Coppingers of Barryscourt Descriptive List (Ref. U405)

U405

Letter to William Coppinger, c/o Joseph Coppinger, Cork, from Stephen Coppinger, Ostend, giving ‘a short journall of my voiage’. He discusses his journey to Ostend via Jerickzea, Champhier, and Sluice. He notes that [fellow traveller] ‘Br Hennessy fared as I did’. He sends his best wishes to William and his family, and to cousin Joseph’s and Mr Galwey’s families. He explains briefly his further travel plans, involving G othenburg and Amsterdam. He states that he has seen a letter from his brother to sister Hennessy in which he gives a bad account of his health, which prevents him from travelling. Stephen expects to reach him in fifteen or sixteen days. He asks that the ne ws of his brother’s poor health be kept from his brother Jack. [Letter frayed along top margin and on some fold lines].

2pp

20.

18 July 1750

Letter to William Coppinger, Barry’s Court, from Francis Flaherty, Agliss, complaining that William’s neighbour , Mr McCarthy, has not kept his promise of last May to pay arrears due on his bond for one hundred pounds. He writes ‘I’ve writ to him two or three letters to put him in mind of his promess, but as he looks upon my epistles as so many Duns, he, like some o f our Nobles, (with some of whom he has been acquaint’d,) putts ‘em in his pocket & doubtless makes a proper use of ‘em; The Gentleman knows how to write, this I can attest, for I saw him sign some Bonds very nimbly, but ne plus ultra from him’. He is sorry that William is concerned in another bond of McCarthy’s, and as there is now no hope of Mr Taafe, another party, settling his affairs, William is now, Flaherty explains, ‘my sole refuge and my onely mark’ for the debt. He notes that he has seen one daugh ter married ‘but now having another girl reddy for the same end, its impossible for me to answer her call without this money or part of the debt of Ballyvolane’.

2pp

21.

4 August 1750

Letter to William Coppinger, Barry’s Court, from Stephen Coppinger, Gottenbourg, explaining that as his brother left his affairs ‘in a very distracted way’, he fears he will be detained there for the winter at least. He states ‘I am in a strainge place without a friend to converse or consult with & have a great contest with an opulent widow who challenges almost all my brother left as hers in a presumptive promise of marriage as she says’. He opines ‘she is & ever was (if fame lye not) a very v le woman & my brother the most bewitched man on earth, God forgive him’. He remarks ‘I wish with all my heart I never came here’, but continues ‘If I have justice done me I believe I shall carry from hence 5 or 6000ll’. He sends go od wishes to all of the family.

2pp