The Drogheda Parliamentary

Election of 1847 and its

Aftermath
By Ned McHugh

The general election of August 1847 produced few unexpected results. Peel's
Conservative government was defeated and a Whig administration headed by Lord John
Russell was returned to power. The hope of a strong united Irish parliamentary lobby was not
realised however, as the election did not bring about the return of a coherent disciplined group
of Irish representatives. The repeal movement in Ireland had been divided; in 1846 many
Young Irelanders had either left or had been expelled from the Repeal Association when
Daniel O'Connell committed it to the doctrine that physical force could never be justified as a
means of gaining independence. The Young Irelanders, who were romantic nationalists, set up
a repeal association of their own on 13 January 1847. It was called the Irish Confederation and
was led by William Smith O'Brien, a Protestant landlord and member of parliament. Other
prominent members of this organisation were Thomas Francis Meagher, Gavan Duffy and
John Mitchell. In the spring and early summer of 1847 these two wings of the repeal movement
made some attempts to reunite, but failed. However, they were united in calling on the Irish
members of parliament to withdraw from Westminster and form a council of national distress
in Dublin. Daniel O'Connell died at Genoa on 15 May of that year but it was not until 5
August that he was buried at Glasnevin cemetery. By this time election results were coming in.
Most of the successful repeal candidates were from the Repeal Association; only two, William
Smith O'Brien and Chisholm Anstey, fully endorsed the Irish Confederation. Nonetheless,
between them, these two rival repeal organisations only managed to capture a minority of the
parliamentary seats, and once again the Conservatives and Whigs had the lion's share of
electoral support.1
It was against this background that the Repeal Association attempted to unseat Sir
William Meredyth Somerville, the Whig MP who represented the Borough of Drogheda
constituency in the outgoing parliament and had just been appointed chief secretary for
Ireland. Sir William Somerville was born in 1802 and matriculated from Christ Church,
Oxford in 1822 but did not graduate. Having succeeded to the baronetcy when his father died
in 1831 he spent some time in the diplomatic service. He unsuccessfully contested the 1835
general election forWenlock. However, as he was the only candidate standing for the borough
of Drogheda in the general election of 1837 he had little trouble taking this seat for the Whigs.
In 1841 he was again unopposed and therefore t'he election of 1847 was the first occasion on
which he had to face an opponent in the constituency.2 In his parliamentary contributions he
adopted a position typical of a liberal landlord. He played a leading role in the downfall of the
Tory government in 1846 and on the Whigs assuming office under Lord John Russell he was
rewarded with the post of under-secretary for the Home Department. In July 1847 he was

1. The Liberator: Daniel O'Connell and the Irish Party, 1830-1847 (London, 1965), 285-308; J.
Angus Macintyre,
C. Beckett, The Making of Modern Ireland, 1603-1923 (2nd ed., London and Boston, 1981), 323-47; Freeman's
Journal, 20 August 1847.
2. Brian M. Walker (ed.), Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland 1801-1922 (Dublin, 1978), 63, 69, 76.

297
 298 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

appointed chief secretary for Ireland.3 He had a residence at Somerville House, Balrath,
Ashbourne, County Meath as well as an English address at 7 St George's Place, London.4
The first salvo in the repealers' campaign was fired when they held a meeting of electors in
the Linen Hall on 25 July 1847.5 It was requisitioned by seventy-two electors for the purpose of
'taking into consideration the most effectual means of securing the return of an independent
Repeal representative at the coming election'. The chairman, Patrick Boylan TC, opened the
meeting by informing the large attendance of the shortcomings of Sir William Somerville: a
person whose votes clearly proved that he was no longer deserving to be the representative of
the large commercial town of Drogheda; one who neglected to get a grant for the
? there had frequently been large foreign vessels unable to get
improvement of the harbour
admission to the quays owing to the condition of the river; the people of Drogheda in common
with other cities and towns had petitioned the House of Commons for a uniform Poor Law
system of rating to achieve a fair equalisation of the burden, but Sir William opposed the
motion made; he had dispensed patronage in jobs in the excise, customs and revenue; the
grand question, however, was repeal of the legislative union of Ireland with Britain, and Sir
William was an avowed anti-repealer.
Town councillor Collins told the attendance that every year the country presented an
aspect of greater distress; fisheries were neglected; a great number of poor were flocking into
the town to get employment, but Sir William opposed a uniform system of rating; Sir William
came to town while the relief committee was sitting, but he went to see the Primate and then
? when written
left without making a donation to, he sent ?25 to be divided between 20,000 at
a time that merchants and shopkeepers were each subscribing from ?100 downwards, in
addition to giving weekly subscriptions; the public works initiated by the government of which
Somerville was a member, rendered roads impassable by leaving them in an unfinished state.
He concluded by proposing the first resolution: That this meeting of the Repeal electors of
Drogheda are unanimously of opinion that Sir William Somerville, Bart., is not a proper
person to represent this borough any longer, on account of his not being a Repealer, nor an
advocate of the tenant right; and inasmuch as he has in the last parliament voted in a manner
directly contrary to the interests of his constituents, and the welfare of Ireland'. The motion
was seconded by T. J. Rowland, a solicitor. Having adopted this, a second resolution was then
unanimously passed, calling on the members of Drogheda Corporation to come forward and
give their votes for a Repeal candidate to represent the borough. John Apperson, the editor of
the Drogheda Conservative Journal, informed the meeting he could not see what good the
on it
Whigs had done for the country. He was aware that they had inflicted grievous calamities
by permitting the people to perish of want rather than interfere with the heartless speculating
merchants who traded in corn; that nearly two million people were sacrificed for the gain of
British merchants. He would support a Conservative candidate, but as he saw no chance of
such a person standing for election, he considered it his duty to aid the Repealers who were
working to put the Whigs out. He then attacked the corporation: 'those men who have
heretofore made such liberal professions in favour of Repeal, where are they today? We see
them neither leading the van nor bringing up the rere . . Why . should they not be here, and
not have me a Protestant, as well as others professing the same religious opinions, to take their
place'.6 The third resolution declared that any elector who would vote for either Whig or Tory
would be a traitor to his country and the sacred cause of nationality. It was carried amid

3. Sidney Lee (ed.), Dictionary of national biography (London, 1909), xviii, 666-1.
4. The Dublin almanac and general register of Ireland, for the year of our lord 1847 (Dublin, n.d.), 300.
5. Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal (hereafter cited as DAL]), 31 July 1847.
6. Ibid.
 The Drogheda Parliamentary Election of 1847 and its Aftermath 299

tumultuous cheering.7 The meeting ended after giving three cheers for O'Connell, three for
the honest forty-shilling freeholders, three for the Protestant freemen and three for repeal.8
The Repeal candidate, Thomas Lamie Murray, came to Drogheda on Sunday 1 August
and he received a rousing reception. The trades and amateur town bands met him on the
Dublin road and crowds of people lined the streets, cheering, applauding and shouting for
repeal. He addressed the crowd from one of the windows of Simcocks' Hotel inWest Street. In
his speech he professed himself an
advocate of repeal of the union and declared that he
favoured tenant right. He said he supported freedom of conscience and every other measure
which would improve the condition of the people. Having praised the 'Liberator', he went on
to state that if he was elected he would be a constant attender in the House of Commons, since
he lived in London. Moreover, being an Irishman, he would do all in his power to lessen local
taxation, improve the harbour and encourage the spread of capital in Drogheda.
The nomination took place on Monday 2 August at 12 o'clock. All through the morning
the streets were thronged with supporters of both candidates. The court was packed to
capacity as soon as the doors were opened. The writ for holding the election was read by
William Horan and this was followed by cheering for Repeal. The high sheriff warned that 'if
the freedom of person and property is not protected, I will feel it my duty to call out the
military'.9 Elections in nineteenth-century Ireland usually brought with them the potential for
serious public disorder, and Drogheda had its share during previous campaigns. Only a tiny
proportion of the population had the franchise, but the fact that those entitled to vote had to
publicly indicate who they were voting for, meant that they were wide open to the chilly winds
of public opinion. Election time thus gave the opportunity to exert strong pressure and
sometimes physical violence was employed.10 Presumably the high sheriff was mindful of the
1835 election when about 100 Orangemen marched into the court-house, causing such a
disturbance that the sheriff had to have it cleared; indeed on that occasion a number of the
Orangemen carried pistols and daggers in full public view as they marched through the streets.
This time however, the disturbances were confined to some window breaking and minor
assaults.11
Once the high sheriff declared that he would accept nominations, James Gernon of
Athcarn Castle rose and proposed the Right Honourable Sir William as he
Somerville, just
had done on the occasion of the previous general election. This nomination was seconded by
Thomas Carty JP. Alderman Rogers then proposed Thomas Lamie Murray as a Repeal
candidate and this was seconded by John Collins TC, a Street businessman and
Shop long time
supporter of Daniel O'Donnell.12 Carty, Rogers and Collins had each been elected to the
reformed corporation of Drogheda in 1842 and when, in that year, Carty went on to become
its first Catholic mayor he was paid generous
public tributes by Somerville, the local MP.13
The time had now come for Carty to return this support. John Collins
pointed out that Sir
William had voted against repeal of the union, against tenant
right, and against Lord George

7. Drogheda Conservative Journal (hereafter cited as DCJ), 31 July 1847.

8. DALJ, 31 July 1847.
9. DALJ, 1 August 1847.
10. K. Theodore Hoppen, Elections, Politics and Society in Ireland 1832-1885 (Oxford, (hereafter cited as
1984),
Hoppen), 341-423.
11. Third report from the select committee appointed to inquire into the nature, character, extent and tendency of
lodges, associations or societies in Ireland; with the minutes and index, pp 7-10,
Orange of evidence, appendix
U.C. 1835 (476), xvi; DCJ, 26 February 1848.
12. DALJ, 7 August 1847.
13. A. Hughes, The History of Drogheda up to date with Memoirs of the Martyr-Primate, Dr Oliver Plunket;
Cardinal Logue, Etc., Etc. (Drogheda, 1893), 262-6.
 300 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

Bentinck's bill to give sixteen million pounds for Irish railways. He urged people not to vote
? that spends the money of the country in spoiling the
for the Whigs 'that starved the people
roads in cutting down hills and filling hollows, instead of having you employed usefully'.14 Sir
William Somerville attempted to speak but could not be heard amidst the clamour. Finally the
high sheriff restored order and Sir William proceeded to castigate Patrick Boylan, stating that
. . .', even
Boylan had applied to him for 'one of the following situations though Boylan was
now denouncing him to his friends. Chaos and confusion ensued and the high sheriff
threatened to clear the court on several occasions. Sir William repeated that Boylan had asked
? ?
him for 'a place in the Court or the Castle to be appointed Stipendiary Magistrate
Poor Law Commissioner ? a magistrate in any of the colonies ? a place in the
Assistant
fisheries . . . and yet this is the man who talks of me to the of as a place man'.
people Drogheda
He claimed that although he had obtained no grant for Drogheda harbour, he had procured an
Act by which the town could elect its own harbour commissioners, with power to borrow
money to improve the harbour. He declared himself to be one of the few people in parliament
in favour of a union system of rating, and said he was one of those who constantly urged on the
government the injury that would be done to the towns if this were not introduced. He denied
that he was against tenant right, but was cautious and vague about it. As to his opponent, he
had this to say: 'My opponents ransacked all Ireland without success to get a candidate to
oppose me, and were then obliged to go to London for one'. Thomas Lamie Murray then rose
to speak and immediately charged Somerville for his betrayal of the confidential
communications of one of his constituents. He accused him of not addressing the great
questions of the day and called him a servant who had to obey British government ministers.
He went on to make an impassioned speech favouring repeal of the union with England.
Several others contributed to the debate, with some very emotive speeches being made, such
as that of Joseph Henry Dunne, a barrister and Repeal activist:
When you, SirWilliam Somerville, heard that the people of this country were crushed
down by famine, sickness and death, how did you sit in your drawing-room
surrounded by all that gives polish to refined society? What did you do, or resolve to
do, to stop the people from dying . . .Every man, let it be recollected, who votes for
the Whig candidate at this election becomes the approver of that policy, and of that
government who have thinned the population.
A show of hands was taken and the sheriff declared it in favour of Murray. A poll was then
called for by Somerville's supporters and Wednesday 4 August was fixed for the election.
The campaign aroused considerable interest, with the streets crowded and both camps
engaged in hectic activity. Six election booths were opened on Wednesday at 8 a.m. There was
intense activity all through the day, but when the polls closed at 5 o'clock, Somerville had a
majority of three votes. The result was officially announced next day by the high sheriff in the
court-house. Both candidates were absent but each sent a letter which was read to the
assembly. After the announcement the packed court-house was drowned with a mixture of
cheers, groans and cries of bribery, bribery!15 Somerville had got 155 votes toMurray's 152.16
On 1 February 1847 there were 734 electors registered for the Borough of Drogheda and
although this had declined to 612 on 1 February 1848, the total valid poll of 307 indicates that

14. DAU, 1 August 1847.

15. Ibid.
16. John Chester Esq., high sheriff of Drogheda to the electors of the county of the town of Drogheda, 5 August
1847 (PRO London, C219/248).
 The Drogheda Parliamentary Election of 1847 and its Aftermath 301

only about half of the electorate had bothered to vote at all.17 The Drogheda Argus and
Leinster Journal had this to say of Murray's defeat: Tt soon became evident that the people
cared not for him personally ? except so far as they believed the principle of Repeal was
mixed up with his name'. This cannot be taken as a completely impartial observation,
however, as the proprietor of this newspaper cast his vote in favour of Somerville.18
At a meeting of the Loyal National Repeal Association held on Monday, 16 August 1847
the chairman, Maurice O'Connell, MP for Tralee, gave his verdict on the Drogheda election:19
and in Drogheda the Secretary for Ireland, Sir William Somerville, was so hard
pressed, that he was returned with a majority of only three, though the Repealer had
only two or three days to prepare for the contest. If there be a the will
petition Whig
certainly be put out, and I hope the honest men of Drogheda will vindicate the
character of their town and replace the Whig official by Mr Lamie Murray, the Repeal
candidate (cheers). This of all matters was one of the most important for our
consideration. It particularly behoved us to dispute the representation of Drogheda
with theWhig. We have done so, and our running him so close ? our having so nearly
defeated him with all his influence and amiable private character, proves in the
clearest manner that the honest people of Ireland are determined to work out the
legislative independence of their country.
The tension with the Young Irelanders surfaced later on in the meeting when a speaker
recounted that while canvassing for Murray in Drogheda he met a Young Irelander who
refused to vote for Murray even at the close of the poll when they were running neck and neck
with the Whig nominee: 'But Mr Murray would lose ten thousand elections rather than take
one of their miserable and calumnious pledges'.
On 14 August the Drogheda Conservative Journal published the names and addresses of
those who voted for each of the candidates. This makes very interesting reading because many
of Somerville's voters are marked as defectors from the repeal cause, i.e. those who were
repealers are indicated by an r; those who signed a requisition inviting a Repeal candidate to
oppose Somerville are marked with an s; corporation repealers are indicated the letters cr.
by
It is clear from the voting lists that many who adopted a repeal position prior to the election,
actually voted Whig when the crunch came. However, one of Somerville's voters, Hector
Hugh Chambers, in a letter published in the Freeman s Journal on 18 August, denied that he
had signed the requisition as alleged in the Drogheda Conservative Journal's lists. Not
everybody was surprised by these Repeal defections, and indeed the Nation newspaper
predicted as much in its issue of 31 July; the reason was also given:
The Repealers foremost in wealth and station in that borough have addressed Sir W.
? an Anti Repealer ?
Somerville, assuring him of their support. A strange spectacle;
but a correspondent makes it intelligible enough, by enumerating for us the various
offices procured by Sir William for, at the direct instance of, nearly every one of the
entire number.

17. Returns of the number of electors registered for the several counties, cities, towns and boroughs of Ireland from the
1st day of February 1846 to the 1st day of February 1847, and from the 1st day of February 1847 to the 1st day of
1848 . . .,
February p. 9, H.C. 1847-8 (691), lvii.
18. DCJ, 14 August 1847.
19. DALJ, 21 August 1847; The Freeman's Journal, 17 August 1847.
 302 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

THOSE WHO VOTED FOR SOMERVILLE

Peter Greene, Mannimore, householder, r
Samuel Atkinson, William St., freeman, s
Thomas Falkner, road to Greenhills, leaseholder, r
James Daniel Dowd, South Quay, householder, r
householder, r
Philip Heaney, Prospect,
William Henry Beddy, Alleys, freeman
Charles C. Farrell, Fair St., householder
James Bellew, North Quay, householder, cr
Thomas Grendon, West St., freeman
John Doherty, Peter St., householder, s
Mathew out Laurence's Gate, householder, r
r Fegan,
Robert Daly, West St., freeholder,
Graves, Newtown Platten, freeman, s
r Anthony
Patrick Byrne, West St., leaseholder, r
Robert Finegan, Bullring, householder,
A. R. Apperson (shoemaker), Fair St., freeman, s
Thomas Hammond, Sheephouse, County Meath,
Michael Daly, Peter's church, freeman r
householder,
John Drew, West St., leaseholder James Gilmore, Dundalk, rent charge ?20
St., freeholder, r
Henry Byrne, Magdalene James Gernon, Athcarn freeholder
Castle,
Oliver Bridges, Potato-market, freeman
Robert Hardman, Hardman's Garden, freeman
Thomas Beddy, West St., freeman Peter St., freeman
Francis Anderson, freeman Henry Garvey,
Eastham, County Meath, J. H. Hudson, Riversdale, freeman
Owen Boyle, West St., householder, r
Joseph Holmes, Dublin, leaseholder
John Byrne, Gernonstown, freeholder, r
Patrick Murtagh, Peter St., householder, s
Laurence Delany, Navan, freeholder
Patrick Moore, Sunday's Gate, freeholder, r
Ralph Eccleston, Blackbut Lane, freeman, s
James Mathews, Mounthanover, freeholder
Patrick Byrne, Dyer St., householder, cr
James Mullin, out Duleek Gate, householder, r
Simon Duffy, Gernonstown, freeholder, s
Felix M'Mahon, Irish St., freeholder, r
Thomas Ennis, Belmarino, householder, cr
James M'Cartney, Peter St., freeman
Owen Beahan, Duleek, freeholder, r
John Mullin, James's St., householder, r
Patrick Beahan, Dyer St., freeholder Rev. T. Martin, Rathmoural Lodge, freeholder
John Donegan, Gernonstown, freeholder, r
Peter M'Evoy, Fair St., freeholder, cr
Bernard Devin, Gernonstown, freeholder, r
John Mulloy, Gravel Walk, freeholder, r
John Dardis, Laurence St., freeman James Moore, Mannimore, freeman
John Bollard, Gernonstown, freeholder, s
Samuel Moore, George's St., freeman
Francis Brodigan, Pilltown, freeholder
William Moore, Killineer, freeman
Nicholas Andrews, Thomas St., householder, r
Isaiah Moore, jun., Killineer, freeman
Hector Hugh Chambers, Church Yard, freeman, s
William Murray, Eastham, freeman
John Collins, North Strand, freeman
Isaiah Moore, sen., Killineer, freeman
William Campbell, '82 Club, West St., householder, cr
Thomas Mulholland, Yellow Batter, freeholder
William Magdalene St., householder, r
Campbell, William Hill M'Cready, freeholder
r Summerhill,
Bernard Clinton, St James's Road, householder,
Patrick M'Kenna, Gaol of Drogheda, freeman
William Cairnes, Cotton Hall, freeman
Richard Maguire, Newgrange, freeman
Christopher Jordan, West St., freeholder Robert Morton, Fair St., householder
William Clinton, Dyer St., householder, r
Patrick Mathews, Annagor, householder, r
John Cooper, Cooper-hill, freeman
John Morton, Church Lane, householder
T. Campbell, (repeal warden) Laurence St., householder
Hugh Maguire, West St., householder, r
John Coulson, Lisburn, County Antrim, leaseholder
John Murphy, Fair St., householder, r
John Cook, Bullring, freeholder
Nicholas Madden, Scarlet Lane, freeholder, r
Michael Campbell, Great George's St., freeman, s
John Magee, Laurence St., householder, r
Bernard Chapman, King St., freeman, s
James M'Donnell, Dublin, leaseholder
Nicholas Gernonstown, freeholder, r
Coogan, Ball's Grove, r
Joseph M'Loughlin, householder,
Laurence Carton, Gernonstown, freeholder
W. A. M'Kenna, Laurence St., householder, r
Thomas Crolly, Dyer St., householder, r
Peter Kirwan, Yellow Batter, householder, r
Peter Connolly, North Strand, householder, r
Francis Kirwan, Townrath, householder, r
Michael Chester, Stonehouse, leaseholder
William Owens, Laurence St., householder
H. B. Coddington, Oldbridge, freeman
Edward Kirwan, Laurence St., householder, r
Patrick Crosbey, West St., householder, r
William Patterson, Great George's St., householder
Thomas Carty, West St., leaseholder Patrick Kelly, West cr
r St., householder,
John Cowley, Beamore Road, householder,
James Philips, Gernonstown, freeholder, r
Michael Crinnian, Linenhall St., householder, r
Francis William Leland, Laurence St., freeman
John Fanning, Laurence St., householder James O'Neill, Gernonstown, freeholder, s
R. E. Fairtlough, Clonmore Rectory, freeman
John Richardson, Gernonstown, freeholder, r
Lathum Fairtlough, William St., freeman out Duleek r
r Hugh Reilly, Gate, householder,
James Hughes, West St., householder,
Henry Osborne, Dardistown, freeman
John Grendon, Barrack Lane, freeholder, s
James Reilly, Beamore Road, householder, r
James Forde, Magdalene St., freeman John Reilly, William St., freeman
William Gernonstown, freeholder, r
Hoey, Patrick Rogers, r
Gernonstown, freeholder,
Patrick Hinchy, Levins' Bridge, freeholder, r
John Pendry, Merchants Quay, freeman
 The Drogheda Parliamentary Election of 1847 and its Aftermath 303
West St., householder, cr Peter Verd?n, West St., leaseholder, r
Anthony Keappock,
John Richardson, Palace Row, freeman Michael Vaghey, Stockwell Lane, householder, s
Michael John Verd?n, West r
George Knaggs, West St., leaseholder St., householder,
freeman John Walsh, Linenhall St., householder, r
George Pepper, Mosney,
Thomas Laurence St., freeholder, r Patrick Ternan, Greenhills, householder, cr
Kelly,
William Leonard, Townrath, householder, r Laurence Steele, Banktown, freeman
Thomas Kelly, Peter St., householder John Stewart, Potato-market, freeman
William freeman Walter Skelly, Gernonstown, freeholder, r
Roy, Beaulieu,
John Kelly, Fair St., householder, r Ralph Smyth, Queensborough, freeman
James Levins, Shop St., householder, cr St George Smith, Greenhills, freeman
Michael road to Cord, freeholder, r Michael Walsh, South Quay, householder, cr
Skelly,
James Watson, Magdalene St., freeman Robert Thompson, Killineer, freeman
Peter Walsh, James's St., householder, r James Simpson, Mattock Lodge, freeman
John Shaw, Church Yard, freeman John Shegog, Fair St., freeman
James Simpson, Hurtle, freeman Nicholas White, West St., householder, r
Thomas Simcocks, West St., householder, cr Charles White, West St., householder, r
Patrick Ternan, Hardman's Garden, householder, r

THOSE WHO VOTED FOR MURRAY

Thomas Apperson, Peter St., (printer), freeman Peter Clarke, Trinity St., householder
William Barker, Peter St., freeman Patrick Courtnay, Stockwell Lane, householder
William Boylan, South Quay, householder Bartholomew Collins, Stockwell Lane, householder
Peter Bannon, Laurence St., householder Thomas Carpenter, John St., householder
Mathew Biggers, Peter St., householder Bartholomew Courtney, West St., householder
Patrick Black, Peter St., householder John Campbell, North Road, householder
Christopher Dogget, Peter St., householder Mathew Curry, Trinity St., householder
James Butterly, Laurence St., householder Patrick Conway, North Road, householder
John Bowen, Shop St., householder Nicholas Campbell, West St., householder
Thomas Branigan, Shop St., householder John Collins, Shop St., householder
Nicholas Boylan, North Quay, householder Patrick Casey, West St., householder
John Duffy, Laurence St., householder Thomas Connolly, Bullring, householder
William P. Berrill, Bullring, householder John Carney, Killineer, leaseholder
Thomas William Doyle, William St., householder John Carter, Crooked St., householder
Bernard Duffy, West St., householder John Campbell, West St., householder
James Durnin, West St., householder Nicholas Collins, James's St., householder
Thomas Barron, Shop St., householder Michael Connolly, Laurence St., householder
Denis Devin, Bullring, householder John Cooke, Duleek Gate, householder
George Dowd, Shop St., householder John Callaghan, Great George's St., householder
Michael Downey, Morgan's Lane, freeholder Patrick Hughes, Road to Staleen, householder
Owen Donegan, Trinity St., householder James Halligan, West St., householder
Richard Barron, John St., householder Peter Flinn, Magdalene St., leaseholder
John Butterly, Shop St., householder John Glover, Ship St., freeman
Peter Branigan, Peter St., householder Hugh Glover, Ship St., freeman
John Davis, Laurence St., householder Patrick Fedigan, Road to St. James's, freeholder
Patrick Brennan, West St., householder Richard Harvey, West St., householder
Bryan Byrne, Dyer St., householder Edward Fitzgerald, North Quay, householder
Francis Berrill, West St., householder Patrick Flinn, Ropewalk, freeholder
Richard Cooney, Peter St., householder Nicholas Fitzpatrick, Shop St., householder
William Jephson, Magdalene St., freeman James Hand, Out Laurence Gate, householder
Robert Johnson, Laurence Gate, freeholder Bernard Hatten, Peter St., householder
Michael Callan, Carntown, householder George Hoey, Trinity St., householder
Patrick Connolly, West St., householder Michael Finegan, John St., householder
James Curtis, Peter St., householder John Holland, Peter St., householder
Patrick Clusky, Platten Road, householder John Healy, Trinity St., householder
Thomas Callaghan, Laurence Gate, householder James Healy, West St., householder
James Colgan, Laurence Gate, freeholder James Fitzpatrick, Trinity St., householder
John Clarke, James's St., leaseholder Joseph Gargan, Bullring, householder
Bernard Johnson, West St., householder Thomas Farrell, Platten Road, freeholder
John Connolly, Bullring, householder Bartholomew Halpin, West St., householder
Michael Callan, Laurence St., householder John M'Ardle, West St., householder
Thomas Carroll, West St., householder James Mathews, Allen's Lane, leaseholder
Patrick Courtnay, Shop St., householder Patrick Maguire, West St.. householder
 304 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

John Markey, North Road, freeholder Patrick Reid, Carntown, freeholder

Felix M'Cabe, West St., householder Thomas Nugent, West St., householder
George M'Cann, James's St., freeholder James Kennedy, North Quay, householder
James M'Donnell, Peter St., householder Nicholas Leonard, Townrath, householder
Richard Moore, Duleek St., householder John Kelly, Shop St., householder
Peter Mathews, Cromwell's Mount, freeholder John Reilly, Scarlet Lane, householder
Michael Mackin, Laurence St., householder James Leonard, North Strand, householder
Michael M'Gough, Ropewalk, freeholder George Ogle, Trinity St., householder
Owen John M'Gough, Ropewalk, freeholder James Kelly, Trinity St., householder
Patrick M'Cabe, West St., householder Michael Rogers, West St., householder
Joseph M'Cann, Beaumont, householder John Reilly, Road to Beamore, householder
Peter M'Connin, Laurence St., householder John O'Neill, Dyer St., householder
Charles M'Cabe, Shop St., householder Thomas Reilly, Beamore Road, householder
Francis Moore, Road to Greenhills, freeholder John Kelly, West St., householder
Patrick Mohan, James's St., householder William Kertland, Peter St., householder
James Markey, Duleek St., freeholder Laurence Pentony, West St., householder
Nicholas M'Connin, Sunday's Gate, householder Gerald Lynam, Trinity St., householder
Bartholomew Malone, Scarlet Lane, householder Green Batter, householder
Hugh Quinn,
Patrick Malone, Scarlet Lane, householder Laurence Kelly, Windmill Lane, freeholder
Michael M'Govern, North Strand, leaseholder Joseph Kearnes, Great George's St., freeman
William Moore, Road to Greenhills, householder Michael Swift, Peter St., householder
John M'Gough, Peter St., householder Thomas Kelly, West St., householder
Thomas Maypother, Dyer St., householder William Smith, Killineer, householder
Thomas Moonan, Trinity St., householder James Williamson, Marsh, freeman
Peter Mohan, Bullring, householder Richard Whearty, West St., householder
Denis M'Cullagh, Magdalene St., householder Nicholas Woods, Ballymakenny, householder
Thomas M'Kone, Road to Greenhills, householder Edward Traynor, Stockwell Lane, householder
John Murtagh, Laurence St., householder Rodger Williamson, Bolton St., freeman
Patrick M'Cue, Stockwell Lane, householder John Traynor, Townrath, freeholder
James Long, Old Cornmarket Hill, freeholder Bryan Whearty, West St., householder
William Kelly, Road to St James's, freeholder John Walsh, West Gate, householder
Patrick O'Brien, Road to Beamore, freeholder Patrick Tiernan, North Strand, leaseholder
Patrick Lynagh, Shop St., householder John Tiernan,'Road to Greenhills, freeholder

The Drogheda Conservative Journal then went on to list the names of people who
promised to vote for Murray, but were not forthcoming at the poll. They were:
H. Palace St., ci James Slevin, Fair St., r
Crolly,
Joseph Prendergast, Shop St., r R. Flinn, Duke St., r
North r
Thomas Flanagan, Shop St., r Thomas Connor, Strand,
cr
Thomas Waltrin, Shop St., r Stephen Drew, Shop St.,

Commenting on the voting lists, this newspaper observed:

? had not Castle patronage and Whig
had not undue influence been exercised
promises been employed, even the colourable majority of three which Sir William
Somerville had on the poll, would not have been obtained. The most cunning and
knowing agents were employed against Mr. Murray, and many of SirWilliam's voters
were brought to the hustings by the priests! Freemen from the distance of ten miles
were polled, and not objected to, owing to the confusion in the booths. Dead
?
freeholders were personated persons voted from certificates long since out of date
? and Sir William Somerville's were all polled! . . . had those who signed the
agents
requisition to Mr. Murray stood firm, a majority of twenty at least would have been
obtained; or had the priests not interfered a majority of at least ten! However, the
majority of the people set at nought clerical influence, and stood nobly to their
principles.
Indeed a study of Somerville's support reveals the striking fact that well over half the votes cast
for him came from defectors from the Repeal camp. Another feature is the number of
 The Drogheda Parliamentary Election of 1847 and its Aftermath 305

Somerville's voters
with addresses very distant from the constituency. That so many local
politicians deserted the Repeal nominee is also worthy of note. There is also considerable
disparity between the voting qualifications of the electors in each list. The dearth of freemen
stands out ?
supporting Murray householders make up the main body of his support.
Somerville was obviously more successful in wooing the freemen, leaseholders and
freeholders.
The role of the clergy in this particular contest cannot be clearly established, but there are
some indicators as to their stance. Clerical influence was a factor that all serious contenders for
political office had to take into consideration. The chief secretary's office was not unaware of
the potential that existed, as evidenced by the words of the incumbent in 1845:20 'Whenever
the priests came forward and collected their parishioners a large force was brought into the
. . . but from those parishes in which no such influence was used, few persons
(meetings)
attended'. These opinions were not without any factual basis however, since in May 1843
government questionnaires issued to county constabulary inspectors and stipendiary
magistrates revealed that clerical influence was a more potent force than all other factors (such
as the depression, the press, municipal reform etc.) as a promoter of enthusiasm. It also
emerged that the majority of priests favoured Repeal.21 So what of the Drogheda Conservative
Journal's assertion that Sir William was given clerical support? It is the case that Somerville
visited the Primate, Dr Crolly, in Drogheda prior to the election, and that although there was
church-state conflict on issues such as the Queen's Colleges and national education, Dr Crolly
held a position more in sympathy with the government than with many of his fellow bishops.22
In addressing the Repeal Association subsequent to the election, Lamie Murray,
acknowledging that he had not received clerical support, refused to be vindictive but expressed
the hope that they would support him on the next occasion.23 In view of all this there seems
little doubt as to where clerical allegiance lay in this contest.
That Somerville was an established local personage, while Murray could possibly have
been depicted as a carpet-bagger, is bound to have affected the outcome. It is all too obvious
that the Repealers lacked proper organisation in the constituency. The fact that the Loyal
National Repeal Association was asked to provide a candidate within a deadline of a few days
ensured that proper deliberation and consultation would not be feasible. As a result the
candidate chosen was a stranger to Drogheda folk, and having arrived in town only three days
prior to the actual election, the taking of Somerville's seat must have appeared a gargantuan
task. When The Nation claimed on 7 August, that Murray had joined the Repeal Association
only a matter of hours before being chosen as candidate, they merely echoed a charge that had
haunted him throughout his campaign. In the final analysis, to have come within just three
votes of his objective was no mean achievement. The election was not free in the fullest sense
and some people were victimised because of their political affiliation. The local press reported
the case of Patrick Condra, a steward on one of the steampackets, who prevailed on a relative
to vote for Murray:24 'when he went on Friday morning, to his employment as usual he was
informed ? hear it Irishmen, treasure it in your mind ? in your hearts, that he would no
longer be continued'. Lamie Murray himself informed the Repeal Association of a catalogue

20. Hoppen, 250.

21. Ibid, 236.
22. Rev. James McCaffrey, History of the Catholic Church in the nineteenth century (1789-1908) (Dublin, Waterford,
St Louis, 1910), ii, 191; Rev. George Crolly, The life of the Most Rev. Doctor Crolly, Archbishop of Armagh and
Primate of Ireland (Dublin, 1851), xciii-xcix; Ambrose Macaulay, "The Maher-Crolly Controversy, 1850",
Seanchas Ard Mhacha, 11,1, (1983-4), 80-106.
23. DCJ, 14 August 1847.
24. DCJ, 7 August 1847.
 306 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

of cases of intimidation and other irregularities that had lost him votes: aMr Crosbie, clerk to
Mr Ennis, was threatened with dismissal if he did not vote for Somerville; the two Whites who
declared that they would not vote at all, but were brought to the polls by the clergy; a Mr
Slevin was locked up in his house by his wife to prevent him voting Repeal; etc.
As is evident from the voting lists, a large proportion of the corporation, including the
mayor, James Mathews, supported the Whig, and in the process incurred the wrath of John
O'Connell, the Liberator's son:25
The honest people of Drogheda had the corporation of the town opposed to them ?
that corporation which only two short years before pledged its fidelity to Repeal, but
which, forgetting that pledge, followed in the track of its Orange predecessor, and
voted against the man who was the choice of the people. Of course after what has
occurred, there is considerable bitterness of feeling in the town; but there is also an
anxiety on the part of the Repealers to forget the past, and offer the right hand of
fellowship to their opponents, if what was once the Repeal corporation will exhibit
some signs of repentance for their mistake, and for the crime they have committed
against the country. If they don't do so, I hope the Repealers of Drogheda will, at the
municipal elections in November, by turning out of office those who have been false
to the cause, prove that they did not speak the sentiments of the people.
However, some corporation members, notably Michael Rogers, John Collins and Patrick
were active of Murray.
Conway, supporters
The mayor's court
in Drogheda on 13 November 1847 heard quite a bit of petty
squabbling among Lamie Murray's supporters when they fought over the balance of an order
for ?4 which was issued during the election. The Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal pointed
out that the people involved had very suspect Repeal credentials:26
Thus ended one of the many petty fights between Mr. Murray's friends, who led the
good people at a distance to believe the question of Repeal was involved in Mr.
Murray's success. For their guidance we should mention that Barker is one of the old
? Mr. Kertland ? Mr.
Tory freemen always an avowed anti-Repealer Apperson,
Proprietor of the Conservative Journal; and Mr. Rowland, an attorney, of whose
Repeal principles we never saw any proof in Drogheda before the election. Yet these
were the Repeal leaders at the election!!!
In evaluating this assessment of events one should bear in mind that the proprietor of this
newspaper, Patrick Kelly, voted for Somerville, whom he described as a personal friend; even
though it was believed that this paper had been trading on Repeal principles for quite a while.
It is not surprising therefore that there was a certain antipathy between Kelly and the
Repealers.
On 6 December Lamie Murray lodged a petition with the House of Commons against the
returns for the borough of Drogheda. He claimed that the majority of the votes cast for
William Somerville 'was apparent and colourable only' since many of these votes were cast by
people who were not entitled to vote. His assertion was that he, the petitioner, received the
majority of the legal votes. In his submission he gave a detailed list of reasons why many of
those whose names were in the register of voters as freeholders, leaseholders, householders
and freemen, should be struck from the poll: householders had either ceased to occupy the
relevant property, failed to pay the various taxes which had become due, or their property had
ceased to be of sufficient value to entitle them to vote; freeholders' and leaseholders' interest

25. DALJ, 11 September 1847.

26. DALJ, 20 November 1847.
 The Drogheda Parliamentary Election of 1847 and its Aftermath 307

and estate in several properties had expired or had been sublet, mortgaged etc., and some such
property had also ceased to be of a value sufficient to entitle these people to vote; some
freemen and freeholders no longer resided in Drogheda or within seven miles of it, as
prescribed by law. Murray further claimed that some registered voters had become
disqualified by receiving alms or parochial relief; that many of those employed as election
agents, attorneys, poll clerks or flagmen, voted and were rewarded by Somerville; that
members of the constabulary voted and therefore should be disqualified; that false certificates
were produced and accepted, allowing people to vote; that many people who complied with all
voting requirements were improperly rejected or refused by the returning officer and were
thus excluded from the poll; that many had received gifts or accepted bribes from Somerville
in return for their votes or for refraining from voting for Murray; that many of the voters
themselves were guilty of bribery; and finally that William Somerville was ineligible to serve as
an MP since he indulged in bribery, threats and undue influence (by himself and his agents)
together with other corrupt and illegal practices. On this basis Thomas Lamie Murray
requested that the election be declared null and void.27 This development caused expectations
to rise, e.g. at a Repeal Association meeting on 13 December the hope was expressed that
William Somerville was 'only the warming pan of another . . . and Mr. Lamie will be
Murray
member for Drogheda'.28
The narrowness of the result and the prospect of this Repeal petition gave the right to
vote added importance, with the possibility of another election being called. The mayor,
James Mathews, held a court in the Tholsel on Monday 20 September 1847 to confer the
freedom of the borough on several applicants. The court was held under an Act entitled 'An
Act for the regulation of municipal corporations in Ireland' and the mayor informed those
assembled that it was adjudicating on applications by birth, marriage or servitude.29 The
following fifteen were successful and were declared freemen:30

NAME RIGHT BY VIRTUE OF

WHICH ADMITTED
Francis D. Henzell, Drogheda, attorney at law Birth
William Daly, Palace St., gentleman Birth
John Tongue, Patrick St., bricklayer Birth
Henry Hamilton, Laurence St., stationer Birth
Hugh Emerson, Dublin Road, basket maker Servitude
Henry Moore, West St., ironmonger Birth
Michael Swift, Peter St., shoemaker Marriage
James Malcolm, Mornington, farmer Marriage
Richard Graham, William St., carpenter Marriage
Henry Dennis, Dublin, cork cutter Marriage
Bigoe Henzell, Drogheda, medical student Birth
Samuel Harrison, Drogheda, engineer Marriage
Robert Sanderson, Drogheda, ship wright Marriage
Thomas Henry Lee, Drogheda, carpenter Birth

27. Journals of the House of Commons, (1847-8), vol. 103, 57-60.

28. DALJ, 18 December 1847.
29. DCJ, 25 September 1847.
30. Roll of Freemen of the Borough of Drogheda (hereafter cited as Freemen's Roll), Drogheda Corporation
rrchive.
 308 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

William Anderson, Great George's St., carpenter Servitude

Each then took the freeman's oath which was tendered as follows:31
You shall be whole and true to our sovereign lady Victoria the Queen and as well
those rights and franchises given and granted unto this corporation as all others the
laws, lawful usages and customs of the same, you shall maintain by your wit and
power; you shall not cover any goods whereby the king or his corporation may lose
their customs or advantages; you shall do nothing that may tend to the prejudice of
this corporation, but by what in you lies shall promote the avail thereof; you shall not
refuse to take any office on you that the mayor, sheriffs, burgesses, and commons
shall think fit to impose upon you; and in all things you shall demean yourself as a
faithful member of the same. So help you God.
Of course the main benefit of being a freeman in 1847 was that it conferred the right to
vote. Before the mayor could close the hearing a Mr Hugh O'Neill stood up and claimed the
freedom of the borough for himself and many of his fellow townsmen. He claimed it on the
grounds that he had served seven years to a trade in the town. O'Neill stated that the Act of
1829 had put an end to the oath of abjuration and supremacy. When the mayor asked if he had
served his time to a freeman, he got the quaint reply: T served my time to a Roman Catholic
master unfortunately; and the apprentice was of the same persuasion'. It was pointed out to
the mayor that O'Neill was going on an Act passed in the reign of Charles the Second, which
was passed specially for Drogheda, and entitled all merchants, traders, artificers, artisans and
seamen resident in the borough to their freedom, on the payment of a fee of ?1 and the taking
of the oath of allegiance. In 1831 a large number of townspeople paid the fee and took the
oath, but the then corporation refused to sanction their admission. These people voted
afterwards, however, but the assessor would not receive their votes since the corporation
rejected their claims. The present claim was really a renewal of this earlier one. The mayor
said it involved a question of law which could not be settled there and then, but he would
appoint another day to enquire into the matter, if a requisition was got up to him.32
The significance of this claim lies in the fact that it could produce a large number of new
votes at a time when the Repealers were preparing a petition against the outcome of the
August election. If a new election was to be the result of this petition then these votes could
decide the outcome, especially since the first result was so close. The mayor again held a court
for the admission of freemen on Monday, 8 November 1847. The earlier claims had caused a
lot of excitement, and in support of these applicants the following was read from the rules for
the admission of freemen by Drogheda Corporation, under 17th and 18th Charles II, cap. 2:
That all foreigners, strangers and aliens, as well others as Protestants, who are or shall
be merchants, traders, artizans, artificers, seamen, or otherwise skilled and exercised
in any mystery, craft, or trade or manufacture, or in the art of navigation, who are at
present residing and inhabiting the said town of Drogheda, or who shall at any time
hereafter come into the said town, with intent and resolution to reside and dwell in the
said town, shall upon his or their reasonable suit or request made, and upon payment
down, or tender of twenty shillings, by way of fine into the chief magistrate or
magistrates and common council, or other persons authorised to admit and make
freemen of the said town.
It was stated that these rules were ordered to continue in force for ever and were enrolled in
the Court of Chancery in Ireland. It was further stated that several other subsequent Acts

31. DCJ, 25 September 1847.

32. Ibid.
 The Drogheda Parliamentary Election of 1847 and its Aftermath 309

secured these rules. The mayor was reluctant to accept the claims, but having examined one of
the applicants and listened to the arguments in favour, he again decided to postpone a decision
to the following Tuesday week.33 Two people however, satisfied the usual criteria and were
admitted as freemen at this sitting. They were, Thomas Dalton, Drogheda, a carpenter, and
James Nugent, Drogheda, a tin plate worker, who were both admitted by virtue of servitude.34
At the next sitting of the mayor's court there were four applicants for freedom under the new
rules of Charles II. The mayor said he consulted the Attorney General and Mr Close who
were both of the opinion that the Act related solely to foreigners, i.e. to persons who were not
naturalised subjects of the Crown and who came to the town to carry on trade, to practice any
art, mystery, or become navigators. Thus, stating that legal advice was against them, the
mayor refused to admit them as freemen. One of the four, William Kertland, asked for the
decision in writing and the mayor consented to this.35 On Wednesday 8 December a further
four applicants were admitted as freemen. They were:36
NAME RIGHT BY VIRTUE OF
WHICH ADMITTED
Henry Williamson, Drogheda, tin plate worker Birth
Thomas Callan, Drogheda, carpenter Servitude
James Fife, Drogheda, working engineer 14th and 15th, Charles II
Samuel Eakins, Drogheda, painter and glazier Servitude
Thus the bid to significantly increase the electorate by the creation of a large number of
extra freemen, did not get very far, and Lamie Murray finally accepted defeat in mid-January
1848 when he wrote to the Speaker of the House of Commons:37
I hereby give you notice that it is not intended to proceed with the petition presented
to the House of Commons on the 6th December last, signed by myself, and
complaining of the election and return of Sir William Meredyth Somerville for the
town and county of the town of Drogheda, and I beg to withdraw the same.
One can only speculate as to the reasons for Lamie Murray's change of heart on the issue.
Perhaps he was uncertain as to the legality of some of his own votes in the election. The press
entertained the idea that bribery could have been involved.38 If Somerville's wealth and
influence were brought to bear on Murray himself then it is unlikely to have been recorded,
and consequently one can but keep an open mind on this. The corporation elections held in
late November did not bring about the decimation of Somerville's supporters that the Repeal
side had hoped for39 and maybe Lamie Murray saw this as another straw in the wind. It is also
possible that Murray simply got weary of political wheeling and dealing and decided that he
had enough. Murray himself explained his abandonment of the petition on the grounds that he
would have to fight the whole government and 'that his private fortune would be seriously
damaged by the expenses likely to arise'.40 As a director of the National Loan Fund Life
Assurance Company and also of the National Bank, Murray is sure to have been conscious of
the financial implications of his actions.41
Early in 1852 an internal dispute in the Liberal Party resulted in the government's defeat

33. DCJ, 13 November 1847.

34. Freemen's Roll.
35. DALJ, 27 November 1847; DCJ, 27 November 1847.
36. Freemen's Roll.
37. Journals of the House of Commons, (1847-8), vol. 103, 146.
38. DCJ, 22 January 1848; ibid, 5 February 1848.
39. Minutes of Drogheda Corporation, 25 November 1847; ibid, 29 November 1847.
40. DCJ, 22 January 1848.
41. MS 8844 (N.L.I.); DALJ, 1 August 1847; The Nation, 15 August 1847.
 310 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

and this gave rise to the resignation of Lord John Russell. When a minority Conservative
government under Lord Derby took over, Sir William Somerville ceased to be chief secretary.
In the following July a general election was held and on this occasion Somerville lost his
Drogheda seat to an independent Liberal candidate, James McCann. His defeat could not
have been more decisive ? he failed to get a single vote.42 One factor which had considerable
influence on the voting in Ireland was the issuing of a proclamation prior to the election
reminding the population that the holding of Catholic religious processions was illegal. The
effect of this on clerical opinion was significant and certainly did not help pro-British
candidates. After an absence of two years Somerville was returned to parliament at a
by-election for Canterbury in 1854. On 14 December 1863 he was created a peer of Ireland
with the title Baron Athlumney of Somerville and Dollardstown, and on 3 May 1866 he was
raised to the peerage of the United Kingdom, as Baron Meredyth of Dollardstown, County
Meath. He made his last speech in the House of Commons on 21 June 1864, but made
contributions in the House of Lords for several years. A distinguished statesman and orator
he died on 7 December 1873 in Dover, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son.43

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office, London

John Maurice Collins, Baltray, Drogheda
Drogheda Corporation

42. Brian M. Walker Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922

(ed.), Parliamentary (Dublin, 1978), 270.
43. L. G. Pine (ed.). Burkes and heraldic
genealogical history of the peerage baronetage & knightage (London,
1956), 2033-4; Sidney Lee (ed.), Dictionary of national biography (London, 1909), xviii, 667.