Duncannon - Wexford Guide and Directory, 1885
About “Wexford County Guide and Directory,” 1885
George Henry Bassett produced 7 Irish county directories in the 1880s: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Kilkenny, Louth, Tipperary and Wexford. Each provides useful history of the respective counties as well as lists of office holders, farmers, traders, and other residents of the individual cities, towns and villages.
The directories are naturally an invaluable resource for those tracing family history. However, there are a few points to bear in mind.
- This online version of Bassett’s Wexford County Guide and Directory is designed primarily as a genealogical research tool and therefore the numerous advertisements in the original book, many full page, and quite a few illustrated, have been excluded.
- The text has been proofed with due care, but with large bodies of text typographical errors are inevitably bound to occur.
- Be aware that there were often inconsistencies in spelling surnames in the 19th century and also that many forenames are abbreviated in Bassett’s directories.
With respect to the last point, surnames which today begin with the “Mc” prefix, for example, were often formerly spelt as “M‘,”. For a list of some of the more common forename abbreviations used in the directory, see Forename Abbreviations.
THIS village derives its chief interest from the ancient and historic fort of the same name. It commands the entrance to the Harbour of Waterford, and was occupied, July, 1884, by a detachment of the 24th Regiment. The fort is built on a rock, at the foot of the hill upon which the village stands. Cromwell was so impressed with its strength, that he endeavoured to starve out the garrison, but he did not wait long enough to secure success. Ireton, in 1650, laid siege to it. The commander having heard of the surrender of Waterford, thought it useless to hold out. The adherents of James II. were in possession in 1690, under Captain Michael Burke, but were compelled to yield by the force of circumstances, backed by sixteen ships of war, commanded by Sir Cloudsley Shovel. Duncannon is better than twelve miles from New Ross. Its population, of about 300, finds occupation mainly in fishing. There is daily communication with Waterford by steamer. Among the handsome private residences of the vicinity are those of Mr. Abraham Stephens, J.P., and Mr. James Haughton. The names of the Catholic and Church of Ireland Clergymen of the Parish will be found under the head of Arthurstown.
Rev. J. Brown, Presbyterian minister
A. J. Lovat, Postmistress
John Maher, sergeant R.I.C.
Johanna Aspell, N. Schoolteacher
Eliza Blackburn, I.C. school tchr.
BUSINESS BRANCHES.
Bakery and coal, Thomas Stokes
Corn, coal, &c., A. Stephens & Son
Grocers licensed to sell spirits—John M‘Gonagil, Jas. M‘Kusker
Hotel-keeper—J. M‘Gonagil
Spirit dealers—Mary Walsh, P. Colfer, Wm. Stokes
Victualler—Thomas Murphy
FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, &c.
[See also Arthurstown.]
Barry, J., Isle of Ballagh
Boyd, Dr., Clonsharra
Caulfield, E. B., Suir view
Devereux, A., Kilbride
Dunphy, Ml., Aldridge
Furlong, Nicholas, Kilbride
Haughton, James, Duncannon
Haydon, W., Clonlard
Jacob, Capt., Glacis view
Keating, James, Duncannon
Lacey, Patrick, Booley
Lloyd, J., Turret house
M‘Coscar, J., Duncannon
Neill, Peter, Duncannon
O’Connor, Thomas, Booley
O’Shea, J., Clonsharra
Stephens, A. (J.P.), Bellavista
Stephens, Edward, Duncannon
Stott, T., Clonlard
Young, J., Blackhill
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