Chronicle of the law officers of Ireland/Justices of the Common Pleas

by Constantine J. Smyth

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.—JUSTICES.

Robert Bagot,—Fee 40 marks.—Having represented that the King was indebted to him in divers sums of money from the time he was appointed one of the Justices of this Court, and his arrears being stated as amounting to £13 13s 4d., they were ordered to be paid to him, 23 Feb. 1326.—19 Edw. II. d. R. 7.

2d, Simon Fitz Richard.—His fee of 40 marks was paid to 12 Oct. 1334, being made Chief Justice the day following.—B. T. 8. Edw. III. f. No. 42.

Richard Brown,—patent 1334.—Idem No. 54.

2d, Robert De Preston,—patent, 17 October, 1342.—16 Edw. III. f. R. 3.

2d, Nicholas De Synterby, patent, London, 7 Nov. 1346.—B. T. 20. Edw. III. f. No. 69, and 30. f. No 42.

2d. Bartholomew Dardys,—patent, 1358.—Rot. Cl. 32 Edw. III. f. R. 1.

William Baldewyne,—patent, 4 Sept. 1439 (18.)—And having executed this office to 4 Sept. 1440, without any fee or wages, he had a grant of 40 marks in recompense thereof. Dated at Drogheda, 20 Nov. 1440.—R. Cl. 19 Hen. VI. f. R. 1. He appears to have been one of the Justices in 1436.—B.T. 15 Hen. VI. d. No. 21.

2d, Barneby Barnewall,—patent, Westminster, 20 May, 1461,—life,—with 40 marks yearly fee, and 20d. daily wages, out of the manor of Cromlyn, and cokets of wool, hides, skins, lead and other merchandizes, payahle in the ports of Dublin and Drogheda.—1 Edw. IV. f. R. 7.

2d, Gerald Aylmer,—patent, 19 Dec. 1528.—Pleasure.—To receive the ancient fees out of the manor of Eskyr, and being thus appointed by Sir William Skeffington, Lord Deputy to Henry Duke of Richmond and Somerset, L. L., to hold during their will and pleasure, he was afterwards appointed hy the King.—Patent, 23 August 1532,—as he lately held it.—24, 25 Hen. VIII. f. R. 5. Thomas Cusake,—Aylmer made Chief Baron,—patent, 24 May, 1535,—pleasure.—Fee, £20 of silver, English.—27 Hen. VIII. fac. R. 4.

Walter Kerdyffe,—Cusake revoked,—patent, 12 August 1535,—pleasure,—fee £20 Irish.—27 Hen. VIII. R. 13.—Continued,—Privy Seal, Westminster, 24 March, 1547,—pleasure.—Fee, 40 marks.—1 Edw. VI. 1» pars d. R. 11.

Richard Talbot, of Templeogue, co. Dublin,—Kerdyffe deceased,—patent,—1 March 1557.—Pleasure.—3 and 4 Philip and Mary f. R. 9.—Continued,—patent, 16 Dec. 1558,—pleasure.—1 Eliz. fac. R. 15.

Richard Talbot,—a new appointment,—patent, 17 Oct. 1559,—pleasure.—1 Eliz. R. 15.

3d, James Dowdall,—patent, 1577,—pleasure,—such fees as any Justice had received.—19 Eliz.

2d, Robert Dillon, of Riverston, co. Westmeath,—Talbot deceased,—patent, 26 Nov. 1577,—pleasure.—Fiant, 20 Eliz.

William Bathe,—as Dillon lately held it,—patent, 18 August, 1581,—pleasure.—Fiant, 23 Eliz.

3d, Thomas Dillon, Chief Justice of Connaught,—vice Dowdall,—patent, 16 Feb. 1592,—pleasure.—Fiant, 34 Eliz.

2d, Patrick Fitzgerald,—patent, 19 Jan. 1600.—Pleasure.—Fiant, 42 Eliz.

2d, Peter Palmer,—Bathe deceased, 13 Oct. 1599, (41.)—Patent, 7 April, 1600,vpleasure.—To hold from the day of the said Bathe's death, no notice being taken of Fitzgerald's appointment.—42 Eliz. R. 24.

George Robinson:—he was appointed by patent dated 30 Sept. 1602 to supply the office of a Justice of this court in the absence of the two Justices thereof for the continuance of the term, vide the Commission. 44 Etiz.

2d, Peter Palmer,—continued,—Privy Seal, Holyrood House, 28 March,—patent, Dublin, 20 April, 1603,—pleasure.—1 James I. 1^a pars d. R. 37.

3d, John Ady,—patent, 13 Dec. 1604,—pleasure.—Fiant, 2 James I.

Sir Charles Calthorpe, Attorney-General,—vice Ady,—Privy Seal, Westminster, 19 April,—patent, 29 May, 1606.—4 James I. 1^a pars d. R. 2. The King in this Privy Seal, thus writes: "We find it needful for our service to advance our Attorney in that Kingdom to the place of a Judge in our Bench of Common Pleas there, and in his place of Attorney we have made choice of Sir John Davys, Knt., now our Solicitor, to succeed and he our Attorney, and to take into the room of our Solicitor, which by his remove shall he void, a Counsellor-at-Law, practising in the Kingdom, and recommended; therefore we will and command you to signify this our pleasure to them, and give order for such writs or Letters Patent as shall he necessary for each of them to have, to authorize him in the place appointed to him by these our letters, with all such fees, profits, and commodities as any others having had the said offices formerly had and enjoyed; and these our Letters shall he a sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf."—Idem.

Gerald Lowther,—an additional Judge,—Privy Seal, Kensington, 24 August,—patent, 12 Oct. 1610,—pleasure.—£100 English additional fee.—The King, understanding that there did want assistance in the Court of Common Pleas, in regard of the infirmity of some of the Judges, was pleased, for the better expedition of his service in that Court, and of justice to his subjects, to he at the charge of one Justice more till some place did fall, and made choice of Gerald Lowther, an ancient Counsellor, and by the advice of the Chancellor of England, and some of the Judges thought meet for it: wherefore by the said Privy Seal the King directed that on his coming over he should be admitted as one of the Justices, and a patent pass to him, with all such fees as any Justice of the Common Pleas had or ought to have, the same to continue until some place of a Judge now full should fall, and then this extraordinary charge to cease; he to have also the allowance of £100 English a-year, over and above the usual fees for his better enablement in his Majesty's service.—8 James I. 2^a pars d. R. 5.

3d, John Phillpott,—Palmer deceased,—Privy Seal, Westminster, 30 Jan.—patent, 10 Feb. 1621,—pleasure.—18 James I. 3^a pars d. R. 8.—Continued,—patent, 16 April 1625.—Pleasure.—1 Charles I. 1^a pars f. R. 54.

Samuel Maiart,—Lowther deceased, 14 Oct. 1624, and buried in Christ Church,—Privy Seal, Oakeing, 21 July, 1625,—patent, 19 Jan. 1626.—Pleasure.—1 Charles I. 2^a pars f. R. 54.

3d, James Donellan,—Phillpott deceased,—Privy Seal, Lyndhurst, 17 August,—patent, 6 Nov. 1637—He had a license to hold with this place the office of Chief Justice of Connaught, by letters from Westminster, 10 Jan. 1638.—13 Charles I. (Rot. Cl. 12, 13 f. R. 70,) and again inrolled, dorso R. 6. William Hilton, Baron of the Exchequer,—Donellan removed,—patent, 19 Nov. 1644.—To hold during the pleasure of the Earl of Ormond L. L.—Mr. Hilton was buried at St. Werburgh's, 19 August, 1651.—20 Charles I. fac. R. 20.

3d, James Donellan,—Quamdiu se bene gesserit. His Commission runs thus, "Oliver, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dominions thereto belonging, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: know ye, that we have constituted our trusty and well beloved James Donellan, Esq., one of the Justices of the Common Bench in our dominion of Ireland, to hold so long as he shall well demean himself, with the wages and fees anciently due and accustomed. Witness ourself, at Westminster, the 13 day of July, 1655. By the Lord Protector." Bolles.

2d, Sir Jerome Alexander, Knt.,—Maiart deceased,—Privy Seal, Whitehall, 30 Nov. 1660,—patent, Dublin, 19 Jan. 1661, —pleasure.—Fee, £300.—12 Charles II. 2^a pars f. R. 27.

3d, Sir Robert Booth, Knt.,—Donellan made Chief Justice,—Privy Seal, Whitehall, 1 Dec. 1660,—patent, 29 Jan. 1661,—pleasure.—12 Charles II. 1^a pars f. R. 17.

3d, Robert Johnson, of the Inner Temple,—Booth made Chief Justice,—Privy Seal, 31 Jan.—patent, 17 March, 1669,—pleasure. —21 Charles II. 4^a pars d. R. 25.—Said Robert Johnson to be Second Justice.—Alexander deceased, 25 June, 1670.—Privy Seal, 17 Oct.—patent, 4 November, 1670.—Pleasure.—22 Charles II. 1^a pars d. R. 33.

3d, Oliver Jones, of Athlone, Chief Justice of Connaught,—Johnson Second Justice,—Privy Seal, Whitehall 18 Oct.,—patent, Dublin, 5 Nov. 1670.—Pleasure.—22 Charles II. R. 25.

3d, Adam Cusake, Chief Justice of Connaught,—Jones made Second Justice of the King's Bench,—Privy Seal, 10 Feb.—patent, 12 April, 1672.—Pleasure.—4 Charles II. 2^a pars d. R. 25.

2d, Sir Richard Reynell, Knt., Sergeant-at-Law,—Johnson revoked,—Privy Seal, 9 May,—patent, 26 May, 1674.—Pleasure.—26 Charles II. 3^a pars d. R. 14.—Harr.—Grant to Henry Hene to be one of the Justices of the Common Pleas to save discontinuances,—patent, 17 Nov. 1676.—Harr.

3d, Arthur Turner,—Cusake deceased, and buried 30 Dec. 1681, at St. Audeon's,—Privy Seal, 14 Jan.,—patent, 4 Feb. 1682.—Pleasure.—34. Charles II. 3^a pars d. R. 14.

3d, Samuel Gorges, King's Counsel,—Turner deceased,—Privy Seal, Winchester, 22 Sept.—patent, 13 Oct. 1684.—Pleasure.—36 Charles II. 2^a pars d. R. 48.

3d, Samuel Gorges,—continued,—Privy Seal, 19 February,—patent, 4 March, 1685.—Pleasure.—1 James II. 1^a pars d. R. 28.

2d, Robert Johnson,—Reynell made a Justice of the King's Bench,—Privy Seal, 19 Feb.—patent, 4 March, 1685.—Pleasure.—1 James II. 3^a pars f. R. 3.

Denis Daly,—Johnson removed,—Privy Seal, 22 March,—patent, 24 April 1686.—Pleasure.—2 James II. 3^a pars d. R. 15.

Peter Martin,—Gorges deceased,—Privy Seal, 9 March,—patent, 12 April, 1687.—Pleasure.—3 James II. 1^a pars f. R. 18.

2d, Sir Richard Cox, Bart.—Daly removed,—patent, 2 Sept., 1690.—Pleasure.—2 William and Mary, 1^a pars f. R. 18.

John Jeppryson, Sergeant-at-Law,—Martin removed,—Privy Seal, Kensington, 3 Nov.—patent, 6 Dec. 1690.—Pleasure.—2 William and Mary, 1^a pars d. R. 2.

John Smith,—Jeffryson deceased, October, 1700, and buried at St. Peter s, 28.—Privy Seal, Kensington, 24 Dec. 1700,—patent, 20 Feb. 1701.—Pleasure.—13 William III. 2^a pars d. R. 1.

Sir Gilbert Dolben, Bart.,—Cox made Chief Justice,—Privy Seal, Hampton Court, 13 May,—patent, 24 June, 1701.—Pleasure.—13 William III. R. 14.—Continued,—Privy Seal, 21 May,—patent, 14 Nov. 1702,—pleasure.—1 Anne, 3^a pars f. R. 17.

Anthony Upton,—Smith removed,—patent. May, 1702.—1 Anne.

James Macartney, Justice of the King's Bench,—Upton removed,—Privy Seal, 8 Nov.—patent 7 Dec. 1714.—Pleasure,—1 Geo. I. 1^a pars f. R. 22. Mr. Upton cut his throat in the height of a fever at Grays Inn, 11 June, 1718.

George Gobe, Attorney-General,—Dolben resigned,—Privy Seal, 13 May,—patent, 19 May, 1720.—Pleasure.—6 Geo. I. 2^a pars d. R. 3.

Francis Bernard, Prime-Sergeant,—Macartney resigned,—Privy Seal, 12 May,—patent 20 June, 1726.—Pleasure.—12 George I. 2^a pars d. R. 22.—Mr. Macartney had an annuity of £600 a-year for life, by Privy Seal at St. James's, 25 May, and patent 25 June, 1726.—Idem, R. 26.

George Gore,—continued,—Privy Seal, Kensington 31 July,—patent, 1 Nov. 1727.—Pleasure.—1 George II. 2^a pars d. R. 27.

Francis Bernard,—continued,—Privy Seal, Kensington, 31 July,—patent, 10 Nov. 1727.—Pleasure.—1 George II. f. R. 36.

Robert Dixon, Second Sergeant,—Bernard deceased, 1 July, and buried 3, at St. Mary's, 1731,—Privy Seal, Hampton Court 19 August,—patent, 23 Dec. 1731.—Pleasure,—5 George II. 2^a parsd. R. 14.

Robert Lindsay,—Dixon deceased,—Privy Seal, 8 Feb.—patent, 23 Feb. 1732.—Pleasure.—5 George II. 1^a pars d. R. 45.

William Yorke,—Lindsay deceased,—Privy Seal, 10 Feb.—patent, 23 Feb. 1743.—Pleasure.—16 Geo. II. 3^a pars f. R. 7.

Robert French,—Gore resigned,—Privy Seal, Kensington, 18 Sept.—patent, 4 Oct. 1745.—Pleasure.—19 Geo. II. 2^a pars d. R. 13.

Robert Marshall,—Yorke appointed Chief Justice, C. P.—patent, 20 Feb. 1754.—27 Geo. II.

1761. Robert Marshall,—former patent determined,—Privy Seal, 19 Jan.—patent, 21 Feb.—Pleasure.—Inr. 23 Feb. 1761.—1 George III. 1^a p. m. 4.d. R. 1.—Leave of absence granted, for recovery of his health, in England, for 6 months, from 16 Nov. 1764, without forfeiture, damage or prejudice to his patent, notwithstanding the statute of absentees,—Dublin, 16 Nov.—Inrolled 26.—5. 1^a p. m. 13. f. R. 13.

1761. Robert French,—former patent determined,—Privy Seal, 19 Jan.—patent, 23 Feb.—Pleasure.—Inr. 24 Feb. 1761.—1 George III. 1^a p. m. 10. d. R. 1.

1761. Thomas Tennison, Prime Sergeant,—French resigned.—Privy Seal, 6 Nov.—patent, 11 Dec.—Inr. 14 Dec.—2 George III. 2^a p. m. 4. f. R. 6.

1767. Edmund Malone,—Robert Marshall resigned,—Privy Seal, 19 Dec. 1766,—patent, 13 Jan. 1767.—Pleasure.—Inr. 24 Jan.—7 George III. 1^a p. m. 10. d. R. 19.

1774. Godfrey Lill,—Malone deceased,—Privy Seal, 13 July,—patent, 15 Dec.—Pleasure.—Inr. 16 Dec. 1774.—15 George III. 1^a p. m. 45, 46. f. R. 36.

1779. Robert Hellen,—Tennison deceased,—Privy Seal, 7 April,—patent, 4 May.—Pleasure.—Inr. 4 May, 1779.—19 George III. 2^a p. m. 11, 12. d. B. 56.

1784. Thomas Kelly,—Lill deceased,—Privy Seal, 11 Dec. 1783,—patent, 9 Jan. 1784.—Good Behaviour.—Inr. 15 Jan.—24 George III. 1^a p. m. 42, 43. d. R. 77.—This alteration of the term, during good behaviour, instead of during pleasure, took place in consequence of the statute passed 21, 22 George III. c. 50, hut no notice of the Act is taken in the patent.

1784. Alexander Crookshank,—Privy Seal, 18 Dec. 1783,—patent, 14 Jan.—Good Behaviour.—Inr. 15 Jan. 1784.—This officer was an addition to the number heretofore appointed.—24 George III. 1^a p. m. 45, 47. d. R. 77.

1793. Tankervills Chamberlain,—Robert Hellen deceased,—Privy Seal, 20 Nov.—patent, 6 Dec.—Good Behaviour.—Inr. 13 Dec.—34 George III. 1^a p. 122, 124. pag. R. 124.

1794. Mathias Finucane,—Chamherlain resigned,—Privy Seal, 27 May,—patent, 20 June—Good Behaviour.—Inr. 21 June.—34 George III. 5^a p. 58. pag. R. 128.

1800. Luke Fox,—Crookshank resigned,—Privy Seal, 27 Feb.—Good Behaviour.—Kings Letter, 40 Geo. III. 5^a p. 32. pag. R. 170.

1801. Robert Johnston,—Kellyresigned,—Privy Seal, 16 May,—patent, 23 June.—Good Behaviour.—Inr. 24 June, 1801.—41 Geo.III.p. 84.pag. R. 192.—A pension of £2000 per annum for life was granted to Thomas Kelly and his assigns, the letters patent reciting that he had faithfully served in the office for 17 years,—Privy Seal, Queens Palace, 2 May,—patent, 23 June.—Life. 1806. Edward Mayne,—letters patent to Mathias Finucane surrendered,—Privy Seal, 23 Jan.—patent, 21 Feb.—Good Behaviour.—Inr. 22 Feb.—46 George III. 2^a p. 95. pag. R. 99. Again 45, 3^a p. 14. pag. R. 200.—A pension of £2000 per annum for life was granted to Mathias Finucane, upon his resignation.

1806. William Fletcher,—Johnston resigned,—Privy Seal, 9 Sept.—patent, 21 Oct.—Good Behaviour.—Inr. 22 Oct—46 George III. 1^a p. 7. pag R. 204.—Pension of £l200 per annum granted to Robert Johnston for life from the 29 Sept., the day of resigning his office.

1816. Arthur Moore, First Sergeant at Law,—Fox resigned,—Prince Regent's Letter, Carlton House, 25 June,—patent, 23 July.—56 Geo. III.

1817. William Johnston, First Sergeant at Law,—Mayne appointed a Justice K. B.—P. R. L. 10 Oct.—patent, 25 Oct.—Good Behaviour.—Inr. 28 Oct.—58 Geo. III.

1823. Robert Torrens, Chairman of the Sessions at Kilmainham,—Fletcher deceased.—K. L. Carlton House, 20 June,—patent, 10 July,—4 George IV.—Irish Department Office, Westminster. 1839. Right Hon. Nicholas Ball, At.-Gen.—Arthur Moore resigned,—patent, 23 Feb.—2 Victoria.