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Petition of Mary Kerin Widow concerning her dispute with James Kenny Archdeacon
of Kilfenora over tithes, 1819, donated by Margaret Gallery.
This petition of Mary Kerin was made to
Earl Talbot, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle and was certified by John
Kerin, special bailiff, Ennistymond (modern day Ennistymon) Post Office,
Co Clare. At the time of the petition all people (or most) were obliged
to pay tithes to the Church of Ireland church. The petition is held in
the National Archives of Ireland, Chief Secretary’s Papers CSO/RP/1819/545.
Petition against James Kenny by Mary Kerin, October 23 1819
To his excellency the Lord Lieutenant the petition
of Mary Kerin widow humbly forthwith,
That you excellency’s petitioner is a widow these
12 years by honest industry does provide for her children marrying daughters
and educating her sons, that in doing so herself was under the necessity
of earning her board from one of her sons as house keeper , that in
this situation an only cow she possessed was wrongfully, illegally and
forcibly taken by Archdeacon James Kenny for tyths said to be due of
a man of Augustine Kerin with whom your petitioner has no concern, herself
beaten, cut and left for dead and the said act done long after. That
you petitioner was long being a poor woman before she got any reliefs,
that lately she pursued the Archdeacon James Kenny for price of the
said cow and by finding of 12 men on their oaths got a decree for the
sum of 6 pounds sixteen shllings and sixpence with cost and did seize
on sufficient animas for the payment of said sum but when one of Petitioners
attended by an assistant was driving sheep to the pound of Ennistymon
they were pursued by the Archdeacon James Kenny who in the hearing of
the special bailiff called out his servants viz Thomas McInerney his
gardener a man under bail, Michael Spellicy his man servant, Tim Quely
his heards man who all commanded by the said Archdeacon James Kenny
did pursue, overtake and on the high road to Ennistymond did attack
the special bailiff and his assistants with stones and thence there
did put them in fear of their lives and by force did rescue the cattle
and so by virtue of the 3rd degree in their possession special bailiff
and assistants were obliged to take to flight for fear of being murdered
by the said Archdeacon Kenny and his Unlawful gang. Under these circumstances
your petitioner throws herself again on the laws of the county on made
information which were to have been sworn to by the special bailiff
in in 3rd peace but your excellency poor petitioner was disappointed
by the corrupt influence of the said Archdeacon James Kenny when your
petitioner ---alty John Kerin attended by a second person appeared before
John Lysaght Esquire of Ballyvorda, a farmer of considerable tyths as
the next magistrate to the archdeacon Kenny he was refused a warrant
against the miscreants on the said John Kerin requesting that he should
take his information and give it himself to have it conveyed to the
crown office for fear of being mislaid. Then said John Lysaght that
he would not as Dr James Kenny was his, John Lysaght’s relation,
your petitioner is left without reliefs as other magistrates say why
has not Mr Lysaght signed your information. As your petitioner has been
materially injured after the transaction of the cow and by other very
offensive acts such as refusing to take his tyths in kind when he found
corn at four shillings the small barrel for the next year leying by
this in kind for 2 years out of one years crop was at £2 10 per
barrel which acts your petitioner did through your Excelency receive
satisfaction against the magistrate and the said enquirer will endeavour
to bring before the public. Your petitioner therefore with the greatest
humility most humbly prays your excellency will do in the premises whatever
appear meet and just.
October 23 1819
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