What is the derivation of the name ‘Ballyward’?
Many of the townlands in the foothills of West Wicklow starting with “Bally” signify a buaile or booley, a Summer pasture. Farmers would drive their cattle and sheep up there for the kinder months and bring them down at the onset of harsh weather. As pressure came on for more farmland people moved uphill and built houses there. ‘Ballyward’ might have meant ‘Buaile an Bhaird’, ‘The Booley of the Ward (defence)’, or ‘The Booley of the Bard’, or perhaps something altogether different. The name dates back probably to the early 16th Century, when the Duke of Leinster introduced Galloglaigh (mercenaries) to defend the Pale lands from the clans of Wicklow. These fighting men were given rights to Summer grazing in the foothills in part payment for their commitment.
Back now to more solid ground! The first John Finnemore was recorded in Blessington in the year 1683. We know that from entries in the Vestry Books of St. Mary’s Church in the new town. He and others had come with or in the wake of Bishop Michael Boyle the new owner of the Lordship of Three Castles. Boyle proceeded to build a mansion, a church and the town of Blessington. He leased out most of his property, his largest sitting tenant being John Finnemore of Ballyward.
On May 20th 1700 the Bishop’s son, Murrough Boyle, granted Sarah Finnemore of the town of Blessington, a lease of the townland of Ballyward. She and Her husband John had already been in possession of it for the previous 5 years. We don’t know why John’s name was not on the lease, perhaps he was incapacitated. (He died 3 years later.) The rent was £35 for the first 2 years, £40 for the next 5 years and £45 after that. The term was for the lives of her sons Isaac, John and Richard. The earliest date we have in the parish registers of the family living at Ballyward is 1718 when Hannah, daughter of John Finnemore, was born there. It would appear that the first Ballyward residence was built at or before this time.
In the year 1732 the then inheritor of Boyle’s estate was Anne Mountjoy and her son. Anne was a great-granddaughter of Bishop Michael Boyle. Ballyward with 331 acres and outlying townlands Ballylow, Ballinasculloge and Ballydonnel were leased to another John Finnemore. I have to hand one such lease. We should remember that Boyle’s estate included much underdeveloped land and the Finnemores and their tenants were expected to improve their holdings. This is a much more detailed and exacting lease – different times perhaps! The following are the main points:
The year is 1732, townland of Ballyloe (Ballylow) with 1,050 acres, much of it mountain.
- Rent was £30 per annum to be paid at Blessington House.
- Finnemore was to erect good ditches and 2 rows of quicksets between himself and his neighbours.
- Pay a duty hogg and 2 capons at Christmas.
- Do suite and service at the Manor Courts of Blessington.
- Grind their corn and mault, to be used for bread and drink, at the Manor Mill of Blessington.
- Sow hemp and flax according to the law.
- Permission for John Pearson to enter the lands to deliver livery and seizen – a legal requirement.
- Keep ditches and buildings in good repair.
- Rear one couple of young hounds or beagles yearly for his Lordship.
A mortgage of £130 in 1733 given by one Neynoe to John Finnemore tells us about much more than the mortgage. Almost three Centuries old and on paper, it is in good condition. It is hand written and very legible. John Finnemore is referred to as a grazier and Neynoe a merchant in Dublin. There was no encumbrance on Ballyward at the time. Why did Finnemore need so much money ? Was he building or renovating his house at Ballyward? From this document we learn that the 1732 lease of Ballyward was for a period of 99 years or the longest liver of himself, his son William about 15 years or his son John about 11 years and the survivor or survivors of them. The rent of £25 per annum for 341 acres was most reasonable. Boyle and his successors gave long leases at low rents. In return they got stability and loyalty.
William was drowned in 1764 and was buried in Blessington graveyard. He was 47 years of age. An inventory of his indoor goods, stock, fodder, farm implements and so on was made by John Boothman, Richard Boothman and George Hall, and dated 30th day of January 1765. Total value was £233 sterling. 21 cows were valued at £60. 12 other cattle came to £20. Horses accounted for almost £36, a bay mare and black gelding coming to £20. A mere 5 sheep and 4 lambs were kept, most likely for their wool. Mutton was not highly regarded among the upper class. On the other hand tenants did rear sheep, for food and wool, and lamb fetched good money on the Dublin market. One pigg and 4 goats are recorded. The value of fodder was high, 2 cocks of hay coming to almost £34, 49 barrels of oats £12 and barley 16 shillings. Items at random include the following: tumbrils, goose trough, turf cleaves (baskets), herringgages ( an old Scottish word meaning, I think, barrels for measuring herring), feather beds, settlebed, buter, 8 day clock (valued at 2 cows), looking glass, brewing pan, beehives and stocks of bees, silver coatbuttons, halfe stock gun, framed pictures (inexpensive), hat buckle and silver punch ladle.
Reading through the details we can see that the premises were well stocked and they were self sufficient or nearly so. The only extravagance was the clock, which also, of course, had its use.
On the death of another of the John Finnemores in October 1849 an inventory of Ballyward’s effects was again drawn up. It is brief and unsigned, but shows much change from the inventory of 1765. The Finnemores were now very large graziers. Total value of goods and chattels came to £1,533, the 88 bullocks accounting for £1,124. From these figures we can see the importance of cattle. Ten sheep were valued at £18, ten cows and a bull £70, six horses £54, twenty lbs. weight of plate is not valued, hay and oats £120. After the Great Famine of the 1840’s extensive land holders preferred grazing rather than tillage. They cleared their lands of tenants and labourers. The family at Ballyward were now very wealthy.
The Finnemores did not flaunt their wealth, had little interest in art or culture it would seem.
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