Patrick Barrett Jr. : Short Biography

Patrick Barrett Jr. of Ballinvilla (son of Patrick Barrett Sr. & Sabina Barrett of Ballinvilla ) heads the second line of Barretts that endured in Ballinvilla (east) extending into Boyle.

His headstone, erected in 1863 by his son John Barrett of Christchurch, NZ,  is the second oldest in the Ballinvilla Barrett plot at Killapoge Cemetery.

Oh Lord have mercy on the soul of

PATRICK BARRETT of BALLINVILLE

who departed this life

the 15th December 1863 aged 48 years

erected by his loving son JOHN

Although Patrick’s headstone states he was born in 1815, he was actually christened in 1811 by Patrick Barrett & Sabina Lannon  (godparents: William Fox & Margaret Golrick). 

When he was in his early 20s, Patrick Barrett Jr. married Bridget Moraghan.  

In 1842 and 1857 Patrick Barrett is recorded as having 43 acres of land + 35 of bog on farm #6 in the east of Ballinvilla. These Barretts were graziers aka ‘gentleman farmers’. 

THE GREAT FAMINE

Pat & Brigid raised their young family through the ravages of the Great Irish Famine (1845-52) which wiped out the cotttier class in this district. Their landlord, Caddell, graciously reduced the rent for all his tenants during this period. 

There are no Barrett stories of the famine in living memory. However, two of his siblings did not recover financially and were evicted from their farms in the aftermath.  Also, Pat Barrett himself died young (age 48).

Following Pat's untimely death in 1863, his wife, Brigid survived on the family farm for a further 23 years assisted by her sons Patrick III, Matthew, and their youngest son, James Barrett. 

EMIGRATION

Most of Patrick & Brigid’s sons “took the boat”. Sons John Barrett (1836-1919),  Mjr, Edward J. Barrett (1842-1925) and  Stephen Barrett (1849-1931) met with particular success in their endeavours abroad. Money was sent from NZ and the US to assist their mother at home. A fine headstone was afforded for their father, and their “herd’s house” was upgraded to a “house” in 1872, with a number of new “out-buildings” were added to the farmyard.

NEXT IN LINE

The land valuation records state: “Patrick who is representing in 1864 is the son of the Late Patrick who died in 1863” i.e.  Pat Barrett III (1840-1885) the eldest remaining son – was in line to inherit the farm from his mother. So, the rest had to make their own fortunes.

 Michael Barrett (1844-1927) emigrated to the US in 1867 and settled in Oil City, Pennsylvania working for the railroad as a book-keeper.

 Stephen Barrett (1849-1931),  Thomas Barrett (1851-1876) and  Sabina Melady (1858-1930) followed their brother Edward out to Pineville, Louisiana. In 1872,  Matthew Barrett (1846-1917) left Ballinvilla to farm in Carrickmore (Boyle).

TRAGEDY ABROAD

In 1876 the family received traumatic news that Thomas had been murdered in Louisiana. The following year, Mary Anne married John Garvy of Briefield and Patrick III, age 37, set off for Lousiana (perhaps to replace his brother). Sadly, by 1885, word came that he too had died suddenly (age 45). Devastated, his mother, Brigid, passed away the following year. She left the family farm to the only remaining son, James Barrett (1854-1907).

By 1925, only five of Pat & Brigid’s 12 children were still alive. However, their descendants have endured in Ballinvilla and New Zealand, with multiple lines of extended family in the USA.