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CSO/RP/1824/331

Letter from Robert Robinson, Board of Works, Dublin, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, relaying favourable opinion of architect on plan for bridewell buildings for towns of Ballymena and Ballymoney, County Antrim. Encloses copy letter from Francis Johnston, architect, Board of Works, to Robinson, expressing view that the proposed plan is ‘very eligible’ for the end in question. Returns letter from Major James Palmer, inspector generals of prisons, 41 Leeson Street, Dublin, to Gregory, referring to plan [not present] and seeking permission of the Lord Lieutenant on the initiative. Also returns letter from Charles McGeldowney, seneschal, Ballymoney, to Palmer, expressing desire for sanction on plan as the county assizes are approaching.

4 Mar 1824-12 Mar 1824

1824

CSO/RP/1824/1032

Letter from Samuel Reid, seneschal, Newry, County Down, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting on a complaint lodged by John Baxter, hawker, in connection with the imposition of fines for sale of wares at market. Indicates that Baxter, a seller of various sorts of soft goods, on two separate occasions, sold goods contrary to law from his cart in the market of Newry. Also memorial from Baxter, Newry, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, seeking justice and complaining of inconsistencies in the legal process; he expresses strong dissatisfaction with the conduct of magistrates, Trevor Corry, and Smithson Corry, especially in relation to his charge of extortion against Robert Burns, a sub constable of police.

9 Jul 1824

1824

CSO/RP/1825/316

Letter from A Hill, magistrate, Cloheen [Clogheen], Doneraile, County Cork, formerly lieutenant colonel in South Cork militia, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, drawing attention to a complaint over a customs levy on milk supplied to the troops in the barracks of Buttevant, County Cork, and enforced by the trustees of the manor of that place. Points to the inequity of the charge and seeks advice on how to act. Mentions the complaint was conveyed by Colonel Lindesay, commander of a detachment of troops of the 39th regiment of foot [based north of the River Blackwater] to the magistrates at the petty sessions of Buttevant. Encloses copy of statement and examination of certain witnesses. Provides outline of the claims of the trustees of the manor of Buttevant, formerly held by the late John Anderson of Fermoy. Alludes to origin of the custom charges on goods coming into the town and barracks of that place, as stipulated by a sitting of a Court Leet in April 1819. Refers also to placement of a notice at the market house in Buttevant demanding from suppliers 1d per churn of milk sold and a ½d for any smaller amount, signed by John Wrixon, seneschal. Records complains made before the magistrates at Buttevant from Colonel Lindesay; from Ellen O’Hara, Springfield, wife of Daniel O’Hara, farmer; from Margret [Margaret] Coghlan, Ballincarrig [Ballincurrig], wife of Darley Coghlan, dairyman; and from Johanna Conway, Kilcolman, wife of Daniel Conway [some of which allege confiscation of personal goods for non payment of custom fines].

21 Apr 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/453

Letter from George Hastings, seneschal, Killaloe, County Clare, to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, asking if he has permission to have the police at his manor court. Admits his own inability to keep order in court ‘while the parties are endeavouring to adjust their differences’. Also complains of having to adjourn his last court session due to the ‘outrageous conduct of the Peasantry’. Annotation on back from the Solicitor General [Henry Joy] states police attendance is not consented to; ‘It would be a great blessing’ he continues, if the ‘office of seneschal throughout Ireland were abolished’. Also note from Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, instructing that Hastings be informed that the police are ‘not to attend him’.

18 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/909

Letter from Jonathan Sisson Cooper and D’Arcy Mahon, commissioners, stamp office, William Street, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, responding to a complaint from Walter Lawrence, a magistrate of County Galway, over evasion of stamp duties by the seneschal of the manor court of Mealick [Meelick]. They point out that stamp duties on manor court decrees were repealed under an act of the 5th of George IV and that specific examples cited by Lawrence are not subject to the charges he supposes, being transacted in a period after the law was changed. Also observes that he is in error as regards the sum payable on renewals, which appears to be the fee charged by the court official for issue of the decree. Returns letter from Lawrence, Bellevue, Eyrecourt, County Galway, to Goulburn, alleging improper practices by the manor court in the issue of decrees of renewal. Draws attention to a number of apparent discrepancies and asserts ‘the Seneschal completely evades the Law by giving his Decrees of Renewal on unstamped paper’; remarks by appropriating the stamp duties for himself, as appears to be the case, he is guilty of fraud.

2 Jul 1825-5 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1257

Letter from Samuel Harden, seneschal of the town, manor and lordship of Roscrea, County Tipperary, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, complaining of the conduct of [William] Nash, chief constable of police, and seeking an investigation by government. States that Nash was unhelpful and later became aggressive after a request was made for assistance by the police in the regulation of the price of potatoes in the market of Roscrea. Remarks, however, that a number of constables eventually came to assist, but continues he was later met by Nash at the dwelling of Mr L Talbot, a commissioner for oaths, and accused by the chief constable of being ‘a liar and an upstart’. Observes as a public representative of Lady Caroline Damer, and elected town seneschal, he is entitled to due respect and asks for redress. Annotation in reply on following page from Goulburn, indicating the regulation of potatoes is not part of police duty. If particular offence was given by the chief constable's conduct, he advises, redress might be had from the local petty sessions.

10 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1647

Letter from Henry Hobhouse, Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whitehall, London, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, transmitting for information details of a complaint made by Mr A Campbell against Bertram Mitford [a commissioners of the Board of Inquiry, Dublin], concerning an issue in connection with a manor court over which Mitford acts as seneschal [not present]. He states the information was referred to Robert Peel, Secretary of State, by Joseph Hume, MP for Aberdeen, Scotland, and the former asks that it be conveyed to the Chief Secretary of Ireland ‘to ascertain the true nature of the case’.

3 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1912

Letter from Reverend John Barrett, Church of Ireland clergyman, Navin, County Donegal, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, [Irish Office, London], calling for the terms of the tithe composition act to be made compulsory. Remarks upon the attitude of the local seneschal towards enforcement of the tithe act, a man, he complains, who is quite indifferent to the cause of the established church. Comments also upon the prevalence and persistence of illicit distillation in the locality, and recommends some measures to establish a licensed trade. [See also description CSO/RP/1825/1893].

27 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1826/210

Letter from anonymous sender, signed ‘An Old Seneschal’, Strabane, [County Tyrone], to unspecified recipient, drawing attention to an issue and overcharging in the Manor Courts; adding that seneschals must have the necessary qualifications to keep the office respectable.

20 Mar 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1826/298

Letter from anonymous sender, signed ‘An Old Seneschal’, to unspecified recipient, claiming that magistrates are unable to decide in tithe rent cases because, in many parishes, vestries refuse to appoint a parish constable. Suggesting that magistrates be empowered to appoint constables ‘but without any salary’.

29 Mar 1826

1826