DOI: 10.7925/drs1.ucdlib_256186
title: Diary of Arthur Oram
title: Hely's scribbling diary for 1916

description: The 31st of 33 diaries of John Oram’s son, Arthur Oram, farmer and land agent, County Mayo. Covers the period January–December 1916 with some entries for January and February 1917 at the end. Arthur's diaries record his day-to-day work on the farm, the management of the land under his care, the management of the animals and crops, the buying and selling of livestock at local markets. Also repairing fences, farm buildings, roads and ensuring their upkeep. The diaries also note the weather for each day, his commitments at the Assizes, attendance at the Petty Sessions and other community work relevant to his social standing. He alludes to his work as an elected representative on the Board of Conservators, his membership of the Drainage Committee and the Railway Committee, the surveying and valuing of land, the advertising and awarding of tenders, and the commissioning and inspection of work carried out in respect of these two committees. Arthur also refers frequently to the difficulty in collecting rents from tenants. The diaries record rents received, name of tenant and amount. He refers to events and milestones reached in his own family, attendance at church and the regular company the Orams kept with their neighbours and extended family. The diaries also make reference to current affairs.
description: Scope and content: Includes: - Refers to a meeting in Dublin at Fitzgerald Solicitors concerning the succession duty due on the Carey Estate (5 January 1916). - Remarks that he received notification from the Land Commission of reduced compensation by the Court of Appeal from £400 to £320 and that Mrs Dick's compensation had been reduced from £1650 to £1500 (27 January 1916). - Refers to a visit by Revd and Mrs Turney, the first visit by Mrs Turney since losing her foot in an accident on the railway line in October 1915 (28 January 1916). - Remarks that he read in the newspaper, with much surprise, of the death of Sir Malachy Kelly, Chief Crown Solicitor (28 March 1916). - Remarks that he handed over possession of Sandymount to Mr Duncan, Inspector, Congested Districts Board (31 March 1916). - Refers to a draft received from the Cleveland Ohio Trust Company for $1087.00, his portion of the legacy from his brother John's will (1 April 1916). - Refers to a Vestry meeting in Newport. Remarks that Mr Anketell-Jones wrote a letter to the meeting asking not to be re-elected as Church Warden but that his request was ignored. Remarks that, as Honorary Treasurer, he was instructed to place the balance of Miss Kennedy's gift in Exchequer Bonds (24 April 1916). - Remarks that he has heard news of a rising in Dublin '… of Sinn Féiners and Dublin Castle, Bank of Ireland, etc. having been seized by them, no post or papers here today (25 April 1916). - Remarks that there is no train service to Dublin (28 April 1916). - Refers to the news of an unconditional surrender in Dublin and rumours of a naval battle and a German defeat. (1 May 1916). - Remarks that there is little or no news about the War or Rising and no letters (2–3 May 1916). - Remarks that he went to Newport and that Dublin newspapers, the first since the 24th April, had arrived, met the postman who said that the post was operating as normal. Posted a letter to Hamilton Long & Co to their Kingstown address as their Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street) offices had been ruined in the rebellion (5 May 1916). - Refers to the death of William Rose. (21 May 1916). - Remarks that many people sympathised with him on hearing of William Rose's death (22 May 1916). - Refers to Babs Rose's first visit to the Oram's house since the death of her father and bringing news of a naval battle reported in the papers (3 June 1916). - Remarks that he heard the sad news of Master Harry Jones' death at the front with his Canadian Regiment (23 September 1916). - Remarks that he met with Mr O'Donel in Newport to discuss parochial affairs, in particular the subject of stipends to clergy '… in these very exceptional times …' (5 December 1916). - Refers to Arthur's change of address in India (12 December 1916).