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CSO/RP/OR/1831/803

Letter from John Gore Jones, [Stipendiary Magistrate and Chief Magistrate of Police], Athleague, [County Roscommon], to Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Gosset, Under Secretary, reporting that he went to the lands of Cloonakille in the barony of Athlone and found a large number of cattle, horses and sheep trespassing on the lands of Mr Cruise; stating that the stock is now incarcerated in the pound of Athleague; remarking the ‘Whites’ [Whiteboys] prevent Cruise from keeping his own stock on the ground, despite his paying £200 per year for rent.

23 Jun 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/810

Letter from Sylvester Jones, [Stipendiary Magistrate], Mountbellew Bridge, Castle Blakeny, [Castleblakeny], County Galway, to Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Gosset, Under Secretary, acknowledging a directive from government proposing a monthly meeting of the chief magistrates and sub-inspectors of the police establishment of Galway; stating that arrangements are in place to achieve the desired end.

19 Oct 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/814

Letter from Col Sir John Harvey, [Inspector General of Police], Dublin, to Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Gosset, Under Secretary, referring to an inquest on the body of Sabrina Jewell held in the King's County [County Offaly]; enclosing a letter from William Wallace, magistrate, Tullamore, to Harvey, seeking the opinion of the law officers of the crown on whether Joseph Browne, a suspect in the death of Jewell, can be admitted to bail.

6 Dec 1831-8 Dec 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/819

Letter from James [Verschoyle], [Church of Ireland] Bishop of Killala, County Mayo, to Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Gosset, Under Secretary, giving his approval to the sentiments expressed by local magistrates on the subject of an augmentation of the civil force; also petition of the magistrates of Killala to Henry William Paget, Lord Lieutenant, requesting that a military party be established in the town of Killala; also suggesting that an excise officer be stationed in the town to curtail the operation of unlicensed public houses; explaining that at present there is an insufficient number of police constables there; complaining of the robbery of farmers, the destruction of pounds, and the theft of firearms; also regretting the assembly in the locality of ‘Steel Boys’ at night, with ‘horns, bugles & arms’; signed by 26 magistrates. [Contains list of names not given in this description].

24 Jan 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/821

File of documents concerning the commotion that surrounded the elections in County Kilkenny. Includes letter from St George Browne, Chief Constable, Kilkenny, to Col Sir John Harvey, [Inspector General of Police], reporting on the state of Kilkenny in the wake of the election; remarking that the place was degraded by ‘numerous acts of violence’ but peace has been restored by the joint exertions of the constabulary and the military under the command of Maj Gen Sir Edward Blakeney, commander of the southwest district; observing that many of the principle towns in the county were disturbed and freeholders who came out in support of Lord Duncannon [John Ponsonby] required the protection of the authorities. Also includes copy of case on behalf of the crown on the subject of certain expressions attributed to Mr Maurice O’Connell, with the opinion of the Attorney General [Francis Blackburne]added below; noting that O’Connell ‘made use of language that which was considered treasonable’ on the first day of the election of Kilkenny. Also includes printed handbill giving ‘Mr. [Daniel] O’Connell’s Address to the Electors of the County of Kilkenny’. Also includes letter from Joseph Greene, Kilkenny, to Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Gosset, Under Secretary, setting out his reasons for seeking appointment to the post of resident magistrate for Kilkenny.

16 Feb 1831-17 Mar 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/822

File of documents concerning the issue of popular disturbance over tithes and the county elections. Includes memorial of the Protestant clergy of the counties of Carlow and Kilkenny to Henry William Paget, Lord Lieutenant, complaining of the concerted campaign of pressure against payment of tithes and the blatant ‘subversion of their legal rights’; seeking the full resolve of government to ‘protect property’ and requesting advice on how to act; signed by 18 clergymen. Also includes letter from Col Sir John Harvey, [Inspector General of Police], Kilkenny, to Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Gosset, Under Secretary, conveying the resolutions of the magistrates of Kilkenny to have 100 police constables appointed for the county; stating that orders are issued to the sub-inspectors to use the police to ‘protect the voters’; observing that no contest is expected in Kilkenny but 50 constables are on standby to go to Carlow ‘where a contest is certain to take place’. Also copy of notice with heading ‘No Tithe, No Church Tax’ advising that those who comply with payment of the charge should be made the subjects of local ostracisation; proposing that a person from each townland should collect subscriptions to support anyone who has been distrained for refusing to pay. [Contains list of names not given in this description].

11 Mar 1831-1 May 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/824

Letter from Denis H Kelly, magistrate of counties Galway and Roscommon, Castle Kelly [Castlekelly], Ballinasloe, County Galway, to an unnamed recipient [but likely the Chief Secretary’s Office], offering a report on the state of the country; remarking on the relative calm of the immediate neighbourhood but warning of the danger of disaffection spreading from nearby County Roscommon, where insurgents are well armed; observing the police at Mount Sandford Lodge in that county are numerically insignificant and commenting on the lack of strength of the constabulary along a stretch of the Galway border; recommending that a small military force be located at Castle Blakeny, [Castleblakeny], Creggs and at Ballinamore or Ballygar; also recommending that a military party be stationed at the bridge of Ballyforan and suggesting that he himself might have the commission of the peace for Roscommon; also enclosing a tracing of a map of the district referred to, with place names made reference to marked up.

1 Mar 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/827

Letter from Charles Kelly, postmaster, Post Office, Ballymoe, County Galway, to Augustus Godby, [secretary, General Post Office, Dublin], complaining of the ‘disturbed state’ of the surrounding district and seeking a military party and additional policemen; stressing the need for action since the ‘Terry Alts or Rockites assemble near this place nightly in thousands’; noting the insurgents have several aims which include the ‘spoliation of property’, robbing firearms, lowering rents and the abolition of tithes and taxes; remarking that the small local police force cannot respond to such a powerful collection of banditti.

12 Apr 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/829

Resolutions of Thomas Bermingham [Benningham] and five other magistrates, Kilconnell, County Galway, stating that the cost of additional [police] protection must be borne by the occupiers of individual townlands, which are now subject to outrage; offering a number of examples of local disturbances such as the case of Darby Hesian, Gortnaglogh, who is in dispute with his labourers; also noting the harassment of workers, the discharge of shots and the burning of house, all within the immediate vicinity.

30 May 1831

1831

CSO/RP/OR/1831/830

Letter from John Keily, [Chief Constable], Cove of Cork, [Cobh, County Cork], to Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Gosset, Under Secretary, reporting on the matter of the separate detention of prisoners John Brody and Patrick Fitzgerald, who are identified as possible crown witnesses; noting the men were both implicated in the murder of William Blood, magistrate of Corofin in County Clare, and proposing the one be sent to the county jail of County Cork and the other to the convict depot; also drawing attention to Patrick Donohue, a convict on board the hulk [‘Surprise’], who might also prove ‘useful’ in the investigation. Returning letter from Thomas Philip Vokes, police magistrate, Limerick, [County Limerick], to Gosset, calling for the detention of Brody and Fitzgerald, both of whom are facing transportation; advising they be kept in separate places; noting that Fitzgerald in particular could make a ‘useful approver’.

12 Jun 1831-23 Jun 1831

1831