A previous project worked out the numerous Richard Woods in the family in Parsonstown, King’s County (now Birr, Offaly).1 Through that project, and other research, the following information was known with respect to Ann Bourns relatives.
While completing that project a deed relating to articles of marriage for Richard Woods and Ann Bourns was found.2 This 1812 deed was the deed tells us that Ann is the daughter of Charles Bourns and mentions several other parties of interest in referring to other deeds.
This sparked curiosity as Ann appeared to be related to the deceased John Medlicott, but the specifics of that relationship were not clear. The working hypothesis was that perhaps John was Ann’s grandfather on her mother’s side. That hypothesis turned out to be incorrect.
Ann was actually the niece of John Medlicott, not a granddaughter as suspected. She did not receive an inheritance directly from John Medlicott, but it is possible the inheritance ultimately came from him through his sister, Ann’s mother Dorcas.
The deeds, and other records researched, did provide a wealth of information on Ann’s family tree that was not previously known. Ann’s mother was Dorcas. Dorcas had brothers John and Edward, and sisters Catherine and Eleanor. Ann’s grandfather is James and her grandmother is Eleanor, likely Eleanor Whelan. She had several grand aunts and uncles, including John and Margaret Medlicott who had the Dorcas Medlicott named in the 1812 Deed, as well as Joseph and Theobold, named in a 1776 deed. Marriages and death dates were found for many of the relatives added to Ann’s tree.
The detailed findings start with the deeds mentioned in the 1812 document. Information found in those deeds and others relating to the family is supported by additional genealogical documents reviewed.
Detailed Findings
The Registry of Deeds and Memorials is a rich source of information for those lucky enough to have family that leased or owned property in Ireland. Phair considered it to be a certainty that genealogical information may be found.3 These transcript books are copies of the original deeds registered with the Ministry of Justice in Ireland. They are sometimes verbatim copies and other times abstracts or overviews of documents. As there was no requirement to register deeds, and wills were generally not registered unless they were expected to be argued, full information is not necessarily available. The transcripts of deeds were generally created and registered at or near the time of the original. However, sometimes there are delays of up to several years. While there may be much genealogical information contained in the deeds, there is no guarantee that they are without errors. Transcripts were written by the clerk based on information provided by informants, and therefore it is not unusual to find errors in names as well as spelling differences in names, even within the same document. Palaeography issues when transcribing the documents range from reading difficult writing to difficulty in interpreting the (sometimes excessive) use of abbreviations. The memorials of deeds included in this project have been transcribed from the records in the transcript books. There are, therefore, at least two, and sometimes more, areas for potential errors to occur. Where possible, deeds have been supplemented by other original and derivative sources.
Full transcripts of the deeds quoted below and links to the original transcripts are included here.
1812 Deed 450676
…made between Thomas Woods of Parsonstown in the Kings County apothecary of the 1 part Richard Woods Captain in his majesties service of the second part Ann Bourns daughter of Cha[rle]s Bourns of White Church in the county of Dublin of the 3 part and the said Charles Bourns of the fourth part…2
The deed that started the further research into the other deeds is a marriage settlement between Richard Woods and Ann Bourns. The deed detailed other deeds and settlements.
| Date | Main Parties to Deed |
| 26 Oct 1801 | Richardson, Medlicott, Grevis |
| 29 May 1776 | Stinton, Medlicott |
| 3 May 1780 | Lord Bishop of Kildare, Medlicott |
| 19 Nov 1702 | King, Medlicott |
| 5 July 1796 | Blunder, Richardson, Bourns, Medlicott |
| 18 Nov 1795 | Naylor, Richardson, Bourns |
| 25 July 1795 | Marimsell, Richardson, Bourns |
| 12 May 1796 | Dean and Chaplin of Kildare, Richardson, Bourns |
| 5 Dec 1807 | Medlicott, Woods, Bourns |
The deeds that could be located were then reviewed for genealogical information. Those with new genealogical information are discussed below.
1809 Deed 419727
Parties involved:
…made between Edward Medlicott of the City of Dublin Esquire of the first part Thomas Woods of Parsonstown in the Kings County apothecary of the second part and Elinor Bourns and Ann Bourns of White Church in the County of Dublin spinster of the third part Whereby the said Edward Medlicott as Trustee to said Elinor Bourns and Ann Bourns for and in Cons[ideration]on of an intended marriage there to be had and solemized between the said Thomas Woods and Elinor Bourns…4
Analysis
Although the deed was registered in 1809, it is confirming the marriage of Thomas and Elinor in 1807. Genealogical abstracts, confirmed with the index of marriages indicate a marriage date of 5 December 1807.5,6,7
Edward Medlicott is indicated as a trustee for Elinor and Ann. Unfortunately, it does not mention what the relationship is between Edward and the sisters. A search on the marriage indexes found that Charles Bourns married Dorcas Medlicott in 1776. This was substantiated with newspaper notices announcing the wedding date in early September of that year.8,9,10 It is most likely that Edward is a relative of Dorcas and became trustee for the sisters on the death of Dorcas. At this point, however, there is no confirmation of the death of Dorcas.
The subscribing witness in this deed is Charles Bourns Junior of Whitechurch. This is very likely the brother of Ann and Elinor.
1801 Deed 356897
Parties involved:
…made between the Revd Edw[ar]d Richardson then of Long Melford in the Kingdom of Great Britain Cl[er]ke and Ch[arle]s Bourrns of the City of Dublin Merchant Exec[ut]ors of the last will & Testament of John Medlicott late of Mooretown in the co[unty] of Kildare Esq[ui]r[e] dec[ease]d of the first part Dorcas Medlicot of Long Melford in the K[ingdo]m of Great Britain Widow of the said John Medlicott & Ch[arle]s Grevois and Marg[are]t Grevois first Medlicot his wife and Cath[erine] Medlicot spinster which Margaret & Cath[erine] are the only children of the same John Medlicot of the second and Edward Medlicot of the City of Dublin Esq[ui]r[e] of the third part…
and further
…To hold the said Tenem[an]t Lands Houses and ground af[oresai]d with their app[]d with the s[ai]d Edw[ard]d Medlicott his Exec domains & ass[ign]s for & during all the rest & residue of the terms unexpired of the said leases of the s[ai]d premises therein partly so forth & recited. In trust to and for the use for the only proper use & behoof of Elenor Bourns and Ann Bourns their Excers adm[inistrat]ors & ass[ign]s & af[oresai]d herin named…11
Analysis
Importantly, this deed is the point where Elinor and Ann Bourns are now entitled to the leases for a payment of £274/19/6 made on their behalf by Edward Medlicott. Unfortunately, this deed does not tell us why. It does, however, confirm that it was not from John or Dorcas or their daughters as the daughters are both still alive.
This deed indicates that John Medlicott and Dorcas Medlicott had two daughters Margaret, who married Charles Grevois, and Catherine, at that time unmarried. We now have two Dorcas Medlicotts, one who is wife of Charles Bourns and one who is wife of John Medlicott.
The marriage of John Medlicott and Dorcas Medlicott was confirmed through marriage indexes, genealogical abstracts and parish records.12,13,14 The wedding announcement in the Dublin Gazette stated that Dorcas was “a young Lady distinguished for the Beauties of her Mind and Person, and possessed of a considerable Fortune”.15
Testamentary records and newspaper articles confirmed John died on the 13 July 1793.16,17 Additionally Betham’s Genealogical Abstracts indicated that John was the brother-in-law of Charles Bourns and had a sister named Katherine King as well as confirming the daughters.18
Confirmation that Katherine Medlicott married Edward King 22 April 1771 was located.19,20,21
A search was next undertaken on the Grantor Index of Deeds for any additional deeds that included the Medlicott name, searching specifically for John, Dorcas and Edward. The following deeds provided additional genealogical information.
1776 Deed 207302
Parties involved:
…made between Theob[ol]d Medlicott of Moortown in the Co of Kildare Gent[lema]n Ex[ecuto]r of John Medlictott, John Medlicott late of Cherryville in the same Co[unty] Gent Marg[are]t Medlicott Widow of the sa[i]d John Medlicott. John Medlicott of the City of Dublin Woolen Draper & Dorcas his wife the only Daughter of said John Medlicott dec[ease]d & Edw[ar]d Medlicott of Drummury in the Co of Kildare Esq[ui]r[e] of the one part & James Medlicott of the City of Dublin Gent only son and heir of the said John Medlicott dec[ease]d of the other part…22
Analysis
This deed identifies another John Medlicott who was deceased. This John Medlicott died 5 April 1767 in Kildare.23,24. Betham’s abstract of John’s will indicates that he has a brothers Theobold and Joseph and a daughter Dorcas as well as a son John and sister with a last name Foxcroft not mentioned in the deed.25
A search online found a Medlicott tree.26 This tree indicates that John Medlicott’s widow Margaret was most likely Margaret Saunders. However, this tree does not have Dorcas, the daughter of John and Margaret marrying John Medlicott, which we now know is the case.
John’s brother Joseph is likely not mentioned as an executor of John in the deed as he died in 1762.27,47
This deed indicates that James is the son of John Medlicott. However, the abstract indicates that the son’s name is John. In fact, the James mentioned here is most likely Edward’s son James. James is listed as the eldest son of Edward of Dunmurry in deeds dated both before and after this deed.28,29 If James was indeed the son of John, and was still alive, he should be mentioned in subsequent deeds relating to his father’s property, which he is not. As he is not mentioned further, a search was made of newspaper articles during that time period to ascertain if he could be found. James Medlicott of Dunmurry, Edward’s son, is found in several sources getting married, selling property and the victim of a robbery.30,31 James of Dunmurry died in 1827.33 No articles could be found to match a James of Moortown.
A search for the death of John that could be the son of John and Margaret revealed no information. Theobold’s death in 1789 indicates that Dorcas was his only living relative.34,46 It likely that John and Margaret’s son John died between the writing of the will in 1751 and the date of this deed.
The search for James Medlicott did reveal a James Medlicott that died in 1771. This James was the brother to Theobold, (and John and Joseph as we know from above) and was the father of John, Edward, Eleanor, Dorcas and Catherine (Catherine and Dorcas we know from above). His wife was Eleanor, with a maiden name likely of Whelan as her nephew was named Thomas Whelan.35
1797 Deed 331191
Parties involved:
…made between Charles Grevois Esq[ui[r[e] Captain in the Regim[en]t called the New Romney Fencibles or the Duke of Yorks own light Dragoons of the first part and Margaret Medlicott Spinster Eldest Daughter of John Medlicott late of Moortown in the Co. of Kildare Esq[ui]r[e] deceased of the second part Dorcas Medlicott of Moortown afores[ai]d widow of the s[ai]d John Medlicott and Guardian of Catherine Medlicott minor of thirteen years of age or thereabo[ut]s on behalf of the s[ai]d Catherine Medlicott of third part and the Rev[eren]d Edw[ar]d Richardson of Moortown afores[ai]d Clerk and Cha[rle]s Bournes of Smock Alley in the City of Dublin Esq[ui[r[e] E[xe]c[uto]rs and Trustees of the last will andtestament of the s[ai]d John Medlicott of the fourth part…36
Analysis
This deed tells us the ages of Margaret and Catherine, daughters of John and Dorcas Medlicott. It also importantly tells us that Margaret kept the rights to her inheritance, Charles Grevis waived his rights. Charles and Margaret’s marriage was confirmed through indexes. As he was 56 to her 21, it was likely his method of ensuring she had funds for life as he had four children from his first wife.37,38,39
1805 Deed 386248
Parties involved:
…made between Dorcas Medlicott of Melford in the Co of Suffolk and Kingdom of Great Britain Widow of the one part and Richard Wade Doyle of the City of Dublin Esq[ui]r[e] of the other part…
and further
…for the lives of the s[ai]d Dorcas Medlicot Marg[are]t Greives and Catherine Wright daughters of the s[ai]d Dorcas Medlicott…40
Analysis
From this deed we have gained Catherine’s marriage. Catherine married Reverend Thomas Wright 4 January 1803.41,42
James Medlicott of Dunmurry is the power of attorney for Dorcas Medlicott in this document with no reference to any family connection, further confirming that he is not the son of John and Dorcas as discussed above.
Dorcas originally lived in Ireland with John. This deed, and the 1801 deed above, indicates that Dorcas has moved to Long Melford in Suffolk. Her move may have been related to the 1798 Rebellion as she made a claim, which was denied, for some houses that burned in Moortown.43 Dorcas died in Suffolk, never having remarried, in 1825.44,45
