I'm starting this blog as a resource for Colcloughs everywhere, but especially for those connected to Co.Wexford in Ireland. I will start loading some information feel free to use but acknowledge the source.

Where it all started?

 Sample of extracts from McPeake's papers
 

Correspondence between John Colclough, writing from Co Wexford

and Dublin, and his brother Caesar, writing mainly from London and the continent,covered the period 1791-1806 and included personal first hand experience of the Rebellion in Co Wexford. 

A reading of the correspondence between John and Caesar 1791-1807 reveals a

most warm and affectionate relationship between the two brothers, in which John keeps Caesar (detained right through the period) fully informed about their relatives, friends and neighbours, marriages and deaths within their circle, their own health problems and recommendations for therapies. 

27 August 1792

Caesar Colclough, Paris to John Colclough, Wexford about the present state of the Revolutionary Wars and about his financial affairs.

‘I now begin to fear for the liberty of these people, as the combined armies have

taken several towns on the frontiers and are marching towards Paris, which now begins to dread their approach and many who can quit it will, but there is at present no possibility of doing that, as all the posts are guarded, and no one suffered outside of the barriers. When the conspirators shall all be taken, then the passports will be returned, andthen I intend going to Rouen in Normandy, ready to pass into England in case any fracas should take place between England and France. There is at present no likelihood of such, but if by accident or design anything should happen to the royal family here, I fear George will contrive to join in the general suppression of liberty. Some thing is wanting much here. Really, there is too much licentiousness(?).

Have you received Kennedy’s note which I enclosed to you from London. You never mentioned one word of it. £34 would be too serious a loss not to merit of its caution. Have you received my money from John Colclough, and did not Rowe pay you the year’s annuity. (Sentence underlined for purpose of the subsequent lawsuit.) Send as much as you can to London, as I am sure of it there, and can have it from that, be where I may (?). Should I be obliged to quit this, it will cost me a great deal, and oblige me to sell my things at a great loss. Remember me to my mother and all my friends.’ 

20 October 1792

Caesar Colclough, Paris, to John Colclough Wexford,

referring to a Wexford county meeting and discussing his need of money and news,the affairs of (Enniscorthy) borough and the war.

 ‘... as my father has promised to make you a burgess, you must get him to write to C Sutton to, or rather have the resignation ready, and a little money will easily get the rest done. If he accedes, as you say, to my proposal, all things will go peaceably otherwise we shall have the same ground as last time to go over again, though we shall now have whores and rogues to oppose us. I intend to hold out the idea to my father of not going at all to Ireland, if he makes you a burgess, but necessity of it otherwise. Furlong can be had at any time, and he is rascal enough to betray his maker for a greater sum whenever we want him...

The next meeting of a parliament will, I think, in both kingdoms be the last; for the question of reform will be so strongly agitated the nincompoop will run restive and Billy (Pitt) be no longer able to hold the reins. Overstreet will give you some idea of politics and if you wish economy, for he is in that a prodigy. He will also tell you the misrepresented situation of Paris, which though heard of in England and afterwards in Ireland, is not known in either.

 Letter from Caesar to John, Paris – 21st January 1793.
 Dear John,
Say not one word of politics in future in your letters of business, as it will
certainly prevent me from receiving them. There will be no war except one particular thing takes place. Before this is ten miles Louis the unfortunate will be no more. I attended his process for 11 hours yesterday, and he was condemned to death in the space of 24 hours by a majority of (I counted) 32. Adieu. You mentioned not what half years rent, but I suppose he has paid up to May ‘92. The King is going...

Sourced:
 http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/ecatalogue.htm The online catalogue (eCATNI)
contains a 90 page summary of the Colclough correspondence under the reference T3048/C, with the
following introduction: http://www.proni.gov.uk/introduction__mcpeake_papers.pdf


John Colclough