Coppingers of Barryscourt Descriptive List (Ref. U405)

U405

The elder William Coppinger’s main correspondents were his brother Joseph (‘Joe’, the Cork wine merchant), his brother-in-law John Galwey of Carrigg, his nephew Stephen Coppinger, his cousin John Crotty of Ballygallane, various Gould cousins in east Cork, Dr MacKenna regarding parish clergy, and a Francis Flaherty of Agliss to whom William owed some money. The letters concern family affairs and relationships, religious piety, land, trade, and, occasionally, the politics of the day. As an example of their content, there are a few letters touching on each of the following subjects: Stephen Coppinger’s attempt to recover the residual estate of his brother who died in Sweden (U405/19, 21, 28) ; William Coppinger’s salting and barrelling of herring for sale by his brother Joe (U405/4, 14, 25, 27, 30, 42, 56); and John Galwey’s efforts to find an appropriate school for his son Billy (U405/50, 63, 64). William’s struggle with depression (e.g. U405/6, 10), and the births and illnesses of children (e.g. U405/41, 52) are recurring themes. The letters have been arranged in chronological order. A number of undated letters (No.s 73-79), all seemingly from the 1750s, have been placed after the last dated letter from the 1750s and before the next dated letter, which is from 1784. An ‘Index Note’ indicating which letters are from which correspondent precedes the list of items below.

System of Arrangement

Letters to William Coppinger I, 1740-56 Letters to William Coppinger II, 1784-85

iii Letters to William Coppinger III, his brother Thomas, and to other Coppinger relatives, 1827-43 [1797]

Publication Note:

Inside Their World , exhibition catalogue by Marita Foster, Cork Archives Institute (now CCCA), Cork, 1992. This catalogue contains a biographical note and selected list of documents relating to the younger William Coppinger (1779-1863) in the Exham Flynn Solicitors Papers (CCCA/U229).

Conditions of Access and Use

Open by appointment to those holding a current readers ticket.

Owing to the age and fragility of the original letters, only hard copies of scanned images of the letters may be produced in the Research Room. At the Archivist’s discretion, permission may be granted to allow examination of original items in some cases. Open for research by appointment and application form. Subject to the Rules Governing Access to Archives and other Material at CCCA.