" It appears to me that part of the duke's estate in the county of Waterford would have been equally conspicuous in the rebellion [as Lismore], but they wanted a leader. The lower class of people are not so much to blame as they have been seduced into it by men of fortune. The Duke of Devonshire is the most popular man in the county. During the whole of the rebellion, I do not find that he had even so much as a tree cut..."

Letter from Thomas Knowlton, Chatsworth House to John Heaton, Old Burlington Street. 5th June 1799

" My letters from Lismore say that martial law had forced a calm upon the county, but all agree in asserting that the people are more heartily disposed if possible to rebellion and bloodshed than ever. But the frequent executions by courts martial have made them quiet for the present. traveling is considered as tolerably safe".

Extracts from the Chatsworth Papers.

Thomas Garde Dublin to Heaton. 24 November 1797

'Giving an account of local disturbances, meetings of gentlemen & subscriptions raised to put them down, robberies of houses for arms sale. From Lord Grandison's house at Dromana they took four pieces of cannon, four pounders, some guns & swords.'

Richard Musgrave, Tourin to Edward Cooke, 4 Oct 1796.

'I visited most parts of this county, for the purpose of recommending it to such persons as are possessed of any property & I have much pleasure in informing you, that it is universally approved of. The gentlemen embraced it with a ? as a matter of course, & such farmers & shopkeepers, as have acquired any property declared that they would sacrifice their lives for an administration, which has framed so excellent an Institution, which can not fail to advert the dreadful consequences of an invasion, should it take place. Most persons of this rank are papists, who I beg leave to assure you are much more attached to Lord Camden, who presides over this Kingdom with so much wisdom & dignity than to a giddy faction who endeavored to excite a spirit of commotion in it, under a pretext of serving them.'

Richard Musgrave Lismore to Thomas Pelham, Oct 6th 1797.

I am of the opinion that most of the respectable inhabitants of this county concur with me that some system of coercive rigor.... must be adopted. The main object of these conspirators seems to be, to deter the farmers from treaty with the Protestant clergy for the tythes..... Last night the woodranger of Mr. Chearnley, near Lismore at whose home I am, had 2 horses haughed, and all his corn was dispersed & destroyed. In the latter (Decies within Drum) a man's ear was cut off a few nights since, & he is dead of a mortification. Mr Kirby, a magistrate at Tallow received an anonymous threatening letter & a hint was secretly conveyed to me that there was a design to murder my brother Mr John Musgrave, Captain of the Clashmore Cavalry who is an active and useful magistrate. Most of the corn in this county must rot, as it is now lying in the fields & people are afraid to draw it home. None but the dregs of the people are as yet concerned in these outrages.... I am well assured that the farmers behold them with malignant pleasure.
The 41st regiment quartered at Lismore are a very active, spirited corps, but their number is small.
Note - Mr Power of Clashmore came to me and informs me of many atrocities committed in the Barony of Decies within Drum.

John Musgrave Ballyin, to the Marquis of Waterford, 17 March 1798.

On Thursday night last the house of Mr Barry Drew of Flowerhill in this neighbourhood was attacked, all his windows broken & entered by five Ruffians, who cut him in different parts of his body, & took three guns, a pistol & 2 swords from him. There could not be any reason for this, but his being a Protestant & a Yeoman.
He had a case of screw bullit pistols in his room, but on examining them next morning, he found one of them stuffed with brown paper and the other had the powder quite wet. I mention this to show how universal this curst conspiracy is, that even our domestic confidential servants are joined in it.

He is obliged to abandon his house and come to the town of Lismore for the protection of the Army. He intended to have given me information of it, but his wife, who is daughter to Mr. Hewetson, near Carrick, known by the name of Whiteboy Hewetson, from his prosecution of them, was afraid that they would revenge it on her and her child.

The night before Mr. Drew was attacked, there was about 300 horses at Ballyduff, a small village a little way beyond his house, each horse doubly mounted, they only took a damned rascal out of his house some distance, in whose favour, a note had been written some days before to his landlord, this way only to take off any suspicion from him. There is scarcely a night without a meeting at Villerstown and Aglish. I am well informed that a fellow is lurking about here to shoot me. I am shocked at the general state of the Country. A general system of terror prevails; the well affected are intimidated, & dare not avow their princples, & the rascals affect to feel the same apprehensions & make it a pretence for not paying rents. It is now said that every man who attends the assizes will be marked for destruction. This day being intended as a general massacre if it had not been for the late providential discovery in Dublin.

I was obliged by the Commander in Chief, to go to Cappoquin, where there was a fair day here, it was reported there was to be bloody work...thank God, the day passed off very quietly. I sat in the barrack all the day till near 5 o'clock.

Last Thursday morning two men with apparent cropt heads, at an early hour, drove into Cappoquin in a Chaise with four horses, proceeded towards Lismore, and in a short time after, returned through town without stopping & went towards Clonmel, they had so much the appearance of people flying from Dublin, in consequence of the late discovery.

Letter written by Mrs Mary Cooke (wife of Rev John Cooke rector of Tramore) of Woodlands, 4 miles east of Waterford City, to her mother Mrs Sutton who had fled to Wales at the outbreak of the rebellion. It was written between the 6th and 8th June 1798.

Mrs Sutton
Mr Clibborne
Haverford West.
Wednesday, June 6th - 1798

My Dear Mother,
When I last wrote I was certain my poor Joss was at Fort of Duncannon, and felt quite easy in respect to him, but yesterday morning we got information that he was in the Saltees;
Reports says that J----C----and M----d are gone round with the Sloop to join the Rebels. John got an order from Mr Worthivale, the Surveyor to search every Sloop in the Harbour. Thomas went with some others, but no such Sloop in the River. He then went to the Fort and P---t told him it was certainly gone round, with its Master.------ I still, however have hopes, for tho' he may have joined the Rebels, I think he cannot be so totally divested of principle but what he will protect and restore your Property. I desired Mr Paul yesterday to tell you the report, but at the same time that I had hoped it was not entirely true. ------I really shall never forget Thomas's anxiety and activity both as to that and poor Joss it was by night he went to the Saltees. I sent Shirts and Stockings to Piggot yesterday morning. He was well but quite distress'd for clean linen. M--- The event of this dreadful rebellion is by no means certain; most horrible carnage on each side, in Ross yesterday: The main body of our Troops quit Ross to join the Forces in some other part, before they would make the great attack: and left about two thousand men to guard the pass in Ross not having an idea that they would attack the Military. The Rebels poured down on them from Carrickbourn in great numbers, and from two in the morning until five the evening, they fought most desperately. The Rebels shewed a regularity that was astonishing, but our Troops behaved most gallantly, and (thanks be to the Almighty) prevented their forcing their way over the bridge: which had they effected Waterford would have been destroyed before this, as there was not a military force there, that could possibly oppose them, at least with success. General Johnstone had the command, it is said the Rebels have lost near ten thousand. Our Gentlemen seem to think there is not a doubt but the Military will be victorious in the end, it is a comfort to find them fight with such bravery. You may judge the state of my mind yesterday, when I heard Cannonading and saw smoke distinctly over Ross, but I am a good Soldier and keep up my spirts wonderfully: at the same time I must confess my "Heart sank within me" this day when I saw just opposite to us in Co, Kilkenny a Village on Fire and several Cabbins in Flames, burnt by the Military and indeed with reason: as the people they belonged to quit their work and ran with Pikes and every instrument they could get, yesterday, to destroy Genl. Johnstone and his Men, when they were obliged at one time to retreat to the Co. Kilkenny.------- I should be more unhappy I am sure, were I in Waterford, the horror and consternation there is not to be told. The wounded pouring in every hour. There is scarcely a Female in the rank of a Gentlewoman that has not fled. Bob Cooke's Family were to sail this morning, Mr Bolton's went yesterday. My trust and confidence is in God: do not be uneasy about me: my mind tells me neither me nor mine will be injured, and that we shall meet happy. If I could be certain as to the fate of poor Joss I think I should feel quite at ease.

We have had the inexpressible pleasure of assisting several poor Wanderers: by standing our ground: tho' so much out of the way here. This morning a Sister of Molly Furlong's landed under the house with some others from Ross, they had been in an open boat all night. She is to remain while we can shelter her. The house she escaped from, was in flames and she had not ate a bit for two days, nor was it to be had for Money. She says the greater part of Ross is burnt. She was almost bereft of sense when she came, but on taking a little wine and lying down for a few hours she recovered.------

Thursday, June 7th

My Uncle Goff and his Family safe. he has protected himself & Family by keeping open House, plenty of good eating & drinking for all parties. I have seen several of the Rebel passes with the Soldiers wives, some signed B : B Harvey, some J : M : Cullimore, J : Breen and many other names I am unacquainted with, but I hope and expect their passes will not last long. I have got up my spirits a little to-day an express arrived in Waterford last night that Genl. Johnstone had joined Ld. Blaney and completely routed one Camp of the Rebels, Carrigburne. Adam Glascott was wounded in the shoulder, He and one of the Bulgers going with the express from Ross to Waterford on Friday: Two expresses had been cut off, but Bulger fortunately got in with it. Mr. Bolton dined with us, and since he came got an express from Lord Bective that Ross is perfectly quiet not the sign of a Rebel near it all the People going back to the Habitations. The commanding officer gave permission (for a few hours yesterday) to the Rebels to come in and bury their dead which amounted to upwards of three thousand besides what died in ditches from their wounds, it is horrible to think on, but unavoidable. Our loss from the most authentick accts were few killed. I heard from good authority that the Sloops (which the Female inhabitants were put in before the Military evacuated Wexford) on the Rebels taking possession of the Town the green flag being hoisted was the signal for the Rebels to put back; but I was assured the women were treated with the greatest humanity and attention. Mr. Baston, The Hobsons and the Recorders family have been at Cheek Point waiting for a Packet: but from the good news to-day they returned to Waterford and will not go unless there appears more danger. May God preserve us and our absent Friends from the Perils of this night. Adieu my dr Mother until tomorrow.

Friday, June 8th.

I trust in God we shall not be obliged to leave our comfortable home which at this moment looks so peaceful and serene it is hard to think Rebellion is so near us. Lord Mountjoy fell at the Head of his Regt the Dublin Militia in the Engagement at Ross.--- I thank God Waterford and all about here in perfect Tranquillity, tho' very little Military Force. The Yeomanry extremely active. Ah! if they would send us Troops from England quickly: Rebellion would soon be crushed. Indeed our own Troops have done wonders