The Baker Estate
Bakersbridge
To date information on the Baker family of Ashgrove house has been gleaned from newspaper abstracts which are reproduced hereunder.
It appears from the first extract that the lands at Ashgrove were advertised for letting for a term of 7 years from June 1846.
Ref: http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1848/MAR.html
PURSUANT TO an Order bearing date the 13th day of June, 1846, made in these matters and causes, I will on FRIDAY, the 31st day of March Instant, at the hour of One o'Clock in the Afternoon, at my Chambers on the Inn's-quay, Dublin, SET UP to the highest and best bidder for the Term of Seven Years, pending those matters and causes, ALL THAT AND THOSE Lands of ASHGROVE, called the Demense, consisting of 80 Acres, and the Dwelling House and Out-Offices erected thereon, situate in the Baronies of Upper and Lower Loughtee, and County of Cavn, and now in the occupation of the said defendant, John BAKER
Dated this 11th Day of March 1848 WILLIAM HENN
The second extract for letting on the 24th April 1850 refers to lands at Ashgrove and Strone, also for a period of 7 years.
The 3rd extract dated the 24th June 1853 is for the sale of lands at Portacloghan, Drumcalpin and for bog land at Crahard.
http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1853/JUN.html
SALE on the 24th day of JUNE, 1853.
ESTATE OF JOHN BAKER, or WILLIAM ALEXANDER NOBLE, Esq., trustee,
Owner;
Ex parte,
MARY NEILSON PYNER, and Others,
Petitioners.
The Commissioners will, on the 24th day of June, 1853, at Noon, at their Court-house, No. 14, Henrietta-street, Dublin,
SELL BY AUCTION,
the following Lands, held in fee, and fee farms, situate in the Barony of Loughtee, and County of Cavan.
LOT No. 1
The lands of PORTACLOGHAN, containing 123 a., 2R., 37P., including 11a, 1R, 18P of water; statute measure, held in fee-simple, situate in the Parish of Drumlane, Barony of Lower Loughtee, Poor Law Electoral Division of Cavan, and County of Cavan, producing a yearly rent of £123 11s. 3d., subject to the yearly rent-charge of 17s. 9 1/4d., and £1 5s. 10 1/2d., quit rent, yearly. This lot is subjected to £97 6s.. 1d., a-year, during the life of a lady aged about 67 years.
LOT NO. 2
Part of the Lands of DRUMCALPIN, containing 24a. 1R... 7P., statute measure, with their Dwelling-house Offices, and Mill thereon, situate in the Parish of Anna, producing a yearly rent of £45, held under a fee farm grant, but indemnified from rent by other parts of the lands, by a deed of the 15th of October, 1798. this Lot is indemnified against a Life Annuity of £92 6s. 1d., by Lot 1.
LOT No. 3
Part of the Bog of CRAHARD, in the Parish of Anna containing 1A. 2R. 19r., of which the poor Law valuation is £1 10S.
Also part of the Bog of AUGHNAGUIG, in the same Parish, also containing 1A., 2R., 19P., of the yearly value of £1.2.
part of the Bog of DRUMSILOUGH, in the parish of Castleterra, containing 3A. 0R. 38P., has been valued at £12. The three several Lots of Bog are in like manner indemnified against rent.
The Mill of Drumcalpin, could, with little expense, be made double its present value, and the whole is worth attention, being situate about two miles from Belturbet, one from Butler'sbridge, and three from the town of Cavan, excellent Market and Post towns.
Dated this 21st day of May, 1853.
HENRY CAREY, Secretary
For Rentals, Maps, and other particulars, apply at the Office of the Commissioners, 14 Henrietta-street, Dublin; or to JAMES COWLEY, Solicitor having the carriage of the Sale, 24, Temple-street Dublin; and JOHN COLLUM, Solicitor, No. 70, Talbot-street, Dublin.
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Earlier in October 1848 a court case held over 2 days concerning the removel of an eel-weir at Bakers-bridge casts some information on the Baker families long connection with Ashgrove. The importance that the sale of fish brought to their finiancial income is also detailed. Mr. Baker was very displeased with the outcome of the court case. We also know that in Janurary 1847, "A reciever from the Court of Chancery was on Mr. Bakers property". However, an award of 3401 pounds was a serious amount of money in those days, but must not have been sufficient to enable Mr. Baker to continue to manage his estate.
Ref: below http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1848/OCT.html
October 27, 1848
CAVAN QUARTER SESSIONS
APPEAL CASE UNDER 5 AND 6 VICTORIA--DRAINAGE AND NAVIGATION WORKS IN IRELAND--EEL-WEIR AT BAKER'S BRIDGE
John BAKER, appellant; the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, respondents. In our last publication, we submitted the particulars of the appearance of this case in court at the sitting of his worship on Wednesday, the 18th instant--that on affidavit on the part of the Board of Works, an application was made to have the case postponed to the next sessions of Cavan--that after considerable discussion, the court refused the application. The jury was then sworn, and the court directed that six of the number should on Friday, the 20th, proceed to Baker's-bridge to view the drainage, where they would be met by parties on behalf of both the appellant and respondents. Finally, it was arranged that the hearing of the case should be proceeded with on the Monday following.
Monday, Oct. 23
At twelve o'clock, according to arrangement on the previous Wednesday, the above case was called on, and the jury called to the box--viz., William CARMICHAEL, James BERRY, Thomas BLIGH, Charles J. MURPHY, Wm. FAIRIS, Thomas HARTLEY, Wm.Moore BLACK, John WARNER, Alexander BERR, and Henry HUMPHRYS, Esqrs.
Mr. SWANZY with whom were Mr. ERSKINE and Mr. James ARMSTRONG, on the part of Mr. BAKER, as appellant, asked Mr. COLLIS, who appeared as counsel on behalf of the commissioners, whether he were disposed to waive all formalities, and go into the merits of the case at once?
Mr. COLLIS said that from the peculiar position in which he was placed, he could not take it upon himself to waive formalities; but as Mr. SWANZY said he was read to go through his case, he had better proceed in the regular way.
Mr. SWANZY replied that a circumstance had just occurred which might be of difficulty if compelled to confine himself to formalities. An important witness which they had brought from Dublin, by whom the required notices on the Commissioners had been served, had just left the court, although he had been served with a summons to attend, which he would prove by a witness.
Daniel LEDDY being called and sworn, produced copy of summons which he served on Mr. ROWAN on Wednesday last to attend the court this day. Witness further proved that Mr. ROWAN was in court that day (Monday), and had just left it.
Mr. James ARMSTRONG said that ROWAN was here on the part of the board, and the gentlemen from the board ought not to be against his coming into court.
MR. COLLIS begged to inform Mr. ARMSTRONG he was quite mistaken.
Mr. ROWAN had nothing whatever to do with the board.
MR. ARMSTRONG, in explanation, remarked that as soon as Mr. COLLIS stood up to object to the waiving of formalities, the gentleman in question left the court.
By order of the court, a constable was sent to look for him. In the meantime,
MR. SWANZY proceeded to address the court and jury. He said that in this present case of Mr. BAKER, appellant, against the Board of Works, a precept had been sent down to summon a jury to try the question between Mr. BAKER and the board, in order to enquire into and assess damages incurred by reason of the removal of the eel-weir at Baker's-bridge. With respect to Mr. BAKER, the property of Ashgrove has been in the possession of his family for a long series of years. The weir had been situated in the Ashgrove side of the River formerly called the River Erne, and the family had long derived considerable profits from this weir. This is the principal of serveral other rivers which flow into and are tributary to it, receiving therefore the most of the waters in the locality. The lakes and rivers at Farnham, Killeshandra, River Erne, and Belturet flow on thier way, and pass through where this weir had been erected; some ideaof its value might therefore be formed. John BAKER, in the year 1780, made this weir the subject of a family settlement, settled it on his son, and even went so far as to build the bridge at his own expense for the purpose of establishing this weir. Up to the year 1846, Mr. BAKER fished the weir and sold the produce in different markets, amounting to £50 to £70 yearly, not including the value of the fish consumed in Mr. BAKER's house and given away. By the 5th and 6th of her Majesty, in August 1842, the Commissioners of Public Works were appointed Commissioners of Drainage, for the purpose of draining rivers and lakes, and preventing the mischiefs of flooding; but also for the purpose of increasing the property of the persons adjoining those rivers and lakes. In 1846 the commissioners having been applied to by the landed proprietors interested in the drainage of the lands of that portion of the country, directed an enquiry as prescribed by the act, as to how far it would be advantageous to have the obstructions removed; and in con- sequence the board agreed to take the weir for half the season to free the passage of the water for the works, and for this the board allowed Mr. BAKER £40. They afterwards proceeded and removed the weir and made several works of importance for preventing the lands in the neighbourhood from being flooded. MR. BAKER's weir had been removed and done away with, and his right destroyed; and for that injury the Commissioners held a meeting for the purpose of enquiring into the extent of damages, and they awarded him the sum of 295l., a sum that would not compensate him for the fish consumed in his own house, if he did not even sell a single fish of those caught. From that award Mr. BAKER hdd appealed, and now appeared in court willing to go into the merits.
Mr. SWANZY further urged that the precept on which these proceedings were being had was wrong, designating Mr. BAKER as the Rev. John BAKER.
The court overruled the objection. He would allow Mr. BAKER to stand in holy orders as far as that went.
[ARGUMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS FOLLOWED]
Mr. SWANZY said that neither himself nor Mr. ERSKINE knew anything of the case until a few days ago.
The Court was not laying blame to either of the gentlemen.
Mr. ERSKINE's examination resumed--I know that Mr. BAKER succeeded John Noble BAKER; that he is in possession for the last 7 or 8 years;and that John Noble BAKER had the estate before him and that John Noble BAKER was the son of John BAKER from whom he derived.
Mr. BAKER was carried out of court in a fit of appoplexy. The Jury returned a verdict of 340l, damages for the appellant
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It seems that the Baker family were suffering not just from finiancial issues but also from security issues as can learned from the following in Janurary 1847.
THREATENING NOTICE--John BAKER, ESQ. of Ashgrove, J.P., received on the 6th inst. a threatening Notice through the post office of Miltown. There is a receiver from the Court of Chancery on Mr. BAKER's property. This gentleman found it necessary to issue processes in Mr. BAKER's name, on a number of tenants who owed two years rents, and against whom decrees have been obtained at the Quarter Sessions. The following is a copy of the notice:
-- "TAKE NOTICE "Mr. John BAKER, that I have got a true count of your turning over the poor on your estate. I mean the tenantry, and if not that it is beyond our power to comit murder without first giving these written warnings, and if not adhered to, we are at full liberty to try our means, and that we will try and no mistake, for by the God of Heaven it is a pleasure to go forward to shoot a tyrant, and I think you are one of them. For our sake, and for your sake in particular, and for God's sake, take this as a warning, that you will never rise a morning but you will take your lave of your family, for you are not sure will ever you see them, as I hope you will not, for if all the military from Leitrim to Belturbet was garden you, we will get a chance at you, and that the first order left on you may look out for yourself. This is from the dowright authority of Molly Maguire, and no surrender." Another newspaper article recalls a tragic accidental shooting, that Mr. Baker was involved with in Dearmfield Killashandra in October 1851.
Ref: http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1851/OCT.html
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. - On Thursday evening last, George Thomas HINDS, Esq., who had been staying with his brother, Dr. Hinds, of Deramfield, took up a gun which had been carelessly left in the dining-room, and in a playful manner presented the butt end at Mr. BAKER, of Ashgrove, who had also been a guest of Doctor Hinds. The latter gentleman in endeavouring to put aside the gun, which unfortunately was loaded, it went off, the contents passing through the abdomen of the unfortunate young gentleman, and causing instantaneous death. His remains were interred in the family vault at Killeshandra on Saturday evening. We understand no blame has been attached to Mr. Baker, the occurrence being purely accidental.
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Two further newspaper extracts are of interest.
Mr. O'REILLY, of Ballinagh, has purchased the beautiful farm of Ashgrove, in this county. Not Mr. O'REILLY of Cavan, as stated in some of the Dublin papers.
SHERIDAN - April 1, in Dublin, after a few days' illness, in the 71st year of his age, Laurence Sheridan, Esq., formerly of Killeshandra, and late of Ashgrove House.
Otherwise, research on the Baker family is continuing and these pages will be updated in due course.