‘Tall’ Soden Stories 3
Francis Soden,1st recorded teacher in the Soden family in Ireland
FRANCIS SODEN ,(2nd January, 1802 – vivens 1824)
Templevanny , Co. Sligo
Son of Francis and Amy Soden, Rowington, Warwickshire
See also Rowington, Warwickshire details at UK 1650
Francis Soden , a Catholic ,was the first recorded member of the Soden family to be a teacher.
He was recommended by Fr. Richard Fitzmaurice , the priest of Keash for training in 1824. He had at this time the appointment for the school in Templevanny from Earl Kingston.
He is mentioned 2 years later as being in charge of the pay school in Templevanny ,in the parish of Drumrat with scholars paying 1/3d to 2/9d per quarter . The school itself was a house built from lime and stone for between £80-£90.
(Sources : History of Achonry , 1689-1818 by Liam Swords , page 182 & O’Hara Papers Ms. 20,285 & Commissioners of Irish Education Enquiry ,
1826-27 , XII pages 1310-1330.
1824
‘…….Richard Fitzmaurice,parish priest of Keash,recommended for training in 1824,
Francis Soden, who had here appointment by Earl Kingston to the school of Templevanny.’
History of Achonry, 1689-1818
By Liam Swords,published 1997
Page 182
(See de Brun pp. 85,182,238,240,256.
Parliamentary Papers (1825) volume 12
Appendix 223,page 617 and
O’Hara Papers Ms. 20,285)
1826-27
Parochial Returns for Sligo
Appendix no.22 to the Second Report
from Commissioners of Irish Education Enquiry H.C.1826-1827,
X11 pp. 1308-1330.
Francis Soden
Roman Catholic
page no.1316
Parish Drumrat
Location Templevany
Teacher
Pay school 1/3 yo 2/9 per qtr.School house built from lime and
stone for £80 – £90.
Names of primary schools in different counties and their parishes:
Sligo:-
Parish School Name in 1826
Drumcliffe Kilsellagh/Carney/Ballinful
St.John’s Sligo Prison,Oakfield,Sligo Female,Clover Hil,Cabry Female,Upr. St.John’s.
Ahamlish Mount Temple
Ballinasoden Ballinasoden (Hibernian London)
London Hibernian Society
No return.
Related Reports:
Hibernian Society for Soldiers’ Children/1844 (363) XLIII.155
page 427
The Sixth Report :Hibernian Society for Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Children 1826-1827 (441) XIII/35
from Dingfelder/NL IR 372/d/38 (4 vols.) &
Irish Education Enquiry/NL IR 372/1/6 (2 vols.)
TAB [Tithe Applotment Books]
Reel 93
Page 5
Diocese Achonry
Parish Toomour
Townland Templevanny
Name Francis Soden
Quantity 1acre
School Plot
Valuation 18s.
Francis Soden, the teacher mentioned above, was the great-great-grandfather of Mary Soden McNerney, now a resident in Leixlip, Co.Kildare on the banks of the River Liffey near Dublin and the Sodens of Templevanny, Co. Sligo , some of whom attended the Soden Reunion in 2000.
Francis Soden was born in Reading, England and employed as a teacher in the schoolhouse at Templevanny, now a ruin. He died Mary believes in 1867. This means the Sodens of Templevanny would have experienced the full blow of the Great Famine and the 1867 Fenian Insurrection.
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The Sodens of Coventry
Henry Soden (1806 – 1888), ribbon manufacturer, Mayor of Coventry and philanthropist.
‘ The Mayor of Coventry never trots’.
The full story of the Warwickshire and in particular the Soden families of Coventry is thoroughly researched by Ronald Soden of Arbewyswyth, Wales d. 1998 in the book ‘The Sodens of Coventry : A Warwickshire Family through Six Centuries’
There are a number of truly interesting stories related by Ronald of events in which Soden members were involved. This is a summary of one related to Henry Soden of Coventry.
In 1832 Henry married Mary Ann Proof of Corley Hall, north of Coventry.her farm featured in ‘Adam Bede’ , one fo the novels of George Eliot referred to as Poysers Farm. Henry lived at Much Park Street in Coventry. He then moved to Nr. 5. The Quadrant, Coventry , next door to his brother Thomas.
Henry was ribbon manufacturer or ‘silkman’ and worked in partnership with two others as Soden, Slater and Green based at 18 Much Park Street. He was deeply involved in public affairs and was Mayor of Coventry twice, in 1859 and in 1873. He was a trustee of charities and was a shareholder in the Coventry Corn Exchange. He retired from business in 1861 and both he and Mary Anwin were childless. He was very generous in his will to his family, friends and local of the city. Both he and Mary Ann died in 1888.
Henry is remembered for his remark, when as Mayor he was accompanying the Prince and Princess of Wales on a visit to the city, the Prince requested the procession to hurry up , to which Henry replied, ‘ The Mayor of Coventry never trots’.
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