Ennistymon Union Minute Books

Book No. 8

Meetings held from 3rd November 1849 - 6th December 1849

[1] Meeting held on the 3rd of November, 1849.

[2]
Clerk's Report
The R[elieving] officer for the Burren Electoral Division has not sent in his accounts for examination this week.

[5] Medical Report.
We had 6 new cases of fever, 9 of diarrhea and dysentery. In the same week we had one death of fever and 6 of dysentery and diarrhea. Total under treatment on Saturday; fever 41, infirmary 87. Total 128.
                                                            Charles Finucane M.D.

Master's Report.
[not legible]

[7] The following letters were read:
- 3rd November 1849, directing to forward a receipt for 100 hand barrows to the Board of Works.
- 6th November 1849, sanctioning the appointment of Patrick Mulqueeny as R. officer.

It having been proposed by Capt. Mc Namara and seconded by John O'Dwyer that Cornelius O'Brien Esq. be elected chairman for the ensuing six months. Carried unanimously.Proposed by Mr. Pierce Creagh and seconded by Mr. William Fitzgerald that Francis Mc Namara Calcutt Esq. be elected vice chairman. Carried unanimously.
Proposed by Mr. Pierce Creagh and seconded by Mr. William Fitzgerald that Andrew Lysaght be elected dept. vice chairman. Carried unanimously.
Proposed by Francis O'Brien and seconded by Capt. Mc Namara Resolved that William Fitzgerald Esq.,E. Burton
. . . .[not legible]
[8]
Resolved
- that the five electoral divisions of the Burren Barony viz. Kilonahen, Rathborney, Burren, Carron and Drumcreehy be constituted a district committee under 10th Vic. chap. 31 and that the elected and ex officio guardians of said district be a committee and to meet at Ballyvaughan to report on applications for relief and that the P. L.Commissioners be requested to sanction the resolution.
- that we consider the substitution of this board for vice guardians an advantage to the public determined as we are [not legible]
[9] - that Capt. Mc Namara, Thomas Stack, Thomas Kerin andFrancis O'Brien be the visiting committee for the parent workhouse. That Mr. William Fitzgerald, John O'Dwyer and Daniel O'Brien be the committee for Ballykeale Workhouse. That Francis Gould Morony, Henry Morony and Michael Considine be the committee for the Miltown Workhouse. That Mr O'Brien, Andrew Lysaght and Michael Considine be a committee for the Sandfield House. That the chairman Capt. Mc Namara, Andrew Lysaght, Thomas Kerin and Francis O'Brien be a committee for the several workhouses at Lahinch.that the board day be Thursday in each workhouse, that the hour of meeting be 12 'clock and that no member be allowed to vote unless he shall be present one hour after the opening of the board.
[half page not legible]
[10]
. . . . . dissenting from such motion, shall only do so by moving an amendment to be also handed in writing to the chairman, signed by the mover and seconder of such amendments, and that mover alone speak thereto and that the decision of every question confined to said motion and amendment and be considered by a poll if required.
- that we consider it highly desirable that the parent workhouse be enlarged for the accommodation of paupers as we regard the indoor test as the most effectual.
- as means of useful employment to the inmates of the parent workhouse that a capstan mill be procured and that our inspector Mr. Briscoe be requested to procure information as to the price and the space required for the erection of such mill.
[not legible]

[1] Meeting held on the 15th November 1849.

[2]

[5] Medical Report
New cases of fever 13, dysentery and diarrhea 14, measles 3, total 30. Died within the week, fever 2, dropsy 1, total 3. Discharged cases within the week, fever 17, measles 1, dysentry 1, total 19. Remaining under treatment on the 10th, infirm hospital 38, infirmary 98 - total 136. Under treatment at Lahinch in measles, diarrhea and dysentery 33 not including 55 with skin disease. The outside wards at Gibson House I visited with the chairman and dept. vice chairman on Saturday and in the present state of them I think them unfit .... I found that nearly all the children getting sick .... 5 children died at Lahinch .....
[not legible]

Master's Report.
[not legible]

[6] Letters were read from the P.L.C.
[section not legible]

[7] - 14th November 1849 - Intimating that a sealed order was in course of being signed for holding meetings in the north of the union.
- 14th November 1849 - Queries to be answered by Miss Anne Sproule matron at Lahinch.
- 14th November 1849 - sanctioning an increase from 30 to 40 per annum to Dr. Armstrong, medical officer at Ballykeale.
Resolved that this finance committee do meet on Wednesday night and on the first Wednesday in each month.

[8] [section not legible]
Resolved that four messengers be allowed for the parent house, two for the Miltown House, two for the Ballykeale House and one for Lahinch, one for Sandfield and one for Moymore, that they be selected from the best conducted male paupers and that each get a jacket with a red stripe on the right sleeve, that a message book be kept and that the nature of the message the ---- be entered therein and that any messenger guilty of neglect or unnecessary delay be immediately dismissed.
[section not legible]

[9] Resolved that the resignation of Miss Anne Sproule, matron of the Lahinch house, be accepted and that the clerk do advertize for a competent person to fill the situation, the election to take place on this day fortnight.
Resolved that the clerk do advertise in the local news papers and by hand bills that the townland lists of all persons relevant as required by the Act 12th and 13th Vic. cap 104 will be open for the inspection of rate payers on every Monday in each week from 10 o'clock p.m.

It having been ascertained that the appointment of Mr James Leyden, collector to the electoral division of Carron, was not in accordance with the article of the general regulations,
Resolved that an election for this division take place on Thursday the 29th inst.

[1] Meeting held on 22nd November 1849.

[5] Medical ReportI
I this day examined the auxiliary house in Sandfield and found several of the windows broken and the roof out of repair, several slates broken off and the rain coming down, but the house in other respects clean and in good order. The matron stated that the women committed to her care were very disorderely that several of them left the house without "passes", that a great number of the women were unmarried, having illegitimate children who frequently visited their wives[sic] and see them outside the house. She stated that Alley Parteridge and --- Callaghan, both having illegitimate children, tore up the blankets in their beds and that they frequently left the house without leave and were extremely outrageous defying all authority. She also stated that when she, under the direction of Dr. Phelan divided the bread rations into two portions that the women abused her and that she found it impossible to govern them. She also stated that there was no washing vessel and that much inconvenience arose therefrom causing a want of cleanliness. . . [not legible]
[6]
The following orders of the Poor Law Commissioners were laid before the board
- sealed order dated 17th November 1849, sanctioning the holding of meeting in the north of the union for the purpose of reviewing applications for relief.
[section not legible]
[7]
The following letters of the Poor Law Commisioners and others were read
- 14th November 1849, requesting to know what are the intended alterations as to extention at the workhouse.
- 16th November 1849, intimating that the commissioners have no power to inflict fines on R. officers.
- 16th November 1849, with commissioners' reply to Mr. M. Shannon about the election of guardians for Miltown Division.
- 16th November 1849 about the use of charred peat as an agent for destroying any offensive odours occuring from cesspool.
- 17th November 1849, sanctioning the appointment of Mr. P. Mulqueney at £25.0.0. per annum.
- November 1st, the Secretaries, National Board of Education, about teachers' communicaton with public journals

Medical Report
We have 13 new cases of fever, 12 of dysentery, diarrhea and 10 of measles and other infantile disease in the
[8] workhouse. For the week ended 19th, under treatment in Lahinch (exclusive of skin disease) 40. Deaths for the week at Lahinch, 2 measles and dysentery. Sandfield, 2 infants died within the week.
                                                                                        Charles Finnucane M.D.

It having been ascertained on examination that the assistant schoolmistress Miss Mc Inerny has been guilty of gross misconduct,
Resolved that she be suspended from her duty forthwith with a view to her immediate dismissal by the commissioners under their seal.
Sir L. O'Brien, Bart. gave notice that he would on this day fortnight move the reduction of the salary of the relieving officers to £25 per annum each and the salaries of all the officers generally in the union.
[9]
Resolved
- that the use of rice be discontinued in the stirabout of classes 1 & 2 and to substitute soup for milk . . . . classes in the morning meal.
[the late] master and matron . . . . . . Mr Walsh and his wife . . . . resolution of the late elected board and that our chairman do forward to him a copy of this resolution and apprize him of our best wishes of his prosperity in the land of his adoption.
- that the clerk do advertise by hand bills for a porter to be stationed at the front gate at a salary of £5 per annum with rations and an apartment.
The election to take place next Thursday.
- that the ex-officio and elected guardians of Killonahan, Rathborney, Burren, Carron and Drumcreehy be a committee for such divisions to receive applications of poor persons requiring relief in such district and to examine into the cases of such poor persons and report to the board of guardians and the weekly day of meet in be Wednesday.


[1] Meeting held on 29th November 1849.

[2]

Clerk's Report
The clerk reported that he advertised for the sale of the broken stones, manure, appt. of superintendent of labour and schoolmistress, matron for Lahinch house and porter or the front gate.

[5]
Medical Report
[not legible]
[6] The following letters of the Poor Law Commissioners were read.
23rd November - memorial from Mary Flynn praying for relief.
24th November - enclosing a new scale of dietary for the sick as recommended by the medical officer.
[not legible]
[7]
The clerk read a report from the matron of the aux. workhouse Lahinch complaining of the quality of milk supplied by the contractor Mrs. Moran. Also that the amount of the weekly order was not supplied.
The master requires the following for the use of the Miltown Aux. Workhouse, 5 ton of straw and 1 doz of tongs, also for the parent workhouse 2000 yards of sheeting calico, 300 yards check and 1000 yards ticking.
[section not legible]

[8] The board of guardians proceeded to elect a collector for the electoral division of Carron when tenders from the following persons were read - Michael Kerin, Austin Moran, Daniel Thynne, George Blood, John Connole, and Gerald O'Loughlin.
Proposed by William Fitzgerald and seconded by Mr. P.J. Ownes that Mr. Austin Moran be elected.
Proposed by Major Mc Namara and seconded by John Kerin that Michael Kerin be elected. A poll having been called for there were eleven votes for the election of Mr. Moran as collector and 12 votes for Mr. Michael Kerin who was accordingly elected.
[9]
. . . . . . John O'Dwyer, Francis O'Brien, Thomas Stack and Andrew Lysaght.
Proposed by Andrew Lysaght and seconded by Henry Mc Donough,
Resolved that Patrick Brew be appointed superintendent of labour to the parent workhouse at a salary of £5 per annum with rations and an apartment.
The following was handed to the chairman who directed that it be recorded.
Objection to Mr. Moran for electoral division of Carron that his tender as poor rate collector did not contain any statement as to what poundage that he would collect the rates in the electoral division of Carron as he should have done so as to comply with the terms of the advertisement advertising for a collector and further that he was put in nomination without stating that he was collector of County Cess.
The election of matron for the Lahinch Auxiliary Workhouse and assistant school mistress was put off until next board day.


[1] Meeting held on 6th December 1849.

[5] [not legible]
[6] Read sealed order - removal of assistant schoolmistress
- directing the dismissal of Mary Mc Inerney as assistant schoolmistress at Lahinch Aux. Workhouse.

Read letters from the P.L.C.s
- 1st December 1849 about the correction of the several registries of claims to vote D1, D2, and D3. [other letters not legible]
[7] - 4th December 1849, intimating that an application will be made to Mr Wilkinson for Mr Herbert's bills.

The notice of motion given by Sir L. O'Brien on the 22nd inst. relative to the reduction of the salaries of the relieving officers and other officers generally in the union having been brought before the board for discussion an amendment was proposed by Mr. John O'Brien that a reduction of £25 per cent[sic] be taken off the salaries of all the relieving officers.
The amendment was negatived by a majority of 11. Sir L. O'Brien's notice of motion having been put from the chair it was Resolved that the salaries of all the relieving officers be reduced to £25 per annum. The following officers' salaries were discussed respectively. The clerk's salary to continue as at present. The following reductions were declared by the chairman and carried. It was Resolved that the master's salary be reduced from £50 to £30, matron from £25 to £15, assistant master from . . . . . to . . . . matron at Sandfield £15 to £10, master at Moymore Auxiliary from £25 to £15, master of Ballykeale £15 to £10, master of Miltown Auxiliary Workhouse from £15 to £10 . . . . [not legible].
[8]
. . . . . . . school mistress at Lahinch £25 to £15, fever hospital nurse £8 to £5, infirmary nurse £10 to £5, nurse of Miltown T.F. hospital £10 to £5, Charles Finnucane, medical officer workhouse, £60 to £50, Charles Finnucane, medical officer of Moymore hospital from £91-5-0 to £25, James Shannon, medical officer of workhouse, from £60 to £50, John Costello, medical officer of Miltown Workhouse and Temporary Fever Hospital, £110 to £50, E. Armstrong, medical officer Ballykeale, £40 to £20, Rev. J Sheehan, chaplain workhouse, £60 to £40, Rev. John Mc Mahon, chaplain at Miltown, to remain at his usual salary, Rev. A. Quinn, chaplain Ballykeale, from £40 to £30. Rev. M Connolly, chaplain Sandfield, to remain at his usual salary, £30. Tailor at workhouse from £18.5.0 to £12. The porter's at the respective workhouses and hospitals from £10 to £6 respectively.             [section not legible]
[9]
. . . . respectively John O Dwyer, Thomas Stack, Matthew Slattery and Francis O Brien.

Resolved that the complaint made against the master of the Ballykeale House for admitting paupers into the house without authority, and various other complaints, be investigated by the following committee on next board day. Francis O Brien, Thomas Stack, John O Dwyer, Mat Slattery and Michael Considine . It having appeared to the board that 9 women were improperly admitted into Ballykeale House (having previously absconded) without punishment or Readmission at the parent house,
Resolved that they be forthwith discharged. Also that one woman who was discharged from the Ballykeale Workhouse for the purpose of getting service and who might have got if she thought fit and who was readmitted into Ballykeale House without permission be also discharged and that . . . . . ..  [section not legible]
[10] Resolved that the finance committee meet on Tuesday the 18th December and every succeeding second Tuesday at 12 o'clock and any bill to be considered must be lodged with the clerk the day before by 12 o clock.
Resolved that the collectors settle their accounts with the clerk on Tuesday the 18th instant and every succeeding second Tuesday and that they lodge with the treasurer every week and that any collector not adhering to this resolution will be considered ineffective.
Resolved that in the probationary yards sheds covered with wood be erected for the shelter of applicants for relief and that one of the probationary upper wards be made into a . . . . . . . [not legible]
[11]
The election of the matron and assistant school master for the Lahinch Auxillary Workhouse was postponed until next board day.

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