Summary all Families of Knox, Co. Monaghan

The following article is the second in a series by Jerry Strum who has been researching  his Rodden/Rudden ancestors.

The first article “Rudden (Rodden) family of Monaghan and Scotland” is available here

Again, many thanks for sharing this Jerry.

December 5th 2017

This document is based on 1827 Tithe Applotment, Completed 1861 Valuation Survey, Drumully Parish Baptismal Records, 1901 Irish census Clogher Record 2000 and lots of guessing.

 

This document has been created in a further attempt to answer these questions:

• How is Patrick Rudden b1830, my gr great grandfather, connected to the Ruddens of Knox, Killynenagh, Co Monaghan, Ireland?
• How can knowledge of all family groups in Knox East and Knox West be helpful in understanding Patrick Rudden 1830 origin?
• Who did John Rodden b 1865 in Scotland, son of Patrick Rudden 1830 of Co Monaghan, Ireland visit when he went to Ireland in 1892 and married Annie Connolly of Aghnaskew?
• I share DNA with a descendant of Rose Rudden born about 1840 who married Patrick McDonald (see table 4).  Who else was in Rose Rudden’s family and how might I be connected?

What is Known:

• Patrick Rudden born abt 1830 went to Scotland abt 1847 and declared he was from Co Monaghan in 1871 Scot census.
• Patrick’s son, John b 1865, went to Ireland in 1892 where he worked in Aghnaskew (most likely on the Connolly farm), there he met and married Annie Connolly in the same year.  Alice Rudden of Coolnacarte, Monaghan reported to me in 2013 that her mother knew of the Rudden boy from Scotland. John, the Rudden from Scotland, visited his cousin in Knox, who was named either John or James Rudden.
• Patrick clearly did not inherit land or lease of 5 acres.  Patrick’s father, thought to be Charles, also did not inherit the lease to 5 acres land.  These two facts make tracing Patrick back in Ireland a significant challenge, as neither will be recorded in 1827 or 1856.
• A descendant of a Rose Rudden, believed sister of Hugh Rudden, married to Rose Smyth, and I share some DNA.

What is Assumed:

• Patrick Rudden b 1830 had a brother John abt 1832.  Support for this idea includes the fact that this Patrick and John Rodden lived almost beside each other most of their adult lives in Scotland.  They used the traditional naming patterns for their children.  Both used the names Charles and Margaret for children.  John’s parents are known from death record of his mother, Margaret Rudden,  the record show that his mother was Margaret Harper/Harpur and father was Charles Rudden/Rodden. However while Patrick declared his origin as Co Monaghan, no record of John or his mother, Margaret, describes their origins as Ireland and unfortunately Patrick’s death record does not list his parents.
• Ruddens in Co Monaghan were clustered in the south west corner of the county.

Hypothesis:
This Patrick Rudden born 1830 in Co Monaghan and died in December 1885 in Lanarkshire, Scotland was a cousin or brother of one of the two Hugh Ruddens who were present in the 1861 completed Valuation in Knox East, Killynenagh, Monaghan, Ireland. The case will be made that it was Hugh Rudden and Mary McPhillip’s son, John 1863, who he visited.

Sorting it all out using all gathered information
For this inquiry the following documents were used to establish connections, possible connections, and probable connections: 1827 Tithe Applotment, Baptism Registry for Drumully parish RC, 1901 Irish Census.  Those connections are based on several realities and customs of the times.

• Most, if not all, of the residents of Knox, in the first half of the nineteenth century, were poor and illiterate.  The range of field for searching for spouse was small, usually as far as one could walk with in a day.  So people married people of the same faith who were close by. People stayed in place.  So the geography of where people lived very much influenced spouse selection.
• While many from Knox East left during the famine, those remaining continued on the land of their families.  As population declined, choices for a spouse also declined.  Thus records indicate the intermarriage of the few remaining families in this area.
•  It is assumed that siblings often asked other siblings to be Godparents.  Based on that assumption, family groups emerge, See Table 6.

So, who did John Rodden from Scotland visit in 1892 in Knox East?
First, a look at the trail of Ruddens during the nineteenth century.  Information is provided through Tithe Applotment, Griffith’s Valuation, the 1901 Irish Census.

• In 1827 there were five Rudden lease holders in Knox Eas; Hugh and Pat Rudden, a second Hugh , also James, Owen, John, and Pat .  Each lease had a number of lots which could have other family members on them.  When my gr great grandfather, Patrick, was born in 1830, his family was possibly living on one of these lots with other siblings.  Charles, assumed to be his father, was a laborer, so did not own the land but a cousin or sibling would have.  After the famine leases were only inherited by the eldest son, which mean all others had to leave, thus the population significantly declined due to deaths and emigration.  Records indicate that the number of houses in Knox East in 1841 was 22 and by 1851 were 6.  The population decreased from 149 in 1841 to 30 in 1851.

• In 1856 the Griffith’s Valuation gives yet another view into the residents of the area.  Knox East was primarily a Rudden townland with 3 of 5 lease holders being Ruddens, Hugh, John, Philip.   There were the only occupants on each plot.

Between 1827 and 1856 was the devastation of the crop failures of 1845, 1846, 1847.  Subsequently, during the decade from 1841 to 1851 Currin Parish declined from 6,502 to 1,122.  Knox East population declined from 149 to 30 (Source: Clogher Record 2000 p138) and the number of homes from 22 to 6 on 78 acres.  This suggests that a significant number of the residents in 1827 where gone by 1856.  Those six remaining homes had the following core family member.

• • Hugh Rudden 1838-1870 and Rose Smyth 1841-1915
  • Hugh Rudden 1820 and Mary McPhillips
  • Michael Leonard and Bridget Rudden
  • James Caulfield and Margaret
  • John Rudden 1845 and Margaret Smyth
  • Philip Rudden and Eleanor Smyth

There are also two known Rudden connections in Knox West

• Henry Smith/Smyth and Catherine Rudden.
• Thomas Brides/McBride and Bridget Rudden

Of interest in figuring out who John Rodden/Rudden 1865 visited in 1892 are the two Hugh Ruddens.  The one Hugh, born 1836, listed by one source but not confirmed, married to Rose Smyth 1830-1915.  Among their children was a son Charles and a son Patrick (Source: Table 1).  These are names which are in the family of my gr great grandfather, Patrick and his brother John.  This suggests a logical connection.  However there is another Hugh Rudden married to Mary McPhillips, while they used neither names Charles or Patrick for their children they had sons James and  John. It is not know which of these Hughs was the lease holder, however Hugh married to Mary McPhillips, in her will leaves all she owns to her son, John. This is also the family which Alice Rudden said John Rudden/Rodden of Scotland visited in 1892.

• In 1901 there are 5 occupied houses in Knox East, 3 of 5 houses contain Ruddens, some of whom were present in 1856. Those present in 1901 were likely there 10 years earlier in 1892.  House 1 has Mary McPhillips widow of Hugh Rudden with children John (listed age 29 but records indicates 38) and Mary age 31(but older than 38 according to records).  In House 4 is Rose Smyth widow of Hugh Rudden with children Philip age 40, oldest of the children and obvious lease holder, Susan age 26 and Michael age 24.  Based on this information and assuming these residents were present in 1892, John of Scotland visited Cousin John, who was the son of Mary McPhillips and Hugh Rudden, in 1892.

The following tables attempt to follow all the residents of Knox using the sources available between 1856 and 1901.

• Table 1    Families of Knox East based on RC Church records of Drumully and Knox East Map Valuation Survey completed 1861 owning at least 5 acres. It included 78 acres and a significantly decreased population of 6 houses with 30 people
• Table 2   Families of West Knox  based on RC Church records of Drumully and Knox West Map Valuation Survey completed 1861 owning at least 5 acres. Knox West population increased between 1841 and 1851.
• Table 3Those in Baptismal Registry who listed in Knox as their residence and who had children between 1864-1882 but who did not own 5 acres in 1856 Valuation.
• Table 4Rudden women who had children recorded in RC Baptism Register
• Table 5Rudden Godparents not located in Knox
• Table 6  Family name groups based on Godparents from Baptismal Records of Drumully Parish, Co Monaghan

Table 1     Families of Knox East based on RC Church records of Drumully and Knox East Map Valuation Survey completed 1861 of those owning at least 5 acres. This townland in 1861 had 78 acres with 6 houses and 30 people.

Lot/plot	Father	Spouse	Children	Dob	Godparents	Notes
1	Patrick Rudden Hugh Rudden 1 of 2   listed in 1856	Rose Smyth*	Philip Rudden* Thos Rudden** Mary Rudden Susan Rudden* Rose Rudden HughRudden Patrick Rudden Michael Rudden* Charles Rudden John Rudden	22 Sep 1860 1861 28 Mar 1862 9 Apr 1864 22 Mar 1866 22 Mar 1869 12 Jan 1872 22Apr 1873 12 May 1875 5 Jun 1877	Philip Rudden, Bridget Rudden Denis Connolly, Margaret Smyth Henry Smyth, Mary Rudden Patrick McPhillips, Mary Monaghan Henry Smyth, Mary Rudden Bernard McGuire, Mary Leonard Philip Leonard, Ann Smyth Bernard McGuire, Mary Brides John Leonard, Catherine Leonard	*Present in 1901 **Found is a Thos Rudden in Drummly in RC Register born 25 Nov1861 but parents listed Henry Smyth and Catherine Rudden who are located in W KnoxLeonards are on adjacent farm #2 in Griffiths
House 1 1901census	Hugh Rudden b 1820 1 of 2   listed in 1856	Mary McPhillips* 1826-1914	Mary Rudden* Daniel Rudden John Rudden* Hugh Rudden James Rudden Anne Rudden	Not known 1862 8 Sep 1863 16 Feb 1866 23 Mar 1868 9 Jan 1871	John Rudden, Mary Rudden Patrick McPhillips, Mary Monaghan Daniel McPhillips, Mary McPhillips Daniel McPhillips, Ann McPhillips	*Present in 1901 Daniel and Hugh both immigrated to Massachusetts in US. This is the Hymie branch described by Alice Rudden who had the story of my John Rudden 1865 coming from Scotland to marry Annie Connolly in 1892
2	Michael Leonard	Brigid Rudden	Anna Leonard	18 Jun 1862	Hugh Rudden, Margaret Caulfield
3	James Caulfield	Margaret
4	John Rudden 1845	Margaret Smyth	Patrick Rudden Mary Rudden	20 Sep 1864 18 Apr 1868	Thos Smyth, Brigid Rudden Hugh Rudden, Mary Smyth	I believe this to be the Fob Ruddens, so John b1845 father is Patrick
5	Phillip Rudden	Eleanor Smyth	Ann Rudden	24 Jul 1867	Philip Leonard, Rose Smyth
6	Water

Looking at the connections
Locals discuss the Ruddens of Knox East as being the Hymie Ruddens or the Fob Ruddens.  There does also seem to be a group of Philip Rudden, which may or may not belong to the Hymie or Fob group.  The two branches are somehow connected, but records do not go back far enough to discern that connection.  Following is a description of all family members based on the Baptismal Registery of Drumully Parish of the Roman Catholic Church

Hymie Rudden Group

• Hugh Rudden 1836 (source not confirmed) married to Rose Smyth.
  • This Hugh had a son named Patrick.  In 1856 Valuation one of the lot holders is Hugh, who shares lot with Patrick Rudden, who is assumed to be Hugh’s father.  This Hugh is believed to also have had a sister, Bridget Rudden, married to Michael Leonard. In 1856 plot #2 which is the property of Michael Leonard is next door to Hugh Rudden.
  • Hugh Rudden and Rose Smyth’s son, Michael 1873, Godfather was Philip Leonard, further affirming familial connections.
  • A Catherine Rudden married Henry Smyth and lived on a nearby farm in Knox West.  Catherine Rudden and Henry Smyth were Godparents for a Hugh Rudden and Rose Smyth’s children
    •  Hugh 1869
    • Susan b 1864.
  • Margaret Smyth married to John Rudden is godparent to Hugh Rudden and Rose Smyth child, Mary Rudden born 1862.
• Hugh Rudden  1820 married to Mary McPhillips 1826-1914.
  •  This Hugh Rudden and Mary McPhillips have a son John 1863, John Rudden and Mary Rudden are the godparent.  *This John is who Alice Rudden thinks my John was a cousin to and visited in 1892 from Scotland.
  • Catherine Rudden and Henry Smyth have a son Michael 1866 and Hugh Rudden who is the god parent as is Ann Smyth, Hugh Rudden is also god parent to son Hugh 1876.

One of the two Hughs was also the godparent to Michael Leonard and Bridget Rudden’s child, Ann Leonard, born 1862.
Fob Ruden Group (Plot 4 in 1856 Valuation.  This John’s father is Patrick, (Source: Michael Moore).

• John Rudden 1845 married Margaret Smyth
• A daughter, Mary born 1868, Hugh Rudden was godparent.
• A son, Patrick in 1864, Bridget Rudden was god parent.

Phillip Rudden Group (Plot 5 in 1856 Valuation)

• Phillip Rudden, sister, Bridget Rudden was married to Thomas Bride.  Philip was a god parent to there child, Bridget b 1868.
• Philip Rudden was married Eleanor Smyth and had a child, Ann born 1867. Godparents are Phillip Leonard and Rose Smyth, who is married to Hugh Rudden.
• Philip Rudden is the God parent to the son, Edward, of Rose Rudden*(see table 2) and Patrick McDonald

 

Table 2   Families of West Knox  based on RC Church records of Drumully and Knox West Valuation Survey completed 1861 owning at least 5 acres. Knox West population increased between 1841 and 1851.
Note: While the name McBride is using in 1856 Valuation Brides or McBrides is used in 1901 census.  The name is always Brides when in RC Baptismal Records even when speaking of folks identified as McBride in government documents as census and valuation of 1856.

Lot	Name on 1856	Spouse	Children	Dob	Godparents	Notes
1 of 2  listed in 1856	Henry Smith	Catherine McCabe*	Charles Smyth Hugh Smyth Owen Smyth*	8 May 1865 4 Apr 1868 8 Feb 1870	Charles Smyth, Bridgette UK (Rudden/McPhillips) Edward Reilly, Rose McCabe Patrick Smyth, Rose Smyth	*Present in 1901 census Also present is grand daughter Maggie Rudden born 1885
1 House 7 in 1901	Henry Smith*	Catherine Rudden*	Michael Smyth* Mary Smyth* Mary Smyth Catherine Smyth Hugh Smyth	8 Sep 1866 7 Jun 1868 6 Mar 1870 10 Apr 1875 5 Jun 1876	Hugh Rudden, Anna Smyth Michael Smyth, Mary McGuire Michael Connolly, Mary McGuire Patrick McGuire, Mary Connolly Hugh Rudden, Mary McGuire	*present 1901 census
House 5 in 1901	Michael Smyth	Rose Reilly 1851*	Catherine Smyth Edward Smyth Catherine Smyth Charles Smyth Mary Smyth Ellen	24 Aug 1868 1 Sep 1873 19 Jun 1875 9 July 1869 21 Oct 1871 1886	Edward Reilly, Ann Smyth Henry Smyth, Mary Reilly ?Reilly, ?Reilly Jacobus Reilly, Mary Brides Jacobus Donahy, Susan Reilly	*Present in 1901 census
2	John McBride/Brides	Sarah Geehan	John Brides Margaret Brides Michael Brides Francis Brides	21 Jul 1875 1 Oct 1878 26 May 1870	Michael Boylan, MargaretCaulfield Owen McCaul, Ann Smyth
3a/b/c	Charles Smith					Could this be father of Smyth girls married to Ruddens?
Lot	Name on 1856	Spouse	Children	Dob	Godparents	Notes
4 House 1, 10 1901 census	Philip Brides* 1831 McBride in 1901 census	Catherine Sheenan 1841*	John Brides Bridgid Brides Bernard Brides* Philip Brides James Brides Mary Brides	13 Mar 1866 22 Nov 1868 16 May 1870 16 June 1873 24May 1874 21 J 1877	Thos Brides, Mary Sheenan   Philip Connolly, Mary Connolly Bernard Sheenan, Mary Sheenan	Thos Brides m Anne Sheenan Born Elizabeth 15 Feb 1871	Catherine Sheenan*	John Brides Brigid Brides Bernard Brides* Philip Brides Jacobus* Mary*	13 Mar 1866 22 Nov 1868 16 May 1870 16 June 1873 24 May 1874 21 Jun 1877	Thos Brides, Mary Sheenan   ? Connolly,? Connolly Bernard & Mary Sheenan	Present in 1901 census
	Philip Brides b1845	Mary Ann Fitzpatrick B1847	Elizabeth Brides Mary Ann Brides Michael Brides	29 Mar 1869 26 May 1871 29 May 1873	Patrick Brides, Mary Brides Rielly	This Philip or family not in 1901 census as he went to Mass, US in 1875
5	Patrick McBride	Susan McCaffery	Patrick Brides	6 Sep 1877	Patrick Reilly, Ann McDonnell
1 of 2  listed in 1856 6 House 6 in 1901	Thomas Brides 1841	*Ann Sheenan 1841	Mary Brides Patrick Brides Elizabeth Brides Philip Brides Catherine Brides Peter Brides *Thos Brides	22 Aug 1865 22 Mar 1869 15 Feb 1870 8 Nov 1872 8 Nov 1872 8 Nov 1876 Uk		*Present in 1901 census   UK Thos is listed on 1901 census as age 28 but no baptism record so DoB on Census probably wrong
House 4 in 1901censu	Thomas Brides*	Brigid Rudden*	Catherine Brides Margaret Brides*	9 Oct 1868 8 Jan 1876	Philip Rudden, Catherine Caulfield James Neil, Margaret Brady	*Present in 1901 census
7	MichaelMcBride/Brides	Mary Smyth	Elizabeth Brides	1 Jun 1866		No presence in 1901
8	John O’Neil
9	Mary McBride
10	John McDonald/Donnell	Mary  ?–one	Bernard  McDonald/McDonelle 13Sept 1866		A Patrick McDonald/McDonelle m Rose Rudden. Patrick is likely bro of this John. Rose could be sis /cous of John Rudden on farm next door in Knox E.	*I share DNA with a descendant of this Rose Rudden.
11	Mary McCaul
12	Hugh McCaul
Not Owner of Lease	Patrick McCaul 1834*	Mary Gribbins1851*	Mary McCaul Margaret McCaul Thos McCaul* Eleanor McCaul Anne McCaul*	1 Oct 1874 4 May 1876 10 Mar 1878 15 Mar 1880 23 Mar 1881	William Gribbins, Ann Gribbins James Connally, Rose McKennan Hugh McCaul, Mary McCaul Owen McCaul, Eleanor McCaul	*Present in 1901 Census
Not Owner of Lease	Owen McCaul 1836*	Eleanor Smyth 1846*	Mary Ann McCaul Ownen MCCaul Ellen McCaul Hugh McCaul Tom McCaul Susan McCaul Patrick McCaul	23 Jul 1880 1884 1891 1892 1893 1894 1898	John and Mary Smyth	*Present in 1901 Census

 

 

Table 3 Those in Baptismal Registry who listed in Knox as  their residence and who had children between 1864-1882 but who did not own 5 acres in 1856 Valuation.

Father	Mother	Child	DOB	God parents
John McDonald	Mary Joy (Foy?)	Philip McDonald	10 May 1869
John Foy	Jane Cosgrove	John Foy	29 Jun 1878	Arthur and Mary Foy
Michael Smyth	Rose Reilly	Rose Smyth John Smyth	25 Mar 1877	Edward Reilly, Mary Rudden
James Leonard	Margaret O’Neil	Brigid Leonard Margaret Leonard	25 Nov 1877 11 Dec 1879	Philip Rudden, Brigid Leonard Philip Leonard, Ann Smyth
James Brides	Sara Geehan	Francis Brides	26 May 1869	Owen McCaul, Ann Smyth
Owen Brides	Ann McDonnell	John Brides Ann Brides Owen Brides Andrew Brides	18 May 1866 12 Nov 1868 23 Apr 1870 2 Oct 1873

 

Table 4   Rudden women who had children recorded in RC Baptism Register

Mother	Father	Child		Location	God Parents	Notes
Susan Rudden	Farellel Kelly	Mary Kelly	10 Sep 1864	Unknown
Margaret Rudden	Patrick Reynolds 1831	Patrick Margaret John Edward Rose Ann	1857 1861 1863 16 Oct 1864 1866	Scotshouse? Scotshouse? Scotshouse? Scotshouse Scotshouse?	Frances Coyle, Eleanor McDermott	Patrick and Margaret Reynolds are found in the Scot census of 1881 in West Caulder, Midlothian, Scotland
Mary Rudden	Bernard McGuire	Philip McGuire	29 Oct 1864	Drumvan	Hugh Rudden, Caterine Rudden	In 1851 Scot census Patrick Rudden b1830 is living next door to a Patrick McGuire abt 1790 of Ireland.
Ann Rudden	Hugh Lavella	Hugh Lavella Margaret Lavella Sara Lavella	10 Jun 1874	Clinarus Rabbit Island
Mary Rudden	Unknown Fitzpatrick	Thomas Fitzpatrick	27 May 1875	Clinryle	James Rudden, Brigid McGuire
Rose Rudden*	Patrick McDonald	Catherine McDonald Mary Anne McDonald Philip McDonald Edward McDonald Owen McDonald Patrick McDonald Letitia McDonald James McDonald Mary McDonald Eleanor McDonald	12 Nov 1858 17 Jun 1860 12 Jun 1864 25 Nov 1866 3 Apr 1869 24 Apr 1871 3 Nov 1873 27 Aug 1875 18 May 1878 10 Apr 1880	Unkown Unknown Unkown Scotshouse Scotshouse Scotshouse Scotshouse Scotshouse Annies Annies	Phillip Rudden, Bridget Rudden Patrick While, Matilda Clark James McDonald, Eleanor White Patrick White, Elizabet Greenan James Murphy, Ellen While John McDonald, Cath McDnld John McDonald, Eleanor White	*I have a DNA connection to a descendant.

 

 

 

 

Table 5  Rudden Godparents not located in Knox

Child	Father		Mother	DoB	God Parents	Location	Notes
James Michael McPhillips		Patrick McPhillips	Ann McDonald	21 Jun 1878	Daniel Rudden, Margaret McPhillips	Scotshouse	Probably sister to Patrick McDonald

 

Table 6  Family groups based on Godparents on Baptismal Records of Drumully Parish Co Monaghan
Assumed relationships based on RC Baptismal Resigistry from Drumully Parish, County Monaghan a number of family groups seem to emerge. 

Family Name O’Neil	Leonard	McPhillips	Rudden	Smyth	Brides (McBride)	McGuire	Caulfield
1 John married unknown	1 Michael Leonard married  Bridget Rudden	1 Patrick McPhillips	1 Bridget Rudden married Michael Leonard	1 Margaret Smyth married John Rudden			1 Margaret
2 Margaret married James Leonard	2 James Leonard married Margaret O’Neil	2 Daniele McPhillips	2 Philip Rudden married Eleanor Smyth	2 Eleanor Smyth married Philip Rudden			2Catherine
	3 Philip Leonard	3 Ann McPhillips	3 Rose Rudden married Patrick McDonald	3 Thomas Smyth			3 James
		4 Mary McPhillips	4 Hugh Rudden married Rose Smyth	4 Rose Smyth married Hugh Rudden
			5 Bridget Rudden married Thomas Brides		1 Thomas Brides and Bridget Rudden
			6 John Rudden married Margaret Smyth	5 Ann Smyth
			7 Catherine Rudden married Henry Smyth,	6 Henry married Catherine Rudden			She is a sister to Hugh Rudden married to Rose Smyth.
			8 Mary Rudden married Bernard McGuire			Bernard McGuire married to Mary Rudden

Finis