Looking for some help and guidance.

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Two heads are better than one, it has been said! So putting that to the test, I was wondering if someone with an interest could suggest some ways of sorting out the LUCEYs of west Cork. In particular, I am interested in the family that took up a lease at Bawnatanaknock townland in 1778. This is when "Darby" (a nickname for Jeremiah?) LUCEY of Kilgobnet got a 31 year lease over "the mountain quarter of the lands of Baratardknock (sic), Barony of West Muskerry, Parish of Clondrohid." Source: abstract for deed 336/104/224050 (taken from O'Kief, Coshe Mang).

My family tree is wanting for some definitive details between 1778 and 1843, the latter date being when Cornelius LUCEY was born at Bawnatanaknock. Thereafter there is no problem as I have most available information to the present day. Cornelius, son of James (1784-1864) was born 1843, m Julia KELLEHER (1857-1904) of Cahirkearna, Ballyvourney, d 1 September 1921. This family was known as the Luceys of Cahireen. James (1784-1864) m Mary MURPHY (1799-1899?). Ownership of Cahireen shifted to the Creedon family in 1926 and remains that way to the present day.

The "Darby" of Kilgobnet mentioned above was born circa 1757. A Patrick, I suspect, was either his brother or father.

The 1766 Clondrohid religious census names the following LUCEYs (Luosy is the recorded spelling): Charles, Cornelius, Daniel, Denis and James. There is no mention of a "Darby" or a Jeremiah, or a Patrick!

The 1831 Clondrohid tithe defaulters includes the following names: Daniel - Curraleigh; Denis - Curraleigh, Leckineen; James - Lackaneen, Curraleigh, Glaundave, Ardnacrushy; Michael - Liscarragane; Jeremiah - Glaunanary, Barnatanaknonk, Glauntane West, Glaundave; Patrick - Barnatanaknock, Curraleigh. I assume some of these men would be related to the those mentioned in 1766.

The following names appear in the 1834 Clondrohid Tithe Applotment: Lousy, Daniel - Currileagh, Lousy, Darby - Glaunanarrig, Glaundane, Lousy, Denis - Currileagh, Leckineen, Lousy, James - Currileagh, Glaundane, Leckineen, Ardnacrusha, Lousy, Jeremiah - Glauntane West, Lousy, John - Derrileagh, Gurranacopple, Liscarragane, Lousy, Pat/Patrick - Currileagh, Bawnatanaknock.  Once again, it is difficult to work out who is who and in which family.

Can someone explain to me why each farmer is attached to more than one farm? Does it mean each one is farming on several farms? In this case, does it mean each farmer has more than one lease? If so, would I be right in concluding that a farmer, in order to make a decent living, had to rely on more than one farm?

I have gleaned from my research that the townland of Bawnatanaknock does not appear in the Down Survey maps of 1656-58. My question is how did it come about between 1658 and 1778 when "Darby" took up his 31 year lease? Note that Bawnatanaknock adjoins Kilgobnet and it seems to me that the former was originally part of a townland titled Lack mcffey and Clusky maguire, and the terminology means nothing to me. This land and Kilgobnet were, according to the 1658 surveys owned by Lord of Muskerry.

The Griffiths Valuation 1852 shows James Lucey occupying a house, office and land comprising 75-0-15 valued at £19 under lease from Henry Harding (Furling?) at Bawnatanaknock (382a 0r 0p); Margaret Lucey (house 0.2.0) and John Lucey (house 0.2.0). Margaret and John were tenants of James Lucey. Other farmers at Bawnatanaknock were William Buckley, John and Johanna Corkery, William Creedon and James and Margaret Keleher. Would it be reasonable to assume that Margaret was the wife of James, and John, their son? Maybe someone with a more intimate knowledge of these times in Ireland could help me out on this.

This brings me now to the end of the timeframe that I am interested in. I look forward to many responses and thank you in advance.

Ray Thurlow, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia