DOI: 10.7925/drs1.ucdlib_256188
title: Diary of Arthur Oram
title: Hely's small scribbling diary with almanack 1918

description: The 33rd of 33 diaries of John Oram’s son, Arthur Oram, farmer and land agent, County Mayo. Covers the period January–December 1918. 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 Derrada School concerning the rise in price of the threshing machine (4 January 1918). - Remarks that at a meeting to discuss the increase in price of the threshing machine the majority of subscribers have indicated that they do not want to go ahead with the purchase of the machine (16 January 1918). - Remarks that he received a cable from Emma Hinxman informing him of the death of his brother James Henry Oram in Cleveland, Ohio at the age of 61 (19 February 1918). - Refers again to a discussion regarding the purchase of a threshing machine, that some members wish to have their subscriptions returned, while others wish to press ahead with the purchase and take on new subscribers (23 January 1918). - Refers to damage at Rossyvera House, panes of glass broken and a tree cut down. Remarks that he met a Constable at the premises (8 February 1918). - Remarks that he returned the subscriptions to the members who do not wish to continue with the purchase of a threshing machine (13 February 1918). - Refers to the delivery of the new threshing machine (19 March 1918). - Refers to the first meeting of the Pensions Committee with Lord Sligo in the Chair. Lists the other people present, the election of Dr Bain as Honorary Secretary and the arrangement for meetings on the last Thursday of the month (5 April 1918). - Refers to the consecration of the new Roman Catholic Church at Newport (8 September 1918). - Refers to his re-election at the Conservators meeting (3 October 1918). - Refers to the 10th meeting of Carey Ltd and reports a '…very satisfactory state of accounts …' (25 October 1918). - Remarks that he attended Westport Fair and was surprised to see two men who had accompanied cattle to the fair had returned instead of staying the night '…owing to prevalence of influenza …' (1 November 1918). - Remarks that Carey Ltd (general stores) had to close owing to the staff suffering from influenza (15 November 1918). - Refers to the influenza outbreak again 'Geo[rge] Chambers second son buried, Jas Corrigan son Peter died. Influenza bad all over country' (29 November 1918). - Remarks that John left in uniform to return to his camp at [Romford] (1 January 1919).