DeRenzy Papers

Repository: Offaly County Archives Service

Identity Statement

TitleDeRenzy Papers
Archive ReferenceIE OCAS P50/9
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/derenzy-papers
Creation Dates1630-1706
Level of DescriptionFonds (The whole of the records, regardless of form or medium, organically created and/or accumulated and used by a particular person, family, or corporate body in the course of that creator's activities and functions). (Often, but not always, contiguous with an archives ‘collection’ ).
Extent Medium33 items

Context

Creator(s): Sir Mathew de RenziMathew DeRenzy

  • Administrative History ↴

    Mathew DeRenzy married Mary Howse of Cloghbemon, County Wexford, daughter of Richard Howse. He settled in Wexford and from 1699 on, he used the lands in Tinnycross to raise revenues by way of mortgages and leases. His father-in-law, Richard Howse is named as a party in many of these deeds and his wife, Mary is a co-signee. DeRenzy eventually sold his interest in the lands in 1704 to Reverend James Cox, Archdeacon of Ferns, thus ending the DeRenzy family’s interests in Offaly.(Given the span of time, it is also possible that this could be Sir Mathew de Renzi's grandson, son of Mathew DeRenzy. This is not clear from records.)
  • Archival History ↴

    The DeRenzy Papers form part of a larger collection of solicitors’ papers deposited by Hoey & Denning, Tullamore, with Offaly County Library in the 1980s per Michael Byrne of Offaly Historical Society. Hoey & Denning acted as land agents for the Cox family to whom the DeRenzy estate in Offaly was sold in 1704
  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Permanent Loan

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Sir Mathew de RenziMathew DeRenzy ↴

    Legal agreements in the form of deeds and indentures relating to the Derenzy family’s title and interest in lands in the vicinity of Tinnycross, County Offaly. The earliest deed dating from 1630, records
    Sir Mathew de Renzi purchasing the townlands of Ballynashragh, Ballycosny, Tyrenehinan, Kilmore and Derry, all in the barony of Ballycowen, on behalf of his son Mathew DeRenzy, then at the bar in London. The vendor was Robert Branthwaite of London, who had been granted the land by letters patent of King James I. Further adjoining townlands of Rossnagouloge or Cappanure were purchased by Sir Mathew from Allen Jones in 1630, and the following year the adjacent townlands of Derrykilliagh and Kilbeg were purchased from Art McOwen O’Molloy. All were settled on his son, Mathew DeRenzy. The bulk of the collection consists of numerous leases and mortgages raised against the land by Mathew DeRenzy between 1699 and 1703, while he lived at Cloghbemon in County Wexford. Later items in the collection relate to the sale of the lands to Reverend James Cox, Archdeacon of Ferns.

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    Permanent Retention
  • Arrangement ↴

    The collection has been arranged chronologically in three broad strands. Section 1 lists the deeds and legal agreements concerning the initial acquisition of townlands in the vicinity of Tinnycross, County Offaly by Sir Mathew de Renzi and his arrangements to settle these lands on his son, Mathew DeRenzy. Section 2 lists the leases and mortgages raised by Mathew DeRenzy against the lands to various persons, most notably his father-in-law, Richard Howse, of Cloghbemon, County Wexford. Section 3 lists the deeds concerning the sale by DeRenzy of the lands to Reverend James Cox, and thereby the end of the DeRenzy family interest in the lands at Tinnycross. Some further deeds record mortgages Cox raised on the lands subsequent to his purchase.

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions Available by appointment. Produced for consultation in original format with due regard for handling guidelines. Some fragile items may not be produced.
Conditions Governing ReproductionCopies for private research and study only as per the Copyright and Related Rights Act (2000). Fragile items may not be copied.
Creation Dates1630-1706
Level of DescriptionFonds (The whole of the records, regardless of form or medium, organically created and/or accumulated and used by a particular person, family, or corporate body in the course of that creator's activities and functions). (Often, but not always, contiguous with an archives ‘collection’ ).
Extent Medium33 items
Material Language ScriptEnglish; occasional Latin
Characteristics Tech ReqAll items are of parchment and have undergone professional conservation.
Finding Aids Descriptive List Archive Web Link →

Allied Materials

There are no Allied Materials

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NoteLisa Shortall
Rules/ConventionsISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description, 2nd ed., Ottowa, International Council on Archives, 2000
Date of Descriptions41852