Ennistymon Union Minute Books

Book No. 7 

Meetings held from 31st July 1849 - 14th/15th/16th August 1849

[191]
Meeting held on the 31st. July, 1849.

The register book was signed from No. 11035 to No. 11209.
The out-door relief register was signed from No. 21842 to No. 21846

[192]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

[195] Medical Report
New cases, fever 10, dysentery 10, measles 5, cholera 1, total 26. Died in same week,fever dysentry and diarrhea 7, cholera 1, measles 1, total 11. Under treatment on Saturday, in infirmary 73, fever hospital 25, total 98.Under treatment in Lahinch for measles, dysentery etc. 60. Died measles 1. Sandfield most healthy. This house is also much improved, many of the deaths in this month were persons a short time admitted to the house.
                                                                                    Charles Finucane M.D.

[196]
The following orders of the Poor Law Commissioners were laid before the Board and directions given thereon.
Sealed order out D.R. 31st day of July 1849 authorising out door relief to all classes up to the 14th August inclusive.

The following letters of the Poor Law Commissioners were read and orders given thereon.
- 26th July 1849, intimating that a requisite for 801 had been forwarded to the Commissioners.
- 27th July 1849, about accounts being disallowed by the auditor.
- 30th July 1849, adverting to the above circular and requesting similar information about deficiency in duplications in union officers' accounts.
[197]
The following is required for the use of the auxiliary workhouse Lahinch, the use of a horse for a week in consequence of the workhouse horse being laid up; a large milk vessel to contain 100 gallons, poles and lines for drying clothes and one large covered bucket for the infirmary.
In Sandfield workhouse the master requires the following: one dressing table and basin stand and for the parent workhouse, 300 yards cheque, 300 yards calico, 1,000 yards calico for shirts, 2,000 yards for sheets, 50 lbs. coarse cotton, 500 yards ticking, 400 pint saucepans, 2 dozen sweeping brushes, 1 dozen scrubbing brushes, 2 dozen grate brushes, 1 dozen bass brooms, 6 gross of iron spoons, 2 dozen of hair combs, 300 yards shambray for handkerchiefs, 300 yards Drogheda linen, 2 dozen bath bricks, 12 black lead, 1 dozen tin chambers, 2 pairs of tongs, 7 delph pans, 2 privies, 1 bed stead, 2 forms, 1 patent seal. Ordered that the above be procured from the respective contractors.
[198] Resolved
- that the clerk do advertise in the local newspapers inviting tenders for the supply of leather.
- that the tender of Pat Reynolds be accepted for the conveyance of the turf at Ballykeale bog at 4d per creel, each creel to contain 3 boxes of turf.
- that the tender of Thomas Reynolds be accepted for the conveyance of the turf onvenient to the workhouse at the rate of 4 1/2d per creel, each creel to contain 3 boxes of turf.
- that the following persons be appointed for the conveyance of sick persons in the espective electoral divisions to the Moymore Temporary Fever Hospital:
Thomas Williams, Kilfenora 2/0 each trip to the hospital. John Hanlon, Killonahan 2/0 each trip to the hospital.
Daniel Salmon, Killilagh and Kilshanny 1/0 each trip to the hospital.
Michael McCarthy, Ennistymon 8d each trip to the hospital.
James Doolan, Corofin and Rath 2/6 each trip to the hospital.
Pat Shannon, Liscannor 8d each trip to the hospital.
And in every instance to take back the convalescent patients from the hospital to their homes free of any charge.
- that the clerk do advertise for the sale of the manure on the workhouse grounds.
[199]
The following candidates appeared for the situation of assistant master, Patrick O' Connor, John Dennon, Martin O' Brien, Lancelot Hemsworth, Thomas Kean, and Bryan Slattery. It was resolved that Thomas Kean be appointed assistant master at a salary of £25 per annum with rations etc.

[201]
Meetings held on the 7th, 8th and 9th August 1849

Captain Kennedy attended.
The register book was signed from No. 11210 to No. 11462.
The out door relief register was signed from No. 21847 to No. 22136.

[202] The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced

[205] Medical Report
New cases admitted for the week ending 4th: fever 8, dysentery 10, measles 4, pox 1. Total 23.Died in the week: fever 1, dysentery 2, measles 3, after cholera 1. Total 9. Under treatment at Lahinch in measles, dysentery, diarrhea 55. Died within the week measles 2, dysentery 1, total 3. The health of this and workhouse very much improved. Sandfield as before perfectly healthy.
                                                                            Charles Finucane M.D.

[206]
The following letters were read
- 2nd August 1849, requiring the monthly return of liabilities by the 14th. inst.
- 2nd August 1849, requiring a return of the collection of rates for month of July.
- 31st July 1849, about the striking of a rate at harvest not to be less than 3/0 in the pound.
4th August requesting to know what steps were taken by the vice guardians relative to Messrs. Bannatynes' application.
- 3rd August 1849, intimating that a requisition had been forwarded to the Commissioners for 802.
[207] - 3rd August 1849, requiring the return of disallowances in union accounts of any by the auditors.Returning abstracts 4 and 5 for the half year ended 25th March to be signed.
- 4th August 1849, requiring a return about the state of the crops in the union.
Resolved that Mr. William Henry be appointed superintendent of labour for the northern districts of this union in room of Mr. Thomas Kean selected to the office of assistant master.
Resolved that the following letter addressed to Mr. Octavius O'Brien by Mr. Cullinan at the instance of the vice guardians be inscribed on the minutes for information of the Commissioners.

                                                                                        Creanpoint,
                                                                                            Miltown Malbay,
                                                                                                6th August 1849.
        My dear Sirs,
                In reply to your letter of the 4th, I beg to say the vice guardians sent me a copy of your letter to them for my advice. They say they hope soon [208] to have funds applicable to the payment of the demand of the Messrs. Bannatyne on them very much sooner indeed than you could have any benefit from any legal proceedings to be instituted for recovery of this demand which could not by any possibility be earlier than next January, from the nature of the proceedings which should be adopted against them. I presume you are aware that the vice guardians have been obliged to contract with your clients at a much higher price than they would do if they had ready money to go into the market with and that the average beyond ready money price will comply, pay any interest your clients would be fairly entitled to for the time they will be kept out of their money. Besides those conditions I do not think the vice guardians would be justified in giving a judgement against the union and, for those reasons, I have felt it my duty as their solicitor to advise them to decline giving you the confession you require. You may however rely on it that the vice guardians will do all in their power to expedite the payment of this demand.
                                                                                Michael Cullinan.
Octavius O' Brien Esq.
    47 Fleet Street, Dublin.

[209]
Captain Kennedy handed the vice guardians the treasurer's receipt for £802.
Captain Kennedy drew the attention of the vice guardians to the following facts. In the week ended 7th July there were 20,171 persons in receipt of out door relief being 47 per cent on the population of land census, while in the adjoining Union of Kilrush the percentage of the population on out door relief was but 38 per cent. The relative weekly cost of out door paupers receiving the same rations was for the same week in Ennistymon 7 1/8d, in Kilrush 6 1/3d.
The number charged on out door relief as "Union at Large"cases in Ennistymon with a population of 49,000 is 991 persons or two persons on the population which in Kilrush Union the number on out door relief charged as "Union at Large" cases is only 144 persons out of a population of 82,000. Captain Kennedyrequested the vice guardians would desire the relieving officers to furnish him with a written report forthwith accounting for the excessive number of "Union at Large" cases in their respective divisions accompanied by a nominal list with present residence of all the persons so chargable.
Captain Kennedy laid a letter from Mr. Hill, County Surveyor, before the guardians relative to their undertaking certain road work repairs for the out door paupers.
The minutes handed by Captain Kennedy with his directions that they be placed on the proceeding of the board of this day having been submitted to the vice guardians the clerk was directed to add in explanation that the 7th of July, the date selected by Captain Kennedy for comparison of numbers in receipt out door relief in the Ennistymon and Kilrush Union, exhibits the largest number to be found on the tables of the Ennistymon Union for the entire year, that the numbers are fast reducing from that
[210] state, that in the Ennistymon Union there are many more populated towns and villages than in the Kilrush Union, some of them abutting on other unions viz.
Miltown, Corofin, Ballyvaughan and New Quay in which thousands of persons evicted in this union since 1841 have located themselves. The vice guardians believe that if an accurate census of both unions were now to be taken, analysis of relief numbers would exhibit no such discrepancy as it does, taken now from the date of 1841, that the great influx of persons into those towns for the 3 years preceeding the introduction of the Extensive Act in some degree accounts for the discrepancy of numbers in the Kilrush and Ennistymon Unions.
That the discrepancy of average weekly cost is perfectly acceptable of explanation from the fact that in the Kilrush Union the vice guardians buy weekly their supply of meal at the market price of the day, are bound to no contractor and procure them early in July at a very reduced price at or under 8 a ton whilst in Ennistymon Union the vice guardians are bound by a contract entered into with the Messrs. Bannatyne and pay at the uniform rate of 10 a ton - the discrepancy could arise from no other cause as the standard of rations are assimilated in both unions.

Resolved
- that 30 men and a steward be placed at the use of the auxiliary house at Lahinch to execute and open a drain preparatory to forming a cess pool in the place given to the vice guardians for that purpose by Mr. T. J. O' Brien. Captain Kennedy drew the attention of the vice guardians to the inferior quality of the b. meal at present supplied by the contractors, ordered that the clerk do immediately communicate with Messrs. Bannatyne on this subject.

[211]
Meeting held on 14th, 15th and 16th August 1849

Richard M.Lynch, P.L.I. and Capt. Kennedy P.L.I. were present.
The register book was signed from No. 11463 to No. 11698.
The out-door relief register was signed from No. 22137 to No. 22159.

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

[215] Medical Report
There were 50 patients in fever hospital and 70 in infirmary on Saturday last. 6 new cases of fever during the week. We had nine deaths in the parent house and 2 at Lahinch auxiliary. 4 of fever, 3 of diarrhea, 2 dysentery, 1 dropsy and 1 measles.
                                                                            James Shannon M.D.

[216]
The following orders were read:
- Sealed order out door relief 14th day of August 1849 authorising out door relief, exempting at the same time the following classes, "able bodied women who have not been married, or who, being widows, have no child dependants on them, and able bodied men who have not more than three children dependent on them respectively up to the 24th August 1849 inclusive."
Resolved
- that the several relieving officiers be directed to strike off the relief lists all persons heretofore relieved under section 2 who are not included in the above order.

The following letters were read:
- 2nd August 1849, enclosing forms for monthly collection of rates.
- 10th August 1849, about the salary of James Dixon.
- 11th August 1849, directing that two guineas be only paid to the medical officers for their visits to Miltown workhouse and Fever Hospital.
- 11th August 1849, the Secretary, Education Office, intimating that their inspector reports that the literary requirements of the teachers are of a medium character.
- 11th August 1849, intimating that a requisition had been forwarded to the Commissioners for 801.
- 14th August 1849, about the reduction of Cornelius Sullivan's salary and requiring answer to letter of 23rd ult.
[217]
Resolved
-On the report of Mr. Cahill, collector, that the sum of £24.0.11 be declared unrecoverable in the electoral division of Ennistymon in consequence of the houses described in rate books by the numbers underneath having been demolished previous to 26th. April 1848, and the two subsequent rates of 18th September 1849 and 28th October 1849.

The master of the Miltown Malbay Workhouse reported that the barley meal supplied by the contractor Messrs. Bannatyne was of an inferior quality.
Captain Kennedy informed the vice guardians that on visiting the Lahinch workhouse on the 14th inst. they found a party of able bodied paupers who were employed in sinking a drain, idling in a most discreditable manner, and recommended the immediate dismissal of the ganger, William Ryan, and that the paupers composing the gang should be struck off the out door relief. The milk supplied at the ,uxiliary workhouse at Lahinch, and which it was stated to have been received in the morning, was sour and unfit for use at half past one o'clock.
[218] The bread at Lahinch, Miltown and Ennistymon is of a very bad quality and Captain Kennedy recommended the erections of ovens at Miltown and the ..... of those at Ennistymon and a total change in the manufacture of bread.
The barley and Indian meal supplied to the workhouse is of a very indifferent quality, samples of which Captain Kennedy brought under the notice of the vice guardians. The state of the privies at Lahinch are in a most objectional state and should be removed without delay.
Resolved
- that the contract entered into with the Messrs. Bannatyne for supplies of barley and Indian Meal be dissolved in consequence of the repeated delivery of meal of inferior quality and that tenders be invited for the supply of these articles to the 29th September and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Messrs Bannatyne.
- that the contract of Michael Liddy be also dissolved for the same reason and tenders invited for the supply of milk for the Lahinch and Sandfield auxiliaries and the quantities supplied to Mr Liddy to the parent house and that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Mr Liddy.
[219] - that tenders be invited for completing a cess pool and drain at the rear of the Lahinch Auxiliary workhouse.
- that tenders be invited for erecting two sheds (one in each of the probationary wards) for keeping the old clothes of the inmates - allowance to be made for the number at present on the premises.
- that the clerk do inform the Commissioners that Mr Carrigg, master of the Ballykeale Auxiliary Workhouse, had a son and daughter about 17 years each and a young child with them at the auxiliary workhouse, that the son is of great assistance in keeping the accounts for him, and that the Commissioners be requested to intimate to the vice guardians their pleasure if the members of his family may continue in the house, of course being no charge to the union.
Resolved that the clerk do forward copy of the letter of Mr Michael Hayes, relieving officer.

The master of the Miltown Workhouse require[s] the following articles, 1 doz sweeping brushes, 1/2 doz of clothes brushes, 30 yards of cheque for aprons, 15 pair blankets, 4 lb white thread, one hundred needles.
Ordered that they be procured from the respective contract[ors] and for the temporary fever hospital Miltown Malbay, 300 yard of linen for sheeting and 1lb thread.

The clerk having submitted the enclosed estimate of the rate it was resolved that it be forwarded to the Poor Law Commissioners for their approval the vice guardians being of opinion that a larger poundage rate than that counted could not be collected in the respective electoral divisions up to March 1850.
Resolved that a cheque for £45 be drawn in favour of
[220] Mr Keane, the clerk, and that he do proceed to Ennis on permission to purchase the residue of the weeks supply of meal for the workhouse in consequence of the inferior quality of the meal supplied by the present contractor whose contract had this day been dissolved.

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