The County Laois Rental Roll of Richard and Edward Fitzpatrick, 1679-1697

The National Library of Ireland holds manuscript 3316, catalogued as the ‘Rent roll of the Co. Leix estate of Capt. Richard FitzPatrick. Early 18th c.’ The manuscript provides details of tenants, townlands, which were mainly in the Parishes of Aghaboe, Offerlane, and Rathdowney, land areas, and terms and conditions of the leases, which often included covenants to make improvements. The catalogue title of the rental roll is not fully accurate. While the roll does pertain to some of the Co. Laois estate lands in the possession of Richard Fitzpatrick (later Lord Gowran), there are also entries for his older brother, Edward. The pair achieved notability, primarily for their military service under William III. Also, the rental is from the late seventeenth, not the early eighteenth century.