Headstone Inscriptions, Old Inver Graveyard, Inver, Co Donegal
'She Came Up Like A Flower And Was Cut
Down'
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Bryan Hanna
This page was compiled by Lindel and forms part of the Donegal Genealogy Resources Website
You may link to this page but not copy it
If you have a connection to any of the families and would like to have your email address linked to them, please feel free to Contact Me
History:
The Old Inver graveyard and Church ruin are situated on the River Eany Estuary, 8 miles west of Donegal Town, convenient to the Village of Inver. The Graveyard surrounds the Church and is rough because of the large amount of sand which has blown in from Inver warren. All denominations have use the Graveyard.
Many of the stones are badly weathered. The oldest stones date from 1731 and all stones with dates pre-1900 have been copied.
According to the Very Rev E Canon Maguire DD, in his History of the Diocese of Raphoe, "there was a King named Aongus Mac Nadfraich who held the sovereignty of Munster, and he had a son called Naail, Naail made arrangements with Columba to meet at Inver with a view to establishing a monastic settlement there. Columkille, as he was later known, gave the land to Naail to build a Church. Naail remained at Inver until the death of Molaise of Devenish in 563. He became successor to Molaise at Devenish, and he died in 564.
The present ruin dates back to 1460, when the Franciscan community of Monks founded a Monastery there. The small detachment of Inver Monks residing here was not dispersed for some time after 1609, for it was here, the aged Bishop Nial O'Boyle prepared himself for the final ordeal, and received the last summons on the 6th of February 1611.
The little estate was purchased by Daniel McDevitt JP, Glenties, in 1870 and was among the very first sold under the 1903 Land Purchase Act."
Notes:
This is a transcription of all the pre-1900 headstones, and a few early 1900s stones
Thanks go to the Donegal County Library in Letterkenny for their help with this survey
Also to Bernie for photographs of the Abbey and headstones Sep 2010 & Aug 2012
And, Bosco, for more photographs, Aug 2012
Inscriptions
(sandstone tablet inside ruin, southeast corner)
Here lieth the remains of
Murray Babington Esq
Who departed this life 3 Sep 1810 aged 83
And Mary Heron Babington
Died 3 Jan 1811 aged 71 years
(badly weathered sandstone tablet)
Here lieth the remains of
Joseph Bates
Who departed this life 20 Dec 1845 aged 55 years
He was a Schoolmaster under the Wesley Missionary Society
For upwards of 20 years
Notes:
Researcher: Bryan - Email
(sandstone tablet, weathered)
In Memory of
Thomas Brishilin
Who departed this life 25 Feb 1863
Aged 68 years
(upright freestone slab)
Erected by William Cassidy
In Memory of his Wife
Margaret
Who died 3 Mar 1899 aged 64 years
Also his Daughter
Maggie
Who died 4 Mar 1897 aged 19 years
And his Son
John
Who died 1 May 1896 aged 31 years
Also William Cassidy
Died 1 Jan 1906 aged 68 years
Notes:
Margaret nee McJunken, buried 7 March
Son John recorded as 29 yrs in burial register, buried 3 May
See 1901 census Drummacacullen
In Memory of Thomas Cassidy, Corraduffy Who departed this life Feb 28th 1913 aged 82 years Also his wife Catherine Cassidy Who departed this life 27th Jan 1929 aged 71 years
Notes:
(freestone tablet, weathered and cracked)
Erected by MH Colvin, California
To the Memory of
Henry Colvin
Who died 6 Sep 1870 aged 53 years
Also Catherine Colvin
Who died 20 Jan 1862 aged 86 years
Also Henry Colvin jnr
Who died 6 Jun 1848 aged 26 years
Notes:
Henry Colvin, 92 yrs, Drubeagh, buried 4 Oct 1870
Catherine Colvin, 80 yrs, Drumbeagh, buried 1 Feb 1862
Henry Colvin (jnr) buried 9 Jun aged 22 yrs
In Loving Memory of our dear Parents William Colvin, Drimbeagh Died 29th August 1933 And his wife Margaret Died 20th December 1943 Baby Kathleen Mary Died May 1913 Son William died 3rd May 1990
(upright freestone slab)
In Loving Memory of
George Corscadden 28 Nov 1888
Sara Corscadden 7 Oct 1873
BM Corscadden 19 Mar 1896
Ellennor 5 Nov 1885
Annie Kirk 26 May 1898
Sara Morrow 5 Jun 1925
Also Mary Corscadden
Who died 11 Nov 1922
Erected by Mary Corscadden
(sandstone tablet inside ruin along south wall)
Sacred to the Memory of
Jane Creighton
Relic of John Creighton of castlemurray
Who departed this life 2 Nov 1841
Being in the 67th year of her age
Also her Sister
Catherine Dinsmore..............
Who departed 10 Oct 1846 aged 63 years
(horizontal sandstone slab, weathered)
Erected by
James Gallaughir senior
In Memory of his Father
James Gallaughir of Cranny
Who departed this life 2 Jul 1848 aged 89 years
Also his Son Charles
Who departed this life 10 Mar 1839 aged 46 years
(horizontal sandstone slab)
This tomb was erected by
James Thomas
In Memory of his Wife
Rose Gallagher
Who departed this life 22 Aug 1881 aged 32 years
In Memory of Robert Graham (Raneel) Born 1835 died 1914 And his wife Mary Margaret nee Stewart Born 1844 died 1898 Erected by Grandchildren Stephen Galbraith Graham and May Graham Higgins Of Long Island, New York
(upright freestone slab)
Erected by
Andrew Hammond
Of The Rock
In Memory of his Wife
Eliza Jane Hammond
Who died 10 Apr 1892
Aged 62 years
Also his Daughter
Jane Hammond
Who died 29 Sep 1878
Aged 28 years
(fallen sandstone slab, unreadable)
In Memory of
John Harkin
Who died 15 Jun 1888 aged 63 years
Also his Son Thomas
Who died 20 Feb 1883 aged 15 years
Also Mary Harkin
The Dearly Beloved Wife of Hugh Harkin
Who died 21 Nov 1922 aged 67 years
Erected by Hugh Harkin
IHS Pray For John Hayes, Inver
(flaking sandstone slab built into outside wall of ruin,
facing north, inscribed with Hume Coat of Arms.
Motto - True to the End
This Stone was erected by
Mr John Hume
In Memory of his Son
Mr Thomas Hume
Who departed this life 28 Sep 1751
At the age of 20 years
(upright freestone slab in iron railed enclosure)
Erected by
Thomas and Ellen Jenkins of Philadelphia
In Memory of our Father
James Jenkins
Who died 31 Sep 1899 aged 80 years
Also Ellen Jenkins, his Wife
Who died 13 Feb 1907 aged 84 years
Note:
Headstone is all but unreadable in 2012
Photograph by Bosco
(horizontal sandstone tablet)
To the Memory of the Daughter
In affectionate remembrance of
Lizzie Kirk
Who fell asleep 18 Nov 1879
For so He Givith His Beloved Sleep
She came up like a Flower and was Cut Down
Also their beloved Daughter
Mary Kirk
Who departed this life 20 Apr 1869 aged 2 years
Also in Loving Memory of
Daniel Kirk
Who departed this life 26 Feb 1905 aged 80 years
Note:
Daniel Kirk, Mullanboys, buried 28 Feb 1905
In Loving Memory of
Thomas Kirk
Of Mullinbuoys
Who died 5 Jun 1926
Aged 86 years
Also Eliza, his Wife
Who died 12 Nov 1923
Aged 77 years
Also
Thomas Kirk
Grandson of the above
Who died 21 Dec 1925
Aged 6 months
Also their Daughter Annie
Who died 6 Sep 1946
Aged 74 years
Even so them also which sleep in Jesus
Will God bring with Him
(horizontal sandstone tablet)
Erected in Memory of
Thomas Love
Who died 25 Jan 1857 aged 85 years
Also his beloved Wife
Jane Love alias Thompson
Who died 10 Feb 1817 aged 72 years
And also of their Daughter
Ann O'Connell
Who died 18 Aug 1868 aged 63 years
Note:
Thomas Love, The Rock, buried 27 Jan 1857
(upright limestone slab 1½ ft high with letters INRI at the top)
Mary Maguire
Died 10 Apr 1808
Aged 6 years
(upright freestone slab)
This Stone
Was Erected in Memory of
John McJinkin
of
Drimmachulin
Who died 10 Mar 1899
Aged 98 years
(sandstone tablet)
Here lieth the remains of
William McNeely of Ardaughey
Who departed this life 1 Mar 1976 aged 78 years
Also his Wife
Margaret McNeely
Who died 13 Apr 1896 aged 88 years
To the Memory of Gilbert Miller Died 2nd August 1784 aged 64 years Patrick Miller, Junior Died 9th October 1802 aged 81 years Hugh Miller Died 9th October 1943 His wife Susan Died 10th February 1950 Their Daughter Florence Died 15th December 2003
Underneath are deposited the remains of
The Rev Archdeacon James Montgomery
And of his Wife
Dorothea Montgomery
The former departed this life 11 Nov 1797 aged 73 years
The latter on the 13th of the same month and year aged 67
Having survived her Husband but two days
Also Mary Montgomery
Wife of the Rev Alexander Montgomery
Who departed this life 10 Dec 1825 aged 51 years
And the Rev Alexander Montgomery
Who departed this life 15 Oct 1848 aged 71 years
46 years Rector of the Parish of Inver
Notes:
Rev Alexander Montgomery of Bonnyglen supervised the building of the present Church of Ireland in 1807
See History notes, Church of Ireland, Inver
(freestone tablet)
Sacred to the Memory of
Hugh Montgomery Esq of Cloverhill
Who departed this life 5 Apr 1817
Aged 69 years
(badly weathered limestone tablet)
Erected to the Memory of
Alexander Montgomery Esq
Late of the Hall
Who departed this life 17 Jan ???
(unreadable)
(freestone tablet)
Underneath are deposited the remains of
John Montgomery
And of his Daughter
Margaret Montgomery
The former departed this life 1 Jun 1798 aged 33 years
The latter 14 Feb 1815 aged 18 years
Elizabeth, Wife to John Montgomery
Departed this life 19 Jul 1918 aged 51 years
(sandstone tablet inside the ruin, alongside the north wall)
Here lieth the body of
Alexander Montgomery Esq
Who departed this life 3 Feb 1807 aged 76 years
He was one of the worthyes of men, the best of friends
And an ornament to society
His many virtues will long survive this perishable record
This stone was erected by
Leslie Montgomery Esq
The affectionate Brother of the deceased
(horizontal limestone slab outside west gable,
badly weathered and broken)
Sacred to the Memory of
Thomas Nesbitt Esq of Kilmacredon
Who departed this life 1 Dec 1801 aged 72 years
Thomas Nesbitt invented the harpoon gun
(sandstone tablet)
Sacred to the Memory of
Connel O'Byrne
Who departed this life 10 Mar 1833 aged 65 years
Also Annie O'Byrne
Who departed this life 7 Jul 1839 aged 83 years
Requiescant in Pace
Erected by Connel O'Byrne of Killybegs
In Loving Memory of Andrew Scott Died 29th Aug 1917 And his wife Anne Scott Died 30th Dec 1922 Their son Matthew Died 30th Mar 1919 And their daughter Annabella Died 28th July 1919
(flaking sandstone tablet)
Here lieth the remains of
John Scott
Who departed this life 11 Jun 1863
Aged 66 years
(upright freestone slab)
In Memory of
John Scott, Glencoagh
Who died 22 Jun 1888 aged 76 years
Also his Wife
Mary Scott
Who died 23 May 1895 aged 76 years
Erected by their Son
JC Scott, USA
In Memory of William Henry Scott, Creevin Died 21st March 1961 aged 80 years And his wife Lizzie Died 6th April 1977 aged 84 years Their son Harry Died 22nd July 2004 aged 74 years
(upright freestone slab)
Erected by
James Stewart, Drumduff
In Memory of his Mother
Catherine Stewart
Who died 11 Mar 1912 aged 58 years
Also his Grandfather
Andrew Stewart
Who died 15 Mar 1882 aged 63 years
Also his Grandmother
Elizabeth Stewart
Who died 6 Sep 1888 aged 73 years
(upright freestone slab inside ruin, northeast corner)
Erected by
Ann Thompson
In Memory of her Husband
John Thompson
Who died 10 Jun 1876 aged 55 years
And also Catherine Thompson
Who died 29 Mar 1878 aged 19 months
(upright freestone slab, broken)
Erected by
Samuel J Underwood
In Memory of his Brother
David Underwood
Who died 23 Oct 1909 aged 35 years
Also his Father
Who died 24 Nov 1909 aged 76 years
Also his Mother
Ann Jane
Who died 1 Jun 1887 aged 65 years
Note:
Father, William Underwood, Meenawullaghan, buried 26 Nov 1909, aged 75 yrs
(horizontal limestone slab, broken and weathered)
Here lyeth the body of
James Vance
Who departed this life
In the 77th year of his age
20 Dec 1731
IHS
OM
Bordered by his son Patrick Vance
In Remembrance of Matthew Walker, Ardaghey Formerly of Tullylaggin Died 7th Dec 1991 aged 84 years
(Photograph used with the permission of Mark Fearon)
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