Small Sources 3: This is a list of 86 labourers working on the Spring-Rice Estate, Mount Trenchard, Limerick (Shanagolden area) on 5 dates from April to July 1808. The Spring-Rice family held the title Lord Monteagle, and their Limerick estate was in the barony of Shanid where they held land in the parishes of Kilmoylan, Robertstown and Shanagolden and also in the parishes of Clonagh, Connelloe Lower and Caherconlish and Carrigparson, barony of Clanwilliam. The original account book is in the National Library of Ireland, Ms. 605.
With such a large estate, they would have employed many staff, some permanently and others on a seasonal basis. Those reported here are in the form of workers employed on different dates in 1808. The only specific tasks mentioned are at the end of the list and concern cutting and ‘drawing’ (i.e. hauling) turf, which was the main household fuel used at the time. Labourers are among the most difficult people to trace as they will typically not be listed as landholders.

April 25th 1808.
Richd. Shaughnessy
Richd. Flanigan
Mau. McMahon
Jno. Shaughnessy
Michl. Trehy
Thos. Lacy
Connor Kinnerk (?)
Patk. Kennelly
Catherine Canty
Garrett Joyce
Madigan & Browne
Timothy Shea
Willm. Dooly
Purtell

Michl. Shaughnessy
Thos La??
James Clancy
Catherine Canty
Carthy’s daughter
Murphy’s daughter
Biddy Purtell
Nancy Connor
James Clancy
Peggy Lacy
Jno. McMahon Collier?
Jno Sullivan
Michael Dooly
Rogr. Neale
Nancy Flanly (probably Flannelly)
Mary Flanagan
Willm. Gregg
Jno. McMahon, Tion?
Jno. Browne, Loughill (the latter is a townland in the area)
Pat. Greg
John McEnnerny (usually spelled McInerney)
James Si…. ?
Jno. Bradish
Griffin
Jno. Barrett
James Gregg
Rchd. Shaughnessy
James Purtell
Peggy Browne
Michael Flanagan’s son
Mary Flanagan
Biddy Barrett
James Clancy
Jno. O’Brien
Jno. Welsh
Jno. Joyce
Jno. Sheehy
Michl. Trehy
James Ward
?? Barrett’s son
Jno. Scanlan
Richd. Flanagan
Patk. Enright
Mulvihill
Jno. Flanagan
Jno. Sullivan
Thos. Ward and Pat Fl..ney
Michael Moloney
Jno. Joyce
Old (?) Bradish
Simon O’Brien
Michl. Scanlan
Catherine Nolan
Richd. Shaughnessy
Jno. Gregg
Wright
Connor Shaughnessy son
Daniel Moor
Biddy Barrett
Welsh & ?? levelling ditches
Timothy Carthy
Michl. Shaughnessy
Jno. McMahon Roger ?
Wm. Tr….? Cutting and Drawing turf
Widow Madigan’s son
Griffin for Striping ground
Jno. Barrett for watching turf
Darby Dooly
Michl. Clancy
Patk. Connor

Further articles in our series on Irish Family History sources include:
- Petty Sessions– the records of local courts
- Catholic Church records
- Grand Jury Presentments – records of local councils on payments for public works and staff
- Rentals – management of tenants by estates and the records created
- Middle names – the use (or non-use) of second or middle names in Irish records
- How comprehensive are Irish Civil Records?
- Census returns in Gaelic or Irish language
- 70+ blogs with names extracted from manuscript sources from many counties. A handy map index to these is available here.
Limerick Sources