Michael
Elliott
Clones
1832 |
Our most distant Elliott 
ancestors, so far discovered, are Michael Elliott from the Parish
of Clones, first described by Aunt Nancy Morton Mather as her mother's
father, and possibly Michael's father George Elliott.
Michael first appears in public records in 1832. He was in his mid-forties,
living in the Parish of Clones (pronounced with two syllables: clo'-nis
-- today's inhabitants say Clones rhymes with 'bonus') straddling the counties
of Fermanagh and Monaghan in the province of Ulster. At this time, Elliotts
had lived in the area for over 200 years.
Historical summaries: 1830's |
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| Annaghilly
North 1832 |
The gently rolling farmland here is dotted with small lakes, woods
and slow moving streams. Michael's home was on the Fermanagh side, in a
townland called Annaghilly North. |
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 Click
here for: map of Annaghilly North environs |
Tithe assessor
October 1832 |
Aunt Nancy said Michael was a lawyer, though there is no evidence of
this yet found. In 1832 he was what we might call a tax assessor. Michael
was one of two commissioners of the tithe assessment for Clones Parish,
an effort to re-calculate annual payments to support the Church of Ireland.
It was an extremely contentious issue, as the basis for the assessment
was occupation of land, not ownership, and now included pasture land --
a double blow to the poorer, mostly Roman Catholic tenant farmers. |
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Michael began his assessment in October of 1832, collecting the names
of each landholder, and recording the amount of land and, based on average
produce prices and land quality, he calculated their annual tithes. His
work lasted for at least a year as he visited every townland or farm in
the parish, collecting the information that would be added to the Tithe
Applotment Books of Ireland.
 Click
here for: an affidavit concerning Michael's finances
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Meets Anne Fitzgerald
1832 |
While surveying the south-east end of the parish, Michael would have
met James Fitzgerald of Clonavilla in the Manor of Tierney, County
Monaghan. Michael and James's 26 year-old daughter Anne Fitzgerald
were married in 1833. |
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Story of the Fitzgeralds...
Michael's father George Elliott...
Michael and Anne marry...
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