Papers relating to the families of Purefoy of Offaly and Turbett of Dublin / Rental and Account with covering letters
Handwritten covering letter from Brinsley Purefoy, Banagher, to ‘Dear George’ (G. W. Turbett, Bachelors’
Walk, Dublin) providing his account of rents of ‘K-shane (Killmackshane), and a cheque for £6.11.1, the
balance owning, ‘patience and forbearance generally their reward and in the matter of collecting these
rents I have experienced it…’, and writing ‘As your Mother (Sophia) takes such a truly full interest in the
condition of these people, (tenants) I have spared no pains in so preparing the Rental that she will be able
in looking over the “notes” which I have added to each Tenant’s name to form a correct estimate of their
individual condition…’.
Also includes handwritten covering letter (1880-03-05) from Brinsley Purefoy, Banagher, (agent) to Mrs
Sophia Turbett, together with detailed Rental and Account for lands of Kilmacshane signed by Purefoy.
Purefoy gives an account of general conditions for the past year, advising ‘your tenants have done their
duty fairly and much better than many around us in this County. They did not adopt the course advised by
wicked agitators and carried by almost, if not, all the small tenants in the Country, urging a demand for an
allowance, they admitted their allowance was made at the close of the Famine of 1847 - their lands
drained and their rents reduced so as to enable them to meet a returning pressure, yet they worked with a
will and with a few exceptions paid up their rents, not one of them asked any allowance, save and except the two
widows Neal and Horan who enquired if I was going to do as every other Agent was doing, to make them some
allowance. ----- happen no two Tenants on the lands have less grounds for any such than the two ladies but it
was only in a good-humoured way, just wishing to suggest that if I made them some allowance they would be
happy to accept it. As I am aware that you take a lively interest in the condition of your Tenants, I have taken
some pains in furnishing you with a rental, with brief notes and observations attached and which will enable you
without any trouble to form a reasonable estimate of their present state and condition…’. He also writes about
the provision by the Government of seed corn and potato, and of the ‘imperfect drainage of the Shannon’ (p5).
Account of Brinsley Purefoy with Ms Sophia Turbett for one year’s rent of Kilmacshane; annual rent of
£266.5.1.
The Rental details 22 tenant names, including Purefoy, arrears in last account, annual rent, amount
received, Poor Rate allowed tenants, and arrears remaining due, together with some observations, such as
‘This tenant resides in Tipperary on a large farm, he has latterly been very prosperous’; ‘Egan is a sad case.
Himself and wife are both sickly - six most miserable children - he lost his cow last Sept, choked by a
potato, how he procures food for his family I do not know ..’; ‘Poor Rodden died last Nov, left a widow and
two children. She is very industrious and hard working. She may be able to pay rent but I doubt as to
arrears’. Thomas Rigney ‘A Pensioner from the Indian Army - was present at the storming of Cawnpore and
Lucknow under General Havelock’, and Edward Nevin (+1881) ‘Another Indian Pensioner ... He may be
considered head man in Mr Tommie’s “Body Guards”.