Catherine Fanning daughter of William Fanning and Catherine Hayes was born in 1846 at Bulla in Victoria Australia. She married John Ryan and settled in Kilmore Victoria. She died there in 1899 and she and her family are buried in Kilmore Cemetery.
Catherine was the second daughter of William and Catherine Fanning and was born at Bulla, Victoria in 1846. Below is the record of her baptism in 1847 at Mount Macedon.
Baptism of Catherine Fanning 1847 at Mount Macedon Victoria
She married John Ryan, a farmer, on 21 May 1867 at Bulla. They lived in Kilmore at Moranding in Victoria.
Her husband, John Ryan, was born about 1838 in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. His father was Patrick Ryan and his mother was Margaret Hogan. He came out about 1856 aged about 18.
Signature of John Ryan
He died a tragic death on Dec 11 1876, drowning himself in the river at Moranding. He was 38 years old and left six children under the age of nine at the time of his death. They had been married eight years.
14 Dec 1876 Death of John Ryan Kilmore Free Press23 Dec The Herald report of the death of John RyanReport of John Ryan’s Death in The Argus 1876Death Nptice for John Ryan The Argus 18 Dec 1876
Their children were all born at Kilmore and were Patrick Ambrose, William John, John William, Edward Francis, Catherine, Michael and Thomas.
Catherine died at Kilmore on 15 March 1899.
John Ryan’s Will and Probate and that of Catherine Ryan are online at PROV (Public Records Office Victoria).
Grave of Catherine Ryan nee Fanning, her husband John Ryan and son Patrick Ambrose Ryan in Kilmore Cemetery Victoria.
Below are obituaries for some of Catherine and John Ryan’s children:
Obituary for Edward Francis Ryan Kilmore Free Press 6 Feb 1936William John Ryan Obit Kilmore Free Press 3 Mar, 1928Obituary for John William Ryan Kilmore Free Press 1 May, 1941Thomas James Ryan Obituary Kilmore Free Press 1 April, 1943Obituary for Catherine Ryan Kilmore Free Press 2 Sept, 1948Obit for Michael Joseph Ryan Kilmore Free Press 20 April, 1950
Only one of the children of Catherine Fanning and John Ryan married.
Edward Francis Ryan married Catherine Anastasia Nicholls and they had two children, Mary Anastasia and Frances Eileen. Mary married Ralph Edward Beveridge in Victoria in 1934. I have not found any children for this couple or any marriage or death records for Francis Eileen Ryan.
Lissaroon just north of Thurles in Co Tipperary Ireland was the home of William Fannin (1731-1802) & Sarah Ryan (1742-1817). Successive generations of their decendants have lived on this property.
Lissaroon home of William Fannin 1731- 1802 & Sarah Ryan c1742-1817Co Tipperary Ireland
This is the earliest related Fanning residence that I have discovered being the property of William Fannin and Sarah Fannin nee Ryan who are buried in Ballycahill Cemetery Co Tipperary. William Fannin was born about 1731 and died 28 Jan 1801. Sarah Fannin was born c 1741and died 27 Nov 1817.
After William Fannin died in 1802 his eldest son William Fanning took over the property. He was married to Hanera Cormick. From William the property passed to his son Michael who was married to Catherine Ryan and from then to Thomas Fanning married to Johanna Bannon. The Bannons and Cormicks were Lissaroon neighbours. They did not have any children and so it was left to John Joseph Mullany his nephew and son of John Mullany and Bridget Fanning. The property is owned now by Bridget Fanning’s granddaughter.
Thomas Fanning & Johanna (Hanna) Fanning nee Bannon
Thomas and Johanna were the last Fannings to live at Lissaroon.
In the Nenagh Guardian 4 Feb 1984 there is an explanation of the road which cuts through Lissaroon. This was done in the 1840s. Delia Cullen told us this road was a real boon to the Fannings giving them direct access to Thurles.
When Michael originally had the property it was about 50 acres with an additional 45 acres of bog land next door. The lessor was Edward Maher. Then Maher took over the bog land. The total property was valued at 33 pounds in 1856 and 50 pounds in 1943.
The townland of Lissaroon in the Tithe Applotment Books 1823-37
In Griffith’s Valuation Lissaroon William Fannin is listed as occupier of a house, offices and land (44 acres 2 rods and 29 perches) the immediate lessor being Edward Maher. The no and letters of reference to the map are 11 ABa. William Fannin also occupies No 12 with John Cormack and others. This is a bog of 43 acres 3 rods 11 perches. Edward Maher is lessor.
William Fannin’s property at Lissaroon in the Valuation Office Books 15 Feb 1847Grifiths Valuation for the townland of Lissaroon in the Parish of Inch Co Tipperary Sept 1849Lissaroon Landed Estates Court Sales Freemans Journal 8 May 1863 p4
Looking again at the 1901 Census for Lissaroon we can see that the number of families is less. In 1901 there are twelve families and in 1911 there are ten. The main families are the Purcells, Brolans, Fannings, McCormacks or Cormacks and Bannons and Ryans.
The House and Building Returns for 1901 describe Lissaroon as having six rooms, four windows, being made of either stone or brick or concrete and having a roof of thatch or wood. Descendants have confirmed that it had a thatched roof which became too expensive to upkeep and was replaced by a tin roof. There were two cow houses, one calf house, one dairy, one fowl house, one boiling house, one barn, one stable and one piggery. Six family members occupied six rooms in what was classed as a second class house.
In the 1911 census seven rooms are occupied by the Fannings.
The 1901 Return of Out-Offices and Farm-Steadings has the Fanning property at Lissaroon having two cow houses, one calf house, a piggery, fowl house, boiling room, barn and shed. A total of nine out-buildings. In the 1911 census there are eight out buildings: a stable, a dairy, cow house, fowl house, barn, turf house and shed.
In 1904 when the property was owned by Thomas Fanning a request was made for a labourer’s cottage to be erected on his lands at Lissaroon. This was part of the Thurles Labourers’ Cottage Scheme.
Nenagh Guardian 8 Oct 1904
The Valuation Office have searched and between 1856-1863 12 ABC is occupied by Michael Fannon House Office and Land 45 acres 0 rods 8 perches, lessor is Edward Maher. The bog Ref no 13 was occupied by Michael Fannin and others but during this time it is taken over by Edward Maher in fee. Some lands were added to 12ABC about 7 acres. No exact dates are given.
1863-1866 12ABC occupied by Michael Fannon immediate lessor is Edward Maher about 51 acres. 1866-1876 12ABC still occupied by Michael Fannon House Offices and land of 52 acres 2 rods 7 perches. Immediate lessor is still Edward Maher.
According to Delia Cullen the gr granddaughter of Michael Fanning he was paying 37 pounds a year in rent for the Lissaroon property.
1876-1883 12ABC change from Michael Fannin to Catherine Fannin probably in 1879 same amount of land. 1883-1893 12ABC occupied by Cath Fannin, same amount of land. 1893-1909 12ABC change hands from Catherine Fanning to Thomas Fanning in 1898. 1909-1929 8A 7A 12AaBC occupied by Thomas Fanning House Office Land. 1929-1967 7A 8A 9A 12AaBb 13B John J Mullany takes over the land from Thomas Fanning in 1939 he buys out the ground rent and now holds the land In Fee. Total land is 42 actres 16 rods.
John Joseph Mullany is Thomas Fanning’s nephew. 9A was added in 1943. His mother is Bridget Mullany nee Fanning. The Ratings Records from 1999 show Timothy Cullen as the occupier of 7A 8A 9A 12A Lissaroon In Fee. Area is 71 acres. As rates were abolished this is the last record they have. It has the rates being effective from 31/12/1988 which could be when the property changed hands.
Based on information in a 1978 letter by Archbishop O’Donnell to his nephew I think William Fannin and Sarah Ryan of Lissaroon are the grandparents of William Patrick Fanning, “Big Bill”, who emigrated to Australia in 1841 with his wife Catherine Hayes. It was described as a “prosperous Farm” in Archbishop O’Donnell’s letter to his nephew. The stone house on the left may be the original dwelling.
I recently heard from a woman who was born near Lissaroon and used to play in this house. This is part of what Mary wrote:
“There were a family living there over 50 years ago, called Meehans, but they only had the house rented or maybe they were related, I just don’t know. But no one lived there once the Meehan’s moved out. But I passed there last week and the house is still standing…….I was often in that house when a child as we used to play with the Meehan children, all I can remember of it was there was a stained panel of glass in the front door and that they had, if I remember right a walled back yard with a pear tree, and loads of trees in the front of the house, they are all gone now. I’m trying to remember how many rooms were in the house, I know there was two rooms of the kitchen, the kitchen, a parlour, and maybe there was another room of that, not sure.”
“I’m trying to remember, it is a long time ago, but I think there was a wall that went all around the house in front, coming up from the right hand side up the field in front of the house. I think it went all around the front over to the left hand side. There was a small gate and a path to the front door, and trees at both sides of the path and daffodils in the spring, and thats all I can remember. If I can meet Billy Cormick who lives just over the road he would maybe be able to help, I believe he is into history, and maybe may be able to tell me something. I want to ask him about my Lowry’s who move to Lissaroon for a while when they were evicted in 1849 and a relation of Billy’s was a sponsor for one of the Lowry kids. The stone building at the left hand side of the picture may have been the original house.”
More photos of Lisaroon taken in June 2010. The farm hasn’t been lived in for years.
Records of land sales and leases 1781-1853 in Co Tipperary Ireland for Fanning, Fannin and Darmody individuals.
7 August 1781 Lease of Knockane. George Ryan of Inch to John Murphy, Patrick Murphy, Michael Murphy and Nicolas Fannin, Farmers of Knockane, for the term of 31 years at an annual rent of 21 pounds. Rent payable in two moieties on the 1 May and 1 Nov. Turf rights are not included and a penalty of 20 shillings will be levied on every kish of turf removed.
27 Oct 1781 Lease of the Bogg of Inch (21a). George Ryan of Inch to Philip Darmody of [Fishmoy], at an annual rent of £10. Rent payable in two moieties on the 1 May and 1 Nov. page 32 Source: Ryan Documents
To let 1816:- Drom House- 50a. in the house division. Lands lately held by William Russell and Ed. Fanning. Source: Rootsweb CoTipperary-L-Archives contributed by Mary Heaphy.
19 April 1836 Copy letter to (Chief Secretary) Drummond from George Ryan, Inch, enclosing a letter to the Lord Lieutenant from Rev. Mulcahy a response to a memorial for David Fanning, currently under sentence of transportation. Ryan adds “a more daring and desperate character is not to be found in this neighbourhood”. Source: Ryan Documents.
Encumbered Estate Records In the aftermath of the Famine, the Government established the Incumbered Estate Court to deal with bankrupt estates. The petitioner before the court had to prepare details of the estates, including the tenancies. During the period 1850-58, 8,000 estates were sold and information on such estates had to be prepared
1. The Estate of Robert Lidwill, a minor, Owner of the lands of Cormackstown, otherwise Ballymacormacksituate in the Parish of Holycross, Barony of Eliogarty and County Tipperary. Two of the tenants names are: William Fanning & Widow Fanning. Their leases were year to year leases. Source: Tipperary Encumbered Estate Records.
2.Estate of Thomas P Firman of Mount Falkner Tipperary – Sale Notice contributed by Clare Tuohy. Lands of Grange in the Barony of Eliogarty held forever under a fee-farm grant. Sold by auction 18th May1852. Grange: Tenants name is Patrick Tuohy and the area of land is 88 acres 1 rod and 5 perches . Under tenure is written “Lease date 14th May 1839, made between Thomas P. Firman of Mount Falkner, in the County of Tipperary and Patrick Tuohy of Lower Grange, Tipperary, farmer, of the other part; for 3 lives or 31 years , lives all in being, viz. John Tuohy aged 20 years, William McGrath now in America aged 30 years and Thomas Fanning now in America, aged 30 years.” Source: Tipperary Encumbered Estate Records.
3. The encumbered estate of John Craven Carden, Bart.,Owner Sale 13 Dec. 1853 Situate in the Barony of Eliogarty, Clondotty. Tenant’s names: William Fanning Tenancy from year to year John Gleeson & William Fanning Tenancy from year to year. Source: Tipperary Encumbered Estate Records.
