Ms Letter from J Murphy regarding donation of £5.00 from the Canon to help the Parish Council to purchase seeds.

Letter from Benjamin Bloomfield, New Ross, Co. Wexford to his brother-in-law, Thomas Ryder Pepper, describing his experience with the Crown forces during the Battle of New Ross (5 June 1798). Copied from the original by Georgiana Trench, his daughter, who mistakenly attributes it to the Battle of Vinegar Hill. Also includes typescript transcript.

Within the letter Benjamin describes the battle, 'They appeared as insensible of danger as if there really had not been the least, they were so desperate as to march up in the face of my gun several times, tho' I was supported by strong detachments of Infantry.' He also discusses his sadness at being separated from his wife Harriet.

Letter from Gay White , Lissiniskey, Nenagh dated 13 July 1922. The letter describes Gay experience during the Irish Civil War.

'My dear Tom,
Yours of the 10th to hand. I think since the 29th of June we have had no post here. Dreadful things have happened since I wrote you April 25th. I left Rathurbet April 30th & went to Ballygibbon. On May 15th a body of men took forcible possession of 30 acres of land there. They cut trees down, yet returned. We were left with 9 cows to milk, calves & all sorts of fowl, young & old to feed. Over 90 sheep & lambs to care, all the work of the house to do. Well we did it. The sheep were the great trouble, it was the time for them to be dipped, washed & shorn. They could not be dipped or washed but Betty, Lilla & David sheared all the sheep, but we lost a good many on account of the sheep not being dipped. They got full of maggots. It was dreadful. The cows were easily managed, we all milked them. I got quite good at it I did two night & morning. We just worked all day. On the night of June 14th we had dreadful raid starting about 2.30. The raiders smashed every window & the hall door first. We had collected in one room, they rushed into it. David & Betty were badly beaten by them with their clenched fists. Lilla was not so badly beaten & Poll only got one blow on her face, we were in a dark room most of the time, it was hell. I escaped without a blow. Over & over they held revolvers & shotguns at us & said they would shoot us. They did awful mischief in the house, breaking china & table glass, drank all whiskey & claret. They emptied every drawer out on the floor, Oh such a state - the dirty swine- they left the place in. They stole heaps of things, especially belongings, one thing was my dressing case.'

Letter from Professor H S Raper of the Department of Physiology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, to Doctor Francis William Lamb, notifying them that due to present crisis (England had just entered World War II), he and the Vice-Chancellor agree that a celebration is inappropriate, and suggests that instead they will simply provide the funds for him to pay for the silverware chosen as a parting gift from the Department of Physiology.

Photocopy of letter from William Perkinson, Croghan, to his brother-in-law, John Monaghan, Lanervase County, Michigan, US. Describes financial difficulties of the family, the fall in value of family home and the great distress suffered in the locality. "There is no wonder made of death here". He writes also of his hope to emigrate to America.

Photocopy of letter from William Perkinson, Croghan, to his John Monaghan urging him to inform Pat Devan that his brother Barney is anxiously awaiting confirmation that he is to be brought to America. Describes the destitution of the Croghan area as a result of the famine: 'This is an altered country. Since you left it there is not an old neighbour in Croughan but Martin Burke, Barney Devan and myself.. This country is almost waste. Such as was not able to go to America all died with hunger sooner than give up their places for they would not be taken into the poorhouse until they would give up their place. And that minute their house was thrown down. Others thrown down by the sheriff.'

Copies of approximately 1000 letters, averaging 1 per page. Some letters illegible due to fading. Contains many letters relating to ongoing sale of the Purdon Estate, Philipstown (Daingean) as well as letters relating to the Geashill Cattle Drive.
Includes letter to R. F. Barry, Esq., Crown Solicitor re The King v Adams and 45 others Geashill Case: 'I give you on annexed page particulars of the rail fare paid by the 45 defendants to take them to Kingsbridge for their trial in December last. There were 46 charged, but one, Thomas Hynes, was a prisoner and was conveyed up by the Authorities. Two witnesses were also brought up, namely, Father MacDonald and Dr. Barry of Philipstown, and both were examined. I also include their single fares. The accused and the witnesses had, of course, to be conveyed to Green Street, and I put £1 down for this though it would not probably nearly cover it as several of them took cars from the station. There can be no controversy however about the railway fares. I also give the figure of the return fares in case these are allowed. The parties had to come back, and as a matter of fact, were kept in Dublin two days; but I do not think these expenses are payable. I trust you will be able to kindly have whatever they are legally entitled to paid to them through me.' (29 March 1915)

Copies of approximately 1000 outgoing letters, averaging 1 per page. Good legibility.
Includes many references to the Tullamore 'affray' or Tullamore Incident, for example, letter to Tim M. Healy, M. P, House of Commons: '...I was immediately concerned with giving the facts in support of the point that the Competent Military Authority - Martial Law and the Defence of the Realm Regulations notwithstanding - noted without lawful authority in taking the prisoners out of Tullamore Gaol, that he has them illegally in his custody, and that the proposed trial by Court Martial will be illegal. ...It is entirely a case for a civil tribunal - for a jury; and on the evidence it is extremely unlikely that a jury anywhere would convict. It had not the most remote connection with the "Rising"; and to drag these men and boys before a Court of Military officers steeped in the atmosphere of the Insurrection and trotted out on the rebel stage a grave injustice - and is putting prisoners in serious danger.' (23 May 1916)

Letterbook created by Reginald Digby recording letters received from the tenants’ association on the Geashill Estate in relation to the sale of lands by Lord Digby to the tenants under the Land Act of 1903. Includes his copy replies to the secretaries of the association, James Matthews and John Corcoran, and later James Chissell. Also includes copy letters from solicitor to the estate, Lewis Goodbody, who advises on proceedings with the Land Commission and letters from Fr. O’Beirne PP, acting as an intermediary between the estate and the tenants.

Includes a memo of a meeting between Lord Digby and a deputation from the tenants’ association on 30 September 1907, and the decision arrived at by the tenants at a further meeting in the Forester’s Hall, Tullamore, on 2 January 1908 to reject the terms of sale put forward by Lord Digby due to his decision not to cancel the hanging gale and remit a half year’s rent as requested by the tenants.

Also includes later newspaper cuttings concerning unrest on the Estate at the decision to sell untenanted lands to three land owners rather than distributed to small holders and evicted tenants. Cuttings also refer to the Geashill Cattle Drive of November 1914 and the subsequent court martial with James Rogers representing the forty-six arrested. Includes transcripts of James Rogers’ cross-examination of County Inspector Hubert William Crane. Also includes a loose printed catalogue of the auction of Geashill Castle’s contents to be held 22 March 1922.