(The Knockanure Connection.)
Tom Langan (1) who was born in 1787 died at Knockanure on May 28th 1871 aged eighty-four years. His wifes name was Bridget McElligott born c1785 and died at Knockanure after 1841. He may have been a brother or a close relative to the Kilpadogue Langan’s, John, Jermiah etc. Tom and Bridget had a family of four or five that we know of.
i. Maurice Langan b February 27th 1818. (my greatgreatgrandfather) See further on.
ii. Ellen Langan b Sept 2nd 1831 at Chapel Cross, Knockanure.
iii. Bridget Langan bApril 6th 1834 at Chapel Cross, Knockanure. Bridget was baptised 06-04-1834.
iv. Kate Langan b 1836 and died 1896.
v. Patrick Langan bSept 2nd 1840 at Chapel Cross, Knockanure. Patrick may have been called after his grandfather, the aforementioned Patrick Langan, brother of Sean, Glenagragra.
There could have been another son in the family, who may well be the father of a John Langan who also lived in Knockanure. (See John’s army records further on)
ii.Ellen Langan, (as above) baptised 12-09-1831 who married a John Ahearn from Knockanure on 04-02-1860.
Ellen Langan and John Ahern had at least seven children; the following can be accounted for –
Tom(Toss) Ahern – b. 1860. (Going by 1911census)
Brigid Ahern – born at Kealod, Knockanure in 1861.
Mary Ahern – b 04-10-1863.
Patrick Ahern – b 07-02-1866.
James Ahern – b 30-08-1868.
Maurice Ahern – b 25-07-1870.
Jeremiah Ahern – b 20-12-1872.
It would appear that Thos used to visit his Langan relatives in Glenagragra on a regular basis. The late Mick Higgins R.I.P. of Glasha reliably informed me that he himself had a vivid recollection of Thos Ahearn from Knockanure regularly paying visits on Tom Langan, who at the time was residing at the Higgins homestead. (Tom’s daughter Nora was married to Mick Higgins’s father Maurice and she looked after her father towards the end of his days.) Ciss Faley Higgins R.I.P. was of the opinion that Toss was a 1stcousin of Tom’s. This gives us another indication that there was a clear-cut connection between the two Langan families.
Going on the theory that the first son born was generally called after his grandfather and bearing in mind what Ciss has told me, the situation would then arise that Maurice Langan’s father was indeed called Tom strengthening the possibility that the current Langan families arrived in Glasha/Glenagragra via Knockanure.
Returning to the McElligott name, John Langan, Cahara told Nora Ghauri Langan that his father Mick often told him that the Langan’s and the McElligott’s were related again adding proof to what we have already established. Mick, by all accounts was very well versed in the genealogy department. Mick also said that there was a David Langan in the family.
John Langan (2)
Knockanure.John Langan was born in the parish of Knockanure, Co. Kerry in the year 1856. It is feasible that John was either the grandson or grandnephew of Tom Langan (1), more than likely the latter as Tom’s son Patrick was born in 1841 and it is unlikely that he, Patrick would have been married and have a son by the age of fifteen. John joined the British Army’s 67th Brigade of The Leinster Regiment on October 26th 1880.
His description on enlistment as follows:
Age Apparently – 24yrs.
Height – 5ft- ¾ inches.
Chest Measurement – 36 ½ inches.
Complection – Fresh.
Eyes – Blue.
Hair – Brown.
Religious Denomination – Roman Catholic.
Distinctive Marks – Old wound between elbow and shoulder.
His Trade or Calling given as a Labourer.
Military History Sheet.
Service at Home and Abroad.Country – Home. From 21-10-1880 to 10-12-1882 – 2yrs-51days.
Country – India. From 11-12-1882 to 15-03-1889 – 7yrs-93days.
Country ====. 16-03-1890 to 24-04-1890 – 40days.
Country – Home.25-04-1890 to 20-10-1892 – 2yrs-179days.
Discharged on 20-10-1892 on termination of first period of limited engagement.
Enlisted for a second period of duty for 4 yrs from 21-10 1892. At Birr, Co. Offaly
Discharged on 20-10-1896 on termination of his engagement.
Next of kin given as follows:
Mother – Ellen Langan, Knockanure. (Could be sister-in-law to Maurice Langan, my greatgreatgrandfather)Brothers – Thomas and Patrick, Knockanure. (Could be nephews of Maurice Langan, my greatgreatgrandfather.)
It would appear that John spent the greater part of his life in the British Army. On September 4th 1914, at Cork, he enlisted with the Special Reservists under the term of ‘one year unless War lasts longer in which case you will be retained until War is over’, for which he was. On enlisting, for some reason or other, he gave his age as 40 years when in fact he was 58yrs of age. He gave his trade or calling as a Clark. He was passed fit to join the Leinster Regiment on said date. This latest term of duty would appear not to have run that smooth as can be seen from the following:
11-12-1915 – Went A.W.O.L. – 14 days F.P. No 2 by Co for absence. Forfeits 8 days pay for absence.
29-12-1916 – Deserted.
13-02-1917 – Rejoined. In arrest awaiting trial. Tried by Court Martial for desertion.
18-02-1917 – Found not guilty of desertion but guilty of absence without leave. (56 days detention)
26-03-1917 – Released from detention. Special remission by G.O.C. of 20 days.
15-05-1917 – Awarded 28 days detention by C.O. for absence. Forfeits 17 days pay.
11-06-1917 – Transferred to the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
26-11-1918 – Transferred to Res. E. Co.
26-06-1919 – Transferred to the Dorset Regt
Discharged from the army December 14th 1919 and retired to the Soldiers Home, King St. Cork. Next of kin given as Ellen Langan, Knockanure. No mention of his brothers Thomas or Patrick.
From ‘Missing Friends’ we find an advert in the Boston Globe newspaper looking for a John Langan by his brother Thomas, home address given as Knockanure.
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