Laois in the 19th Century

Queen's County, an inland county in Leinster province. Boundaries: N., King's County; E., Kildare and Carlow; S., Kilkenny; W, Tipperary and King's County. Greatest length, N. and S. 33 miles; greatest breadth, E. and W., 37 miles, comprising an area of 424,854 acres, of which 151,994 are under tillage, 211,159 in pasture, 9,141 in plantations, 52,164 waste, bog, mountain etc, and 396 under water. The surface is generally flat, rising in the N.W. into the Slieve Bloom mountains, whose summit, Arderin, is 1,734 feet above the sea. The subsoil is for the most part limestone. In the south, us a large and rich field of anthracite coal, extensively worked. The soil is generally fertile, with large tracts of bog. The Barrow has its source in the Slieve Bloom mountains; the Nore runs through the county; the small lake Annagh, is on the north boundary. A branch of the Grand Canal, passing by Portarlington, terminates at Mountmellick; and a second branch, passing through a portion of the county, connects the Grand Canal with the Barrow Navigation at Athy. The Great Southern and Western Railway crosses the county from N.E. to S.W., having stations at Portarlington (with a branch line to Athlone), Maryborough, Mountrath, and Ballybrophy (with a branch to Parsonstown). The occupations are agricultural, tillage is much practiced; green crops cultivated; dairies numerous.

The county is divided into 11 baronies, and contains 53 parishes, and 1,156 townlands, having a population in 1881 of 72,598 persons, or 15,500 families, inhabiting 14,297 houses; also 557 uninhabited, and 5 building. The Parliamentary borough of Portarlington has a population in this county of 1,625, the remaining inhabitants, 801, are in the King's County. The baronies of Clandonagh Clarmallagh, and Upperwoods, formerly constituted the barony of Upper Ossory. The county is in the dioceses of Leighlin and Ossory, with portions in those of Kildare, Killaloe, and Dublin. The towns having a population exceeding 500 in 1871 are:

The county returns 3 members to Parliament: 2 for the county, constituency, 1881-82, 3,066, with 18 polling places, and 1 for the borough of Portarlington, constituency, 142. It is in the Home Circuit. The assizes are held at Maryborough, the county town, and Quarter Sessions at Abbeyleix, Borris-in-Ossory, Carlow-Graigue, Maryborough, Mountmellick, and Stradbally, There are 15 Petty Sessions Districts within the county, and part of 1 other district. Two Poor Law Unions, Abbeyleix and Donaghmore, are wholly within the Queen's county, and portions of the Unions of Athy, Carlow, Mountmellick, and Roscrea. The Constabulary force consists of 4 officers and 194 men. The county is within the Dublin military district; and, in conjunction with the counties Longford, Meath, and Westmeath and the King's County, forms No. 67 Sub-District, the Brigade Depot of which is at Birr (Parsonstown). There is a barrack station in Maryborough.

Abbeyleix Union, (Queen's County), population in 1871, 19,949; 22 Electoral Divisions. Valuation, £67,485 The Board of Guardians meets on Tuesdays.

Chairman, Right Hon. Viscount de Vesci, D.L. Abeyleix House, Abbeyleix.
Vice-Chairman, Robert Staples, esq. D.L., J.P. Dunmore, Durrow.
Deputy-Vice Chairman, Capt. Henry Despard, Shanahoe, Mountrath.
Treasurer, Hibernian Bank, Abbeyleix.
Clerk and Returning Officer, James Finnegan.
Master and Matron, Edward P. Jackman and Mary Anne Moore.
Chaplains, Church of Ireland Rev. B.T. Disney.
                  Roman Catholic Rev. Thomas Nolan.
Medical Officer, Thomas Swan M.D.
Relieving Officers, Collins Dobbs, Abbeyleix, Philip L. Ryan, Ballybooden, Durrow.
Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, James Finnegan, esq. Clerk of the Union.
Dispensary Districts, population in 1871, Medical Officers and registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Abbeyleix, 4,833 Hugh B. Stoney L.R.C.S.I., L.K.Q.C.P.I.
Ballinakill, 4,078 Thomas P. Walshe
Ballyroan, 3,511 Dr. Blundell
Castletown, 2,971 William Hanrahan L.K.Q.C.P.I., M.R.C.S.E.
Durrow, 4,556 Henry N. Dudley

Executive Sanitary Officer, Clerk of the Union.
Sanitary Officers, Dispensary Medical Officers.
Sanitary Sub-Officers, Relieving Officers.

Inspector, Dr. Burke.
Auditor, Captain Gibson.

Donaghmore Union, (Queen's County), population in 1871, 8,359; 13 Electoral Divisions. Valuation, £41,102 The Board of Guardians meets on Friday. Post-town Ballybrophy.

Chairman, Right Hon. Lord Castletown of Upper Ossory.
Vice-Chairman, Henry White, esq. J.P., D.L., Charleville, Roscrea.
Deputy Vice-Chairman, William Mitchell, esq. Castle-fleming, Errill, Ballybrophy.
Treasurer, Munster Bank, Rathdowney.
Clerk and Returning Officer, Ambrose M. Baird.
Master and Matron, John Tuck and Sarah Watson
Chaplains, Church of Ireland Re. W.B. Fry
                  Roman Catholic Rev. Martin Howley, P.P.
Medical Officer, Henry J. Smith, F.R.C.S.I.
Relieving Officer, Robert Larke, Baorrahawn, Errill, Ballybrophy.
Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Ambrose M. Baird, esq. Clerk of the Union.
Dispensary Districts, population in 1871, Medical Officers and Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Borris-in-Ossory, 3,201 R.H. D'Olier Duckworth, M.B. and Michael Kennedy, Registrar Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
Rathdowney, 5,158 Henry J Smith, F.R.C.S.I.

Executive Sanitary Officer, Clerk of the Union.
Medical Officers of Health, Dispensary Medical Officers.
Sanitary Sub-Officer, Relieving Officer.

Inspector, Thomas H. Burke, esq. M.D.
Auditor, Captain Gibson.

Mountmellick Union (Queen's County and King's County), population in 1871, 37,165; 42 Electoral Divisions. Valuation, £102,399 The Board of Guardians meets on Saturdays.

Chairman, Colonel Henry Daniel Carden, Knightstown, Portarlington.
Vice-Chairman, James Millner, esq. J.P. Mountmellick.
Deputy Vice-Chairman, William D. Pattison, esq. Urney, Cloneygowan.
Treasurer, National Bank, Mountmellick.
Clerk and Returning Officer, Robert Goodbody.
Master and Matron, David Ward and Ellen Molloy.
Chaplains, Church of Ireland, Rev. Thomas B. Harpur.
                  Roman Catholic, Rev. Thomas Murphy.
Medical Officer, William Neale, L.R.C.S.I.
Relieving Officers, John McEvoy Maryborough, Joshua Fletcher Portarlington, Abraham Thompson Mountrath, David Lawlor Clonaslee, Abraham Smyth Mountmellick.
Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Robert Goodbody, Clerk of the Union.
Dispensary Districts, population in 1781, Medical Officers and Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Clonaslee, 4,068 Thomas Higgins, L.R.C.S.I.
Clonygowan, 5,708 Joseph M. Tabuteau, M.B.
Coolrain, 2,283 Thomas Kemmis Cornelius, L.R.C.P. EDIN.
Emo, 5,176 Maddison Wall Fisher, M.D.
Maryborough, 6,428 David Jacob, M.D., F.R.C.S.I.
Mountmellick, 7,535 William Neale, L.R.C.S.I.
Mountrath, 5,967 Maddison Wall Fisher jun., L.R.C.S.I., L.K.Q.C.P.I.

Officers under the Public Health Act 1874

Executive Sanitary Officer, Clerk of the Union.
Sanitary Officers, Dispensary Medical Officers.
Sanitary Sub-Officers, Relieving Officers.

Inspector, Dr. Thomas H. Burke.
Auditor, Captain William Gibson.

Marriages, Births and Deaths Registered(10 years), 1864-1873: 2,938 Marriages; 15,006 Births; 10,776 Deaths

Number of persons in the county that could read and write, 39,111; who could read only, 12,909; the remainder, 27,461 being unable to read or write. Persons who speak Irish only, 89; Irish and English, 103. Number of Superior Schools, 13, attended by 413 pupils, of whom 254 were Roman Catholics and 159 Protestants. Number of Primary Schools 142, attended by 7,958 pupils, of whom 6,774 were Roman Catholics and 1,134 Protestants. Population under 7 years of age, 12,115; 6,169 males, 5,946 females.

Right Hon. Lord Castletown of Upper Ossory (1855), P.C. (was M.P. for the Queen's County, 1837-41, 1847-52, 1865-69), Lisduff, Erill, Ballybrophy; Brook's and Traveller's Clubs, London S.W.; Kildare Street Club, London.

Edward Skeffington, Randal Smyth esq. J.P. (J.P. King's county; late Lieut. 28th Foot), Mount Henry, Portarlington.

Wiliam Duckett esq. Duckett's Grove, Carlow.

Richard Lalor esq. (1880), Tenakill, Mountrath; 4 Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C. Arthur O' Connor esq. (1880), 47 Rowan Road, Brook Green, Hammersmith, London W.

Adair, John George (D.L. and J.P. Co. Donegal, J.P. counties Kildare and Tipperary), Rathdaire, Monasterevin, Glenveagh Castle, Glenveagh, Co. Donegal; Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Ashbrook, Right Hon. The Viscount (late 52nd Foot), Durrow Castle, Durrow, Army and Navy Club, S.W.
Coote, Sir Charles Henry, bart. Premier Baronet of Ireland, Ballyfin House, Mountrath; 5 Connaught place, London W.
Cardon, Colonel Henry D. Comm. Queen's Co. Royal Rifle Militia, Knightstown, Portarlington.
Cosby, Robert Ashworth Godolphin, Captain Queen's County Rifles (late Lt. 6th Dragoons), Stradbally Hall, Stradbally; Junior United Service and Army and Navy Clubs, London S.W.; Kildare Street Club Dublin.
Damer, Lionel Seymour W. Dawson, (J.P. for Dorchester; was M.P. for Portarlington, 1857-65, and 1868-80; late Capt. Sco. Fus. Gds), Emo Park Portarlington; Came House Dorchester, 2 Chapel Street Grosvenor Square London W.; Carlton Guards Traveller's and White's Clubs, London S.W.
Drogheda, Most Hon. the Marquess of, K.P., P.C. Lord Lieut. and Custos Rotulorum Co. Kildare. Ranger of the Curragh of Kildare (late Lt. Co. Kildare Militia), More Abbey, Monasterevan; 48 Dover St., Piccadily London W., Carlton, Marlborough, and Traveller's Clubs, London S.W,; Kildare Street Club Dublin.
Kemmis, Thomas, Shaen, Maryborough; Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Portarlington, Right Hon. The Earl of (elected a Representative Peer for Ireland 1855), Emo Park, Portarlington; Carlton Club, London S.W.
Staples, Robert, Dunmore, Durrow; Sackville Street Club, Dublin.
Stubber, Robert Hamilton, Moyne, Durrow; Kildare Street Club Dublin.
Walsh, Sir Allen Johnson, bart. (late Capt. Queen's County Militia), Ballykilcavan, Stradbally; Junior United Service Club S.W. Sackville Street Club Dublin.
Weldon, Sir Anthony Crosdill, bart. (J.P. Co. Kildare), Rahinderry, Ballylinan, Kilmorony, Athy; Hibernian United Service Club Dublin, Oriental Club London S.W.
White, Henry (J.P. King's County), Charleville, Roscrea.

Clarke, Joshua, esq. (1865), Q.C. 13 Herbert Street Dublin.

Adair, John George, (J.P. and D.L. Co. Donegal), J.P. counties Kildare and Tipperary), Rathdaire, Monasterevan, Glenveagh Castle, Glenveagh Co. Donegal, Kildare Street Club Dublin; Brooks's and Devonshire Clubs London.
Bailey, Thomas A., 3 Ormond Road, Rathmines.
Blake, Charles Joseph, Heath House, Maryborough, Bunowen Castle, Clifden Co. Galway; Stephen's Green Club Dublin.
Bland, John Loftus (late Capt. 6th Inniskilling Dragoons), Blandsfort, Abbeyleix.
Borrowes, Lieut. Colonel Walter Joseph, Queen's County Militia, Portarlington.
Butler, Hon. James Killiboys House, Naas; Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Caldbeck, Richard, Ballacolla House, Ballacolla.
Carden, Colonel Henry Daniel, D.L. Comm. Queen's County Rifles Militia (late Lieut. 52nd Ft.), Knightstown, Portarlington.
Cassan, Matthew Sheffield, B.A. (T.C.D.), Sheffield House, Maryborough.
Cooper, Harman Hering, Rahinderry, Ballylinan, Athy.
Cooper, William Augustus, M.A. (T.C.D.), Cooper Hill, Ballickmoyler.
Cosby, Robert. Ashworth Godolphin, D.L. Capt. Queen's County Militia (late Lieut. 6th Dragoons), Stradbally Hall, Stradbally; Junior United Service and Army and Navy Clubs S.W., Kildare Street Club Dublin.
Croasdaile, Captain John, Rynn, Rosenallis.
Damer, Lionel Seymour W. Dawson, D.L. (J.P. for Dorsetshire; was M.P. for Portarlington, 1857-65, and 1868-80; late Capt. Sco. Fus. Guards), Emo Park Portarlington, Came House, Dorchester; 2 Chapel Street Grosvenor Square W, Carlton, Guards, Traveller's and White's Clubs London S.W.
Dease, Edmund Gerald, (was M.P. for Queen's County 1870-80), Rath House, Ballybritas, St. George's Club London, Stephen's Green Club Dublin.
Despard, Richard, Donore, Mountrath.
De Vesci, Right Hon. Viscount, Capt. and Lieut. Col. Coldstream Guards, Abbeyleix House, Abbeyleix; 4 Carlton House Terrace London S.W., White's and Guards' Clubs S.W. St. George's Yacht Club, Kingstown.
Domville, William Compton, (J.P. and D.L. Co. Dublin), Heywood Ballinakill, Kildare Street Club Dublin, Carlton Club London S.W.
Drogheda, Most Noble the Marquess of K.P. P.C. Lord Lieut.and Custos Rotulorum, county of Kildare, and Ranger of the Curragh of Kildare, (late Lieut. Col. Kildare Militia), Moore Abbey, Monasterevan, 48 Dover Street, Piccadilly W. Carlton, Marlborough, and Travellers' Clubs London S.W., Kildare Street Club Dublin.
Dunne, Jeremiah, Aghavoe House, Ballacolla.
Dunne, John W, Raheenahone, Stradbally.
Dunne, Robert Hedges Plunkett, Brittas, Clonaslee.
Dunne, Benjamin Booker, Clonbrock House, Carlow.
Edge, John Henry, A.M. (T.C.D.), (called to the bar, 1866), Farnans, Ballickmoyler, 25 Upper Mount Street, Dublin.
Edge, Samuel, M.D. Raglan House, Clyde Road, Dublin.
Farrer, Richard Henry, (J.P. Co. Cork), Australia.
Fishbourne, Joseph, Ashfield Hall, Ballickmoyler and Anneville, Carlow.
Fitzgerald, John B.A. (T.C.D.), (late Capt. 87th Royal Irish Fusileers), Levalley, Rathdowney, Army and Navy Club London S.W.
Fitzherbert, Henry Corry, Millbrook, Abbeyleix.
Fitzmaurice, William Raymond, Everton, Carlow.
Fitzpatrick, Hon. Bernard Edward Barnaby, M.P. for Portarlington (late Lieut. 1st Life Guards), 33 Grosvenor Street W, Grantstown Manor, Abbeyleix; Boodle's, Marlborough, St. James's and Travellers' Clubs S.W. Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Franks, Matthew Henry, Westfield, Mountrath.
Gibson, William, M.A. (T.C.D.), (late Capt. 40th Foot: J.P. Co. Tipperary), Rockforest, Roscrea; United Service Club, Dublin.
Grace, John, (J.P. Co. Westmeath), Gracefield, Ballylinan, Athy.
Grace, Major Percy Raymond, A.B. (T.C.D.), Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Hawkesworth, John, Forest, Mountrath.
Hopkins, Thomas A. Beechmount, Rathdowney.
Jacob, David, M.D. Maryborough.
Kemmis, Thomas, D.L. Shaen, Maryborough; Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Kirkpatrick, Alexander, (J.P. Co. Dublin), B.A. T.C.D., Coolmine House, Clonsilla.
Leech, Thomas, Fruit Lawn, Abbeyleix.
Lyster, John, Norefield House, Abbeyleix.
McMahon, Robert Moore, Hollymount, Carlow.
Maillard, Parnell Robert.
Marum, Edward Purcell Mulhallen, I.L.B. (Lord), M.P. for Co. Kilkenny (J.P. for Co. Kilkenny; called to the bar, 1846), Aharney House, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny.
Milner, James, Mountmellick.
Moore, Henry, Cremorgan, Timahoe.
Morton, Matthew Villiers Sankey, (J.P. Co. Waterford; late Capt. 35th Foot,), Little Island, Clonmel, Rosnacrina, Larch-hill, Mountrath.
Owen, Robert, (J.P. Co. Kilkenny), Belmont, Rathdowney.
Philips, William, (J.P. King's County), Woodbrook, Portarlington.
Pigott, William, B.A. (T.C.D.), St. Catherine's Leixlip.
Portarlington, Right Hon., The Earl of, D.L. (elected a Representative Peer for Ireland, 1855), Emo Park, Portarlington: Carlton Club, London S.W.
Powell, J.S. Capt. Queen's County Rifles, Lamberton Park, Maryborough.
Reeves, Robert Edward, A.M. (T.C.D.), (J.P. counties of Limerick and Tipperary; called to the bar, 1851), Derrinvohill, Borrisokane; Pigott Arms, Rathkeale; and Cappard, Rosenallis.
Rochfort, Horace William Noel, B.A. (Cantab.), (J.P. and D.L Co. Carlow), Clogrennane, Carlow; Carlton Club London S.W.
St. George, Arthur, Tentore House, Ballacolla.
Scott, James Smyth (J.P. Co. Wexford), Levuka, Gorey; Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Scott, Jas. William Butler, Annegrove Abbey, Mountrath.
Sheane, James Cole, M.A. (T.C.D.), and M.A. (University of Durham), The Grange, Mountmellick.
Smyth, Edward Skeffington Randal, V.L. (J.P. King's County; late Lieut. 28th Foot), Mount Henry, Portarlington; Kildare Street Club Dublin; Army and Navy Club London S.W.
Stannus, Capt. Robert Trevor, (ret. f.p. Bengal Army), Mountrath.
Staples, Robert, D.L. Dunmore, Durrow; Sackville Street Club Dublin; Carlton Club S.W.
Stubber, Robert Hamilton, D.L. Moyne, Durrow; Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Thacker, Barker, Parsonstown King's County.
Thomas, Jocelyn Henry Watkins, Belmont, Carlow.
Thompson, Charles
Treacy, John Tenikilly, Mountrath.
Trench, Henry, A.B. (T.C.D.), (J.P. King's County), Glenmalyre, Ballybrittas; Kilcooney, Geashill, King's County.
Walpole, Thomas, Monahdrid, Borris-in-Ossory.
Walsh, Sir Allen Johnson, bart. D.L. (late Capt. Queen's County Militia), Ballykilcavan, Stradbally; Junior United Service Club, S.W., Sackville Street Club, Dublin.
Warburton, Richard, (J.P. and D.L. King's County), Garryhinch, Portarlington.
Webber, William Downes, (J.P. Cork), Mitchelstown, Cork, Kildare Street Club, Dublin.
Weldon, Sir Anthony Crosdill, bart. D.L. (J.P. Co. Kildare), Rahinderry, Ballylinan, Kilmorony, Athy, Hibernian United Service Club Dublin; Oriental Club London S.W.
White, Charles Paulett, Erkindale, Rathdowney.
White, Hen., D.L. (J.P. King's County), Charleville, Roscrea.
Wrafter, John (J.P. King's County), Derry House, Rosenallis, and Maryborough.
Young, William, (J.P. Co. Galway), Brockley Park, Stradbally, Doohalla Lodge Clifden, Co. Galway.

Appointed under 6 Wm. IV

Edward Skeffington, R. Smyth esq. V.L. Chairman
Lieut. Col. Henry D. Carden, J.P.
Major Robert G. Cosby, J.P.
Robert Staples esq. J.P. D.L.
Thomas Kemmis esq. D.L.
William Young esq. J.P.

Governor, Arthur Cashel Bulkeley, esq
Church of Ireland Chaplain, Rev. Edmund L. Eves
R.C. Chaplain, Rev. John Doyle, P.P., V.F.
Physician and Surgeon, David Jacob, M.D., J.P.
Chief Warder, Thomas Regan
Clerk, John O' Connor

Treasurer, Thomas Kemmis, esq. D.L.
Surgeon, David Jacob, M.D., F.R.C.S.I., J.P.
Secretary, Mr. James Vanston
Matron, Mrs. Margaret Heise.

Right Hon. Lord Castletown, L.
Edmund Dease, esq., J.P.
Sir Allen J. Walsh, bart., D.L.
William Philips, esq., J.P.
Right Hon. The Earl of Portarlington, K.P., D.L.
Thomas Kemmis, esq. D.L.
Capt. R.G. Cosby, D.L.
Rev. John Doyle, P.P.
E.S. Smyth, esq., V.L.
Viscount de Vesci, J.P.
Lieut. Co. Carden, J.P.
Capt. R.T. Stannus, J.P.
William Dunne, esq., J.P
J. Sweetman Powell, esq., J.P.
Capt. J.L. Bland, J.P.

Resident Medical Superintendent, Joseph H. Hatchell F.K.Q.C.P.I., L.R.C.S.I.
Visiting Physician, David Jacob, M.D.F.R.C.S.I., J.P.
Church of Ireland Chaplain, Rev. E.L. Eves, M.A.
R.C. Chaplain, Rev. Thomas Molony
Apothecary, Joseph B. McNamara, L.A. DUB.
Matron, Miss Jane Farrell
Clerk, Mr. Richard Conroy
Storekeeper, James Bowes.

Portarlington, T. O'Hara, esq. A.B.

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