Benjamin D'Israeli
by John Keogh
In the year 1766, Benjamin D'Israeli was born in England. There are
conflicting reports concerning his early childhood and this matter is
still under investigation. It is reported that he came to Ireland with
his mother at a very early age. Benjamin started to serve his
apprenticeship with Richard Bayly at the tender age of seventeen. Mr.
Bayley was identified with the running of Lotteries, Stockbroking,
Moneylending and Insurance. His new apprentice proved himself both
diligent and honest. Concerning the lottery system, by buying a lottery
ticket for £7.10s, one had two chances of winning £20,000.
This draw was
not confined to Ireland but also extended to England. Having completed
his apprenticeship, Benjamin acquired a licence on the 12th February,
1788 to run lotteries from the Right Honourable Stephen Ratcliffe, Judge
of His Majesty's Court of Prerogative in Ireland. Following this he
opened an office at 105 Grafton Street, Dublin. As a result of his
business transactions, D'Israeli acquired property in Suffolk Street,
Grafton Street, Summer Hill and Essex Street. Having accumulated vast
amounts of property and money, Benjamin D'Israeli turned his interests
to the country area.
On the advice of a friend of his, namely Wm. Hoare
Hume of Humewood Castle, he purchased Betty-field House and lands (now
Beechy Park, presently owned by Mrs. V. Burgess). Circumstances did not
allow him to take up residence at once, consequently he leased the
property to one George Pilsworth in 1804. After a period of five years,
he took up residence himself and became one of the landed gentry.
Benjamin D'Israeli was appointed High Sheriff of Carlow by the Lord
Lieutenant in 1810, evidence of this to be found in the minute book of
Kiltegan Vestry dated 16 April, 1811.
As the years progressed, he
transferred his interest from Lotteries to Stock-broking. Five days
before his death at Beechy Park he bequested £3,000 towards the erection
of a school for the education of the poor at Bough, Rathvilly. The
school was built 12 years after his death. For one hundred and fifty
years this lovely structure has been in use, thus fulfilling its
purpose. Benjamin D'Israeli died 1814 aged 48 years and was laid to rest
in Saint Peter's Churchyard, Dublin.
In his will he also left a sum of
£500 to the church wardens at Rathvilly which was to be invested in
Government Securities and the interest to be distributed to the poor of
Rathvilly Parish every Christmas. This is still the practice today.
Benjamin D'Israeli will be remembered as a man of generous nature, with
the poor of the district ever present in his heart. May he rest in
peace.
REF: Dublin Chronicle 28/10/1 788. Kil. Jour. Arch.
Soc. Vol. V. P329. R.S.A.I. Vol. LXXVIII 1948.
Source:
Carloviana 1983. Vol 2. No. 31 p.10 & 11.
D'Israeli School
Memorial of the deed dated 1818.
Here is the Memorial of the deed when it was sold by Hugh Cumming,
the administrator of the estate of Benjamin D'Israeli, to James Eustace
in 1818 for £2400 Stg. I wonder how that compares at that time in
relation to the current selling price. Seems like an awful lot of money
for 1818.
Anybody have
any info on the otherwise identity of Hugh Cumming?
Vol 735 Page 384, No. 501319 - Hugh Cumming exec of estate of
Benjamin Disrael to James Eustace, 1818
To the Regr appd by act of Parlt for Registg Deeds & Soforth. A Meml
of an Indd Deed bearg date the 2d day of Decr 1818 & made Betn Hugh
Cumming of Kingswere St in the city of Dublin Public notary Exeor named
& appd in & by the last will and Testamt of Benjn Disrael formy of
Beechly Hill in the Coy of Carlow Esqr deceased & also residuary Devisee
of the sd Benjn Disrael of the one part & Jas Eustace of Castlemore in
the Coy of Carlow Esqr late a Major in his Majestys Roscommon Regt of
Militia of the other part.
Whereby after Recitg that by Indented Deed
bearg date the 3d day of Jany 1810 & made Betn the sd Jas Eustace of the
first part the sd Benjn Disrael of the 2d part & the sd Hugh Cumming
of the 3d part the sd Jas Eustace for & in conson of a sum of £2400 Stg
to him paid by the sd Benjn Disrael did Grant Sell & Confirm unto the said
Benjamin Disrael his heirs & assns an anny of yearly rent Charge of £400
for & durg the natural life of the sd Jas Eustace charged & Chargeable
upon & issuing & payable out of all that & those the Towns & Lands of
Castlemore, Corbally, Rathbally, Kenna, Ballyvohill, Tyneclash &
Ballycurry oise Ballynecurry, Cloneen oise Clonnine, Kilknock, Tartane
oise Tartan, the Mills of Bandens lame comy called the Mills of
Ballymurry, Glassgowan, Kilinaglish, One moiety of the Lands of
Kilinaglish, Templeton oise Templepeter & Lisgarvan & a yearly fee from
Rent of £137~2~6 issug out of the Towns & Lands of Augha.
All sit lying &
being in the Coy of Carlow payable 1/2 yearly as therein mentd & also
Recitg that the sd Jas Eustace for the more effectually securg the sd
anny did by the sd Decd Grant & demise to the sd Hugh Cumming his Exors
Admors & assns the sevl Towns Lands fee farm Rent & prences so charged
with the sd Anny.
To hold the sd to the sd Hugh Cumming his Exors Admors
& assns for the term of 99 years provided the sd Jas Eustace shd so long
live subt to redempn as therein mentd & also Recitg the death of the sd
Benjn Disrael & that the sd Hugh Cumming as residuary Devise of the real
freehold & personal property of the sd Benjn Disrael was Entitled to the
sd Annuity Granted by the sd Jas Eustace as afd & that the sd Jas
Eustace has agreed with the sd Hugh Cumming for the redempn or
repurchase thereof the sd Hugh Cumming for & in conson of the sum of
£2400 Stg & all arrears of the sd anny to him pd by the sd Jas Eustace
did Grant Yield Up release & Surrender unto the sd Jas Eustace his heirs
& assns all that & those the sd herein before mentd Anny or yearly rent
charge of £400 so granted to the sd Benjn Disrael & Charges upon the
afesd Lands & Premes herein before mentd.
To Hold the same unto the sd
Jas Eustace his heirs & assns for ever & did also Grant & assign & Surr
to the sd Jas Eustace All that & those the afd Towns Lands fee farm rent
and premes to him Granted & demd as afd. To hold the same & every part
thereof to the sd Jas Eustace his heirs & assns freed & dischd from the
trusts mentd & deald in & by the said recited Indent of the 3d day of
Jany 1810 for & durg the rest residue & remr yet to come & [___] of the
term of 99 years thereby granted as afd which sd Deed & this Meml are
Witnessed by Danl Ryan & Wm Henry Crawford both of the City of Dublin
Attey at Law.
Hugh Cumming (Seal) Sealed & held in presence of Wm Henry Crawford,
David Ryan
Now David Ryan of the city of Dublin Gent. maketh oath & saith that
he saw Hugh Cumming & Jas Eustace duly Execute the sd Deed & the sd Hugh
Cumming duly Exete the above Meml thereof & dept saith the name David
Ryan Subd as a witness to sd Deed the above Meml is depts Proper name &
hand writg & saith he deld sd Deed & this Meml thereof to Oliver Moore
Esqr Depy Regr at the Regr Office on the Inns Quay Dublin in the 24 day
of Decr 1818 at or about half past 12 of the clock noon of sd Day. David
Ryan Sworn before me this 24 day of Decr 1818. Olr Moore, Depy Regr. A
true copy Wm White
[transcribed exactly as written in the Memorial]
- Source: Sue Clement Southern New England Irish
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ussnei
- Cummins Families in County Carlow, Ireland
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cummins/
Beechy Park
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