From Pat Purcell Papers.
1801.
Surnames mentioned: Nowlan, Kelly, Barrett, Lannon & Kilwarden.
[Note
added by Michael Purcell 2011.
This Statement is signed by "Kilwarden" -
Viscount Lord Kilwarden (Arthur Wolfe from Naas, a Kildare man) he
served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland.
He was piked to death by followers of Robert
Emmet on Thomas Street, Dublin on 23rd July during the failed Rising of
1803.
He was travelling in a coach with his
daughter, Marianne and his nephew, Rev. Henry Wolfe, when their coach
was attacked by some of Emmet's group.
Lord Kilwarden put his head out through the
coach window and shouted:-
"It is I, Kilwarden, The Lord Chief Justice
of the King's Bench"
The rebels could not believe their luck and
dragged him from the coach.
Lord Kilwarden was piked, he lived a short
while, some soldiers came to his rescue, he died shortly after.
His last words were "murder must be punished
~ but let no man suffer for my death, but on a fair trial, and by the
laws of this country".
His nephew was piked to death during the
attack; his daughter was saved by a local man who brought her into his
house on Thomas Street.
In 1798 Lord Kilwarden made representation to
have Wolfe Tone's life spared, it was rumoured at the time that Wolfe
Tone was the illegitimate son of Lord Kilwarden.
Lord Kilwarden acted as Judge at Carlow Court
House on many occasions.
A similar Statement to the one below states
that Martin Kelly is also suffering from a "dangerous fever" and unable
to attend at the same murder trial.]
STATEMENT 1801.
Anastatia Barrett maketh Oath and Saith that
she this day saw James Nowlan of Liselican in the County of Carlow at
his house and that he was in his bed extremely sick of a dangerous fever
according to the best of her skill, knowledge and belief - That she has
been informed and verily believes that James Nowlan is a very material
witness on the trial of James Lannon and Margaret Kelly for the murder
of Patrick Kelly late of Laselican and that it is impossible for James
Nowlan to attend at this present Assizes without imminent danger of his
life.
- (signed) Anastatia, her, X mark, Barrett ~~
- Truly read by me to the said Anastatia Barret
(signed) John Corcoran.
- Sworn before the Court this 21st July 1801. ~
(signed) Kilwarden.
Surnames: Conron & Byrne.
From Pat Purcell Papers.
1801.
James Byrne of Portrishin, Farmer, in the
Parish of Kiltegan in the Barony of Rathvilly, Carlow, to attend
open Court at Tullow and ordered to keep the peace and forbear from
injuring Michael Toole, his family or property.
Bondsman, Thomas Conron.
Thomas Conron maketh oath that he usually
resides at Borkfil in the parish of Kiltegan the Barony of
Talbotstown as he believes in the County of Wicklow and that he is
worth ten pounds Sterling.
- (signed) Thomas, his X mark, Conron.
- Sworn before Edward Whitty February 27th
1801.
- Documents transcribed and provided by kind permission of
Michael Purcell - 2012.
Highway Robbery, 1801
Thursday night last, the Cork mail coach, on
its way to Dublin, was attacked about two miles on this side of
Carlow, by a band of nearly forty robbers, well armed; the efcort of
dragoons and the guard attending the mail, returned feveral rounds
of piftols and musketry; but at length, the cavalry having exhaufted
their ammunition witihout effect, the greater number of the robbers
firing from behind the walls of Mr. Bruen's demesne, they were
obliged to retreat to Carlow, and the coach and paffengers were left
at the mercy of the robbers, who contented themfelves with
plundering every thing they could lay their hands upon, and made
off.
The Times of London, March 12th, 1801, p. 3.
Source: Turtle Bunbury April 2012
Names: Ryan, Clowry, Curran, Hayden, Saunders. Bigley & Burton.
From Pat Purcell Papers.
1801.
The Examination of Mary Ryan of the
Barrack Street in Town of Carlow taken before Sir Charles Burton,
Bart, having being first duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelists Saith
that on the 2nd day of January 1801 she was walking down Tullow
Street in the Town of Carlow about her lawful doings when James
Clowry, Leather Dealer, of Pollerton stood in her path and without
any provocation called her a robber and proclaimed that her father
Michael Ryan, Huxter, of Barrack Street was also a robber.
James
Clowry demanded of Mary Ryan in a most menacing manner that the
Twenty Guineas paid to Michael Ryan for the hand in marriage
of the said Mary Ryan should be
returned to him forthwith saying that he would not have a common
Whore of Scandalous reputation for the mother of his children, James
Clowry continued such provocative Language forcing Mary Ryan to seek
protection in the cellar of Margaret Curran, Bonnet Maker, at Tullow
Street.
James Clowry remained on the publick road loudly proclaiming
in the most dreadful and abusive language directed at Mary Ryan so
that all assembled in the street could hear.
The aforesaid Margaret
Curran with the aid of a grate pincher flung a hot coal in his
direction to compel him to withdraw James Clowry kicked the coal
through the window breaking the glass and could if he had his evil
desire have the House of Patrick Saunders, Tullow Street. consumed
by fire,
saying he would consume the house
with fire and rid the Town of the two Whores within.
Mary Ryan was forced to climb out through
a low window and seek protection in the house of big Daniel Hayden,
Smith,
Bridewell Lane, having tore her
Petticoat and lost her shoe in the escape, from where in the dark of
night she was escorted by Daniel Hayden son of big Dan and Bridget
Bigley to her fathers house in Barrack Street and further Saith that
she (Mary Ryan) is now afraid of been confronted in the Publick
Streets or on the Kings Highway by James Clowry intent on
accomplishing his evil design on her and she is prevented from going
about her Lawful doings in the Town of Carlow and further Saith that
she had no knowledge of her father having made a marriage settlement
on her with the aforesaid James Clowry and would have no objection
to such an arrangement if she had and Mary Ryan further Saith that
she has no knowledge of the purpose of James Clowry in calling her a
Whore and further Saith naught~~.
Mary Ryan
now in her eighteenth year craves for the Protection of the
Magistrates.
- (signed)
Mary, her X mark, Ryan,
- having
first being read to her by Michael Whitmore,
- Sworn
before me this 6th day of June, 1801. Charles Burton.
From Michael Purcell & Transcribed by Friend of Carlow
2012.