This file of the ADDRESS TO ROBERT COCHRANE, ESQ., LINEN INSPCTOR OF STRABANE, COUNTY TYRONE, FROM THE YARN MERCHANTS ATTENDING THE LETTERKENNY, COUNTY DONEGAL MARKET, 1812 forms part of the vast archive of 4,000+ pages of genealogical records relating to COUNTIES TYRONE, DONEGAL, LONDONDERRY & FERMANAGH provided without charge or subscription by CoTyroneIreland Welcome to the Premier Website & Research Tool for Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Genealogy (cotyroneireland.com) A complete list of records pertaining to THE LINEN INDUSTRY IN THE NORTH OF IRELAND on this website can be found at the foot of this file
At a Meeting of the Yarn-Merchants who attend the several Markets and Fairs in the Counties of Donegall and Tyrone, being held in the Town of Letterkenny, on Friday the 18th day of December, inst., to take into consideration, in what manner they could testify their concern at the unexpected removal of Messrs COCHRANE, Senior and Junior, from the Office of Inspector –
Resolved – That the following Address, accompanied with a piece of Plate, should be presented to those gentlemen.
To ROBERT COCHRAN of Strabane, Esq. the Senior
SIR,
Being animated by the lively feelings of gratitude and respect towards you, we have this day assembled ourselves together, to wait upon you with sentiments of the most deep-felt sorrow, at having learnt of the unexpected removal of you and your Son, from the respective stations you held in the Linen and Yarn trade.
Be assured, Sir, when this intelligence reached us, it surprised us a great deal (not only from the occurrence being altogether unexpected, but an unwillingness to believe it could be the case), especially after we had been led to understand, that no one circumstance had been brought forward that could tend to traduce your character.
Remiss, indeed, would we be, did we allow the present opportunity to pass by, without adverting to the manifold benefits, which, by your active exertions for a series of years, have been rendered towards regulating the Yarn trade in this district. – By your perseverance and unremitting attention, it has been brought to the greatest possible regularity, and not only that circumstance alone, but you were at all times attentive to the conduct of your under-officers, so essential to our trade – by your ability and proper knowledge of the laws, you became, as it were, a terror to evil-doers – by your perspicuity and quickness of observation, you could easily distinguish the defaulter from the innocent, by which means the guilty only were punished. Why, therefore, should the trade be deprived of so experienced, so zealous an Officer, whose sole interest was in the welfare and prosperity of the Linen Manufacture?
Permit us, Sir, to express our feeling regret, that in the removal of you is included that of your Son – to him, we did look forward as succeeding you in the situation, when you had retired from public life, and which, we have no doubt, would have been filled with equal advantage to the trade.
In testimony of our esteem, we beg your acceptance of a piece of Plate, with an appropriate inscription.
Hoping you will believe us, with sentiments of esteem and regard, your most devoted humble servants,
Name Name Alexander RUSSELL Robert SMYTH Samuel HUGHES John GILL Benjamin LINDSAY Wm. BROWN Alexander LOGAN John BALANTINE Patrick HOLLAND Patrick McCAY Joseph BROWN Wm. WARNOCK Archibald ARBUCKLE [Woodend, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, died March 1, 1827, aged 74 years (Strabane Morning Post)] John ARBUCKLE [Strabane, Co. Tyrone, died “much respected” December 21, 1822 aged 73 years (Strabane Morning Post)] Samuel HAMILTON James MAYNES Bernard MAYNES George RUSSELL Joseph HENDERSON William HENDERSON Robert WATSON Mathew QUIN Michael BOYLE James QUIN Brice SMYTH Robert MILLER James KIRK Ezekiel McGARYEY [McGARVEY?] Rodger O’DONNELL William KERR George KELLY John McGINNETY William DAVIS Thomas WARREL Michael BROWN James DIVIN Alexander McGRORTY John WALLACE Michael McGONAGLE William O’DONNELL Patrick BOYLE James CAROLIN John LIVINGSTON John McANELLY John FINOGON William RUNNING
Resolved – That this address be inserted in the Strabane, Derry, Belfast, and Dublin newspapers
To the above address, Mr. COCHRANE was pleased to return the following answer:-
To the gentlemen, Merchants of the Yarn Trade attending the several Markets and Fairs in the Counties of Donegall and Tyrone, who composed the meeting held in the Town of Letterkenny, on Friday, the 18th day of December inst.
GENTLEMEN,
Much as I must have felt my removal from the station which I held under the Linen Board, my heart, conscious of its rectitude, preserved me from any other uneasiness, than the apprehension that my character might have suffered in the estimation of those who were not acquainted with me. – Your affectionate Address leaves me scarcely a regret on my own account; yet, I must lament, that a public Officer whose exertions have been indefatigable and intentions honest, should be deprived of his situation, upon charges refuted by the applause of those for whose benefit the office was created, and under whose observation it is exercised.
My first and most ardent wish is, that every charge preferred against me should be scrutinised most severely. – I would not receive from the Linen Board a more acceptable favour, than to allow me the permission of meeting my accusers on an open enquiry, and of using the ordinary means by which truth is investigated, falsehood detected, and innocence vindicated. –
From the course of proceeding adopted against me, I am at a loss to know on what grounds their Honours acted, in determining on my dismissal. Had I been guilty, or capable of corruption, you Gentleman, must have heard of my misconduct; and I could not have obtained the honour and consolation of that Address, for which my warmest gratitude is due to you.
In the character which you are please do give me. I recognize the description of what I wished to become, rather than any just resemblance of myself. My first object always was to promote the interest of our Staple Trade; and my means were, a zealous endeavour to promote the fair and punish the fraudulent dealer – an office, requiring such duties, must inflame the malice of the one class of men, but will gain the esteem of the other. If my loss of office, be in some degree imputable to the former, I am to acknowledge your address as the fruit of that friendship, which was acquired by my zeal and integrity.
I deeply feel your kindness to my Son: his intentions have been uniformly upright, and his endeavours to discharge his duty have been unremitted. His character cannot suffer from his dismissal, when it is recollected that Mr. BARCLAY, who was involved in the same charges and upon the same proofs, has been continued in office.
Gentlemen, I receive your present with great satisfaction – it is doubly precious to me , as the token of my own innocence and the testimony of your esteem.
With the most sincere wishes for your happiness and prosperity, I remain your affectionate and obliged humble Servant.
ROBERT COCHRANE, Sen.,
Strabane, December 26, 1812
Further records for LETTERKENNY & CONWAL PARISH, COUNTY DONEGAL and the LINEN INDUSTRY can be found at:
Conwal Parish Records, County Tyrone
Miscellaneous Records, County Donegal
Miscellaneous Records, County Londonderry
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