1830, Subscribers to Robert O’Callaghan Newenham’s (25 years Superintendent Barracks Department of Ireland), Picturesque Views of the Antiquities of Ireland.
Robert O’Callaghan Newenham, Dundanion, Blackrock, Cork (1770-1849), Director and subscriber to Cork Blackrock and Passage Railway. 1850 a bust of him presented to Cork School of Design by Sir Robert Deane
He was active in the Cork Scientific and Literary Society.
Scroll to see subscribers many of those from Cork distinguish themselves for their Civic Spirit:
Sir Edward Newenham, Knight, 1766, like the Newenhams of Carrigaline like the Bowens of Doneraile had a reputation for being improving, resident and spending their money locally. Family had extensive property in the…
Rev. Somers Payne (1785-1857), TCD, A Bundle of Contradictions, Grand Master of Orange Order, Co. Cork, Master Political Operator, Alleged he Enrolled his Labourers as Apprentices so They Would Have a Vote, Nephew of Patriot Shears Brothers, Executed for Being United Irishmen in 1798, Agent to Lord Bantry, Pioneering Agriculturalist, Sympathy for Cottiers, Smallholders, his Son Augustus Agent to Bantry Estate, Died of Famine Fever, Bantry aged 26 in 1844, his Son Rev. Gethin Payne Died of Fever 1844 aged 26.
Rev. Somers Payne (1785-1857), TCD, son of James, physician, Pre 1815, 1823, Ardagh as Rev. S.H. Payne, Upton, Grand Master Orange Order, Co. Cork. Ordained 1810. Sons Rev. Henry, James, John Warren daughter Mary married Nash. Voted for Hutchinson 1826 election. Bandon Brunswick Constitutional Club 1828, sitting Bantry and Bandon, 1835, Provost of Bandon. Agent to Lord Berehaven since 1820 son Augustus agent to Lord Bantry. 1828 Bandon Quarter Sessions. Following a large Protestant meeting 1834 at Castlebenard nominated to prepare a petition to the British King and Parliament with the Rev. Somers Payne, Councillor Mannix, Lords Berehaven and Bandon. Parliamentary Commission sitting Bantry 1845 showed sympathy for labourers and cottiers. The Rev. Somers Payne’s mother was sister of John and Henry Shears, Barristers in the City of Cork, who perished on the scaffold for alleged ‘high treason’ at the opening of the ‘present century’. 1835 Subscriber Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837. Promoter Bandon to Bantry Railway 1845. A grandson mentioned in the will of Eliza Gethin, Cork, 1801 property for him held in trust by Dr. Boyle Coughlan and Gilbert Henry Fleming, attorney, Dublin. His son Augustus died 1844 leaving £450 he was executor but in 1858 as he was dead his son’s estate was administered by James Henry Payne, Beechmount, Co. Cork. Died in Bantry of famine fever around the same time Augustus Warren Payne aged 27 his brother a year younger the Rev. Percy Gethin Payne died of fever at his father’s house. His Upton property became a Reformatory School under the Rosminian Fathers in 1860. Land record, 1870, 653 acres. Sir Augustus Louis Carre Warren succeeded to the baronetcy in 1811. He and his wife Mary had two sons and two daughters. They were Augustus, born on 17th May 1791 and John Borlase, born on the 13th September 1800. The daughters were Esther and Charlotte. Esther married James Colthurst of Dripsey Castle on the 30th July 1808, which linked the family by marriage into two of the most powerful families in Cork: the Bernard’s and the Colthurst. Esther died on the 22nd July 1872. Charlotte married Reverend Somers H. Payne of Upton House.[68] Sir Augustus Louis Carre Warren died on the 30th January 1821. Listed 1856 as Rev. Somers H. Payne as having 21,050 trees planted in Brinny. The Brinny estate was previously lived in by Rev. William Lewis Beauford.
Son, died of famine fever. The famine is thought of as starvation but many died of fever dn diseases which were no respecters of rank, class or religion. Countless doctors and medical personnel perished
Augustine Warren Payne, (1817-1844), 1840 Bantry, Home place Upton. Attending the 1840 Great Meeting Bantry re Poor Law. Managing Lord Bantry Estates with Patrick O’Sullivan, Millcove managing Beara Estate also managing Conner estates. Gave extensive evidence 1841 election petition he was in Longfield Leader conservative interest. Member Dalys Conservative Club Cork. Died in Bantry of famine fever around the same time his brother a year younger the Rev. Percy Gethin Payne died of fever at his father’s house. His son Augustus died 1844 leaving £450 he was executor but in 1858 as he was dead his son’s estate was administered by James Henry Payne, Beechmount, Co. Cork
Other Payne Magistrates
John Orpen Payne, (1849-1888), 1876, Castletown, Berehaven, Resident, £175. 1887 tried at Cork Assizes for a gunshot wound to Michael Lynch, stonemason Bantry. evidence was they were good friends got drunk and shot and went off acquitted. Died aged 39, epileptic convulsions 1888 Reendonegan House, probate to widow Jane Payne £74.
John Warren Payne Shears or John Warren Payne, see also under Shears (1819-1902), D.L. New St. and Beach House, Bantry. Son of Rev. Somers Payne. Grand nephew of patriot Shears brothers executed 1798. Attending as ’William J’ Famine Relief Meeting Dunmanway 1846. 1846 donor famine relief Beara. Probably in Castletownbere Board of Guardians: 1 Nov 1850 Letter from TW Payne, Castletown, read complaining of large crowds [of members of the public] attending early mass at the auxiliary workhouse. He notes: ‘this is most irregular and opens a door to plunder letter stating that the new workhouse is ready for occupation. Promoter 1845, Projected Bandon to Bantry Railway. Attending Railway meeting Drimoleague 1856. Bantry Quarter Sessions, 1862, Cork Spring Assizes 1863, listed 1854. 1870 returned as owner 621 acres address Bantry. James Gilhooly MP alleged he was sitting in Skibbereen Quarter Sessions 1888 outside his district. A large a meeting was held in 1881 in Bantry, a crowd estimated at 6,000 The Father McCarthy Band played, green rosettes and scarves, patriotic airs. By order of the Magistrates J. W. Payne and Warburton, Resident Magistrate, the pubs were closed. Government reporter taking notes. Attending Cork Grand Jury 30 times 1867-1899. 1891 1884, signed a protest against the dismissal of Lord Rossmore, head of Orange Order, Monaghan. Stood as Conservative in West Cork Constituency General Election 1885 got 37s votes his opponent James Gilhooly Irish Parliamentary Party got 3,920 votes. 1901 Castlefarm, Monkstown wife Sarah. Probate died Brookhurst, Monkstown, 1901 to Son John Warren Shears Payne, £19,539 resworn £15,539.
Somers (Henry) Payne (1854-1920), BL, 1885, Carrigmahon, Monkstown, major business figure Cork. 1892 attending funeral of Jane Dillon nee Roycroft (1843-1892). Executor James W. Payne. Barrister, Businessman, Land Agent. Somers Payne B.L. (1853-, 1885, Carrigmahon, Monkstown, son John Warren Payne, BL. Land Agent, Beech House, Bantry, he ran against James Gilhooley in election and was defeated, Bantry, ed. Rossall, Irish Bar 1875-1883, Director Munster and Leinster Bank, Bandon Railway, m 1879 Edith d John Leslie, Lee Carrow, Passage, Paynes originate Upton, Bandon, Land Agents to Bantry and other Estates, listed 1913. Somers Henry Payne, James Gilhooly MP alleged he was sitting in Durrus Petty Sessions 1887 outside his district. Attending Cork Grand Jury 16 times 1887-1889. Irish Bar 1875, Munster bar, 115 Upper Leeson St.
Rev. Somers Payne (1785-1857), TCD, A Bundle of Contradictions, Grand Master of Orange Order, Co. Cork, Master Political Operator, Alleged he Enrolled his Labourers as Apprentices so They Would Have a Vote, Nephew of Patriot Shears Brothers, Executed for Being United Irishmen in 1798, Agent to Lord Bantry, Pioneering Agriculturalist, Sympathy for Cottiers, Smallholders, his Son Augustus Agent to Bantry Estate, Died of Famine Fever, Bantry aged 26 in 1844, his Son Rev. Gethin Payne Died of Fever 1844 aged 26.
1845 Lord Bandon Calling on British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, at Downing St., London to Fix Bantry as Packet Station for America and the West Indies. 1845 Abandonment of Plan to Bring Railway to Berehaven.
1853, Courthouse Meeting Dunmanway to Review Baronial Liabilities from Proposed Railway from Bandon to Drimoleague with a Proposed Branch to Clonakilty.
Th system of building a new railway was broadly similar to a motorway scheme. The promoters would set up a company with a list of those who agreed to subscribe. The subscribers were typically those from a landed interest, businessmen and professionals. The list throw up surprises. Many are wealthy local Catholics. Dr. Burke of Bantry on one list subscribed for £2,500 of share when a dispensary doctor might have been making £80 a year. A specialist firm of engineers would set out the route and canvass local opinion with a series of meetings, then an agreed scheme was completed specialist legal firms in Dublin and London would promote a Parliamentary Bill. If approved the Railway Company would be entitled to compulsory purchase powers with a compensation mechanism in default of agreement.
That still provided the legal basis for compensation for public work schemes.
When the line to Bantry was eventually built tenants on the Bandon Estate in Durrus had to pay a supplement on their rent known as the Baronial Guarantee
1889. Shennanigans on the Skibbereeen to Schull Tramway. Alleged that on First Day of New Engine Operatives Went on the Tear, Leaving the Machinery to Burn out on the Engine. A Bottle of Whiskey at Phillips Pub on Durrus Race Day.
1889. Shennanigans on the Skibbereeen to Schull Tramway. Alleged that on First Day of New Engine Operatives Went on the Tear, Leaving the Machinery to Burn out on the Engine. A Bottle of Whiskey at Phillips Pub on Durrus Race Day.
James Phillips referred to had a substantial farm in Durrus, ran a coaching operation and the Bandon Arms Hotel. He was a pretty forceful character and active electorally as a Conservative Candidate. His grand daughter Kathleen Dukelow donated the ground for the Durrus Community Centre and a very substantial sum to build it about 15 years ago. The Philips probably originate in Bandon and came to Durrus when Lord Bandon recovered the estate ro the Evansons.
Shahanan is Phil Shanahan, Dunbeacon, either he or his father was in charge of gatherng the 1831 census for the West Division of West Cabery. Family intermared to Tobins and O’Mahonys of Kilcrohane. Probably descend partly from a Catholic branch of the Townsend family.
The tramline features a lot in local lore along the lines of Percy French’s West Clare Railway.
1831 Persons Appointed Fit and Proper Persons to Taking a Census, Barones Bere, Bantry, East Division, East Carbery, East Division, West Carbery, West Division, East Carbey, East Division, West Carbery, Courseys, Ibane and Barryroe, Kilmmeaky (Bandon)
Including Phil Shanahan (1796-1892), Dunbeacon, a very prominent local family:
He married Maria Moss of Durrus. One of her sisters married Jeremiah O’Mahony of prominent Kilcrohane family, he later became a Magistrate
Dunbeacon Graveyard:
6th March 1867 Mrs. Ann T.(ownsend) Shanahan Probably Dunbeacon Philip probably died 1892 aged 96 58 Grave: Erected by Philip Shanahan ot the memory of hs wife Ann T d 26th March 1867 aged 58 ” Philip Shanahan. was born Abt 1796; d.5 Aug 1892-Dunbeacon, County Cork, Ireland. Philip married Anne TOWNSEND on 14 Nov 1826 in East Schull, County Cork, Ireland . Anne was born about 1812. She died on 26 Mar 1867 in Dunbeacon. County Cork, Ireland. “
1892 Philip Shanahan Probably Dunbeacon Philip 1892 aged 96 96 Grave: Erected by Philip Shanahan ot the memory of is wife Ann T d 26th March 1867 aged 58
1880 The Misery in Distressed Durrus, Yellow Meal Arriving by Schooner to O’Donovans Cove, off loaded by men on their bare back through the surf. Hungry Children at Gouladoo Natinal School. Only a Third Able to Give an Offering at the Stations. When a Death Occurs the Corpse is Lashed onto Poles and Carried down Steep Slopes. Cattle overnighting in Houses.
Rev James Bowen P.P. 5 July 1877-1885, there is a tablet in his memory in the church. An article in the Cor Examiner in April 1880 refers to him taking the reporter around the parish which was in widespread distress at the time. In 1880 lived at the former Evanson house at Ardogeena, Coolculaghta now occupied by Peter Gallagher. 1884 living at Blair’s cove. A branch of the Land League was set up in Durrus in January 1881 with Father Bowen in the chair. Also lived at Rawling’s house (Slated) Rossmore, Rawlings went bankrupt and later had a pub in Bantry and was a carman. Probate to brother William, farmer, Ballywilliam, Doneraile, £400.
A few comments. The presence of the schooner would suggest that the pier at Sea Lodge about 3km towards Durrus and the stores were build after this time probably by the Bandon Estate.
Intermittent distress and crop failures occured into the mid 1890s.
Thee is a referne to a woman spinning, there was a lot of spinning and weaving in the area from the mid 18th century.
The traditional West Cork farm house 2 storesy three windows upstairs on of each side of the door only come in from the late 1880s. Even prospereous farmers lived in thatched houses, the Ordnance Survey field books in the 1830 note the almost complete absence of slated roofs.
Surviving accounts of visitors into the early 1900s note even in prosperous farms livestock and poulty being in houses.
Mr. Regan has come back from America. It was common enough for people to spend a few years away and come back. Some of the Swantons from Ballydehob wee going back an forwad to New York in the 1790s. Young wmen often spent years working in Boston or New York and returned with enough to pick a spouse and he was then enabled to buy a fam or busisness.
West Cork History 