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CSO/RP/OR/1829/861

Letter from Rev John Whitty, magistrate and Archdeacon of Kilfenora, Ennistymon, [County Clare], to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary, reporting that the servant of Mr Davoren has died as a result of a beating and observing that those who have been attacked or ill-treated are often reluctant to provide information due to intimidation; noting that very few of the magistrates are resident and that many firearms are in the hands of those not qualified to hold them; complaining about the inadequate size of constabulary force and seeking a reversal of the decision to remove troops from Ennistymon. Includes annotation from Gower, offering to issue search warrants for firearms, noting that the county should apply for more constables and observing that the patrolling of roads by the military will not prevent the outrages described.

6 Oct 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/862

Letter from [N] Fitzhenry, Chief Constable, Elphin, [County Roscommon], to Maj Warburton, reporting on an attack on the houses of Darby Dockery and Mick Bly by 150 persons seeking firearms. Also covering letter from George Warburton, Inspector General, Castlegar, [County Galway], to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary, complaining of the ‘careless and meagre manner’ in which Fitzhenry has submitted his report and seeking to have him reprimanded. Also draft letters from [Gower], Dublin Castle, to Fitzhenry and Warburton, issuing a reprimand for the imperfect report of the incident.

4 Oct 1829-7 Oct 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/863

Letter from George Warburton, Inspector General, Rockingham [House, County Roscommon], to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary, noting that [Robert Edward King, 1st Viscount] Lorton has already reported the attack on Rev Shaw which has resulted in a planned meeting of magistrates and gentry in Boyle; adding that a proposal will be made at the meeting to swear in special constables and seeking government clarification on the measure. Includes legal opinion of Richard W Greene, clarifying how special constables can be appointed under 1 Geo 4 c37 [Appointment of Special Constables Act 1820]

17 Oct 1829-30 Oct 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/864

Letters from J Harvey, Inspector General, Kilkenny, to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary, forwarding a copy of a letter from George Despard, Chief Constable, stating that the information sworn by John Anderson before the Marquis of Westmeath is a ‘tissue of falsehood, invented by Anderson for some private purposes’; noting that the information concerned an alleged murder near the Bog of Loughcrew; also enclosing a letter from RF Macdonnell, Chief Constable, Athboy, noting that he accompanied Mr Battersby to Loughcrew but that Anderson could not point out the house of Bernard Smith, the alleged victim. Also related letter from [George Nugent, 1st Marquess of] Westmeath, Clonyn, [County Westmeath], to William Gregory, Under Secretary, concerning arrests made in the case and suggesting that the information provided appears to be true.

6 Nov 1829-16 Nov 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/865

Letter from Bartholomew Warburton, Swanlinbar, [County Cavan], to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary, reporting that three of the suspects in the Macken, [County Fermanagh] murders have left the county to pick potatoes in County Meath but are reported to be in correspondence with Robert Browning, cooper, Enniskillen; wishing to know if he is permitted to stop Browning’s post? Includes annotation from Gower stating that this is justified under the circumstances.

1 Nov 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/866

Copied extracts from reports from chief constables in counties Clare, Galway, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo, including Winslow, Capt Gardiner, Montford, Fitzhenry, Tabuteau, Capt Atkinson and Capt Galbraith; reporting on outrages in their districts including threatening ‘Terry Alts’ notices against a protestant in Clare for bringing his children to church, attacks on houses, theft of firearms, illegal repair of guns by a whitesmith, arson attacks and attacks on livestock, forced administration of illegal oaths; nightly intimidation by a party of over 200 Rockites in Dromore, Sligo, the murder of man named Crane in Sligo, smashing of articles bought from a protestant cooper named Peacock in Dromahair, digging of potatoes of an imprisoned man named Healy by hundreds of labourers in Clare, an attack on Lord Forbes’s gamekeeper; attacks on the houses of Mr Fetherston and Summer by a gang searching for arms and calling themselves ‘Steelboys’ in County Roscommon, threatening letter served on Joseph Hardy, a driver on the Earl of Clancarty’s estate Glanaclare, Cahertrim, County Galway. Also covering letters from George Warburton, Inspector General, Castlegar, [County Galway], to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary and Alexander Mangin, Dublin Castle.

16 Oct 1829-18 Nov 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/867

Letter from George Warburton, Inspector General, to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary, reporting that Sir E O’Brien has called a meeting of magistrates in Ennis, [County Clare] and noting that he will travel to that town; presuming that Mr [?Crussly] will be sent to him.

23 Nov 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/868

Letter from M Lynch, Chief Constable, Portumna, [County Galway], to Maj Warburton, reporting that he arrested nine individuals accused of attacking the house of Thomas Burke of Gurtymadden, on foot of a warrant issued by Mr Hearne of Hearnesbrooke, magistrate; adding that Burke had seized some livestock in lieu of rent. Also anonymous letter signed ‘a friend to the peace of my country and a roman catholick’, addressed Loughrea, [County Galway], reporting on the attack gainst Burke and suggesting that the Whiteboy System in the area would be stopped if Maj Warburton received information from Burke. Also covering letter from George Warburton, Inspector General, Castlegar, [County Galway], to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary.

31 Oct 1829-4 Nov 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/869

Letter from George Warburton, Inspector General, Roscommon, [County Roscommon], to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary, noting that a meeting of magistrates in Roscommon recommended that firearms be taken from the peasantry in the locality and recommending that search warrants be issued to Henry Hughes, Arthur Brown, Robert Goff and John Irwine.

13 Nov 1829

1829

CSO/RP/OR/1829/870

Letter from Rev Giles Eyre, curate, Athenry, [County Galway], [probably to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary], complaining that large mobs have assembled on sabbeth days [Sundays] under the direction of ‘the higher classes in society’, for the purpose of hurling and racing and later drinking and fighting. Also letter from Tomkin Brew, Chief Constable, Oranmore, [County Galway], to Maj Warburton, stating that local magistrates give too much encouragement to these meetings for ‘hurling and footracing’, adding that William Lopdell gave them permission to hurl on his grounds and Rev Prendergast, parish priest was one of the directors on one occasion; advising that the magistrates be written to rather than resorting to a proclamation as these events are not political. Also covering letter from George Warburton, Inspector General, Castlegar, [County Galway], to Francis Leveson Gower, Chief Secretary, anticipating that his letters to Lopdell and Persse, magistrates will put an end to ‘the disgraceful breaches of the Sabbath’.

5 Nov 1829-16 Nov 1829

1829