'Priceless documents have nowhere to go'
By: Majella O'Sullivan
PRICELESS documents dating back to the 1600s,
chronicling the history of Carlow town, were handed over to a Carlow
resident in Jury's Hotel car park in Dublin this week.
However, the caretaker of the collection says that
there is no place in Carlow to house it.
Michael Purcell is now in possession of a collection
of documents, numbering several hundred, including estate records and
other memorabilia that were formerly owned by the Browne-Clayton family.
Robert Browne-Clayton is a direct descendant of John
Browne who was granted lands in Carlow by Cromwell in 1650. The
Browne-Clayton family were the ruling gentry in Carlow county for over 300
years and during that time members of the family served in the British
Army , indeed Robert's grandfather was Brigadier General Robert
Browne-Clayton DSO GOC. (1870 - 1939.)..
Born in Carlow but now living in England, Mr
Browne-Clayton gave the documents to Mr Purcell with whom he has built up
a friendship over the years.
Mr Purcell says that his dilemma now is that Carlow
County Council does not have a qualified archivist and he is reluctant to
hand the documents over to the National Library or the National Archives
in Dublin.
"Carlow does not have an archival or heritage centre
where these can be stored. If they go to Dublin, Carlow will miss out and
the home of the collection should be in Carlow," Mr Purcell said.
Among the items is a hand-painted book on vellum
that was presented to W. C. Browne in 1850 by the inhabitants of Carlow.
" I would describe it as a mini Book of Kells for
Carlow and it includes the names of many prominent businessmen in the
town," Mr Purcell enthused.
Among the signatories are J.C. Deighton, Robert
Malcolmson, Thomas O'Meara, William Whitmore as well as the editors of The
Carlow Sentinel and Carlow Post ..
Other items in the treasure trove include parchments
signed by the Earl of Thomond and the Earl of Ormonde signing over castles
and lands to the Browne family.
Robert Browne, son of the original settler, was
Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Carlow, Sovereign of the town, and in
succeeding generations members of the family served as Justice of the
Peace, High Sheriff and Member of Parliament for Portarlington. The
documents also hold significance for Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois and Wexford,
where the family also held land.
The collection includes detailed military records ,
rental records, leases, indentures, memorials, staff records and details
of the little known Carlow Orphan Society and the Carlow Cowkeepers
Association.
It even contains anonymous letters that would have
been sent to the Brownes in their capacity as Justice of the Peace and
Magistrate at various periods.
Mr Purcell pointed out that the Browne-Clayton
family would have been well regarded in Carlow and were considered good
and caring landlords. During the Great Famine the family created
employment for hundreds of local people by having a wall erected
surrounding the Browneshill Estate.
He said that during the War of Independence and
later during the Civil War in Ireland , De Valera himself gave the
instruction that the Browne family or their property were not to be
harmed. This was at a time when many of the big country houses were been
burnt down throughout Ireland.
Mr Purcell added that he's looking forward to
showing the collection to County Librarian Tom King, who has written
extensively about the history of Carlow town. He will be calling on Carlow
County Council to take action in setting up a Archival Centre for the
collection , Michael feels that there are many other collections that
would be donated to such a centre , including the Pat Purcell Papers.
Source: Press
release by Michael Purcell
c2006