Ennistymon Union Minute Books

Book No. 4 

Meetings held from 17th September 1847 - 22nd October 1847

[1]
Meeting held on the 17th of September 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 4576 to No. 4617.

The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

[3] Read Commissioners' letter of the 11th inst. requiring immediate payment of the instalments due towards the audit fund account.

The board's letter of the 9th inst. having been read it was
Resolved
- that the complaint therein contained is totally unfounded. That his tender was rejected being considered too high, and that the tender of another competent person was accepted for the article of meal at a lower price.
- that cheques be drawn for the following sums in favour of the following persons viz.

Medical Report
We have five new cases of fever, all of them from the house. We have had 2 deaths, one Mary Hehir age 96 of natural decline, the other Biddy Moore 60 of diarrhea. 36 patients in the fever hospital.
                                                            Charles Finucane M.D.

[4] Resolved
- that the clerk do write for the books necessary for the relieving officers
- that the master gets leave of absence on certain business for four days.

[5] Meeting held on the 24th day of September, 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 4618 to No. 4695.

[6]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

Read
- Lord Lieutenant's warrant ordering payment of 16 to the Provincial Bank, Ennis for lists and estimates for the union.
- Commissioners' letter calling attention to the 14th. and 15th. sections of the Fever Act, 10 Vict. Cap. 22 in reference to the temporary hospitals or dispensaries.
[9] - letter from Mr. Kerin, agent to the Patriotic Assurance Company 17th. inst. stating that the premium of the main building must be increased 6 per cent on the sum of £3,000 in consequence of the erection of the oven.
- Letter from Mr. Knox enclosing his account for £7-4-0 and requiring immediate payment.
- Circular letter from the Relief Commission Office, Castle, Dublin, 16th inst. as regards the repayment of monies, advanced under the Temporary Relief Act 10 Vict. Cap. 7.
- The Commissioners' sealed order fixing the number of relieving officers and defining the limits of their districts.
- Commissioners' letter intimating that they feel bound to adhere to the views of their letter of the 31st July inst. which divides the union into eight districts.
- Commissioners' letter of the 22nd inst. stating that the guardians are at liberty to relieve out of the workhouse all such destitute poor persons as may be considered to come within the description of either of the 3 classes mentioned in the first section of the Irish Extension Act.
[10] - Commissioners' letter of the 22nd inst. accompanying a copy of a communication which they have received recommending Mr. Thomas Davoran for the office of relieving officer.

Resolved
- That tenders be invited to fill the situation of baker in the workhouse.
- That Pat Flanigan be appointed collector of rate for the Ennistymon Electoral Division. Mr. J. MacNamara gives notice that he will on this day fortnight move the board that the attention of the Poor Law Commissioners be called to the present defective and unconstitutional mode of electing guardians.
- That the following persons be appointed relieving officers in the following districts.

Resolved
- That our treasurer be required to apply payments now made to him by the collectors of the Ennistimon Union to the credit of the union and not to place any payment to the credit of the Temporary Relief Act.

Medical Report
We have 30 patients in the fever hospital all going on well and 58 in the infirmary. We had 6 deaths since last report.                                                                       Charles Finucane, M.D.

 [12]
Meeting held on Friday the 1st day of October 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 4696 to No. 4762.
[13]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that the

[15]
Read
Commissioners' letter of the 29th ult. accompanying queries with regard to Pat Flanigan the rate collector and relieving officer.
- Letter from treasurer of the 27th ult. in reply to the clerk's letter of the 24th ult. stating that in compliance with the guardians resolution of the 24th ult.he would place to the credit of the union the sums lodged by the collectors. The clerk laid before the board the following warrants of the Lord Lieutenant for the following sums to be levied off the undernamed electoral divisions which sums are intended to complete the amount advanced under the Temporary Relief Act viz.

Resolved
- That the Commissioners be applied to reinstate Mr. Robert Morony in the office of guardian for the Miltown Malbay Electoral Division, he having resigned for the purpose of enabling him to become a candidate for relieving officer in that district, and, in the event of [16] their not doing so, to issue an order to supply the vacancy and also the vacancy in the Liscannor division in room of Mr. Daniel Considine who has resigned.

Mr. Morony moved that the Relief Committee of Miltown Malbay having erected a Temporary Fever Hospital with 20 beds and which now is to be maintained out of the rates charged to said electoral division, that tenders be invited for the supply by contract for 6 months of the following articles, viz.
No 1. tea, coffee, sugar, meal, soap, candles, vinegar,
No 2. medicine,
No 3. meat.
No 4. bread,
No 5. milk and turf.

Medical Report
There are 51 patients in the infirmary and 34 in fever hospital. Diarrhea and fever have increased. Admissions to the fever hospital from workhouse was 7. There were 3 deaths, 1 of diarrhea and 2 of small pox. I would recommend the board of guardians to subscribe to the Dublin Vaccine Institution which would enable the medical officer to have a good supply of vaccine lymph constantly.
[17]
Mr. Stack resigned the office of relieving officer for the Ennistymon District.

Read tenders for a baker.
Michael Flanigan, baker, proposed.
Pat Lyons, baker, proposed and returned by a majority of 6 at a salary of 12 a year with rations and lodgings.
In as much as inconvenience and confusion have arisen from application of contractors for payments on account on board day,
Resolved
- That no draft be drawn in future in favour of any contractor who did not make his application in writing 2 days previous.

- That cheques be drawn in favour of the following for the following sums:

[20]
Meeting held on the 8th day of October 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 4763 to No. 4824.

[21] The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that

Read
- Commissioners' letter of the 30th Sept '47 accompanying the copy of a memorial from the ratepayers of Rath which was also read.
[23]
- letter from Relief Commision Office, Castle, Dublin, of 30th ult. informing the guardians that the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have restored the whole sum lent for temporary fever hospitals in aid of the rates in the electoral divisions in which such hospitals are situated.
- Commissioners' letter of 6th Oct. inst on the subject of the resignation of Mr D. Considine.

Resolved that the shoemaker be supplied with the following articles viz. 1 hide of leather, 8,000 pound tacks, 4 lbs of sewing hemp, 8 doz shoe tips, 1 oz of hairs, 2 lbs wax, 2 qts of flour.

Read tenders for groceries meat, milk, turf, soap, candles, medicine for the temporary fever hospital at Miltown Malbay.

Resolved
- That we accept Ann Donnellan's tender for candles dipt at 7d per pound, soap at 4/- per stone, sugar at 6/8 per stone, tea 4/6 per pound and coffee at 1/8 per pound.
- that we accept Martin Hill's tender for oatmeal at 2/- per stone, turf at 10d per creel, milk at 2d per quart; and James Harrison's tender for beef best quality at 4 1/2d per pound, best mutton at 5 1/2d per pound, veal per quarter one shilling.
[24] - that James Hill's tender for medicine be accepted.

Medical Report
There are 45 patients in the infirmary and 32 in fever hospital. We had 18 new cases of fever since last board day and 8 deaths; 3 of fever and 2 of diarrhea, 1 of dysentery, 1 of bronchitis and 1 of small pox.
                                                                                        James Shannon, M.D.

Resolved that Mr. Matt Kenny, Mr. Thomas Stack and Mr. M. Considine be a committee to report those portions of the families now in the workhouse who ought to be discharged as recommended by the master.
Pursuant to the resolution of the 1st inst. applications were read from candidates for relieving officers for Ennistymon Electoral Division, viz Pat Kitson, Francis Walsh, Thomas Slattery.

Francis Walsh was elected relieving officer for Ennistymon Division by a majority of 8 to 3.

[25] Resolved
that the master do pay 19 shillings to John Molony, smith, in full for all extra work to this day.
- that tenders be invited for whole flour and first flour by the ton for 6 months at least.
- that our clerk do advertise that the guardians will take a piece of land not exceeding 50 acres adjoining or convenient to the workhouse and that they will receive proposals on this day week for same.
- That tenders be received for rice against this day week Pat Flanigan and Pat Clancy, sureties for John Mc Mahon collector of poor rates for Ennistimon Electoral Division having proposed to pass their joint notes to Mr. P O'Dwyer of Ennistymon at 3, 6 and 9 months for the sum of £109-16-1 1/2 the amount of said John McMahon's default and to procure Mr O'Dwyer's indorsements thereon to the board.

Resolved that said proposed settlements be adopted and that said indorsed notes be forthwith lodged with our treasurer.

[26]
Resolved that the collector's warrant for Ennistymon Electoral Division be this day signed.

In order to reduce the quantity of rice using,
Resolved that the following change in the dietary be adopted.
Adults 5oz Indian meal, 2oz rice, children above 6 and under 15, 2oz rice, 4oz Indian meal, children over 2 and under 6, 1 oz of rice and 2 ozs of Indian meal.

[27] Meeting held on the 15th day of October 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 4825 to No. 4881.

[28]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

Read
Commissioners' letter of 8th inst. accompanying a copy of a memorial of Mr. James Flanigan against the appointment of relieving officer which memorial was also read.
[30] - Commissioners' letter of the 8th inst. accompanying a copy of a memorial of Mr. Robt. Morony against the appointment of Mr. James Clancy as relieving officer in Miltown Malbay which memorial was also read.
- Commissioners' letter of the 8th inst. accompanying a copy of communications of Mr. James Clancy which was also read.
- Commissioners' letter of the 7th inst. containing directions to the clerk to have his account ready for audit on 3rd of November next.
- Commissioners' letter of the 7th inst. expressing the Commisioners' sanction of Mr. Pat Flanigan as rate collector.
- Commissioners' letter of the 7th inst. containing observations which they have made from enquiries before them on the appointment of James Clancy as relieving officer.
- Commissioners' letter of 7th inst. expressing the Commissioners' sanction of Messrs. Anthony Considine and Mortimer Culliney as relieving officers.
[31] - Commissioners' letter of the 1st inst. accompanying a return of union officers to be filled and transmitted by the clerk.
- Commissioners' letter of the 6th inst. calling the attention of the board of guardians to the 14th and 15th Section of the Fever Act 10 Vic, Cap 22 in reference to temporary hospitals.
- Copy of a petition from Bantry Union on the subject of workhouse lands and their extent.
- Commissioners' circular of the 6th inst. with reference to the clerk's duty with regard to collector's books etc.
- Reports on Sir William Burnett's disinfecting fluid.
- a letter from the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland of Oct. 1847.
- Commissioners' circular of the 9th inst. on the subject of amended forms of abstracts to be had from Mr Thom.
- Commissioners' letter of the 11th inst. containing observations on the appointment of Mr. Matt Hehir as relieving officer.
[32] - Commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. sanctioning the resignation of Mr. Daniel Considine.
- Commissioners' letter of 13th inst. sanctioning appointment of Mr. James O'Brien as relieving officer.
- Commissioners' letter of the 11th inst. calling the attention of the guardians to the state of their provisions contracts and to the stocks of bedding, clothing etc.
- Copy of a communication which the Commissioners received from Timothy Hogan dated Oct. 4th 1847 stating that he did not sign a memorial to which his name was falsely afixed. Also the Commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. which accompanied said copy.

Resolved
- that a cheque be drawn in favour of the master for 70 pounds to purchase rice and turf.
[33] - that it is desirable with a view to economy that a steel mill be purchased and that wheat and barley be manufactured in the house and a corn screen also.    In reference to the memorials of James Flanagan, Robert Morony and James Clancy and the letters which accompanied them,
- that our clerk do inform the Commissioners, in the first place that Mr. Flanigan was for several years a shopkeeper and subdistributor of stamps at Ennistymon and that by reason of bodily infirmity he was obliged to give up business. He was not proposed for the situation of relieving officer and was not of course seconded and that the guardians consider his memorial in other respects unfounded.
Secondly that it was on the day of the election admitted that Mr. Robert Morony was postmaster at Miltown Malbay and that his sister was assistant. That the guardians considered him therefore disqualified under the terms of the regulations. That James Clancy was therefore proposed and seconded and the objection raised to him on the ground of his being a weighmaster and a holder of lands being overruled, he was duly appointed and that Mr Clancy was at liberty previous to the sanction to break up his weighing establishment if he thought fit which it appears he has done.
[34]
It was also on that occasion asserted and uncontradicted that Clancy did not hold in his own possession 5 acres of land and in respect to the objection to Mr. Clancy's appointment on the ground of his uncle being a guardian that we are of opinion that same ought not be considered sufficient to disqualify particularly as it is admitted that from his actual habits and acquaintance with the public that he is admirably fitted for the situation.
Further that our clerk do communicate to the board that it considered the appointment of Mr. Matt Hehir to the situation of relieving officer and that as he ceased to be a farmer previous to his appointment that we consider him eligible.
Resolved that our clerk do write to John Stackpole O'Brien Esq. and ascertain from him what quantity of land he can let adjoining the workhouse and upon what terms.    
In reference to the master's journal,
Resolved that an order be given on Mr. O'Dwyer for 300 yds. material for girls' safes, and 400 yds of coloured flannel to the master.

Abstract from the Master's journal:
Those parties who broke into the workhouse on the 24th ult. have been summorarily corrected at Miltown Petty Sessions in the mitigated penalty of one week's [35] confinment or 10/- fines. They would have got a month's but pleaded guilty and through ignorance of the law came to the workhouse in the riotous manner they did.

[36] Meeting held in the boardroom on the 22nd October 1847.

The register book was signed from No. 4882 to No. 4893.
[37]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

[39]
Read
- Commissioners' letter of the 14th inst. with respect to the proposition of taking a piece of land not more than 50 acres and stating that there is no law to warrant the guardians to do so.
- Commissioners' letter of the 14th inst. sanctioning the appointment of Mr. Fergus Curtin as relieving officer for Killonohan District.
- Commissioners' letter of the 20th inst. stating that an order will be issued to supply the vacancies caused by the resignation of Mr. Daniel Considine and Mr. Robert Morony, late guardians.
- Commissioners' letter of the 20th inst. sanctioning the appointment of Francis Walsh as relieving officer for Ennistymon District.
- Commissioners' letter of the 20th inst. accompanying a copy of a memorial from Mr. Robt. Morony bearing date Oct. 10th 1847.
- Commissioners' letter of the 20th inst. sanctioning the appointment of Mr. Matt Hehir and Mr. James Clancy as relieving officers for Killilagh and Miltown Malbay Districts.
- Commissioners' letter of 19th inst. accompanying a certain return with observation thereon and requiring the clerk to amend same.

[40]
Medical Report.
There are 53 patients in the infirmary and 35 in the fever hospital. We had 11 new cases of fever since last board day of which 4 were sent to Ennis fever hospital. We had 5 deaths, 3 from diarrhea - 2 children, there were no deaths from fever during the week. I would again urge the board the necessity of subscribing to the Dublin Vaccine Institution as we find it very difficult to find good lymph to vaccinate the children in the house.

Resolved
with the view of trying the Workhouse Test to persons seeking "Out Door Relief" that a proposition be made to the aged, destitute, and infirm with or without families answering the description in the "1st sect of 10 Vic" now in the house, of giving each such aged and infirm person as above described a weekly stipend of 1/6 to each his or her child in lieu of their support.
[41]
- That each relieving officer be on this day week prepared with an accurate census of all persons in his district requiring relief in or out of the workhouse distinguishing those who have more than a quarter of an acre of land from persons who are mere householders having land under that quantity, also specifing the trade or occupations of such householders.

With the view of employing the pauper inmates, in reference to the resolution of the 15th inst. ordering a mill for grinding corn,
Resolved that the male probationary and bathroom be applied to that purpose and that the female probationary and bathroom be kept for the use of persons applying for admission.

With a view of ascertaining the benefit of employing a master shoemaker in the workhouse,
Resolved that the master do on this day week produce an account of the quality of work given by the shoemaker for the last 12 months, the cost of his diet during same period, and the cost of leather and other findings together with the cost of shoes supplied by contractors in 12 months previously.

[42] Resolved that cheques be drawn for the following sums in favour of the following persons, viz

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