James McCaffrey’s father (James Oin)
It is highly likely that Owen McCaffrey Snr. is James McCaffrey’s father. He is also the father to Owen McCaffrey Jnr and possibly Patrick McCaffrey. The entry below records his death in 1881. Although it states that he was 99 years old, there is no evidence of him being born in 1782. Rather, birth records are unavailable and age was often guessed, or estimated.
James McCaffrey’s father, Owen McCaffrey’s death in 1881. Mary Anne McCaffrey (McNally), his daughter-in-law was present at his death.
Griffith’s Valuation in Clogher Parish
Griffith ’s Valuation took place in every parish all over Ireland. The valuation is the name widely given to the Primary Valuation of Ireland, a property tax survey carried out under the supervision of Sir Richard Griffith. The survey involved the detailed valuation of every taxable piece of agricultural or built property on the island of Ireland and was published county-by-county between the years 1847 and 1864. The Griffiths Valuation was carried out in county Tyrone in 1851.
It is interesting to note that Owen Senior was the largest leaseholder in the Ballywholan townland, appearing to have several properties. His sons James and Owen lease neighbouring fields. James married in 1847 (Mary McNally) and Owen married in 1844 (Anne McConnell).
Other McCaffreys indicated in the Griffiths Valuation also appear in earlier documents. Bryan McCaffrey was born in the late 1700s, Patrick was born about 1800, and Felix was born about 1820.
In 1825, Bryan, Patrick, Peter and Felix were leaseholders in the Ballywholan, and/or Meltagy townlands. Peter appears to have moved to Corcloghy and/or Corleaghan townlands. Owen, on the other hand is in Cornacudda in 1825.
The following information is extracted from the Londonderry Journal, July 26, 1836. It is plausible that the individuals mentioned below are the same McCaffrey family.
Court Report: Tyrone Assizes, Omagh, July 1836
OWEN McCaffrey, SEN., PATRICK McCaffrey and OWEN McCaffrey, JUN., were convicted of the manslaughter of OWEN CAMPBELL, at Ballynagorrah, on 12th November, and sentenced to twelve-month imprisonment and hard labour, and to find security to keep the peace.
For further reading, please refer to A Society in Transition: The Protestant Community in Tyrone, 1836-1942. This PhD thesis, produced by Daragh Curran refers to the aforementioned crime, adding further detail (2010, p.114)