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CSO/RP/SC/1825/21

Letter from Reverend N Alexander, Crumlin Academy, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, seeking the advice of government on the legality of preaching before a gathering of freemasons. He wishes to know ‘whether their meeting or walking in procession is a breach of any of the present laws’ [such as the Unlawful Societies Act]. With query on back from Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, and response to same from one of the legal advisors to the crown.

17 Jun 1825-19 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/22

Letter from Lieutenant General Mervyn Archdall, magistrate, Castle Archdale, Lisnarick, County Fermanagh, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting that no orange procession took place in the neighbourhood on 12th of July.

14 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/23

Letter from Randal W Johnston, magistrate, Larne, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting on the assembly on 12th of July of ‘a numerous Procession of Orangemen’ [contrary to the terms of the Unlawful Societies Act]. Refers to the steps taken in dealing with the gathering and warns ‘in the event of any future procession that opposition and riot will take place’. Encloses letter from Lieutenant Henry Ross Lewin, chief constable of police, Ballynure, County Antrim, to Messrs Agnew and Johnston, magistrates for County Antrim, describing the course of the orange procession on 12th of July in his neighbourhood. Affirms he made every exertion to prevent the orange lodges from meeting in public and personally placed notices at various locations throughout his barony, explaining the illegality of freemason and orange marches. He encloses a ‘Return of Persons who marched in procession as orange men on the 12th of July 1825’, with a mark placed against the names of those who acted as lodge masters.

14 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/24

File of material relating to the search for Farrell Doran who is wanted in connection with the murder of Thomas Doyle, a postilion mail coach rider, who was killed outside Newry in County Down. Includes letter from John Armstrong, chief constable of police, Drogheda, County Louth, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, indicating that Doran has fled to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] by sea and seeking his apprehension and return to Ireland for trial, 15 August 1825. Also copy affidavit of Peter Hoey, prisoner and informant, Gaol of Dundalk, giving a full description of how he in company with Doran and two other persons attempted a highway robbery outside Newry that resulted in the murder of Doyle. Incorporates some detail of the lives of the four thieves who operated chiefly in counties Armagh and Louth. Affidavit sworn before George Forster, magistrate of County Armagh, 23 July 1825.

9 Jul 1825-15 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/25

Letter from Reverend John Alexander, Church of Ireland rector of the union of Portumna, County Galway, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, raising the alarm over repeated attacks upon the church roof with stones during the time of divine service. Complains a number of the missiles have penetrated through the timber ceiling, and have caused danger to the congregation. He observes, despite having a number of police in attendance, the perpetrators have not yet been apprehended or charged. Stresses only a small number of his congregation have links to the orange order and many have subscribed to the Roman Catholic chapel presently under construction in the town of Portumna. Concludes that such ‘outrages have been committed in order to insult a Protestant Congregation & to deter the timid from attending a Protestant Place of Worship’.

31 Aug 1825-2 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/26

Letter from John Butler, local inspector, Gaol of Athy, County Kildare, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking the assistance of government in securing the release of James Harte and two men bearing the surname Cleary who were confined to prison following their refusal to give evidence against an individual for retailing alcoholic liquor without license. Explains the prisoners were ordered to pay £2 each which was initially sought against their property and subsequently against their persons. States the magistrates are of opinion they do not possess the authority to release the men who have ‘most excellent Character’.

28 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/27

File of material relating to an application from Henry Alcock, magistrate, County Waterford, for clarification over the use of the police to assist with the collection of church cess. Includes letter from Alcock, Dunmore East, County Waterford, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking clarification from government over the use of the police to assist with collection of church cess by the church wardens. Refers to the difficulties facing the wardens and makes reference to past contentions over cess collection in the parishes of Maculla and Kilculliheen and in parishes around Drumcannon in County Waterford. He observes ‘the Combinations never appeared to be at a higher pitch nor the People more disposed to oppose the Collection of the Cess, than at the present moment’, 17 September 1825. [See also description CSO/RP/1825/1488].

27 Apr 1821-20 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/28

Letter from George Anderson, [deputy to Major Thomas Powell, inspector general of the Leinster constabulary], Corkagh, Rathcoole, County Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing a letter from Colonel Daniel Toler Osborne, chief constable and pay clerk of police, Curristown, Killucan, County Westmeath, reporting on the murder of Michael Conlon, clerk of the petty sessions at Castletown Delvin, near Mullingar, County Westmeath. Admits on account of a lack of evidence ‘there is little likelihood of the perpetrators being discovered’, 10 October 1825. Also encloses letter from Lieutenant E Jenkins, pay clerk of police, Dundalk, County Louth, reporting on the burning of a dwelling houses and out offices belonging to Francis Elliot at Mansfieldstown, in the barony of Louth. States Elliot’s loss is estimated at £650 and blame for the outrage has fallen upon a certain Bryan Neary, who is now on bail on a charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Elliot, 11 October 1825.

10 Oct 1825-14 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/29

Letter from an anonymous writer styled ‘An Unknown friend’, Queen’s County [County Laois; Leix], to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, remarking on the ‘truly alarming’ state of popular feeling on account of heightening sectarian tensions in the region. Anticipates ill consequences to Protestant brewing interests following a visit by Doctor [James Warren] Doyle [Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin] to the home of Mr Cassidy’s ‘the Brewer’ of Monasterevin, County Kildare, and also to the town of Mountmellick. He expresses a hope that the magistrates will prevent any reoccurrence of the orange march which took place in Mountmellick on 12th of July. Also comments on the power exercised by the priests over the people and the resistance of the former to the unsupervised study of the Bible. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/18].

c13 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/30

File concerning a complaint by Reverend Robert M Mant, Church of Ireland rector of Ballymoney, County Antrim, over an attack on his house and threats against his person. Includes letter from Mant, Billy Parsonage, near Bushmills, County Antrim, to Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, complaining of coming under pressure from night trespassers at his residence over the past few weeks. Reports on Sunday night last, his servant fired upon an intruder and give chase, but as yet the identity of those responsible remains unknown, 9 April 1825. Also includes copy letter from ‘A Roman Catholick [sic]’, Defiance Carstel [sic], to Mant, warning against use of ‘oppression’ in his dealing with the lower classes. Threatens to retaliate against the servant who fired the shot during the attack on the Parsonage. He claims in making the incursion upon the house his object was not to steal money, since he has now access to ‘the funds of that most valuable Institution called the Catholic rent’. Affirms his intention to resist the designs of the Established Church and to continue the struggle ‘to the last drop of Blood’, 6 April 1825.

6 Apr 1825-11 Apr 1825

1825