Representative Church Body Library, Dublin MS 581 Collection Of

Representative Church Body Library, Dublin MS 581 Collection of transcriptions, notes, jottings and some correspondence, mostly relating to the early history of the Diocese of Ossory, compiled by the Rev. James Graves (1815- 1886). Also contains items of archaeological and antiquarian interest compiled by him and others. Late nineteenth-century. James Graves was born in Kilkenny in 1815, and became a clergyman in the diocese of Ossory, having graduated from Trinity College. He soon developed an interest in archaeology, and was a founder member of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, established in 1849: 'for the preservation, examination and illustration of ancient monuments of Irish history, manners, customs and arts, especially relating to the country and city of Kilkenny. The society expanded rapidly, and published several volumes on church history, architecture and antiquities, including material relating to St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny. In 1869, the society became the Royal Historical and Archaeological Society of Ireland. Graves edited in the Rolls Services: 'A roll of the proceedings of the King's Council in Ireland for a portion of the sixteenth year of the reign of Richard II, A.D. 1392-3' (London, 1877). Graves also prepared a history of the diocese of Ossory, which was never published, but drafts of chapters do feature in his papers (see for example 581/9 below). He was presented with a small living at Inisnag (8 miles from Kilkenny) in 1863, where he died in March 1886. Purchased from Mealy's Auctioneers, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, 1996. 1/ Extract from printed source, with title: 'Facsimiles of the types used in Irish books', showing various symbols and scripts of ancient and old Irish writing, and their meanings. This source also lists various ways of writing numbers, both as numerals (including Roman numerals), and as text (both French and English),as well as various examples of translations from ancient Gaelic to English with editorial remarks. Probably a publishers' guide used by Graves as a working tool when preparing material for publication. 38pp. 2/ Manuscript biographical notes on the Right Rev. Hugh Hamilton DD, Bishop of Ossory, 1798 - 1805. Includes details about his political career as MP for the borough of Killyleagh, Co. Down (1730-1759); education; career as Professor of Natural Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin; his publications and theories on philosophy; his role as patron of various charitable schemes including a project to supply the city of Armagh with water as a means of providing employment for local tradesmen; the establishment of a clerical association for clergymen of the diocese: 'for the purpose of talking over their duties and animating each other'. Includes detailed genealogical notes - he was son of Alexander Hamilton MP, of Knock, Co. Dublin Newtownhamilton, Co. Armagh, and married Isabella Widman Wood, of Rossmead, Co. Westmeath, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. Also includes a synopsis of his will (dated 28 May 1803, proved on 3 July 1807) and notes about the location of various portraits of him. 25pp. Stitched. 3/ Notes outlining contents of a consignment of bones sent to Graves by Arthur Wynne Foot Esq., 24 Aug. 1885, following the latter's 'explorations' at Carrowmore, Co. Sligo. The bones were excavated from ten separate locations including, for example, 'the Monument in the Deer Park', and various other numbered graves/monuments nearby. Graves carefully labelled these, and then provides detailed descriptions of each the contents of each parcel. 10pp. 4/ Letter addressed: 'Dear and Rev Sir' from Philip Raymond Esq., Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, 17 Jan. 1885, describing the doorway to Cregg Castle, near Mitchelstown, Co. Cork and enclosing two sketches of same. Also attached [in Graves' hand] is a transcription of an inquisition held in Shandon Castle, Co. Cork, in 1588, when Theobald Roche of Cregg Castle was accused of involvement in the Desmond Rebellion and stripped of his lands. 4pp 5/ Loose notes relating to the Liber Ruber (the Red Book) of the Diocese of Ossory - one of the oldest existing records of the see (late 14th century). These notes include a rough index to the book and other extracts (in Latin).(See H.J. Lawlor 'Calender of the Liber Ruber of the diocese of Ossory', PRIA, vol. xxvii, sect. c). 4 items, loose. 6/ Rough notes entitled 'Wilkins', which appear to be extensive extracts from Wilkins, Concilia Magnae Britanniae et Hiberniae, (London, 1737) which refers to the Liber Ruber. All in Latin. Two bundles, loose. 5pp, 28pp. 7/ Extract from the 'Constitutions of John,[Richard Ledred, Bishop of Ossory, 1317-61], Archbishop of Dublin'[c. 1320], referred to in a note on Ledred's contitutions [of Dublin?] in Latin, with notes by Graves on same. Single page, loose. 8/ Letter addressed 'Dear Mr Graves', from Miss Margaret Stokes, Howth, 13 June 1869, enclosing copy of her list of Christian Inscriptions of Ireland, chiefly collected and drawn by George Petrie. It appears that Miss Stokes was intending to publish details of inscriptions, and here she seeks the advice of Graves as to how the collection should be arranged. Most of the inscriptions were located at Clonmacnoise, but there are number of other inscriptions from throughout Ireland. There is quite an extensive list entitled 'Additions to Petrie's Collection' at the end of the document, with comments by Graves. Letter 5pp. List 12pp. 9/ Manuscript entitled: 'History of the Bishops of Ossory with notices of the chapters and vicars choral and the succession of deans, dignitaries etc'. This manuscript may well have formed part of Graves' projected history of the diocese of Ossory which was never published. It is organised in the following main sections: Introduction; History of the see previous to the synod of Rathbreasail; The chapter of St. Canice with the successions of deans and dignitaries; Rural deans and chapters. This is an invaluable source of information about the history of the early Christian Church in Ossory. Foolscap manuscript with corrections, and extensive references to other sources written on the dorse of each page. 34pp;18pp;3pp;5pp. 10/ Transcription of letter from John, Bishop of Ossory to the Lord Deputy and Council, 8 June, 1604, replying to a request for the names of 'all impropriat [sic.] churches' within the diocese and enclosing a list of the 'names of suche Popyshe [sic.] priests, seminaries and Jesuites [sic.] as are in my Diocese of Ossorye [sic.]'. Lists 30 names. The letter alludes to this particular bishop's prejudice and hostility towards the Church of Rome: 'the people of this cuntrie [sic.] are generally so mislead with superstitious idolatry...', whom he complains that 'there is neither sheryff [sic.], soveraigne or other office in our cuntrie' to execute writs against them. He reports that mass has recently been started up again in the abbey church in Kilkenny, and that one Richard Foylar, an inhabitant of the Irish part of the city keeps continual mass in his house, to which divers priests and other people of the' Upper town' [non-Irish part?] attend. The bishop describes this as a dangerous development which risks 'infecting that towne, which God be praised is yet clere [sic.]. One item, 3pp. 11/ Transcription of the will of Jonas Wheelar, Bishop of Ossory, written 2 April 1640, proved 9 May 1640, in the Prerogative Court, Dublin. He nominates his widow, Mrs Martha Wheeler, and his son Oliver Wheeler as his executors. The bishop instructs that his body is to be interred in the yard of St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny, in a manner directed by his executors, and he bequeaths the following: To his widow, Martha Wheeler, £100 stg. per year, together with fitting, diet and lodging for herself, two maids and two men to attend upon her while she lives with his son, Oliver Wheeler, or, if not living with him, £150 stg. per year to be paid by said Oliver Wheeler out of his rents. To his son, Oliver Wheeler, his farm of [Damord?] and all other farms, lands and rents, from which the yearly annuity to his widow to be paid. To his daughters, Francis Wright, Sarah Donnellan and Mary Mearnes [?] £2 stg. a piece. To Rt. Rev. George, Lord Bishop of Ferns and Leighlan, one mourning gown and two cloaks for two of his servants, 'provided that he preach at [the] funeral', or in case he did not preach, Oliver Wheeler to appoint a preacher, and one mourning gown and 40 shillings to go to same, or £5 to buy himself a gown for the funeral. To Mistress Elizabeth York, £5 stg. To his servants, John Tylden and Anne Carney 20 'nobles' to be equally divided betwixt them. To Nathaniel Wheeler £5 stg. The sum of £5 stg. to be distributed or employed unto the poor at the discretion of his executors. Any debts owed to him to be received by Oliver Wheeler toward payment of such legacies. Signed, sealed with arms of the bishop, and witnessed by Thomas Frelman and John Tylden. 12/ Transcription of entry relating to Johanes Baleous [John Bale], Bishop of Ossory, from the Index liborum prohibitorum et expurgandorum nouissimus pre Catholics Hispanianrum, published in Madrid, 1667, known as the 'Solomaiors Index'. 13/ Two sets of notes relating to early-Christian inscriptions, entitled as follows: Ogham-inscribed stone at Monataggart, Co. Cork, and 'Further Ogham discoveries at Monataggart, Co. Cork', 1874. Both appear to be drafts of papers sent by Graves to the Royal Irish Academy. 7pp,4pp. Representative Church Body Library, Dublin. MS. 585 Records of the Commissioners of Church Temporalities in Ireland, Solicitors' Department, Hume Street, Dublin. Miscellaneous collection of deeds and correspondence relating to rent payments, valuations and purchases of perpetuity rights by lessees and other tenants of lands owned by the Church of Ireland.

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