Irish Taxes & the "Smyths"...

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Tithe Applotment for Aughabog Civil Parish

County Monaghan, Ireland 

Introduction 

Old Irish census records are hard to find since few census fragments exist prior to 1901.  Fire and war destroyed most early Irish census records, and what remained was destroyed by the British.  The first Irish census was conducted in 1810 and was taken each ten years thereafter.  Two fires destroyed most of these records, and in 1922 during the Irish Civil War the Public Records Office was firebombed.  Consequently, records such as the Tithe Applotment are important source records when searching for Irish ancestors.

Our Family 

This is our Smith family tree.  In parts of County Monaghan the surname is spelled ‘Smyth’. 

Aughabog or Aghabog Civil Parish 

In 1837 there were 7442 inhabitants living in Aghabog Civil Parish.  Its boundaries begin 1 mile west of Newbliss and its eastern boundaries are 5 miles distant from Ballybay.  It contains 11,543 statute acres of which 222 acres are covered by water.  Also, there are 20 acres of woodland and approximately 243 acres of bog.  In 1837 the sole Roman Catholic church was found in the townland of Lathnamard.  St. Mary’s Catholic Church was built in 1811 and continues its pastoral duties even today.  Within this parish lived the Smyth, McPhillips and Greenan families. 

1796 Flax Growers List

Another Irish census substitute is the 1796 Irish Flax Growers List.  Almost all residents of Aghabog (or Aughabog) Parish were engaged in the linen industry.  This meant almost all tenant farmers grew or processed flax.  Many of these Irish were given a loom to produce linen.  The Irish Flax Growers list shows all flax growers and the number of looms found in their residence.  This was before the Industrial Revolution and could be considered one of the original ‘cottage industries’.  The following chart shows all Smith and McPhillips surnames found on the 1796 List for this parish.  No Greenan surnames were listed. 

What is the Tithe Applotment? 

While the Irish census began in 1810, most records were lost in a fire. The Title Applotment records from 1823-1837 are therefore extremely important.

The Composition Act of 1823 specified that tithes due to the Established Church (Church of Ireland), which before had been payable in kind should now be paid in money.   As a result, it was necessary to carry out a valuation of the entire country, civil parish by civil parish, to determine how much would be payable by each landholder.  This continued for 15 years before ending in 1838.  No one was exempt and the tithe was required payable by Catholics and Protestants alike.  As the British took control of Ireland the Church of Ireland began to push in on the Catholic Church which had held sway in Ireland for centuries. The Church of Ireland wanted landholders to pay tithes to the church, and worked on this applotment in order to ensure that everyone paid.

A book still exists for almost every civil parish in Ireland. It lists the land in that parish, how it is broken down, who is on each plot of land, and the amount of money owed.  Anyone who leased land had to pay the tithe.  Catholics and non-Anglicans hated the tithe; however, many paid it to maintain their leasehold.   

What are we looking for in these records?  Any entries found in townlands in and surrounding Rossnaglogh East are of interest to us.  (See the map below.) Rossnaglogh East is the townland Irish John Smith lived in Ireland.  Corravilla Townland is where Susan McPhillips was born. You will see copies of the 1832 Tithe Applotment list later.  We also compare the names found on this list to the names found in the (1847 – 1858) Griffith Valuation Survey. 

Aughabog (Aghabog or Ached Bog) Tithe Applotment (2 Books) 

Cover Page found in the Tithe Composition Books for Aughabog Parish 

Book of Composition for the Tithe

Of the Parish of Aughabog.  Diocese of Clogher in the

County of Monaghan.  The Rev. Richard Word Rector and Vicar.

Thomas Phillips Esq. on the part of the Rector; Samuel Moorehead

Esq. on the part of the Landholders, of said Parish:

Commmisioner appointed by the 4^th Geo. 4^th

Chapt 99 for 21 years from 1^st day of Nov. 1832

Yearly tithe 330 pounds

Thos. Phillips

Samuel Moorehead

Commissioners

Calliagh Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The Griffith Valuation for 1847 to 1858 does not show any Greenan surnames listed for this townland; however, we do find a William McPhillips living here.   

Typically, the eldest male child in Ireland was named after his father’s father.  The second male child was named after the mother’s father.  Irish John’s mother was born Catharine Greenan.  Irish John had the following siblings that we know – Bridget and Owen.  Owen was two years younger than Irish John.  Who was this Owen Greenan that lived in Calliagh Townland? 

One thing you will notice as you read on is that there was no single naming convention for townlands or surnames.  We see many spelling variations. 

Corleck Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The Griffith Valuation for 1847 to 1858 does not show any Greenan surnames living in this townland, but does show the following McPhillips entries: 

Francis McPhillips

Bridget McPhillips

Bernard McPhillips

James McPhillips 

Crappagh Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The (1847 – 1858) Griffith Valuation also shows ‘James McPhilips’ as an occupant in this townland.   

Corravilla Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

Here we see an entry for ‘John Smyth’.  John Smyth also leased land in adjacent townland, East Rossnaglogh.  Also of interest is the name ‘Patt McPhillips’.  Susan McPhillips’ grandfather was named ‘Patrick’, and we know Susan McPhillips was born in this Townland. 

We also see an entry for ‘Terry Greenan’ and his name is linked to our family history.  According to family lore three young Smith children immigrated to America in 1850 without their parents.  Irish John’s father died in 1847.  His mother, Catharine, traveled to America without her children.  Years later Irish John wrote that he lived in Brooklyn with his brother, sister, mother, Thomas McCabe and his uncle, Terence Greenan.  The 1850 US Census shows Terence Greenan listed as Terence Green.  We looked at the ship’s manifest records.  The name appearing before the Smith children’s names was Terence Green.  It appears Terence Green and his family moved to Wisconsin at the same time as our ancestors.   

Catharine (Greenan) Smith came to America first.  Where did her children stay while she was away? 

By 1858 no Greenans were living in this part of Ireland.  The Griffith Valuation for 1847 to 1847 does show the following McPhillips and Smith entries: 

Edward Smith

Mary Smith

John McPhillips

Hugh McPhillips 

Carduff Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The (1847 – 1858) Griffith Valuation showed no McPhillips leasing land in the townland. 

Corkish Townland

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The (1847 – 1858) Griffith Valuation showed no Smyth or Smyth surnames leasing land in the townland. 

Descart Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

By 1858 the Griffith Valuation showed only one McPhillips was still leasing land in this townland.  Patrick McPhilips was listed as an Occupier, or someone who sublet the land. 

Drumbrain Townland

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

No McPhillips surnames are listed in the 1847 to1858 Griffith Valuation. 

Drumhay Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

By 1858 there were no Smyth, Smith or McPhillips surnames found leasing land in Drumhay townland. 

Drumhirk Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The 1847 to 1858 Griffith Valuation shows the following entries: 

Hugh McPhillips

Edward McPhillips 

Drumlinny Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

By 1847 to 1858 the Griffith Valuation showed only one Smyth or Smith entry for this townland: 

Alice Smith 

Faltagh Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

This townland is found south of and adjacent to Rossnaglogh East townland.  In fact, it is very likely this group of Smyths were relatives of Irish John.  Irish John lived on land which abutted Faltagh townland.  John Smyth also leased land in both Corravilla and Rossnaglogh East Townlands.  The (1847 – 1858) Griffith Valuation showed the following names as occupants in this townland: 

Michael Smith

Owen Smith

Anne Smith

Thomas Greenan 

Thomas Greenan was one of Irish John Smith’s baptismal sponsors.  The other sponsor was Ann Greenan.  Some of the first names found in the tithe list above are interesting to us also.   

Garren Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

By 1858 the Griffith Valuation lists no Smith or Smyth entries. 

Genagh Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The 1858 Griffith Valuation shows one Patrick Smith listed as an occupant in this Townland. 

Glenn Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

No Smith or Smyth entries are found in the (1847 – 1858) Griffith Valuation for this Townland. 

Latnamard Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The (1847 – 1858) Griffith Valuation shows the following McPhillips as occupants in this Townland: 

Patrick McPhillips

Mary McPhillips

Francis McPhillips

Michael McPhillips

Thomas McPhillips

Edward McPhillips  

Liscumasky Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

The Griffith Valuation published in 1858 shows the following occupants for this townland: 

Peter Smith

Patrick Greenan

Denis McPhillips

Patrick McPhillips

East Rossnaglogh Townland

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

Rossnaglogh Townland is where Irish John lived in Ireland.  According to the Irish Naming Convention the first son in the family was named after the father’s father.  Irish John’s father was named Peter, which would mean his grandfather’s name may have been ‘John’.  We suspect that the ‘John Smyth’ listed here was Irish John’s grandfather.   

We have seen a family chart for another group of Smiths who lived in this area.  The oldest son was shown to be ‘Edward’.   There were at least four sons in this family and most moved away.  Some moved to Scotland, while one son moved to Canada during the latter part of the nineteenth century.  One family moved to Wisconsin. 

The following names appear on the (1847 – 1858) Griffith Valuation list as occupants: 

John Smith

Denis McPhillips

Patrick McPhilips 

Tonagh Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

Patrick McPhillips was Michael McPhillips’ father.  Tonagh or Tonough Townland was adjacent to and directly north of Rossnaglogh East Townland.  John Smyth also sublet land in this townland also.  The following names appear on the Griffith Valuation list for 1847 to 1858:

Patrick McPhillips,

Patk. McPhillips

Denis McPhillips 

The difference in first names above would indicate two different people.  Also, Denis and Patrick sublet land in Rossnaglogh East. 

Tattintlieve Townland 

Tithe Applotment Record

Aughabog Parish

November 1, 1832 

By 1858 the following names appear as occupants on the Griffith Valuation list: 

Bernard McPhillips

William McPhillips

Patrick McPhillips

James McPhillips

Michael McPhillips