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Papers about Birr Church of Ireland church and parish, including historical compilations of the rev. Dr Samuel Hemphill, Rector of Birr, covering the period 1612-1903. The compilations consist of a small quarto notebook containing MS. Copies of 1642 depositions concerning the neighbourhood of Birr; another containing a history of Birr Church of Ireland church (taken from vestry books, parish registers, etc), 1760-1903); and two succession lists of Birr incumbents, 1612-1912. The sub-section also includes a series of printed annual reports on the parish and on the diocese of Killaloe and Kilfenora, 1900-10.

Letters and tradesmen’s accounts to the 5th Earl relating to seeds, shrubs, trees and planting, including 3 letters from Augustine Henry [botanist renowned for his flora-collecting explorations in central and western China], 1908-10. One of
Henry’s letters, dated 26 July 1909, is about [Chinese?] plant specimens at Birr; it has been photocopied by PRONI, T/3498/4.

Four envelopes of tradesmen’s accounts to the 5th Earl, including a few to Lady Rosse, from London, Dublin and Birr tradesmen (primarily the first) for all manner of goods (among them a pendant brooch supplied by C. Faberge,
1910), but excluding accounts for major items connected with Birr Castle and gardens [for which see M/25 and 33 respectively], 1910-18; together with 7 volumes of Birr Castle house-keeping books kept by Lady Rosse/de Vesci and (in one case) her sister, Countess de la Feld, 1910-30. [See also T/30. Not in chronological order.]

Envelope of leases of Ballindown, barony of Eglish. [In date order.] The envelope also includes two documents relating to the transfer of parts of Ballindown from the Birr Estates Company to Erin Peat Products Ltd. [For this and other transactions relating to bogs on the estate, see also Q/326A.]

Leases of Ballykealy (and Ardgoga), barony of Eglish. [For further leases of Ardgoga, either on its own or in conjunction with other townlands, see Q/25. In date order.]

Lease and surrender of premises in the town of Banagher [apparently unconnected with the Earls of Rosse].

Envelope of leases of Clonbrone, barony of Ballybritt. [In date order.]

Envelope of leases of Clondalla, alias Clondallow, alias Clondallagh, barony of Eglish, adjoining Boolanarrig. [In date order.] The leases, up to and including 1825, are from members of the Berry family of Dovegrove, an adjoining townland; Clondalla, Dovegrove and Clonahane were held by them under a perpetuity from the Viscounts Loftus/ Marquesses of Drogheda. In or about the 1830s, the 2nd Earl of Rosse must have acquired the Berry interest, which was tantamount to outright ownership, in these townlands, subject
to continued Berry occupation of and residence in part of Dovegrove. These townlands were then subsequently settled on the 2nd Earl’s third son, the Hon. Laurence Parsons, who is a party to the leases of 1860, 1865 and 1872 in this sub-section.] The sub-section also includes papers relating to the sale of Clondallow to Daniel J. Earley, and deeds and documents relating to the (re )purchase of ‘Finnegan’s field’ in 1997.

Envelope of leases of Clonivoe and other parts of the Sprigge estate in the barony of Coolestown. [In date order.]

Envelope of leases of Derrymullen and Carrigeen, alias Corrageen, barony of Eglish. [In date order.]