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CSO/RP/1824/1551

Report on the southern district of Ireland with details of work carried on at public expense during the year 1823 on roads in counties Limerick, Cork and Kerry, by Richard Griffiths, civil engineer. Provides full commentary on work and emphasises its value for extension of both law and order, and peace and tranquillity. Details work on various lines of communication, for example the Listowel to Newmarket road, the Castle Island to Newcastle road, the Newcastle to Charleville road, the Macroom to Glenflesk road, the Skibbereen to Crookhaven road, the Clonakilty to Ring road, the Timoleague to Courtmacsherry road, the Bantry to Skibbereen road, and work on the new entrance to town of Bandon; also mentions the proposed Bogra road and the road from Bantry to Kenmare. Refers to resistance of local peasantry to being employed by piece, they ‘wished to be employed by the day, and to do as little work as possible’. Detects signs of social improvement amongst the population who through participation in the public works have been elevated above ‘the wretched and desponding state to which they had been reduced by the effects of the Whiteboy warfare of the winter of 1821 (in which they were all engaged) and the dreadful famine of the spring and summer of 1822’. Also incorporates at back of report ‘A General Statement of Public Accounts for 1823’.

26 Feb 1824

1824

CSO/RP/1824/1633

Letter from William Ramsay, Strabane, County Tyrone, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking assistance with settlement of debt of £7 1s 7d owed to him by John Hamilton, chief constable of police stationed at Listowel, County Kerry. Indicates on account of the distance involved, he cannot execute his decree for payment, and notes that written applications have failed to bring any response. Adds he is presently in Dublin and hopes for a reply to an address at 9 Lower Bridge Street.

11 Oct 1824

1824

CSO/RP/1824/1652

3 letters from John Church, Gurtenard, Listowel, County Kerry, magistrate of County Kerry, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, pressing for appointment of his son to some situation in the British Colonies. Makes reference to an undertaking by the Lord Lieutenant [Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley] to present his son’s claim before Lord Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst, Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, London, and also mentions his own valuable service in public office.

30 Sep 1824-20 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1824/2027

Petition of William MacKesey [Mackesy], Listowel, County Kerry, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting appointment as a constable in the police establishment or in the water guards, or another post under government. Remarks upon a show of individual courage in the face of an attack ‘by a strong Party of the rebels’ when in defence of the barracks of Devagh [Duagh], County Kerry, alongside the 39th Regiment of Foot.

11 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1824/2029

Petition of Michael Connor, private, Listowel corps of yeomanry, Listowel, County Kerry, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, requesting appointment to a situation in the police establishment. Refers to his loyalty in the recent disturbances in County Kerry and indicates a desire to be recommended for service in the constabulary force under command of Major Samson Carter, chief magistrate of police, County Cork.

1825

1825

CSO/RP/1824/2055

Letter from Mathew Barrington, crown solicitor [Munster circuit], Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, recommending that 5 shillings per week be paid to James Murphy, an informer, to enable him to take lodgings in the town of Listowel, County Kerry. Reveals that Murphy provided information on local disturbances to Maurice Fitzgerald and Dr Church of Listowel in 1821, then for reasons of personal safety he left for England; having returned to his native place he was attacked and severely beaten by relatives of those he earlier prosecuted; mentions Murphy's intention to press for prosecution at the assizes of Listowel in due course. Returns letter from Maurice Fitzgerald, 18th Knight of Kerry, [MP for County Kerry], Bilton Hotel, 51 Sackville [O’Connell] Street, Dublin, to Goulburn, requesting consideration of Murphy’s case. Refers to local pressure on him as a previous informer and remarks when attacked he was robbed of £7 that he acquired in England.

5 Jan 1825-20 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1824/2153

Letter from Maurice Fitzgerald, 18th Knight of Kerry, Listowel, County Kerry, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, calling attention to the pressing needs of the Church of Ireland parish of Valentia, County Kerry, which is in a neglected state due to the inefficiency of the resident clergyman. Encloses letter from the Church of Ireland bishop of Limerick [John Jebb], Currah [Curragh], County Limerick, to Fitzgerald, expressing dissatisfaction at the habits and conduct of the present incumbent of the Island of Valentia, Reverend Warburton. Proposes a plan for his removal, either by offering him another parish that does not require residence, or permitting him to remain as non resident clergyman of the island, drawing part of the parish income. Observes that a respectable replacement is essential to fill the joint roles of clergyman and magistrate, but concedes an additional inducement might be needed, in the form of a more permanent conveyance of ecclesiastical property. Identifies two men as acceptable future pastors for the island, Reverend Chute, the present curate of Cahirciveen, or Reverend Rowan, a competent academic. Requests help with further nominations for a suitable clergyman for the island and suggests his letter be shown to Goulburn.

20 Oct 1824-9 Nov 1824

1824

CSO/RP/1825/34

Copy petition of Giles Sullivan, baronial police constable, Listowel, County Kerry, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting removal from his present location to the town of Kenmare. Claims to have demonstrated good conduct during 6 years spent in the constabulary and stresses his responsibility for the care of a wife and family plus 6 ‘fatherless orphans’. With copy certificate in his favour transcribed beneath from the magistrates of the baronies of Glanarought and Dunkerrin [Dunkerron], in County Kerry, signed by William Godfrey, Church of Ireland rector of Kenmare and 3 others.

17 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/139

Petition of John Williams, former police constable, Listowel, County Kerry, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting advance of appropriate compensation having ‘lost one of his eyes’ in the line of duty. Claims to have succeeded his father, who had served as baronial constable of Glanarought, County Kerry, but due to his injury, was deemed unfit to fill a post in the new police establishment. Stresses necessity for an income to support his family and states his application has the approval of the leading magistrates of the county.

17 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/140

Petition of Robert Webster, former acting chief constable of police in County Donegal, Listowel, County Kerry, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting reconsideration of claim to compensation for duties performed primarily in the police establishment of Major Thomas D’Arcy, chief police magistrate for County Donegal. Claims to have acted ‘to all intents and purposes’ as chief constable for a period of 7 years, and outlines a wide range of duties to the crown, some of which were in support of the revenue department. Mentions having curtailed ‘House Burning, turf Clamp burning, the breaking of plows and Harrows…[and] the Posting of illegal Notices at Fahan in [the barony of] Inishowen’, County Donegal. Also alludes to having taken an instrumental part in the dispersal of a large party of men at Buncrana, apparently intent on disturbing the peace, and of preventing the shooting of a servant of the bishop of Derry [William Knox]. Refers to other personal contributions to enforcement of law and order and alleges he was overlooked by D’Arcy for promotion in the police. Also earlier reply from Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, to Webster, 22 Peter Street, Dublin, acknowledging application for redress but insisting the Lord Lieutenant ‘cannot hold out any expectation of remuneration’.

10 Dec 1824-28 Jan 1825

1825