Workings  of Cork Grand Jury:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uGCxYYvCGNEbpzypv-6tdTnz78HsuF_YJELLh9ezWvM/edit

Late 18th early 19th Century Interplay of the Select Vestries of the Church of Ireland (State Church) in Local Administration, Barony of Carbery, Castlehaven, Drimoleague, Durrus

The Church of Ireland was the State Church of Ireland until Disestablishment in 1871.  In each parish the select Vestry met not only for the business of the church but for civil matters.

In the Castlehaven Vestry Books there was a listing for those on whom cess was imposed.  The records also appointed road overseers and parish overseers.

In some parishes where records are extant the first vestry was Protestant only and dealt with church matters. Later it re convened with some prominent local Catholics and civil matters were decided.  In Castlehaven that included looking after foundlings clothing for the poor and such matters.

The cess to pay for roads, bridges, and other public works was set in the Baronial ‘Presentment Sessions’, where petitioners applied for funding for such works, were originally held as part of the County Assizes, though the costs were paid from the Barony Cess if the work was of local benefit only. The County Grand Jury was supposed to have included jurors from each Barony, though this did not always happen. From 1819, significantly modified in 1836, Baronial Presentment Sessions were held for these purposes, with a local jury picked by the county grand jury from among the Barony’s highest rate-payers, according to a complicated formula. The baronial presentment sessions were a convoluted process, lacking public confidence and marred by allegations of corruption and favouritism. Special emergency sessions were held during the Famine of the 1840s for the make-work schemes.

Notification, July 1828, by William Swanton, Baronial High Constable, Gortnagrough, Ballydehob, West Cork to Parties Aggrieved by Posting of Cess Levies at Church Doors West Carbery, West Division to Appear in Carrigboy (Durrus) Courthouse.

From Drimoleague Vestry Records.  Church Wardens elect and up to half a dozen other male parishioners (applotters) would be tasked with collected the Cess. The formula went “Church Wardens, Church Wardens Elect, senior individuals from the Parish.

Cess Tax

The cess was generally in the region of 12% of gross rents and was used by the Grand Jury (the predecessor of the County Council established in 1899) to fund works such as road and bridges.   The collection was done by Baronial Constables who charged a poundage,  They had a staff of drivers and presumably proctors who enforced payment.  A popular method of extraction was the seizing of cattle, pigs or other livestock.  They were then detained in local pounds until sale.  The memory lives on in local speech with the phrase ‘Bad cess to you’.

1843 Baronial Constables.  Bantry and Bere, John O’Sullivan.  Bandon town, Horace Poole.   East Division, West Carbery, Samuel Levis.  West Division West Carbery, William Swanton.

Cess Payers.

NAMES and PLACES of RESIDENCE of the CESS PAYERS nominated by the County Grand Jury at the last Assizes, to be associated with the Magistrates at Special Road Sessions to be holden in and for the several Baronies within the County, preparatory to the next Assizes, pursuant to Act 3 and 4 Wm. 4, ch. 78.

Thanks to Susan Barretta, Salt Lake City, Utah and Jean Prendergast:

http://corkgen.org/publicgenealogy/cork/potpourri/corkancestors.com/Castlehaven.htm

Vestry Meeting 4 April 1743 – no CW appointed, 2 attendees

Inhabitants of Castletownsend 1789 assessed for Parish Cess

SURNAMES

Anorwen, Maj. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Atkins, James Castletownsend Cess 1789

Atkins, Mrs. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Blackburn, Widow Castletownsend Cess 1789

Blackburne, John Castletownsend Cess 1789

Blake, Ned Castletownsend Cess 1789

Bolton, Arthur Castletownsend Cess 1789

Bray, John Castletownsend Cess 1789/ Brien, Danl. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Brien, David Castletownsend Cess 1789

Brien, Dens. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Brien, John Castletownsend Cess 1789

Brien, Patrick Castletownsend Cess 1789

Busteed, Francis, app. Overseer of the Parish 87. VM 1 JULY 1799

Cahalane, James Castletownsend Cess 1789

Calahan, Tim Castletownsend Cess 1789

Chard, James Castletownsend Cess 1789

Chard, Chard, Widow Castletownsend Cess 1789

Coghlans Castletownsend Cess 1789

Coleman, Henry Castletownsend Cess 1789

Connel, Charly Castletownsend Cess 1789

Connell, Morgan Castletownsend Cess 1789

Copythorn Castletownsend Cess 1789

Cullane, Daniel, app. Director of the High Way in CTend 37. VM 4 OCT 1757

Dalys Castletownsend Cess 1789

Donovan, Daniel, otherwise Blackstaff, of Forenought, app. CW 56. VM 13 APRIL 1773

Donovan, Denis, ‘to be app. Sidesman to assist in collecting the Cess.’ 86. VM 25 Donovan, James Castletownsend Cess 1789/ Donovan, James 75. VM 6 APRIL 1790

Donovan, Jerry Castletownsend Cess 1789

Driscol, Dens. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Driscol, Tim Castletownsend Cess 1789

Duff, Malachi Castletownsend Cess 1789

Dunne, Dens. Castletownsend Cess 1789

French, R……., app. Overseer of the Parish 87. VM 1 JULY 1799

Garter, John Castletownsend Cess 1789

Gibbs, Willm., app. Overseer of the Parish

Gilman, Tom Castletownsend Cess 1789

Hamilton, Wm. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Hungerford, Mr. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Josshin, Co… Castletownsend Cess 1789

Juoneen (?), Andrew Castletownsend Cess 1789

Keal, Dens. Castletownsend Cess 1789 (listed twice)

Kean, James Castletownsend Cess 1789

Keane, Mrs. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Keoghan, Jn. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Legoe Castletownsend Cess 1789

Limerick, Mrs. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Linard Castletownsend Cess 1789

Mc Gill, Mrs. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Mahony, Widow Castletownsend Cess1789

Morris, Wm., Esq. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Morriss, Mrs. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Neil, James Castletownsend Cess 1789

Randles, Tim Castletownsend Cess 1789

Regan, Tim Castletownsend Cess 1789

Rountree, Harding, app. Overseer of the Parish 87. VM 1 JULY 1799 / Rountree, Harding Rountree, Peter 127. VM 1 FEB 1819 / Rountree, Peter 128. VM 13 APRIL 1819/ Rountree, Peter 130. VM 3 APRIL 1820

Rowe, Danl. Castletownsend Cess 1789/ Rowe, Danl. 76. VM Easter Monday 1791/ Sabourin, Jn. Castletownsend Cess 1789/ Sabourin, John 120. VM 24 FEB 1817

Salters Castletownsend Cess 1789

Sullivan, James Castletownsend Cess 1789

Sullivan, John Castletownsend Cess 1789

Sweeny, Dudley Castletownsend Cess 1789

Townsend, Edw. H., app. Overseer of the Parish JULY 1757

Townsend, Richard, Esq., app. Director of the High Way in CTend 37. VM 4 OCT 1757/ Townsend, Rich., app. Overseer of the Parish 87. VM 1 JULY 1799

Townsend, Widow Castletownsend Cess 1789

Triphook, T.S., app. Overseer of the Parish 87. VM 1 JULY 1799

Trowner Castletownsend Cess 1789

Whelan, Dan Castletownsend Cess 1789

White, Willm., of Castletownsend, app. CW 29. VM 1 APRIL 1755

Wolahane, Nell Castletownsend Cess 1789

Willby, Capt. Castletownsend Cess 1789

Thomas Ware Esq., Pre 1831, Woodford, Mallow, Sitting Mallow, 1835.  Attending Cork Grand Jury 11 times.  Thomas Ware, Landlord, Vice Chairman Board of Guardians. Complained about the operation of the County Cess.   The High Constable furnishes to the Church Wardens a certificate stating the amount of the Cess to be levied against the Parish, manor or denomination. However he may give a Certificate only to the amount to be levied against the entire Parish.  If he does that it is impossible to applot the Cess and he can make an individual liable for the Cess of the entire ploughland and make him collect on his behalf.  If he defaults he may distrain him.  The system has given rise to great oppressions.  He was aware of an example where the Constable had collected more than justified by the Treasurer’s warrant, he brought the matter before the Grand Jury and the Constable was dismissed.  http://www.dippam.ac.uk/eppi/documents/11941/page/282823

https://www.google.ie/maps/@51.6099954,-9.5510515,6807m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Dereenlomane Barytes Miners, Ballydehob, West Cork.   Closed c 1920,  from Schools, 1901, 1911 Census.

The mines were at one time, either the largest barytes Mine in Europe or the World.   It employed hundreds in the late 1910s. After its closure many emigrated to the coal fields of South Wales or to the USA.   It is difficult to identify the miners as many are returned in the census as labourers.

The mine operated an aerial ropeway to export the ore through Dunmanus Bay.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MQwQFMekph_Y7uuHJmcGQbh7mQt838sx2Hmj-ZkxCIg/edit#gid=0

Scart and Barytes Mines Derreenlomane, (Doirín na Lomán: Little Oakwood), Ballydehob, West Cork, Barytes Mines

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-qw3py3ewmBM6LEUpxJUOYQm4y_Gs5ZG-p_1Wk9EGRU/edit

1820.  Memorial to Lord Lieutenant by William Swanton, Gortnagrough, Ballydehob, West Cork. High Constable (Rate and Tax Collector), Barony of West Carbery For Relief on Losses Caused to Him in Banking Collapse when He had transmitted Due Amount to County Treasurer, Leslies, Stephen and Roches Bank, Supported by Lord Bantry and Magistrates Timothy O’Donovan (Durrus), William Hull (Schull), Richard Townsend (Skibbereen), Rev. Edward Jones Alcock (Durrus), Nathaniel Evanson (Durrus), Robert Kenny (Bantry).

William Swanton got a ringing endorsement from the County Treasurer.  Before his time there had been significant arrears in reemitting county taxes to the Treasurer.

For access to documentation e mail pat25a@gmail.com

Petition of William Swanton, high constable and collector, Gortnagrough, County Cork, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting extension of financial aid due to personal losses incurred through devaluation of currency received as ‘Collector of the Public Money for the West Division of the Barony of West Carbery’. Refers to the collection of notes issued by the banking houses of Messrs Leslie and of Stephen and James Roche, who later declared bankruptcy, and counts the refusal of same by the county treasurer as ‘a fatality which he could not foresee’. Asserts he was obliged to make up the losses out of his own fund; with character reference on foot signed by Lord Bantry [Richard White, 1st Earl of Bantry] and 6 others. Also second signed memorial from Swanton to Wellesley, plus certificate from James Delacour, treasurer, County of Cork, describing Swanton as ‘a highly meritorious public officer’. CSO/RP/1824/706

Letter from William Swanton, Swanton‘s Town [Ballydehob], Skibbereen, County Cork, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, referring to the ‘unexampled distress’ in his neighbourhood, and requesting a government loan to offer relief to the inhabitants of the village which he established on his lands, 9 May 1823. Encloses statement of George Atkins, Cork, certifying to Swanton‘s character and recommending his application for a loan, 3 May 1823. Annotation on reverse of Swanton‘s letter, of opinion of John Sealy Townsend, KC and legal advisor to Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, 17 May 1823.  1823/5941

The collapse of the Cork banks was caused by the economic downturn following the 1815 Battle of Waterloo and their chronic undercapitalisation.  The Government at Dublin Castle proposed to bail then out but was advised by Saurin the Attorney General that there was no statutory basis so it would be illegal.  They decided to let the banks fail.  This ushered in an economic disaster in Minster that lasted for over 20 years.

Cork Southern Reporter 1st June 1820 on Calamity in Cork, Failure of Roches Bank and Stoppage of Leslies Bank.

Banking Collapse in Cork, Lawton, Carleton and Feray in 1760, 13th May 1793, Sir Thomas Robert’s Bank stopped payment, 25th May 1820 ‘A Panic beyond example in our memory has been struck into the minds of the trading community of Cork and the South of Ireland by the failure of Roche’s bank at twelve o’clock, followed almost immediately by that of Leslies’ Bank.

Banking Collapse in Cork, Lawton, Carleton and Feray in 1760, 13th May 1793, Sir Thomas Robert’s Bank stopped payment, 25th May 1820 ‘A Panic beyond example in our memory has been struck into the minds of the trading community of Cork and the South of Ireland by the failure of Roche’s bank at twelve o’clock, followed almost immediately by that of Leslies’ Bank.

Losses of Sir William Hull Leamcon, Schull, West Cork, 1641 and his Fishery at Newfoundland, part of greater Fishery which suffered from Bank failure in Bilbao in Basque Country 1641, Cornish Mining links.

Address by Merchants, and their listing, of Cork, 20th March 1754, to the Duke of Dorset Lord Lieutenant, thanking him for his support of the Public Credit during the Recent Crisis.

1826. Follow on From Leslie’s Bank Collapse Cork.

1807, Failure of Cork Bank, Cotter and Kellets, with Liabilities of £420,000

£3 note