Questions about The Landlord System

Reference code: FOL.QUES/57
Level of description: Series
Title: Questions about The Landlord System
Scope and content: "The landlord system was formerly dominant throughout the country, and many stories and beliefs survive concerning landlords, agents, middlemen and the other people in the system.
As time passes, memories concerning the landlord system grow more dim however, and we send this questionnaire in the hope of gathering these memories while there is still time.
We realise that this questionnaire may appear very detailed. Nevertheless, because there are so many aspects to this subject, we feel that there still may be some points which we have not covered. If you have any information on the subject, no matter how trivial or insignificant you might think it to be, we would appreciate having it. Often, what appears unimportant may turn out to be of great value when put in a wider context. An answer to even only one or two of the questions in the questionnaire would be welcomed.
As this is a rather long questionnaire, we recommend that you read it at least once before answering.
Please write your answers on the answer sheet provided. Do not write in the margin of the answer sheet, as it may eventually be bound. Please try to give any stories and other particulars as fully as possible. The closer you can stick to the actual words and expressions used by the people from whom you received your information, the more valuable your material will be to us.
Thank you very much for your interest, and we look forward to hearing from you."
1. Who owned the land of your district at various periods as far as is known?
2. Are there any traditions concerning the coming into possession of the land- lord? e.g. in Cromwell's time, or did the landlords own the land from time immemorial? Any traditions stating that the landlord came from a humble background? Did some tenants feel that they were the rightful owners of the land? How were the landlords generally regarded in the district?
3. Did the landlords live on their estate for the most part, or were they mainly absentees?
4. Were agents employed to run the local estates? How were they generally regarded in the district? What were their names?
5. Did other, smaller landlords (middlemen) between the big landlords and the tenants let land? What were their names? How were they generally regarded?
6. How were the bailiffs, wardens, drivers and other employees of the estate generally regarded? Give any accounts concerning them.
7. What was the religion of the landlord (agent, middleman)? What was the religion of the tenants?
8. Was a difference in religion between landlord/agent and tenant the cause of any particular problems? Did a common religion make for better relations between landlord and tenant?
9. Did landlords/agents favour tenants of the same religion as themselves more than those of a different religion? Were tenants divided as a result of differing religions? Any accounts of a landlord/agent being particularly helpful towards tenants of a different religion to his own? e.g. Protestant landlord aiding the building of a Catholic church, etc.
10. Any accounts of landlords/agents in conflict with priests or ministers? e.g. hunting priests in the Penal Times, etc. Any accounts of priests or ministers putting a curse on the landlord/agent or defeating him through the use of supernatural power?
11. Any accounts of landlords/agents aiding efforts to convert their tenants to another religion? e.g. through control of food aid during the Famine, through schooling, etc.
12. Was the landlord/agent and any of the tenants in the Orange Order, and did this make for good relations between them?
13. Were good relations between landlord/agent and tenants furthered in any way through certain activities? e.g. through common interests in horse-racing, hurling matches, cricket matches? Did the landlord sponsor any sports in any way, or perhaps play on a team himself?
14. Did the landlord/agent give a dinner or throw a party for his tenants at any stage during the year?
15. Did the landlord/agent speak English with a different accent than the rest of the people? Did this cause resentment? Any memory of the landlord's/agent's family speaking Irish?
16. Did tenants co-operate in or join with the landlord in fox or other types of hunting, or was hunting a cause of tension?
17. Did preservation of game lead to bad relations? How were poachers regarded by most people?
18. Were landlords/agents particularly concerned with protecting trees on their land, and did they punish people who interfered with trees in any way?
19. How actively did the landlord/agent involve himself in the affairs of his tenants? Were tenants left mainly to their own devices, or were they actively directed by the landlord/agent? Did the landlord/agent assist in the improvement of the houses or land of tenants? Could an active interest on the part of the landlord/agent sometimes cause bad feelings? Any memories of landlords/agents developing local industries, villages or enterprises of any kind?
20. How powerful was the landlord/agent perceived as being? Had tenants any faith in the legal process as a check on his power?
21. Any memories of bribing landlords, agents, bailiffs, etc. for certain favours? Any memory of compulsory labour given to landlords by tenants, or the compulsory donation of animals, produce, etc.
22. Any memory of the landlord indulging in smuggling?
23. Was it believed that if tenants improved their position, their rents would be raised? Did tenants cultivate an image of poverty because of this?
24. What political viewpoint did the landlord/agent have? Did this differ from that of the tenants? Did the landlord/agent pressurise tenants to vote according to his wishes?
25. What role did landlords play during the major upheavals in Ireland? e.g. the 1798 rebellion, the Famine, the Home Rule crisis, the Black and Tan War, etc. 26. Any memories of attacks on landlords/agents, their property, their livestock?
27. Did secret agrarian societies operate in your area? What were they called? How were they regarded by most people? What activities were they involved in?
28. Any memories of evictions, boycotts, 'land-grabbing'? Any stories of landlords/agents being cursed by an evicted widow or priest and misfortune befalling them and their families as a result?
29. Any stories concerning the death or funeral of the landlord/agent? e.g. horses refuse to pull his hearse; vermin, insects devour his body?
30. Any stories of ghosts or other supernatural phenomena in the landlord's house or associated with his family? Was the Banshee or Headless Coach associated with the death of the landlord's family?
31. Any stories of the landlord/agent being in Hell, being visited there by a tenant, being brought back from there through the power of a priest or minister? Any stories of the landlord/agent playing cards with the Devil?
32. Was the landlord/agent liked or disliked generally?
33. Any accounts of good deeds carried out by the landlord/agent? e.g. striking out rent, giving charity, helping fugitives, being generally kind, etc.
34. Any accounts concerning the deeds of bad landlords/agents? e.g. drunkenness, particular acts of cruelty, selling of tenants into slavery, attacking of women, the right to have the bride on her wedding night, etc.
35. Any stories of unfortunate characteristics associated with the landlord/ agent, e.g. a constant smell from him, a tail on him, a corrupt body.
36. What was the moral character of the landlord/agent like? Did he have any illegitimate children? Did he provide for them in any way? How were the illegitimates regarded by the community generally?
37. Give any songs, poems or sayings about landlords/agents, etc. Give snatches if you do not have the whole song.
38. Are the descendants of the landlords/agents, bailiffs, etc. still in your area? How are they looked upon? Do they still have much land, much influence? Do they have any tenants?
39. Can you give the names and addresses of anyone who might be able to help with the above questions?