Various names, jobs, and residences, 1835 Clare

[smcarberry]

As part of the British government's response to poverty in Ireland, a series of factfinding sessions were held around the island in 1834/35 to determine how the impoverished were faring. I show below only the lists of those who participated in Clare sessions. These lists appear in the beginning of each section; thereafter follows narratives given by the participants as to first-hand knowledge bearing on the subject. Some sessions have very general observations and some others provide a name or two, with occupations, and activities like how begging reaps more benefits than being among the working poor. There is one additional such section, on p. 353, which starts out as a repeat of the participant list which appears on p. 79 (and below) but then the narrative is different; I don't know why.

The involved publication is a Google book, so you can read the narratives by reaching this book on Google (Google main page, look at upper left hand corner for links, choose "more" and then "books" from the drop-down menu, then use in the book search engine a distinctive word or phrase from below to bring up the book).

Spellings and capitalization/lack thereof are shown as they are in the original.

Sharon Carberry


Selection of Parochial Examinations Relative to the Destitute Classes in Ireland
by Great Britain.
Dublin: Milliken and Son, 104 Grafton Street; B. Fellowes, Ludgate Street, London, 1835.

p. 50 MUNSTER—COUNTY CLARE.
Examinations taken by P. F. Johnston, Esq.; E. B. Molloy, Esq.
PARISH OF KILMANAHEEN—BARONY OF CORCOMROE.
Persons Who Attended The Examination.—Austin Carrig, one of the late enumerators under the Commission for the Public Instruction ; Thomas Curran, dyer and pawnbroker; James Daly, apothecary and innkeeper; Lawrence Doherty, labourer; John Donoghue, a cottier, holding five acres; Doctor Finucane, dispensary surgeon ; John Higgins, labourer; James Keane, farmer of 12 acres ; Thomas Lysaght, labourer; Austin M'Carthy, a cottier holding two acres ; Rev. Mr. M'Nally, P. P.; Patrick M'Namara, weaver; Mr. Malone, farmer of nine acres, and tithe collector ; John Malone, a cottier holding four acres; John Morissy, weaver; James Mulqueny, farmer of five acres ; John O'Reilly publican and farmer; Patrick Quinn, baker; Widow Rourke, widow of a carpenter, supporting four orphans; Matthias Thynne, shopkeeper ; Rev. Archdeacon Whitty, protestant rector, and justice of the peace...

p. 79 MUNSTER—COUNTY CLARE.
Examinations taken by P. F. Johnstone, Esq. E. B. Molloy, Esq.
PARISH OF KILDYSART BARONY F CLONDERALAW.
Persons Who Attended The Examination.—James Bourke, baker; M. Cahill, a small farmer, with about nine acres ; John Carrig, labourer ; Anthony Curry, process-server; Rev, Michael Dynon, roman catholic curate of Kildysart ; the Rev. Michael Fitzgerald, protestant rector of Kildysart; Dr. Geary, dispensary physician ; Timothy Gorman, a small farmer, with about 12 acres; Dennis Hurly, shopkeeper; John Kinnahan, labourer; Patrick M'Cabe, weaver; Mark M'Mahon, grocer in the village of Kildysart; Mr. M'Namara, postmaster, and extensive farmer ; Patrick M' Mahon, farmer, steward to Bindon Scott, esq.; Michael Myers, a small publican and labourer; Michael O'Brien, labourer ; James O'Dea, broker in the village ; Daniel O'Grady, esq., an extensive gentleman farmer; Michael O'Shaughnessy, victualler ; Henry Ross Lewin, esq., j. p.; Serjeant Scott, police sergeant; the Rev. P. Sheehy, roman catholic rector of Kildysart.
[Michael Myers relocated to Savannah, Georgia, U.S. - see newspaper item on his marriage]

p. 116 PROVINCE OF MUNSTER COUNTY CLARE.
Examinations taken by P. F. Johnston, Esq.; E. B. Molloy, Esq.
PARISH OF KILFARBOY, INCLUDING TOWN OF MILTOWN MALBAY, BARONY OF IBRICKANE.
Persons Who Attended The Examination—Andrew Clancy, fanner with 100 acres; Dr. Costelloe, of the dispensary; Rev. Andrew Davoran, Protestant rector; Michael Hehir, innkeeper; John Keane, a farmer of seven acres; Mathias Kearney, an extensive farmer; Rev. P. M'Guane, Roman Catholic curate; John Maguire, blacksmith; Daniel M'Knight, weaver; Thomas Molony, blacksmith; F. G. Morony, esq., J.P. ; Mr. Morony, postmaster; Michael Murrogh, farmer of 11 acres; Patrick Murrough, land surveyor, and a farmer holding 10 acres; John Owens, grocer.

p. 150 MUNSTER COUNTY CLARK.
Examinations taken by P. F. Johnston, esq. ; E. B. Molloy, esq.
PARISH OF TOMFINLOE, KILNASULLAGH, KILMALEERY AND DRUMLINE. TOWN NEW-MARKET-ON-FERGUS.—BARONY OF BUNRATTY.
Persons Who Attended The Examination lames Brazil, farmer, holding seven acres; Thomas Carroll, labourer; Rev. Mr. G'offey, roman catholic curate; M. Collon, weaver; Major Creagh, j. p. ; Mary Fitzgerald, a beggarwoman; Dr. Frazer, dispensary surgeon; widow Griffey, widow of a labourer; Mr. Hackney, steward to Sir A. Fitzgerald; Martin Halpin, labourer, occasionally employed ; Mary Halpin, his wife, always begging in Newmarket; Michael Keogh and James Gearan, small farmers, holding about 12 acres each; Rev. Mr. M'Cullagh, rector; John M'Namara, labourer; John Mollony, clerk of the petty sessions; Richard Moloney, a decayed shoemaker ; Henry O'Brien, esq.; Lucius O'Brien, esq. late M. P. for the county of Clare; Rev. Mr. O'Brien, roman catholic curate; Patrick Shields,carpenter.

[Paddy Casey]

Thanks for calling our attention to this, Sharon. It is a fascinating and detailed account of those times.

The British government report was also summarised in a book called "Poverty Before the Famine, County Clare 1835" published by CLASP* Press in 1996. Those who do not have direct access to the book can also find a summary at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... _index.htm

Paddy

* See http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/librar ... ies/clasp/