardfert and Aghadoe of the one part and the said John Keays of the other part whereby the said Lord Bishop did for the conson. in said lease contained grant devise and set unto the said John Keays all that and those that part of the demesne or mensal lands of Cunnigar then in his possession and contg. eighty six acres three roods and three perches situate lying & being in the county of the City of Limerick to hold unto the said John Keays and his exors. admors. and assigns for a term of twenty one years from the first day of May then last subject to the yearly rent of two hundred pounds sterling payable thereon and said deed did further recite that for and in conson. of the natural love and affection which he the said John Keays then bore unto his son the said Edward Keays and for the further conson. of ten shillings sterling to him in hand paid by the said Edward Keays before the execution of said deed he the said John Keays did grant bargain sell assign transfer and make over unto the said Edward Keays as therein mentioned all that and those that part of the demesne or mensal lands of Cunnigar as then in the possn. of the said Edward Keays contg. eight six acres three roods and three perches situate lying and being in the parish of Mungret and county of the city of Limerick aforesaid to hold unto the said Edward Keays and his exors. admors. and assigns for and during the residue of the term of years thereof then to run and unexpired subject to the payment of the yearly head rent and the performance of the several clauses and covenants in said lease contained and which said deed contained the other usual covenants and is witnessed as to the execution thereof by both parties thereto by John Keays Junr. of Ballyvolouge in the county of Limerick farmer and James Coghlan of Loughanlea in the Liberties of Limerick farmer and said memorial is also witnessed as to the execution thereof by the said Edward Keays by the said James Coghlan and also by Joseph Kinross of the city of Limerick Gentn. Edwd. Keas seal. signed & sealed in presence of James Coghlan Joseph Kinross. The above named James Coghlan aged twenty yrs. and upwards maketh oath and saith that he is a subscribing witness to the deed whereof the above writing is a memorial and saith he saw said deed duly executed by the above named John Keays and Edward Keays and saith he also saw said memorial duly executed by the above named Edward Keays and saith the name James Coghlan subscribed as a witness to the said Deed and memorial resply. is this deponent's proper name and handwriting James Coghlan. Sworn before me in the city of Limerick this 28th day of June 1834 a Comr. of His Majesty's Court of King's Bench in Ireland for taking affidts. in said city & I know the Dept. Holmes O'Brien.^[12]

Relationship

There were other Keas families in Kilkeedy and Mungret parishes whose precise connection, if any, to this John Keas have not yet been established.

Could John be descended from the John Keys of Brosky who voted for Massy and Southwell at the election for an M.P. for County Limerick on 4 May 1761?^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ Sheehan, John. A Corner Of Limerick: History, Recollections and Photographs. Ballybrown: privately published, 1989. pp 43-4.
2. ↑ Landed Estates Database.
3. ↑ National Archives of Ireland website.
4. ↑ National Archives of Ireland website.
5. ↑ National Archives of Ireland website.
6. ↑ Email 2 Jan 2012 from Noel Murphy to Paddy Waldron.
7. ↑ See Google Books and EPPI.
8. ↑ www.eppi.ac.uk, 1833, Volume 21 762.
9. ↑ Registry Of Deeds Book 840 page 259 deed 563759; Hodder to Keas, executed 1 Jan 1819, registered 13 Nov 1828.
10. ↑ Registry Of Deeds Book 858 page 327 deed 572827 Hodder to Keas registered 1 May 1830.
11. ↑ Registry Of Deeds 1834 Book 13 No. 2 Keas to Keas registered 12 July 1834 at 3:0.
12. ↑ Registry Of Deeds 1834 Book 12 Deed No. 78. Keays to Keays Regd. 30th June 1834 at 1/2 pt. 1 O'C.
13. ↑ There is one version of the poll book in the National Library of Ireland (MS 16093) and Nick Reddan has transcribed another version of the Limerick Poll Book.