Family history tells us the Connors and Colfers are from Wexford, Ireland. In the
Philip M. Sullivan bible entry it notes that his mother, Ellen Connor (1848-1919), daughter of James Connor (c1818-1897), was born in Taghmon, County Wexford. However, we have been unable to tie either the Connor name or the Colfer name to any specific document in Ireland that proves the connection to Taghmon.
The Tithe Applotment Books, compiled between 1823 and 1837 by civil parish, list landholders who paid title against their townland address. Tithe was a tax based on land valuation, paid by all, irrespective of religious denomination, for the support of the Established Church, i.e., Church of Ireland. Therefore, Tithe Books are, in effect, a census substitute for pre-Famine rural Ireland.
The Tithe Applotment Books for the Church of Ireland diocese of Ferns, Civil Parish of Taghmon, County Wexford lists both Connors and Colfer in the Taghmon Civil Parish. Whether these Connors and Colfer are related is yet to be proved. The cover to the Taghmon Civil Parish has written on it: 27 December 1833 as seen below.
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| Tithe Applotment Cover, Taghmon, Ferns, Wexford |
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On one of the pages for the town of Taghmon the names Patrick Connors and Luke Connors appear. They are observations 227 and 228 on the following document. It appears that Patrick Connors has two pieces of land, totalling 5 acres, 2 rods and 20 perches. Luke Connors has only 1 acre. Because of how they are listed, I assume they are adjoining properties.
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| The Connors entries are the sixth and seventh on this sheet |
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Also in the Diocese of Ferns, Civil Parish of Taghmon, is listed a Moses Colfer in the townland of Tracystown. He is observation 256 on the sheet (first entry) and it states he is being tithed for two pieces of property totally 6 acres, 2 rods and 10 perchs.
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| Moses Colfer is the first entry on the page |
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Whether these are the Connor and Colfer names our my ancestors is yet to be determined. All the images on this post can be enlarged by double clicking on them.
