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User:Jnestorius/Constable of Carrickfergus Castle

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Constable of Carrickfergus Castle

Overview and scratch notes

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Possibly merge with Governor of Carrickfergus? Cf.

NED vol.2 (1893) p.872 col.1 sv "constable" sense 3

The governor or warden of a royal fortress or castle. (Still the official title of the governors of some royal castles in England.)
My best guess is as follows
The two titles are separate and may be held by one and the same person, or by two different people, or one vacant and the other not. Their historical definitions are as follows:
  • "constable" related only to a castle, and supervision of enough soldiers to protect the castle itself
  • "governor" related to a territory, and command of all soldiers in the territory. The name may be that of the HQ town rather than the whole region. It may happen that the HQ is in a castle, or that all soldiers in the territory are stationed in the HQ town (or even in the HQ castle); but such details are incidental.

In the case of Carrickfergus, the same person was governor and constable at times when English control of NW Ulster was confined to the Carrickfergus hinterland.

"Constable" was mentioned in the charter.

[In] Autumn, 1503, [Gerald, earl of Kildare] ... came to Carrickfergus, where he placed a numerous garrison, leaving one Stanton constable of the castle, and governor.[1]

Separate constable of the "abbey" or "palace" of Carrickfergus.[2] Office was held by John Dalway (1603) and George Woods (lastly, later in James I's reign).[3]

McNeill says William Peers in 1570–74 "as constable had been seneschal of Clandeboy"— which constable is that?[2] William Piers (constable) is called "constable" in his own article but included in the Governor of Carrickfergus list. In 1861 George Hill (?Lord George Hill) writes, "In 1568 he became Governor of Carrickfergus, having been previously Constable of the Castle."[4]

McSkimin's constable section includes:[5]

In the 45th of the reign of queen Elizabeth, Sir Roger Langford, knt. was appointed constable, and afterwards by James I. joint constable with Sir Faithful Fortescue ... 1661, March 14, Sir Thomas Fortescue was made constable ... 1671 — Nathaniel Foster, constable.

The first two are on the Governors list, the later two are not.

The constable was always a person of high rank and trust ... Until the reign of Edward IV. he was (save in the minority of the heir) always nominated by the earls of Ulster, the castle being part of their hereditary possessions. ... Several important privileges were formerly attached to this office. 1568 — The charter of queen Elizabeth declares, that " by reason of his office," he is a freeman of this corporation, and the mayors were always sworn into office before him of his deputy. It also appears from our records, that he received the king's share of the customs of this port ; and that he and his warders (20 Englishmen) had annually 100 cows grazed free by this corporation. He had also the best fish out of each fishing boat that arrived from time to time within our liberties, by the title of the "tythe of fish".[6]

Proceeds to a partial list from William De Serland [1215] to Stewart Banks (c. 1725-1802[7]) ending thus:[5]

The last person who held the office of constable, was Stewart Banks, of Belfast, esq. He attended annually, (agreeably to the charters of Elizabeth and James. I.) in the castle, to see the mayor sworn into office, but performed no other duties. The persons now attached to this castle, are a governor, with a salary of £180 10 per annum: this office has long been a sinecure[.]

  • Calendar p446 says Eggerton appointed "to the command-in-chief in that town"; index sv Eggerton says "Governor". He was already constable, Governor John Chichester just been killed, suggests Eggerton got temporary promotion
  • Pallace of Carrickfergus quotes mention of "two wardes", of castle and of Palace, each with a constable

Agenda:

  1. include names and refs in McSkimin and M'Crum 1909 pp. 221–223
  2. review
  3. read OS Memoir.[8] Not entirely reliable; says Stewart Banks was "in the reign of Elizabeth" (p. 43)
  4. review Municipal Commissioners' Report.[9]
  5. search London Gazette...nada
  6. search Dublin Gazette
  7. Hughes, James L. J., ed. (1960). Patentee Officers in Ireland 1173–1826, including High Sheriffs, 1661–1684 and 1761–1816. Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission. Retrieved 5 July 2024.

MC Rpt

  • §17 p. 749
    The mayor, by the charter, is to be sworn before the constable of the castle, or, in his absence, before the vice-constable, and in presence of the mayor last preceding, if he be living and not removed from his office; or if he be dead, or removed, in presence of such aldermen and burgesses who then may be present.
    The latest entry of the swearing of the mayor, before the constable of the castle, is dated Michaelmas 1792. Mr. Stewart Banks then held the office. He has been dead for many years, and, it is said, that no constable has been appointed in his place.
  • §27 p. 751
    The Constable of the Castle of Carrickfergus is, by the charter 11 Elizabeth, constituted a freeman in right of his office.
    It appears from many ancient records that the castle was part of the hereditary possessions of the Earls of Ulster, who nominated to the office of constable, save in the minority of the heir. The right afterwards became vested in the Crown, in the person of Edward IV. as Earl of Ulster. Several privileges were formerly attached to his office. He received the King's share of the customs of the port, was entitled, with his warders, to free grazing for 100 cows by the corporation, and had also a "tythe of fish" out of each fishing-boat arriving within the liberty.
  • §39 p. 754
    The mayor ... must be sworn, as such, before the constable or viceconstable of the castle, in the presence of the last mayor, immediately after taking upon himself the office of mayor.
  • §70 p. 761
    The provisions of the charter requiring that the new mayor shall be sworn before the constable or vice-constable of the castle, and in the presence of the mayor or vice-mayor, appear to be defects, which are not sufficiently remedied by the enactments of the 19 Geo. III. c. 12, s. 7, &c.; and 13, 14 Geo. III. c. 42, s. 3, &c.
    As there has not been any such officer as the constable or vice-constable of the castle for many years, doubts may be entertained whether the mayors have been legally sworn and admitted. The provision requiring the presence of the outgoing mayor has practically given to the mayors for the time being a power of holding over, against the will of the corporation, an office, to which considerable influence and a salary are attached.

John Chichester (brother of Arthur) quotes:

  • JSTOR 25514398 his brother, who had been then recently knighted and appointed Governor of Carrickfergus -or correctly speaking, Governor of Upper and Lower Clannaboy, Carrickfergus being his base of operations
  • JSTOR 20608501 He was appointed Governor of Carrickfergus and of "the countries of both the Clandeboys" on the 4th of July, 1597. On 4th November he was killed at Altfracken

List

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Dates Name Notes Refs
1215 William De Serland As seneschal of Ulster? [10]
at 1 October 1324 and 5 and 20 October 1326 John Athy or Dathy [11][12][13]
1326 Thomas Smocke [6]
1324 Edward Savage [14]
at 20 May 1344 Reginald [Roaldo] Richemound [15][14]
at 6 December 1383 and 3 July 1384; end before 25 November 1385 John Yeuele or Yevell [16][17]
from 8 August 1384; again from 25 November 1385 Thomas Mercameston [18][16]
at October 1386 William Aghton [19]
from 18 August 1388 William Merser [20]
from 14 October 1389 Robert Lange [21][14]
from 23 February 1390 Gilbert Halsall, knight (Thomas Cutbert deputy from 26 February 1390) [22][23][24]
by 9 April 1400 John Stanlowe [25]
at 16 October 1401 Peter Dobyn [26][14]
from 1406 Geoffrey Bentley [14]
from 20 January 1409 and at 1 March 1409 Nicholas Orell or O'Roll (Nicholas Woder deputy) "to have by himself and his deputies until Edmund [Mortimer], son and heir of the earl of March [et cetera ], comes of age" [27][28][14]
from 8 May 1412 Richard Stoute [29]
from 1 May 1427; at 20 March 1428 and 30 November 1428 James White, knight on 1 May 1427 Castle was "in the K. 's hand by the death of Edmund [Mortimer], e. March, and by reason of the minority of Richard, his cousin and heir" [30][31]
from 1430 Thomas Benson of York [32]
1461 William Falconbridge [5]
at 23 February 1468 James Dokray esquire Constables "formerly had 24 soldiers" [33]
from autumn 1503 Stanton [1]
at 1591 Charles Egerton [34][5]
at 1603 John Dalway [35]
zzz_date zzz_name zzz_notes [36]
zzz_date zzz_name zzz_notes [37]
zzz_date zzz_name zzz_notes [38]
zzz_date zzz_name zzz_notes [39]
zzz_date zzz_name zzz_notes [40]
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zzz_date zzz_name zzz_notes [42]
zzz_date zzz_name zzz_notes [43]
zzz_date zzz_name zzz_notes [44]

References

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  1. ^ a b McSkimin and M'Crum 1909, p. 19
  2. ^ a b McNeill 1981 p. 10
  3. ^ McSkimin and M'Crum 1909, p. 161 note *
  4. ^ Hill, George (1861). "Shane O'Neill's Expedition against the Antrim Scots, 1565". Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 9: 139 note b. ISSN 0082-7355. JSTOR 20608931.
  5. ^ a b c d McSkimin and M'Crum 1909, p. 223
  6. ^ a b McSkimin and M'Crum 1909, p. 221
  7. ^ Chambers, George (1994). Parkhill, Trevor (ed.). "Divided loyalties in the business community of Belfast in 1798". Familia: Ulster Geneological Review. 2 (10). Ulster Historical Foundation: 30. ISBN 0 901905 66 6.
  8. ^ Day, Angélique; McWilliams, Patrick, eds. (1990). "Constable". 1832, 1839-40: Carrickfergus. Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland. Vol. Parishes of County Antrim XIV. Institute of Irish Studies. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-85389-563-3.
  9. ^ Sausse, Mathew R.; Hudson, William E. "County of the Town of Carrickfergus". In Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations in Ireland (ed.). Appendix to the first report; Part I. Parliamentary papers. Vol. HC 1835 xxvii (27) 199. pp. 741–787.
  10. ^ McSkimin and M'Crum 1909, p. 221, note *
  11. ^ CIRCLE 4/18/2/20 virtualtreasury
  12. ^ CIRCLE 4/20/2/26 virtualtreasury
  13. ^ CIRCLE 4/20/2/35 virtualtreasury
  14. ^ a b c d e f McSkimin and M'Crum 1909, p. 222
  15. ^ CIRCLE 5/18/2/57 virtualtreasury
  16. ^ a b CIRCLE 6/9/2/35 virtualtreasury
  17. ^ CIRCLE 6/8/2/44 virtualtreasury
  18. ^ CIRCLE 6/8/1/20 virtualtreasury
  19. ^ Patent Roll 10 Richard II (1386-1387), Item 52 virtualtreasury
  20. ^ CIRCLE 6/12/1/37 virtualtreasury
  21. ^ CIRCLE 6/13/1/197 virtualtreasury
  22. ^ CIRCLE 6/13/1/108 virtualtreasury
  23. ^ CIRCLE 6/13/1/109 virtualtreasury
  24. ^ CIRCLE 6/13/1/114 virtualtreasury
  25. ^ CIRCLE 7/1/1/75 virtualtreasury
  26. ^ CIRCLE 7/3/1/3 virtualtreasury
  27. ^ CIRCLE 7/10/1/61 virtualtreasury
  28. ^ CIRCLE 7/10/1/78 virtualtreasury
  29. ^ CIRCLE 7/13/1/99 virtualtreasury
  30. ^ CIRCLE 9/6/2/21 virtualtreasury
  31. ^ CIRCLE 9/20/2/56virtualtreasury
  32. ^ McNeill 1981 p. 7
  33. ^ CIRCLE 10/7/1/17 virtualtreasury
  34. ^ McSkimin and M'Crum 1909, pp. 30–31
  35. ^ PUB JCErck/58 virtualtreasury
  36. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury
  37. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury
  38. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury
  39. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury
  40. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury
  41. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury
  42. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury
  43. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury
  44. ^ [zzz_url zzz_title] virtualtreasury

Sources

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Category:People from Carrickfergus Category:Castle and garrison governors in Ireland

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