EDWARD LAW

KILKENNY HISTORY

THE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS OF THE CITY OF KILKENNY FROM THE REFORMATION TO THE MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY.

Edward J Law

CHAPTER 3

PROVISION OF HOUSING: ORPHAN HOUSE.

In 1806 an Orphan Society was established in Kilkenny when the local newspaper reported¹:

It was said² at a later date that the house was erected by Redmond Lyons whose name has been noted elsewhere in regard to charitable bequests. It was also stated³ that it was instituted under the patronage of St. Patricks, which probably refers to the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick who had been active in the city at least from the 1760s⁴. Financial help for the building and upkeep came from charity sermons⁵ and donations⁶.

In 1809 seven male and nine female children were being ‘dieted, lodged, clothed and educated’ in the Orphan House⁷. Six years later it was stated⁸ that the Society was supporting about eighteen orphans, and in 1821 it was reported⁹ that the asylum constantly lodged fifteen children.

It would seem that the Orphan House had ceased to operate, or had removed from its original premises by 1833, as in that year it was noted¹⁰ that orphans of the cholera victims ‘were placed under the care of a matron, in a house, erected long since for a similar purpose by the late Redmond Lyons Esq.^’ In the six months to 2 March 1833 ninety-five orphans had been admitted and forty-three were still resident¹¹. Our earliest knowledge of the location of any Orphan House comes from the first Ordnance Survey of 1839 when it is shown on the old Callan Road, to the west of the Black Abbey. There is an advertisement¹² in 1848 which mentions Orphan House Lane, which thoroughfare has not been identified, but may have been a name given to the above road at the time. In 1853 we find¹³ the rent from the Orphan House being shared between the Benevolent Society and the Charitable Society, which would suggest that the charity had ceased by that date.

Among the several charitable bequests in the will¹⁴ of Joseph Evans was one of £1,000 for the building of an asylum for ten male and ten female orphans. In addition the will contained a clause for an endowment of £500 p.a. for its upkeep. This appears to have been the principal casualty of the debacle of the Evans' Trust It had not been established by 1827¹⁵ and in fact the "Joseph Evans' Orphan-House and School" as it was to be called appears never to have seen the light of day.

References.
1 Leinster Journal 26.11.1806.
2 Kilkenny Journal 2.3.1833.
3 Leinster Journal 16.3.1811.
4 Finn's Leinster Journal 11.3.1767.
5 Leinster Journal 25.2.1807.
6 Leinster Journal 18.4.1807.
7 Leinster Journal 8.3.1809.
8 Moderator 4.5.1815.
9 Moderator 13.3.1821.
10 Kilkenny Journal 2.3.1833.
11 Kilkenny Journal 2.3.1833.
12 Kilkenny Journal 18.11.1848.
13 Kilkenny Journal 22.1.1853.
14 Moderator 11.8.1818.
15 Kilkenny Journal 7.8.1833.

CHAPTER 4

SUPPORT FOR THE POOR: OUTDOOR RELIEF.

The most important source of outdoor charitable relief in the city of Kilkenny through the eighteenth century was the Charitable Society of the city of Kilkenny which was founded in 1726¹. Objects for relief had to be ‘a tradesman, or trading person, an inhabitant, who had resided seven years successively in this City [Kilkenny], or the widow of such, and confined to his or her bed by sickness^’2. Whilst the style of the Society would indicate a purely charitable purpose, it was something more, it was a club, and is so designated in the earliest surviving record, an account book of 1785-88³. At that time the members dined together twice a year. In rules printed in 1821 are provisions for balloting for new members⁴.

The funds of the Charitable Society came from several sources: members paid 2d a week (in 1785 there were 158 members); collections were made at 'charity sermons’ in city churches; plays were presented by the gentlemen of the city; fines from Nisi Prius juries; profits from balls; donations from ‘the ladies of the Coterie’⁵; testamentary bequests⁶. Among those who made the latter were: James Switsir (1806) £50 pa., Elizabeth Meagher (1806), Rev. Patrick Molloy (1808), Connell Loughnan (1813) and Joseph Evans who bequeathed £100 p.a. In 1785 amounts given in relief varied from 1s.1d. to 5s.5d. per week. In 1833 the Society paid out £374 15s. 4½d. to an average of ninety people per week⁷. There were at least three other Charitable Societies in the county, at Castlecomer, founded 1813⁸, Freshford, noted in 1833⁹, and Ballyraggett, noted in 1838¹⁰.

That there was again discrimination on the grounds of status appears when in the 1780s¹¹ the Rev. Dr. Lanigan founded another long-lasting charitable institution, the Benevolent Society. Those to be relieved by this charity were ‘all such wretched objects in the city as are precluded by the regulations of the Charitable Society, and ... confined debtors’¹². Funding was similar to the Charitable Society, there was an admission fee of 1s.1d. and then 2s.2d. per quarter (2d. per week)¹³. From 1802 to 1808 they received a share of the profits from the ‘theatre season'¹⁴ which totalled £684. They benefited under the wills of James Switsir, £50 pa. Elizabeth Meagher, Redmond Lyons (1811) £20 pa., Dominic Scott (1811) and Joseph Evans, £100 pa.^15. In 1833 they paid out over eight months, having no funds for the remainder of the year, £266 18s. 0d. to an average 110 recipients'⁶. These figures would indicate that at that time the 'Charitable' and the ^‘Benevolent' were of a similar size. By 1896 the two Societies were very closely identified, with a single management committee¹⁷. A Benevolent Society was established at Thomastown in March 1837¹⁸.

In addition to the major charitable institutions of the city which existed for long periods there were not a few small charities which originated to meet specific needs at certain dates, and which quickly slipped into abeyance or were closed. There were even instances of monies being raised for specific persons: we find¹⁹ in 1786 a ball being held for the benefit of a widow in distress.

In 1799 a subscription was raised²⁰ which bought coals, presumably in bulk, for resale at reasonable terms. At about the same time²¹ a similar scheme was in being for oatmeal. In 1800 soup had been distributed to the needy²² a practice which was quite often revived at times of need. The Marchioness of Ormond established a soup kitchen in November 1829²³. She sold tickets at 1d. each which the townspeople then distributed to those seeking alms, as being preferable to giving them money.

A Straw Society or Club existed in the first decade of the nineteenth century²⁴_, subscriptions were 1d. per week²⁵; it received support from the Theatrical Society from 1802 to 1811²⁶. It is assumed that the straw was for distribution to the poor for making up straw beds as was done by the Poor Relief Fund in 1838.

In 1814 a fund was launched²⁷ for the assistance of natives of the county who were then prisoners of war in France.

Little is known of the origins, proceedings or management of the Penny Society. It has been noted from 1814²⁸, through the 1820s²⁹, and was still benefiting under Evans' Trust in 1867³⁰. It derived its name from the weekly subscription³¹ which was utilised to provide relief to the distressed of every religious denomination.

A Blankets Loan Committee was formed³³ in Kilkenny in the winter of 1819. 500 pairs of blankets were distributed for which payment was accepted at 10d. per week³⁴. It was still operating in 1821, and had been followed by a similar institution in Castlecomer³⁵.

At the start of 1821 a Clothing Loan Committee was established³⁶ which supplied coats and cloaks for weekly repaymentsof between 5d. and 10d. It was particularly noted that there was no religious distinction. Again the example was followed at Castlecomer³⁷. It would appear that the Kilkenny Committee lapsed almost immediately for it was reported³⁹ in 1832 that a ‘Clothing & Loan Society’ had £53 10s. 0d. deposited in the Savings Bank, the last lodgement having been made in May 1821.

One of the most unusual charities, to present-day observers, was a fund founded in August 1821 to aid poor persons who frequented Ballyspellan Spa, near Johnstown, during the fashionable season. Relief was to be given only during the season which ran from 1 June to 29 September³⁹.

In 1832 money was still lodged to the credit of the Flax Account⁴⁰, which may well have been an enterprise for helping to fund flax spinning by the poor.

A Fuel Fund for the Poor, possibly known also as the Culm and Straw Fund, was in existence in 1834 but lay dormant until 1837 when a subscription was raised, and culm distributed at 2d. per bushel⁴¹. Early in 1838 thirty-seven tons of coal was distributed at half price⁴².

The foregoing charity appears to have been amalgamated, as was an earlier one for the relief of the poor, into the Poor Committee Fund, or Poor Relief Fund, which was commenced in February 1838⁴³. This appears to have been an attempt to organise and co-ordinate some of the charitable relief work in the city, with the involvement of clergy of both persuasions⁴⁴. As well as the general committee, four parochial committees were set up⁴⁵ for St Mary's, St Patrick's, St Canice’s and St John's.

It was stated⁴⁶ at this time that there were 1,440 families in the four parishes, comprising 5,115 individuals, who were in great want, and estimated that 7,000 of the population of 25,000 were destitute. The committee acted immediately, distributing large amounts of bread, nearly two tons of oatmeal, ten tons of straw for bedding, as well as coal. They suspended operations on 21 March, when they still had £235 in hand, as it was anticipated that there would be a greater need in summer prior to the harvest.

It has been noted in connection with several of the charities that funds came from the 'theatre season', when the Kilkenny Private Theatre was a national attraction. At an earlier date another fashionable occasion, the annual race meeting, also aided charitable causes. It was noted⁴⁷ in 1767 that two charitable assemblies in connection with the races had raised £40 which was to be distributed by the mayor. It is not clear whether such distribution was to charitable institutions or directly to the poor.

References.
1 Rules and regulations of the Charitable Society of the City of Kilkenny, Established in the Year 1726, Kilkenny1821.
2 Ibid. p 3.
3 Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Charitable Society account book 1785-1788.
4 Rules and regulations of the Charitable Society of the City of Kilkenny, Established in the Year 1726, Kilkenny 1821, p 3.
5 Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Charitable Society account book 1785-1788.
6 Public Record Office, Charitable Donations Vols I & II.
7 Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Charitable Society account book 1785-1788.
8 Hayes Index to manuscript sources for the history of Ireland.
9 Public Record Office, Cholera Papers: Kilkenny (Freshford).
10 Kilkenny Journal 7.2.1838.
11 The date of foundation was probably 1785 as given in Tighe, op cit, p 531, though it is stated to have been 1789 in Kilkenny People 30.5.1896.
12 Finn's Leinster Journal 2.4.1794.
13 Tighe, op cit, p 531.
14 Leinster Journal 12.11.1809.
15 Public Record Office, Charitable Donations Vols I & II.
16 Kilkenny Journal 2.3.1833.
17 Kilkenny People 30.5.1896. I am indebted to Walter Walsh for this reference.
18 Kilkenny Journal 25.10.1837.
19 Finn's Leinster Journal 22.7.1786.
20 Tighe, op cit, p 532.
21 Ibid. p 533.
22 Ibid. p 532.
23 Moderator 18.11.1829.
24 Kilkenny Journal 12.11.1809.
25 Chronicle 27.12.1814.
26 Leinster Journal 12.11.1809.
27 Chronicle 18.1.1814.
28 Chronicle 25.10.1814.
29 Moderator 28.4.1821; 21.7.1827 and 18.11.1829.
30 Kilkenny Journal 15.5.1867.
31 Moderator 18.11.1829.
32 Moderator 14.1.1829.
33 Moderator 27.7.1821.
34 Moderator 27.7.1821.
35 Moderator 27.7.1821.
36 Moderator 27.7.1821.
37 Moderator 27.7.1821.
38 Kilkenny Journal 14.1.1832.
39 Moderator 9.8.1821.
40 Kilkenny Journal 14.1.1832.
41 Kilkenny Journal 21.6.1837.
42 Kilkenny Journal 21.2.1838.
43 Kilkenny Journal 21.2.1838.
44 Kilkenny Journal 28.2.1838.
45 Kilkenny Journal 21.2.1838.
46 Kilkenny Journal 21.3.1838.
47 Finn's Leinster Journal 11.7.1767.

CHAPTER 5.

SUPPORT OF SMALL TRADERS: CHARITABLE LOAN SOCIETY.

A Charitable Loan was established¹, or rather re-established though we know nothing of its predecessor, in the city in April 1792. A general fund was set up by gentlemen for the purpose of lending out small sums at little or no interest to small traders. At the beginning of the nineteenth century it was recorded that sums were advanced of not less than two guineas nor more than five pounds, free of interest, to be repaid weekly at the rate of six pence in the pound². One can imagine that these small loans, obtainable with the minimum of formalities, were the major source of capital for many of the small shop-keepers of the city.

In 1806 it was reported that from its commencement to 1 January 1806 it had lent £8,505 18s. 0d. in 3,720 transactions and had not lost one shilling by bad debts³. In 1811 it was endowed with £20 p.a. by the will of Redmond Lyons⁴. It appears to have fallen into abeyance some time between 1814, when it received a donation from the Bishop of Ossory⁵, and 1818 when one of the local newspapers wrote of the ‘Charitable Loan which has been established in this city’, as if it were a new foundation⁶. There existed in 1821 a Clothing and Loan Society about which nothing is known other than that it had to its credit a balance of £53 10s. 0d. in the Kilkenny Savings Bank in 1832, the last lodgement to which had been made in May 1821⁷.

There appears to have been a re-founding of the Charitable Loan in 1830 as the Charitable Loan Society: the rules and regulations of the Society were lodged with Parliament 7 September 1830⁸, and a report of the Society's transactions in 1835 gives figures from 3 September 1830⁹ which suggests that that was the date of its foundation. The Society is noted in local newspapers through the 1830s, lastly in April 1840, the amount of monthly loans being generally from £70 to £80¹⁰.

A second Loan appears to have been founded in 1834 when the rules and regulations of the Ormonde Charitable Loan Society were deposited with Parliament¹¹. Nothing is known of this Society, but it too was still functioning in 1838 when it made a donation to the Mecnanics' Friends' Society¹². In 1843 and 1844 a Kilkenny Citizens Loan Fund was in being¹³, its name suggesting that it may have been promoted by the Kilkenny Citizen's Club which was politically active at that period, in which case it may have been directed specifically at Catholic tradesmen and women.

A charitable loan system had been operating in Waterford in 1768¹⁴. There were at least three others operating in county Kilkenny: Thomastown Loan Fund, noted in 1846¹⁵; Killamery Benevolent Loan Society, established by the Dowager Marchioness of Ormond, noted in 1841¹⁶; and Gowran District Benevolent Loan Society which is noted from 1837 to 1839¹⁷. The published accounts of the latter show that of the fund of £366, £246 had been borrowed at 5% and the balance comprised grants from Lady Dover, William Bayley and William F Tighe. The accounts show that this Society was charging interest on its loans¹⁶, but it would still have been of benefit in lending smaller amounts than would have been lent to individuals by banks, also it would have been able to charge a lesser rate than that at which it borrowed as one third of the funds were interest-free.

References.
1 Finn's Leinster Journal 9.3.1792.
2 Tighe, op cit, p 532.
3 Leinster Journal 5.4.1806.
4 Public Record Office, Charitable Donations Vol 1.
5 Chronicle 25.10.1814.
6 Moderator 27. 10.1818.
7 Kilkenny Journal 14.1.1832.
8 Parliamentary Papers: Loan Societies, 1836 (230) XLVII, 539.
9 Kilkenny Journal 11.2.1835.
10 Kilkenny Journal 7.6.1834; 8.7.1835; 4.5.1836; 10.6.1837 and
27.1.1838.
11 Parliamentary Papers: Loan Societies, 1836 (230) XLVII, 539.
12 Kilkenny Journal 24.3.1838.
13 Kilkenny Journal 25.3.1843 and 10.2.1844.
14 Richard Lahert 'Some Charitable Institutions of Old Waterford' in Decies, vol XXII, p 30.
15 Kilkenny Journal 6.5.1846.
16 Kilkenny Journal 8.12.1841.
17 Kilkenny Journal 3.3.1838 and 27.2.1839.
18 Kilkenny Journal 3.3.1838.

CHAPTER 6

SUPPORT FOR THE POOR: IN DEATH AS IN LIFE.

The greatest worry of many poor but respectable citizens was where the money would come from to provide them with a decent burial, a concern which did not escape the charitably-minded inhabitants of Kilkenny.

On 9 December 1804 a Burial Society was formed in the city', possibly by the same individuals who founded the Orphan Society. Certainly Redmond Lyons left money to it², and we find them paired as ‘The Orphan and Burial Societies’ in 1819³ and 1821⁴ when acknowledging receipts from charity sermons. Funding also came from subscriptions of (in 1814) 13s. 8d. p.a. ⁵.

The Burial Society seems to have been a charitable rather than a self-help grouping, its object was ‘to provide a decent Interment for all those of the lower orders of this city, who have neither Friends nor means adequate to the Expences attendant on this melancholy and last requisite of man’⁶. In the period from 9 December 1804 to 14 October 1805 they buried forty-two individuals at a cost of £30 l7s. 9½d⁷. It was reported⁸ in March 1821 that nearly 600 had been buried in the last three years, a period which would have included heavy mortality from fever. Also operating in the city at the same time were Mortality Societies⁹ which probably were self-help societies, and even possibly, though not overtly, trade combinations. A resolution¹⁰ of the Mortality Societies of Kilkenny in 1813 is interesting as showing early consumer resistance -they resolved not to drink ale at more than 3d. per quart! Were they able to keep to that resolve, one wonders!

References.
1 Leinster Journal 19.10.1805.
2 Public Record Office, Charitable Donations Vol 1.
3 Moderator 30.1.1819.
4 Moderator 13.3.1821.
5 Chronicle 27.12.1814.
6 Leinster Journal 19.10.1805.
7 Leinster Journal 19. 10.1805.
8 Moderator 13.3.1821.
9 Chronicle 14.1.1813.
10 Chronicle 14.1.1813.

GO TO PART 3 (Chapters 7 & 8, Conclusion, Appendix and Acknowledgements.)

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Page revised 29 April 2001