This story starts with Henry Beresford 1747-1817. He was born in Deelish and was buried in the old Clonea cemetry, with the inscription “here lieth the body of Henry Beresford who departed this life on dec 30, 1817, aged 70 and his son Robert age 28.”

His son, THOMAS BERESFORD Senior, lived near Kill at Ballyvohalane, on the Scrahan road. Thomas was born in 1775, died 1836, and is buried at Kill cemetery. He married Honora Foran (1783 -1857).

The family group was widely spread around the area for several generations, but this Beresford  line now seems to have come to an end locally. We welcome any insights, changes etc – this has been a difficult trail to follow.

Thomas and Honora had 4 sons

Henry of Ballyvohalane  and Nicholas of Dunabrattin   1803 – 1883

Thomas of Castlecroddick   born 1805  and James1 of Knockane    1806 – 1896

Thomas was baptised at Kill on 15 Jan 1806. The sponsors were Ellen Molouny and (another) Thomas Beresford. {Thomas of Bunmahon }

Thomas appears in the Griffith Valuation (1848 -1856), as holding 85 acres of land at Castlecroddick. At this stage, we don’t know any more about him – what happened to the farm?

  His wife was Mary Beresford, born 1821, died 1891 age 70. They had a daughter Catherine born 1842 died 1870 age 28, and a daughter Ann, born 1857 died 1871 age 14. Nicholas appears in Griffith Valuation (1848 to 1864) as a holder of 40 acres of land at Dunabrattin.  Nicholas was witness to his brother James1 wedding in January 1842 at Killea (now Holy Cross, Dunmore). Nicholas was at the funeral of Henry Beresford2 of Annestown  in 1866.

Above photo is of a Nicholas from Dunabrattin, photo is in the National Archives in Dublin. History of the photo is not known. Anyone for cricket? at a boarding school?

James Beresford1 of Knockane.  1806 – 1896.  Julia his wife   born in 1822    died in 1882 age 60. James and James Hardy appear in Griffith Valuation (1848-1856) as sharing the title to 14 acres of land at Knockane. In addition, James had title to a house and 3 acres of land, which was rented. James was a fisherman, and as a young man moved to the fishing village of Portally, 10 Km from Dunmore east. In the early 1800’s Portally Cove was the more important fishing haven in the area. However, it suffered from storm damage on many occasions and Dunmore dock was built in 1866.

James married a local woman Julia Fitzgerald from Portally in January 1842 at Killea.The wedding witnesses were Nicholas Beresford, Mary Harney, Ansticee Phelan and Patrick Kearney.  James and Julia had their first daughter Bridget in 1842.

James and Julia moved back to Knockane and had 7 more children, all baptised in Dunhill / Fenor Parish. They are:

Mary, born 1846. John, born 1852…….died 1884   age 32 …not married, labourer

Michael, born 1854. Nicholas, born 1857….. died 1889  age 32…….’fisherman’

Honor, born 1860 married, became Honor Hayes. Catherine, born 1867….died 1888   age 21

James2 (Jim) Beresford, born 1867…. died  1931. Jim lived in the area, and married his wife Catherine , born 1877.  Jim was born at Dunabrattin, on a tiny farm  of 7-10 acres on the cliffs on Dunabrattin headland – out from the woodcarvers shop. The house taken by the sea 40 years ago. Jim was a fisherman at Boatstrand. Jim left a will, 4 pages of detailed entries, covering expenses relating to his sons schooling, grazing income etc.

Jim had a poor existence, his two children Thomas and James3 were looked after by his sister, who was married to John Nugent of Tankardstown. However, Jim did manage to pay for his sons to board at the Industrial Boarding School at Cappaquin.

Jim had son James3, born 1910, lived in England, not married. Worked as a cobbler in the army.

Jim had son Thomas, lived locally in Kilduane and worked for much of his life in England, died 1992 aged around 80 years.

Thomas Beresford   1911 – 1992 .Wife’s name missing.

Thomas has 4 daughters born in Knockane. – Kitty, Bridget, Maureen, Hannah.

Bridget is married to Derek Smart in England.  Maureen is married to Michael Guiry in Old Parish.

Hannah is married to Tony Veale, living in Carrigphillip. Kitty is married to Michael Power, living at Kilduane, Bonmahon.

Kitty Beresford Power. Kitty was very convinced that she was related to the Beresfords in Annestown. Her father Thomas referred to Katty Beresford, Annestown as his “aunty Kathy”. He used to cut turf and bring some to Kathy when she lived in Benvoy.

Kitty talked about relatives at Ballyvohalane – a  Beresford woman married to Londrigans Or Linehans in previous generations.