Search the Catalogue

CSO/RP/1825/1031

Letter from John Ormsby Vandeleur, foreman of County Clare grand jury, Kilrush, County Clare, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, concerning settlement of a case of a cow purchased by Malachy Foley, at the fair of Carrigaholt in County Clare, which was earlier stolen from Michael Meehan of Buncraggy, 24 August 1825. Encloses letter from Jonas Studdert, magistrate, Atlantic Lodge, Kilkee, to Vandeleur, offering an extended explanation of the process surrounding his judgement on the stolen cow, and seeking to demonstrate his own impartiality; indicates his preparedness upon application to offer the cow to Foley ‘or the price of her’, 22 August 1825. Encloses copy note from Malachy Foley, Dough, to [his son] John Foley, Querin, ordering that the cow be released to the bearer of the note; indicates he is determined to instigate legal proceedings against John Meehan ‘for selling the same’, 29 July 1825. Also encloses affidavit from Foley and James Coote, putting on record evidence concerning the discovery of the stolen animal and her identification as being the property of Meehan; they undertake to provide further evidence at the next assizes of Ennis, sworn before Studdert, 29 July 1825. Also memorial from Foley, Querin [Querrin], to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, seeking a new enquiry into the affair of the stolen cow. Alleges Studdert, in his sole deliberations at the petty sessions of Dough, overturned a previous verdict at Kilrush, and in effect deprived him of the cow ‘without any consideration’, 12 August 1825.

29 Jul 1825-24 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1032

Letter from Thomas Popham Luscombe, deputy commissary general, commissary general's office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking the Lord Lieutenant’s permission to sanction an arrangement with the governor [Nathaniel Hone] and directors of the Bank of Ireland for the removal of old silver tokens out of circulation. Asks that the bank makes available to the commissariat officers the sums of £80,000 in new silver coin and £10,000 in bank notes, in order to effect an exchange of currency. Also mentions that two detachments of the corps of waggoners are expected to proceed to the province of Ulster on the 25 and 27 of August.

22 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1033

Letter from Margaret Merchant, 6 Baggot Street, Dublin, to John Toler, Lord Norbury, Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas, Ireland, requesting advance of a measure of financial aid to enable her to remain in Dublin to give evidence against those accused of the murder of her brother, Andrew Merchant. Explains her brother was lately employed as an apprentice with Robert Morton, shipbuilder of Ringsend, but on 6 July 1825 he was ‘barbarously murdered’ by a ‘Gang of Ruffians’, supposedly under guidance of a trades combination. Remarks to date she has appeared to give evidence in the case, but was only enabled to do so because she procured some employment in the city. [See also description CSO/RP/1825/887].

cAug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1034

Letter from John Toler, Lord Norbury, Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas [Ireland], Mullingar, County Westmeath, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, sketching a disturbing picture of outrage in County Westmeath and stressing the negative ramifications for the administration of justice there. Conveys information on the recent trial of Edward Bannon and a number of other suspected Whiteboys who were tried in connection with the destruction of the dwelling of Edward Connor [later referred to as James Connor]; observes in spite of a ‘strong body of Evidence’ in favour of a guilty verdict, the suspects were acquitted. Calls attention to the potential for intimidation of the witnesses and advocates that government protection should be offered in such circumstances. With annotation on back from Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, observing that Norbury should be requested to transmit a factual report on the trial and ‘a clear statement of facts’ as to the general state of the County Westmeath, 26; 28 July 1825. Also damp press copy letter from Goulburn to Norbury requesting a copy of minutes of evidence presented in the trial of those suspected of the attack on Connor plus any further information on the situation in Westmeath, 29 July 1825. Also copy of report from Norbury to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, providing a detailed outline of the trial of the persons accused of making the attack on the home of Connor at Clonmore, County Westmeath. Conveys the accused persons, Bannon together with Patrick Feeny, Bryan Feeny and William Delahunt, were brought before the court at the summer assizes of 1825, on a charge of malicious assault on 6 June, under the Whiteboy Act. Refers to some past prosecutions in the region against persons ‘for cutting the ears of an informer and throwing down the houses of some Inhabitants under colour of such Inhabitants being denounced as obnoxious strangers’ and emphasises the influence of delinquent pressure in the county. Repeats opinion that the evidence given at the trial was sufficient to justify a verdict of guilty, but was undermined by fear of intimidation. Concludes with an appeal for government protection for witnesses who face the threat of terror or outrage, 2 August 1825. Also report from the head office of police, [Dublin], to the Chief Secretary’s Office, on the circumstances of James Connor and his family. Describes him as an industrious individual who would benefit from a measure of aid from government to support himself. Observes on account of having a deaf and dumb child and another with ‘club feet’ his wife is opposed to moving to America, 2 September 1825.

26 Jul 1825-2 September 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1035

Petition of James Dondon of Cloghatacka, and James Daniher of Briskey [Briska], in the barony of Pubblebrien, County Limerick, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, seeking the intervention of government in assisting with establishing their innocence in the case of the murder of Patrick Slattery, who died following an assault at a riot in Kildimo, barony of Kenry, on 2 July 1825. Remarks on account of being ‘charged as accessories’ in the killing of Slattery, they departed their holdings to avoid arrest or imprisonment, leaving ‘their Harvest business unfinished’. Asks that the magistrates of the county or Thomas Philip Vokes, police magistrate of Limerick, be directed to accept bail for their attendance at the next county assizes as there are ‘Confident of their Innocence’. With note on back from John Sealy Townsend, King’s Counsel and legal advisor to the Chief Secretary’s Office, observing that he cannot recommend such an order as is requested; due to not having information to hand he is unable to say if such an indulgence would be permitted even if they were in custody.

3 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1036

Letter from Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, Westminster, London, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, requesting contact be made with Richard Griffith, civil engineer, with a view to having two three well qualified surveyors appointed to map townlands for the ordnance survey in Ireland. Refers to the rate of progress of the scheme in counties Antrim and Londonderry, and stresses the necessity of immediate action as the bill giving legal authority to the work is at present passing through the House of Lords. Adds the persons selected to act as surveyors should be in communication with the ordnance survey officers, and need carry out work as directed, in accordance with the act of Parliament. Also letter from Griffith, Belfast, County Antrim, to Goulburn, stating he has met with Major Thomas Frederick Colby of the Royal Engineers and has entered into ‘several preliminary & satisfactory arrangements with him’. Indicates ‘one surveyor of high character’ has came to his attention who appears competent to undertake the work in County Antrim. Also remarks he will compose a letter of instructions as a ‘guide to the principle Boundary surveyors', with also send a copy to the Chief Secretary Office. Conveys he will require 6 copies of the new act to enable his principle surveyors to carry the work forward.

21 Jun 1825-3 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1037

File concerning a demand for recompense following the theft of a batch of stair rods from the Chief Secretary’s lodge in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Includes letter from Charles Jones, painter, 5 Bishop Street, Dublin, to William Murray, Architect’s Office, Board of Works, Dublin Castle, acknowledging a demand for payment of a proportion of the cost of the stair rods earlier stolen from the lodge. Claims to have conducted ‘a rigid enquiry’ of the matter amongst his tradesmen and finds all deny any knowledge of the items concerned; notes his workmen are all prepared ‘to clear themselves by affidavit’, 31 Aug 1825. Also includes letter from Samuel Smith, paper stainer, 28 Nassau Street, Dublin, to Murray, expressing resistance to his call for part payment of the cost of the missing stair rods. Defends the calibre of his employees and points to the likely culpability of the servant in whose care the security of the lodge is placed, 31 Aug 1825.

30 Aug 1825-31 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1038

Letter from Major General Brooke Young, W Booth and John Butcher, Office of Ordnance, Lower Castle Yard, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting their intention to employ persons contracted to bore for water at the barracks of Cork, County Cork, also at Cahir, in County Tipperary, ‘should they succeed in the experiment at Cork’. Indicates notification will be sent to government as soon as they return to Dublin.

31 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1039

Letter from Thomas Martin, magistrate, Ballinahinch Castle, Ballinahinch [Ballynahinch], County Galway, to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, enclosing a memorial from the general overseers of the Galway to Clifden road and the inhabitants of Ballinahinch to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting that government order completion of the road between the city of Galway and Clifden which has remained unfinished for a number of years. States a loan for the new road was obtained through the Consolidated Fund in 1819 but the amount secured was only sufficient to complete a section some 12 miles in extent; refers to difficulties experienced by the county grand jury in making a presentation for the work in hand and the view of the commissioners for the issue of money for public works that work could not be finished for the sum borrowed. Emphasises the necessity of the new road to the region since the condition and dimensions of the old one are not conducive to communication with the county town. Signed by John D’Arcy, magistrate, Clifden Castle, Reverend A Thomas, Church of Ireland rector of the union of Ballinakill [Ballynakill], Myles Prendergast, Roman Catholic parish priest and 51 other persons. Also letter from Martin to the Chief Secretary’s Office, reiterating the call for government assistance to complete the road. Acknowledges the attention of Alexander Nimmo, civil engineer overseeing public works in the western district, to the matter and stresses hope for a satisfactory outcome. Warns, however, in the event of no progress being made, the people of the district will be ‘cut off from all communication with the town of Galway’ for the grand jury will not sanction any further presentation for repair of the old line of road.

3 May 1825-16 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1040

Letter from Alexander Sanderson [Saunderson], [magistrate], Ballyshannon, County Donegal, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking issue of additional superannuation remuneration. Claims to have dedicated 28 years of his life to the militia and excise service, but after a lifetime of labour is now superannuated on the ‘trifling allowance’ of £50 per year. Refers to declining health brought on by the weight of labour with the excise department and mentions an unsuccessful application to the Lords of the Treasury [London] for an augmentation of pension. Annotation on base from Goulburn indicates a memorial enclosed in Sanderson’s letter has been forwarded to the Lords of the Treasury for ‘consideration’. [Contains list of names not given in this description.]

27 Aug 1825

1825