Askeaton

Askeaton was incorporated by a charter of 1614, 11 James I, on the usual pattern. It had a provost and 12 burgesses, and presumably a commonalty which vanished. By 1783 it had 13 burgesses including the provost, all non-resident. The town comprised about 30 Protestants and 300 Roman Catholics. The patrons and proprietors were Lords Carrick (0316) and Massy (1355). However, Sir Joseph Hoare (1025) who represented the borough from 1761, had a seat for life under an agreement with Edward Taylor (2040), to whom it belonged. Taylor, who died in 1760, resided locally. He was succeeded by his only son, Edward, who drowned in the Isis in 1769 while pursuing his studies at Oxford, and following his death the borough was vested in Carrick and Massy, who married his two sisters. During Hoare's life, they were elected alternately to one seat; after his death they would each have a seat. Hoare did not die during the lifetime of the Irish parliament, although the agreement must have been made before Taylor's death in December 1760. Taylor's mother was Sarah Hoare, which may explain the arrangement. When it was his turn, Lord Carrick usually sold his seat; for instance, in 1790 he sold it to the newly ennobled Lord Caledon, who brought in his nephew, Henry Alexander (0028). In 1800, when the borough was disfranchised, the Commissioners awarded him £200 for the agreement. The sitting MP, Sir Vere Hunt (1057), who had purchased his seat received £1,100, Lord Carrick £6,850 and the trustees of the will of Hugh, Lord Massy, £6,850.