Ennistymon Union Minute Books

Book No. 3 

Meetings held from 15th January 1847 - 19th February 1847

[206]
Meeting held on the 15th day of January 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 3039 to No. 3115.
[207]
The treasurer's book was produced by which it appeared that there had been

[208]
Read
- commissioners' letter of the 1st inst. accompanying a form of return of the number of paupers relieved in the year 1846 and expenditure of the union during that year.
- commissioners' letter of the 6th inst. on the subject of the rent due on the workhouse site, the service of an ejectment etc.
[209] - copy of an ejectment served upon him for non payment of one half years rent of the workhouse site due on the 29th September last.
- copy of a letter bearing date 8th inst. which he stated he had written to the commissioners in the absence of the board and in reply to their letter of the 6th inst.
- commissioners' letter of the 12th inst. recommending the building of additional wards to the workhouse.
- copy of a letter addressed to the commissioners by Michael O'Brien, late collector of rate in Miltown Malbay Electoral Division, bearing date 5th December 1846 complaining of bad treatment at the hands of the guardians etc.
- commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. sanctioning the appointment of Michael Kerin and John McCarthy rate collectors.
- commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. containing observations on the prevelance of small pox in the workhouse vaccination contracts etc. etc.
- commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. with reference to the appointment of Thomas Morony, collector of rate in the Miltown Malbay Electoral Division.
[210] - commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. on the subject of the ejectment for non payment of rent of the workhouse site.
- Copy of a letter from Messrs. Geale and Dwyer (the commissioners' solicitors) bearing date 13th inst. on the subject of ejectment.
- commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. accompanying the copy of a communication made to them by Michael O'Brien late collector of rate in Miltown Malbay Electoral Division.

Medical Report
I am glad to be able to state to the board that the mortality in the workhouse is decreasing, no new case of small pox has occurred and though some cases of fever, they are of a mild nature.
I think a great number of the deaths that we have had are owing to the wasted and emaciated condition in which the unhappy sufferers came into the house, many of them on the brink of the grave from diarrhea, and others so reduced from want of food as to be perfectly unable to resist the (this years so very frequent occurance) relapses of fever, to this I may add the hitherto crowded state of the house and what I must most emphatically complain of the smallness of the nursery, in my mind not roomy enough for 1/3 of its inmates. To this part of my report, I beg to call the particular attention of the board as I am sure that with the chances of having as
[211] many in the house for the next eight months as there have been for some time past, it will be an unfailing depot for disease.
The following deaths have occured since last Friday.
Daniel Harriny, Kitty Ahern, Biddy Conole, Margaret Linihen, Laurence Kelly, Michael Callinan, Biddy Quely, Mary Cross, Pat Deery, Pat Callinan, Norry Molony.
                                                        Charles Finucane.
                                                        M.R.C.S.L.

Resolved that cheques be drawn for the following sums in favour of the following persons.

Resolved that the following be ordered for the use of the schools viz.
10 dozen 1st. book of lessons
6 dozen 2nd book of lessons
2 dozen sequels to 2nd books
6 dozen 3rd books
2 dozen 4th books
[212] 4 dozen grammars
10 dozen spelling books superseded
10 dozen introduction to geography
400 large copy books
400 small copy books
1000 quills
4 dozen ink powders
8 dozen catechisms

Resolved that the following be ordered as required by the shoemaker, 2 pieces of upper leather, 1 oz of hairs, 1 lb of wax, 5000 pound tack, 3 lb of heel tack, 3 knives, 3d worth of lamblack.

In reference to the commissioners' letter of the 13th,
Resolved that the appointment of Thomas Morony rate collector in the Miltown Malbay Electoral Division has been unanimously made by the board in accordance with the 20th article of the general regulations, that the board consider him a most efficient officer having collected and paid the sum of £107-6-3 since the 1st inst. and that such exertion was more than could be expected.

Resolved that we accept Mr. Thomas O'Neills tender for rice at £1-17-4 per cwt.
[213] Resolved that a rate of one shilling and three pence in the pound be struck on every Electoral Division of the union and that the clerk be directed to prepare the rate books forthwith.

In reference to the commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. respecting Michael O'Brien's communication to them.
Resolved that our clerk do mention that Michael O'Brien was dismissed on the 1st inst. for many causes, the principal one of which was having money in his hands which he did not lodge with the Treasurer. Another for having made a declaration that rates therein set forth could not be collected while his receipts were produced before the board for several of the sums so returned as uncollectable. The board with the feeling of getting rid of a bad officer in the best possible manner gave him the alternative of putting in his resignation for which he seemed most thankful.

[214]
Meeting held on the 22nd January 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 3116 to No. 3252.

The treasurer's book was produced by which it appeared that there had been

[216]
The clerk laid the commissioners' sealed order bearing date 14th November 1846 regulating the salaries of auditors.

Read
- commissioners' letter bearing date 14th inst. requiring a return of inmates.
- commissioners' letter of the 16th inst. respecting the coming election of guardians.
- commissioners' letter of the 20th inst. respecting the appointments of Thomas Morony rate collector.
- copy of a letter of the 18th inst. from Geale and Dwyer (commissioners' solicitors) accompanying the bill of costs attending the ejectments.
[217] - commissioners' letter of the 20th inst. relative to the rent and costs attending it.
The clerk reported that Mr. O'Brien the agent returned the two cheques sent him for the rent as the amount of costs had not been sent also which costs could not be ascertained at the time.

Resolved that the present dietary be attended to.
Stirabout of Indian meal every morning for breakfast and twice a week for dinner and bread four times a week for dinner.
Mr. Thomas Stack gives notice that he will on this day fortnight move that Michael Molony's contract for bread be raised in consequence of the enormous price of provisions since the time he took his contract and it being at that time very low comparatively.

Medical Report
There are 79 patients in fever we have 48 in the infirmary labouring under other diseases. Kitty Brown aged 30 died of diarrhea, Michael Daley aged 15 of diarrhea, Kate O'Connors 9 months of diarrhea, Mary Walsh 6 years of fever, Peg Kelly 30 years fever, Sally Greene 7 years fever, Nance Barrett 30 years diarrhea, Michael Murphy 1 year diarrhea, Kate Molloy 22 years dropsy, and John Griffy 60 years diarrhea.
                                            Charles Finucane.
                                            M.R.C.S.L.

Resolved that cheques be drawn for the following sums in favour of the following persons viz.

 [219]
Meeting held on the 29th January 1847.
The register book was signed from No. 3253 to No. 3342.

The treasurer's book was produced by which it appeared that there has been

[221]
Resolved that the master gets an order for the following viz. 480 yards of materials for 160 wrappers for women, 1 dozen sweeping brushes, 2 large knives and a steel, 200 yards of coloured flannel, 6 drying horses, 30 bed ticks for the use of the fever hospital, 12 rugs 3 buckets, and 1 warming pan, 250 yards of dowlas for 100 girls shifts.

Resolved that tenders be invited for new milk for 12 months and for 500 or 1000 boxes of turf to be delivered at the workhouse within 2 months from date of contract and also for tenders for finishing workshops according to plan and specification.

Medical Report
There are in fever between those in the infirmary and the fever hospital 98 patients. Labouring under other diseases in the infirmary 28 patients making a total without mentioning those under medical treatment in the infirm ward of 126.

[222]
Those undernamed have died since last day of meeting.
Michael Mahony aged 40 of fever.
Thomas Fitzmaurice aged 70 natural decline.
Mary Nevile aged 1 year diarrhea.
Michael Kennedy aged 3 1/2 years diarrhea.
Mary Marrinan aged 50 fever
Nance Keane aged 3 diarrhea.
Honor Cleary aged 2 diarrhea
Biddy Ganden aged 3 fever
William Bourke aged 11 decline.
Denis O'Neill aged 80 fever.
John Finucane aged 1 year small pox.
Patrick Cusack aged 1/2 year diarrhea.
Mary O'Connors aged 4 years small pox.
Michael O'Loughlin aged 50 diarrhea.
Michael Collins aged 8 decline.
Michael Murphy aged 3 weeks bowel complaint.
                                    Charles Finucane.

Resolved that 3 members of this board accompanied by the medical officer and master, do attend on Saturday for the purpose of ascertaining the number of able bodied men and women, and also the number of boys able to work and that upon the receipt of this report the clerk be directed to write to the inspecting officer in Ennis, Captain Jordan, requesting immediate employment for as many as may be found able for it in order to afford room in this much
[223] overcrowded house for so many starving and famishing poor who are incapable of any labour or exertion for their support.
Resolved that the following be condemned 452 men's shirts 29 waistcoats 230 trousers, 200 jackets, 140 shoes, 125 caps, 380 shifts for women, 31 wrappers, 90 petticoats, 60 caps, 220 frocks 12 safes, 6 ticks , 2 blankets, 20 rugs, 2 bellows, 52 tin quarts, 13 tin pints, 20 tin platters, 30 chamber utensils, 3 buckets.
Resolved that the master get an order for 10 barrels of lime.
Resolved that the time be extended to the collectors until the 1st of March next and that they get 1-0 in the pound poundage until then.

Read
- petition from the guardians of Dunshaughlin's Union bearing date 29th December 1846.
- commissioners' letter of the 27th inst. covering receipt for 1 1/2 year's rent of the workhouse site.
- commissioners' letter of the 27th inst. accompanying election notices which were received in due time.
- letter from the Board of Education bearing date 27th January 1847 respecting the schoolmistress.

[224]
Meeting held on the 5th February 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 3343 to No. 3459.

The treasurer's book was produced by which it appeared that there had been

[226]
Read
- commissioners' letter of the 28th ult. accompanying forms of monthly returns of the union funds.
- letter from P.A. Leslie and Company requiring payment of their bill for molasses amounting to £87-3-1
- letter from the chairman dated 28th ult. at the House of Commons accompanying a draft of the new Poor Act which was also read.
[227] - letter from the chairman dated 30th ult. at the House of Commons, accompanying a draft of a Bill for the temporary relief of destitute persons in Ireland which was also read.
- commissioners' letter of the 3rd inst. respecting the undue admission of paupers, considering the crowded state of the house etc.

It being reported by Mr. O'Dwyer, the next guardian residing to John McCarthy, the collector, that he was in fever,
Resolved that Thomas McCarthy the brother of the collector who is also one of his securities be appointed his temporary substitute during his illness in accordance with the 42nd article of the general regulations.

Resolved that cheques be drawn for the following sums in favour of the following persons.

In consequence of the difficulty of getting a supply of milk for the use of the inmates,
Resolved that the master be directed to manufacture soup in its stead and that the master do purchase meal for the purpose as well as the other ingredients.

[228]
Mr. Stack withdraws his notice of motion of raising the terms of the bread contract.

Resolved that master do appropriate a portion of the workhouse ground as a play ground for the use of the boys and girls of both schools for recreation.

Resolved that rice and Indian meal equal proportions be tried by the master until further orders viz.

In reference to the draft of the relief bills sent by the chairman,
Resolved that our clerk do communicate to Mr. O'Brien the opinion of the board. That relief to the aged and infirm in and out of the workhouse is charitable and humane and that relief to able bodied persons in or out of the workhouse entails considerable mischief and is a very questionable measure.
The commissioners' letter from London in reference to the notice of motion respecting the bread contract being read. Mr. Stack gives notice that he will proceed no further on the subject.

Medical Report
The house is in a wretchedly unhealty state. The fever hospital and infirmary as full as they can be, mostly with children sick of fever and bowel affections. We are obliged to have very generally three in a bed and some on the boards.
[229] The crowded state of their dormitories and day rooms operating on constitutions, very much debilitated, on their admissions from privations of every description, is I think the cause of the unhealthy state of the male and female children, therefore, I would advise the Board of guardians to be cautious in increasing the number of this class unless they can increase the accommodation beyond its present extent. A better dietary, say bread and soup for dinner, four times a week and some a mixture of rice for breakfast would be necessary at any rate for this class and would enable them to resist the better the evil effects of overcrowding.
The nursery is another source of disease most of the adults in fever came from that department. It is quite unnecessary for me to add anything to the reports which my colleagues and I have already made with respect to it.
We have 195 patients on the hospital books the greater number suffering from fever of a mild description, a good many from diarrhea, and a few from small pox, and one with swine pock. We require the accompanying list of medicines for the use of the surgery.
James Shannon.

Resolved that the medicine required by the medical officer be had from the medicine contractor.

[230]
Meeting held on the 12th February 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 3459 to No. 3460.

The treasurers book was produced by which it appeared that there had been

[232]Read- commissioners' letter of the 5th inst. with reference to the collectors, schoolmistress etc,
- commissioners' letter of the 4th inst. with regard to the highest lessors, ratepayers etc. in each electoral division of the union.
- commissioners' letter of the 5th inst. with regard to emigration in the years 1844, 1845, & 846.

Resolved that our clerk do transmit to the commissioners a copy of the letter of the National Board of Education respecting the schoolmistress.
Resolved that the master do purchase 50 tons of house coal.
[233]
Medical Report
There are 224 on the hospital books at present about half the number suffering from fever. We have still some cases of small pox and diarrhea. The infirmary and fever hospital are overcrowded, and if the number of sick increases we cannot possibly accommodate any more patients.
I would recommend the board to erect shedding for 100 fever patients at least, there were 18 deaths since last meeting, 10 from fever, 3 small pox and 5 with diarrhea. It is impossible that I could attend so many sick persons without assistanceb unless I gave up my private practice altogether which I cannot afford to do at present. Wherefore I would recommend the board to appoint an apothecary to compound medicine and otherwise to assist their medical officer.
                                                                        James Shannon.
                                                                        Medical Officer.
P.S. The schoolmistress has fever. J.S.

Resolved that Pat Quinn gets a cheque for £12-14-0 for coffins and Thomas Russell a cheque for £1-14-8 for carriage.

Read tenders for finishing shoemaker's workshop.

Resolved that we reject the tenders for finishing the shoemaker's workshop as we consider their terms too high and that our clerk do invite further tenders to be considered on this day week.

[234]
Meeting held on the 19th February 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 3461 to No. 3466.

The clerk's report was read to the following effect.
That he did transmit to the commissioners a copy of the letter of the Board of National Education respecting the schoolmistress.

The treasurer's book was produced by which it appeared that there had been

[236]
Read
- commissioners' letter of the 11th inst. requiring a list of the ex-officio guardians.
- commissioners' letter of the 11th inst. respecting the report of the medical officer on the 5th inst.
- commissioners' letter of the 17th inst. sanctioning the appointment of Thomas Morony rate collector for Miltown Malbay Electoral Division.
- commissioners' letter of the 17th accompanying a copy of a letter addressed to them by Michael Molony on the subject of the bread contract.
- copy of a letter bearing date February 1847 addressed to the Commissioners by Michael Molony bread contractor.
[237] - commissioners' letter of the 17th inst. relating to the commissioners' reply to Mr. Molony's letter.

Resolved that we do declare 1s 7 3/8d uncollectable in Miltown Malbay Electoral Division the former collector having made a declaration to that effect before a magistrate.
Resolved that 4 stoves be purchased by the master for the schools and schoolmaster and schoolmistress's rooms.

Medical Report
We have 225 patients on the hospital books, fever is seemingly on the decrease, as we have not had so many admissions to the fever wards during the last 4 days as previously, diarrhea has somewhat increased during the same period. There were 25 deaths since last meeting, 13 of fever, 7 of diarrhea, 3 of small pox and 2 of dysentry.              James Shannon.

Read a tender for finishing the shoemaker's workshop which was rejected it being too high.

Resolved that cheques be drawn in favour of the following persons for the following sums.

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