Youghal workhouse Board of Guardians (BG163)

Descriptive list of the archive of Youghal and district workhouse/poor law union Board of Guardians. Items are in hard copy and may be accessed by appointment.

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Cork City and County Archives

Youghal Board of Guardians (Ref.IE CCCA/BG163)

Descriptive List

Table of Contents Identity Statement ........................................................................................................................................ 3

Context.......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Creator ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

Archival History ......................................................................................................................................... 3

Administrative & Biographical History...................................................................................................... 3

Content & Structure...................................................................................................................................... 5

Scope & Content ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Arrangement ............................................................................................................................................. 6

Conditions of Access & Use........................................................................................................................... 6

Allied Materials: ............................................................................................................................................ 6

Subjects ......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Archivists Note: ............................................................................................................................................. 7

List of Items and Descriptions ....................................................................................................................... 8

1. Minute Books 1850 – 1924 (131 items) ............................................................................................ 8

BG/163/A

Board of Guardians Minute Books ................................................................................. 8

BG/163/AM/1

Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act Minute Book ............................................. 14

2. Correspondence 1886 – 1896 (1 item) ........................................................................................... 15

BG/163/B/

Outgoing Letter Book ............................................................................................... 15

3. Accounts 1889 – 1921 (4 items)...................................................................................................... 16

BG/163/CC/ Union Ledgers ............................................................................................................ 16

BG/163/CB/1

Personal Ledger....................................................................................................... 17

BG/163/CG/1 Guar dians’ Loan Account Book ................................................................................. 17

4. Workhouse Administration 1901 – 1925 (1947) (2 items) ............................................................ 18

BG/163/F/1

Master’s Journal ........................................................................................................ 18

BG/163/FQ/1 Register of Officers ................................................................................................... 20

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5. Workhouse: Inmates 1848 – 1851 (3 items)................................................................................... 21

BG/163/G/

Indoor Relief Registers ............................................................................................ 21

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Identity Statement

IE CCCA/BG/163

Reference Code:

Youghal Board of Guardians

Title:

1848 – 1925 (1947)

Dates:

Fonds / Series / Item

Level of description:

141 items

Extent:

Context

Creator Youghal Board of Guardians (governing board of Youghal Poor Law Union and Workhouse)

Archival History Collection BG/163 was transferred to the Archives with other county Cork board of guardians collections in c.1982 by the Southern Health Board. Administrative & Biographical History Youghal Union formally came into existence on 7th June 1850, and was one of the new Poor Law Unions created in Ireland between 1848 and 1850. It was created from parts of the Dungarvan, Lismore and Midleton Unions and occupied an area of 57 square miles, covering parts of both East County Cork and West County Waterford. In 1905, the Union comprised the following electoral divisions: In Co. Cork; Ardagh, Clonpriest, Kilcronat, Killeagh, Kilmacdonogh, Youghal Rural, Youghal Urban; in Co. Waterford; Ardmore, Ballyheeny, Clashmore, Glenwilliam, Grallagh, Grange, Kinsalebeg, and Templemichael. In 1911, the population of the Union was 13,942. The Youghal workhouse was erected on a 12-acre site on an elevated site to the west of Youghal and was designed by Poor Law Commission architect George Wilkinson to hold 700 inmates. Prior to June 1850, when Youghal Union was created, Youghal workhouse operated as an auxiliary workhouse within the Midleton Poor Law Union.

Youghal was one of c.14 poor law unions in the overall County Cork area. Each union was centered on a city or market town and its hinterland, and this union area sometimes ignored existing parish or county boundaries. In this central town was situated the union workhouse, which provided relief for the unemployed and the destitute. Each workhouse was managed by a staff and officers under the charge of a workhouse master.

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Overall responsibility within the union rested with the Board of Guardians, most of whom were elected, and some of whom were ex-officio members appointed usually from amongst local justices of the peace /magistrates. The electors were owners and occupiers of property liable to pay the poor rate. The boards of guardians were vested with wide statutory powers and were under the direction and control of the Poor Law Commissioners and from 1872 of the Local Government Board.

The boards of guardians were financially maintained by the poor rate levied on occupiers of property in the union district, and tenants could deduct half of the rates from their rents.

In the first years of the poor law system, in general no relief was provided outside the workhouses, however from 1847, limited outdoor relief was provided in certain cases. Later, various other responsibilities were allocated to the Guardians in the areas of public health, sanitation, and housing. For example, under the Medical Charities Act 1851, Boards of Guardians took over responsibility for dispensaries from the Grand Juries, and the unions were divided into dispensary districts for which medical officers were appointed. In 1856 the Guardians became the burial ground board for the rural parts of the union. In 1863, the unions were used as registration areas for the registration of births and deaths. Under the Sanitary Act 1866, the guardians b ecame ‘sewer and nuisance ’ authorities, and under the 1874 and 1878 Public Health Acts, in general, as well as being the poor relief authorities, the Guardians were designated rural sanitary authorities, dealing with various matters such as water and sewerage schemes, scavenging, building control, lodging houses, markets, slaughter houses, infectious diseases and burial grounds. Under the Labourers Act 1883, the building of rural cottages was also allocated to the guardians. Each union was under the central supervision of the Poor Law Commissioners up to 1872 and thereafter of the Local Government Board. The Youghal Board of Guardians was dissolved in May 1924, its functions taken up by the South Cork County Board of Health and Public Assistance and Cork County Council. In May 1924 the remaining inmates of the Youghal Workhouse were mainly transferred to the Cork County Home and Hospital. In common with many former workhouses, parts of the Youghal Union workhouse buildings were taken over for use as a hospital.

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Content & Structure

Scope & Content

Minute books, recording the proceedings of the Board’s meetings, 1850 -1924. Many subjects are recorded in the minute books, such as the ongoing struggle to both fund and manage the workhouse and related services, attitudes to poverty, developments in public health provision, and the care of the infirm, the destitute, children, and the mentally ill. From the 1880’s, glimpses of the rise of nationalism may be found.

Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act minute book, 1903 – 1920.

Correspondence in the form of an outgoing letter book, 1888-1896, containing copies of letters sent from the Clerk of the Union to various parties, including the Poor Law Commission (PLC) and later with the Local Government Board (LGB), as well as rate collectors, solicitors, the Master of the Workhouse, staff, suppliers and contractors and others subject to actions and resolutions of the Guardians.

Financial account books, 1889 - 1921, including union ledgers for 1917-1922, a bank loan account book for 1889-1913 and a personal ledger for 1917 – 1918.

Records of the internal administration and day to day management of the workhouse, 1901-1925, including, a Masters journal containing a large number of reports to the Board 1916-1925; and a register of officers appointed 1901-1925 (also containing a partial record from 1927 -1935 and 1943- 1947 of some appointments by the South County Board of Public Health). Records of inmates of the workhouse, 1848-1851, consisting of indoor relief registers. These contain mainly personal information, and are thus a notable source for social history as well as genealogical and family history research. The collection is of interest to the study of the 19th century and early 20th c. period, the Irish poor law system, and the Great Famine. It helps to document the social, economic and political history of the Youghal Union, and covers many subjects and issues both local and national in scope.

(See list of items below for detailed descriptions of series and items)

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Arrangement

1. Minute Books, 1850 – 1924 (131 items)

2. Correspondence 1886 – 1896 (1 item)

3. Accounts 1889 – 1921 (4 items)

4. Workhouse: Administration 1901 – 1925 ( 2 items)

5. Workhouse: Inmates 1848 – 1851 (3 items)

(In total, the collection comprises 8 series; see table of contents)

This arrangement is based on that devised by Sean McMenamin of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (see Appendix 2, McMenamin article in Irish Archives Bulletin Vol 1, No 2, October 1971).

Conditions of Access & Use

Access : Open by appointment to those holding a current readers ticket.

Language: English

Finding Aids: Descriptive list.

Allied Materials: Related Material

CCCA: BG/118 Midleton Board of Guardians (Youghal was originally an auxiliary workhouse in Midleton Union) Various Board of Guardian records for other poor law unions in County Cork. Cork Board of Health and Public Assistance Elsewhere: Waterford County Archives, Board of Guardian records for County Waterford. National Archives of Ireland: Archives of the Poor Law Commission and the Relief Commission.

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Subjects 

Irish History, 19 th century, 20 th century

History of Youghal



History of Cork / East Cork



History of Waterford



 Local Government, County Cork, County Waterford, 1830-1930  Public Health, provision 19 th c. and early 20 th c.  Poor Law, Ireland 1838-1925  Workhouses in County Cork and County Waterford  Great Famine, Ireland, 1845-1848  Cork and Waterford, Family History and Genealogy

Archivists Note: Brian McGee,

Archivist, CCCA, February 2011

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Youghal Board of Guardians IE CCCA/BG/163

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List of Items and Descriptions

1. Minute Books 1850 – 1924 (131 items)

BG/163/A

Board of Guardians Minute Books

Scope and Content: A record of proceedings, decisions, orders, and reports made and received by the board of guardians in administering Youghal Union and the workhouse in particular; such as, statistical tables of admissions, births, discharges and deaths, no. of sick inmates etc. in the workhouse on a weekly basis; reports of officers, securing and payment for supplies, staff appointments and pay. Later volumes have, in general, more pages, but often contain more blank entries and less detailed information.

Date : 17 June 1850 – 29 Apr 1924

Level : Series

Extent : 130 vols (each generally c.150 - 200pp in size)

17 Jun 1850 – 17 Jan 1851

Includes: (17 June 1850, p1) State of the workhouse, week ending Saturday, 15 June 1850. Total of 1088 inmates with 178 in hospital. (17 June 1850, p7) Special Business, ordered that the Masters of Dungarvan, Lismore, Fermoy, and Midleton workhouses be requested to return forms recording numbers and classification of paupers chargeable to the Youghal Union each week. (21 June 1850 p17) Special Business, ordered that the Board of Guardians of Midleton Union appoint a committee to meet with a committee of the Youghal Board, to value the remaining stock in the several auxiliary workhouses. (19 Jul 1850, p60) Masters estimate of provisions and necessaries required for ensuing week, including 1000lbs of white bread, 6400lbs of brown bread, 27 cwt of indian meal, 4700 qts of milk, 112lbs of beef, 3 tons of coal, 14lbs soda. (26 Jul 1850, p70) Report of Medical Officer, condition of inmates is generally satisfactory, but ophthalmic cases are undiminished, measles also apparent, coffee has been issued instead of milk to dysenteric cases (25 Oct 1850 , p238) Master reports 26lbs of bread ‘taken in a forcible manner’ by the able bodied inmates from the schoolmaster when about to serve the dinner to the school boys. (20 Dec 1850, p343) Resolved that the ‘dietary on Christmas day’ shall consist of

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coffee and white bread for breakfast, white bread and soup for dinner, the soup to contain a moderate quantity of meat, 8oz. to each adult person, and an abundance of vegetables.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

24 Jan 1851 – 26 Sep 1851 3 Oct 1851 – 19 Mar 1852 26 Mar 1852 – 1 Oct 1852 8 Oct 1852 – 26 Mar 1853 1 Apr 1853 – 30 Sep 1853 7 Oct 1853 – 24 Mar 1854 31 Mar 1854 – 29 Sep 1854 6 Oct 1854 – 30 Mar 1855 5 Apr 1855 – 28 Sep 1855 5 Oct 1855 – 28 Mar 1856 4 Apr 1856 – 26 Sep 1856 3 Oct 1856 – 27 Mar 1857 3 Apr 1857 – 2 Oct 1857 9 Oct 1857 – 1 Apr 1858 9 Apr 1858 – 1 Oct 1858 8 Oct 1858 – 25 Mar 1859 1 Apr 1859 – 30 Sep 1859 7 Oct 1859 – 30 Mar 1860 5 Apr 1860 – 5 Oct 1860 12 Oct 1860 – 29 Mar 1861 5 Apr 1861 – 4 Oct 1861 12 Oct 1861 – 28 Mar 1862 4 Apr 1862 – 3 Oct 1862 10 Oct 1862 – 2 Apr 1863 10 Apr 1863 – 9 Oct 1863 16 Oct 1863 – 1 Apr 1864

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.

Missing

7 Oct 1864 – 7 Apr 1865

Includes: (7 Oct 1864, p1) State of the Workhouse, week ending 1 Oct 1864. Total of 323 inmates plus 119 in hospital. Also 86 destitute persons relieved out of the workhouse. (28 Oct 1864, p58) Letter from Edward Acres complaining that the cesspools of the workhouse are prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants of the town. (10) Feb 1865 p290) Weekly balance sheets of rate collectors and lodgements made for each electoral division; total of £65 collected. (17 Feb 1865, p317) Application made for the industrial school building to be rented for the accommodation of troops. (24 Mar 1865, p389) List of names and job titles of staff of the union, and rate of pay.

30. 31.

Missing

13 Oct 1865 – 31 Mar 1866

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32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59.

6 Apr 1866 – 12 Oct 1866 19 Oct 1866 – 29 Mar 1867 5 Apr 1867 – 4 Oct 1867 11 Oct 1867 – 3 Apr 1868 17 Oct 1868 – 23 Oct 1868 30 Oct 1868 – 9 Apr 1869 16 Apr 1869 – 15 Oct 1869 22 Oct 1869 – 1 Apr 1870 8 Apr 1870 – 7 Oct 1870 14 Oct 1870 – 31 Mar 1871 6 Apr 1871 – 6 Oct 1871 13 Oct 1871 – 5 Apr 1872 12 Apr 1872 – 4 Oct 1872 11 Oct 1872 – 4 Apr 1873 10 Apr 1873 – 3 Oct 1873 10 Oct 1873 – 27 Mar 1874 2 Apr 1874 – 9 Oct 1874 16 Oct 1874 – 2 Apr 1875 9 Apr 1875 – 1 Oct 1875 8 Oct 1875 – 31 Mar 1876 7 Apr 1876 – 13 Oct 1876 20 Oct 1876 – 30 Mar 1877 6 Apr 1877 – 5 Oct 1877 12 Oct 1877 – 1 Apr 1878 8 Apr 1878 – 7 Oct 1878 14 Oct 1878 – 4 Apr 1879 11 Apr 1879 – 3 Oct 1879 10 Oct 1879 – 2 Apr 1880

Includes: (10 Nov 1879, p73) State of the Workhouse week ending 1 Nov 1879, total of 269 inmates plus 72 in hospital and 9 lunatics. (14 Nov 1879, p102) Resolved to send letter to Lord Lieutenant that; in view of the unfortunate season and unfavourable weather the agricultural prospects of the country have been seriously affected with a depression in prices and the failure of the potato crop, causing serious distress to the labouring classes, as the farmers and gentry cannot give usual amount of employment. Monies promised by Mr. Gladstone from the disestablishment of the Irish Church, should be spent on building a railway from Youghal bridge to Cappagh station, between Cappaquin and Dungarvan. Also, adoption of copy resolution from Dungarvan Union that all Boards of Guardians in Ireland should form a deputation to the Lord Lieutenant to urge the government to prevent the impending distress. (13 Feb 1880, p331) Letter from Local Government Board, confirming that relieving officers may provide out relief to those occupying more than ¼ of an acre of land if they are disabled, infirm, or if they have a bodily or mental defect, or severe sickness. (13 Feb 1880 p332) Report by Rev. Mr. Fielding P.P., Ballymacoda, of 150 persons in distress, also letter from Medical Officer, Killeagh dispensary district concerning

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state of ‘what in prosperous times used to be [the] working class’, widespread distress, called upon to treat ‘poor creatures’ with ‘violent inflammatory disease’ brought on by having to subsist on boiled turnips and a handful of meal, also small farmers whose state is almost as bad, and who need the rescue of ’extraneous aid’, including seed potatoes. Board resolves to request that the Union is scheduled, as there are many landlords who would commence reproductive works, if they could get a reasonable loan. (20 Feb 1880 p348) Return showing total of 341 destitute persons relieved out of the workhouse in 1 week.

60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 79.

9 Apr 1880 – 8 Oct 1880 15 Oct 1880 – 1 Apr 1881 8 Apr 1881 – 7 Oct 1881 14 Oct 1881 – 31 Mar 1882 14 Apr 1882 – 13 Oct 1882 20 Oct 1882 – 6 Apr 1883 13 Apr 1883 – 5 Oct 1883 12 Oct 1883 – 4 Apr 1884 11 Apr 1884 – 17 Oct 1884 24 Oct 1884 – 17 Oct 1884 10 Apr 1885 – 9 Oct 1885 16 Oct 1885 – 2 Apr 1886 9 Apr 1886 – 8 Oct 1886 15 Oct 1886 – 1 Apr 1887 8 Apr 1887 – 7 Oct 1887 14 Oct 1887 – 6 Apr 1888 13 Apr 1888 – 5 Oct 1888 12 Oct 1888 – 29 Mar 1889 11 Oct 1889 – 3 Apr 1890

Includes: (29 Nov 1889, p127) State of the Workhouse, week ending 23 Nov 1889, total of 216 inmates plus 75 in hospital plus 13 lunatics. 359 destitute persons relieved out of the workhouse. (13 Dec 1889, p175) Proceedings under medical charities act, public heath acts including letter from Dr. Curran re. repairs needed to Killeagh dispensary. (24 Jan 1890 p261) Election/Appointment of Thomas Flynn to office of Porter

80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89.

10 Apr 1890 – 9 Oct 1890 16 Oct 1890 – 9 Apr 1891 16 Apr 1891 – 8 Oct 1891 15 Oct 1891 – 7 Apr 1892 14 Apr 1892 – 6 Oct 1892

Missing

13 Apr 1893 – 5 Oct 1893

Missing

12 Apr 1894 – 4 Oct 1894 11 Oct 1894 – 4 Apr 1895

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90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99.

Missing

10 Oct 1895 – 2 Apr 1896 9 Apr 1896 – 8 Oct 1896 15 Oct 1896 – 8 Apr 1897 15 Apr 1897 – 7 Oct 1897 14 Oct 1897 – 7 Apr 1898

Missing

19 Oct 1899 – 12 Apr 1900 19 Apr 1900 – 18 Oct 1900

Missing

100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129.

2 May 1901 – 17 Oct 1901 24 Oct 1901 – 17 Apr 1902 24 Apr 1902 – 9 Oct 1902 16 Oct 1902 – 16 Apr 1903 23 Apr 1903 – 1 Oct 1903 8 Oct 1903 – 7 Apr 1904 14 Apr 1904 – 6 Oct 1904 13 Oct 1904 – 13 Apr 1905 20 Apr 1905 – 12 Oct 1905 19 Oct 1905 – 19 Apr 1906 26 Apr 1906 – 11 Oct 1906 18 Oct 1906 – 18 Apr 1907 25 Apr 1907 – 10 Oct 1907 17 Oct 1907 – 23 Apr 1908 30 Apr 1908 – 15 Oct 1908 17 Oct 1908 – 8 Apr 1909 15 Apr 1909 – 7 Oct 1909 14 Oct 1909 – 14 Oct 1910 21 Apr 1910 – 13 Apr 1911 20 Oct 1910 – 13 Apr 1911 20 Apr 1911 – 12 Oct 1911 19 Oct 1911 – 11 Apr 1912

Missing

17 Oct 1912 – 10 Apr 1913 17 Apr 1913 – 9 Oct 1913 16 Oct 1913 – 16 Apr 1914 23 Apr 1914 – 8 Oct 1914 15 Oct 1914 – 8 Apr 1915 15 Apr 1915 – 14 Oct 1915 21 Oct 1915 – 13 Apr 1916

Includes : (21 Oct 1915, p1) State of the Workhouse, week ending 16 Oct 1915, total of 204 inmates plus 78 in hospital and 24 lunatics and idiots, also numbers of night lodgers and casuals; also return of destitute persons relieved out of workhouse, total of 191 persons. (28 Oct 1915, p31) Statistical minutes, copy sent to Local Government Board, with weekly abstract of account of provisions and necessaries, average cost of inmate for

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week, alcohol purchased; also Abstract of Accounts of relieving officers giving expenditure on out-door relief and on orphans and boarded out children. Also, Minutes of proceedings relating to boarded out children. (25 Dec 1915, p203) Masters report. Order for prosecution of inmate H. Lawton, ‘classed as an imbecile’, who assaulted a paid attendant. Also, Father Ahearne gave ‘cinematograph entertainment’ to the inmates in the dining hall. Letter from Mountmellick Union re. conscientious objectors to vaccinations. (10 Feb 1916, p325) Report from Commissioners of National Education relating to inspection of workhouse schools, satisfactory. (16 Mar 1916, p426) Half yearly tender, record of accepted contractors and prices for various supplies (25 Mar 1916 p465) Letter from Local Government Board re. Army separation allowances and admission of recipients to rate-aided institutions.

130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136.

20 Apr 1916 – 12 Apr 1917 26 Apr 1917 – 30 May 1918 13 Jun 1918 – 11 Sep 1919 25 Sep 1919 – 11 Nov 1920 9 Dec 1920 – 9 Mar 1922 30 Mar 1922 – 30 Aug 1923 13 Sep 1923 – 29 Apr 1924

Includes: (10 Apr 1924, p161) State of workhouse week ending 5 Apr 1924, total of 102 inmates, with 51 in hospital and 14 lunatics and idiots; also return of destitute persons relieved out of workhouse, total of 157 persons (24 Apr 1924, p181) Letter received from Local Government Board re. scheme submitted by Cork County Council and Cork Corporation for relief of poor in Cork County and Cork County Borough, Minister has decided to abolish the Board of Guardians from 1 May. Property, debts and liabilities to pass to County Council. Special meeting on 29 April to wind up affairs of the Union as far as possible. (28 April 1924, p195) Clerk ’ s Report, matron seeks a little extra for supper for the inmates on the eve of their departure from the institution to the county home and hospital; granted. The nuns and other officials convey their best thanks to the Guardians for the kindness and courtesy extended at all times. The Guardians returned thanks to all the officials for the manner in which they performed their duties. ‘With r egard to the inmates who will be obliged to go to the County Home and Hospital, they feel their position very keenly and regret very much being compelled to leave the Workhouse…’.

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BG/163/AM/1

Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act Minute Book

Scope and Content: Minutes of proceedings of sub-committee appointed to carry out provisions of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts in the County Cork portion of Youghal Union. Includes: (16 Jul 1903, p2) Report, parasitic mange disappeared from premises of Michael Ryan, 46 Main Street, Youghal. (15 Dec 1904, p15) Report, sheep scab in flock belonging to David Neville of Carriganassa. (15 Dec 1919, p105) JJ Walsh, Veterinary Surgeon, Nelson Place, Youghal, attended Youghal and Killeagh Fairs and found no case of contagious disease.

Date : 18 Jun 1903 – 30 Dec 1920

Level : Item

Extent : 107pp

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2. Correspondence 1886 – 1896 (1 item)

BG/163/B/

Outgoing Letter Book

Scope and Content: Letter book containing copies of letters sent by the Clerk and Secretary of the Union, to various parties including the Poor Law Commissioners and later the Local Government Board, rate collectors, the Guardians’ solicitors, members of staff, the master of the Workhouse, suppliers and contractors, various persons subject to resolutions and actions of the Guardians and the Youghal Sanitary Authority. Includes: (15 March 1896, p54) Letter to Secretary of Loc. Govt. Board re. whether a justice appointed High Sheriff is allowed to be appointed an ex-officio guardian (21 June 1895, p136) Letter to RH Rogers MD, Youghal concerning medicines from Templemichael Dispensary (1 Jul 1895, p160) Letter to W. Hodnett Solicitors, Youghal, re, fixing of labourers’ cottage rents. (25 October 1895, p245 Letter to George Kennedy, Clashmore, re. Clashmore water works. (16 Jul 1896, p497) Letter to Dr. JJ Curran, Killeagh, concerning need for a (water) pump in Aghavin. With Index (505pp)

Date : 31 Mar 1888 – 31 Jul 1896

Level : Item

Extent : c.150pp

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3. Accounts 1889 – 1921 (4 items)

BG/163/CC/

Union Ledgers

Scope and Content: Ledger printed to meet requirements of The Union Accounts Order, 1905. Gives half yearly balances and financial information, including Treasurer’s Account summary and reconcilement, Sundry Accounts (amounts spent on each account, Clerks Petty Disbursements Account, In-Maintenance Account (Provisions and Necessaries, Clothing), Provisions and Necessaries Receipt and Consumption Account, Outdoor Relief Account, Memorandum of Pensions Paid during Half Year, Statement of Balances at Close of Half Year, Revenue, Statement of Loans of Capital Account.

Date : Mar 1917 – Mar 1921

Level : Series

Extent : 2 vols.

31 Mar 1917 – 31 Mar 1919

30 Apr 1919 – 31 Mar 1921 Includes:

Enclosures such as; notifications of transfer of money to Youghal Union by Cork County Council £2084.6.4 (21 Jan 1921), and by Waterford County Council £1231.18.8 (1 Jan 1920). Return of Guardians, officers etc. for 1 April in 1918, 1919 and 1920. Gives names and addresses of chairman, vice chairman, deputy vice chairman, treasurer, guardians for each district, name, salary and details of appointment of each workhouse officer, wardsmen and wardsmaids, other paid servants, relieving officers; Also, names of dispensary districts, name and address of medical officer for each district, salary, details of appointment, details of other dispensary officers such as apothecary, midwife, porter, caretaker; superannuation allowances paid during year

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BG/163/CB/1

Personal Ledger

Scope and Content: Appears to be a record of valuations of property and / or poor rates due by occupiers/owners. Arranged by electoral division and whether male/female. Gives number, name, address, amounts.

Date : 1917 - 1918

Level : Item

Extent : c.300pp

BG/163/CG/1 Guardians’ Loan Account Book

Scope and Content: Account book for Youghal Poor Law Union (No.2 Account), with Bank of Ireland, Youghal. With various names of those lodging or removing funds.

Date : 10 Dec 1889 – 31 Jan 1913

Level : Item

Extent : c.50pp

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4. Workhouse Administration 1901 – 1925 (1947) (2 items)

BG/163/F/1

Master’s Journal

Scope and Content: Records the Master of the Workhouse making various reports to the Board of Guardians on the internal administration of the institution and later reports by Clerk of the Union ( later clerk for Youghal Hospital and district to the South Cork Boards of Heath and Assistance) ; such as, James and Margaret Collins and their five children admitted, both of them arrested and charged with cruelty to children (20 Jan 1916); and such as, inmate in the house K.H. with illegitimate child aged 2½ years, offered to pay maintenance of 1/ per week if granted discharge and child kept by workhouse, sanctioned by Board, as ‘similar case[s] were dealt with by the Board and turned out very satisfactory’ (31 May 1917); and such as, influenza epidemic with 22 patients admitted to fever hospital, two large wards set aside in the infirmary (3 Oct 1918); and such as, employment of several temporary staff as workhouse staff considerably overworked due to epidemic, with several staff contracting influenza (14 Nov 1918); and such as, the gas suppl ied for lighting the workhouse is ‘useless’, and candles are needed in every ward, with expensive lamps bought for the hospital wards; expresses concern for safety of the inmates (9 January 1919); and such as, inmates ‘…obliged to go to the County Home t hey feel their position very keenly and regret very much being compelled to leave the workhouse where the Guardians always treated them kindly and their friends always had the privilege of seeing them.’ (29 April 1924). From May 1924, volume contains reports of the Clerk to the County Board of Health, relating to remaining matters of administration of the former Union, plus matters relating to later Youghal Hospital and Dispensary; such as, meeting of Rural Council 22 Jul 1924, removal of 9 inmates to County Home by Mr. Barry, Master, Cork Workhouse, remaining (able bodied) inmates granted home assistance by the sub-committee, subject to approval of the (South Cork) County Board of Health / Public Assistance; and such as, 2 acres of oats from workhouse farm, Porter usually allowed £3 extra remuneration for cutting and saving the crop, approved by Board (16 Aug 1924); and such as, need to harvest 1¾ acres of potatoes on workhouse farm , formerly carried out by healthy inmates (13 Oct 1924); and such as Home Assistance Officer Magner hire of motor car to convey a patient to Midleton Home at cost of 24/ (9 Feb 1925); and such as, claim of Civic Guard for escorting inmate of hospital to the Mental Hospital, Cork (16 Feb 1925). Also, miscellaneous file of enclosures in the volume (c.100 items); including, receipts and quotes for supplies from businesses in Youghal and other areas, requests by Master for quotations for supplies, some correspondence, several doctors sick notes; such as, quotation from Cappoquin Bacon Factory to Thomas

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Fitzgerald, Master of Workhouse, re. prices for pigs supplied to Factory by the workhouse (12 Feb 1917) ; and such as, notice of meeting of Board of Guardians, from R.Flavin, Asst. Clerk (10 Jan 1918); and such as, from Charles Ronayne M.D., British Red Cross Society, Youghal Branch, War Office No.6, to Master concerning efforts to deal with the influenza epidemic (29 Oct 1918); and such as from Lt. Colonel [Ambrose], OC King George V Hospital, Dublin, concerning M.Byrne, Driver, RFA, to be sent to Youghal workhouse on discharge from the army (27 Sep 1919); and such as, copy of certificate of qualification for nurse Mary Ellen Leahy, from the North Infirmary, Cork (23 Dec 1920); and such as note from Scott Harley and Co. Ltd, Coal Merchants, Patrick’s Quay, Cork, to Master, that the railway company will not take any traffic to Youghal at present (possibly due to the ongoing War of Independence) (28 May 1921); and such as, Great Southern and Western Railway, consignment receipt for medicines (14 Oct 1924); and such as, order check book docket , out-door relief in kind, for bread, tea etc. signed by relieving officer (15 Apr 1924).

Date : 13 Jan 1916 – Feb 1925

Level : Item

Extent : c.400pp; plus file of enclosures 100pp

Access: Restricted

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BG/163/FQ/1 Register of Officers

Scope and Content: Register of all officers appointed by Youghal Union up to 1924, and partial record from 1927-1935 and 1943-1947 of some appointments by the South Cork County Board of Public Health. Records name, nature of office/employment, date of appointment, date of sanction by local government board and no. of letter, date when salary commences, amount of salary, rations etc. provided, amount of security and particulars of bond, in whose custody bond is lodged, date of change of salary and particulars, date of sanction and letter no., date of resignation, date of dismissal and particulars of sealed order, cause of removal from office. Also contains some supporting documentation, such as, letters from Local Government Board, letters of application, testimonials, advertisements for posts. Various posts are recorded, such as temporary wardsmaid for infirmary, ambulance driver, dispensary caretaker, Protestant and Catholic chaplains, porter of the workhouse, assistant nurse, permanent midwife, clerk and assistant clerk of the Union, relieving officer, sanitary sub-officer for Youghal No.1 rural district, schoolmaster, collector of rents of labourers’ cottages, matron, seamstress, temporary medical officer, engineer to Board of Guardians and Youghal No. 1 rural district, tailor, head nurse, medical officer Clashmore Dispensary, clerk of Youghal No.1 rural district council, temporary nurse at fever hospital, shoemaker. Such as, Thomas Fitzgerald, Master of Workhouse, appointed 21 May 1908, salary of £52 a year increasing by £10 every 10 years, estimated weekly rations worth 8/6, security of £200 lodged with clerk of union, dismissed 4 Jan 1922. Including notice (6 Apr 1908) from F. Ronayne, Clerk of the Union, regarding Order by LGB for the Board to elect a Master of the Workhouse; also, letter (3 Jan 1922) from Minister for Local Government, Dáil Éireann, enclosing findings of sworn inquiry (p21). From 1927-1935, various Board of Health appointments; such as, temporary cottage rent collector No.4 collection district in Cork, sanitary sub-officers in various areas such as, Midleton, Macroom, Glanmire, Cobh, Bandon, caretakers of burial grounds, clerks of works, meat and milk inspectors, collectors of cottage rents, caretakers of waterworks. Also, from 1943 – 1947, a small number of typists, housing clerks and clerical officers.

Date : 1901 – 1925, 1927 - 1935 (1947)

Level : Item

Extent : c.200pp plus enclosures.

Access: Restricted

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Youghal Board of Guardians IE CCCA/BG/163

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5. Workhouse: Inmates 1848 – 1851 (3 items)

BG/163/G/

Indoor Relief Registers

Scope and Content: Records details of persons admitted into and discharged from the Youghal Auxiliary Workhouse of the Midleton Union. Details include: register number, name and surname of pauper, sex, age, adult - marital status (single/married/widowed) or child (orphan, deserted or bastard), employment or calling (such as labourer, ex-soldier, servant, seaman, tailor etc) , religious denomination, description of disability if any, name of wife or husband, number of children, observations on condition of pauper when admitted (such as, ‘bad’ , and ‘returned from fever hospital’) , electoral division and townland in which resident, date when admitted or when born in the workhouse; date when died or left the workhouse, also occasional remarks, such as ‘F.S’ (Fever Sheds), ‘cholera’. With alphabetical indices.

Date : Feb 1848 – Jan 1851

Level : Series

Finding Aid: Built in index in each volume

Extent : 3 vols (each c.200ff in size)

Cross Ref: BG/118/G Midleton Board of Guardians records.

13 Feb 1848 – 31 Mar 1849

Includes: No.1587, Michael Hartnett, aged 62, married, Roman Catholic, ‘ brought to house in state of starvation ’ , Youghal electoral division, admitted 12 Apr 1848, died 22 Apr 1848. (BG/163/G/1 p80)

31 Mar 1849 – 1 Jan 1850

Includes: No.912, Mary Fitzgerald, aged 40, married, also her children aged 6, 4 and 2, Roman Catholic, all in condition of ‘wretched destitution’, Clonpriest electoral division, admitted 14 May 1849, discharged 27 May 1849, note in margin ‘Cholera’ (BG163/G/2).

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Youghal Board of Guardians IE CCCA/BG/163

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1 Jan 1850 – 7 Jan 1851

Includes: No.3543, Margaret Mahony, aged 50, widow, housewife, Roman Catholic, suffering from dropsy, condition ‘indifferent’, from Youghal, admitted 11 Sep 1850, discharged 12 Sep 1850.

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