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Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)


Browne-Clayton Papers
Bigamy in 1824

By kind permission of Michael Purcell


The King at the prosecution of Jane Gurney otherwise Holmes against Bernard Murray. Jane Gurney otherwise Holmes of the Town of Carlow

Widow Saith that on the 23rd day of September 1821 she was married in the Parish Church of Carlow to Bernard Murray formerly a Soldier in the Leitrim Regiment of Milita according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by the Reverend Joseph Jameson, Curate of the Parish of Carlow.

And Jane Gurney saith that having lately heard that the said Bernard Murray had been on the 26th day of February 1811 married to one Anne Murphy of Ross in the Parish of Killarney by the Reverend Cornelius Egan a Roman Catholic Clergyman then officiating in said Parish. And Anne Murphy having called to her residence in the Town of Carlow warned Jane Gurney that she was the lawful wife of the said Bernard Murray.

Thus Jane Gurney did lodge information for Bigamy against Bernard Murray with William Fishbourne , Esquire, one of his Majestys Justices of the Peace for the County of Carlow on Thursday the 18th instant who thereupon committed Bernard Murray being at that time a prisoner in the Gaol of Carlow upon another charge and now also upon said charge of bigamy.

Jane Gurney further saith that on the 19th day on March instant she procured a Crown Summons for the purpose of obtaining the attendance of the Reverend Cornelius Egan and Danial Murphy and John Connor two witnesses who were present at the Marriage of Bernard Murray and Anne Murphy and she employed John Murphy of the Town of Carlow Process-server to serve the Summons and who did call to the present residence of the said Reverend Cornelius Egan at Tralee and also served Summons therewith on Danial Murphy and John Connor at their respective Places of Residence at Killarney aforesaid.

Jane Gurney saith that Reverend Cornelius Egan is now in attendance at the Honorable Court and ready to prove that he married a person of the name of Bernard Murray on the 26th day of February 1811 who was then a Soldier in the Leitrim Regiment of Milita to one Anne Murphy but that he is unable to identify the Parties.

Jane Gurney further saith that Daniel Murphy who is the father of said Ann Murphy otherwise Murray and also the said John Connor who is the Roman Catholic Parish Clerk of the Parish of Killarney and who could identify Bernard Murray as being the person who married the said Anne are not in attendance in Court and Jane Gurney has heard that the cause of their non-attendance arises from poverty in not being able to procure money to bear their expenses at Carlow at so short a notice but Jane Gurney believes that if the trial of the Prosecution be postponed untill the ensuing Assizes she has good reason to believe she will be able to procure their attendance without which she is advised she cannot at present prosecute to conviction said Bernard Murray.

And Jane Gurney further saith that she always understood that the said Bernard Murray was a Roman Catholic and has heard and believes that the said Anne Murphy otherwise Murray his wife is also a Roman Catholic. Jane Gurney further saith that this application is not made for the purpose of unnecessary delay but in order that substantial justice may take place ~~

(signed) Anne Gurney.

The above is a true and accurate transcript of the original document.

Transcribed by Jean Casey, November 2009.


1923 Page 107 1924

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