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Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM) Carlow Poor Law Union
Page 3 |
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The following report is taken from the Carlow Sentinel at the same time.
In accordance with a resolution passed on the last Board day, the Board
proceeded to receive applications from paupers for admission into the
Poorhouse.
Mr. Lecky - The master and clerk of the Shilleiagh Union are in attendance, I
think they have better be called in.
Colonel Bruen - Is it for the information for the Board of Guardiansor the
master and clerk that those people arc brought here?
Mr. Davies - Both the master and myself thought their attendance necessary -
they being acquainted with all the necessary forms of admission, &c.
The master Mr. Bate, and the clerk of Shillelagh Union were then called in.
Colonel Bruen - What are the necessary forms to be observed on the admission
of paupers?
Mr. Bate - If you have reason to doubt the statement of a pauper, you are not
bound to receive him. The usual way and the most correct is to require each
pauper to bring a recommendation from a Guardian belonging to a district in
which he lives.
Hugh Lee was then called in and examined by Mr. Bate, the master of Shillelagh
Union. The following answers were given to the questions put to the applicant:
My name is Hugh Lee, I was married; my wife is dead: I am 48 years of age; I
have no trade; I have been in the army: my usual occupation is that of
servant; I have no family; does not know how to Labour.
He was then ordered to withdraw.
Colonel Bruen - I don't think that we ought admit such an abled bodied pauper;
we ought first to admit the destitute, the aged, and infirm.
Mr Whelan - The shillelagh Board of Guardians would not admit him.
The application was refused, and on hearing other applications, none were
admitted but those who were considered fit objects for charity.
EXCENTRIC MEDICANT
The next applicant was a street beggar known by the name of Dick Shea In
appearance he represented a mountain of rags, which were confined to his legs
and body by several hay and straw ropes; on making his appearance he bowed
very courteously to the chairman when the following amusing dialogue took
place;
Chairman - What's your name?
Shea - O'Shea, your honour.
Chairman - How old are you?
Shea - How old do you think? (laughter). I'm old enough to remember the
Rebellion.
Major Cooper - Perhaps you were engaged in it?
Shea – No, I was too young at the time (laughter)
Chairman - What religion do you belong to?
Shea -I generally say my prayers at the fire side (laughter)
Mr. Whelan - Do you go to church or chapel?
Shea - I you qualify me to go to either place, I'll go, but I suppose a man
coming in here will be allowed the liberty of conscience (laughter)
Colonel Bruen - Were you ever in church?
Shea -I was and in chapel too. (loud laughter)
Shea being considered a fit object, he was accordingly admitted.
The applications were not numerous, and there were only fourteen admitted.
Wardens were appointed in January 1845 for the purpose of enquiry into claims
for admission to the work house. In July Rev. Thomas Tyrrell was appointed
Catholic Chaplin with Rev Joseph Jameson. Protestant Chaplin and George Wilson
was appointed Revisor Valuator in September. The population of the workhouse
that month was 259, with average expense of each inmate being one shilling and
nine pence per week.
Also in the Month of September the undermentioned rate was struck in respect
of financial year September 1845 to September 1846.
The Guardians of the Poor were not long in existence when Parliament began to
extend their functions beyond Poor Relief. In 1846 they were required to
provide and equip hospitals and dispensaries for the sick poor. By the end of
the year widespread hunger resulted in bread and soup depositories being
opened at Chapel Lane and Cox's Lane by the Carlow Relief Committee. Relief
Committees were constituted by the Lord Lieutenant in electoral Divisions of a
Union under an Act for Temporary Relief of the Destitute Poor (10 Vic.c.7)
Soup Kitchens were established throughout the Union and many people sought
admittance to the Workhouse. The Workhouse soon became overcrowded and the
Guardians provided temporary sheds at the rear of the building which housed
250 additional inmates. Fever which began to make its appearance in January
1847 increased to an alarming extent; with the County Fever Hospital soon full
to capacity and 200 inmates under medical treatment in the workhouse.
In April, I 847 the Guardians rented a Malt House, Property of Simon Clarke in
Mill Lane as an extension of the workhouse for use as a temporary measure for
their fever patients. This Building some time later became a recovery hospital
for patients removed from the Fever Hospital. Inmates from the workhouse were
also housed in the Building.
The following Month a Fever Hospital (Mill Lane) was established in extensive
property adjoining the River Barrow owned by Thomas Fitzsimons which could
accommodate up to 600 patients. While the Hospital was unconnected with the
workhouse, the Guardians paid the rent and earned out any repairs required.
Temporary Fever Hospitals were provided in Bagenalstown, Tullow,
Leighlinbridge, Doonane, Borris and Kiltennel and funded partly by private
subscription and grant out of the County Cess, with the Guardians giving
support when required. Relief Committees were responsible for procuring and
furnishing buildings as Fever Hospitals and appointing Nurses, Attendants etc.
However, from 1 October, 1847 the Boards of Guardians became responsible for
all costs and expenses relating to Fever Hospitals (10-Vie. C.22) and to a
large extent took charge by way of appointing staff seeking tenders for food
supply, and repairing these hospitals.
The impact and continuation of the famine accompanied by the appalling scale
of fever, resulting in gross overcrowding in workhouses, compelled the
Government to alter its attitude and introduce "The Poor Relief Extension Act,
1847" thereby enabling the Guardians to pay out-door relief to the poor. At a
Meeting of the 12th August the following relieving Officers were appointed by
the Guardians to administer the Act in the Carlow Union:-
In October the Master of the Workhouse reported that all the neighbouring
Churchyards were so overcrowded that the persons in charge utterly refused
permission to bury the Workhouse dead in them. The Guardians having failed to
procure any place to hire or purchase (although repeatedly advertised for)
agreed that the dead should be buried within the workhouse grounds.
At the meeting of January 1848 the following report was submitted to the
members of the Board by the medical Officer.
OUT-DOOR RELIEF - CARLOW UNION
No. of individuals receiving out-door relief, and chargeable to the Carlow
Union, up to Friday, the 7th January, 1848, viz:
Prior to the March Election of 1848, Ex-Officio Guardians were empowered to
increase their number to thirty, thereby forming half the complement of the
Board. The following is the list of those elected at the time. |
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