Digitised collection of annual reports and rentals of the Geashill Estate, King's County sent by successive land agents to Lord Digby at his permanent residence in Dorset. Also includes two volumes of drawings depicting improvements made to labourers' cottages on the estate.

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."

Annual report submitted by Lewis Goodbody, agent to Lord Digby, in which he presents a statement of accounts up to 1 June 1923 for Digby's properties in King's County and Queen's County, noting a reduction in the rental income has been reduced owing to advances made under the Land Purchase Act, and the cessation interest in lieu of rent paid by tenants whose holdings are now vested.
In reference to the 'recent unsettled state of the country', the report notes that 'all the unpurchased tenants stopped payment of rent, and arrears could not be recovered owing to the complete breakdown of legal procedure'.

Annual report submitted by Lewis Goodbody, agent, to Lord Digby, in which he presents a detailed set of accounts and remits £5481 in rental income for Digby's properties in King's County and Rosekeen in Queen's County. Also references the burning of Geashill Castle on 16 August 1922 and that a claim for £15,000 has been lodged against the County and the Provisional Government.

Annual report addressed to the 11th Baron Digby following the death of his predecessor. Goodbody reports that £7000 has been remitted and briefs the new Lord Digby on the state of Ireland during the War of Independence: 'Ireland continues in a disturbed and unsatisfactory condition. This neighbourhood has not escaped the general destruction of Constabulary barracks, the only three barracks on your estate having been maliciously and wantonly burnt and wrecked, those of Clonmore being wholly destroyed and of Geashill & Killeigh partially so. The police authorities having vacated them prior to their destruction have since surrendered same, with a consequent loss of future rental. Claims for compensation have been lodged for substantial amounts and are still pending.'

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1893, showing a slight decrease in gross rent received and an increase in abandoned arrears due to the eviction of three tenants: Michael Malone, Danganbeg; John Dunne, Ballinagar; and Michael Coughlan, Cappancur. Digby notes that he was able to re-let Malone and Dunne's holdings but that it was 'impossible' to re-let Coughlan's farm. Also notes that Lord Digby granted a 15% rent reduction to non-judicial tenants as a result of continued depressed prices and great injury caused by an excessively wet harvest.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 2016, showing a reduction in the rental , mainly as a result of decisions in the land courts. Outstanding arrears had slightly decreased but there was an increase in abandoned arrears, the result of two years rent of the farm in Ballymooney from which it was necessary to evict B. R. Odlum. No major expenditure and the usual amount of £11, 000 was remitted. Describes Ireland as showing a marked improvement both materially and morally, and the tenant farmer 'has relinquished agitation and devoted themselves to more legitimate pursuits.'

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1882. Remarking on the 'extraordinary events in Ireland of the last 12 months', Digby reports that consequently there is a large amount of arrears, including abandoned arrears which are mainly the rents of Ballydownan and Roskeen farms which are in Lord Digby's hands having been surrendered.

Land improvements have ceased due to the suspension of rent and the generally disorganised state of the country, a new dwelling house for William Payne, Killeenmore being the chief expenditure. Thirty acres of young plantations in Derrygunnigan and Newtown woods and the maintenance of other young plantations accounted for expenditure in forestry.

Warns that the country is in a 'frightful crisis' and reports on the tactics of the Land League with their 'No Rent' manifesto (Autumn 1881), which was eagerly adopted and led to a complete suspension of the payment of rent. After an abatement was refused, tenantry on the Geashill Estate held a meeting in Killeigh in January 1882 at which a resolution was passed not to pay rent unless abatements were conceded. Proceedings were issued against nine of the principal agitators, their properties seized and put up for public auction in Tullamore. Digby reports that in seven cases, the tenants allowed him to be the purchaser, and in the other two cases, the tenants bought in their farms for the full amount of rent claimed and costs. Evictions followed, five of which required the aid of 'a large force of military and police and bailiffs supplied by the Property Defence Association.'

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1881. Reports that the financial condition of the estate had disimproved, outstanding arrears remaining due and abandoned arrears considerably increased. Profit remitted was £8500, a decrease on previous years, although there was a net increase in the overall rental income. Also reports that the Roskeen lease was surrendered by the reps of Mr. Bailey, and that the farm at Ballydownan was surrendered by Mr Adams and now in Lord Digby's hands and set for grazing with newly purchased cattle.

In terms of land improvement, Digby reports on the completion of a number of Board of Works projects including the draining and squaring of the moors under Scrubb Wood, the deepening of the boundary stream at Cappancur and the sinking of a large main drain in Balinvally bog. Construction works included new offices for Mr Arthur of Killurin and Patrick Nugent of Ballycollin; new cottages completed at Killeigh; new cottage commenced in Geashill Village and assistance give to William Mathews to erect substantial new dwelling house in Killurin. Also reports on the thinning and replanting of Derrygunnigan Wood.

Warns that agrarian agitation is increasing encouraged by the Land League. Blames the Government for slow response to agitation. Reports on a 'monster meeting' held in Tullamore by the Land League prior to the winter collection of rents (1880) where the Geashill tenantry requested en masse Griffith's Valuation as a fair rent which was subsequently refused by Lord Digby, but who abated the rent by 10% on the half year's rent payable. Identifies William Adams as the leader of the agitation and describes the court proceedings taken against him individually. With the result of being faced with bankruptcy, Adams paid his rent and then surrendered farm at Ballydownan, with the result that all other agitation on the estate ceased and rents were collected within three weeks. Also refers to 'boycotting' occurring throughout the estate but that no acts of violence or outrages took place. A further attempt at withholding rent in May 1881 was similarly short-lived.