Knock Civil Parish and the Incidence of the Coffee (Coffey, Coffy) Surname in Griffith's Valuation
There were no individuals with the Coffey, Coffy or Coffee Surname documented in Knock Civil Parish in either Costello or Clanmorris Barony when the Griffith's Valuation was conducted in 1856.
When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted for Knock Civil Parish in 1856, it fell primarily within Costello Barony but a small portion was within Clanmorris Barony. Knock Civl Parish included 45 Townlands, 10 of which were in Clanmorris Barony and is also referred to as Knockdrumcalry.
Knock Civil Parish is part of Knock Roman Catholic Parish that was formed in 1868. (Mitchell, 1988, p. 89). Church records for this Parish are covered on LDS Microfilm number 1279206 (items 3-5 that covers baptisms 1868-1913 and Marriages 1865-1943) and Microfilm number 926227 item 1 (that covers Baptisms 1868-1880 and Marriages 1875-1880). The only Roman Catholic Chapel that was noted in the Griffith's Valuation was in the Townland of Drum. There was a graveyard in the Townland of Caldragh and a burying ground in the Townland of Churchfield. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Knock).
Knock is located only five miles from the Town of Clare (one of the major market towns of the early 19th century) and is between Clare (Claremorris) and Ballyhaunis. There weren't any "fair greens" or "Customs and Tolls of Fairs" in Knock Civil Parish. I also couldn't find any records of patents for markets and fairs being applied for or obtained for any Knock Townlands. From an economic standpoint, commercial activity seems somewhat minimal and spread out over multiple Townlands. There was a forge in the Townlands of Aghtaboy, Carrowmore, Cloondace and Drum, a Pound in the Townland of Drum, Corn Mills and Kilns in the Townland of Eden and Roosky and just Corn Mills in Lispatrick and Shanvaghera. The Townland of Roosky had a Tuck Mill and there were several Townlands with Herd's Houses such as Ballyhowly, Carrowmore, Churchfield and Cregganbrack. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Knock).
The only Schoolhouse noted in the Griffith's Valuation for Knock Civil Parish was in the Townland of Carrowmore. According to Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland; however, there were "6 private schools, in which 230 children were taught." (Lewis, 1837;1984, p. 236).
There weren't any rivers documented in this Civil Parish, but there were many lakes meandering throughout many Townlands such as Cloontumaun Lough, Cullentragh Lough, Cloontarriff or Bally Phillip Lough, Carrownamallaght or Rowans Lough and Curragh Lough. I didn't see any designated bog parcels but the Topographical Dictionary of Ireland section on Knock states there is a large amount of bog area. (Lewis, 1837;1984, p. 236). I also didn't see any turbaries in this Civil Parish (areas where Peat moss is dug for fuel).
The population of Knock Civil Parish appeared to drop less than many other Civil Parishes I have been analyzing during the famine years. In 1841 the population of Knock Civil Parish was 3,374, 3174 in 1851, 3241 by 1881, and by 1971 it was only 1,143. (O'Hara, 1872, p. 8).
Two primary landlords were represented in Knock Civil Parish, Viscount Dillon was dominant in 29 Townlands in Costello Barony and John Nolan Ferrall dominated all 10 Townlands of Knock Civil Parish that fell in Clanmorris Barony. There were a smattering of other landlords mentioned but these two were the most prevalent. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Knock). The Local Government Board compilation "Return of Owners of Land of One Acre and Upwards" documented Viscount Dillon as residing in Loughglynn House in Castlerea with 83,749 acres in County Mayo. John Nolan Ferrall resided in Logboy House, Ballyhaunis County Mayo and held 9731 acres there. (Local Govt Board, 1876, p. 808). I plan to create pages on the holdings of both of these landlords in my Landlords of County Mayo section in the near future.
I found it interesting that Viscount Dillon's property in statute acres was 83.7 in 1838 (primarily in Costello Barony) and had not declined at all by 1876. He was second only to the Marquess of Sligo in acreage according to the Mayo Estates 1838-1876 that was published in the book "A Various Country Essays in Mayo History 1500-1900." (Gillespie, 1987, p. 110).