But he was living in the area and his name was used in Court. There may not have been a local family of the name Boles in the area but there is a possibility he assumed a name of a friend or relative when he functioned as Special Constable. He had to be housed somewhere in the community or close by. My understanding of the circumstances of this period is there were many men moving around the country attempting to influence the political tides and were not very well known to locals who may be sympathetic to the cause exposed by a stranger. And accommodated him for a period of time I do believe infiltration was a major problem for all concerned during this time period -----Original Message----- From: Tom LaPorte <tlaporte@mts.net> To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com Sent: Sat, Mar 20, 2010 12:29 pm Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. I thought about that too but I don't think it's likely. Wouldn't publishing his status in the newspaper be like signing his death warrant? Especially in 1919. There were no Boles actually living in that area so his cover wouldn't be very good. Tom -----Original Message----- From: irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of renolan38@aol.com Sent: 21 March 2010 09:20 To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. Has the possibility of Mr. Boles being an undercover agent of some sort been considered? And therefore becoming " Special " Here in the United States some FBI Agents have a designation/rank as Special Agent. -----Original Message----- From: Tom LaPorte <tlaporte@mts.net> To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com Sent: Sat, Mar 20, 2010 9:08 pm Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. Thanks Mick Then it is probably just John Boles of Cavan on assignment in Carlow. That's right, none of my Bowles/Boles would have still been in Carlow by 1919. Still this little note will go well with my Bowles in Cavan files. Just glad this Boles wasn't a Black & Tan. Tom -----Original Message----- From: irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of michael purcell Sent: 20 March 2010 09:35 To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. June 1919 is too early to have been a R.I.C. B-Special Constable ( est. Sept. 1920) or a member of the Auxiliaries reinforcement group ( Sept. 1919) or a Black and Tan recruit (Jan. 1920), possibly volunteer but I don't think that Boles show up in Carlow records for the period ?.... On Sat, Mar 20, 2010 at 12:14 AM, Tom LaPorte <tlaporte@mts.net> wrote: > This reference states that Constable John Boles was a 'special' constable > of > the RIC. > > I would welcome opinions whether that means he was a temporary member, > probably a local, who was signed up to serve with the RIC but possibly was > not a full time member of the RIC? I have looked for Boles in the RIC > before and the only John I could find was in a northern county. Still he > could have been assigned to Carlow. The word 'special' makes me think it > wouldn't be that full time constable though. > > Anyone's thoughts? > > Thanks for the interesting reference Mick. > > Tom > > -----Original Message----- > From: irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of michael purcell > Sent: 19 March 2010 14:56 > To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com > Subject: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. > > Extract from report in Carlow Sentinel, June 31st 1919. > Dangerous Speech in Carlow. > Southern Police Court before Mr. Swifte, Magistrate, K.C. > Frank Gallagher, who was arrested in St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, was > charged under the Criminal Law, Ireland Act of 1887. > On May 25th last Mr Frank Gallagher delivered a speech to a crowd of > between > 300 and 400 people assembled at Myshall, Co. Carlow. > Constable John Boles, Myshall, County Carlow, a special constable of the > Royal Irish Constabulary, confirmed his dispositions in which he stated > that > in company with Constable Henry Skehin he attended a public meeting and Mr > Frank D. Gallagher, of Dublin (whom he identified) addressed the meeting. > In > the course of his speech he made and published seditious and inflammatory > observations. Amongst other things he incited his hearers in the following > words, or words to the like effect :- > " I wish to impress on you that you owe no allegiance to any alien > Government ---only to your own---the Irish Republic. England has no more > right to govern you than China. You belong to Dail Eireann, and whatever it > asks you to do you must do it from a Christian as well as a moral command. > If we have another rising be true to Eamon de Valera, Plunkett, Thomas > McDonagh, and Pearse. Do not let them and the work they did in 1916 be in > vain". > Mr Swifte asked Gallagher if he had any question to ask ?. > Mr Gallagher stood up and asked the magistrate whether he was appointed > under the Act passed under the Constitution of the Irish Republic ?. > Swifte took no notice of the question. Swifte then sentenced the accused to > three month's imprisonment , without hard labour, and ordered him to give > bail in 20 to be of good behaviour for 12 months or serve a further term > of > one month's imprisonment. > > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe > to the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ======================================= Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe to the List. Its FREE! --------------------------------------- To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ======================================= Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe to the List. Its FREE! --------------------------------------- To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ======================================= Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe to the List. Its FREE! --------------------------------------- To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ======================================= Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe to the List. Its FREE! --------------------------------------- To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

A search of the web brought up the following site: http://www.search.com/reference/Special_Constable The following is an extract from the site dealing with the RIC: The Royal Irish Constabulary<http://www.search.com/reference/Royal_Irish_Constabulary> began recruiting special constables in the 1920s, largely as a reaction to the Irish Republican Army <http://www.search.com/reference/Irish_Republican_Army>(IRA). In the south and west of Ireland <http://www.search.com/reference/Ireland> were the Black and Tans <http://www.search.com/reference/Black_and_Tans> and the Auxiliary Division <http://www.search.com/reference/Auxiliary_Division>. The Ulster Special Constabulary<http://www.search.com/reference/Ulster_Special_Constabulary> (USC) operated in the northeast and were the main bulwark against IRA activity. The USC was divided into three armed sections: A Specials (full-time and paid), B Specials (part-time and paid an allowance), and the C Specials (unpaid and non-uniformed reservists). J. J. On 21 March 2010 15:49, <renolan38@aol.com> wrote: > > But he was living in the area and his name was used in Court. There may > not have been a local family of the name Boles in the area but there is a > possibility he assumed a name of a friend or relative when he functioned as > Special Constable. He had to be housed somewhere in the community or close > by. > > My understanding of the circumstances of this period is there were many men > moving around the country attempting to influence the political tides and > were not very well known to locals who may be sympathetic to the cause > exposed by a stranger. And accommodated him for a period of time > > I do believe infiltration was a major problem for all concerned during this > time period > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Tom LaPorte <tlaporte@mts.net> > To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com > Sent: Sat, Mar 20, 2010 12:29 pm > Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. > > > I thought about that too but I don't think it's likely. Wouldn't > publishing his > status in the newspaper be like signing his death warrant? Especially in > 1919. > There were no Boles actually living in that area so his cover wouldn't be > very > good. Tom > > -----Original Message----- > From: irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto: > irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com] > On Behalf Of renolan38@aol.com > Sent: 21 March 2010 09:20 > To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. > > > Has the possibility of Mr. Boles being an undercover agent of some sort > been > considered? And therefore becoming " Special " > > Here in the United States some FBI Agents have a designation/rank as > Special > Agent. > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Tom LaPorte <tlaporte@mts.net> > To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com > Sent: Sat, Mar 20, 2010 9:08 pm > Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. > > > Thanks Mick > > Then it is probably just John Boles of Cavan on assignment in Carlow. > That's right, none of my Bowles/Boles would have still been in Carlow by > 1919. Still this little note will go well with my Bowles in Cavan files. > > Just glad this Boles wasn't a Black & Tan. > > Tom > -----Original Message----- > From: irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of michael purcell > Sent: 20 March 2010 09:35 > To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. > > June 1919 is too early to have been a R.I.C. B-Special Constable ( est. > Sept. 1920) or a member of the Auxiliaries reinforcement group ( Sept. > 1919) > or a Black and Tan recruit (Jan. 1920), possibly volunteer but I don't > think > that Boles show up in Carlow records for the period ?.... > > > On Sat, Mar 20, 2010 at 12:14 AM, Tom LaPorte <tlaporte@mts.net> wrote: > > > This reference states that Constable John Boles was a 'special' constable > > of > > the RIC. > > > > I would welcome opinions whether that means he was a temporary member, > > probably a local, who was signed up to serve with the RIC but possibly > was > > not a full time member of the RIC? I have looked for Boles in the RIC > > before and the only John I could find was in a northern county. Still he > > could have been assigned to Carlow. The word 'special' makes me think it > > wouldn't be that full time constable though. > > > > Anyone's thoughts? > > > > Thanks for the interesting reference Mick. > > > > Tom > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com > > [mailto:irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of michael purcell > > Sent: 19 March 2010 14:56 > > To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. > > > > Extract from report in Carlow Sentinel, June 31st 1919. > > Dangerous Speech in Carlow. > > Southern Police Court before Mr. Swifte, Magistrate, K.C. > > Frank Gallagher, who was arrested in St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, was > > charged under the Criminal Law, Ireland Act of 1887. > > On May 25th last Mr Frank Gallagher delivered a speech to a crowd of > > between > > 300 and 400 people assembled at Myshall, Co. Carlow. > > Constable John Boles, Myshall, County Carlow, a special constable of the > > Royal Irish Constabulary, confirmed his dispositions in which he stated > > that > > in company with Constable Henry Skehin he attended a public meeting and > Mr > > Frank D. Gallagher, of Dublin (whom he identified) addressed the meeting. > > In > > the course of his speech he made and published seditious and inflammatory > > observations. Amongst other things he incited his hearers in the > following > > words, or words to the like effect :- > > " I wish to impress on you that you owe no allegiance to any alien > > Government ---only to your own---the Irish Republic. England has no more > > right to govern you than China. You belong to Dail Eireann, and whatever > it > > asks you to do you must do it from a Christian as well as a moral > command. > > If we have another rising be true to Eamon de Valera, Plunkett, Thomas > > McDonagh, and Pearse. Do not let them and the work they did in 1916 be > in > > vain". > > Mr Swifte asked Gallagher if he had any question to ask ?. > > Mr Gallagher stood up and asked the magistrate whether he was appointed > > under the Act passed under the Constitution of the Irish Republic ?. > > Swifte took no notice of the question. Swifte then sentenced the accused > to > > three month's imprisonment , without hard labour, and ordered him to give > > bail in 20 to be of good behaviour for 12 months or serve a further term > > of > > one month's imprisonment. > > > > > > ======================================= > > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must > subscribe > > to the List. Its FREE! > > --------------------------------------- > > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the > > quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe > to the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe > to > the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) > in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com > > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > of > the message > > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe > to > the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) > in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > of > the message > > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe > to > the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) > in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > of > the message > > > ======================================= > Before you post a message to the IRL-CARLOW mailing list you must subscribe > to the List. Its FREE! > --------------------------------------- > To subscribe to the IRL-Carlow mailing list, send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the Subject box. No additional text is required. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-CARLOW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

That's what Michael mentioned but he stated that there would not have been that type of Special Constable as early as June 1919. I'm really hoping to be able to hold onto the thought that this Boles was not one of those Auxiliaries or Black & Tans. They were not nice people from all that I have heard. -----Original Message----- From: irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-carlow-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of JJ Woods Sent: 21 March 2010 13:23 To: irl-carlow@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [IRL-CARLOW] Boles in Myshall 1919. A search of the web brought up the following site: http://www.search.com/reference/Special_Constable The following is an extract from the site dealing with the RIC: The Royal Irish Constabulary<http://www.search.com/reference/Royal_Irish_Constabulary> began recruiting special constables in the 1920s, largely as a reaction to the Irish Republican Army <http://www.search.com/reference/Irish_Republican_Army>(IRA). In the south and west of Ireland <http://www.search.com/reference/Ireland> were the Black and Tans <http://www.search.com/reference/Black_and_Tans> and the Auxiliary Division <http://www.search.com/reference/Auxiliary_Division>. The Ulster Special Constabulary<http://www.search.com/reference/Ulster_Special_Constabulary> (USC) operated in the northeast and were the main bulwark against IRA activity. The USC was divided into three armed sections: A Specials (full-time and paid), B Specials (part-time and paid an allowance), and the C Specials (unpaid and non-uniformed reservists). J. J.

Apparently there were two men named John Boles in the RIC. The registration number of one was 18147 which meant he was recruited between 19/10/1853 and 23/4/1855. The second registration number was 30634, recruitment dates between 19/10/1863 and 8/11/1865. Assuming an age of 20 and taking the latest registration date when recruited that would mean the first man was approximately 84 in 1919 and the second man was approximately 74. It is therefore unlikely either of them was on active service in 1919. Constable Henry Skehin's registration number was 67953, recruitment dates between 16/12/1912 and 15/2/1917. There was a John Bole, registration number 13416 for dates between 12/9/1848 and 12/6/1850. There was an Auxiliary Force with recruitment between 15/12/1881 and 21/11/1882 and an Auxiliary Division between 23/7/1920 and 5/12/1921. I don't know if this information adds much to the discussion but it might. J. J.