HISTORY

Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)

Workmen's Accounts to 12th Sept 1868

Source: Sue Clement

Workmen's Account Book
Eustace Estate, Castlemore, Co. Carlow
Transcribed and submitted by Sue Clement

 My dear old friend, Willie Hosey, who lives in Castlemore, shares my passion for the history of the townland and the Eustace estate there. He knew my Cummins relatives who lived there, and of course, knows my dear cousin, Paddy Aughney, who lives on the Cummins farm now. Willie found a copy of this page from the Eustace estate account book, and was thrilled to present me with a copy, knowing that I would treasure it as a piece of my family history. He offered me no source of the document and so I did not ask, as I am confident that if there is more to be had, he will get it for me.

This account covers a two week period ending Sept 19, 1868. It is two facing ledger pages and lists the names of the workers, what jobs they performed during that time and what they were paid. The Owen Cummins listed is my gr-gr-gr-grandfather and Pat Cummins was his nephew. I suspect that this was the crew under one foreman, perhaps just in the area of the "big house" and was likely not the entire work force of the estate. My grandfather Owen and nephew Pat were carpenters by trade and this was the work they performed for the Eustaces.

The pages are hand-written in a script that was a bit difficult to decipher. I had to research some of the historic farming terms, and so I offer a mini-glossary for others who may need some assistance in this area as well.

thatching oats - Using oat stalks to create roofing for a building
scutch - A tuft or clump of grass
haggart - A rick where corn or other grains were stored
out with dogs - The Eustaces were renowned Masters of the Hunt in Carlow, and bred their own foxhounds, still today known as Castlemore Hounds

Workmen's Accounts to 12th Sept 1868
              Days worked this week            
NAMES MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Wages per day Total Value of the Week's Work Observations
  How Employed How Employed How Employed How Employed How Employed How Employed s. d.   £ s. d.  
Mick Deegan in stable in stable in stable in stable in stable in stable 6 1 2   7    
Tim Deegan in yard in yard in yard in yard in yard in yard 6 1 2   7    
Edward Dempsey out with dogs out with dogs picking scutch at Haggart stack in Barn thatching Oats 6 1 2   7   10th September
Jas Nolan / / / / Ploughing Lower Ploughing Lower do Ploughing 4 1 4   5 4 Ram bought from
Tom Gahan Harrowing Lower Harrowing Lower draining off scutch change straw out of Haggart putting in Oats [?Leating] 6 1 2   7   Donne at £6 to 51 Ewes
Jas Gahan Thatching oats Thatching oats Thatching oats at Haggart stack 1/2 do in Haggart 5 1/2 1 2   6 5  
Mick Flynn do do do do do thatching Oats 6 1 2   7    
Pat Byrne With Mason With Smith With Mason With Mason With Mason With Mason 6 1 2   7    
Murphy  / /  / / With Smith With Smith With Smith With Smith 4 1 2   4 8  
Pat Cummins  / / at Mary Poor house  / / at study at store room at Mary Poor 4 3 8   14 8  
Owen Cummins  / / do  / / do Making bar for Garden do 4 2 6   10    
Tom Farrall at New stable  / / at New stable New stable New Stable do 5 3     15    
R Smith at study at study at study study at store room study 6 3 4 1  ' '   ' '   
[?Kely] Gahan Weeding Weeding picking scutch Haggart stack putting in Oats in Haggart 6   6   3    
Ellen Potts attending Thatcher attending Thatcher do do With Gardener With Gardener 6   6   3    
Byrne Minding Cows Minding Cows Minding Cows Minding Cows Minding Cows Minding Cows 6   6   3    
Byrne Weeding Weeding picking scutch at study With Gardener With Gardener 6   6   3    
                    6 10 1  
            Gardener's Mother         3    
                    6 13 1 Sept 12th 1868 [initialled ?TH]
                           
Mick Deegan in stable in stable in stable  / / in stable in stable 5 1 2   5 10  
Tim Deegan in Yard in Yard to Race in Yard in yard in yard 6 1 2   7    
Edward Dempsey Thatching Oats Thatching Oats Thatching Oats out With dogs out With dogs in Barn 6 1 2   7    
Jas Nolan Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing do 6 1 2   8   Sept 14 Sold 11
Tom Gahan  / /  / /  / / With Smith With Smith do 3 1 2   3 6 Bantams
Jas Gahan With Gardener With Gardener  / / With Gardener With Gardener do 5 1 2   5 10  
Mick Flynn Thatching Oats Thatching Oats  / / Thatching Oats in Yard do 5 1 2   5 10  
Pat Byrne With Mason With Mason  / / With Mason With Mason With Mason 6 1 2   7    
Owen Cummins Mary Poor Mary Poor painting porch at House painting at House painting at Mary Poors 6 2 6   15    
Tom Farrall New Stable  / /  / / [?Hotled] Garden [?Hotled] Garden at [?sh---] 4 3     12    
R Smith Mary Poors New Stable  / / at New Stable at New Stable Mary Poors 5 3 4   16 8  
[?Kely] Gahan With Gardener With Gardener  / / With Gardener Weeding turnips in Barn 5   6   2 6  
Ellen Potts Attending Thatcher Attending Thatcher  / / do do do 5   6   2 6  
Byrne Minding Cows Minding Cows Minding Pigs Minding Pigs Minding Pigs Minding Pigs 6   6   3    
Byrne picking scutch picking scutch  / / Weeding Weeding turnips in Barn 5   6   3    
Pat Cummins Mary Poors Mary Poor  / / Mary Poors Mary Poor Mary Poors 5 3 8   18 4  
                    6 3  ' '  
            Gardener's Mother         3    
                    6 6    
            Owen Cummins adjustment       10   Paid 19 Sept 68
                    5 16    

Source: Sue Clement c.2010

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