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CSO/RP/1825/897

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting on an application for the erection of a new pier at Bunowen Bay in County Galway. States the board cannot give a definite decision as to the viability of the proposed scheme since no survey or estimate has been presented. Returns memorial of the inhabitants of the town of Galway and western coast to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, making a case for the establishment of a quay at Bunowen Bay and seeking the attention of a couple of engineers for the purpose of evaluation. Points out the bay is a most fitting location for a sanctuary and would be invaluable to the safety of the many fishing boats that operate in the vicinity. Stresses the westerly lying Slyne Head is a most unsafe area of the sea being set amidst a group of rocky islands; remarks it is especially dangerous in heavy weather. Signed by John O’Neill of Bunowen Castle and c150 farmers, merchants and local boat owners.

28 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1335

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, acknowledging receipt of a letter from Henry Villiers Stuart, raising objections on behalf of the owners of trammel fishing nets in the town of Dungarvan, County Waterford, to the demands of the local inspector [Richard Dodd]. Conveys that instructions are given to the inspector general for the southern district [JR Barry] to proceed to Dungarvan to make a full enquiry of the matter complained of. He adds, pending instructions from the Lord Lieutenant, he will act to thwart ‘any interference on the part of the Local Officer in preventing the usual mode of fishing’ by all those who earn their livelihood from fishing in that place, 20 October 1825. Also note from Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, to [Goulburn], expressing his concern over the plight of the fishermen of Dungarvan. Urges that William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, give the issue his full attention and report back, 13 October 1825. Also reply from Gregory to Wellesley, proposing the fishery board be instructed to send an inspector general to investigate the question and make a report with reference to the relevant acts of law. In the meantime, he will direct that no obstruction should be given fishermen by the local officer except that which is consistent with the preservation of public order. With approval of the suggested course of action added beneath and signed by Wellesley, 14 October 1825.

13 Oct 1825-20 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1847

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on the state of affairs surrounding the quay of Clifden in County Galway. He observes the work remains incomplete on account of a failure of John D’Arcy of Clifden to honour a contract with the fishery commissioners. Stresses the work will be only complete when D’Arcy fulfils his side of the agreement [to advance half the cost of construction]. Returns letter from D’Arcy, [magistrate], Clifden Castle, complaining of the unfinished state of the quay and requesting an order be given to Alexander Nimmo, civil engineer overseeing public works in the western district, to complete the work. Remarks on the recent prosperity of the harbour which has seen 500 tons of salt landed and ‘upwards of ten thousand herrings’ taken from the sea over the past year.

23 Dec 1825-12 Jan 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1825/1850

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on an application from Daniel McAuliffe of Bere Island, County Cork, for a grant of money towards the purchase of a fishing boat. States the board have in view a plan to establish a ‘Boat-Building Fund’ in the district of Bantry Bay and in due course the applicant can acquire aid for the venture on the basis of ‘easy and gradual Instalments’. Returns memorial from McAuliffe, fisherman, Castletown, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting the intervention of government with the fishery board to enable him to acquire a replacement fishing vessel. Explains the old fishing smack he bought from Mr Maturin, assistant commissary general of Bere Island, is no longer of service. Complains since he was unable to procure monetary aid from the board, he is forced to abandon fishing with very distressing consequences for the welfare of his ‘half starved family’.

cDec 1825-12 Jan 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1825/690

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House, near Aughrim, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, enclosing a letter from Henry Townsend, chief constable of police, Tulla, County Clare, requesting leave of absence for a period of one month. He claims to have made the ‘necessary arrangements with the magistrates’ to ensure the security of his district while away.

13 Dec 1825-16 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/701

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House, near Aughrim, County Galway, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on the state of the district under his control. Expresses his satisfaction ‘the Police System is working well’ and is effective in bringing to justice those who disturb the peace or engage in more serious crime. Makes reference to a report from chief constable Caldwell on the effective suppression of disorder in County Sligo [not present]. Encloses copy letter from William Coffey, chief constable of police, Tomgraney, County Clare, reporting on an arson attack on the residence of Daniel Molony at Shean [Sheeaun] near Scariff on the night of 27th of December. Molony, he observes, has ‘been shockingly persecuted’ over the past couple of years on account, he supposes, of his taking land upon which the former occupants were ‘ejected by Mr Sampson for non-payment of rent’. He comments also on the apprehension of John Wall, ‘a most notorious offender charged with Murder, Cow-stealing and several other offences’. This outlaw, he continues, was staying with a man named Burk [Burke] and was secured with the assistance of Henry Townsend, chief constable of police at Tulla, 28 December 1825. Also encloses copy letter from Thomas P Firman, chief constable of police, Eyrecourt, County Galway, indicating he has arrested an outlaw named ‘Carroll’ who is wanted for murder at Parsonstown [Birr] in King’s County [County Offaly]. States he found the suspect in the dwelling of his sister-in-law ‘concealed between two Beds & three women lying over him’. Confirms he has sought a warrant for his trial and imprisonment from Mr Furneyhough, a police constable of Parsonstown, 30 December 1825.

28 Dec 1825-31 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1826/640

Petitions of Joseph Rickard, fisherman, Howth, County Dublin, to Richard Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, complaining that as a result of poor weather his boats were required to return to port early and that as a result he was refused the ‘Tonnage Bounty’ by the Commissioners of the Irish Fisheries; noting that he had fitted out the three ‘wherries’ [type of boat], called ‘The Rock’, ‘The Shamrock’ and the ‘St Joseph of Howth’, at his own expense. Also covering letter from [Thomas St Lawrence, 3rd Earl of] Howth, enclosing the petition. Also letter from James Irvine, inspector of fisheries, Dublin, to Henry Townsend, Irish Fishery Office, verifying Richard’s account and testifying to his good character. Also letters from Townsend, to William Gregory, Under Secretary and Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, discussing the case and drawing attention to Irvine’s report.

28 Apr 1826-7 Dec 1826

1826

CSO/RP/OR/1826/159

Letter from Michael Martin, magistrate of County Clare, Killaloe, [County Clare], to William Gregory, Under Secretary, reporting on the discovery of a gang of coiners and requesting that William Wright who provided information be compensated. Noting that Henry Townsend, Chief Constable arrested the coiners, namely James Hickey, Denis Burns, Michael Fogarty, at the house of Denis Dynan of Tomgrany [Tuamgraney, County Clare].

1 Dec 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1827/259

File of letters relating to improvements to the harbour at Ardglass, [County Down], initiated by [William] Ogilvie. Letters from Henry Townsend, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, submitting 2 alternate plans for the works [not present], and outlining costs. Also letter from Townsend to William Lamb, Chief Secretary, acknowledging his letter informing them that the works will proceed in accordance with the plan submitted by Capt Corneille, and requesting a copy of this plan, as none had been forwarded from Ogilvie. Also letter from William Wilson, first clerk, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Lamb, stating that James Donnell, engineer, would attend Mr Rennie at Ardglass as soon as possible. Also letter from John Kemmis, Whitehaven, [England], to Lamb, stating that he will be at Ardglass on 30 October 1827 to examine the harbour.

8 Feb 1827-16 Oct 1827

1827

CSO/RP/1827/795

File of papers relating to complaint brought by John Middleton, Master Cooper, currently of Sligo and late of Galway, against the Fishery Board for allowing the use of second hand barrels. Includes: printed ‘Notice to Fish-Curers’, signed by Henry Townsend, secretary to the Commissioners of the Irish Fisheries; 4 letters from Middleton to William Gregory, Under Secretary; letter from O [Owen] Wynne, Hazelwood Inn, [County Sligo] to Gregory, referring to enclosed Middleton’s memorial to Richard Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, seeking an investigation into his complaint; [?draft letter to Townsend, c16 June 1827]; as well as Townsend’s reply from the Irish Fishery Office, [Dublin], to Gregory.

8 Mar 1827-[?Jun] 1827

1827