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 Coastguard station Inishbofin Donegal
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| mccausland |
Posted on 03/11/2009 17:13
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 New Member  Posts: 4 Joined: 03/11/2009 |
My grgrgrandfather, Charles Thomas, was stationed as a coastguard at Inishbofin Island Donegal from 1848 to 1864, so the records say. This year I visited Donegal and also had a view from Magheroarty on Inishbofin Island. There isn't much of it. Looking at it, I couldn't understand why at all there would be a coastguard station on this little island that lies quite near the coast. It doesn't seem sensible. Either choose for Tory Island, further on sea or stay on the main land. Also I cannot find any other reference on the internet, or anywhere, of (remains of) coastguard buildings there. So that leaves me with a number of questions: Was there ever a coastguard station on the island? If so, what were these coastguards doing on this little island? If not, where would my grgrgrandfather be stationed? If nobody has any answers to these questions, do you have any suggestions where I could find more information about these matters? Thank you for any help! Theo |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 03/11/2009 20:12
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 Administrator  Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Hi Theo I can't answer your specific question, I think it's one for Tony, but I can perhaps a little to your knowledge. Charles Thomas was one of the CG Men who served in the navy during the Crimean War. I have noted him as having served on HMS Prince Regent (ships no.159) in the Baltic in 1854, for which he was awarded the Baltic Medal that was sent to Sheephaven CG Station, Donegal, on 18 April 1857. Most of the CG men on this particular ship went on to serve in the Crimea on HMS Royal Albert. However, he is not on the medal roll for this ship, which suggests that he either served on another ship, or only saw active service in the Baltic. Regards Martin |
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| mccausland |
Posted on 03/11/2009 21:53
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New Member Posts: 4 Joined: 03/11/2009 |
Hi Martin, Thank you very much for your information! I wasn't aware he had received the Baltic Medal. According to my knowledge Charles Thomas served on HMS Prince Regent from 6.3.1854 until 22.11.1854, then from 23.11.1854 until 12.2.1855 on HMS Royal Albert and from 15.2.1855 until 12.7.1856 on HMS Agamemnon, last two both in the Crimea. Theo |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 03/11/2009 23:49
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Theo Based on your info I check the Crimea Medal roll for HMS Agamemnon and found Charles Thomas AB, it's rather faint, but he looks to have been awarded the Sebastopol clasp to his Crimea Medal, together with the Turkish Crimea Medal. Martin |
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| aussienoel |
Posted on 04/11/2009 10:01
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Member  Posts: 30 Joined: 31/08/2009 |
Theo. ADM 175/10 shows that Charles Thomas' date of nomination to HMCG was 7th October 1848, that he was transferred from HMS "Daring", and that indeed he ws posted to HMCG station Innisbofin as a Boatman. ADM 175/19, shows that he was removed from Innisbofin on 15th September 1851, on account of his wife's health, to HMCG Melroy. He served there until 22nd July 1853, when he was removed and promoted - back to Innisbofin as a Commissioned Boatman. FIle ADM 175/19 (Establishment Books) goes only until 1862. It shows Charles to be still at Innisbofin in 1862. You will need to look further to find when he actually finished (check what's downloadable from The National Archives, London). I'm afraid I have not downloaded beyond 1862. Both Innisbofin and Melroy were listed as the Port of Derry, and District of Sheephaven. Noel Edit....and having done all that, I found almost a complete history of Charles Thomas here: http://www.bobanderson.co.uk/documents/The%20Background%20and%20Early%20Life%20of%20Florence%20Britton.doc Edited by aussienoel on 04/11/2009 10:25 |
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| mccausland |
Posted on 04/11/2009 19:03
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New Member Posts: 4 Joined: 03/11/2009 |
Hi Noel, Thanks for looking up all this information for me! I didn't know all this was downloadable from the National Archives. Would the information I am looking for also be available in the ADM-files, you think? I knew of the site of Bob Anderson, it contains a very interesting piece of family-history. His grgrandmother, Eliza Thomas, and mine, Catherine Thomas, were sisters. The funny thing was that when we came in contact with each other I didn't know of the existence of Eliza and Bob didn't know of Catherine, while we both had the names of all other brothers and sisters. Theo Any idea about the location of the coastguardstation Inishbofin (Donegal) is still very welcome! |
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| kilmeny |
Posted on 04/11/2009 19:04
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 Member Posts: 37 Joined: 28/02/2009 |
Well done for finding that most interesting account, Noel , and thank you for bringing it to our attention......How lucky for Theo to have so much fascinating history already researched for him.---- If only it were always so easy !! I'm still crossing my fingers that I will one day have a similar breakthrough re: my James Ost!.......Kilmeny |
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| aussienoel |
Posted on 05/11/2009 10:06
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Member Posts: 30 Joined: 31/08/2009 |
Theo, The only suggestion that I can make is that there is evidence that the names of CG stations reflected their area of operational responsibility, not necessarily their actual physical location. This was true of Achillbeg after 1864, when the station remained known as Achillbeg although it was actually at Cloghmore. As Tony has pointed out, it is extrememly difficult to know just where some of these stations were. All I can suggest is that you try to access some old OS maps of the area. In that vein I located the following website http://www.osi.ie/ and by going into the OSI SHop, then Historic Map Archive, and then Browse Maps, you can then look at what is called the Historic Map series (table on RHS of your screen) you can zoom in on InishbofinIsland, Donegal, and surrounding areas. I can see no mention of a CG Station on Inishbofin itself. However, directly south of the island on the mainland is a CG Station. Possibly this is it? You can play around with this map and see what other CG stations there are in the area. The Headquarters of the area was at Dunfanaghy. You should be able to see the CG Station I'm referring to by going direct to here: http://ims0.osiemaps.ie/website/publicviewer/main.aspx#V1,588644,933056,6 When this loads, just click on Historic and you should see the old map with the CG station. Others may find these maps useful. Noel Edited by aussienoel on 05/11/2009 10:07 |
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| mccausland |
Posted on 05/11/2009 22:56
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New Member Posts: 4 Joined: 03/11/2009 |
Hi Noel, Thank you very much, this information is of great help for me!! What a great website, OSI! The historic maps are great and the possibility of an overlay is very helpful too. I'm sure you are right in thinking that the names of CG stations only refer to the ares of operational responsibility and that the CG station you pointed out in Magheroarty was (one of) the stations called "Innisboffin". Another interesting fact I found this evening on the historic maps of the region is the existence of a "Waterguard Station" in Ballyconnell, near Falcarragh. From the archives of Griffiths Valuation I know George Thomas had a house in Ballyconnell. So it is very probable he worked on this Waterguard Station too. Or would that not have been possible? I don't know if the CG and the WG were different organisations.... Thanks again Noel for this breakthrough! Theo |
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| aussienoel |
Posted on 06/11/2009 01:17
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Member Posts: 30 Joined: 31/08/2009 |
Theo, I've just checked the establishment books for Irish CG stations 1827-1862, and there was no station named Magheroarty. I would therefore say, on the balance of probablities, that the station that I found on the map was the one called "Inishbofin." So I think that this is where Charles Thomas was stationed. Noel |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 06/11/2009 08:43
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Theo The Preventive Water Guard were one of the organsations, which with the Revenue Cruisers and Riding Officers, were amalagmated in 1822 to create the Coast Guard. So if your man was in the PWG prior to this date it is likely that he would have just been transferred over to the CG, remaining at the same station. Martin Edited by crimea1854 on 06/11/2009 08:44 |
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| Tony |
Posted on 06/11/2009 10:31
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 Administrator Posts: 136 Joined: 28/04/2007 |
Theo Naming and locating Coastguard stations has always been a difficult chore. Inishbofin or sometimes called Currans Point is in the townland of Maghergroarty. Ballyness or Ballyconnell is in the townland of Ballyconnell. In 1876 the O.P.W. (Office of Public Works) built an Officers house and 4 cottages. This would consist of one large building. Three cottages added 1888. This was a substantial station. These may have replaced much earlier simpler structures. Looking at the maps of this rugged and dangerous coast safe small landing places for smugglers and their goods without sharp rocks or rip tides would be chosen for the location of coastguard stations. Many were in extremely remote areas Tony |
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| malcolmph |
Posted on 14/08/2014 09:46
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New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 05/05/2014 |
I have done some research on this particular station as my 3rd gr grandfather also served there. The coastguard station was based in Ballyconnell House in Falcarragh (formely Cross Roads). This was later a prepartory school for nuns before being bour by Udras in 1987. http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000331685 There was also an Iniishboffin Station in Co.Clare. |
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| xiaonvren |
Posted on 04/12/2014 11:17
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New Member Posts: 3 Joined: 04/12/2014 |
Thank you very much, this information is of great help for me!! What a great website, OSI! The historic maps are great and the possibility of an overlay is very helpful too. _______________________ my site:fifa 15 coins |
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