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The Story of West Carbery
The following is an excerpt from the book "The Story of West Carbery".
I've included this because it mentions the arrival of the Swantons to this area. Other
family names in this excerpt include Coppinger, Freke, Becher, Townsend, Galwey,
O'Driscoll, Tonson, Somerville, Coghill, O'Donovan, and Wrixon. As this excerpt is
rather long, I've highlighted the Swanton information with a sidebar to make it easier to
find.
Chapter XII
Aftermath of the War
After the war the usual attainders, confiscations, and emigration began. The Becher
document of 1700 records that the Colonel's old enemy Cornelius O'Driscoll had been
attainted of High Treason. From another source we learn that Cornelius O'Driscoll Junior,
and 8 other O'Driscolls were attainted. Cornelius Junior went to Spain and became a
Lieutenant-Colonel in County Daniel O'Mahony's regiment of dragoons.
Walter and Edward (or Edmund) Galwey, who then owned Baltimore, were attainted and lost
their property. Walter Coppinger (son of Domenick deceased) was outlawed in 1691 for High
Treason at Mallow on 1st May, 1690. In 1694 there were an Inqusition on his property,
taken in the Kings Old Castle, Cork (which then stood beside the Queen's Old Castle, and
the two at one time formed a water gateway). Thomas Becher of Aughadown (presumable the
Colonel) was one of the Jurors at this Inquisition. Some of Walter's lands are set out,
including Gortnahorna, Lissapooka, Rincolisky, East Inishkeame and Hare Island. In the
Coppinger Family History, it is stated that the outlawry of Walter ruined the family.
Walter's son Domenick Junior, married Colonel Townsend's daughter, Dorothea, as
previously mentioned. He died before his father was outlawed. He made his Will in 1688 and
appointed his father guardian of his son James, and gave his father his four Courts of
Baltimore Cloghane, Kilfinnan and Rincolisky. The only mention of the testator's wife in
the will is that she was to see the doctor paid and give him the grey mare!
In some books it is stated that the testator's son James was also outlawed, and that he
never got back any of this lands, but the documents we shall quote later seem to
contradict these statements. It is on record that on 13th July, 1700 he presented a
Petition to the Chichester House officials claiming Derryleigh, Cullenagh, Shreelane
Gortaucklagh and Drummig, which had been mortgaged by his father to Edward Galwey who had
been outlawed, but the Petition was dismissed. This James had an uncle of the same name
(brother of Domenick Junior) who was outlawed and went to France and perhaps the writers
of the books mentioned above may have confused the two names?
In 1698 an Act was passed to deal with the sale of forfeited estates, and a new Court
of Claims was established with Trustees of Claims to operate therein. Human nature appears
in an ugly light when there is loot to be obtained, and the scramble for money, cattle,
and land seems to have produced much dishonesty, bribery and corruption amongst high and
low, gentle and simple. Commissioners were appointed to enquire into the dealings with the
confiscated property in Ireland, and they issued their Report on 15th December, 1699 which
for courage and candour can hardly be surpassed. They stated a million acres had been
confiscated and the following are a few of the irregularities they found.
- Officials illegally collected fees from claimants. For example, the Registrar, Palmer,
took 86 pounds from Luke Dillon when his father's estate was restored to him and not to be
outdone the Crier, Steel, took another 15 pounds from poor Dillon.
- Pardons were illegally bought. For example, Lord Bellew gave Lord Raby 1,000 pounds for
his influence with the King to obtain a pardon.
- Large grants of land were made to nobles and others for services rendered during the
war.
- Officials who took possession of flocks valued them too low. For example, horses were
were valued at 20/- and a sheep at 2/6d. and then sold to friends.
- Even those in the highest offices misbehaved. For example, Lord Connigsby (a Lord
Justice) seized 300 head of horned cattle, and several horses, and the valuable plate of
the Mayor of Dublin and never accounted for same. And the Clerks of the Revenue delivered
delivered great quantities of valuable effects to Major-General Kirk, and others,
not accounted for.
- The officers of the Army pillaged.
- Trees in County Kerry to the value of 20,000 pounds, were cut or destroyed. Large trees
were sold for 6d. each, so greedy were the speculators Even Sir John Hely, Chief Justice
of Common Pleas, was cutting down all the avenues and groves round the Castle, near
Dublin, he had bought from Lord Conigsby.
- Several obscure persons, who owned nothing before the war, were then masters of large
estates, seized by intrigue or collusion.
- Sales of property were made only in Dublin, so bidders were very limited and those in
the swim bought them in cheap. Thomas Broderick, a Privy Councilor and Inspector of
Auctions, was specially named as having bought huge estates in partnership with William
Connelly.
- Receivers and Commissioners of Revenue bought under borrowed names. For examples, Mr.
Culliford, under the name of Fernley, seized upon several estates for the King, which he
afterwards appropriated to his own use.
- Estates were let on leases at an undervalue in rent without being put up for sale.
Whether this Report produced persecutions against those named, or whether such persons
challenged the Commissioners to duels, or whether the whole system was reformed, we do not
know, but the Trustees continued to sit at Chichester House, Dublin, and as previously
stated, the Decree issued to Colonel Becher (therein described as of "Sherkin")
on 16th September, 1700 is still in existence. In it are set out the facts already
recited, and then the Commissioners found that the Agreement entered into between Becher
and Cormelius O'Driscoll was made under duress and that, owing to the attainder of
O'Driscoll, the lands claimed were not vested in the Trustees. They therefore allowed
Becher's claim to the lands. Cornelius O'Driscoll was not, of course, present or
represented at the hearing being then, no doubt, "on the run".
Meantime, the sales of confiscated lands continued and in 1703 "the Governor &
Company for making hollow sword blades", a speculation Company, bought many lands in
West Carbery, including "the castle, town and lands of Bally-mac-Rowan"
(Ballymacrown) and Cloghanemore, which included Lissangle and Cloghan Castle thereon, also
"Lissalogherrigg" which included Derrylugga and Inchinagotagh. The advertisement
for sale of Cloghanemore stated the lands were 2 miles from the Church and Market of
Skibbereen and the tenant's name was then Robert Atkins. In Cromwell's time Cloghan Castle
was stated in the Down Survey to be roofed, but it is not mentioned in 1703 so must
then have been in ruins. Later in the same century we find the Mewman family the owners of
Cloghanemore, and other adjoining lands, including Betsboro House, no doubt purchased from
the above Company.
In 1703 also the Galwey forfeited estate at Baltimore was sold for 1,809 pounds to
Percy Freke of Rathbarry (Castlefreke), who was an ancestor of the present Lord Carbery.
Freke sat as M.P for Baltimore the same year. A semicircle of stones sunk in the public
road in Baltimore, opposite the gate leading to the ruined Coastguard Station, is said to
mark the front step of Freke's house. The property purchased remained in the ownership of
the Carbery family up to the year 1919 when it was sold.
Amongst other claimants in 1700 was the Archbishop of Dublin, who claimed and was
allowed part of the O'Driscoll Estate. Ardraly was apparently included in this Grant, as
it certainly belonged to the Protestant Church authorities up to about 75 years ago when
it was sold.
As regards James Coppinger, who married Sarah Baily in 1699, and secondly, Anne Youd in
1718, we must now mention some documents which are not easy to reconcile with the
statement of some writers that all his lands were confiscated and not returned to him, nor
yet with the fact that Cloghan was sold in 1703.
The first document to be mentioned is a Lease made in 1700 by James Coppinger to John
Cole of 10 gueeves of Inane (Reenargy), for 999 year, at the year rent of 2 pounds.
Coppinger is described as of Castle -- but unfortunately the parchment is damaged here,
and the missing word cannot be read, but it did not contain more than 5 letters, and it
ended with "e", so the word may have been "Inane". This Lease was
always treated a valid, and the rent was paid up to 1931, when it was redeemed under the
Land Acts but the Bechers were the owners of the rent from 1746. Inane cannot have been
confiscated about 1700 or the Lease would not have been recognized.
The second document is a Latin copy, with an English translation, of a
"Fine", which was an ancient method of conveying land abolished in 1834. Under
this method of conveyancing a Court Case was brought, and 4 Proclamation had to be made.
The first of these in the case in question, is dated 28th November 1710, and the last 20th
June, 1711. The suit was between Ralph Freke (son of Percy Freke) of Castlefreke,
Plaintiff, and James Coppinger of Rincolisky (son and heir of Domenick Coppinger late of
Lisapooky), and Sarah (born Baily) his wife, Defendants. Judgement was given for the
Plaintiff, who paid the Defendants 1,820 pounds, and they quitted claim to the Plaintiff
for ever. The lands mentioned were "the Manor of Baltymore otherwise Oldcourt, the
Manor of Gornehorne otherwise Kilfineene, the Manor of Cloghane and the Manor of
Rinecolisky" with 2 castle s (probably Kilfinnan and Rincolisky) and 1,00 acres of
land and more of pasture, furze, etc.
A number of townlands are also named running from Cregg (near Coppingers Court) to
Coolbane (Caheragh) and Lackaghane (Baltimore). A large number of small chief rents are
also set out payable out of townlands very widely scattered. Many of these are near
Skibbereen, such as Bunalun, Maulbrack, Lahertidaly and Rea. The Carbery Estate continued
to collect these Chief Rents up to recent years, when nearly all of them have been
redeemed under the Land Act. It is hard to believe that a proceeding like this would have
been entertained by the Court unless James Coppinger still had some interest in the lands
in 1710, and was not an outlaw liable to be killed at sight.
On the other hand, we find that on 28th February, 1698 Colonel Becher made a Lease to
James Coppinger of the lands of Kilfinnan, Rouryglen and Kileenleagh for 999 years at a
rent of 60.10.0 pounds and the Bechers continued to collect this rent up to a few years
ago when it was redeemed under the Land Acts.
The next document to be noted is dated 20th March, 1698 and is also a lease for 999
years made by John Leslie to James Coppinger, of Hare Island and East Skeam, Corravoley,
Lissaclarig and Morahin in West Carbery and Gurtachorna, Lissapooka and other lands in
East Carbery, at the year rent of 145 pounds. This is followed by a sub-Lease, dated 27th
July, 1716, made by Michael Becher (presumably the Colonel's son) Richard Townsend
(presumable an uncle of Coppinger), who are described as the Representative of Coppinger,
to Bryan Townsend (his uncle) of the East Carbery lands, at the year rent of 169 pounds.
This document does not state that Coppinger was then dead or incapacitated, nor does it
give any reason why James should not have made it himself. These two Leases remained in
force for over two centuries, and were recognized in 1854 when the Incumbered Estates
Court sold part of the lands comprised therein.
It will be seen that Hare Island, Gurtnehorna and Lisapooka are included in this Lease
from Leslie, though previously same were owned by the Coppingers. It seems probable that
these lands were forfeited and granted to Leslie, who then demised to James Coppinger. No
doubt the same applies to Kilfinnan etc. acquired to Colonel Becher, and leased by him to
Coppinger as already stated. It looks as if Coppinger was on very friendly terms with the
new owners or they would not have granted him these long Leases.
But if James Coppinger was outlawed in 1690, as claimed, he surely would not have been
acquiring property in 1698, and making a Lease in 1705. It is clear that he was not the
fee simple owner of Kilfinnan or Cloghane in 1710/1711 yet he seems to have purported to
sell these lands with others to Ralph Freke. It is difficult to explain this, but, perhaps
the solution is that Freke took a chance and bought all that Coppinger had got back, or
might hope to get back, and the small price paid seems to corroborate this. No reference
to Coppinger's leases is made in the Fine to Freke.
But the Coppinger star, which had been shining in West Carbery for a century, was now
setting, and though Dr. William Coppinger was Roman Catholic Bishop of Cloyne and Ross in
1827, the last we hear of the family locally is that, less than a century ago, they had a
corn store at the rear of Townshend Street, Skibbereen, with an entrance through the lane
still bearing their name, and that some of them are buried in the Abbey, Skibbereen, where
their head stone can still be seen.
Another family which seems to have acquired large estates in West Carbery at this time
is that of Tonson. Major Richard Tonson was the first to arrive, and he obtained a Grant
from Charles II for his services during the Civil War, and he purchased "the castle
and lands of Spanish Island". He married Elizabeth, a sister of his neighbour,
Colonel Becher, and their daughter, Elizabeth, married Colonel Daniel Donovan of
Bawnlahan, M. P. in 1689. The Major died in 1693, and his son and heir, Henry, of Spanish
Island, married a daughter of Sir Richard Hull, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in
Ireland, who was a son of Sir William Hull already mentioned.
It was Henry Tonson, then of Newcourt, who built the wall round that estate. He died in
1703, and was buried in Aughadown, where his tomb can still be seen. The flat cap stone
has the unusual feature of having two inscriptions to him. The first and principal one
runs east and west and reads: "Here lyes the body of Captn. Henry Tonson who departed
this life November the twenty fifth and in the thirtyeth seventh year of his age
173". The 2nd one which is damaged, runs north and south and reads: "The 25 of
October interred -- Captn. H. T.'s body the 37th year 1703".
His son, Richard, described in different documents as of Spanish Island, Bridgetown,
and Dunkettle (near Cork) married the widow of Michael Becher of Aughadown, an he was M.
P. for Baltimore in 1727, and held that position for 46 years until his death in 1773. He
devised his estate to his illegitimate son Colonel William Hull, provided he took the name
of Tonson, which he did, and in 1783 he became Baron Riversdale of Rathcormac and he
married one of the Bernards of Bandon. He died in 1787, and his son, the 2nd Baron, died
in 1848 without issue. He was succeeded by his brother Dr. Ludlow Tonson, Protestant
Bishop of Killaloe, who died in 1861, married, when the title became extinct. Most of the
Riversdale Estate in West Carbery was sold in the lifetime of the 2nd Baron, including
lands round Ballydehob, Caheragh and Drimoleague.
The Somerville family came to Ireland from Scotland in 1690 when Rev. Wm. Somerville
settled in Ulster, flying from religious persecution in Scotland. In 1732 his son, Thomas
Somerville, who was educated in Dublin, became a clergyman at Myross and Castlehaven, and
in the course of time, the family acquired a considerable estate in that locality. There
is a very large Somerville tomb in Castlehaven graveyard, built by the son of Thomas known
as "Tom the Merchant", who died in 1793.
The Coghill family settled in Ireland during the reign of Charles II.
It would be difficult to trace, and tedious to record, all the persons who flocked into
West Carbery between 1600 and 1800, but it would appear that, during that time, three of
the great tribes viz: the McCarthy's, O'Driscolls, and O'Mahonys, entirely disappeared as
landowners. The O'Donovans, however, seem to have succeeded in retaining, or getting back,
some of their lands, for, in 1746, we find Daniel O'Donovan (a grandson of Daniel already
mentioned) of Bawnlahan, making a lease of Derryclogh (near Drimoleague). This Daniel, at
the age of 60, being then a widower, married Jane Becher, aged 15, by whom he had 4
children!
He must have been very proud of his young wife, because he changed the name of
Bawnalahan to Castle Jane, a name which has long since been forgotten. He was buried in
Myross in 1778, as was also his wife in 1812, both in the O'Donovan tomb, built in the
form of a pyramid. We also find a Morgan O'Donovan, in 1748, making a lease of Barna
(Caheragh) Besides these, The O'Donovan, of Lissard, owned a good deal of land in the
neighbourhood of Skibbereen which, in recent years, was sold under the Land Acts, and to
other purchasers.
It is commonly said that a slow building up lasts longer than a mushroom growth, and
also that no man values what he gets for nothing. These remarks seem to apply to these
settlers all over Ireland, for many of them, or their successors, piled up such debts and
mortgages about a century after their arrival that an Act had to be passed, in the year
1850, establishing a special court to deal with the sale of Incumbered estates in Ireland,
known as the Incumbered Estates Court and later still by the Land Judges Court. A large
number of estates in West Carbery were sold by those Courts, which brought in a new crowd
of landowners, who were eventually compulsorily bought out under the recent Land Acts.
The oldest family of the settlers, who also retained their estates the longest, are the
Bechers, as they kept a large part of their property until 1931, when the agricultural
portion was acquired by the Land Commission under the Land Acts, but the Bechers still own
a considerable section of Skibbereen town. This family, at the beginning of the 19th
century, had enormous estates in West Carbery, running from Kilfinnan (Glandore) to the
Mizzen Head, and nearly to Bantry. The Creagh branch owned about 11,000 acres, most of it
between Skibbereen and Baltimore, including the islands of Cape Clear, Sherkin and
Ringarogy. This estate was then the property of William Wrixon, (whose father had married
Mary Becher). He took the surname of Becher and was created a Baronet in 1831. The
Hollybrook branched owned about 17,000 acres much of the estate being round Aughadown, but
extending to Dunmanus and beyond Goleen. This estate was sold in the Incumbered Estates
Court about 1853, the owner being then Richard Henry Hedges Becher.
Before leaving the subject of the Bechers, let us relate the romantic marriage of the
Colonel's daughter, Elizabeth, to Horatio Townsend, Captain of the War Sloop,
"Lynn", who was a son of Colonel Townsend. It appears that Horatio landed one
day on Sherkin, and, on his way to visit the Bechers at Dunalong, he saw Mrs. Becher
combing the long hair of her fair daughter, Elizabeth. It was a case of love at first
sight, but as he was only the fourth son, and had poor prospects, his suit was not
welcomed, but persistence succeeded, and he married her. He died of fever on his ship soon
after, leaving his wife with one daughter, and whatever property he possessed. His widow
was soon consoled as, in 1701, she married Bishop Dive Downes, who 2 years before, as
already mentioned, had visited Sherkin and, no doubt, met the lady of the occasion. The
Bishop was married 4 times, the widow Townsend being the third wife.
Before closing this Chapter it is of interest to mention that it was on 30th April,
1697 H.M.S. "Loo", during a gale, was wrecked on the rock at the mouth of
Baltimore Harbour, since when it is known as the Loo Rock, on which there is now a buoy.
Forged and fraudulent Deeds must have been very common during the 17th Century, for in
1707, an Act was passed establishing a Registry of Deeds in Dublin which is still
operating. The Preamble to the Act states that its object was to secure purchasers, and
prevent forgeries and fraudulent gifts, and it then naively adds that same were
"frequently practised in this Kingdom, especially by papists, to the great prejudice
of the Protestant interest thereof".
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