The Caseys of Tipperary
The Casey Family
County Tipperary, Ireland
Recently we added the ‘Casey’ surname to our family tree. Batt Ryan’s mother was born Nancy Campbell. Her parents were Mary Casey and James Campbell and this family lived in County Tipperary. According to information in our possession, James Campbell was a resident of Killoscully Civil Parish, County Tipperary, at the time of his marriage. James Campbell listed his occupation as farmer in the marriage register. Civil Parishes are administrative divisions and do not necessarily coincide with Catholic Parish boundaries.
With all these family names to remember it becomes difficult to determine how the Smith family fits into this picture. The following briefly summarizes the Smith family’s relationship to the Casey family.
James Campbell married Mary Casey in Newport Parish on February 21, 1814. This marriage was witnessed by Winifred Humphreys and James Humphreys. Both James and Mary would have been born sometime in the eighteenth century. Two of their children have baptisms recorded in Newport Catholic Parish. James and Mary Campbell also had a daughter named Mary. More information about this family can be seen on our website in the article titled ‘Anne (Nancy) Campbell’s Family’.
So where did the Casey families live in this part of Ireland? Our Tipperary ancestors seem to have all come from the same area – Newport Catholic Parish. Newport Catholic Parish was composed of portions of the following Civil Parishes: Kilcomenty, Killoscully, Kilnarath and Kilvellane. Kilnarath is where our Ryan and Hill ancestors lived. Kilvellane, where Newport town is located, was home to the Boney family. Although Abington Civil Parish is not mentioned in any of our family histories, we included it here for reference.
The following information was found in the Griffith Valuation Survey taken in 1848 and 1850. At a later date we will provide a list of names found in the 1826 Tithe Applotment for this part of Ireland.
Civil Parishes in County Tipperary
County Tipperary is located in the southern part of Ireland. Two maps appear below. The first map shows various Civil Parishes found in County Tipperary. The map to the right shows County Tipperary, and we circled the portion where Kilnarath, Kilcomenty, Kilvellane, Abington and Killoscully Civil Parishes could be found.
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Kilcomenty Civil Parish
No Casey Surnames were found in the Griffith Valuation Survey (1848 – 1864).
Killoscully Civil Parish
No Casey Surnames were found in the Griffith Valuation Survey (1848 – 1864).
Kilnarath Civil Parish
Only one Casey surname was found in the Griffith Valuation rolls for Kilnarath Civil Parish. Two years separate the following records. It is interesting to note that by 1850 Patrick Casey’s name was struck out of valuation. During this time period many families were thrown out of their homes, including the Hill family of Kilnarath. Elizabeth Hill married Bartholomew ‘Batt’ Ryan.) Do you see the name enclosed in parenthesis? Sometimes this additional name indicates a nickname, or in most cases the father’s first name.
Nov 29, 1848
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May 14, 1850
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Abington Civil Parish
Patrick was a common first name in Ireland. The 1850 Griffith Valuation shows that Patrick Casey was thrown out of his home and his name was no longer included in the valuation list.
Nov 29, 1848
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May 14, 1850
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Civil Parish of Kilvellane
Kilvellane Civil Parish is where we also find a cluster of Boney families. It is also the area where we find the greatest concentration of Casey surnames listed in the Griffith’s Valuation.
Clonbeally Townland.
Living in Clonbeally Townland near the mid-nineteenth century we find one ‘Casey’ listed – Thomas Casey. The first survey shows he was leasing approximately 7 Irish acres of land from W. A. Rose, Esquire. By mid 1850 the Valuation Survey shows he either was evicted from this land or had left voluntarily. In either case, his name was struck out of the valuation rolls.
Nov 29, 1848
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May 14, 1850
Garryteige and Kilnacappagh Townlands
These townlands appear to be close together. A William Casey was renting land in Garryteige and Kilnacappagh Townlands. In Kilnacappagh it appears his name is listed as co-leasing land with a group. By 1850 his name still appears on the Valuation list. Another name appears on this list, William Nihill. Some may find this interesting as Nihill is an uncommon name. One of Batt Ryan’s sisters married a Nihill in America.
Nov 29, 1848
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May 14, 1850
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Pollagh Townland
Two Casey names are listed in the Griffith Valuation survey for this townland – John and Michael Casey. They were not thrown off their lands by 1850, although other leaseholders were struck down (removed) from this list by 1850.
Nov 29, 1848
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May 14, 1850
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Shower Townland
John Casey lived in this Townland during the early part of the nineteenth century. In 1848 it shows he had land and two houses. (Why he had two houses we do not know.) By 1850 he was struck down (removed) from the Valuation Survey. By mid 1850 the Valuation Survey shows he either was evicted from this land or had left voluntarily. In either case, his name was struck out of the valuation rolls.
Nov 29, 1848
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May 14, 1850
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Tullow Townland
In the 1840’s we find a ‘Thomas Casey’ and ‘William Casey/ living in Tullow Townland. There is one interesting point, although it may be just a coincidence. William Casey’s partner is James Ryan. (James is a common Irish first name.) This James Ryan also leased a house and land in this area of Tipperary. It was very common for relatives to lease land together in order to share work responsibilities. By 1850, James Ryan and William Casey were not listed in the Griffith Valuation for this Townland. Perhaps both lost their leases. Tullow Townland also appears to be located near present day Newport.
Nov 29, 1848
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May 14, 1850
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Final Thoughts
A cluster of Irish moved to Allamakee County, Iowa, area in the nineteenth century. We think the Ryan family moved there to be near relatives. At this time we do not know which Irish relatives this would be; however, the following Casey family lived in Allamakee County (French Creek Township) in 1860.
| Jeremiah Casey | Age 30 | Male | Farmer | Born in Ireland |
| Cornelius Casey | Age 37 | Male | Farmer | Born in Ireland |
| Bridget Casey | Age 50 | Female | Housekeeper | Born in Ireland |
| Mary Ann Casey | Age 6 | Female | Born in Ohio |
The following Casey families lived in Allamakee County in 1870:
French Creek Township
| J. Casey | Age 45 | Male | Farmer | Born in Ireland |
| Hannah Casey | Age 27 | Female | Housekeeper | Born in Canada |
| J.E. Casey | 7 months | Male | Born in Iowa | |
| J.G. Casey | 3 years | Male | Born in Iowa | |
| M.E. | 5 years | Female | Born in Iowa |
(The 1880 census showed the oldest son’s name to be ‘James’)
City of Lansing (living with the John and Bridget Hoy family) in 1870:
| Mary Casey | 73 years | Female | Born in Ireland | |
| Ann Casey | 38 years | Female | Born in Ireland |
Union Prairie Township (same Township where the Ryan family lived) in 1870:
| Daniel Casey | 45 years | Male | Farmer Labor | Born in Ireland |
| Kate Casey | 32 years | Female | Keeping House | Born in Ireland |
| Mary Casey | 5 years | Female | Born in Ireland | |
| Jerry Casey | 3 years | Male | Born in Ireland | |
| Johanne Casey | 2 years | Female | Born in Iowa | |
| Kate Casey | 6 months | Female | Born in Iowa |
Union Prairie Township in 1870:
This is an entry for another ‘Daniel Ryan’ found living in Union Prairie Township, Allamakee County, Iowa. He lived with the ‘Owen Quigley’ family. Owen Quigley farmed next door to the ‘Baretti Campbell’ family, who were originally from Ireland. ‘Baretti’ was later corrected to ‘Bartholomew’ in later census records. According to Newport Catholic Records (Tipperary) a ‘Bart Campbell’ acted as baptismal sponsor for one of James and Anne Ryan’s children.
Daniel Casey 40 years Male Farm Laborer Born in Ireland