Kinsale Board of Guardian Minute Books
TitleKinsale Board of Guardian Minute Books
ReferenceBG/108/A
Date
1839-1924
Scope and ContentA record of meetings and decisions made by the board of guardians in administering the workhouse and poor relief generally. At meetings, administrative, financial, rates, and medical books were examined, officers’ reports and committee findings heard, correspondence read and considered, and applications for admission decided on. Matters arising with regard to the workhouse, staff, provisions, bills, rate collection, the Poor Law Commissioners/Local Government Board, and other issues, were also discussed. The minutes also include weekly statistics of admissions, discharges, and deaths in the workhouse, and of outdoor relief.
Missing volumes/dates: A/3 (3 Apr 1846-25 Aug 1847); A/18 (7 Jun 1861-11 Dec 1861); A/20 (6 Jun 1862-10 Dec 1862); A/22-24 (5 Jun 1863-7 Dec 1864); A/27 (1 Dec 1865-6 Jun 1866); A/32-68 (27 Nov 1868-4 Dec 1888); A/71-74 (16 May 1890-22 Jun 1892); A/123 (9 Dec 1915-6 Jun 1916); A/132 (10 Jun 1920-7 Dec 1920); A/134 (12 May 1921-9 Aug 1921)
See descriptive list for further information. Includes the following:
31 Aug 1839 Resolved, to ask the PLC ‘to vest in the guardians a discretionary authority to admit the reporters of the press to their sittings’, the public press being ‘the only sure guarantee against abuse in the discharge of popular trusts’.
5 Oct 1839 Letter to PLC expressing concern at the cost of erecting the workhouse, noting that it is only one ninth less than it is for Bandon, which ‘contains nearly twice the number of acres and of inhabitants and probably a still greater proportion of rateable property’. Surprise is expressed that the proposed building has capacity for five hundred paupers, ‘being more than double the number ever likely to occupy it’. The ‘facility of emigration… in this part of the country’ is mentioned as a factor mitigating the numbers likely to apply for relief.
13 Dec 1839 Resolved, that should the PLC decline to reduce the expense of the workhouse, that application be made ‘either to increase the size of the union or to dissolve it altogether’.
17 Feb 1842 Resolved, that deserted children ‘for whom ample provision has been already made by law’ ought not to be received into the workhouse.
12 May 1842 Resolutions regarding a ‘mutiny’ by inmates who objected to eat their potatoes and refused to go to work.
16 Sep 1847 Medical Officer’s report regarding the largest number of inmates which the workhouse could safely hold. It is noted that ‘there were for some time 900 in the House’, but that difficulties, including ‘the impossibility of separating all the sick from the healthy make [him] dread again crowding the House beyond the number of 700’.
11 Nov 1847 Resolutions expressing opposition to the proposed formation of a separate union in the eastern part of the present union district. It is insisted that ‘no partiality’ in admissions is given to ‘any particular locality’ and that ‘if the inhabitants of Carrigaline did not desire to avail themselves of the accommodation they have no one to blame but themselves’.
16 Mar 1848 Report by the Medical Officer to the PLC regarding the use of the old jail ward, which last year was found to be too confined and badly ventilated. He thinks it ‘well adapted for the reception of about 200 aged and infirm men, a class not so likely to suffer from confinement as the children who last year formed the majority of the inmates and suffered from the then prevailing epidemic’.
13 Apr 1848 Resolved, that the Board ‘gladly avails’ of the offer by the Commissioners of Colonial Lands and will pay for the voyage to Plymouth ‘of such orphans as shall be selected by the proper officer’, the orphans to be between 14 and 18 years’ old. [Emigration to Australia]
19 Apr 1849 Resolved, that the PLC be asked not to insist on repayment of government loans at present, as it is found ‘that destitution is rapidly increasing, the cholera in our neighbourhood, and the ratepayers totally unable to bear the imposition of a new rate till after the harvest’.
6 Feb 1868 Notice of motion, ‘that in consequence of the great number of children now in the house, and the consequent impossibility of the schoolmistress attending to them all, a temporary assistant be appointed to look after the boys’, there being 60 boys in the school.
20 Aug 1868 Letter from Charles Gray Jones, Inspecting Commander, who is charged by the Government to collect information regarding ‘the wants and habits of the Kinsale fishermen’. He requests ‘statistical facts… such as the number of fishermen receiving relief at certain periods’.
29 Dec 1898 Master reports that ‘the Misses Bleazby gave the school children their annual treat on the 27th inst when they also distributed a variety of toys amongst them’. A Resolution of thanks by the Board to the Misses Bleazby follows, ‘for their goodness in catering for the happiness of the school children’.
19 Jan 1921 Letter received regarding the Board’s recent resolution that no goods be purchased in the shop of CJ Barry. This is attributed to a ‘false rumour… that he or one of his employees was implicated in a recent regrettable and discreditable incident that took place in town’. It is added that the ‘slur’ ‘jeopardises the friendly relations that have existed between the different denominations in the town’.
Missing volumes/dates: A/3 (3 Apr 1846-25 Aug 1847); A/18 (7 Jun 1861-11 Dec 1861); A/20 (6 Jun 1862-10 Dec 1862); A/22-24 (5 Jun 1863-7 Dec 1864); A/27 (1 Dec 1865-6 Jun 1866); A/32-68 (27 Nov 1868-4 Dec 1888); A/71-74 (16 May 1890-22 Jun 1892); A/123 (9 Dec 1915-6 Jun 1916); A/132 (10 Jun 1920-7 Dec 1920); A/134 (12 May 1921-9 Aug 1921)
See descriptive list for further information. Includes the following:
31 Aug 1839 Resolved, to ask the PLC ‘to vest in the guardians a discretionary authority to admit the reporters of the press to their sittings’, the public press being ‘the only sure guarantee against abuse in the discharge of popular trusts’.
5 Oct 1839 Letter to PLC expressing concern at the cost of erecting the workhouse, noting that it is only one ninth less than it is for Bandon, which ‘contains nearly twice the number of acres and of inhabitants and probably a still greater proportion of rateable property’. Surprise is expressed that the proposed building has capacity for five hundred paupers, ‘being more than double the number ever likely to occupy it’. The ‘facility of emigration… in this part of the country’ is mentioned as a factor mitigating the numbers likely to apply for relief.
13 Dec 1839 Resolved, that should the PLC decline to reduce the expense of the workhouse, that application be made ‘either to increase the size of the union or to dissolve it altogether’.
17 Feb 1842 Resolved, that deserted children ‘for whom ample provision has been already made by law’ ought not to be received into the workhouse.
12 May 1842 Resolutions regarding a ‘mutiny’ by inmates who objected to eat their potatoes and refused to go to work.
16 Sep 1847 Medical Officer’s report regarding the largest number of inmates which the workhouse could safely hold. It is noted that ‘there were for some time 900 in the House’, but that difficulties, including ‘the impossibility of separating all the sick from the healthy make [him] dread again crowding the House beyond the number of 700’.
11 Nov 1847 Resolutions expressing opposition to the proposed formation of a separate union in the eastern part of the present union district. It is insisted that ‘no partiality’ in admissions is given to ‘any particular locality’ and that ‘if the inhabitants of Carrigaline did not desire to avail themselves of the accommodation they have no one to blame but themselves’.
16 Mar 1848 Report by the Medical Officer to the PLC regarding the use of the old jail ward, which last year was found to be too confined and badly ventilated. He thinks it ‘well adapted for the reception of about 200 aged and infirm men, a class not so likely to suffer from confinement as the children who last year formed the majority of the inmates and suffered from the then prevailing epidemic’.
13 Apr 1848 Resolved, that the Board ‘gladly avails’ of the offer by the Commissioners of Colonial Lands and will pay for the voyage to Plymouth ‘of such orphans as shall be selected by the proper officer’, the orphans to be between 14 and 18 years’ old. [Emigration to Australia]
19 Apr 1849 Resolved, that the PLC be asked not to insist on repayment of government loans at present, as it is found ‘that destitution is rapidly increasing, the cholera in our neighbourhood, and the ratepayers totally unable to bear the imposition of a new rate till after the harvest’.
6 Feb 1868 Notice of motion, ‘that in consequence of the great number of children now in the house, and the consequent impossibility of the schoolmistress attending to them all, a temporary assistant be appointed to look after the boys’, there being 60 boys in the school.
20 Aug 1868 Letter from Charles Gray Jones, Inspecting Commander, who is charged by the Government to collect information regarding ‘the wants and habits of the Kinsale fishermen’. He requests ‘statistical facts… such as the number of fishermen receiving relief at certain periods’.
29 Dec 1898 Master reports that ‘the Misses Bleazby gave the school children their annual treat on the 27th inst when they also distributed a variety of toys amongst them’. A Resolution of thanks by the Board to the Misses Bleazby follows, ‘for their goodness in catering for the happiness of the school children’.
19 Jan 1921 Letter received regarding the Board’s recent resolution that no goods be purchased in the shop of CJ Barry. This is attributed to a ‘false rumour… that he or one of his employees was implicated in a recent regrettable and discreditable incident that took place in town’. It is added that the ‘slur’ ‘jeopardises the friendly relations that have existed between the different denominations in the town’.
Extent87 vols
Persons keywordMidleton Board of Guardians
AccessHard copies: Accessible to Readers by appointment. Access restrictions apply to some collections. Digital object/copy: see Download Media and/or Digital Reference
RightsLicensing information available on request by email to archivist@corkcity.ie Copyright Cork City and County Archives, Cork City Council, unless otherwise indicated. All Rights Reserved.
Levelseries
RepositoryCork City and County Archives