Monaghan Borough

Monaghan Borough319 was a plantation borough enfranchised in 1613 by a charter of 11 James I. The corporation consisted of a provost and 12 free burgesses, which in 1800 included Lord Rossmore (0559), Col. Westenra, his brother Richard Westenra, his cousin Dacre Hamilton, his former agent Alexander Fleming and his present agent and surveyor, Arthur G. Lewis. In 1783 the town had 1,975 inhabitants and one resident elector. The borough was originally the property of Sir Alexander Cairnes (0334), Lady Blayney's father. The representation was shared among Lady Blayney's sons-in-law and was never sold. Lady Blayney died in 1790. In 1799320 Monaghan was, as it had been throughout the century, a close borough - patrons, the Earl of Clermont (0798), Lord Rossmore, Rt Hon. Theophilus Jones (1118) and Henry Westenra (2218). It was disfranchised by the Act of Union and the £15,000 compensation was paid in equal parts to Clermont, Rossmore, Jones and Westenra.