Some idea of the style of living in those remote days may be gathered from the story of the "gentlemen Brownes" from the pen of Mr M.J. Whitty. - The following refers to their possessions in the 16th and 17th Centuries translated from the original for the "Wexford Independant" of the 5th Feb. 1844, when the question of the "Repeal of the Union" ran high and it became interesting to know who were the early proprietors of the land.
"William Browne of Mulrankin was seized of the Manor of Mulrankin and the 3 carucates of land in the town of Mulrankin, parcels of the said Manor, of the messuages and 100 acres of land in Ballilubbernaghe, parcels of the said manor, 100 acres in Harpoonstown, 10 acres in Karchanshowe, 60 acres in Johnstown, 120 acres in Lamaght, 100 acres in Sarshill, 60 acres in Raineyarke, 99 acres in Ballycoppock, 60 acres in Mochemore, 20 acres in the Churchton of Mulrankin, together with the advowson of the same church, 60 acres in Old Sheephouse, 60 acres in the Lake, 80 acres in Haggeston, 40 acres in Brownestown, 180 acres in Brownescastle, otherwise Forest, adjoining the Pill.
"£1 chief rent annually arising out of Balleseskey, 11/- arising out of Polniten. Escuage and the service of a Knight, out of all the lands in Tillibards, service and the suit of the court of Rack-Hardeston and of all the lands in the towns of Ballicoppock and Bridewill,
"he was also seized of the manor of Colpe, containing 7 carucates of land in the towns of Colpe, Newbane and Brownestown, and he held the aforesaid manor, of Philip Devereux of Ballinager,
"he was also seized of the manor of Ballyfistelbane, 1 castle, all the messuages and 3 carucates of land, with appurtenances, water mill, together with the advowson, of the Parochial Church of the Barry, 100 acres in Ballydonjan and Newton, 150 acres in Ballykelly, and he held the said manor of the king in chief.
"The said William Browne being so seized, in equal fee enfeoffed of all the premises, John Rauciter and others by his grant bearing date 21st August 1577, towards certain uses in the said grant specified, of which grant the tenor follows in the original -
"And the aforesaid William Browne, by grant bearing date 22nd March 1604 granted to John Browne a moiety of the town of Ballykelly, containing 70 acres of land, and old Sheephouse.
"The aforesaid William Browne, by deed, bearing date 1st July 1592, granted to the aforesaid John all the houses and 120 acres of land in the town of Lanught.
"The aforesaid James Devereux, knight, was the surviving feofee of the lands aforesaid and he died. Philip Devereux of Ballinager is the son and heir of the said James, and the said Philip was seized of the premises.
"The aforesaid William Browne died on the 4th April 1617. Patrick Browne is the son and heir of the said William, and the aforesaid Patrick was aged 37 years at the time of his father's death, and married." |