Ballyglassoon family - Michael and Margaret (nee Butler) Veale

Hi

I've forwarded your request to a volunteer in Co Kilkenny who may be able to assist or advise you.

All the best.

Genealogy support

Hi Jeanne,

Our volunteer in Kilkenny has come back with this information. I hope this helps.....

Michael Veale 
MacLysaght who is an authority on Irish Surnames advises that the three spellings Vail / Vale / Veale are often interchanged in their usage. The Vail / Vale / Veale name itself is of Norman origin and is found in many mediaeval records.  The name is associated with the County of Waterford which is adjoining Kilkenny while the barony of Iverk is right next to the Waterford Border. 

Ballyglassoon

This is a townland of 160 acres in the civil parish of Fiddown, Barony of Iverk, in the poor law union of Carrick-on-Suir.  In Griffith Valuation of 1850 there is only one reference to the Vale family in this barony  indeed in the entire county of Kilkenny.   A John Vale (not Veale) is recorded in the Townland of Tobernabrone in the civil parish of Fiddown,, barony of Iverk as follows

No and Letters of

reference to

Map

Names

Townland and Occupiers

Names

Immediate  Lessors

Description of Tenement

Area

Net Annual Value

Land

Buildings

Total

John Vale

Earl of

Bessborough

Ho,Off,Land

11,0,6

?3.18.0

?2.12.0

?6.10.0

It seems probable that this is very likely the family of origin of Michael Vale (Veale) husband of Margaret Butler. There is also a reference to the same family of Vale in the Tithe Applotment Books of 1830.  As his eldest son, born 1867 was named John this is a strong and further indication that Michael?s father in turn was John. Naming the first born son for the paternal Grandfather was a well established practice in 19th century Ireland.    

Margaret Butler

Dowling is a townland of 440 acres in the civil parish of Fiddown, Barony of Iverk, in the poor law union of Carrick-on-Suir also. There are no less than 26 Butler families recorded in Griffith so it would be somewhat more difficult to isolate the correct family and so identify the Margaret Butler who married Michael Veale.

All the best.

Genealogy support

I would expect that she and her husband and some of her children are probably buried in the cemetery.  Probably someone should check the cemetery stones or records?

We did find information in the Piltown catholic church's Baptism Register - for all the children, and we know who stayed in Ireland and who emigrated.  It's going BACK one more generation to find Michael's and Margaret's families that has us stumped.

Any tips for finding the parents of my grandparents?

I'll be coming over in a couple of weeks, and am hoping to get some time in the Piltown area.  Nine years ago a female historian with the last name O'Shea led my 3rd cousin to the supposed homestead of my great grandparents - in Dowling, where Margaret Butler is noted as living in the 1901 census, with her daughter Margaret and son Edward.  

Is there any chance of finding Ms. O'Shea or someone else who might be able to direct me to this property?  It is talked of as now belonging to the Ballygowan water co.