James was born 6 December 1869, on York Street, Cork city. He was the third son and the fifth child of John and Mary Teresa (Desmond) EGAN.
James appears to have lived a troubled life. He appears in the records as a 16-year-old, convicted in Kinsale for ‘fraudulently enlisting’ – presumably in the military. Charles Fort, Kinsale was a British army barracks until it was relinquished in 1921. This is likely to have been where James was attempting to enlist.
His record states:
James EGAN no. 1371 Cork County gaol. Fraudulent enlistment at 8 August 1885. Aged 16.
James was described as 5 feet 8 inches. Fair hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion. 129 lbs at admission (9 stone 2, or 58.5 kg.) He was a Plumber. His last residence was given as Fair Lane. James was committed to imprisonment for one week. Cork county gaol, which was operational from 1820 to the 1940s, was located at The Glen, Cork city, where the main walls and gate entrance were later incorporated in the perimeter of University College Cork.
James’s conviction raises a few questions. What was fraudulent about it – did he lie about his age? How embarrassing was this conviction for his father, John, a former R.I.C. subconstable and prison warder?
James next appears in the records for “false answers on an attestation” – committed 15 May 1886 again by G.R. Cronin, Kinsale P.S.
The record shows James was 17 years. 5 foot 8 and ½. Brown hair, blue eyed, fresh complexion. Born Cork. Lived at Clarence St. Plumber.
The next record for James is 18 January 1887 for the charge of indecent assault. He was charged alongside a sailor, Joseph McCarthy. James was convicted of assault 21/1/1887 and sentenced to 3 calendar months prison and hard labour. At the time James was still a plumber, residing at Clarence St and Kinsale Soldier depot. There were no marks on his person such as tattoos.
The next record found was for a James Domenick EGAN who served in the Royal Navy for 12 years. His age and given place of birth are a match for our James. James had shown determination to get into military service and had finally got there, but it did not seem to suit him.
James Domenick EGAN’s service number was 175818. He was a plumber on entry and served as a stoker. James was described as 5 foot 7 ½ inches, with light brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. James’s noted wounds and marks (tattoos) were a shamrock and flag on his chest, the initials JDE on his right arm and a ring on his 3rd right finger.
The date of James’s first service was 11 September 1893 on the Vivid 11. He was engaged for 12 years and based at Devonport. However, as can be seen in the following record, he was frequently in trouble, spending many days in the cells at the naval training barracks. He also served time in the cells while on the HMS Royalist[1] and the Edgar[2].
His character was described in deteriorating terms as very good, good, fair, indifferent and bad. It would seem that James’s service did not go beyond July 1898.
James was imprisoned in Bodmin Gaol in July 1898, which received naval prisoners. It seems James had got into some trouble in Hong Kong and I am trying to investigate this further. He was sentenced to 90 days hard labour and I believe discharged from service. The notes read ‘attempt to rescue man from patrol’. His discharge date from prison was October 1898. He was transferred to Exeter.
James returned to Cork and lived with his family.
He was next sentenced to Cork County gaol on 29 April 1899 for a period of 4 days for drunkenness (though not disorderly, as others had been charged at the time). His address was Cathedral Place, where his parents and some younger siblings lived. James paid a fine of 3/6 on 29 April 1899.
At this time James was described as 5 7 & ¾, with fair hair, grey eyes, and a fresh complexion. James now had a scar on each eyebrow, and the tattoo of a female with a sword in hands and a flag on his right arm. He had his initial and a flag on his left arm.
I have located no obvious death records or marriage records, or Cork based census records for a James or Dominick EGAN. I have found no definite records of migration and no UK based records.
What happened to him? Was it this James who was a witness for his nephew Patrick BUCKLEY’s marriage in 1934?
[1] A Satellite-class composite screw sloop of the Royal Navy, built in 1883.
[2] HMS Edgar was a first-class cruiser and lead ship of the Edgar class. She was built at Devonport and launched on 24 November 1890. The Endymion was a sister ship.
I am struck by similarities between James EGAN and Denis O’CALLAGHAN – both young men of slight stature who sought to get into the military and then rebelled and bombed out.
In Search of Thomas Davis 