The document published below has recently
come to light among the Newenham family papers at Coolmore, Co. Cork
and is reproduced by kind permission of Capt. W. P. Worth Newenham.
It may be of some interest to readers for several reasons.
The spectacular expansion of Irish
population in the three generations before the Great Famine remains
an obscure phenomenon and is badly documented except in its final
phases. Generally speaking, before 1821 the only regional population
data that survive are a miscellaneous series of house returns in
county aggregates —from the records of the somewhat unreliable
hearth-money collectors—and (for some dioceses) headcounts of
Protestants and Catholics in 1766. However in a few particular cases
more detailed censuses were done, for an estate or for a parish,
which gave house numbers and population. The Tullow census is in
this category. It is an imperfect document being, in letter-form,
the second instalment only of an account of the number of houses,
the number of separate occupations and the total number of
inhabitants in the parish, under Catholic and Protestant headings.
The Protestant part is complete, and
although the number of Catholic householders is given and some of
the range of occupations, yet the important details of the total
Catholic population is in the missing first letter. The census has
also another drawback: it is given as a return of the parish of
Tullow, but by comparing this return with the 1821 census there
seems no doubt that it is referring to the Catholic, not the civil
parish. According to Samuel Lewis1
the Catholic parish took in the civil parish of Tankardstown as well
as parts of Ardristan, Pubbledrum and Urglin. Thus the extent to
which the number of houses changed between 1795 and 1821 cannot be
elucidated, for the primary unit used in the latter was the civil
parish. The more detailed 1841 census gives house numbers on a
townland basis so if it were possible to identify the townland
boundaries of the old Catholic parish, then a correlation between
1795 and 1841 would be possible.
In spite of this the demographic interest
of the census is considerable, for the occupational detail is
exceptional and even the occupational returns included in the 1931
census are less explicit. In the Catholic list all the householders
described are craftsmen, dealers, manufacturers or servants, and
even if all the other Catholic householders on the missing part of
the list were farmers, gentry and labourers, there is enough to
suggest that Tullow was already a market town of some importance;
between the Protestant list and the Catholic halflist there
are over 300 occupations of a non-agricultural nature, most of which
would have been urban based. But much more striking in these lists
is the degree of specialization implied: coblers, shoemakers (an
occupation dominated by Protestants) and brogue makers (who were
exclusively Catholic) were all distinct, as were pig jobbers from
frieze mongers, tanners from skinners and so on. Labourers were
separated from cottagers and put into three divisions (the lone
fiddler being —no doubt a part-time member—of the third class).
The
existence of Protestants at this level of society is a reminder of a
forgotten aspect of eighteenth and nineteenth century Ireland, 'the
poor Protestant'. This break-down of economic functions by religion
is one of the most unusual features of the census. The significance
of many of the distinctions made is now obscure but their appearance
is a reflection of the rapidly expanding economy of the region at
the end of the eighteenth century.
The second feature of interest in
this census is its author and his comments interleaved with it.
Danial Delany had been Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Kildare
and Leighlin since 1785 and had a dynamic and original approach to
his pastoral duties. His religious and educational achievements are
best known but they too reflected his interest, demonstrated here,
in the minutiae—and therefore the needs—of local society: for
instance his Order, the Brothers of St. Patrick, founded in 1808 was
designed to support itself on comb-making, implement manufacture and
agriculture labour,2 (The combs were presumably for wool;
the census records twenty-six weavers, and bay-yarn spinning—the
female occupation and therefore unrecorded here—was probably even
more important).
The final question is how this
document reached the Newenham archives in Co. Cork. The most likely
explanation is that Archbishop Troy supplied it at a later date to
Thomas Newenham, the political economist and supporter of Catholic
emancipation, when he was gathering evidence for his Statistical and
Historical Enquiry into the Progress of the Population of Ireland
(London, 1805). Newenham sought the help of a number of Catholic
prelates and priests to obtain sample returns of population to
support his argument that the contemporary estimates of the total
population of Ireland were seriously inaccurate, exaggerating the
Protestant proportion and underestimating the aggregate. How far
Bishop Delany's work aided him in this is unknown but the bishop
would hardly have objected to the use to which it was being put,
- 1 -
S. Lewis, Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (London,
1837), entry under 'Tullow'.
- 2 -
Rev. P. J. Brophy, D.D., 'Teachers in Tullow' in Carloviana
vol. i, no. 7.
List of Roman Catholic Inhabitants
etc. of the Parish of Tullow continued from my list
Brought over—608.
Ale, Porter & Spirit Sellers of
the most inferior class, 19; Weavers, 22; Broguemakers, 14; Smiths
(Black), 14; Taylors, 14; Carpenters, 14; Masons & Stone Cutters,
10; Shepherds & Herds, 10; Shoemakers, 8; Butchers, 8; Pig Jobbers,
6; Hawkers, 4; Mealmongers, 3; Prize-mongers, 3; Bakers, 3;
Felthatters, 3; Journeymen Hosiers, 3; Publicans, 3; Tythe Proctors,
3; Leather Cutters, 2; Gardiners, 2; Stewards, 2; Horse riders, 2;
Tinkers, 2; Coblers, 2; School Masters, 4; School Mistresses, 3;
Shop Keepers, 2; Mantua Makers, 2; Wheelwright & Turners, 2;
Barbers, 2; Chandler, 1; Tanner, 1; Brewer, 1; Stay Maker, 1;
Slator, 1; Lace Maker, 1; Sadler, 1; Servant, 1; Bailiff, 1;
Huntsman, 1; Skin Jobber, 1 Tollgatherer, 1; Wood Ranger, 1; Fidler
& also common labourer of the 3rd class, 1.
Eminent ones:
Skinners, 6; Coopers, 6; Millers,
4; Malsters, 4; Huxters—or little nondescript, stationary dealers in
a 1000 nameless trifling articles, 18; Combmakers, 3; Tythe Farmer*,
1; Feather Monger, 1.
- Total 248.
- Brought Over 608.
GRAND TOTAL, 856.
(*Tis true, the former did not
personally reside at the Time in the Parish, but his wife and
children did; and he himself (p. 2) now also does. He was confined
in the Marshalsea for Debt.).
I assure you, my lord, that the
final completion of the lists on the other side has been to me an
Herculean Labour—odd as it may appear to you, believe me, that it
has been the work of not less than between 6 & 7 Hours most intense
application, almost ever since I finished my former Letter to you
before I could get matters perfectly to right & quite, as it now is,
to my satisfaction & 20, 30 Times have I gone over the entire lists
& scribbled over not less than 5 sheets of Paper for the attainment
of this End, getting every Time embarrased by fresh Difficulties,
the commission of new mistakes & omissions &c. What a Capital Clerk
I'd make. But when I began once,
I was resolved obstinately resolved
to go thro' with the Business, whatever it should cost, & however
little interesting & after all unimportant the result might
eventually prove. But I am got quite stupid & it is, moreover, very
late, so that I must necessarily postpone the Execution of the
Protestant Lists, & my promised Definitions, till tomorrow —Adieu—I
wish your Grace a good night.
Friday Morn. On sitting down
yesterday to write I was called away by express to see poor Mr.
Blanchfield, who lies dangerously ill from a Complaint in his
Bowels. I now resume the Pen & ere I proceed to the Pt. List must
observe, that on a most careful & diligent enumeration of the Houses
and revision of all the original lists (by my self) I have detected
2 Errors in my former return viz; a statement of the entire Number
of (p.3) Houses to be 1112—854 C.th & 158 Pt Do whereas the whole is
in reality but 1009 & the Proportion 856 C.th to Pt Habitations.
List of the Protestant &c
Inhabitants &c &c &c of the Parish of Tullow, taken in the year
1795:
Clergyman (a Curate), 1; Landed
Proprietors, 5; Farmers, 27; Cottagers, 24; Labourers of the 1st
Class, 3; Do. of the 2nd Division, 6; Do. of the 3rd Do., 1; Shoe
Makers, 14; Journeymen Hosiers, 10; Carpenters, 4; Weavers, 4;
Slaters, 3; Masons, 2; Grocers, 2; Tanners, 2; Schoolmasters, 2;
Chandler, 1; Apothecary, 1; Watchmaker, 1; Postmaster, 1; Guager, 1;
Sexton, 1; Ale Sellers, 3; Tythe Farmer, 1; Brewer (Family Quakers),
1; Huxters, 2 ;Butchers (one a Quaker), 2; Clerks (one a Quaker), 2;
Leather Cutters, 2; Seedman, 1; White Smith 1; Black Smith, 1;
Turner, 1; Currier, 1; Lace Maker, 1;
Glazier, 1; Sadler, 1; Steward, 1; Tailor, 1; Nailor, 1; Huntsman, 1
Wws. Freehold Interest, 2; Cy. Keepers, 2; Naggin Maker, 1; Pig
Jobber, 1; Cooper, 1; Malster, 1; Welder, 1; Paupers, 3.
153 Protestant & Quaker Houses in the
whole Parish containing a Population of 428 Pr: males, 393 Do
Females, 4 Qt males, 5 Do Females, Total 830 .. Without taking any
praise to myself on ye occasion, or meaning to derive any great
merit from it, I cannot help again repeating here, that I have
really taken since last Monday, at different Intervals, incredible
Pains & employed more Time than you can well imagine in ascertaining
with ye greatest exactness possible every the minutest Particular
returned in these Lists. Convinced I am that ye Statement would in
every Point stand the strictest Scrutiny. Would to God I were ye
hundreth part so scrupulous in ye punctual & faithful Discharge of
other Duties of a far other nature & more important moment. When for
Instance shall I set about making a report of the State of my
Diocese. Well, well, when I once commence the work, I hope I shall
spare no Pains or Time in using my best Endeavours to bring it to a
proper conclusion like the present Business. I remain your grace's
ever ...
D. Delany.
Most Revd. Doctor Troy, DUBLIN.
