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CSO/RP/SC/1825/641

Letter from Edward Wilson, chief police magistrate of County Tipperary, Thurles, County Tipperary, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on an attempt on the life of Thomas Moore by four armed men at his farm about two miles from the town of Cashel on the 3rd of October. The assailants, he remarks, fired a number of shots at Moore, one of which grazed or ‘slightly wounded’ him about the face. In the event, he sought refuge in a nearby house where he had access to a ‘case of pistols’ kept for protection. A subsequent attempt was made by the marauders to set the thatch of the house on fire but this failed on account of the dampness of the weather. Suspicion, he notes, has fallen on members of a family named ‘Woodlock’ who were earlier dispossessed of that holding. [Also makes reference to the attempted murder of Francis Despard, see description CSO/RP/SC/1825/640].

5 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/642

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on an outbreak of disorder in the town of Dungarvan in County Waterford following seizure of fishing nets. Encloses letter from Samuel Croker, chief constable of police, Dungarvan, County Waterford, conveying details of a very serious outbreak of anarchy in Dungarvan that began with the destruction of some nets earlier seized by the fishing department. He indicates the police made prisoners of a couple of the ‘most active rioters’ but were subjected to a hail of stones thrown by the mob; those involved in the outrage, he observes, numbered from three to five hundred persons and were largely ‘in a state of intoxication’. The mob soon took over the jailer’s quarters, and made a great press to enter the jail house. On the advice of the military commander in that quarter, the police decided to release the two prisoners. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/637].

10 Oct 1825-13 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/643

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reflecting on a complaint by the deputy mayor of Clonmel, County Tipperary, over the failure of the police to alert him to a riot in that town. Returns letter from William Chaytor, deputy mayor of Clonmel, referring to his earlier letter on the subject of police action at fairs and complaining that he was not informed by the constables of a public disturbance at the recent fair in Clonmel, 6 [October] 1825. Encloses letter from Samuel Gordon, Spring Garden, Clonmel, to Chaytor, calling attention to the scenes of depravity that disgraced the town on fair day. Laments over the ‘dreadful fighting in the street’ and remarks the ‘sight of bleeding men was most shameful’. He expresses his astonishment that the officers of the police establishment are prevented from curtailing such indignity without the presence of a magistrate and requests an investigation, 6 October 1825. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/635].

6 Oct 1825-14 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/644

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, [Oatfield House, County Galway], to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on an intensification of intimidation and outrage in the barony of Tyrerah [Tireragh] in County Sligo. States that some ill disposed persons have engaged in the destruction of corn stacks and the ‘Ears of some Asses [were] cut off’ in that barony. As far is apparent, he states, such attacks are directed against the property of individuals who had contributed to tithe collections. Stresses his confidence in the local exertions of the magistrates [William Fenton and Mr C Irwin] and the police constabulary to restore the peace. Encloses a threatening notice posted at Frenchpark in County Roscommon, warning all on pain of death against payment of tithes to Reverend William French or his agent [proctor].

15 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/645

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reflecting on a complaint by the deputy mayor of Clonmel, County Tipperary, over the failure of the police constabulary to bring to his attention a riot in the town. Encloses letter from Mathew Singleton, chief constable of police, Clonmel, stating the party of police made reference to by William Chaytor [deputy mayor of Clonmel] as having been at the scene of a riot in the town of Clonmel are in fact those attached to the force under [Richard] Ponsonby, chief constable of police in County Waterford. His own men, Singleton continues, are but two in number and were impeded by the size of the mob blocking the passage leading to the bridge over which it was necessary to pass to the residence of Chaytor. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/643].

16 Oct 1825-19 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/646

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on the proposed transfer of Lieutenant H Hawkshaw, chief constable of police, barony of East Carbery, County Cork, to a station under the jurisdiction of Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster. Should the exchange be sanctioned by government, he observes, it would have the beneficial effect of removing Hawkshaw from a district in which he has become unpopular on account of his part in the recovery of Mr Merritt’s tithes. Encloses letter from Sir Arthur Chichester, MP for Carrickfergus, Belfast, County Antrim, expressing his support for the transfer of Hawkshaw to County Down. Also encloses letter from Hawkshaw, Skibbereen, County Cork, requesting a ‘helping hand’ in organising his removal to the north of Ireland. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/572].

15 Oct 1825-19 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/647

Letter from Edward Wilson, chief police magistrate of County Tipperary, Thurles, County Tipperary, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting at the last assizes of Thurles 21 persons were convicted of involvement in riot or physical assault. Through the imposition of various terms of imprisonment by the magistrates, he hopes a deterrent will be made to the ‘horrible practice of throwing stones’. To facilitate a trip to Dublin and to County Cavan on ‘private affairs’, he requests permission to take leave of absence from duties for a period of three weeks.

19 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/648

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reflecting on the attempted murder of Thomas Moore of Templemore in County Tipperary. Claims to have foreseen the attack, for he observes, ‘no person can be more obnoxious to the peasantry of his neighbourhood’ than the man in view due to his ‘tyrannical, and oppressive conduct towards all persons with whom he has had dealings’. Expresses his particular distaste for Moore, a former captain in the 38th regiment of foot, who ‘married the bastard daughter of a rich gentleman farmer by whom he got £1000 which purchased his commission’, 19 October 1825. Encloses letter from Moore, Ardmail [Ardmayle], near Cashel, alleging he was victim of a murder bid on the 3rd of October. Five assailants, he states, came upon him at his farmhouse and fired a number of shots in his direction. Having sought the safety of his dwelling, he continued to put up resistance despite an attempt to burn the house. The reason for the attack, he conveys, was due to his refusal to let his ground to an encumbered tenant; his attackers also claimed, he admits, his death would be for ‘the good of the Country’. Also mentions his life was much in danger on 26th of August when four men sought to ambush him on the road to Cashel, and makes reference to some other instances of attack, 10 October 1825. Also copy statement pertaining to the armed attack on Moore with undertaking to pay a reward to any person or persons who will ‘prosecute to conviction’ the culprits, signed by Moore and 5 other persons, 5 October 1825. Also encloses original threatening notice addressed to Moore by Captain Rock warning if he persists in improperly letting his ground he will ‘have his coffin made’; with vignette below showing an upright figure discharging a long firearm and caption reading ‘I hope you will not bring me to this trouble at all’. Also additional threatening notice from Captain Rock to Moore and two others directed to James Meaher [Meagher] and Andrew Devane [Devine] exhorting them to desist payment of parish fines [church rates]. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/641].

7 Mar 1825-19 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/649

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, [Oatfield House, County Galway], to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on the appearance of unrest in the barony of Tireragh, County Sligo, and communicating his intention to visit that locality on Monday next. Encloses copy letter from William Gardiner, chief constable of police, barony of Tireragh, Easkey [Easky], commenting upon a particularly gruesome notice that was attached to the chapel door of the parish of Skreen. He conveys the notice strongly warns any person against giving evidence [in support of the Protestant establishment] on those involved in a melee at the fair of Dromore [West] or face ‘strangling or quartering’; the parish priest, it cautioned, should likewise remain silent or ‘his pocket would know it on Christmas day’; a serious message is also directed by the authors to Captain Wood, who they insist, must be well disposed towards the Ribbonmen or ‘his Head is to cut off’. He adds in postscript that news has reached him from Skreen of the burning of a clamp of turf and the mutilation of the ear of a horse. On such crimes, he observes, the lower orders do not volunteer information readily but details are only uncovered by the police ‘by strict inquiry’. Also encloses copy of a song entitled ‘The Land of Shelelagh’ recalling aspects of the Gaelic heritage of old and anticipating a renaissance under Daniel O’Connell, printed by Stephen B Goggin, County Limerick. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/644].

17 Oct 1825-20 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/650

Cover letter from Major Thomas Powell, inspector general of the Leinster constabulary, Corkagh, Rathcoole, County Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, returning a letter from the Marquis of Westmeath [George Thomas John Nugent, 8th Earl of Westmeath], Clonyn, County Westmeath, reporting the murder of [Michael] Conlon at a location about four miles from Castletown Delvin on 9th of August. On information gleaned from the victim’s brother, he notes, the deceased was ‘marked out for destruction’ by the Ribbonmen, whose principles he failed to uphold. He remarks upon the lack of evidence to assist with the detection of those responsible and advises the best stimulus for progress is the offer of a reward.

20 Oct 1825

1825