Small Sources 59A: This list contains 126 servants employed by the Flower estate at Durrow, Co. Laois (previously Queen’s County) from 1720 to 1748. The records are on loose-leaf pages within the Flower Estate papers in the National Library of Ireland (NLI Ms 11,461). It can be presumed that there were also farm-hands employed but these are not included. Durrow is an ancient town first recorded in 546AD. At the time of this record the surrounding area was part of the estate of William Flower Esq. who started to build a residence called Castle Durrow in 1712 and completed it in 1716. He married in 1717 and had 2 daughters and 2 sons. Note the employment of nursery maids and children’s maids in the list below. The family were regarded as benevolent landlords and, as owners of the town, were major local employers. A son of William Flower was created Viscount Ashbrook in 1751.
The Flower family retained ownership of the estate until 1922, when the banks finally foreclosed. The Land Commission took over the arable portion of the property and divided it among local farmers; while the Forestry Department (now the State-owned company Coillte) took over the woodland. In 1929 the Catholic Parish of Durrow acquired the house from the bank and transformed it into a school, St. Fintan’s College. However, in the 1990s it was bought by private owners who conducted major renovations on the house. It is now run as a luxury hotel and is a major venue for weddings.
The records were compiled by James Loghlin (a variant of Loughlin) whose role was the Estate Agent for the Flower Estate, which effectively meant that he managed both the staff employed, but also the collection of rent from the tenants. The other roles mentioned in the document are mainly recognisable (Butler, Cook, Footman etc) but also include:
- Postillions: the persons who sat on one of the team of horses pulling a coach, to guide them.
- Woodrangers, Woodreeve, Keeper of Woods: staff involved in managing woodlands. ‘Woodreeve’ is incorrectly spelled as ‘Woodriff’ in the document.
- Bailiff or Land-Bailiff: staff dealing with tenants on the estate and reporting to the Estate Agent
- Sportsmen, Huntsmen, Fowlers: staff involved in managing the wildlife on the estate for the benefit of hunters and provision of game for the table.
The documents include receipts from the servants for their annual wages (see Figure 1) and it clear from these records that many are illiterate. However, it is noteworthy that James Loughlin seems not to have been too concerned about accuracy in the spelling of their names. For instance, Bridget Plunkett was literate and 
signed for her wages as ‘Plunkett’ (see below), whereas he consistently inserted her name in the register as Plunkit. Similarly another servant signed himself as John Donphy but is listed as Dunphy, and Charles Magauran is listed as McGauran. There are also a range of variants used for other names Dun/Dunn; Hanrihan/Hanrahan; Dullany/Delany etc. In short, it would be unwise to rely on the name spellings used. If you are interested in information on specific families, our e-book title ‘Sources for Irish Family History 2021 lists 6,500 books and articles on over 2,500 Irish families. The sources listed contain a wealth of information in the form of articles and books. The full details are described in our blog.
An interesting phenomenon is the career path of some staff within the ranks. Miles Henshaw starts as a groom in 1740, is listed as Butler in 1745, and is then demoted to Footman in 1747. The most spectacular success is Simon Watters who starts as a Groom in 1724; rises to Butler in 1726 and ends up as the personal man-servant of Mr. Flower.
The wages are hugely variable. As was detailed in a previous blog on the Domville household, house-servants are paid more than kitchen staff. Bottom of the ladder are poultry-maids and kitchen-maids at around £1.10 shillings per year; chambermaids receive £3; footmen around £4; while cooks get up to £7, and butlers £10. External staff such as Grooms (£5) and coachmen (£7) are also relatively well-paid. It would also appear that there was poor job-security within the household and few of the household staff survive the 20 year period of the records. By contrast, a high proportion of the ‘out-door’ staff, bailiffs, park-keepers, fowlers etc are employed for most of the period.
A note on some of the places referenced:
Knockatrina was one of the properties of the Flower family. A house was built on the property in mid 1800s which became home to a later lord Ashbrook. It now a popular walking and running area.
Capponellan woods is SW of Durrow and was originally established to provide game cover and grow beech, Scots pine, Norway spruce and Sitka spruce intermixed with occasional oak, ash, birch, sally and hazel for various estate uses. It is still a working woodland, now owned and managed by Coillte the government-owned forestry authority.
Knockbane or Knockbaun. A townland in Dysartgallen Civil Parish (NE of Durrow)
Tullamane. This is almost certainly the townland of Tullamaine (Ashbrook) in the Barony of Shillelogher, Kilkenny. This is quite a distance from Durrow and how it came into family ownership is not clear.
Ballynaslee: A townland directly south of Durrow in the neighbouring county of Kilkenny.
Course. A townland directly NW of Durrow. Several staff are noted as ‘keepers’ of this area, which suggests it may have been used for hunting.
The images herein were created by Ancestor Network and reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland. Ancestor Network will offer 1 free hour of research by a professional genealogist to conduct further research on these individuals or others in these estate papers. Click here and quote ‘Laois SS59A’ in the subject line. Flyleaf Press, a division of Ancestor Network, also publish a series of guides to Irish family research see here.
Servant Surname and first name / Position held or work done / year first recorded / (author comments)
Atchison/Atchisen, Mrs. Children’s maid 1748
Bergin, Margaret ..working scouring etc./ Washing, carding flax etc 1724
? Bolton, Footman?? 1735
Bourke, Margaret Chambermaid 1741
Bourke, Ellin Kitchenmaid 1744
Breen, Dennis Woodranger 1720
Brenan, Denis Bailiff at Knockbane 1741 (Knockbawn – see above)
Brien, Joane Kitchenmaid 1727
Brophy, Honor Chambermaid 1730
Brophy, Anne Chambermaid 1741
Budd, William Gardner 1720
Burke, Mary no position cited 1736
Butler, Annastace .. for 12 mons washing servants sheets and table linen 1745
Butler, Richard Cowherd (1720), Cowherd in Durrow 1720
Butler, Richard Woodrive at Caponelin 1726 (should be spelled woodreeve, which is a forest overseer)
Butler, Catherine …for washing 1745
Byrne, Bridget Housekeeper /Cook in 1740 1738
Byrne, Margaret Chambermaid 1722
Byrne, Katherin/Catherine Kitchenmaid 1727
Byrne, Honor Kitchenmaid 1724
Byrne, James Butler 1740
Cassidy, Andrew Groom 1722
Connill (Cornil?), Agnis Chambermaid 1728
Connor, Mary Dairymaid 1725
Dawson, Bridget Poultrymaid 1722
Delany, Cornelius Groom 1729
Delany, Catherine Kitchenmaid 1728
Delany, Hugh Woodriff 1730 (this should be spelled woodreeve, which is a forest overseer)
Delany, Margaret Kitchenmaid 1726
Delany, Edmond Shepherd 1720 (also spelled Dullany – Delaney is the accepted spelling)
Dempsy, Ally Kitchenmaid 1735
Donnell, Mrs. no position cited 1748
Donnell, Margaret Chambermaid 1748
Doogin (=Duigin?), Tim /Finn? Groom 1720 (usually spelled Doogan)
Dun, James Footman /Groom 1740
Dun /Dunn, Joane /Joan Poultrymaid 1735
Dun /Dunn, William Keeper of Knockihiana 1724 (now called Knockatrina – see above)
Dunphy, John Cowherd, woodranger, Woodrive 1722 (should be spelled woodreeve, a forest overseer)
Dunphy, John Park-keeper/ Keeper 1735
Dunphy, Edmond Park-keeper 1747
Eats ?, Margaret Chambermaid 1728
Evans, ? Footman 1735
Fahy, Elizabeth Kitchenmaid 1748
Fahy?, Margaret Chambermaid 1735 (chambermaid ‘in Dublin’ i.e. the Flower residence in the city)
Fitzpatrick, Mary ..for 4 months spinning flax 1723
Flanagan, William Coachman 1746
Flood, Margaret Cooksmaid 1727
Garrotty, Darby Coachman 1726 (probably Geraghty)
Goggin (Gogin), Robbort Groom 1726
Graham, Ann Chambermaid 1726
Grant, Joane Chambermaid /Dairymaid/Cooksmaid 1731
Griffith, Grace Waitering maid 1720
Hanrahan, James Footman 1726
Hanrahan/Hourahan, Honora Kitchenmaid 1726
Hanrihan, James Groom 1722
Hanrihane, James Postillion 1720
Hartstongue, David Butler 1724
Hely ?, Charles Footman 1722
Henesy, Bryan Sportsman / Huntsman /Brewer 1720 (usually Hennessy)
Henshaw, Mary Dairymaid 1740 (wife of Miles below)
Henshaw, Miles Groom /Butler in 1745 /Footman in 1747 (husband of Mary above)
Horsman, Charles Footman 1745
Horsman, Catherin no position cited 1747
Hoyne, Mary Kitchenmaid 1729
Hunt, Anne Chambermaid 1729
Joyce, James Coachman 1720
Kelly, Wm. Footman 1735
Kelly, Mrs. Cook 1748
Kenedy, Cicily Spinner 1729
Larcan, ..? Poultrymaid 1735
Lawlor, William Cowherd also landbailiff in Ballynillee?/Bailiff & Herd 1720 (probably Ballynaslee – see above)
Lawlor, Juggy Spinnor / Also Nurserymaid 1722
Lawlor, Wm. Landbailiff in Ballynislee/Herd … 1725 (probably Ballynaslee – see above)
Lee, James no position cited 1736
Lee, Jonathan Coachman 1748
Loghlin, James Estate Agent 1720 (this is the agent who compiled the records)
Lowry, John …for attending Knock.. ? 1720 (now called Knockatrina – see above)
Martin, James Brewer 1720
McDaniel, Thomas Groom 1732
McDaniel, Edmond Woodriffe 1730 (should be spelled woodreeve, which is a forest overseer)
McDermud, Margaret Kitchenmaid 1747 (usually spelled McDermott now)
McDonald, Thomas Groom 1735
McDonald, Matthew Footman 1741
McDonald, Margaret Dairymaid 1742
McGauran /Magauran, Charles Footman 1731 (as noted above, he signs his name Magauran)
McLaughlin, Thomas Butler 1740
Meaugher, Anstace Kitchenmaid 1726 (usually spelled Meagher)
Miss Molly no position cited 1726
Moor, ? Woodriff 1735 (should be spelled woodreeve, which is a forest overseer)
Moore, Ellinor Dairymaid 1720
Mulloy, ? Cook 1735
Murphy, Edmond Herd at Knockbawn 1729 (Knockbawn – see above)
Neale, ? Keeper of the Course 1748
Neale, Patrick Fowler 1735
Phelan, John ..for attending the Course / Keeper of the Course 1720 (see above)
Phelan, Joane Poultrymaid 1724
Plunkit /Plunkett, Bridget Childrens maid 1722 (see note on spelling above)
Purcell, Pierce Bailiff at Tullamane 1748 (Tullamaine – see above)
Rafforty or Reforty, Anne Chambermaid 1731 (usually spelled Rafferty)
Raforty, Henry Groom 1740
Range, Mary Kitchenmaid 1740
Range, Margaret Kitchenmaid 1741
Rango (Range?), Wm. Bailiff or Landbailiff 1720
Roules, Winifred …helping to wash /Cooksmd in 1724 1720
Roules, John Postillion / Groom 1746 /Footman 1747 1746
Roules, Mary ..for washing 1745
Roulet /Rowlett, David Footman 1748
Ryan, Joane Kitchenmaid 1729
Salmon, Margaret Dairymaid 1741
Shee, William Keeper of Caponolin Wood 1723
Sherrid, Sarah no position cited 1748
Shortill, Richard Keeper of Caponolin Wood 1722
Sittred, Mary Housekeeper 1735
Stapleton, Edmond Woodriffe 1747 (should be spelled woodreeve, which is a forest overseer)
‘The Black’, Peter Footman 1748
Tinan, Grace Chambermaid 1726 (usually spelled Tynan)
Tinan, Mary ..for washing 1745
Travers /Traverse, Laurence Keeper of Newtown Wood 1735 ( there are several local places of this name)
Tynan ? Tinan, John Tynan Keeper of Knockitrina 1748 (now called Knockatrina – see above)
Waters, Simon Groom 1724
Watters, Simon Butler /Hon. Mr Flower’s Servant 1726
Welch, Thomas Woodrive /Keeper of the Course 1740 (should be spelled woodreeve, a forest overseer)
Welsh ?, Mary Nursery Maid 1726
Whitil /Whitile, Frances Housekeeper 1720
Williams, Richard Postillion 1746
Some of the articles in our series on Irish Family History sources:
- 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
