Why did our Caswells leave Ireland

EXODUS: THE POTATO FAMINE

     I felt it important to understand some of the reasons for the potato famine and its possible impact on our Caswells.  (I have misplaced the reference for the following excerpt.)

     “The conditions which produced this famine are complex. Briefly, however, during the Eighteenth century agriculture developed rapidly in response to the demand from Britain for food. The increase in tillage required an increased work force, and thus there was a period of relative prosperity for smallholders and labouring classes. Another significant development was that the Irish peasantry became increasingly reliant on the potato as their staple food. Since an entire family could support itself on a small area of land, a social revolution occurred. The average age at marriage dropped as it became possible for younger men to support a family by renting a small plot of land on which to grow potatoes (to eat) and cereals (to sell for rent money).”

     “During the nineteenth century there was a consequent large increase in population. In 1687 it is estimated that the population was around 2.2 million. By 1725 it had exceeded 3 million, and by 1772 it was almost 3.6 million. In 1781 it was just over 4 million, and from then until 1820 the rate of increase was approximately 17 percent per decade. The population reached over 8 million in 1841, the highest it had ever been before that time (or has been since).”

     “The two major factors which were to change significantly this situation were (a) a decline in the value of agricultural produce and (b) the increasingly common destruction of the potato crop by the potato blight.”

     “The potato crop partially failed many times between 1800 and 1845. However, in the four years between 1845 and 1848 the crop failed three times, causing what became known as the Great Famine.”

     “The result was the death of a million people by starvation or disease and a flood of emigration. It is estimated that in 1847 alone, around 230,000 people left Ireland for North America and Australia and further thousands for Britain. Some 2 million left between 1845 and 1855, and the process of emigration continued for the remainder of the century and beyond.”

     It is unknown what effect the potato famine had on our Caswells in Armagh.  Our ancestors lived in one of the poorest section of Ulster;

     “…in districts like the Fews, in County Armagh, the standard of living was as low as anywhere in the country.  The wretchedness of the country is well displayed by the census of 1841, in which housing was placed in four categories, the lowest being ‘windowless mud cabins of a single room’.  Nearly half of the rural housing fell into this category.”

     We will never know whether it was hunger that drove Andrew and Mary Jane Caswell from their home, or letters of encouragement from relatives that had preceded them to Canada. Andrew’s brother William had taken his family to Canada in the 1830’s.  Certainly Andrew & Mary Jane’s move to Canada came at the height of the potato famine emigration.

Our Caswells in Ireland

OUR EARLIEST CASWELLS

     The first Caswell in Ireland, that we can claim descent from, is James Caswell of Scariff Tichburn (referred to in this book as James #1). Scariff is a small village in the vicinity of Altnamackin, County Armagh.

     The only mention that we have of James (#1) is in an indenture between Alexander McCombe and James Caswell, dated 7 January 1820 (1) (see end of document for full text).  James states that, after his death, his lease is to go to his sixth son, Robert Caswell.

ABSTRACT OF LEASE ON LAND AT ALTNAMACKIN PARISH

     Alexander McCombe of Dublin, Gent, Lessor: James Carswell of Scariff parish of Newtownhamilton, Barony of Upper Fews, County of Armagh, farmer, lessee. 

Dated 7 January 1820.

     Ten acres and four perches, Irish plantation measure, more or less.  Mears and bounds: on the north by a meadow in the possession of James Hogan, the road leading from the main road to the bog on the east, partly by bog in the possession of said James Hagan, and land in the possession of Elizabeth Robinson and on the west by the road leading from Keady to Dundalk.  To have and to hold the said devised premises, with rights, members and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining unto the said James Carswell, his heirs and assigns, from the first day of November which was in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and during the life and lives of his Royal highness George Prince of Wales Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Robert Carswell sixth son of the said James Carswell party hereto or twenty one years, whichever lasts the longest.

     Payment to be two pounds sterling for each acre, annually.  This to be over and above “all taxes, charges, and impositions whatsoever…quit rent and crown rent excepted.

                                Alexander McCombe

                                      James Carswell

     I wonder if James (#1)  wife was Sarah.  If naming patterns hold Andrew and Mary Jane's first son - James Dickson Caswell was obviously named for the two grandfathers.  Second daughter Margaret was named for her maternal grandmother, Margaret Wallace - so was first daughter Sarah named for her paternal grandmother?  The only other daughter out of the thirteen children (and my great grandmother) was named after her mother, Mary Jane.
   For a hundred years, Canadian and US Caswells crossed the Atlantic to visit with the Caswells still on the original farm in Altnamackin.  How we were connected to this family had been lost as the old timers passed away.  Still the visiting continued.  In an attempt to clarify this connection I placed an ad in the Belfast paper looking for Caswells (about 1973).  My letter was answered by a Reverend Robert Caswell.  His family as well, was from the Altnamackin area.  For 15 years we corresponded but could not make a connection.  I corresponded with a number of Roberts cousins that were also interested in genealogy – still could not find how we related.  I had collected over a hundred names of collateral Caswells in Ireland, but no proof to be able to claim them as family. 

     I was also tracking a family of Carswells that had been in the Darlington, Ontario area about the same time as our Caswells - but no idea if they were ours. 

     AND THEN, a packet of letters came from Murray Caswell in Saskatoon.  In it was a letter written in the 1930’s by a James Caswell, who resided in Armagh.  It was addressed to his “cousin” Robert (grandfather of the above Murray) and in the letter he listed all the sons of James (#1) Caswell and the maiden names of all their wives.  What an unexpected treasure trove of information!  And, how did James know all of this?  Is there a family bible or list in the old homestead in Ireland?  What I found fascinating was that in a letter written in 1939 was the information about family from about 100 years ago including family that had left Ireland.  James included the maiden names of of all his great aunts.  Quite a stretch to know this information off the top of his head.  Unfortunately James did not mention which wife went with which Caswell, I have not been able to connect them all.  What I do know is -

Descendants of James Caswell

JAMES CASWELL was born in 1778 in Armagh, Ireland and had the following children:

ANDREW CASWELL was born in 1798 and married MARY JANE DICKSON

MARGARET CASWELL was born in 1799 and possibly married STEPHEN CASWELL

JOSEPH CASWELL was born about 1800

JOHN CASWELL was born about 1800

JAMES CASWELL was born about 1800 and married HAGAN

DAVID CASWELL was born about 1805 and married JANE MCLELAND

WILLIAM CASWELL was born abt 1810 and married MARY JOHNSTON

ROBERT CASWELL was born abt 1811 and married RACHEL SMART

     Unaccounted for is HUGGARD and SMYTH.  No mention of a sister was made in James letter but Murray Caswell also provided a copy of a death notice for Margaret Caswell in Manitoba with a note that this was Andrews sister.   

 

James Caswell's home built in 1911 - Caswell farm in Ireland

Rachel Herron and Annie Caswell, with Alberta Caswell  

     This home was originally stone but plastered over.  It was built about 1911 as 2 single story houses for James (1 house) and 2 single cousins (2nd house).  When the latter died, James added a second story and joined the two houses.  
     James Caswell (the letter writer) was a grandson of James #1’s son, James and wife Miss Hagan.  (Could she be related to the James Hagan on the farm next door?) James #1’s descendants still farm the original Caswell land in Altnamackin.  It was one of his letters that enabled me to fit together all the bits of information that I had collected about potential Caswell relatives. 

 Robert Caswell home on Caswell farm in Ireland

     Rev. Robert was descended from the son that inherited the lease – Robert.  William Carswell in Ontario was another brother and this was the family that our Andrew stayed with when they immigrated to Canada.

     Genealogical research is like a very difficult jigsaw puzzle.  When a piece fits, and a whole section can be completed it is an amazingly satisfying moment even if it took 20 years for the pieces to fit!
    

 John Caswell home on farm in Ireland  
He went to America.  Will Herron bought this property (24 acres) in 1961

Another view of one of the vacant homes still standing on the Caswell farm

     Most of the people reading this book will be tracing their roots back to Andrew Caswell (son of James #1) and Mary Jane Dickson. The first date we have for Andrew is his birth about 1798.  He was born in County Armagh, probably within ten miles of Altnamackin. The next mention we find of Andrew is of his joining the Clarkesbridge Presbyterian Church in November 1825 at the age of 27. Joseph Caswell, probably a brother, joined at the same time.

     This may seem rather late to make one’s confession of faith. However, Andrews son, the Rev. Alexander Caswell, has said, “When I was a boy of sixteen I wished to unite with the church, but was told that I was too young; better wait till I was older and would understand better what I was doing. In the meantime no effort was made to explain away my difficulties. Young people were not expected, or at least not urged, to ‘come forward’ until they had babies to be baptized.’’   This practice would explain Andrew’s late confession of faith.

     Andrew was the first of five Caswells to join the Clarkesbridge Church.  From the baptismal records for the 1830's so far as the imperfect record shows:

November 1825:        Andrew Carswell and Joseph Carswell

November 1826:         James Carswell

May 1834:                   David Carswell

May 1838:                   Eliza Carswell  

     Andrew and Mary Jane were married in Ireland in 1834. (2) Mary Jane was the daughter of James Dickson and Margaret Ann Wallace.  Both were Scottish in origin but not sure if by birth.  Andrew and Mary Jane's first son, James Dickson Caswell was born in Castleblanney, which is not too far from Altnamackin.  Mary Jane and parents were from the Castleblanney area.

     From the 1847 edition of Samuel Lewis’ 'Topographical Dictionary of Ireland' -- "the linen manufacture was established here (Castleblaney) at a very early period.  Both spinning and weaving declined considerably until the last few years."

     Andrew, as a weaver possibly sought his fortunes in Castleblanney, where he met Mary Jane Dickson.  With the decline of the weaving trade Andrew, Mary Jane and baby James made their way back to Altnamackin where a number of other children were born.

     The following baptismal records are from the Clarkesbridge Presbyterian Church:(3)

January 8, 1835 Andrew Carswell 1st child baptized James (James Dickson Caswell).  Not consistent with the birth date given for James of 26 May 1835.  One of the sons commented that their mother was not good with dates.  This may account for the seeming impossibility of the two dates.  It is also possible that a transcription error was made when copying the information from the original parish registers.

February 28, 1836 Andrew Carswell 2nd child 1st daughter baptized Serah (Sarah Case)

     
     The Clarkesbridge Presbyterian Church is about a mile from the site of the old Caswell home.  The church was a “Secession Church”.  Like the Free Church of Scotland, the Seceders opposed the appointment of ministers by the local landholder, a privilege exercised in both Scotland and England.  

     John and Alberta Caswell made a trip back to Ireland in the 1987 re-establishing the connection with our Irish relatives after a lapse of twenty years.  John and Alberta  visited with the local ministers wife.  Another fortuitous meeting that greatly helped our genealogical research.  Underneath the ministers bed were the parish registers.  Helena took it upon herself to go through these registers and those from other local churches and provide a transcription of all the Caswells that were mentioned.  Again all the stray Caswells in Ireland I had been collecting - fell into place with the document provided by Helena.  I will include the information about the Irish Caswells and their descendants in a later post.

     To this day there are still three Caswell houses on the road from Altnamackin that leads south to the Scariff townlands.  One was rebuilt in 1911 by James Caswell, whom several of our cousins visited.  Another is a ruin, and a third was bought by James’ grandson, Will.  If one walks northward up the road and jogs a few hundred meters to the right, then turns left again, one soon glimpses the Clarkesbridge Presbyterian Church, gleaming white.

     Presumably Andrew’s home was built on land leased to James Caswell, (Andrew’s father) by the Rev. Alexander McCombe, or his son, also Alexander.  Alexander Sr. had received a perpetual lease for the townlands of Altnamackin, when he became pastor of the Creggan Freeduff Presbyterian Church in 1733.    
     In Robert Caswells (son of Andrew) notes on the family he said that prior to emigration to Canada his parents and siblings were living in Enniskillen.  A search by the Ulster Historical and Genealogical Society failed to confirm this, but records for that time period are not very complete.  Enniskillen was the centre of a thriving linen trade so a move here by the Caswells certainly would make sense.

      In a reply from James Caswell to Robert Caswells inquiry  about family in Ireland he must have asked about his fathers store - the reply was: "You mention your Father having a store in Newry but no record is there being so far back."  I did look through the   1846 - Slater, National Commercial Directory of Ireland  for Newry and Enniskillen hoping to find a reference to Andrew but was not successful.  I know from a cousin that visited the Irish relatives (James) in the 1960's that their house was on one side of the border the store on the other.  The side in Northern Ireland had electricity, the other did not.  Not sure what kind of store it was but perhaps this was an enterprise Andrew had been part of.

     I am not aware of any early surviving correspondence between the new home, in Canada and the old home in Ireland.  However, when John, as an immigration agent went to Ireland in 1894, he knew where to find the Caswells.  Thomas, the last one born in Ireland, spent the night with his cousin John at Altnamackin in 1906. 

John's 1987 account of their trip to visit our Irish relatives is as follows:

        On a bright late September morning John and Alberta Caswell set forth to Altnamackin in search of kinfolk.  A good highway led south to Newry which was on the border.  There were low hills to climb, and here and there a stream or pond.  Soldiers had been in evidence elsewhere in Ulster, usually half a squad riding along in a metal-shelled pickup or armored truck.  At Newry, every vehicle was stopped at the entrance to the town.  At one side was a two-storied watch tower, with one-way mirrored glass in the windows, and one did not know how many guns were pointed in their direction.  After a close inspection the barrier pole was raised and we passed. 

        We drove around Newry a bit, finally we had to stop and inquire the way to Newtownhamilton. At Newtownhamilton a church commands the top of the most conspicuous hill.  While much of the town lies on either side of a little valley below the church.  We were directed to the proprietor of a restaurant who was credited with knowing Altnamackin.  We soon found it.  Altnamackin, our goal, was little more than a mile away, but as the road was near the border, the exit from here was barricaded and we had to go several extra miles through the countryside. 

        At the top of a rise was a church and cemetery.  Popularly the Hill Church, its official title was the First Presbyterian Church of Newtownhamilton. Conspicuous in the surrounding graveyard was a monument to William George Herron murdered in 1975 by the IRA (Irish Republican Army).(4)   

     Later we discovered William Herron’s wife was Rachel (Caswell) Herron, our hostess that afternoon.  As well as Rachel, we met her sister Annie Caswell and son and daughter-in-law, Will and Grace Herron."

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(1) Indenture obtained from Public Record Office of Northern Ireland: This indenture made the Seventh day of January in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty BETWEEN Alexander McCombe of the City of Dublin gentleman of the one part and James Carswell of Scariff parish of Newtownhamilton barony of Upper Fews and County of Armagh farmer of the other part, WITNESSETH that the said Alexander McCombe for and in Consideration of the yearly rent and Covenants herein after reserved, Hath demised, granted, set, and to Farm let, unto the said James Carswell his heirs ...and offspring, ALL that and those that farm of land situate in Altnamackin, Parish of Newtownhamilton, Barony of Upper Fews and County of Armagh aforesaid containing by a measurement Ten acres and four perches Irish plantation measure be the same more or less measured and bounded near: wall or landmark on the North by a meadow in the possession of James Hagan, the road leading from the main road to the bog on the East partly by bog in the possession of same James  Hagan and land in the possession of Elizabeth Robinson and George Quinn on the South by land in the possession of Samuel Stevenson and on the West by the Road leading from Keady to Dundalk and (?) all  [of]  which said lands are situate lying and being in the parish of Newtownhamilton Barony of Upper Fews and County of Armagh aforesaid TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said demised premises, with Rights, Members and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, unto the said James Carswell his heirs...and Assigns, from the first day of November which was in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen and during the life and lives of his Royal Highness George Prince of Wales Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Robert Carswell sixth son of the said James Carswell party hereto or twenty one years whichever  lasts the longest.

YIELDING AND PAYING therefore and thereout, yearly and every year during the said term unto the said Alexander McCombe...in every year during the said term over and above all  taxes, charges, and impositions whatsoever (Quit-rent and ...) the first payment thereof was to have been made on the first day of May last prior to  the date of these presents and if the said reserved yearly rent or any part thereof shall happen to be behind or unpaid by the space of twenty-one days next after the days herein before mentioned for the payment thereof, then and so often as it shall so happen it shall and may be lawful to and for the said   Alexander McCombe his heirs or Assigns into the said demised premises or any part thereof, to enter and distrain, and the distress and distresses then and therefore found, to lead, drive, take away and dispose of according to law: and if no sufficient distress or distresses shall or may be found, to lead, take away and dispose of according to law: and if no sufficient distress or distress shall or may be found on the said demised premises to satisfy the said rent and all arrears thereof, then it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Alexander McCombe his heirs or Assigns, into the said demised premises or any part thereof in the name of the whole to re-enter, and the same to have again, re-possess  and enjoy as in his or their former Estate, anything in these presents contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding, and the said James Carswell doth for himself his heirs...and assigns, covenant, promise and agree to and with the said Alexander McCombe his heirs and Assigns, by these presents , that he the said James Carswell his heirs...Administrators and Assigns, shall and will from time to time and at all times hereafter during the term hereby demised, well and truly satisfy, content and pay to the said Alexander McCombe his heirs and assigns, the said yearly rent on the said days and times herein before mentioned for the payment thereof, clear above all  taxes as aforesaid And that the said James Carswell his heirs... and Assigns, shall and will during this Demise, preserve, uphold, support, maintain, and keep the said demised premises, and all improvements made and to be made thereon, in good and sufficient order, repair and condition; and at the end expiration or other sooner determination of this demise, shall and will so leave and yield up the same unto the said Alexander McCombe his heirs or assigns.  And the said James Carswell doth hereby bind himself his heirs... and Assigns to allow and present a free pass for horses and cows at all seasonable hours from the road leading from Keady to Dundalk thro’ his said farm to the farm so occupied by the said Elizabeth Robinson and George Quinn and the said James Carswell doth bind himself his heirs....Administrators and assigns to grind all the grain which shall grow on the farm at the mill or mills of Altnomoy, have and to pay the sixteenth grain as the ...? or toll thereof of in default to pay ten shillings sterling for each and every barrel that shall be found at any other mill or mills and likewise two days work of man and horse or two shillings and to pence in lieu thereof  yearly and every year as duties to the said Alex  McCombe his heirs... and Assigns---AND the said Alexander McCombe doth hereby  for himself his heirs and assigns, covenant, promise and agree to and with the said James Carswell, his heirs and Assigns, that the said James Carswell his heirs...Administrators or Assigns,  paying the said reserved yearly rent, and performing the covenants herein before mentioned shall and may peaceably and quietly have, hold and enjoy the said premises with the appurtenances, during the teem hereby demised without any let, hindrance, interruption or disturbance of the said Alexander McCombe, his heirs or Assigns, or any person or persons claiming or deriving from or under him them or any of them.  In witness whereof the parties aforesaid have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written---

Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of

Hugh Garmany                                                                            

William Townley                                               

Alexander McCombe     (seal)

James Carswell              (seal)

(2)Robert Caswell, Memoirs, p. 2

(3)Baptismal records for the 1830’s have been damaged by moisture and vermin.  Hence it is possible that other children of Andrew were baptized there.  However, we must consider other alternatives.  Once is Roberts statement that his family lived in Enniskillen prior to their departure for Canada.

 (4)Those present also heard the poignant story of how Orangemen meeting at Tullyvallen Orange Hall were also gunned down in cold blood, in September 1975. Members of Tullyvallen LOL 630, headed by Bro. David Smyth, hosted the visit at the hall, where the story of how gunmen burst in and opened fire was told by Bro. Berry Reaney, who was shot in the arm during the murderous attack."The meeting started late that night because the secretary Bro. Nevin McConnell had another meeting beforehand," he outlined."Just after the prayer and reading of scripture the gunmen burst in the door and opened fire. Our secretary ran towards the toilets and then fell. I dived for cover under the table and got shot in the arm from a bullet that went through the table,""One of the members was in the police and he rolled onto the floor and got a chance to shoot back at the gunmen and they ran out," he said. Five members of the lodge died as the result of the attack; James McKee JP, the WM, W. R. (Ronnie) McKee, John Johnston, chaplain, Nevin McConnell, secretary, and William G. Herron.

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