Francis Coffey (c.1790-1844)

Francis Coffee was a surveyor and several of his maps survive in the National Library of Ireland. In 1839 he was appointed as the valuator of Ennistymon Union, which had been established under the Poor Law Act, 1838 ("An Act for the more Effectual Relief of the Destitute Poor in Ireland"). A compulsory rate was levied to finance the new workhouse that was to be built under the Act. Ennistymon Union was one of four unions in Clare and covered an area of 238 square miles. Francis and his partner in the project, Patrick Powell, were paid £1 4s 9d for each 100 statute acres that they valued. The workhouse was built soon after and the first inmates arrived in 1842. Within the next ten years the workhouse was to receive a massive number of inmates and supplied both indoor and outdoor relief during the Irish Famine. By this time though, Francis Coffee was dead. His premature death was reported in the Clare Journal, as reproduced below.

Clare Journal, Feb 29 1844 Deaths...On the 14th, at Tynagh, in the county of Galway, where he was engaged professionally, Mr. Francis Coffee, of Liscannor, Land surveyor. The numerous and respectable attendance at his funeral at a very short notice, proved how universally he was liked during life, and the intense feeling of regret that was felt by all who know him on the sudden and unexpected announcement of his death.

With thanks to Peter Higginbotham for allowing me to use the above photograph, which was found on his excellent website and to Declan Barron for the obituary.