Handcock chapter notes

Appendices.

Appendix A.

In Memoriam - William Domville Handcock, M.A.

William Domville Handcock was the eldest son of William Elias Handcock, and was descended from William Handcock, who came to Ireland with Cromwell’s army, and settled at Twyford in the County Westmeath. He was born on the 2nd September, 1830, and having been educated at Nutgrove School, Rathfarnham, and at Trinity College, Dublin, took his degree in 1852. He studied law for some years, and was admitted a solicitor. Afterwards he relinquished the practice of his profession, and became Dublin agent, with offices at 52 Dame Street, of the Scottish Union Life Insurance Company, the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company, and the Foreign Passport Office. He married on the 5th of June, 1862, Ellen Olivier, eldest daughter of Major Thomas Slator Rooke, of the 12th Madras Light Infantry.

As a magistrate for the County Dublin, Mr. Handcock constantly presided on the Tallaght Petty Sessions bench, of which he was a much-valued member. He was also a Guardian of the South Dublin Union, and a frequent attendant at the meetings of that board. For many years he was an active supporter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In every kind of charitable work be took a real and practical interest, and his memory will not soon be forgotten. He was beloved by all who knew him; and the death, which occurred on June 5th, 1887, of one so philanthropic in character was a loss to many besides his family and friends.

Appendix B.

Restoration of St. Maelruain’s Church.

The church of Tallaght was in 1891 restored, and re-opened for Divine Service on November 3rd in that year, by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev. Lord Plunket. It has been re-pewed. with a wide centre and two side aisles, and the chancel has been raised, panelled with oak, and furnished with choir seats. A handsome carved oak pulpit has been presented. It bears the following inscription:- “Erected by his parishioners and friends in memory of the late Rev. William Robinson, A.M., for 57 years vicar of this parish. Died November, 1887.” The prayer-desk is also of oak. It is inscribed - “In memory of William Domville Handcock, of Sally Park. He entered into rest, June 5th, 1887. Erected by his sorrowing widow and the members of his family.” Two painted windows have been placed in the chancel. One, representing “The Sower,” has inscribed on it - “To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of the Rev. William Robinson. Born 14th Nov., 1803. Died 9th Nov., 1887. Erected by his children.” The other, representing “The Reapers.” bears the words - “Gather the wheat into my barn,” and was erected, as an inscription below records, “To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of Dorothea, wife of Rev. William Robinson, and Mira and Mary Rebecca, their daughters.” A reredos of beautiful workmanship has also been presented. On a brass plate below the Communion rails is the following inscription:- “To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of Evory Kennedy, of Belgard, and Alicia, his wife. This reredos was erected by their children and grandchildren.” A stand for the Communion Table has been given “In memoriam, M. R., 1887,” and a Bible for the lecturn is the gift of Mrs. John Handcock Scott. The total cost of the improvements, which included a new heating apparatus, an American organ, and tesselated pavement. amounted to nearly £1,000.

Appendix C.

Mural Tablets in St. Maelruain’s Church. *

East End.*

1. Right-hand side.

“Sacred to the memory of Eliza Clancy, who, after a short illness died on the 8th of January, 1867. Aged 67. She was relict of the late John Clancy, Esq., of Kilnamanagh, in this parish, and daughter of the late Rev. William Whiteside. She was fair in person, affectionate, generous, and sincerely loved by all who knew her. In her latter years she was sorely tried by the death of seven children; but with pious resignation she looks forward to a glorious reunion, through God her Saviour. Her body lies in the family vault, near the western wall of this church. This tablet is erected as a tribute of the warm affection of her sole surviving and sorrowing brother, Chief Justice Whiteside.”

2. Left-hand side.

“They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.”

“To the deeply loved and honoured memory of Edmond Chomley Farran, who died at Halliford, Middlesex, on Sunday, the 25 Sept., 1881. Aged 34 years.”

“We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” Acts xv. II.

“Till death us join.”

3. Left-hand side.

“To the memory of the Rev. Edward Ryan, D.D., Rector of Donoughmore, in the County of Wicklow, and of St. Luke’s, in the City of Dublin. A pious and learned divine. Author of several theological works. He left £500 for the benefit of the poor of his parishes. He died in October, 1818, in the 74th year of his age. This tablet was erected by his nephew, Daniel P. Ryan, Esq., J.P., of Knocklyon, in this parish.” *

West End.*

1. Right-hand side.

“Sacred to the memory of Matthew Handcock, late of Sally Park, County of Dublin, Esquire. He was appointed Deputy Muster Master-General to his Majesty’s Forces in Ireland, in the year 1772** **which employment he held for a period of 50 years, and until the duties of that department were transferred to the English establishment. His talents and services were justly estimated and remunerated on the reduction of the office. He married in the year 1778, Margaret, daughter of John Butler, Esquire, late first clerk in the office of the Secretary for the Civil Department in Ireland by whom he had 14 children. By judicious and honourable economy, he was enabled to gratify the affectionate and benevolent disposition of his heart towards his numerous relatives, and to provide for his immediate family.

“This tablet was erected by his widow and children as a memorial of their love. Decessit 2d0 Augusti, A.D. 1824. Deservedly lamented, Margaret, his widow, died 20th March, 1827.*** ***Aged 66.”

2. Left-hand side.

“In the Family Vault near this lyeth the remains of Margaret M., the dearly loved and affectionate daughter of John and Elizabeth Robinson; who departed this life, April 5th, 1869. Also John Robinson of Kiltalown, Esq. Died October 11th, 1872, aged 71. Also Elizabeth, his wife. Died June 25th, 1879. “‘For ever with the Lord.’”

3. “In memory of Sir Timothy Allen, Knight, late one of the Aldermen of the City of Dublin. His remains are interred near this place. He died 15 December, 1771. Aged 62 years. His affectionate wife, Lady Jane Allen, caused this tablet to be erected. Also near this place lies interred the body of Miss Elizabeth Isaac.”

Appendix D.

Antiquities.

Cist Found In 1898.

Mr. George Coffey has kindly supplied the following description of the cist, or sepulchral chamber, discovered in a gravel-pit at Greenhills in the summer of 1898

“A cist, measuring about 21 ft. by 2 x 2, containing a large burial-urn of hand-made pottery, inverted, and beside it a smaller vessel, upright, was found about 21 ft. below the surface. The larger urn, when raised, was found to cover cremated bones, among which was a small urn. Dimensions of urns:*- (a) *12 in. in height; diameter, 10H at mouth; 4 in. at base. (b) 71 in. by *61 *and 3 and three eighths. *(c) *37 by 3 and five eighths by 1 and 3 sixteenths.

A few days later a second interment was found, close to the surface, consisting of a cinerary urn, inverted, over cremated bones-No other urns were with this interment, and it was not in a cist; only a few small flags being placed at the sides. The urn was crushed into fragments, owning to their being no protecting stone over it. The cist and urns first mentioned were removed to the National Museum, and have been set up as found. Their date is about 500 B.C.

A full account will, I believe, be published in the *Proceedings of the R. I. A. *

Cinerary Urns Found At Tallaght.

to the *Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, *vol ii, p.400 (1892), Mr. T. H. Longfield has a drawing of a beautifully decorated cinerary urn which was found on the east side of a hill between Tymon Castle and Greenhills.

The urn was in fragments when found. Its height is 1 foot 1 inch its greatest diameter, 101 inches; diameter at mouth, 8H inches; and at base, 41 inches. With it was found a smaller urn or food vessel, a large human skull and arm-bones, and two flint scrapers.

Urn Found at Kiltalown.

In the National Museum is an urn, and fragment of a larger one found in 1848 in the townland of Kiltalown, near the top of the ridge of Tallaght Hill.

No. 93 is a perfect and highly decorated bowl-shaped vessel, probably a food-holder. The ornamentation consists of vertical, horizontal, and wavy lines, with broad fillets intervening, and enriched with impressed markings of a toothed tool; a star and five points on base. Height. three and five eights in.; diameter of mouth, 5 in. base, 2H in,

No. 94. The fragment of urn is ornamented with impressed cord-markings.

Raths.

On the Ordnance Survey map several raths and mounds are marked in this district. Of them Mr. W. P. Briley has given an interesting description, from which most of the following information has been taken;- Raheen Dhu is a large rath with three trenches, and measures 306 feet in circumference; its name is evidently a corruption of Rathin Dubh, from the furze which grows thick and black around it. The country people believe it to be a haunt of the fairies, and say that a house springs up in the middle of the rath, lights stream from the windows, and music is heard all night long. On the top of Cruach Slinn there is a mound, also one behind Mount Seskin House. At Knockanvea is a burial-place ; and at Lugmore there is a burial-chamber in the ground, measuring 3 ft. by 2 ft., faced with four stones; its lid, 7 ft. by 5 ft., lies near. It is locally reported that it was discovered by two men, who, on account of a dream one of them had when in Belfast, came to look for treasure. While these men went for help to remove the covering stone, some of the natives raised it, and when the men returned they found only two empty vases. In the neighbourhood it is still firmly believed that these vases were filled with gold, and the place is called the “Treasure Chamber.” Probably the vases were some of the cinerary urns already mentioned. At Knockanvinedee there is also a chamber, surrounded by a circle of stones; at Rathin Bank is a mound Eugene O’Curry, in his *Ordnance Survey Letters, *calls it an open cairn, and says the Long Stone (Gallan) which Mr. Dix has described, was then standing in a potato field. Much of the stone must be under the surface, as it was higher 60 years ago than it is at present. Near the source of the Dodder is a stone like the top of a cromlech, locally known as the “Shed Stone,” having a hollow underneath, one end being much thicker than the other, and supported by a small stone. On the slopes of Glassamucky are several small circles of stones, and the remains of a rath.

Appendix E.

Speaker Conolly

William Conolly, who rose to be “the first gentleman” in this kingdom, was a self-made man. His father was an innkeeper in the North of Ireland, probably in the County Donegal, where there was then a strong colony of his name. He was born in 1662. Of his education nothing is known; but the profession which he adopted was that of an attorney. He took the Williamite side in the struggle between William and James, and probably served under Sir Albert Conyngham, ancestor of the Marquis of Conyngham, whose daughter he married. Sir Albert, who had such power in Donegal as to prevent members being elected to James’s Parliament from it, lost his life while fighting for King William near Sligo.

Conolly was returned to King William’s first Parliament as member for the Borough or Donegal. Shortly after the opening of the Session he was appointed solicitor to the Duke of Ormonde, through the influence of John Ellis, a collateral ancestor of the Agar Ellis family, who was an attached friend of the Ormondes, and held office under several Governments. On the accession of Queen Anne, Conolly was returned as Knight of the Shire for the County of Londonderry, which he continued to represent until his death. He was probably opposed, for he was then, as at subsequent elections, returned also for the pocket-borough of New town Limavady, where he had become possessed of a large estate.

He had amassed a great fortune, and owned property in Donegal, as well as in Londonderry, which remained in the possession of the Conollys until recently. In December, 1709, he was appointed a Revenue Commissioner but in the following September was removed from that office. Swift says that he paid Lord Wharton, the Lord Lieutenant, £3,000 for the appointment; and adds, “So Conolly has made one ill bargain in his life.”

In the General Election shortly before the death of Queen Anne, Joshua Dawson, Permanent Secretary at Dublin Castle, contested the County of Londonderry. His opposition was directed against Conolly’s colleague in the representation, Hercules Rowley, ancestor of the Lords Langford. Conolly, at an entertainment which he gave to the voters, “behaved himself very modestly,” and did not say one word in favour of Rowley; but Dawson’s agent had a shrewd suspicion that he was working for him privately. This subsequent events confirmed, and Conolly and Rowley joined forces as the election drew near. Dawson was defeated. The members’ expenses were reported to have amounted to £400 - a great contrast to modem election bills, but then thought an incredible sum. Dawson’s expenses were some £90.

The burning question of that day was the succession to the Crown. Conolly, who was at the head of the country interest, as it was called, warmly espoused the cause of the Protestant succession, and was in constant communication with the Hanoverian advisers. On the accession of George I, his position was all-powerful. On the one hand, he had the support of the king and of his English Government; on the other, he had gained, by his policy and generous way of living, a great following amongst his own country-men. Thus, when the Speakership fell vacant, on the promotion of Brodrick to the Chancellorship, Condly was unanimously chosen to take his place.

He was at the same time reinstated as a Revenue Commissioner. When the Lord Lieutenant was about to return to England, Conolly’s reputation with the English Government led to his being named as one of the Lords Justices. His appointment gave great offence “to the quality and old gentry,” on account of his antecedents. He had also no easy task in succeeding Brodrick in the Speaker’s chair, and the impression formed of him during his first Session was that he was unequal to the position.

Soon, however, he raised himself in general estimation. His great wealth was, no doubt, a strong bribe for public favour. His contemporary, Bishop Nicolson, says that his income was one of £12,000 or £13,000 a year; and adds that it was the most valuable which had been raised within memory in Ireland. In political influence he was without rival, and was commonly known as “the great man of the North.”

The action of the Duke of Grafton about the famous copper coinage was mainly taken on Conolly’s advice; and Swift, in the first of *The Drapier Pamphlets, *gives him a sly hit by pointing out that if the halfpence were allowed to circulate, it would require 250 horses to bring the half-yearly rental of Squire Conolly to Dublin. He purchased, about the end of the 17th century, the estate of Castletown, near Celbridge ; and there he built, about the year 1725, the palatial residence which remains a monument to the magnificence and lavishness of his disposition.

On the assembling of the first Parliament of George II, he was again unanimously elected Speaker, but was almost immediately afterwards attacked with serious illness. His condition left no hope of his recovery. He was very unwilling to resign active life; but finally he was prevailed upon to vacate the Speaker’s chair in favour of his friend, Sir Ralph Gore.

Conolly only lived for a few weeks after his resignation, and died on October 29th, 1729. His death was received with loud lamentation and widespread regret. He was compared, as a patriot, with Archbishop King, who had died a short time before; and a sinking nation was said to have beheld with consternation his funeral procession.

He was interred at Celbridge, and his funeral was conducted with much pomp. From his house in Capel Street to the end of Arran Quay, the hearse was accompanied by a great procession on foot. It was headed by the high constable, with a scarf, and six other constables, with hat-bands and gloves, “to clear the way of coaches and any crowds;” then came the beadle of St. Mary’s Church, followed by “poor men in black clothes, serge gowns, and hoods, in number 67, according to his age, each carrying in his hand a pennoncel with the letters of his name and years of his age;” then in succession followed the clerk and sexton of St. Mary’s, his porter, footmen, butler, gentleman, and steward, all in cloaks; various officials; two gentlemen bearing pennons with his arms; his surgeon, apothecary, and physicians; the clergy of St. Mary’s; ”the minister that inters the corpse;” the Lord Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, “in their formalities with scarves;” the clerk of the council; Athlone Pursuivant, “in his coat,” with the helmet and crest; messengers and doorkeepers of the House of Commons, “bareheaded;” clerks of the House; members two-and-two, with scarves; the chaplain of the House; the Sergeant-at-Arms and his deputy; the Speaker, “with a scarf and hat-band;” Ulster King of Arms, “in his majesties coat with a scarf with the coat of the defunct’s arms;” the hearse; the chief mourner; the other mourners two-and-two, in cloaks; six privy councillors supporters of the pall; such of the nobility and gentry “as are pleased to walk two-and-two, with scarves;” mourning-coaches, “with sets” and pairs ; his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant’s coach and six, “with his gentlemen ushers and bedchambers;” “coloured” coaches of the nobility and gentry with “sets” and “pairs”. “For the public benefit or the kingdom,” all the scarves - some 700 - were of Irish linen, which was then used for the first* *time instead of silk, and which afterwards became fashionable. At Celbridge a magnificent marble monument, with a long inscription, was erected to his memory by his widow, and remains in perfect preservation to the present day.

Conolly had no children. His widow survived him for more than 20 years, and continued to reside at Castletown, where she built an obelisk and “a wonderful barn,” during the years of great famine, to give employment to the poor. Mrs. Delany, in writing to tell her sister of Mrs. Conolly’s death, speaks of her as a great and good woman, and gives a long account of her manner of living. Her table was open to her friends of all ranks, and her purse to the poor. F. E. B.

AUTHORITIES.-** ***Dictionary of National Biography; *Lodge’s *Peerage of Ireland, *by Archdall, vol. vii, p. 180; *Journals of the House of Comnons; Brit. Mus., Add. MSS., *28, 877, f. 389; 21, 122, ff. 86, 88, 90, 91; 750 f. 244; 6,116, f. 222; Scott’s *Works *of *Swift, *vol ii, p. 467, vol. iv, p. 28; Craik’s *Life of Swift, *p. 349; *Primate Boulter’s Letters, *vol. i, pp. 163, 265, 267; Letters to and from Bishop Nicolson, vol. ii, p. 536; Irish Civil Correspondence. Miscellaneous, Letters from Norman to Dawson in 1753, in Irish **Public Record Office; “Castletown and its Owners,” by Lord Walter FitzGerald in *The Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society, *vol. ii, p. 361; Elegies on Conolly’s death and Order of proceeding to his funeral, amongst Irish pamphlets in Library of Trinity College, Dublin; Mrs. *Delany’s life and Correspondence, *vol. i, p. 342; vol. iii, pp. 138, 166.

Appendix F.

Dublin and Blessington Steam Railway

An Order in Council was obtained in the year 1880, authorizing a tramway to be constructed from Terenure to Blessington. About a mile and a quarter was then laid, on the level of the road, as far as Templeogue, but the promoters were unable to raise sufficient capital to continue its construction. In 1887 a baronial guarantee was obtained, and the construction of a line on a raised platform was commenced. This line was completed, and opened for traffic on August 1st, 1888. It runs from Terenure through Templeogue, Balrothery, Tallaght, Jobstown, and Brittas, to Blessington, the total length being fifteen and a half miles. It has since been continued to Poolaphouca Waterfall, four and a half miles from Blessington, and the extension was opened for traffic in May, 1895.

Handcock Index