Congleton manuscripts

Family and political papers including: Sir John Parnell, second Baronet, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland: material relating to elections and the Parnell interest in Maryborough and Queen's County, 1776-78 (MS 64/2); letters on financial affairs in Ireland and France and on the Union of Ireland with Great Britain, c.1795-9 (MS 64/8-9). Papers of Sir Henry Brooke Parnell, fourth Baronet and first Baron Congleton: while Secretary at War, 1831-2, Treasurer of the Navy, 1835-6 and Paymaster General, 1835-41: material for elections for Queen's County, 1832, Dundee, 1834-7; Roman Catholic emancipation and Irish politics, 1815-42, correspondents including Daniel O'Connell, Dr James Warren Doyle (35 letters, 1821-32, MS 64/23/4); correspondence with Thomas Telford and other papers about the Holyhead Road and the Menai Bridge, 1817-42 (MS 64/22); correspondence with T.R.Malthus about tithes, 1808 (MS 64/17/9-10) (See also Cormac Grda, 'An early Irish reaction to Malthus', History of Political Economy 23 (1991) pp. 93-4); notebook on turnpike trusts and road making, 1828-40 (MS 64/28); notebook on financial reform, politics, Ireland and road building, 1828-41 (MS 64/29); 'Book of the [finance] committee room proceedings', House of Commons, 25 Apr 1828 - 25 Jun 1828 (MS 64/30); notes and papers on the Civil List and financial reform, 1828-31 (MS 64/31-2); political correspondence on army matters and Ireland with Lord Althorpe (18 letters, 1831-3, MS 64/34/1), Lord Brougham (5 letters, 1831-2, MS 64/34/3) and Lord Grey (4 pieces, 1831-2, MS 64/34/5); papers on the Corn Laws, 1834-40 (MS 64/38, 39/2); accounts, 1801-42, and vouchers, including papers for the road between Carlow and Castlecomer, 1809; notes on travels in Ireland, early nineteenth century (MS 64/56); diaries, 1840-2 (MS 64/57-9). Papers of Henry William Parnell, third Baron Congleton: including papers for his naval career, journals and logs, 1823-35 (MS 64/88, 187-8); family correspondence with Caroline S.Longley and her husband, C.T.Longley (Bishop of Ripon, of Durham and subsequently Archbishop of York and of Canterbury); trust book, 1850s and 1860s (MS 64/184); diaries and religious notes, 1835-94 (MS 64/80, 189-94); account books, 1835-94 (MS 64/195-8); personal and household accounts and vouchers, 1857-94 (MS 64/202-36); papers relating to the Westmeath Rifles and militia, 1831, 1851-6 (MS 64/237-41). Papers of Colonel William Bligh, father-in-law of the third Baron Congleton: including rent accounts for estates in Westmeath, County Meath and King's County, 1816-44 (MS 64/252); accounts, 1819-45 (MS 64/254-5); correspondence with the second and third Barons Carteret, 1836-44 (MS 64/257). Papers of Henry Parnell, fourth Baron Congleton: including material relating to his military career, at the Royal Military College, in the Crimea, and as commander of the infantry brigade at Malta (and acting governor of Malta), 1845-1902 (MS 64/263-5, 268-9, 301); service with the Third Regiment of Foot in South Africa, Zululand, Natal and East Griqualand, 1876-9, with papers relating to the Zulu War of 1878-9 (MS 64/277-89); papers as commandant, Straits Settlements, 1880-1, relating to the defences of Singapore (MS 64/291); accounts with Messrs Cox and Co., military agents, 1862-89 (MS 64/308, 310); accounts for personal and domestic expenses, 1882-1906 (MS 64/311-36); journal, kept in the Crimea, 1856 (MS 64/337); diaries and journal, 1861-1904 (MS 64/338-40). Estate papers, with deeds for property at Congleton, Cheshire, 1624-1899 (MS 64/363, 371, 409-12), and for estates in Westmeath, County Meath, County Tipperary, Queen's County, King's County and Dublin, 1567-1892; extensive accounts for the Irish estates, 1837-86, for Westmeath, with weekly accounts for Gurteen farm demesne at Anneville, Rostella, Park of Dunamase, Rathleague and Meelick, 1848-96; rentals for Maryborough, 1776-8, and for property in Queen's County, 1792-1884.

The archive contains the personal, family, estate and political papers of the Parnell family, Barons Congleton.

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