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Michael Dowling1,2,3,4
M, #48256, b. about 1813, d. 5 June 1838
Pedigree Link
Vital Facts
Birth | Michael Dowling was born about 1813. Note: (ESTIMATE: Based on age of Michael's murderers, plus or minus 10.) |
Death | He died on 5 June 1838, in Portlaoise, Borris, Laois, Ireland. Note: formerly Maryborough, Queen's County.1,5,6 |
Census Summary
Events - Chronological (including alternatives)
1813
Birth
About 1813
Michael Dowling was born about 1813. Note: (ESTIMATE: Based on age of Michael's murderers, plus or minus 10.)
1838~25
Event or Activity
24 May 1838 | Portlaoise, Borris, Laois, Ireland
He was in Portlaoise, Borris, Laois, Ireland, on 24 May 1838. Note: Brutally assaulted and given fatal injuries.
Events - Death & Burial
1838~25
Death
5 June 1838 | Portlaoise, Borris, Laois, Ireland
Michael Dowling died on 5 June 1838, in Portlaoise, Borris, Laois, Ireland. Note: formerly Maryborough, Queen's County.
Cause: Murder from from a beating and injuries sustained 11 days earlier including fractured skull. Assaulted by Denis Behan, Thomas Whelan, Pat Dunne, William Behan, Thomas Dunne & Patrick Nevan
Facts - Non-Chronological
NOTABLE
Brutally murdered on his way home from the fair in 1838 Maryborough.
Reference Number
In the Dowling One-Name Study Michael Dowling has the reference number 48256.
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Leinster Express newspaper of 09 June 1838 Page 4 columns 2:
"On Tuesday last (BTD: 5 June 1838), a man named Dowling died in the County Infirmary, from the effects of a beating which he received on his return from the market of Maryborough. An attack was made on him within a mile of the town, when his skull was fractured, with a blow of a stone. The inquest having been adjourned, the precise circumstances of the case are not yet known."
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Kilkenny Moderator newspaper of 23 June 1838 Page 2 of 4 (column 1 bottom half):
QUEEN'S COUNTY
Homicides - In the case of the death of Michael Dowling mentioned in our last publication, the result of the inquest held before Henry P. Delany, Esq., is as follows:- "That the deceased came by his death by a blow of a stone, inflicted by Thomas Whelan at the Green of Maryborough, on 24th day of May last, aided and assisted by Denis Behan, William Behan, Thomas Dunne, Patt Dunne, and Patt Neville, all of whom have absconded.
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Leinster Express newspaper 21 July 1838 page 3, columns 1 & 2:-
MARYBOROUGH ASSIZES
CRIMINAL COURT - TUESDAY, SECOND DAY (BTD: 17 July 1838)
The following jury were sworn:- Christopher Bailey, E. L. Swan, Joseph Fishbourne, Robert White, Richard Senior, John Lyster, Richard Steele, Richard Lodge, Samuel Sheane, William Clarke, Thomas Roe, James Shortt.
Denis Behan, Thomas Whelan, Pat. Dunne, William Behan, Thomas Dunne, and Patrick Nevan, were indicted for the murder of Michael Dowling.
William Hill examined by Mr. TICKELL - Was returning from Maryborough on 24 of May last; heard the Behans and Dunnes on that day shouting for the deceased, when going home; when he heard the shouting he looked back, and saw Dowling walking about forty-yards behind, with his hands in his pockets; Denis Behan then came up leaping and shouting for a Dowling; witness then said he would not let him strike Dowling; witness and Behan argued along the road shouting about Dowling; the Dunnes were coming after the Behans; witness identified four of the prisoners; this was between seven and eight o'clock; witness and ten of his friends had some liquor - five quarts of porter, and half a pint of brandy between them; witness did not go far down road when he got his jaw broken by a blow of a stone; Dowling said to witness "do you hear those brats shouting for me;" "Come on, said I, and don't mind them;" did not see him after that until he was brought into the infirmary; did not see Dowling killed or get a blow; Denis Behan had a stone in his hand when he came up to witness.
Cross-examined by Mr. Walker - The 24th was a holyday, when he came into Maryborough to mass, goes also to Ballyfinn; preferred Maryborough because there was a show there; had no whiskey, did not say he had.
Court - He said he had 1 pint of whiskey first, and then corrected himself to brandy.
Mr Walker - That's the way they (d)o in the rectifying distillery my lord; they make brandy out of the whiskey.
Examination resumed - Was in Maryborough in (gaol); swears Dowling had hands in his breeches pockets; Dowling is not a particular friend of his; was accused of belonging to a faction; this was the way home for all of them; met Thomas Dillon when leaving the county Infirmary, but thinks he did not tell him that he (Hill) said to Behan that he would best any son of old Behan's; but won't swear he did not.
John Dowling examined by Mr. Clarke - Is brother to Michael Dowling; was in Maryborough on 23rd May, when he saw the prisoners there; went home at 7 o'clock; could not go home before that, because he saw the Dunnes and Behans on the corner, and was afraid of them, they having been prosecuted to conviction by witness's friends, for an attack on and breaking their house; after that the Behans bore them ill-will, often passing by their dwelling and shouting for a Dowling; on going down the road the witness saw at a distance people throwing stones at a man who fell; he was then kicked in the belly when he fell; witness did not go on but turned at the house of John Carter, when he saw his brother returning with his head cut, and on one side; saw Thomas Dunne, Pat Dunne, Denis Behan and Bill Behan throwing stones (identifies them in dock;) these were the persons he saw throwing stones at the man; his brother returned to Carter's , from the direction in which he saw the man beaten; could not say his brother was the man that was beaten, but he returned with his head bleeding about six minutes after he saw the man struck; when the man fell over the ditch those who were beating him cried out "Clean Behan;" witness's brother lived 11 days after that. saw no other persons in the same state on that evening, in which his brother was.
Cross-examined by Mr. Gorman - There was good light at the time; was about ten perch from the man who was beaten; witness was at Carters; the man attacked was below Mr Harpur's corner; did not see Terence Neal that evening; went into the house lest he also should be beaten; there were others on the road beside his brother and the person already mentioned; there were some females near where the man was beaten; did not see Hill; the other witness that evening; was at home when his brother died in the Infirmary; there was an inquest held, attended it, but was not examined; told in the room where the inquest was held that he saw the stones thrown, but did not know at whom they were thrown.
Richard Kelly, examined by Mr. Tickell - Saw Dowling leading a horse on the day in question, by Mr. Harpur's lane; saw stones thrown in the direction in which he saw Michael Dowling; heard a man say as he passed him (the witness) "I'm a Behan;" saw persons with Dowling belonging to the opposite party; saw stones thrown towards one man, about eight perches from Mr. Harpur's gate; saw neither Dowling nor those of his own party who were with him throwing stones; did not know Behan, the person who said he was Behan did not mention his christian-name; did not see Dowling returning; saw no man fall or struck down.
To the Court - Was standing at Mr. Harpur's gate when Dowling passed within about nine yards; the other party passed him also, but does not know them.
Cross-examined by Mr. Gorman - The other persons, about five or six, were with Dowling, Coss and Hill. This witness gave his testimony in a most unintelligible and unconnected manner.
Richard Coss examined by Mr. Tickell - Michael Dowling overtook witness on his road home on the evening of 24th when Denis Behan, Pat Neran, and Pat Dunne also came up; witness received a blow of a stone a few minutes after from Pat Dunne; Dowling was knocked down about five minutes afterward; did not see who struck him; witness was held by Pat Nevan when he attempted to assist Dowling; deceased went off after he received the blow; and after persons who were beating him had departed; identified the three prisoners.
To Mr. Walker - Heard no shouting when going home, having been a little tipsy; was himself making a little noise when leaving the town.
James McEvoy - On the night when Dowling was beaten saw Hill lying on the road; saw Thomas Whelan there at the time when he gave a shout and had a stone in his hand; identified Whelan.
To Mr Gorman - Lives upon the spot where the fight took place, but did not come up until the fight was over; Whelan whom he saw on the road does not live far from the spot where he then was.
Thomas Miller. - (When this witness came on the table the trial was interrupted by the indisposition if one of the jurors.)
A new jury was about to be empaneled; when his Lordship enquired of the juror if, after an hour's respite he would again be able to attend, and the juror having stated that he thought it would be probable he would, the case was postponed for an hour.
On the expiration of the hour, the juror having been unable to resume his place in the box; a new jury was called, and the foregoing evidence repeated. - The next new witness was
Thomas Miller, examined by Mr. Tickell - On returning from Maryboro' on the evening in question he met none or ten men shouting for Clondeglass; and saying "that they left the brats lying on the road;" knew two of them who were shouting, Denis Behan, and Pat Dunne; witness then identified them; Pat Dunne lives in Clonteglass; Rossnagad is Behan's townland.
Mary Crofton examined by Mr. Clarke - Lives near the place where the deceased was killed; on the day when he was killed people passed by her door shouting out "Where's the Dowling dare brats."
Doctor Dunne - Attended Michael Dowling in the County Infirmary; deceased was brought in on May 25, and died of a fracture of the skull.
FOR THE DEFENCE.
Mary Anne Cashen - Lives on the ridge; was near Bailey's on the evening of the fight; when she heard a man cry out "Here's Dowling, and if there's a Behan now is the time to speak;" a tall man then said "Here's a Behan," when the blows were struck; a man who called out his name was Coss struck another person in the car; saw stones thrown that night by both parties; Bill Hill was one of those who threw the stones; a woman said to a man whom she did not know, "Dowling. I'll give you a blow of a stone, for you are keeping my husband out all night and the horse."
Thomas Dillon examined by Mr. Walker - Met Wm. Hill after the latter left the infirmary; when Hill said to witness that he (Hill) jostled Behan, and said that "he would lick any son of old Behan's."
The jury returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter against all the prisoners named in the indictment. His Lordship sentenced all the prisoners to be transported for life, with the exception of Thomas Dunne, who was sentenced to be transported for 7 years.
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Research Notes: Harpur's Lane is off Green Road/Coote Street, Portlaoise to the North West of the town centre. From this junction destinations could include Pallas Big, Pallas Litttle, Clonroosk, Coolnamona(*),Ross, Ballytegan, Esker, Fairgreen, Clonreher, Cappagh, Clontyglass, Rossnagad.
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Relationship to the site collator Brian Thomas Dowling: | No direct relationship yet found to Brian Thomas Dowling |
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- [S5186] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/ViewArticle?id=BL%2F0000433%2F18380723%2F008%2F0003&browse=true,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Article on DOWLING, MICHAEL, in Dublin Evening Mail on 23 July 1838 Page 3 of 4 (right-hand column 6, in lower half). THE ASSIZES - QUEEN'S COUNTY - MARYBOROUGH, JULY 17. - Denis Behan, Thomas Whelan, Pat. Dunne, William Behan, Thomas Dunne, and Patrick Nevan, were indicted for the murder of Michael Dowling. William Hill examined by Mr. TICKELL - Was returning from Maryborough on 24 of May last; heard the Behans and Dunnes on that day shouting for the deceased, when going home; when he heard the shouting he looked back, and saw Dowling walking about forty-yards behind, with his hands in his pockets; Denis Behan then came up leaping and shouting for a Dowling; witness then said he would not let him strike Dowling; witness and Behan argued along the road shouting about Dowling; the Dunnes were coming after the Behans; witness identified four of the prisoners; this was between seven and eight o'clock; witness and ten of his friends had some liquor - five quarts of porter, and half a pint of brandy between them; witness did not go far down road when he got his jaw broken by a blow of a stone; Dowling said to witness "do you hear those brats shouting for me;" "Come on, said I, and don't mind them;" did not see him after that until he was brought into the infirmary; did not see Dowling killed or get a bow; Denis Behan had a stone in his hand when he came up to witness. John Dowling examined by Mr. Clarke - Is brother to Michael Dowling; was in Maryborough on 23rd May, when he saw the prisoners there; went home at seven o'clock; could not go home before that, because he saw the Dunnes and Behans on the corner, and was afraid of them, they having been prosecuted to conviction by witness's friends, for an attack on and breaking their house; after that the Behans bore them ill-will, often passing by their dwelling and shouting for a Dowling; on going down the road the witness saw at a distance people throwing stones at a man who fell; he was kicked in the belly when he fell; witness did not go on but turned at the house of John Carter, when he saw his brother returning with his head cut, and on one side; saw Thomas Dunne, Pat Dunne, Denis Behan and Bill Behan throwing stones (identifies them in dock;) these were the persons he saw throwing stones at the man; his brother returned to Carter's , from the direction in which he saw the man beaten; could not say his brother was the man that was beaten, but he returned with his head bleeding about six minutes after he saw the man struck; when the man fell over the ditch those who were beating him cried out "Clean Behan;" witness's brother lived 11 days after that. saw no other persons in the same state on that evening, in which his brother was. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter against all the prisoners named in the indictment. His Lordship sentenced all the prisoners to be transported for life, with the exception of Thomas Dunne, who was sentenced to be transported for seven years.,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for Dowling One-Name Study on 5 July 2023. Using Find My Past portal. Full page attached transcribed to Michael Dowling's record notes. https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=BL/0000433/18380723/025&stringtohighlight=michael%20dowling%20maryborough
- [S5188] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=BL/0002957/18380623/005&stringtohighlight=dowling%20maryborough,
Citation Detail: Article on DOWLING, MICHAEL; homicide in Queen's County in Kilkenny Moderator of 23 Jun 1838 Page 2 of 4 pages.,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for Dowling One-Name Study on 5 July 2023 from Find My Past
- [S5189] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=IRE%2FPRISR%2FRS00018281%2F4492738%2F00582&parentid=IRE%2FPRISR%2FRS00018281%2F4492738%2F00582%2F022,
Citation Detail: Prison register relating to DOWLING, MICHAEL victim of manslaughter. First name(s): Thomas; Last name: Whelan; Birth year: 1814; Age: 24; Year: 1838; Date: 17-Jul-1838; Role: Prisoner; Offence: MURDER MANSLAUGHTER; Prison: Maryborough; County: Laois (Queen's) Country Ireland; Victim's first name(s): MICHAEL; Victim's last name: DOWLING; Register Book number: 1/55/25; Item number: 4,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for Dowling One-Name Study on 5 July 2023; Find My Past https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRISR%2FRS00018281%2F4492738%2F00582%2F022,
Doc-Dowling-Michael--1838-IRL-Laois-Prison-Register-01
- [S5190] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=LEE%2F1838%2F07%2F21&id=Ar00300&sk=CE38E178&viewMode=image,
Citation Detail: Article for DOWLING, MICHAEL; Leinster Express Saturday July 21, 1838; Page: 3; A complete transcript of this newspaper article is reproduced in the Notes/Narrative of Michael Dowling (Person ID: 48256).,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for Dowling One-Name Study on 6 July 2023; from subscription site https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA/Default.aspx#panel=search
- [S5187] SOURCE: (Full),
Source Combined Fields: Image: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=BL/0002583/18380617/034&stringtohighlight=dowling%20maryborough,
Repository: Internet Service: Find My Past,
Citation Detail: Article on DOWLING, died of injuries "Tuesday last" after 17 June 1838 Maryborough's Leinster Infirmary. from Planet page 5 of 8 Article 'Latest Intelligence'. "On TUESDAY LAST, a man named Dowling died in the Leinster Infirmary, from the effects of a beating which he received on his return from the market of Maryborough. There was considerable rioting at the fair of Dysart on the evening of Monday se'nnight, when two men were so severely injured as to be in a precarious state. A great many others carried off numerous cuts and contusions from the affray. The demesne wall of Judge Moore skirts the scene of this pacific demonstration. (BTD: not known at this point if this is the same person and there are several consistencies. However, I believe the Planet incorrectly continues into the Dysart Fair riot which I believe is a different event. This appears a repliction of the Leinster Express original).,
Citation Text: Collated by Brian Thomas Dowling (1955-) for Dowling One-Name Study on 5 July 2023 from Find My Past,
- [S5190] SOURCE (Short):, Title: Leinster Express, LAOIS, Ireland (online archive), Citation Detail: Article for DOWLING; Leinster Express Saturday June 09, 1838; Page: 4; "On Tuesday last, a man named Dowling died in the County Infirmary, from the effects of a beating which he received on his return from the market of Maryborough. An attack was made on him within a mile of the town, when his skull was fractured, with a blow of a stone. The inquest having been adjourned, the precise circumstances of the case are not yet known."