CAFFERTYS

Go to any large town and you are sure to find an Irish Bar. Scruffy Murphy's, O'Reilly's,
Brannigans, O’Neill’s and probably not a patch on the real thing.
Back in the 19th c Wrexham we had a `real` Irish pub, it was called the Welsh Harp and was
run by the Caffertys from about 1865.
Michael and Margaret Cafferty were both born in Ireland about 1840. In 1851 Margaret, still
unmarried, was living in Pentrefelin with her parents Nicholas and Mary Walsh, also with
them were siblings Patrick and Anne.
By 1861 Mary had died, Margaret had married Michael Cafferty and they were living at 26
Belle Vue Road with her father. Their first child Thomas Cafferty was born 2nd Oct 1861.
Nicholas died in 1876.
In the Wrexham Advertiser (I shall call it the WA) 9th October 1869 there was a Notice of
Auction of the Welsh Harp Inn, in the possession of Michael Cafferty. It must have been a bit
worrying for the couple as she was pregnant at the time. However in the WA later that year
there was an announcement of the birth of twin sons to the wife of Mr Michael Cafferty on
the 22nd Dec 1869 at the Welsh Harp.

On 12th July1873 it was Margaret who made the Local News Section in the WA.
BEWARE
Margaret Cafferty landlady of the Welsh Harp, Abbot Street was charged with assault on
Andrew Johnson, a tin plate worker in Tuesday last. The complainant went to a dung heap
belonging to Mr Lovatt in Abbot St when the defendant came out: and although he humbly
begged her pardon she struck him with a broom giving him a black eye and bruising his arm.
A witness saw the defendant swing the broom with some intent catching him on the side of
the face. The defence was that the complainant (who was not on the manure) made an
improper overture when the defendant struck him with the broom. Defendant called a witness
who saw them `fighting right well` and the woman appeared to have the best of it. He told
complainant to use his senses before his fists was better.
The Mayor said the complainant had been guilty of an act of indecency in going where he
could be seen from a private house, the case therefore was dismissed.

In the WA of June 12, 1875, there is a notice that the Wrexham School Board served Michael,
along with many other fathers in Wrexham a notice for their attention to irregular attendance
of their children at school.

A report in the WA on 1st April 1876

THE TAN-YARD MYSTERY .
A very brief version of the inquest,
A Michael Moran had been found dead in a tan pit at the Beast Market. Hugh Jones a collier
gave evidence that he knew the deceased. They had left home in the Pentre and gone to the
Turf. There they met a woman with black curly hair, she had some children with her and
asked if she could sing. She looked young - about 40! They all left the Turf and the deceased
who said he wanted to see a man called Kelly went on first with the woman.
Hugh Jones then went to the Cross Foxes but met Moran again in the Green Man where he
seemed a bit tipsy. Hugh Jones then went home leaving him behind. Other people were
mentioned as having being with Moran during the evening.
Margaret Cafferty, landlady of the Welsh Harp said that Moran had been in her house at
about 10pm. He didn’t ask for a drink and left. Rebecca Jervis, servant at the Green Man said
she saw Moran at about 10 pm; he was drunk when he came in and went to sleep. The
landlord Stephen Jones woke him up and turned him out as he certainly was not sober.
John Edwards, tanner at Mr Walter Jones tan yard found Moran in the pit. It was about four
feet deep and the liquor in it was `lime water`. The deceased pockets contained a shilling in
silver, 3d in copper, a wooden pipe, two clay pipes, a broken brandy bottle some clay marbles,
pocket handkerchief etc.
There followed a detailed report on the post mortem and that he had drowned, but there was
no evidence to show how he had got in the pit. There were other people seen with the deceased
during the course of the night. Enquiry terminated.

THE FUNERAL
The funeral of the deceased took place at the Wesleyan Chapel ground, Brake Chapel Moss.
A Mr T Lloyd who was connected to the chapel and had given permission for the burial was
asked to officiate. The parents are Irish Catholics and permission was given in a neighbourly
fashion without any expectation of the usual decencies being interfered with.
A number of people of the same nationality and religion went from Wrexham to the funeral
and it must be admitted that they did not conduct themselves as orderly and reverential as
they ought to have done. They interfered with the arrangements so far that one of them went
through part of the Catholic service in the Latin language, though not in the soberest
condition at the time. Pipes were smoked freely in the Chapel yard during the ceremony and
altogether it was an unseemly sight. The trustee who had given permission tried to check the
disorder, but he had no help, as neighbours would not interfere in the scene. Such a scene had
never before occurred anywhere in the district and care will be taken against its occurrence.

28th January 1882. WA

SUPPLYING DRINK TO DRUNKEN PERSONS
Michael was summoned by PC Bagshawe with supplying drink to drunken persons on the 11th
inst. Mr Ashton Bradley appeared for the defendant. PC Bagshawe said he was in Abbot
Street about 10.30 pm when he saw two men named Fox and Lynch who were both drunk
entering the Welsh Harp. He waited long enough to see they were not turned out, called
another officer who went into the house with him, they found the men with a quart of beer
and a glass before them. Mrs Cafferty was called, she said she know nothing about the men.
The officers were cross examined as to why they didn’t arrest both men if they thought they
were drunk, rather than wait for them to go into the house. It was suggested that they waited
in order to have a case against the publican.
Mr Bradley said the defendant had been in the house for 17 years without any previous
complaint. The officer Bagshawe had come from Manchester and had only been in Wrexham
for three months.
Both Mrs Cafferty and her daughter Mary were of the opinion that the men were not drunk.
Michael was given a caution, the fine and costs amounted to 30 s were paid.

22nd April 1882

A meeting of the Wrexham School Board was reported in the WA.
Twenty-two fathers were named. Their children were referred to as defaulting attenders by
David Lloyd Jones, attendance officer
Michael Cafferty Abbot St. Michael 12; James 10; very irregular.

22nd July 1882

THE ADVENTURES OF A FERRET
It was reported in the WA that Michael Cafferty, employed by Mr Bierne, brewer, Wrexham
was charged with stealing a ferret, the property of Edward Parry, rat-catcher, Salop Road.
The prosecutor said that a few days before he had been killing rats at Mr Wright’s, Puleston
Mills where he lost the ferret. He looked for it but failed to find it. Some women told him the
defendant had taken it. He went to see for it but the Michael refused to give it up. Mr Jones,
for the defence said the animal had been found on the roadside, and would have been
delivered up but for the conduct of Parry who had threatened Michael with personal violence.
The bench ordered Michael to pay the costs and to deliver up the ferret before the rising of
court - which was done.

1st September 1883

OPPOSITION TO THE BEERHOUSES
Michael Cafferty, Welsh Harp was one of 23 beer houses that were named in an opposition to
renewal of their licences. Mr J Hopley Pierce appeared on behalf of several Temperence
organisations principally instructed by Messrs. Hugh Jones, David Dodd and Robert Cotton.
The licenses were granted.

18th June 1892

A BATCH OF LICENCING PROSECUTIONS.
Michael Cafferty landlord of the Welsh Harp was summoned for selling during closing hours.
Sgt Roberts, in company of Inspector McLaren said he visited the Cannon Inn, Abbot St,
while he was there the back door of the Welsh Harp opened and a woman named Hannah
Hughes who resides in the Cannon Yard came out. She had a quart bottle of beer in her hand.
When she saw Sgt Roberts she put it under her apron. Mrs Cafferty came out and called
McLaren to come in, he saw Sgt Roberts had Mrs Hughes there and she had a bottle of beer
in her hand. It was stated that the house was well conducted and there had been no
complaints. The present tenants had been convicted of selling beer to two drunken men nine
years ago. The facts were admitted but the explanation was that Mrs Hughes who was a
widow who had a large family acted as a servant and charwoman in the Welsh Harp. Mrs
Cafferty was in the habit of giving her food for herself and her children and an allowance of
beer. This beer she sometimes drank in the house or sometimes took it home. This day she
decided to take it home and Mrs Cafferty filled a bottle for her. The magistrates dismissed the
case and the decision was received with slight manifestations of applause.

CENSUS
In 1871 the family are living at the Welsh Harp.
Michael is 30 and a forge labourer, Margaret is also 30, the children are
Thomas 10, Mary Ann 7, Margaret 5. Bridget 3 and Michael 1.
By 1881 they have another four children James 8 and William 3, Winefred 6 and Catherine 2.
In 1891, some of the children have left and Michael Cafferty 21 is a cabinetmaker and James
aged 19 is a brewer’s clerk.
1901 sees Margaret Cafferty as the head of the house, she is now a widow, James 29 her son is
a brewer. Winifred 27 is also still at home, William 21 has also become a cabinetmaker, and
Catherine aged 19 is still living there.
Michael & Margaret both died at the Welsh Harp, they were buried in Wrexham cemetery,
Michael on the 24 December 1896 aged 56 and Margaret on the 15 August 1902 aged 62, both
buried in R/C section, grave no 00797