Conynham estate manuscript, NLI

[smcarberry]

A detailed description of the contents of a manuscript describing Conyngham property in Clare, Meath, and Donegal has been placed online by the National Library of Ireland (Dublin), including an index of individuals and placenames:

"A collection of papers of the Conyngham family relating to their estates in counties Clare, Donegal and Meath from the mid-seventeenth century to the late 1920s.
The collection also includes some papers of the associated families of Burton (county Clare) and McCausland (county Donegal)."

p. 157 Index of individuals and placenames

http://www.nli.ie/pdfs/mss%20lists/conyngh.pdf

I checked the Clare Rootsweb mailing list's archives for mention of this same item: no mention of this collection of papers,
but there are 10 postings on Conyngham items appearing in newspapers.

Sharon Carberry

[Paddy Casey]

Thanks very much for flagging this, Sharon. It looks like an absolute bonanza for Clare local historians and family historians. Apart from the index of names in the NLI inventory itself, which seems to refer particularly to the horse-and-carriage set, a reading of the inventory of documents suggests that if one delves into them (e.g. into the rent rolls listed there) one might find very many names of the less well-heeled who rented land from the Marquis or laboured on his demesnes. At least one family among my ancestors may well have been among them.

Just some examples:

County Clare estate correspondence and related items (Ms 35,364 – 5) The bulk of the correspondence dates from the early 1820s and is from Conyngham’s local agent Robert Keane (Beechpark, Ennis). Most of the letters are addressed to John Benbow (Marquis Conyngham’s solicitor) and to Henry, 1st Marquis Conyngham. The correspondence deals with the day-to-day administration of the estate. Subjects covered are agent’s accounts, collection of rent and arrears, proposals for the abatement of rent, holdings falling out of lease, and recommendations as to who should be the new lessee (with character references). There are also a number of petitions from tenants. The state of the county and the economic depression of the early 1820s are commented on. There are some references to Conyngham’s estate in County Limerick. The later items include presscuttings and letters concerning landlord tenant relations in Kilkee (1866) which were the subject of a pamphlet by Sylvester Malone, Tenant wrong illustrated in a nutshell; or, a history of Kilkee in relation to landlordism during the last seven years in a letter addressed to Right Honorable W.E. Gladstone M.P. (Dublin 1857) 57pp. The correspondence is arranged chronologically.

and

"........petition from the tenants of Ballyea........." (presumably with names)

and

".......Keane’s proposals for leases. Document recording number, denomination, tenant’s names, rents (1 May 1826)........"

and

"........Schedule of Kilkee leases in the hands of Marcus Keane. Document records date of lease, lessee’s name, terms and yearly rent. 14 Feb 1877......."

and

"Rentals and cash accounts (Mss 35,366 – 75): There are a number of series of rentals for the county, e.g. for the Kilkee estate. The rentals generally record the denomination of land, the tenant’s name, amount of rent, arrears, poor rates allowed and amount paid.........."

Now all you need to do is go to the NLI.

Paddy