Newspaper Reports on Edward Mordaunt

Wexford People, 3rd April, 1886

KILMUCKRIDGE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Held a special Meeting on Monday, 28th March, for the purposes of expressing sympathy for with Mr. Edward Mordaunt in his recent affliction.
Present - Messrs G. Murphy, president, (in the chair), M. O'Connor, J. Middleton, W. M'Creery, E. O'Reilly, J. Ryan, M. Murphy, P. O'Dempsey, P. Walsh, M. O'Brian, N. Power, D. Sinnott, B Coburn.
The following resolutions were passed:-
"That we tender to Mr E. Mordaunt our heartfelt sympathy in his arbitary and tyranical eviction by the assignees of Mr William Bolton, The Island, for the non-payment of a grinding rack-rent, and we pledge ourselves to assist him with every means in our power and we regard those who instigated the wicked act as the worst enemies of the people."


Wexford People, 7th April, 1886

MR. EDWARD MORDAUNT'S EVICTION
TO THE EDITOR
SIR- On Friday Morning, the 10th March, I unexpectedly happened to be a witness to one of those evictions scenes of which I had heard and read a good deal. I was never present at one before, and I hope I never will again, although they seem likely to be getting somewhat more prevalent of late, than they were sometime ago. But, if such be the case, unless averted by the mercival Hand of an All-wise Providence, or some restrictions are are put on them, it will be exceedingly difficult to foretell what may be the result of such cruel, hard-hearted proceedings if continued in future. I must say the sight I saw on that sad and sorrowful occasion, was really appalling, and well calculated to make one's blood boil - in fact, it was not only heart-rending, but maddening and vexatious beyond description. for any person possessed of Christian feelings, to stand by and witness such an inhuman proceeding as was carried out at Cullentra, with the sanction of English-made law, to the ruination of a once-prosperous but now slaveworn, oppressed, and almost pauperized family - the fruit of whose sweat and blood, toil and labour has been shamefully confiscated by the imposition and extorsion, of not only impossible but murderous rackrents, as in the case in question. The death-sentence on this occasion was rigorously carried out with a vengence, and after the most insulting manner possible, by a gang of ill-conducted bailiffs, well primed to encourage them to carry out the detestable work the more effectively. When the exterminaing party arrived at Mr. Mordaunt's residence, he happened to be out himself, and no one inside but Mrs. Mordaunt with a few soft children. The first salute she received was from the little bailiff, Dwyer. who ran up in the room where she was with the child in her arms, and raised a large stick over her head, ordered her and everything in the house out at once, and if not that he would fling all out himself and smash them. The moment he saw Mr. Mordaunt himself coming, the first thing he did was to strike at him, and then while his dander was up, he commenced striking at every man, woman and child he met, and all this in the presence of the police. I cannot but think that if the Irish Chief Secreary was aware that police at evictions have not better employment than protecting bailiffs, and take delight in insulting poor victims of eviction who are hardly able to control their passion under their sad circumstances, that he would not allow such lads as them police protection. The work of extermination commenced, superintended by bailiffs, emergency men and police. Every effort possibkle was made by Dwyer to riase a row during the time the hellish work was going on. The torrents of rain falling at the time were horrific, but notwithstanding all that every article of clothing, furniture, beds and bedding had to be flung out, and were, of course, wet through - completely destroyed. It was quite evident that the exterminating party endeavoured to have the "death sentence" carried out as privately as possible for their own sake, in order that the people would have no opportunity of assembling in their thousands as they did before, and as they knew they would do again had they got the slightest tidings of what was about to take place. But what has occurred has only aroused their indignation the more, as it appears the day is not far distant when we will be afforded an opportunity of proving to the world how extravagent, rackrenting, bankrupt landlords ruin their tenants. Neither is the day far far distant when Mr. Edward Mordaunt will have ample satisfaction for the treatment he has received at the hands of a ....(unfortunatly the newspaper copy was damaged and is unreadable but goes on to discuss the real rent value of the property)..... three of four years ago and acknowledged to be the its full value by the agent long before that, and in the face of all this, his offer of £50 a-year, was refused, although Mr Bolton, jun. admitted that it was much - if not more - than the farm was worth - still it was refused. Edward Mordaunt should be made an example of to frighten other tenants. thinking they will get money on the tops of the rushes or in the marboles to continue paying the impossible that has already beggered them and to run them so far in debt, that come what may, they can never recover.
OBSERVER


Wexford People, 6th November 1886

Mr.Sinnott applied on behalf of Edward Mordaunt, Monamolin, for a new license.
He pointed out that tho house which was now occupied by Mr. Mordaunt was formerly a licensed house, and that it would not be increasing the number in tho village. Mr. Mordaunt was a farmer, but was evicted from his holding, and having a large family had taken the house to endeavour to niako out a living for them.
Mr. O'Flaherty said ho appeared on behalf of Laurence Somers and Mrs. Hughes to oppose the application. Nineteen years ago Mxs. Hughes obtained a transfer of the license of the house in which Mr. Mordaunt now resided.
Mr. Pounden said he would object to three public houses in the village of Monamolin, and he was fortified in that opinion by the entire bench of magistrates of Oulart.
The application was refused.


Wexford People, 8th February, 1888

Letter from Lizzie Carroll warning "grabbers" not to take grass from another evicted farm:
"I have a strong support in that way in that now well-known patriot, Edward Mordaunt, of the Cullentra evicted farm, who lives within about about two minutes' walk of our farm at Court, and who tolerates no grabbing either by night or by day, by friend or foe."


Wexford People, 6th November, 1886

Dr Darley, magistrate, had criticised number of applications for spirit licences:
"Dr. Darley quite properly commented upon the large number of applications for spirit licenses which came before him, but has he not here another instance of the desolating influence of landlordism, which drives honest, industrious farmers into tbo perilous calling of drink retailers? What was the plea advanced in support of the application of Edward Mordaunt, of Cullentra? Why, that he was an evicted tenant, who was obliged to resort to this means of earning a livelihood for his family. When will Dr. Darley permit the scales to fall from his eyes ? When will he permit himself to see with unprejudiced vision that amongst the many crimes for which Irish landlordism is responsible, the demoralization of the people by intemperance, and the increase of tho accursed Drink Traffic stand out in tragic and prominent relief?"


Freeman's Journal, 16th January, 1889

National League grant to evicted tenants:
"Landlord, Wm Bolton; tenant, Edward Mordaunt; rent, £92 14s; valuation, £67; grant £4."


The following extracts are courtesy of, of all places, the New Zealand National Library, whose Internet archives include copies of past editions of "The New Zealand Tablet" which carried news items from the UK for the benefit of its homesick readers:
25th October, 1889:
11th July, 1890: Clearly, the harrasment of those occupying the land of tenants who had been evicted was sustained; three separate occasions are mentioned in the above reports (March 15th, April 5th, June 22nd).
15th August, 1890 reports on a meeting of the Monamolin National league when it was recorded that "Things are much the same as usual in this district....The Johnsons are still in possession of Mordaunt's farm in Cullentra"
16th January 1891:


Freeman's Journal, 7th February, 1917

DEATH OF MR. E. MORDAUNT
WEXFORD
The death has occured, at Monamolin, Co. Wexford, of Mr. Edward Mordaunt in his 75th year.
The late Mr. Mordaunt took an active part in the land agitation of the 'eighties, and organised at Monamolin one of the first meetings at which Mr. William Redmond spoke. He was amongst those evicted in '86, and was reinstated some years after (An error, he was not "reinstated" - Webmaster). Many of his labours were devoted in the interests of the Coolgreavey tenants. In later years he was chairman of the local branch of the Land League and National League.