Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1868 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 volume
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Captain Maxwell Fox was born in 1826, the son of Major Barry Fox and Sophy Fox of Longford. Fox was educated at Eton, and subsequently entered the Royal Navy. He served under Commodore Lambert on board the battleship, Serpent at the bombardment of Rangoon in the Burma War of 1853, for which he was awarded a gold medal. He retired with the rank of captain in 1864, a year after his father’s death, and returned to Ireland to manage his estates, and assumed residence at Annaghmore House.
Fox married Florence Jane, eldest daughter of Sir Andrew Buchanan, Bart. Following her death in 1882, he married secondly in 1886, Edith Edgeworth of Kilshrewly, eldest daughter of Rev. Essex Edgeworth. He served on the visiting committee of Tullamore gaol, and as an ex-officio guardian of the Tullamore Workhouse. In 1868 he assumed the office of High Sheriff. Maxwell Fox sold up his own farm in 1896, prior to his departure from Annaghmore, and died suddenly at Foxhall, County Longford on 14 September 1899.
Repository
Archival history
Gifted by the late Sylvia Kennedy to Michael Byrne on behalf of Miss Haines and Mrs Potter of Charleville Gate House, and formerly caretakers of the Courthouse.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Personal diary and almanack of Captain Maxwell Fox, Annaghamore House. The diary records short, day-to-day accounts of January to October of 1868, the year Fox was appointed High Sheriff of King's County. Entries to the diary comment mainly on personal matters and activities of his routine as a landowner, with occasional reference to national and local events.
Personal matters referred to include socialising amongst a small circle of landed neighbours, relations and professionals in the town of Tullamore (names occurring include: Coote, Ridley, Marshall, Waller, Biddulph); attending religious services; light farm duties; shooting and hunting; card games.
Entries contain occasional reference to his duties as High Sheriff during the Spring and Summer Assizes. An example of this is recorded across two days, dated 4 and 5 March, "Drove to Tullamore on car at 8.45, found carriage all ready so went with Sub-Sheriff in Clarence to meet Chief Justice Monaghan [sic] at Clara station. Brough him and Lefroy back to their lodgings in Tullamore, then drove home to luncheon after which cutting hedge along back lane to Lambs... Went in brougham to Tullamore at 8.35 attended at Station and received Chief Justice (Whiteside) drove him to his lodgings and attended by mounted police. At 11.15 attended both judges to Court House in Clarence and pair. In Court with Chief Justice until 4. Visited G. Jury luncheon and some. - Dined with judges and met Curran, Molloy, Dames and Montgomery. Home at 11."
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
By appointment only. Contact Offaly Archives at [email protected]
Conditions governing reproduction
May be reproduced in accordance with provisions of the Copyright and Related Rights Act (2000). No reproduction online, in print or broadcast without express permission of copyright holder.
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
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Publication note
Michael Byrne, 'The life of a County Offaly landowner and high sheriff in 1868: being the diary of Maxwell Fox of Annaghmore House, near Tullamore', in Offaly Heritage 6, (Tullamore, 2011).