John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald of Rathnasmolagh- also known as Bigwood

Bigwood in a townsland to the east of the Blackwater River, between the towns of Mullinavat and Kilmacow. It contains about 336 acres- about half a square mile and is situated just southeast of Tory Mountain. Bigwood is very close to Rathlikeen (Rahillakeen)- the reported townsland of Mary Fitzgerald on her marriage record, and just south of the famous local landmark of Tory Hill. The town of Mullinavat lies just a few miles northwest and the town of Kilmacow just a few miles southwest, across the Blackwater River. There is a Cemetery at Rathnasmolagh, Mullinavat, called Bigwood Cemetery/St. Paul's Church Cemetery.

During the times of the Cromwell reformation, Catholicism was outlawed, and the people had to worship in the country side at mass bushes and other hidden places. In about 1784, a Catholic Chapel was built at Bigwood, which was in use until about 1834, when a new Catholic church was built.

Map of Rathnasmolagh- Bigwood

The children of John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald were born before the records are available from Mullinavat Parish. ( Most Records available after 1843)
However, their eldest daughter, Ellen Quinn married John Welsh (Walsh) in Mullinavat Parish is 1839. There is a record of her marriage and the baptisms of some of her children.

10 Feb 1839- Bigwood, Kilmacow Parish- marriage of John Walsh and Ellen Quin- both from Bigwood- witnesses Thomas Fitzgerald and Bridget Fitzgerald

Two of their children are recorded as being born in Bigwood * Note the date of Bridget's birth!

25 January 1839- Bigwood, Kilmacow Parish, Kilkenny-baptism of Bridget Walsh, daughter of John Walsh and Ellen Quin, sponsors William Walsh and Anastatia Doherty.

28 Feb 1846- Bigwood, Mullinavat Parish- baptism of Maria (Mary) Walsh-father John Walsh, mother Ellen Quinn- sponsors Thomas Fitzgerald, Anne Cleary

The 1825 Tithe of Rathnasmolagh (Bigwood) shows lands rented from landowner Major Graham.

Thomas Durney 40

Edward Poor (Power) 40

William Dogherty 40

Patrick Gaul 40

The 1853 Griffiths shows the land rented from Sir J Newport and Thomas Hunt Esq.

Edward Power 65 acres subletting to Patrick Walsh

Edward Power and John Durney 36 acres

John Durney 71 acres

Peter Doherty, John and Edward Power, Patrick Walsh 67 acres

Richard Fitzgerald subletting a house and garden from Richard Doherty

John Quin subletting a house and garden from John Power

Ellen Walsh and John Walsh subletting houses and gardens from Edward Power and Peter Doherty

Emigration to Illinois was established early in Bigwood with John Sutton emigrating to McHenry, Illinois in 1836, later followed by hundreds of neighbors and relatives from Kilkenny. Indeed it is to McHenry, Illinois, that John Walsh Welch) and Ellen Quinn Welch move. They are shown on there on the 1880 census. 

The other Quinn children- Patrick, Thomas (my great grandfather) Richard, John, Mary, and Margaret emigrated with their parents, John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald to Jersey County Illinois.

combine below with Fitzgeralds of Rahillakeen


Thomas Quinn's parents were John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald.


I found a marriage record for John Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald who were married on August 26, 1815, at St. Mary's Church in Kilkenny City.

This shows their home as Rahalickeen. (Marriages usually took place and were recorded by the bride's home.) Their witnesses were Richard Fitzgerald, Elisabeth Murphy, and Katherine Donavan.

According to their gravestone, John would have been about 26 and Mary about 24 in 1815.

Rahillakeen sits at the western base of Tory Hill and is between the towns of Mullinavat and Kilmacow, to the east of the Blackwater River. It is a small townsland encompassing just over 390 acres of land.

Map of Rahillakeen

There are two parts of Rahillakeen townsland. One is in Dunkitt Civil Parish and one is in Rossinan Civil Parish.

At the time of the Griffith's Valuation, there were several Fitzgerald families in th Rahillakeen, which straddled Dunkitt and Rossinan Civil parish and bordered on Rathnasmolagh and Rahard townlands.

Rahillakeen in Dunkitt Civil Parish

Fitzgerald Patrick 128 acres with Edward and John Grace, John Murphy, and Martin Walsh (Reps Michael Dobbin Esq)

Fitzgerald Mary 28 acres (Dobbin)

Grace Matthias (garden)

In neighboring Rathnasmolagh townland:

Fitzgerald Richard (house and garden from Richard Doherty)

Durney John 67 acres from Reps of Sir John Newport and Thomas Hunt

Power John

Quin John (sublet from John Power)

 Rahillakeen in Rossinan Civil Parish

Fitzgerald Mary 10 acres (M Dobbin Esq)

Fitzgerald Patrick- with Edward and John Grace, John Murphy, and Martin Walsh 67 acres (M Dobbin Esq) 

Power, Thomas (sublet a garden from Edward and John Grace)

In neighboring Rahard townland we find:

Fitzgerald John 19 acres (Rev James  Hobson)

Fitzgerald Patrick 7 acres (same)

Fitzgerald James 11 acres (same)

The catholic parish for Rahillakeen is either Mullinavat or Kilmacow

We can get Catholic Parish records for Mullinavat from May 1843 and from Kilmacow from June 1858, unless we pay for a transcript from the Rothe House Trust which has baptisms from 1836 - 1899 and marriages from 1798-1853. Not much use to us; we need records before that date to prove our ancestors.

In 1901 there was still one Fitzgerald family in Rahillakeen; Michael age 40 and his sisters Honoria 45 and Johanna 35. By 1911 only Michael Fitzgerald is left.

Rathnasmolagh still has a Durney family; Thomas age 60, wife Margaret, and children John 26, James 23, Michael 22 Kate 19 and Andrew 17.