Basil Sandys 1800-1871 married DEVANEY, GERAGHTY

Hi Phillip

Welcome to the IrelandXO Roscommon Community!

Maybe you know some or all of this already, but here goes...

THE SANDYS OF "DURHAM otherwise DERRANE"

Derrane aka Durham is the townland of Derrane in the Civil Parish of Kilbride (Barony of Ballintober) about 2 miles from Roscommon town. The Sandys owned the lands of "Durham Abbey and Durham Lodge" here.  

Basil Sandys baptised 31-Aug-1800, by Edwin Sandys (a Lieutenant in the Roscommon Militia) and Catherine Aldwell was also known as  Mr Basil Sandys Esq. of Durham Abbey, Co. Roscommon who was age 64 in 1865 (matching DOB):

IN CHANCERY: - Policy on the life of Basil Sandys, Esq, formerly of Durham Abbey, County of Roscommon, in Standard Life Office, dated 9th Jan 1840, for £600 and bonuses annual premium, £10 s 7d, payable 9th January... the Said Basil Sandys is now in his 64th year.

In 1840 William Sandys Esq. of Fortfield registered a £20 Rent Charge at "Durham Abbey" Barony of Ballintober. In the 1853 William Sandys of Durham Lodge sat on the Grand Jury for Ballintober South. In 1857, he was recorded as "William Sands" in Griffith's Valuation when he held 124 acres of Derrane "in fee" and sublet much of the rest of it. The Sandys house was valued at £3. Martin Geraghty was one of his tenants, residing at house 10a (valued at £2) and holding land in the neighbouring townland of Cloonarragh.

James Geraghty (1823-1893)  of "Cloonara", Kilbride, Co Roscommon (Registrar and Farmer, m. Winifred Henigan) was the executor and trustee of the will of William Sandys Esq. of Durham Abbey. He also held the Dispensary at Cloonarragh. He was most certainly related to Catherine Geraghty who married Basil Sandys. 

TO BE SET: TENANT from year to year— X Fiona the Ist or May next, the lands of DURHAM ABBEY, containing about 12 acres, I. M. and the lands of DURHAM LODGE, containing 40 acres or thereabouts situate in Barony of Ballintubber South, and county of Roscommon. Proposals will be received up to the 1st of May JAMES GERAGHTY, Cloonara, Roscommon, executor and Trustee of Wm. Sandys, Esq. deceased. [Roscommon Messenger - 27 April 1861 ]

I also have some information which may explain why Basil Sandys' marriage to Catherine appears to be over by 1840 and his children no longer residing with him...

In early 1839, Mr Basil Sandys, excise officer, was appointed to Longford, and took up residence at Church Street with his family. At this point in time, he had 6 children (the eldest being a 13-year-old girl) and was married to their stepmother (presumably Catherine Geraghty). 

This information was gleaned from some disturbingly bad news (not recommended for the squeamish)

[Freeman's Journal - Tuesday 11 June 1839] 

LAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE. On Tuesday evening last Mr Basil Sandys, who has resided in this town for some months back, and who held the situation of excise officer, went out for some short time from his house in Church-street, leaving his family of six children behind him; on his return he found that the eldest, a fine girl of thirteen years of age, had neglected to attend to her brothers and sisters, as directed by her father when going out; he immediately laid hold of her, and commenced beating her with the thong of a whip which he took down for that purpose. After beating her for some time, and whilst in a violent fit of passion, he turned the handle of the whip and struck her on the crown of the head; a bone crook which was on the handle entered the child's skull to some depth, and fractured it. She now lies in the county infirmary, in a hopeless state, and Mr Sandys has been arrested and committed to our county gaol, awaiting the result. Mr Sandys is respectably connected in the county of Roscommon, and his wife, the stepmother of the children, was not at home when it occurred. Longford Journal.

[Tipperary Free Press - Wednesday 26 June 1839]   Mr Basil Sandys, excise officer at Longford, is committed to gaol for the supposed murder of his daughter, by striking her on the head with a whip handle. 

A Mr Basil Sandys Esq. formerly of Durham Abbey, Co. Roscommon was age 64 in 1865 (the baptism of  Basil Sandys on on 31-Aug-1800 would appear to be a match. 

IN CHANCERY: - Policy on the life of Basil Sandys, Esq, formerly of Durham Abbey, County of Roscommon, in Standard Life Office, dated 9th Jan 1840, for £600 and bonuses annual premium, £10 s 7d, payable 9th January... the Said Basil Sandys is now in his 64th year.

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DURHAM LODGE 

Durham Lodge, formerly known as "Hurley's holding" was a cottage and offices with 39 acres of land attached. 

George Sandys Esq. of Durham Lodge (d.1847) was married to Dorothea Bouchier (d.1841) of Kilcullane, Co Limerick. 

In 1837, Anne Eliza Sandys (1820-1860) the only daughter of George Sandys Esq. of Durham Lodge, married William James Stanley of Blackwater Lodge. [Roscommon Journal, and Western Impartial Reporter - Saturday 03 June 1837 ] Stanley was the Clerk of the Board of Guardians of Roscommon Gaol from 1854-1873 and Anne was his third wife. 

Nehemiah Bouchier Sandys. Esq, eldest son of George Sandys, Durham Lodge, county of Roscommon, Esq. married Bessie Kennedy of Elmgrove Blackrock Co Dublin in 1845 [Dublin Evening Mail - 1 August 1845 ]

[The Pilot - Wednesday 18 August 1847]   DEATHS  On the 12th instant, at Durham Abbey, in the county Roscommon, George Sandys Esq.  

In 1853, it was occupied by William Sandys Esq. who soon after purchased the property from its owner Elizabeth Sandys: 

SALE ESTATES. Property in this county, sold in the Incumbered Estates Court, increasing in value. On Tuesday last Mr E. Lynch, Auctioneer, Bold in this town Durham Lodge, and it was purchased for the occupier, Mr Wm. Sandys, for £534 bringing fully twenty-five years' purchase of the Rental, and thirty years' purchase on the valuation for sale. [Roscommon Journal - 15 July 1854 ]

His son, James Sandys. Esq. (d.1904) married Margaret White of Rockfield, Co Roscommon in 1873. Their children included Dr WA Sandys of the Crescent, Galway, J Edwin Sandys of Durham Lodge, and Sr. M. Vincent.

From the 1860s onwards Durham Lodge was let to the Parish Priests of Kilgeflin and Derrane. 

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Hope this helps!

Many, many thanks for the information.

I have a fair amount of information on Basil's adult life (Excise Officer, "Lamentable Occurrence", children, third marriage and death) and earlier generations of the Sandys line, but I have not found records of Basil's earlier marriages and the parents of his wives.  The Geraghty links to William Sandys are very exciting news to me as they indicate that Catherine Geraghty was local to Roscommon.  William may have been Basil's brother but I have no proof of this.

As a sidenote, I don't think Basil faced trial for the death of his daughter - perhaps he was released from gaol and ran back to London with his (Devaney) children.  Catherine (Geraghty) is not with him, on the 1841 census - I assume she died before Basil's marriage in 1855.  The birth and whereabouts of Basil's daughter Elizabeth Aldwell Sandys before her marriage in 1860 remain a mystery.

Philip

Hi Philip

You can be fairly certain that Catherine Geraghty was of Durham and directly related to the Geraghtys of Cloonaragh.

The family line to follow is Martin Geraghty Jr (1863 - 1947) of Cloonara Cottage who was a Rate Collector in the 1920s. His marriage record to Anne O'Hara in 1891 gives Derrane as his address and James Geraghty as his father.  (In 1891, Martin Geraghty of Cloonara was executor to the will of William Bannon of Newtowncashel Co Longford, witnessed by James Geraghty. He witnessed the marriage of James Sandys (son of Basil) of Durham Lodge to Margaret White. James and John E Sandys godparented for Martin).  (Their son, John Joseph Geraghty & Nellie Scanlon subsequently inherited Cloonara Cottage).   No other Geraghty family appears on record in this district in the 1901 Census.

He was the firstborn son of James Geraghty (1823-1893) of Cloonara (executor to Basil Sandy's will and Grand Juror for Ballintober South in 1851) who was also a Poor rate Collector and Registrar.

MARTIN GERAGHTY OF DURHAM LODGE

Martin Geraghty Sr. (1780-1874) aka Martin Geraghty Esq. of Durham was a cess-payer and sat on the Grand Jury for Ballintober South in 1845, 1846 and 1850.  From a case which appears in the Roscommon Journal - Saturday 05 July 1845, it would appear that Martin Geraghty acted as the Sandys' agent in Cloonara and Derrane. He also sat on the board of Guardians for Roscommon Union in 1850. In 1857, he is recorded at House #10a Derrane (valued at £2 15s) on Griffith's Valuation.  Martin Geraghty Sr. died age 94, on 19-Jul-1874 at Durham, Kilbride. He was by then a widower and the informant was his daughter-in-law, Winifred Geraghty (wife of James of Cloonara Cottage above). James & Winifred also named their firstborn son "Martin" following the tradition (paternal father's name to the first son). 

As you mentioned that Catherine's father was a Martin Geraghty ... it certainly looks like James and Catherine were siblings. 

Martin Geraghty of Derrane's other children:

Agnes Geraghty (b.1840) of Durham Lodge m. Pat Hanly of Newtown Cashel, Co Longford (farmer/ shopkeeper) on 05-Feb-1872. Witnesses: Mary Jane McDonnell and Michael Hanly. Mary Jane McDonnell of Blessington (b. 1855) was the dau. of John McDonnell. 

> A William McDonnell was best man at the marriage of Martin Geraghty to Anne O'Hara in 1891. 

Maria Geraghty: In 1856, Mr Martin Geraghty of Derrane (Plaintiff) brought a case against Mr Michael E. Sharkey of Hollywell (County Cess Collector) for the seduction of his daughter Maria Geraghty. Mr William E Sandys "the brother-in-law"* gave evidence. [Roscommon Journal, and Western Impartial Reporter - Saturday 26 July 1856: KILDARE ASSIZES ATHY - SEDUCTION]. The "unfortunate affair" which involved Maria being "given some liquid to drink before he affected her ruin" and a proposal of marriage (which she refused) resulted in her giving birth to a child in June. Geraghty secured an award of  £300 for damages. A criminal case arising from "Old Mr Geraghty" and Sandys being assaulted by Sharkey with a "skull cracker" was to follow.  [Roscommon Messenger - Saturday 19 July 1856]

*A William Sandys (1815-1875) married Mary Donnelly of Strokestown in 1842 (both Catholic) and baptised children in the parish of Kilbride. So, in order for him to be a brother-in-law to Geraghty ... 

The plot thickens!

SANDYS of DURHAM aka DARHAM

In the Elphin Census of 1749, the only Sandys on record in Kilbride is Edwyn Sandys Reynolds of "Darham", Gent (Protestant). At that time his household included 5 children over the age of 14, one child under 14, and 7 servants. There was no Geraghty recorded in Derrane/Durham nor Cloonarra. However a Robert Geraghty was recorded nearby at Newtown. 

Rua - you are a superstar!

I know that Edwin SANDYS REYNOLDS Esq JP, son of Robert SANDYS MP (c1645-1703) and Mary REYNOLDS, died on 27 Feb 1770 and was buried in the family vault in Roscommon church, but apart from Nehemiah I didn't kinow how many children he had, or how big a household.  (The line goes Nehemiah SANDYS m1761 Elizabeth RYVES - Edwin George SANDYS m1798 Catherine ALDWELL - Basil SANDYS)

Now the Basil SANDYS - Catherine GERAGHTY link to Martin GERAGHTY (c1780-1874) is settled with the additional information you have kindly provided, I can look around for siblings and marriages.

I have never heard of the 1749 Elphin census - is it available online?  And could you advise me on the best websites for Irish newspapers and other records?

A thousand thanks

Philip

Hi Philip

Delighted to be of help!

Now you can confidently join the IrelandXO Kilbride Parish (please add your ancestors here to watch the information trail grow).

YOUR ANCESTRAL PARISH

Kilmore parish townlands

Durham in 1829 (Skeffington Gibbon)

Kilmore parish in 1837 (Lewis).​

ELPHIN CENSUS 1749

Indeed anyone in search of 18th-century ancestors in Co. Roscommon should check out the Elphin Census of 1749. This census can be searched on findmypast.ie. (The placename spellings are hard to decipher at times, but you message me again if you need help).

IRISH NEWSPAPERS

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

https://www.irishnewsarchive.com   

There are some (e.g. the Roscommon Herald) that can only be searched online through the Roscommon Libraries at present.

LAND OWNERSHIP/ VALUATION OFFICE BOOKS

In 1839, houses at Derrane/Durham are registered in the name of George Sands (sic), Martin Geraghty, Brian Owen, and Henry Corr. William "Sands" is recorded at Carrownalassan. (What is interesting here is that the most valuable property at Durham ... then valued at £25 was owned by the Goffs of Carraroe Park and occupied by Henry Corr Esq.). So you should look to the Goff Estate records for more information as to the role of Sandy and Geraghty as middlemen.

For 1824-1856, the Valuation Office Books can be searched FREE here.

For 1857-1970 I would also strongly suggest you check out the Griffith's Cancelation Books at ValOff.ie for Derrane/Durham and Cloonara. This will tell you more key information as to whom the property passed on to  (pinpointing dates of death/ emigration sometimes). You can order copies of the relevant pages by e-mail (for a fee). These prove to be the most enlightening!

Best of luck!

PS ... If on your travels, you come across a link that explains the "Sandy" origins for William Sandy Acheson Esq (1813-79), I would appreciate you adding that information to his ancestor profile here. 

Please can you tell me where you found Basil Sandys  will, as I haven't found it anywhere.

I am very interested in Dorothea Bouchier, the wife of George Sandys of Durham Lodge, and also about how George fits in to the scenario at Durham.  Dorothea was the daughter of James Bourchier and Martha Gabbett, born c1780 at the family seat of Kilcullane in Limerick.  Apart from the children you mention, she had sons William Bouchier Sandys who married Maria X (the Pilot records her death in its article of 14/07/1848 where it adds that William is the Relieving Officer of the South Dublin Union), and there was also a son John Thomas Boucher Sandys who had progeny but I am unaware of his wife's name thus far.  I also have a Robert Sandys marrying a Mary Bouchier by licence in 1798... any help would be gratefully received.

I believe Robert Sandys was the son of Nehemiah Sandys and Elizabeth Ryves (Mary Bouchier's parents unknown), they married 17/11/1798 at Cashel and Emly

Mary appears to be the daughter of James Bouchier of Kilcullane and his wife Martha Gabbett and is therefore the sister of Dorothea

Hi folks. Does anybody know who were the parents of Sandys brothers George, born about 1813, and Robert, born about 1816. The brothers were Irish, and together with their wives faced trial in Stockport, England in 1841 on rather gruesome charges. Robert's wife, Ann, had been married to a Thomas Devaney in Ireland, but had left him and married, or at least lived with Robert in Stockport. In the 1841 census both couples, together with a child, William, are recorded in jail.

George was eventually transported to Tasmania. While awaiting trial on a Hulk, George was described by a gaoler as of  "good character, respectable connections"

My question, could the brothers have been sons of George Sandys and Dorothea Bouchier?

Patrick.

Irish Genealogy has a marriage for Pat Sandys and Catherine Farrell or Riffe in the RC church at Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, May 26, 1890. Sandys is described as a widower, both are beggars of no fixed abode. Pat Sandys father is recorded as Alexander, deceased, a Tithes pensioner. Both parties signed with an X.

A Paddy Sands died at Clooncur [near Tulsk], November 10, 1896, aged 80, no occupation, married. Informant, Kate Sands, widow.

Kate Sands, widow, aged 71, no fixed residence, died in Strokestown Workhouse, January 7, 1914. She appears to have been there at the time of the 1911 census.

This appears unlikely, but could Pat Sandys have been a child of the first marriage of Alexander Sandys of Durham?

Patrick.

In reply to Patrick who asked about the parents of George and Robert Sandys from Stockport:

Robert was transported to Tasmania and in his convict records he mentions that he has 5 brothers named Basil, John, George, Richard, Edward and William. He also says that 3 of them are in London and that one is in Customs and one in Excise (doesn't say which ones). This may link him to the original poster's Basil Sandys and mean that their parents may have been Edwin George Sandys and Catherine Aldwell. 
 

Kiki - that is exciting information.  Could you tell me where I can find Robert's convict record?

Philip

Can you please post a link to the above information, as I can't find it. Thanks.

Hi Philip, here is the link to Robert Sandys' convict indent. It spans 2 pages, hence 2 links:

https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P132   https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P133  

His other convict information is here:

https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-31$init=CON33-1-31P184

Hi Philip, I can see that you have done a lot of Sandys research and so I'm curious to know whether you think that Robert ( and George) of Stockport may be siblings of your Basil, given the mention of a Basil in Robert's convict record? It's also interesting that Robert had children with an Ann "Devannah" (various spellings found). I believe there was no marriage and that she was the wife of a Thomas Devannah (from newspaper reports). I notice the name Devaney pops up a bit with the Sandys family.

My battle is actually trying to prove that I may be an Australian descendant of Robert (not that it's that romantic to be descended from a convicted murderer!) so most of my energy has been focussed there, but my "Robert Sands" as I believe he "adjusted" his name to was definitely born in Roscommon (from birth records of his children) and he named one of his children "Robert Allwell" (possibly supposed to be Aldwell in reference to his mother's maiden name?). Anyway, lots of circumstantial stuff (plus more that places the convict Robert Sandys in close proximity to meeting and marrying into my family in Tasmania).

If you don't already know, a quick google of Robert Sandys and Stockport will bring up information on his conviction of child poisoning. It seems that he and his brother George were very poor mat makers and so it never occurred to me that he may have come from a family of wealth and respectability. I'm very curious to know what you think of all this?

Hi Kiki

Interested you may be connected to the Sandys family. I am also descended from Basil, from his daughter Sarah, by Catherine Birmingham/Gillespie.

I find I have a small DNA match on Ancestry to someone who is connected to Louisa Sands, daughter of Robert.

If anyone wants to hunt for me, my user name on Ancestry is glemsue.

Regards

Sue P.

Hello Sue, 

Thankyou for your reply. The DNA connection is very exciting. I had wondered whether I would get a DNA test but thought that it may be too many generations down the track to be useful. 
 

I have already seen your tree on Ancestry and it is very interesting. No doubt I will be doing a lot more perusing now that I'm pretty sure I have a Sandys connection! My tree is currently private but if you are at all interested in the Australian connection then I'm more than happy to give access. I will send you a message on Ancestry as well.

I have added the marriage of George Sandys and Hannah Gormley in Stockport in 1838. It shows his father as Edward. I know from experience that Edward and Edwin were interchangeable in various documents.

Sue P.

Hi all,

I think I may be related to the William Sandys which Rua mentioned in a previous post:

*A William Sandys (1815-1875) married Mary Donnelly of Strokestown in 1842 (both Catholic) and baptised children in the parish of Kilbride. So, in order for him to be a brother-in-law to Geraghty ... 

William would be my Great Great Great Grandfather.

Unfortunately, I do not know much about my Sandys connection, however since discovering this page today my curiosity has increased!

My family tree currently stops at William. I would be delighted if I could extend it further. Would anybody here be able to help me out?

Warm regards

PBM

Thanks Suepip!

I wonder is this the same William Sandys? The marriage cert says he is a widower so perhaps Mary Donnelly on my tree had died by 1848 and he remarried Ann Kelly?

I'm finding it difficult to read your second attachment, if you could shed any light on that, that would be great. I see it's dated the same day as the marriage and signed by the priest that married them so I assume it relates to the marriage?

Yes it relates to the marriage, it says William is the son of Edwin and Catherine  Sandys of Roscommon Ireland, that's the important bit. I found William and Ann on the 1851 England census. William born c1815, died in Marylebone London in 1855.

Elizabeth Sandys who died  5 APR 1863 Woodisland, Leitrim is my 3rd GG. Working on the tree. On Ancestry as Jules2021 and Gedmatch No: TR3581861. 

Hi, I have just created a Facebook Page "Sandys of Roscommon Research". It is for anyone researching the Sandys and to create a group that can maybe help each other with their research. No members yet as just set up and will be slow to start. Link https://www.facebook.com/groups/6318083388286869/