The School Lane Cow Doctor...... and other forgotten eighteenth century occupations .

by Kevin Quinn Occupations in 1770 Armagh Redmond “The of a Seanchai being blessed with the “Gift School Lane Cow Doctor” of the Gab” and the custodian of stories The world of work has changed greatly and traditions. He would have been over the last 250 years, causing many Probably the most bizarre occupation recognised by the local farmers as having occupational names and terms to fall into listed in Lodge’s census is the one ascribed the skills to cure all types of ailments af- disuse. The occupations and daily work of to Redmond Monaghan of School Lane. flicting their cattle. His knowledge would our Armachian ancestors have changed His occupation is given as a cow doctor. have probably been handed down or else as trades, industries and professions have The only other piece of information he would have gained it from practising on come and gone. The late eighteenth we have is that he was married with no his own cows. The compounds that he ad- century Armachian did not have quite the children. Other than that we have to rely ministered would have been purchased in same employment opportunities as we do on a general description on Irish cow doc- the local apothecaries and paid for by the today but Armagh at the time had a very tors from “The London Illustrated News” owner of the cows. In return Redmond wide range of skilled residents. Many of the dated 1857 to achieve some sort of an idea would have been in paid in compliments, occupations in 1770 Armagh are familiar as to the type of role Redmond would general hospitality and perhaps he would and readily identifiable to us today such as have played in the local community. Many have charged a small fee. It is also likely tailor, butcher and barber others maybe are people today hearing the term cow doctor that his services would have been in great not that familiar such as cooper, wheelwright for the first time would probably conjure demand and that he would have been held and watchmaker but hacklemaker, currier up thoughts of some sort of a quack vet or in high esteem within the local farming and cow doctor are occupations that can be a Doctor Dolittle type character. Probably community. firmly placed in the forgotten list. By delving the former description would go some way a bit more deeply into these more obscure to describe this somewhat peculiar role. Apothecaries occupations it is possible to achieve some It is more than likely Redmond was the understanding of the daily working life of local character probably bordering on the There are three people listed in the census some Armachians 236 years ago eccentric but with a reputation of being a as being apothecaries. They are Robert bit of a wise man. No social event would Scott, Joseph Boyd both of Market Street Lodge’s 1770 census of have been complete without his presence. and Sam Maxwell of English Street. Armagh Redmond would have probably been a bit Apothecary was your modern day phar-

In 1770 the Rev. William Lodge compiled a census of the population of Armagh on Lodge’s Name Modern Name behalf of Archbishop Robinson. It is uncer- Big Meeting Street Lower and part of Upper English Street tain as to the purpose of the census but for Little Meeting Street Abbey Street whatever reason it has provided a somewhat Street Leading to Common College Street unique insight into the social and economic Abbey Street Dawson Street and part of Abbey Street English Street English Street life of a late eighteenth century small county Callan Street Callan Street town. Lodge had not only documented the Church lane Cathedral Close names of the heads of households but Pound Hill Vicars Hill was also enlightened enough to include Market Street Market Street their occupations. Lodge recorded nearly School Lane Navan Street and Culdee Street Castle Street Castle Street two thousand people residing in Armagh Scotch Street and Barrack Street ascribing 471 of them with identifiable oc- Irish Street Irish Street cupations. The list is quite extensive ranging Mass Lane Chapel Lane from the forty nine drink sellers the most New Street Thomas Street and Ogle Street Abbey Lane No longer exists (* see below) popular trade to the solitary occupations. Lane off Irish Street No longer exists (lane to Gallows Hill) However, there are nearly a dozen or so occupations that have disappeared due to Table showing the street names in Lodge’s census and their modern equivalents economic changes and technical advances * This is not equivalent with the modern street bearing the same name, see map. or just simply went out of fashion. 18 History Armagh - Summer 2006 History Armagh - Summer 2006 19 Plan of Armagh showing street names used by Lodge. Based on maps by Rocque (1760) and Livingstone (1766)

macist providing a range health related Labouring was the largest occupation in daily hardship. The four charwomen listed services. The apothecary sometimes was the town. A lot of these men would have are, Mary Conaway, Fanny Hamilton, much more than a simple druggist. Some been builders labourer’s as at this time Rose Donnelly all of Callan Street and provided medical treatment, prescribed Archbishop Robinson was undertaking the Widow Conry of Irish Street. These medicine, preformed surgery and served his building programme such as the Pal- women would have been in domestic as a mid-wife. Medical treatment was ex- ace and the Public Library. Others would service cleaning the grand houses of the pensive and many individuals frequently have split between agricultural and casual local gentry and professionals. diagnosed their own problems and went labourers the latter doing menial jobs on to the local apothecary who provided fair days. Labourers were also hired by the The Gentry them with compounds and medication town corporation to remove all the dung- guided by tradition, folklore or domestic hills that had been piled at the side of the Among the professional occupations medical books. The local apothecaries streets by the inhabitants. The cleaning of was John Richardson a hearth money must of have been busy dispensing as the streets every Saturday was one of the supervisor who resided in Market Street. there was a substantial labouring class corporation bye laws that were imposed on Hearth Money was introduced in 1662 as residing in the town that could not have all the town residents. The most striking a tax levied against the number of hearths possibly afforded the fees of the town’s observation regarding the poor and very (fireplaces/chimneys) that each house had. only medical doctor poor was that the majority were widows. The rate was two shillings on every hearth In Callan Street there were the widow’s or fireplace. The Richardson’s are only Labourers, Charwomen, and O Neal, Cartwright, Dunkin, Lappan, one of a few households where the woman of the house had an occupation. Mrs. the poor Mc Conna, McMullan, Hamilton and in Castle Street the widow’s Johnston and Richardson is listed as being a mantua The census lists seventy labourers, four Duffey. All are listed as being poor or very maker. A mantua maker is better known charwomen, fourteen persons as being poor. With their bread winner gone these today as a seamstress or dressmaker. poor and twenty two as being very poor. widows would have been facing significant This was one of the few businesses that

18 History Armagh - Summer 2006 History Armagh - Summer 2006 19 a woman could completely run on their paid to the government on all the locally Some chandlers not only made and sold own in the eighteenth century. They made produced or imported beers, spirits and candles but would have made a black soap dresses, jackets and gowns for customers. wines. There were two gaugers listed a Mr. that was important to the linen bleaching They were responsible for draping, cutting Palmer of Callan Street and Mr.Agnew process. Armagh had two whitesmiths and sewing the gowns. The mantua maker of Scotch Street neither christian names who were probably related as both had to know which type of fabric to use were recorded. shared the same name. There was Sam and how to cut it, as well as keeping up Davidson of Church Lane and a Sam with the latest style and fashion. Geoffrey Wig Makers Davidson of Scotch Street. They would Parks is listed as being in the linen trade of have supplied the local gentry with the and his wife is down as keeping a public There were four wig makers in the town better quality decorative finished white house. Geoffrey Parks of English Street to keep up the appearance of the local metal work. The whitesmith was thought was only one of four linen merchants gentry. They were John Mc Clenaghan of someone akin to a sculptor. He had to residing in the town. The manufacture of of Big Meeting Street, David Hanna of know how to shape tin with artistic talent, linen at this time was principally a rural Church Lane, Alex McDonnel of Callan taste and design. The town had five smiths industry. However, Mrs. .Parks unlike her Street and Brian Black of Scotch Street. who specialized in making nails probably husband was not in a minority occupation Dressing fashionably in the eighteenth mostly for the building trade and for the as the town had nearly fifty outlets selling century meant looking good from the odd hackle instrument used in the linen alcohol. head down. The precise dress of the head trade. At this time Archbishop Robinson was as important as any other article of was commencing his building programme Thirsty Armachians clothing. Wigs and hair pieces were avail- so the local nailers probably would have able in horse, goat or human hair. The had plenty of orders. The nailers were Armagh had an extraordinary amount of wig maker’s skill allowed him to weave James McCone of Big Meeting Street, public houses. There were eight in Irish hair and fashion into the latest coiffeurs George McGreery of the Street Lead- Street, seven in Castle Street, six in both from London. ing to Common, John Edge of Callan Big Meeting Street and Scotch Street, and Street, Matthew Gray of Castle Street, five in English Street and four in Market Dancing Masters and William Johnston of New Street. Street. The most contrasting occupations Carriers/carmen was the modern day Two dancing masters resided in the town. listed for one person is that for Edward delivery/haulage man collecting and de- They were John Rocks of Pound Hill who Justice of New Street who is down as being livering raw materials and products both is described as an old dancing master both a verger and publican. Within that by horse and hand cart. Like the labourers and a Mr. Moorhead of New Street. number there were two inn’s, McKinstry’s the carmen were hired by the town corpo- Mr. Moorhead was also a notable violin in Market Street and Thomas Stringer’s ration to take away the dunghills that had teacher and attracted pupils from as far in Scotch Street. Both inns were obliged been piled by the local residents during away as . Both probably pro- my law to provide at least two beds for their compulsory Saturday clean up. One vided dancing lessons for the local gentry the lodging of strangers. Armagh had one of the town’s bye laws was that horse and for their many social occasions and pos- brewery at this time situated on the site of carts had to be led through the town as sibly for the lower orders to dance at fairs the new shopping mall near were Thomas on previous occasions stampeding stallions etc. It was during the eighteenth century street and Ogle Street meet. The brewery had made pedestrians dive for their lives. that the dancing master first appeared in was probably not able to supply all the The local carmen were Dan Camwell, . They were flamboyant characters beer to the local establishments. However, Henry Tiffney both of Big Meeting Street, who wore bright clothes and carried staffs. there were five local malsters to provide Philip Dugan of the Street Leading to On occasions when dancing masters met the malt and to do some of brewing in Common, George McKelvey of Church at fairs they challenged each other to a order to meet the local demand. The local Lane, Peter Carroll, William Johnston public dancing contest that only ended malsters were Charles McKew of Little both of Callan Street, Edward Conry when one dropped with fatigue Meeting Street, William Craig of Big of Irish Street, John Paterson, James Mc Meeting Street, Edward Kerr, Tim Gal- Jennett, Ralph Dick and James Simpson lagher, and Andrew Hutchinson of Scotch Chandlers, Nailers, White all of Scotch Street. Street. To make sure that their neighbours Smiths and Carriers/Carmen were paying their duty on the beer, the The solitary trades local customs officials known as a gauger There were three chandlers to keep the only resided a few doors or streets away. town houses well lit. Thomas Dobbin Michael Troy of Irish Street was the As the title suggests a gauger gauged/ of English Street, James Prentice and town’s only hackle maker. The hackle calculated the amount of duty to be Widow Cuming both of Scotch Street. was an instrument with teeth made of

20 History Armagh - Summer 2006 History Armagh - Summer 2006 21 nails that separated the coarse part of have surely crossed each others path many the town’s various markets. The weights flax. The fibres were hackled combed to times either at some social event or maybe and measures used were inspected regu- separate the long line and short tow fibres. just ceiling in a neighbour’s house. larly and those traders found to be using The dry plants were pulled through the inaccurate scales were fined and their wooden hackle several rows of nails. The Corporation employees weights and measures were confiscated seeds would then fall off onto a cloth that and destroyed. Thomas Crawley of Pound had been placed under the hackle. James Richard Lutton of Little Meeting Hill was the keeper of the pound. Any Russell of Church Lane is the only docu- Street was the town sergeant. The town seized or stray animals especially on fair mented currier. He would have dressed sergeant was appointed by the Grand days would be brought to the pound and the coats of horses with a currycomb and Jury for the preservation of the peace of held there until their owners paid a fine also tanned leather. The art of curing the town. Newcomers to the town were for their release. The Widow Blakeney of leather was hard manual labour needing carefully examined by the town sergeant Scotch Street was the keeper of the infir- great skill and a range of special hand so undesirables could be moved on or mary. She was probably the matron of the tools. The currier worked on a variety of persons already in the town who were infirmary that was situated on the corner hides, principally cow, calf, goat, sheep, pig not of good behaviour were liable to be of Scotch Street and Dobbin Street and and deer and on occasion dressed squirrel expelled. Like Ann Armstrong who was not the infirmary at the top of Dawson and rabbit. John Ward of the Street lead- expelled from the corporation area for Street (the old City Hospital). ing to Common was the local sawyer. John being a disorderly person and a public would have felled trees sawing the timber nuisance. Thomas Johnston of Market A busy provincial town into boards for floorboards and joists Street was the town gaoler. The gaol was etc. Robert Gardiner of Market Street in the basement of the old session house The lists of trades and occupations reveals was the town’s sole brazier. He would in Market Street probably on the site of that Armagh in the late eighteenth cen- have made or repaired brass or copper the former Lennox’s store. The gaol had tury had a varied and busy commercial household items. One of his descendants the infamous flight of nine steps leading to and professional life such as might be established Armagh Foundry in Dobbin the cells where long term prisoners were expected in a flourishing market town. Street. James McGeough of Callan held. It is quite probable that Thomas led Lodge’s census’s also provides a very real Street is listed as being a waterman. It is Ann Armstrong down the nine steps a few link to our town’s past. It gives Arma- uncertain as to exactly what his role was times or placed her in the town’s stocks. chians a strong sense of belonging and but it was probably something to do with In 1770 Arthur Burleigh of Scotch Street continuity as many of the surnames listed the town’s water supply. Dan Brennan of was the town weight master. The weight are still with us today. v Irish Street was the town’s pump maker. master was appointed annually to oversee Armagh was fortunate in having a plenti- ful supply of underground water which could be tapped by wells, open basins, windlass and bucket and wooden pumps. A new elm pump for Market Street cost £4.3s.4d in 1767. Mat Mallon of Scotch Street was the town’s pump borer. Some- time earlier than the Market Street pump, References £8.18s.3d had been paid for sinking a well and making a pump in Irish Street. It is 1. Michael Clancy, The Incidence of the Plantation on the City of Armagh. Journal of the Armagh almost certain that Dan and Mat would Diocesan Historical Society. 1955, p115. have been involved in the above jobs. The 2. L.A. Clarkson, Household and Family Structure in Armagh City, 1770. Local Population Studies. Misses McCann of Scotch Street was the Vol. 20 1978. p.15. town’s milliners. There were four Mc 3. Leslie Clarkson, Doing Local History: Armagh in the Late Eighteenth Century. Doing Irish Local History Pursuit and Practice. Raymond Gillespie and Myrtle Hill (eds). The Institute of Irish Cann sisters probably sewing everything Studies. QUB. p.81. from aprons to cloaks. Randle Shields of 4. Leslie Clarkson, Armagh 1770: Portrait of an Urban Community. The Town in Ireland. David Irish Street was the town fiddler. Randle Harkness and Mary O’Dowd (eds). Historial Studies, XIII. , 1981. p.81. 5. Leslie Clarkson, The City of Armagh in the Eighteenth Century. History and Society would have probably entertained at fair 6. Herbert Reid, The Historical Geography of Armagh. A Thesis Presented for the Degree of MA. days and at different social events, maybe QUB. Nov. 1954. even providing the music for the local 7. Sketches of Irish Life, The Irish Cow Doctor. The Illustrated London News. Feb.21st 1857. 8. TGF Patterson, Armagh City Streets. Harvest Home. dance masters. It is almost certain that 9. Catherine McCullough, Go Down the Nine Steps. The Stocks, Pillory and Sessions House in Randle and Redmond Monaghan must 18-19th century Armagh City. History Armagh. Vol.1 No.1 Summer 2004. p31

20 History Armagh - Summer 2006 History Armagh - Summer 2006 21