Carnew Vestry Minutes
Compiled by Kevin Lee ( a Carnew Historian)
Allocation of Pews in Church
At a vestry held on Thursday, 29th. April 1819, it was resolved that the following persons be appointed as a committee to draw up a form for registering pews belonging to the parish and to private individuals viz., the minister and church wardens, Thomas Swan, William Haigh and Richard Bookey Esqrs., and that a special vestry be held on Thursday, May 20th. next for registering same in Vestry Book.
Copy
The following is a copy of the registry of the old pews from No. 1 to No. 23
1. To the Honble. Thomas Wentworth for the land of Coollattin.
2. To John White Esq. for the lands of Ballyellis.
3. To James Underwood for the lands of Bolinrush, Ballyancoran, Donishal, Ballycadon.
4. The Reading Desk.
5. To Mountbower, Knockbrandon and Ballyconran.
6. To Money and Brideswell.
7. To the land of Askamore and Askabeg.
8. To the lands of Coollattin for the use of inhabitants and servants.
9. To the lands of Cool boy
10. To the lands of Kilcavin
11. To the lands of Cronyhorn.
12. To the lands of Minmore
13. To the lands of Ballard.
14. To the lands of Ballytarsna, Kiltilliham and Raheenconer.
15. To the lands of Tomacork, Carrick and Stoops.
16. To that part of Shillelagh where on Shillelagh forge is built.
17. To the lands of Tomfinogue.
18. To the lad of Bolingate
19. To the lands of Carnew.
20. To the conveniency of the Minister of the Parish.
21. To the lands of Umrigar
22. For the use of some families in Carnew
23. To the lands of Ballykelly.
Abraham Symes, Rector
James Hastings, curate
A copy of the Decree of a Vestry bearing date, April 18th., 1720
24. Do and shall belong to John Page and William Carey.
25. To Mrs. Slator
26. To Abraham Nixon.
27. New gallery, Thomas Needham and Henry Ireland.
28. To David Paine
29. Mr. Hodkinson.
30. To John Symes.
31. Edward Newton, clk.
32. John Chammy
33. J. Braddell.
34. Edward Greene and Edward Lazar.
35. To Peter Twambly and Richard Carr.
36. To Richard James and John Hope.
37. To Nathaniel Bradshaw and James Wright.
And it is further agreed that if any of the above-named parishioners shall leave the parish also inclined to part with or dispose of the seats they built at their own costs belonging to them it shall not be in their power to sell them to whomsoever they please but only to such persons as shall be appointed by act of the Vestry and they shall be allowed two thirds of the principal cost and not more, which two thirds are hereby are agreed to be one pound, one shilling and eight pence.
Copy of an act of Vestry held in the parish church of Carnew on 28th, April,1760.
An account was taken of the several pews in said church the same do belong and what persons make use of them as here under expressed by the consent of the Minister, church wardens and parishioners according to the numbering of the pews affixed:-
1. To the Honbl. Thomas Wentworth Esq. for the lands of Coollattin.
2. To John White Esq., for the lands of Ballyellis.
3. To James Underwood for the lands of Bullinrush, Ballyancoran, Donishall and Ballycaddin.
4. The Reading Desk.
5. To Mootybower, Knockbrandon and Ballycondran.
6. To Muney and Brideswell.
7. To the lands of Askamore and Askabeg.
8. To the lands of Coolattin.
9. To the lands of Coolboy.
10. Ro the lands of Kilcavin
11. To the lands of Cronyhorn
12. To the lands of Minamore.
13. To the lands of Ballard.
14. To the lands of Ballytarsna ,Kiltillahan and Raheenconnor.
15. To the lands of Tomacork, Carrick and Stoops
16. To Shillelagh forge
17. To the lands of Tomfinogue
18. To the lands of Ballingate.
19. To the lands of Carnew.
20. To the Minister of the parish
21. To the lands of Umrigar.
22. To the use of the families in Carnew, viz., Ralph Laurenson, Hopes, Henry Stone.
23. To the lands of Ballykelly.
The following account of the pews belonging to the parish of Carnew as they are appropriated at this present date on the 18th. May 1819.
1. Mr Haigh purchased
2. To Mrs Leonard and William Hope as per act of Vestry on the 18th. April 1797
3. To the lands of Money and Brideswell
4. To the lands of Motybower, Knockbrandon and Ballycondran
5. For the use of the Minister of the parish
6. Formerly No 3 to James Underwood Esq. for the lands of Bullinrush, Ballynancoran Donishall and Ballycaddin
7. Formerly No 3 (Mr Geo Sherwood claims this pew) to John White Esq for the lands of Ballyellis.
8. Mr Robert Hopkins by purchase.
9. The Earl of Fitzwilliam
10. Mr Thomas Kidd, Askamore by purchase
11. Mr John Mathews by purchase
12. Messrs Benjamin and Joseph Hopkins by purchase.
13. Mr. John Page, Parkmore by purchase
14. The Minister of the parish (formerly No 20)
15.
16.
17. Umrigar (formerly No 21)
18. Laurenson, Hope and Stone (formerly No 22)
19. Ballykelly (formerly No 23)
20.
21. Built by William Blake of Brideswell
22. and 23 Built by Mr William Walker and Jno Dowser, their title and interest in No 22 transferred by them to Mr William Dowser of Ballyellis.
An account of the private pews in Gallery, viz.
1. Messrs Taylor and Livards (Leonards ?)
2. Mr Henry Braddell of Upper Ballingate
3. Built by Rev Mr Newton of Umrigar.
4. Thomas Swan of Tombreane
5. Rev. Mr Symes of Hillbrook
6. Mr Symes, Coolboy
7. Richard Bookey Esq built part and purchased part
8. Thomas Swan Esq by purchase
9. George Binks of Cronyhorn and Joseph Braddell of Bullingate by purchase
10. Messrs Robert and Daniel Gilbert of Carnew by purchase
The three foregoing leaves are copied from the old Vestry book and are here
Transcribed at our vestry for the satisfaction of the parishioners dated this 18th. Day o
Of May, 1819
John Frith, curate; William Walker, Thomas Blake, church wardens.
Enlarging the Church
At a Vestry legally convened in the Parish Church of Carnew on Tuesday, 22nd. day of
June,1813.
Charles Cope, Rector; R.A. Taylor, John Kidd; church wardens; Thomas Swan, R.Bookey, Saml. Boyce, Robert Gilbert, Ephr. Page, Rcd.Goodison, Wm. Blake, Wm. Walker.
Abandoned Children
At a special meeting legally held in the Vestry room of the parish church of Carnew on Monday, 29th. Day of September,1817, for the purpose of considering the means best adopted for suppressing the inhuman and unnatural crime of deserting and abandoning infants and young children the following resolutions were proposed and passed by the minister, church wardens and parishioners.
Resolved that the inhuman practice of deserting and abandoning children and infants has become very prevalent in the parish, which, independent of its enormity as a criminal offence is very injurious to the parish as entailing a heavy expense for their maintenance and support to which it is bound by 11th. and 12th. Geo 3 Cap 15 and 13th and 19th. Geo 3 Cap 24.
Resolved that this parish will do everything as in them lies for the suppression of the aforesaid offence.
Resolved that the church wardens be directed to prosecute at the expense of the parish any persons against whom information shall be given as guilty of the aforesaid crime.
Resolved that the church wardens be authorised and are hereby directed to pay any person who shall inform of and prosecute to conviction any person found guilty
For said offence for each and every instance thereof the sum of ten pounds sterling.
Resolved that the church wardens do cause the foregoing resolutions to be printed and to be from time to time posted up in the various parts of the parish.
Signed: Richard Ponsonby, rector
George Binks, Thomas De Rensy; church wardens
John L. James, Robt. Gilbert, Wm. Ralph, Richd. Goodison, Samuel Pierce
At a vestry meeting specially and legal convened and assembled in the vestry room of the church of this parish on Tuesday, 2nd. May, 1826 for the purpose of considering the case of a female infant exposed and abandoned at Carnew in this parish on Saturday 1st of April last it was unanimously resolved That viewing with horror the menace of this crime and taking into consideration the probability now existing of proving the crime against the unnatural perpetrators thereof this vestry confirms in the fullest and most complete manner the former act of vestry of 29th. Sept., 1817.
Resolved that the committee consisting of the rector, crate and church wardens together with Mr Henry Braddell, Mr Haigh, Dr De Renzy and Mr Bookey be now appointed and registered to carry the above cited act of vestry wit fullest effect without delay three to form a quorum to act.
Wynne, Wm. Walker, R. Signed: Henry Moore, rector; John Frith, curate; Rbt. Blayney, Jos Hopkins, wardens
A. Wynne, Wm. Walker, R. Bookey, Jacob Condell