Seamus Kennedy is a great-great-great-grandson of The Rev. John Pitt Kennedy (1759-1811) who married Mary Cary, only child of Major Thomas Cary of Loughash, Co. Tyrone. The Reverend's son, Lt. Col. John Pitt Kennedy, established the Loughash National Model Agricultural School.
A quantity of family papers were passed to Seamus, who collated and deposited them with the National Library in Dublin in 2006. There is a body of material relevant to the Cary family, and the agricultural school which may be of interest.
The collection is available for public consultation, with no access restrictions, from the Manuscripts Department of the National Library of Ireland. You can expand the collection and view the individual records within via the “context” button.' Click this link to the catalogue record.
Below is a sample of the material and references to the full extent of the material can be seen on the National Library's on-line system
Brown Envelope
Letters, mostly Lieutenant John Pitt Kennedy to Colonel Napier and visa versa 1820. Some notes in Greek.
Mrs James Hack Tuke’s Diary 1883 – 1896.
Née Georgina Mary Kennedy.
Given to Lucy Kennedy and son George Laurence Kennedy by Geoffrey Young in 1922.
Gilbert Kennedy notes:
Mainly about work with James Hack Tuke to assist emigrants from Western Irish seaboard, but mentions other events at the time. Interesting reading but little historical value.
Framed b/w photographic copy of portrait of Reverend John Pitt Kennedy, born 1758, died 1811
Framed b/w photographic copy of portrait of Frances Portalés with her great great niece Frances Margaret and great great nephew William
Unframed b/w photographic copy of Kennedy Coat of Arms tapestry
Unframed b/w photographic copy of portrait of unknown woman
Framed colour photographic copy of unknown man
Folder entitled ‘Major Francis Kennedy, Correspondence including Kennedy Pedigree’
Crookshank family tree ranging from 1630 to 1893 with various notes added.
Details of Kennedy family tree ranging from Kenneth IV King of Scotland, deposed 1003, to John Pitt Kennedy 1811. Written in 1882.
Letters from relatives to Major Francis Kennedy, The Manor, Kingston St. Mary, Taunton thanking him for his book ‘A Family of Kennedy of Clogher and Londonderry’ and giving excuses as to why they had not replied to his previous letters while researching the book. Also letters from Civic authorities to whom he had sent copies of the book. All 1938
Letters from relatives:
Robert J. Stopford, 147 Victoria Street, London SW1
…. Carey, Ashmansworth House, Ashmansworth, Nr Newbury, England
George V Hart, Ballynagard, Culmore, Nr Londonderry, Northern Ireland (3 letters)
Cousin Mabel, 1225 W. Santa Barbara Ave., Los Angeles
Geoffrey Winthrop Young, Birches, Gomshall, Surrey, England
Kennet …., Fritton Hithe, Nr Gt. Yarmouth, England
Richard Kennedy, Eardley Crescent, Earls Court, London
Olive Kennedy, Eardley Crescent, Earls Court, London
David P. Kennedy, 30 Philbeach Gardens, London SW5
W. S. Ferguson, Caw, Londonderry, Northern Ireland (3 letters)
Captain H. F. C. Crookshank M.P., Pont Street, London SW1 (2 letters)
…. Young, Culdaff House, Culdaff, Co. Donegal, Ireland
…. Young, Lower Belgrave Street, London SW1
E.H. Kennedy, Betchworth Vicarage, Surrey, England
R.G.S. King, The Deanery, Derry, Northern Ireland
Henry S. Howard, Tintinhull Court, Yeovil, Somerset, England
George L. Kennedy, Kennedy & Nightingale, Chenil Galleries, Kings Road, London
Alice K. Wordsworth, Ashley Place London SW1
Edith Stopford, Ashley Place, London SW1
Virginia Pye, Aubrey Walk, London W8
Margaret Davies, Hendre Hall, Merioneth, N. Wales
The Rev. H. P. Kennedy Skipton, S. Philip’s Parsonage, Reigate, Surrey (2 letters)
James Colhoun, Londonderry Sentinel, Northern Ireland
Irish Manuscripts Commission, 5 Ely Place, Dublin, Ireland
George Sherwood, Record Searcher and Archivist, Brockley, London S.E.4
….. Phillips, Guildhall, Londonderry (2 letters)
Belfast Library, Northern Ireland
The Times Literary Supplement, London EC4
Office of Arms, The Castle, Dublin, Ireland
College of Arms, London EC4
National Library of Scotland
The New York Public Library
The British Museum
The New England Historic Genealogical Society
Library of Congress, Washington
The President and Fellows of Harvard College
Court of the Lord Lyon, H.M. Register House, Edinburgh
Queens University, Belfast
Marsh’s Library, Dublin
Royal Irish Academy, Dublin
Public Record Office, Four Courts, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Magee College, Londonderry
County Museum, Armagh, Northern Ireland
National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin
Letters Re. Family History from:
Joyce Cary, Parks Road, Oxford (2 letters)
David P. Kennedy, Divinity Road, Oxford
Evelyn H.C. Hulls, Rax, Chidham, Nr Chichester, Sussex, England (17 letters)
Elsa Hulls, Rax, Chidham, Nr Chichester, Sussex, England
The Society of Genealogists, Chaucer House, London WC1
Letters Re. Family History from:
George F. Kennedy, 188 High Street, Newburyport, Mass. USA (1948) detailing Kennedy links with Earls of Cassilis.
W.S. Ferguson, Caw, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. 1940 (2 letters)
Londonderry Sentinel, Northern Ireland. 1940 (2 letters)
The Institute of American Genealogy 1940
…. …., 11 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 1941
R.G.S. King, The Deanery, Derry, Northern Ireland 1940 (3 letters)
National Library of Ireland 1940 (2 letters)
Letters Re: Family History from:
Henrietta Taylor, 181 Queens Gate, London SW1 (2 letters) re: Cornet John Kennedy
W. Kennedy, The Quota Press, Donegall Street, Belfast
R.G.S. King, The Deanery Derry 1939 (2 letters)
T.W. Moody, Queens University, Belfast 1939
J.K. Saunderson, Mullagh, Donnington, Newbury 1938 Re: Siege of Derry (4 letters)
Linen Hall Library, Belfast
F.G. Osborne, Copyright Agent for Libraries of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Dublin
Letters Re: Family History from:
T.W. Carey, Rochford House, Guernsey (8 letters)
John Walker Atkins, Essex Industrial School, Chelmsford Re: Cary family (2 letters)
Horas Kennedy, The Park, Nottingham 1913. Re: Visit to Derry
John Pitt Kennedy, 29 Lupus Street, St. Georges Square, London 1886
R.R.G. Crookshank, Sloperton, Kingstown 1906
Notes on the early history 11th, 12th, 13th Centuries of the House of Cary
Kennedy Pedigree from John Kennedy of Cavan, father of John Kennedy of Ballymagowan, Co. Tyrone incorporated in Skipton pedigree
Notes on Pedigree Kennedy family, written 1882
Notes on Pedigree Kennedy family ranging from King Kenneth III of Scotland 994 to Stewart & Kennedy 1600
Pedigree tracing descent of Rev. John Pitt Kennedy from Kenneth IV of Scotland
Original document:
George the Fourth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and soforth, To the Sheriff of the County of Donegall Greeting, We command you that you take Henry Falkener and William Falkener if they can be found in your Bailiwick, and them safely keep, so that you may have their Bodys before us at the King’s Courts, on Wednesday next after the ---- ---- of next coming, to answer The Reverend Charles Henry Crookshank --- the Reverend ---- ---- --- --- --- of a plea of Trespass and have you then there this Writ. Witness --- --- of the Reverend John Pitt Kennedy --- --- at the Kings Courts aforesaid, the Twenty Eighth Day of November in the Second Year of our Reign. Robert Hamilton 22 December 1821 --- --- £13..5..0 by ---- Dominick Knox Attorney for the Plaintiffs.
Newspaper cutting from the Derry Sentinel 4th July 1940 which says that Major F.M. Kennedy has given a picture of his grandfather, Rev. John Pitt Kennedy, M.A. to the Foyle College to be hung in the Assembly Hall.
Letter from Geoffry Winthrope Young to Major F.K. Re: 39 children of James Hamilton
Letters to Major Francis Kennedy in relation to Foyle College, Londonderry, Northern Ireland from:
W.S. Ferguson 1936 (4 letters) Query regarding medal to William Kennedy
W.S. Ferguson 1937 (2 letters)
W.S. Ferguson 1938
Notes, questions from M.F. Kennedy to W.S. Ferguson about the origins of Derry (2 pages)
Draft of broadcast about Foyle College
Copy of records of pupils that attended Foyle College from Kennedy Pedigree
Quotations of cost of publishing Major Francis Kennedy book
Bundles of letters etc
Letter, undated, from Sir Henry Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1853, from Sir Henry Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1847, from Sir Henry Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1848, from Sir Henry Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1852, from Sir Henry Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 24th, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to Sir Charles Napier?
Letter, 15th, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 8th, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1844, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 18th, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1844, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1844, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1844, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 8th Feb, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1844, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1875, from ? Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1858, from McMurdo (Aide-de-camp of Sir Charles Napier) to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 3rd April, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 23rd January, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy, (dictated)
Letter, 1847, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1848, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1848, from Sir Henry Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, undated, from Sir William Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1850, from Sir Charles Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1861?, from Sir Charles Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Lock of white hair belonging to Sir William Napier sent by Emily to John Pitt Kennedy February 12th 1860
Newspaper cutting, The Times, February 14th 1860 on the life and death of Sir William Napier
Newspaper cutting, The Daily Advertiser, undated, despatches from India mentioning Charles Napier
Letter, 1833, from William Atkinson to John Pitt Kennedy about employment in Ireland
Letter, 1851? from McMurdo (Sir Charles Napier’s aide-de-camp and later son in law) to Charles Napier
Letter, 1832, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Napier
Letter, 1832, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Napier. References to Corfu resignation, Lough Ash agricultural project, George & ? Brooke’s proposed voyage
Letter, 1832, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Napier
Letter, 1832, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Napier
Letter, 1832, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Napier
Letter, 1832, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Napier
Letter, 1831 ? from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Napier
Letter, 1825, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Napier
NFC 47 (i) 9.d
Letter,1853, from John Pitt Kennedy? To Richard Napier
Letter, undated, from Richard Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1841, from John Pitt Kennedy to ? Napier written from Cloghan Lodge, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, Ireland
Letter, 1846, from Richard Napier to Charles Napier about the death of one of John Pitt Kennedy’s children
Letter, 1859, from Richard Napier to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1837, from John Pitt Kennedy to Richard Napier, written from Cloghan Lodge, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, Ireland, saying what a wonderful man Sir Charles Style is.
Letter, 1843, from John Pitt Kennedy to Richard Napier ?
Letter, 1843, from John Pitt Kennedy to ? Napier, written from Cloghan Lodge, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, Ireland, deploring the fact that Charles Style had decided to go abroad
Letter, 1825, from J.E. Napier ? to John Pitt Kennedy
Letter, 1837, from John Pitt Kennedy to Richard Napier, written from Lough Ash. A reply to Richard who had scolded JPK for his pamphlet ‘Instruct, Employ, Don’t Hang them. The letter mentions Nicholls, who had been publicly berated in Kennedy’s pamphlet. Ref. Ireland
Letter, 1833, from John Pitt Kennedy to William Napier
Handwritten notebook on agriculture written around 1846 / 1847 by John Pitt Kennedy.
Subject Headings:
Inverted Arches, Bridges, Brick, Bond Timbers, Bag Reclaiming, Building Cottages, Cisterns, Carriage Springs, Caesar’s commentaries, Chemistry, Chemistry in schools, Cottages: cost, Draining Bogland, Dispensary Doctors, Foundations, Foundations with arches, Farming: capital required, Farming: return on investment, Farming: rent, Farming Leases, Farming: prizes at Lough Ash, Farming: meetings, Farm House, India under Lord Hastings, Ireland: division of surface in waste and arable, Dispensary doctors, Ireland: protestant church, Ireland: Finance by Staunton, Irrigation, Lying in hospital, Martello towers, National debt of England and taxes, Planting trees, Planting on bogland, Population, Red haired man’s wife, (!), Reclaiming land from waste, Reclaiming a waste estate, Theatre, Traversing platforms, Tanks, Taxes in England, Terraces in reclaiming hilly land, Turf cutting in Limerick.
(Note: ‘Red haired man’s wife’ is one of a series of Gaelic poems or songs that have been written phonetically, and then translated.)
Notebook containing handwritten copies of letters 1820 –1830. Mostly to family, others to officials. Mainly written from Cephalonia, Greece.
Letter, 1846, from Mr Spring Rice to John Pitt Kennedy ? Asking for a place for a boy at one of the agricultural schools
Letter, 1847, from Mr Spring Rice to John Pitt Kennedy, asking for details on the conduct of the agricultural school so that it may be copied
Letter,1864, from James Moore to John Pitt Kennedy?, sending statistics of Loughash agricultural school
Letter,1864, from James Moore to John Pitt Kennedy?, sending details of tenants, rents and holdings of Loughash agricultural school
Letter,1864, from James Moore to John Pitt Kennedy?, sending plans o of Loughash agricultural school
Letter, 1857, from John Pitt Kennedy to Lady Bunbury, giving details of Boarding pupils trained at Loughash from 1837 to 1857
Letter, 1846, from Excise Office Derry to John Pitt Kennedy asking for arrears of Crown rents
List of girls educated at the female boarding school at Cloghan from 1839 – 1846 and their respective destinations
Letter, 1836, from John Pitt Kennedy to Mr Kelly, Secretary of the National Education Commission as an accompanying letter with ‘an instrument adapted for draining, levelling, and irrigating land, and laying out roads. It is the same alluded to in the enclosed Regulation No. 23 of the Loughash National Agricultural day School.’ He requests that the instrument be considered for use in the ‘normal school’.
Letter, 1837, from John Pitt Kennedy to Mr Kelly, Secretary of the National Education Commission. Having arrived at Cloghan, Co. Donegal to set up another agricultural school(s), from the success of Loughash, he suggests that the Commission provide funding for further schools.
Letter, 1838, from John Pitt Kennedy to Education Office, Dublin. Having received some funding from the National Education Commission, he argues that more funding should be provided.
Letter, 1838, from John Pitt Kennedy at Glasnevin, Dublin to Mr Kelly, which suggests that JPK himself opened the school at Glasnevin, which was to become the Dublin City University.
Twelve pages handwritten detail of JPK’s life extracted from the Dictionary of National Biography Vol. XXX. p 430 by Colonel R.H. Vetch R.E.
Five and a half pages handwritten detail of JPK’s life. (Copy of above) by Colonel R.H. Vetch R.E.
Marbled notebook containing lists of ‘Interesting letters from various people’ – possibly an early attempt to catalogue the Kennedy Papers?
Musings on the probity of going to India, 1863. Gives details of investments and properties
Three pages of notes by John Pitt Kennedy, undated, on social reform
Report, 1864, on Loughash Agricultural school from its Manager James Moore to John Pitt Kennedy.
Ten page handwritten report followed by progress report table reproduced below:
Loughash
October 11th 1864
To Colonel Kennedy
Sir- In accordance with your desire, I send you an outline of operations and their results in Loughash since I first took charge under you:
In the Spring of 1834 I was engaged by you to manage the school of Loughash; to superintend and instruct the tenants in the best method of cultivating their farms and reclaiming waste land; and to teach them how to cultivate the different kinds of crops with which they had heretofore been unacquainted. At that time there were only thirteen tenants on the property, cultivating small patches, where the greater facilities existed for labour; leaving every piece of land that was either wet or difficult to work un-cultivated, whether it was at the end or middle of the field. Large, wet irregular gripes existed everywhere, just as nature had formed them, without any attempt on the part of the cultivator to improve them or render any part more productive than what nature intended it to be. It was likewise their opinion that any attempt to change the system of cultivation or increase the productiveness of the soil beyond what they themselves were doing, would end in ruin or disappointment to those who attempted. Believing, as they imagined, that the land and climate were both unsuited for yielding remunerative crops no matter what kind of labour was bestowed. The result of this ignorance was evident in the wretched condition of the people, being scarcely able to raise more than was able to afford a miserable support for so small a number of inhabitants.
A farm of four acres was attached to the school to be cultivated as a model farm by me where the children had an opportunity of seeing the success or failure of every operation that was performed and who were sure to carry home to their parents information of every thing that was going on. Every operation being minutely criticized and watched expecting a total failure as they at first had predicted but in these misgivings they were disappointed; for every year they saw the crops on the model farm becoming more productive, the waste land reclaimed drained, cleared of stones and yielding crops equally as productive as the other parts of the farm and green crops which it was supposed impossible to raise in this climate growing most luxuriantly. In this way the doubts of the people became removed in a few years and no difficulty was experienced in getting them to adopt whatever appeared to be most conducive to their interests.
The entire townland consists of about 1160 acres (statute) most of which in 1834 was covered with peat bog and heath giving a scanty subsistence to a few miserable cattle kept grazing on it during the summer season only. A portion of my duty was to lay this out in small farms of from ten to twenty acres which were offered to every person who came to take them as tenants, on condition of their reclaiming a certain portion each year. The farms were given free of rent for the first seven years with a gradually increasing rent of a shilling an acre each year for the next seven. Thus, a tenant taking a new farm of 20 acres, had it free for the first seven years; the 8th year he paid on pound rent, the ninth year, two pounds, and so on for seven years when his standing rent became seven pounds.
The class of persons who became tenants was generally farm labourers; no other persons being willing to undertake them. They were without capital and for the first few years had to spend as much of their time labouring to others, or in some other employment as afforded the means of subsistence while they were reclaiming the first portions of their own farms. The first year a large part of their time was employed in this way; but every succeeding year less till the return from their own farms enabled them to spend their whole time in their reclamation. – Some had families who were hired out as servants the wages being saved and devoted to the maintenance of their parents for the first years of their settlement. A sod house of small dimensions and simple construction was first used as a temporary residence till their means enabled them to build stone houses a small allowance being made by the landlord to each, for purchasing timber and paying for mason work. The application for farms was not numerous for the first few years; but when the success of the first settlers became apparent, the applicants were more numerous, and all the farms were in a short time taken up. Between forty and fifty new farms were in this way let.
The farms were necessarily small; spade labour being the only plan of reclaiming, and the limited means of the occupier rendered it necessary not to give large tracts to each. This caused a greater quantity to be reclaimed, and as any tenant wanted to remove or sell his interest, the farm was added to the adjoining by which they are gradually becoming larger holdings.
The success of this colony is now beyond doubt; the tenants are now in as good a position and many of them better off than those on old farms who thought a living could never be made out of such places. Some in a small way saving money for the use of their families when about to take up house for themselves. The tenants were kindly treated. I, being constantly on the ground, gave every necessary advice; plans of reclaiming were pointed out; their ditches and fields arranged; their disputes settled; grievances removed; and every thing done that could render them contented and industrious.
In 1840 when the unexpected failure of the potato crop set in the tenants at this time had only got their farms into such a state as to be able to raise as much as was sufficient for own subsistence. This failure gave rise to some misgivings on the part of many as to the success of the colony; but I made application through the landlord to the Board of Works, for a loan for reclaiming and draining on the old tenants holdings. This was obtained, and employment and wages was afforded to every tenant who acquired work up till 1852 when no further employment was required. Every tenant who wanted food, or seed to crop the land, he or some of his sons, if he had any, came and wrought at this work till as much was earned as met their requirements. This kept them from getting into debt or from purchasing on credit and the result was that in 1852 no employment was required and one instalment of the money still unexpended never was lifted. This outlay benefited both the old tenants and the new, giving employment to the latter whilst the improvements on the formers holdings became highly remunerative and rendered the instalments easily paid by the tenants to the Board of Works.
From that time till the present the state of these new settlers has been progressive. They are now able to manage for themselves and instead of being servants as many of them were, they are now employers of servants. The population of the entire townland in 1830 amounted to 96, no servants being then employed by any. At the present time the resident population is 246 with 36 servants making a total of 282 receiving support and employment on the same extent of land and yielding almost treble the rent now than it did in 1830. Contrast this with the decreasing population of Ireland and it will at once be seen that by proper estate management by affording agricultural instruction to the tenants; teaching them by example and advice, habits of industry and economy not only the population of 1846 might have been maintained, but a gradual increase have taken place, food and employment being afforded to all their reproductive labour and increase of produce saving the importation of large quantities of foreign grain which is now required to support the diminished population.
In 1837 you established a small boarding agricultural school, under my management, in addition to the day school, both of which are in connection with the National Board of Education. The object of this was to afford Agricultural and literacy instruction on a more extensive scale to young persons of talent who wanted to pursue such studies and to qualify themselves for a higher position in life. The course of Education embraces reading, writing, English Grammar, Mathematics, Measuration, Geometry, Land surveying, and Mapping with the theory and practice of Agriculture and the Elementary principles of Geology, Botany and Chemistry. For this purpose a larger farm was added to the school farm, which now consists of between sixty and seventy statute acres, most of which was reclaimed from a state of nature. The pupils work half time on farm and half time in school. They have thus an opportunity of witnessing and assisting in carrying through the different operations in and improved system of farming and the economic management of stock: of seeing the results of the treatment of the different kinds of crops and of following a rotation. In fact order, regularity, knowledge, and perseverance being the requisites necessary in every undertaking which is expected to be successful. The pupils who are well advanced before entering on this course of training usually continue from one to four years and are then for the most part qualified for becoming Agriculturalists, overseers, school masters, Clerks, and shopkeepers and some of them even for higher pursuits. Of 184 who received such training, 17 became landstewards, 34 teachers of National and other schools, 13 Clerks and shopboys, 2 Excise Officers, 34 became farmers on their own account, 14 went to Glasnevin Agricultural Establishment to pursue their studies farther, 2 are on the ordinance survey, 9 went out to Trinidad as overseers on sugar plantations, 5 emigrated to America, 3 became clergymen, and 13 still remain at school. The present position of the pupils so far as is known is equally satisfactory their advancement still being progressive and many of them occupying very respectable and independent positions in life.
In order to make the class intended to be benefited the diet and all connected with the establishment are conducted on a most economic scale. The charge to pupils is only £7.10 shillings per anum for board, washing and lodging, their labour, half time, being considered an equivalent for the remaining item of their support. The course of training these pupils receive renders them well qualified for various occupations and we have rarely any difficulty in getting them into employment when their period of education expires. The result of the Loughash Establishment and its example in the district has been highly beneficial. Large tracts of land have been reclaimed fields have been squared and proper fences made, a superior system of farming pursued, employment afforded to all and a spirit of industry contentment perseverance and emulation diffused which is rarely to be met with in communities more favourably situated as regards land and climate. In all our management we took care never to attempt too much, and nothing but what was within the reach of the class intended to be benefited; and to take care that every operation in which we were engaged should prove successful, or where our advice was given or a plan proposed for others to follow the results should always prove equal if not superior to the expectations at the time of giving it. In this way a person establishes confidence among the people and after a few years experience you have little difficulty in getting them to follow an advice which they have found by experience to turn out to their advantage.
Trusting that this hasty and perhaps imperfect outline of the results of improvement in Loughash first set in foot by you may be satisfactory.
I remain your obedient servant,
James Moore
Table showing the progress of Loughash Colony from the date of Mr James Moore’s appointment (1830) as its Agricultural Director, Its General Manager, and Land Agent up to the present time 1864
|
Particulars |
State in 1830 |
State in 1864 |
Period from 1830 to 1864 |
|
Area of Colony Total |
1160 |
1160 |
|
|
Area of Arable |
141 |
660 |
|
|
Area of Waste |
1019 |
500 |
|
|
Rental in Pounds Stirling |
145 |
320 |
|
|
Chief Rent |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Profit Rent |
95 |
270 |
|
|
Improvements by Landlord – Roads |
|
|
120 |
|
Improvements by Landlord – Cottages |
|
|
180 |
|
Improvements by Landlord – Miscellaneous |
|
|
100 |
|
Improvements by Govt. loans for Drainage |
|
|
333 |
|
Agricultural School Boarding Pupils |
|
13 |
171 |
|
Agricultural School Day Pupils |
|
25 |
250 |
|
Population Total |
|
96 |
282 |
|
Population Trained in Agricultural School Leaving |
|
5 |
50 |
|
Sire Stock – Cow Cattle |
90 |
251 |
|
|
Sire Stock – Sheep |
56 |
25 |
|
|
Sire Stock – Horses |
8 |
28 |
|
|
Sire Stock – Pigs |
18 |
65 |
|
|
Farm Implements – Carts |
2 |
27 |
|
|
Farm Implements – Wooden ploughs in 1830 Iron ploughs in 1864 |
5 |
28 |
|
|
Farms – Total number |
13 |
43 |
|
|
Farms – Average size in Acres |
36 |
24 |
|
Letter, 1841, from John Pitt Kennedy to Education Commission suggesting that they introduce a scale of salary for new teachers commensurate with level of qualifications attained.
Note, 1845, from John Pitt Kennedy to C. A. Kennedy asking that he acts for JPK in the examination and selection of candidates to fill scholarships at for the Clochan and Loughash schools, with a list of the rules of the examination
Letter, 1838, from ?, to Education Office Dublin about classifications of adequate remuneration to teachers in National Schools
Note, 1841, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Style (his father in law) suggesting the addition of an 8 column white marble frontage to Clochan lodge, and also asking for authority to evict a certain tenant who had refused to pay rent unless it was reduced.
Details of the Clochan female school timetable
Letter, 1844, from John Pitt Kennedy to Lady Bunbury thanking her for her annual endowment of a scholarship
Letter, 1844, from John Pitt Kennedy to Lady Bunbury that her annual endowment of £30 would pay for 2 boys for 3 years at a cost of £5 per boy per anum.
Letter, 1845, from John Pitt Kennedy to Lady Bunbury asking that she shouldn’t send a letter on his behalf supporting his application as Chairman of the Board of Works because he believed offices of government should be granted on merit rather than by influence. Also that the Board of education had agreed to match Lady Bunbury’s endowment for scholarships to the Clochan and Loughash schools
Letter, 1844, from John Pitt Kennedy to Sir Charles Style about Charles Style’s poor health
Letter, 1839, from John Pitt Kennedy to the Education Commission complaining about the poor repair and designs of National Schools
Sketch Plan of Cloghan School Farm
Letter, 1843, from John Pitt Kennedy to John Wood Esq, Secretary of the ?, about Loughash and Clochan, saying that he had many thousands of acres in Clochan, had distributed the tenants more evenly on the land. Also alludes to a lecture he gave at the Royal Dublin Society in the Spring of 1841 on the subject.