Henry Harrison Briscoe was named after his great-grandfather on his mother's side of the family.
Henry Harrison of Castle Harrison in County Cork married Elizabeth Birmingham and their daughter Philippa married Daniel Osborne, whose daughter Elizabeth married Edward Briscoe.
Extract from "Historical and Topographical Notes, Etc. ...", Vol.II, p.86
The Harrison Connection
The Harrison family:
"... originally Descended of Richard, Lord Harrisson, who came into England A.D. 1056, Deriving his Pedigree from Charles, Junior Son of Charles, Duke of Habspruch, in Germany 876." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Harrison)
An original parchment of the Harrison lineage, purported to have been posted a parchment at the entrance to Castle Harrison in 1727, is in the possession of Jeffrey Standish Harrison, Sr. of Woodinville, Wa.
Castle Harrison at Charleville, County Cork before its demolition
The Osborne Connection
The Osborne family of Silverspring had a couple of important connections with our Briscoes. Firstly, William Harrison Osborne married Rebecca, daughter of Edward Briscoe of Garrynarea in 1783. Then Edward Briscoe of Cloncunny Married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Osborne in 1789.
The Osborne family had a long association with Silverspring House. Historic references to Silverspring House, Afaddy, Kilkenny and its residents, include:
- 19.5.1783 William Harrason Osborne of Silverspring, Co Kilkenny, protestant. [Marriage Licence]
- 23.5.1789 Elizabeth Osborne, Silver Springs, parish of Rathkeran. [Marriage Licence]
- 2.8.1797 Auction sale of stock in legal action against William Osborne Esq., at Silverspring, Co Kilkenny. [Finn’s Leinster Journal]
- 1836 Daniel Osborne, Silverspring. [Kilkenny Moderator 27.4.1836]
- 4.8.1841 Daniel Osborne, Silversprings. [Kilkenny Moderator]
- 18.11.1843 Daniel Osborne, Silverspring. [Kilkenny Journal]
- 1853 Daniel Osborne, JP, Silver Spring, Pilltown. [Thom's Irish Almanac]
- 31.1.1857 Daniel Osborne, JP, Silverspring. [Kilkenny Moderator]
- 1863 D Osborne, Silverspring. [Kilkenny Moderator 10.1.1863]
- 1871 Daniel Osborne, Silverspring. [Will]
- 1875 Anne Medley Osborne, Silverspring. [Will]
- 1876 Edward Osborne, Silverspring, Kilkenny, 877a. [Landowners in Ireland]
- 1884 Ed Osborne, JP, Silverspring, Piltown. [Bassett]
(Edward Law, Kilkenny History, Miscellaneous Houses)
Silverspring House (Photo 2010)
Cloncunny
Henry inherited the Cloncunny estate after the early death of his older brother Edward.
As well managing the Cloncunny estate, Henry was a local magistrate and became an Inspector of Poor Laws. It is assumed that the latter role was at least partly to provide additional income as the economic and social changes in Ireland at the time made living off the land less sustainable. It appears that he was an absentee landlord for much of the time and away in the Poor Laws role in County Mayo and County Clare between 1848 and 1852 during the latter part of the Great Famine.
Poor Law Inspector
On August 7, 1850 the Ballina Chronicle in Co. Mayo reported that ‘Mr Briscoe, Poor Law Inspector [was assigned to] …the unions of Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilrush and Kildysart.’
There is considerable detail about the Ennistymon Union and Henry’s role in the House of Commons Papers, Volume 49. It illustrates the magnitude of the problems of the poor and the management of indoor and outdoor relief.
The House of Commons Papers record correspondence in relation to Dismissal of Board of Elected Guardians of Ennistymon Union, and Appointment of Paid Officer.
Example of Henry's Work as a Poor Law Inspector
Henry subsequently took up the role of Superintendent of Poor Laws in Scotland from 1857 until his death in 1864 and he was buried in Inverness.
The John O'Groat Journal, 27 March 1857