John Sweetman. (1844-1936)
John
Sweetman, was the eldest son of John Sweetman, a
In
1880, Sweetman visited
The
family brewery in
He
was one of the founders and financial backers of Sinn Féin
in 1905, succeeding Edward Martyn to be the second
President of the party in 1908. Arthur Griffith took over
as the third President later in the year. He was arrested at his
home in Meath during the 1916 Rising in which he did not
apparently play any active part, and was taken to prison in
He became
vice-chairman (1899-1901) and subsequently chairman of Meath
County Council (1902-08), Sweetman was a leading figure in
the establishment of the General Council of County Councils.
He served as its vice-president during the early 1900s and argued
frequently that this federation of senior county council
officials should be allowed to take over many of the
administrative functions of
During the 1910s
Sweetmans well-established reputation for conservatism grew
not only due to his continued opposition to granting women access
to higher education but also because of his strident criticisms
of labour radicalism. Inspired by the Popes anti-war
declarations, during 1915 he was one of the first Irishmen to
speak out against the possibility of conscription being
introduced into the country. This may have influenced
During 1917-18 Sweetman supported Herbert Pim and Darrel Figgis in pushing for a revival of Sinn Féin. He was chosen as the Sinn Fein candidate for North Wexford in the run up the 1918 general election but declined due to his advanced age (he was seventy-four), the seat going instead to his cousin Roger.
By the mid-1920s,
however, he was expressing strong opposition to the governments
free-trade policies, accusing the government of indifference to
the poor and latent British imperialism. He resigned his honorary
membership of the central branch of Cumann na nGaedhael in
January 1928 and thereafter considered funding the establishment
of an alternative, centrist and protectionist party in Irish
politics. By 1930, however, his growing admiration for what he
saw as Eamon DeValeras Christian statesmanship
prompted him to overcome his aversion to Fianna Fáil and
to support that party, which he joined in 1932.
John Sweetman
died on 8 September 1936 at the age of ninety-two. He was
survived by his wife Agnes (who died in November 1936), his four
sons and two daughters.
He is buried in the
family plot in St Colmcille`s Cemetery, Kells, on a portion of
land he gifted to the Parish of Kells for the new cemetery,
opened 1910, to which, like everybody else, he had to buy his
plot from the Parish.
VIII.
Irish-American Colonisation Company
The Irish-American Colonisation Company [IACC]
was established in 1881, its aim was to assist Irish Catholics to
emigrate to
John Sweetmans correspondence with
members of the community in
VIII.i.
Organisational Papers MS 47,593 /1 |
1880-1881
Legal documentation regarding the
establishment of the IACC Includes a certificate of
registration of the IACC as a limited company with the
Registrar of Joint Stock Companies (13 Mar. 1881). Also,
warranty deeds from the Winona & St. Peter
Railway Co. and St. Paul & Sioux City
Railroad Co. to Sweetman regarding the purchase of
land. Also, copies of power of attorney granted to Bishop
John Ireland and John Sweetman to act for the company
(Apr. 1881). Also, legal opinion offered by R.P. Carton
Q.C. about the possibility of applying for government aid
(Nov. 1881); 11 items |
MS
42,082 |
1881-1909
Minute book of the meetings of the
Board of Directors from the establishment of the Company
in March 1881 to the final meeting of November 1909. Also
includes loose sheets of related notes and drafts;
c.300pp |
MS
42,083 |
1881-1893
Rough Minute Book of the meetings
of the Board of Directors from March 1881 to January
1893; c.300pp |
MS
47,593 /2 |
[undated,
1881] A leather-bound, pocket-size
diary of John Sweetman. Entries relate to IACC
appointments or business, also some general notes;
c.100pp. |
MS
47,593 /3 |
1885
|
A
copy of a resolution of the directors of the IACC
(annotated proposed by Lattin Thunder, seconded by
Colonel Dease and carried) appointing Sweetman an
agent for the IACC, entitled to grant and sell any and
all lands owned by the company in the United States.
Also, a copy of a power of attorney (20 Aug. 1885) and a
copy of a second IACC resolution to this effect; 3 items |
|
MS
47,593 /4 |
1887-1907
A list of the retiring directors
of the IACC for each year from 1887 to 1907; 1p. |
MS
47,593 /5 |
1892
A draft for a land agreement with
settlers, and two blank land agreement forms. Also, a
copy of an IACC land agreement with Timothy Brodle and
Elias Howard respectively (1892); 6 items |
MS
47,593 /6 |
1900-1908
General papers relating to the
IACC. Includes a sheet listing names of individuals whom
were issued with deeds (1901). Reports of directors
meetings from 1904-08 (including some reports of meetings
involving [Agnes Sweetman]). Also, a copy of a letter to
and from Ambrose A. Kelly ( |
MS
47,593 /7 |
1928,
1984 and undated Historical
articles on the IACC and the Sweetman Catholic Colony.
Includes an original and photocopied copy of Alice E.
Smith, The Sweetman Irish Colony, Minnesota
History (vol.9, no.4, Dec. 1928), pp331-46, as well
as a print-out of an extract of this same article (as
featured on rootsweb.com). Two copies of
The Connemara and Sweetman Colonies in
Patricia Condon Johnston, Minnesotas Irish (1984).
A 3pp article giving a history of the Immaculate of
Mary Parish, featuring a photo of John Sweetman.
Also, a photograph of an unknown lake [at Currie] by
Charles Tenney of Winona, Minn, and a photograph taken in
snowy weather of three unknown individuals in Minnesota,
including one priest; 8 items |
VIII.ii.
Publicity Material MS 47,594 /1 |
1880-1881
Booklets relating to
Minnesota: her agricultural resources, commercial
advantages and manufacturing capabilities (published
by the State Board of Immigration, St. Paul, Minnesota,
1880)
Catholic Colonisation in Minnesota (published by
the Catholic Colonisation Bureau, St. Paul, Minnesota,
Dec. 1880, reprinted M.H. Gill and Son, Dublin, 1881)
A booklet of the Irish Catholic Colonisation
Association (detailing the first colony sent from
Rev. J.W. Spalding (bishop of
A copy of Revue Genérale (Brussels, Dec, 1881)
containing an article by Ch. Verbrugghen
[Belgian member of parliament] on La Colonisation
Catholique aux États-Unis (pp.842-69). 5 items |
||
MS
47,594 /2 |
1880-1881
Literature relating to the IACC,
includes a general pamphlet entitled Irish
colonisation in |
||
MS
47,594 /3 |
1880-1883
Letters from various newspapers or
journals in |
||
MS
47,594 /4 |
1881-1883
Receipts from various newspapers
or journals in |
||
MS
47,594 /5 |
1881-1889
Prospectuses for some agricultural
and colonisation companies based in |
||
MS
47,594 /6 |
1882
A copy of a pamphlet entitled Farms
for |
||
MS
47,594 /7 |
1883-1885
A copy of Sweetmans pamphlet
(16pp) Recent experiences in the emigration of Irish
families ( |
||
(marked
rejected) to become a tenant under the
scheme. Surname: F-H; 100 items |
|||
MS
47,595 /4 |
1881-1884
Fifty letters from the general
public requesting information about the colonisation
scheme. Also, fourteen unsuccessful applications (marked
rejected) to become a tenant under the
scheme. Surname: K-L; 64 items |
||
MS
47,595 /5 |
1881-1884
Eighty-one letters from the
general public requesting information about the
colonisation scheme. Also, fourteen unsuccessful
applications (marked rejected) to become a
tenant under the scheme. Surname: M; 95 items |
||
MS
47,595 /6 |
1881-1884
Thirty-seven letters from the
general public requesting information about the
colonisation scheme. Also, three unsuccessful
applications (marked rejected) to become a
tenant under the scheme. Surname: N-O; 40 items |
||
MS
47,595 /7 |
1881-1884
Fifty-one letters from the general
public requesting information about the colonisation
scheme. Also, six unsuccessful applications (marked
rejected) to become a tenant under the scheme
and three miscellaneous application forms [unprocessed]. Surname:
P-R; 60 items |
||
MS
47,595 /8 |
1881-1884
Forty-two letters from the general
public requesting information about the colonisation
scheme. Also, three unsuccessful applications (marked
rejected). Surname: S; 45 items |
||
MS
47,595 /9 |
1881-1884
Forty letters from the general
public requesting information about the colonisation
scheme. Also, six unsuccessful applications (marked
rejected) to become a tenant under the
scheme. Surnames: T-Y; 46 items |
||
VIII.iv.
Successful applications MS 47,596 /1 |
1880-1881
Applications for admission to the
emigration scheme marked accepted with, in
some cases, original letters of the applicants attached
to the forms. Surnames B-D; 17 items |
||
MS
47,596 /2 |
1881
Applications for admission to the
emigration scheme marked accepted with, in
some cases, original letters of the applicants attached
to the forms. Surnames: F-H; 11 items |
||
MS
47,596 /3 |
1881-1882
Applications for admission to the
emigration scheme marked accepted with, in
some cases, original letters of the applicants attached
to the forms. Surnames: K-L; 12 items |
||
MS
47,596 /4 |
1881-1882
Applications for admission to the
emigration scheme marked accepted with, in
some cases, original letters of the applicants attached
to the forms. Surnames: M-O; 16 items |
||
MS
47,596 /5 |
1881-1882
Applications for admission to the
emigration scheme marked accepted with, in
some cases, original letters of the applicants attached
to the forms. Surnames: P-W; 10 items |
||
MS
47,596 /6 |
1881-1883
Letters from steamship companies
(principally Allan Line of Liverpool) about making
arrangements for the transportation of sixty families
across the |
||
MS
47,596 /7 |
1881-1884
Letters making arrangements for
the transportation of individuals or families,
principally from railway companies within the |
||
names
of [shipping and publicity] agents. Also included,
miscellaneous cabin passenger lists for sailings between |
|||
MS
47,596 /8 |
1889-1895
Cabin passenger lists for various
trans-Atlantic sailings [performed by Sweetman], as well
as two layout plans for Cunard Line
steamships (with ticket-prices attached); 10 items |
||
MS
47,596 /9 |
Undated
Notebook containing names of those
sailing for America [with the IACC], with details of age,
occupation, present wage, how much the passage cost, who
paid for the passage and any additional supplies given,
with index at back of volume; c.200 pp |
||
names
of [shipping and publicity] agents. Also included,
miscellaneous cabin passenger lists for sailings between |
|||
MS
47,596 /8 |
1889-1895
Cabin passenger lists for various
trans-Atlantic sailings [performed by Sweetman], as well
as two layout plans for Cunard Line
steamships (with ticket-prices attached); 10 items |
||
MS
47,596 /9 |
Undated
Notebook containing names of those
sailing for America [with the IACC], with details of age,
occupation, present wage, how much the passage cost, who
paid for the passage and any additional supplies given,
with index at back of volume; c.200 pp |
||
VIII.v.
Company Correspondence MS 47,597 /1 |
1880
A diary entitled A short
summer trip to |
||||
MS
47,597 /2 |
1880-1881,
undated Letters and telegrams from
Dillon OBrien ( |
||||
MS
47,597 /3 |
1880-1881
Two letters from Thomas Spring
Rice, 2nd Baron Monteagle, including one expressing an
interest in become a director in Sweetmans company.
Also, two letters from Horace Plunkett of |
||||
MS
47,597 /4 |
1880-82
Letters from J.H. Tuke (English
Quaker, philanthropist and author of Irish distress
and its remedies, 1880) enquiring as to the progress
of the |
||||
IACC;
12 items |
|||||
MS
47,598 /1 |
1880,
1883 Letters from Edmund Dease (a
director of the IACC) of Ballybrittas, Queens County
(Laois), and a brief note from G.R. Dease (of Celbridge,
Co. Kildare, a director of the IACC), sent from The
Castle, Dublin, regretting his inability to attend
a meeting; 5 items |
||||
MS
47,598 /2 |
1880-1884
Letters and telegrams from John
Ireland [coadjutor bishop of |
||||
MS
47,598 /3 |
1880-1884
Letters from John P. OConnor
(superintendent of the IACC in |
||||
MS
47,598 /4 |
1880-1884
Letters from John D. OBrien
(attorney, |
||||
MS
47,598 /5 |
1880-1886
General correspondence relating to
the IACC, includes two letters (in French) from the
Archbishop of St. Boniface (Canada), a letter from Edmund
Sweetman and Hugh OCallaghan, a letter from
Viscount Monck (Bray, Co. Wicklow) and a letter of Neil
Currie (Currie, Minn.). Also, some letters of W.J. ONahan
(president of St. Patricks Society and City
Collector for |
||||
(regarding
a journal article by J.H. Tuke) and letters from Robert
Taaffe; 22 items |
|||||
MS
42,084 |
1881-1882
Letter book of the I.A.C.C. from
January 1881 to February 1882, containing copy letters
written on company business by John Sweetman and Charles
Blackney (IACC Secretary), with index of correspondents
at front; 500pp |
||||
MS
47,598 /6 |
1881
A letter from Adam Hamilton O.S.B.
(St. Benedicts, Leopardstown, Stillorgan, Co.
Dublin) to Mr. Kelly on the limited resources
of the Benedictine Order and the impossibility of it
becoming involved in the Minnesota colonisation scheme.
31 Mar. 1881; 2pp. |
||||
MS
47,598 /7 |
1881
Cover-notes for documents sent, or
letters offering advise, by Maxwell and Weldon
solicitors in |
||||
MS
47,598 /8 |
1881
Letters from R.H. Froude (a
company director) of Kensington, |
||||
MS
47,598 /9 |
1881
Letters from John Sweetman to
Charles Blackney (IACC secretary), mostly written from
Currie, |
||||
MS
47,598 /10 |
1881-1882
Letters from Lattin Thunder (a
company director) of Navan, Co. Meath, to Charles
Blackney (IACC secretary) with a couple of brief notes
from R.H. Froude. Subjects include the making of company
reports and convening meetings of directors; 10 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /1 |
1881-1882
General correspondence from
public figures relating to the I.A.C.C. Includes letters
from P.H. Bagenal (author and civil servant), John A.
Blake (MP Waterford Co.), George Errington (MP Longford
Co.), Arthur Moore, Thomas Spring Rice, 2nd Baron
Monteagle and Charlotte Grace OBrien (author and
social reformer); 10 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /2 |
Undated
[1881-1882] Copies of two
lengthy Sweetman letters, as well as one short letter to
the [North Western] Chronicle, arguing in favour of free
trade and criticising American protectionists [1881].
Also, notes for a Sweetman speech on credit option facing
American farmers, a brief note on the cooperative
movement in England and a draft of a letter responding to
some criticism of his Catholic colony; 6 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /3 |
1881-1883
Letters from Fr. James Nugent
of the Catholic Colonisation Societys office in
Liverpool, principally regarding transportation
arrangements for men going to America; 8 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /4 |
1881-1883
Letters from individuals
regarding their inability to assist the scheme, including
one sent on behalf of Kells Union Workhouse. Also, a
letter from Ernest Hart (medical journalist and Liberal
Party figure), a letter from a man offering to assist the
IACC in Preston, Lancashire, and a letter sent to Thunder
(acting secretary IACC, Dublin) from J.J. Jones (director
of The International Labour and Emigration Agency)
of London; 9 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /5 |
1881-1884
Communications from Craig,
Gardner and Co. ( |
||||
MS
47,599 /6 |
1881-84
Letters from various IACC
shareholders. Includes some letters about the companys
lack of profits (Mar. 1884); 30 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /7 |
1882
Letters from Sweetman to
Charles Blackney (IACC Secretary), mostly written from
Currie, |
||||
MS
42,085 |
1882-1888
Letter book of the IACC from
February 1882 to January 1887, containing copy letters
written on company business by John Sweetman and Charles
Blackney (IACC Secretary), with index of |
||||
correspondents
at front. Also contains two copy letters by Charles
Blackney giving notice of annual meetings (April 1887 and
August 1888); 502pp |
|||||
MS
47,599 /8 |
1884
Letters from Fr. Martin Mahony
(P.P., Currie, [For personal letters between Fr.
Martin Mahony and John Sweetman see section X.i.2] |
||||
MS
47,599 /9 |
1883-1884
Letters from John Sweetman to
My dear John [Andrew Sweetman] (one letter
marked cousin), sent from Currie, providing
news of the colony and some advise regarding managing
accounts [in |
||||
MS
47,599 /10 |
1883-1885
Letters from R.H. Froude, W.H.F.
Cogan and Arthur Kavanagh (company director) to Sweetman,
as well as an undated draft of a note by Sweetman
intended for the company directors. Subjects include the
payment of shares and difficulties facing the company
(Mar. 1884);11 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /11 |
1884-1887
Letters from Sweetman to Charles
Blackney (IACC secretary), subjects of Sweetmans
letters include the placing of advertisements, company
accounts and his and Bishop |
||||
MS
47,599 /12 |
c.1886-95
Literature regarding some English
colonisation schemes. Includes a report on a scheme to
settle East-London artisans in Assiniboia, Canada
(undated [late 1886]) and a House of Commons
sub-committee report on state-directed colonisation (29
Jul. 1887). Also, two letters of the Home Colonisation
Society [1892] and a report of its honorary director with
a statement of accounts from 1895. Also included, three
government notifications regarding stamp-duties (1887-89)
and a miscellaneous letter of Robert Taaffe (Feb.1890)
regarding his resettlement in |
||||
MS
47,599 /13 |
1888
|
||||
Letters
from Sweetman to Charles Blackney (IACC secretary),
subjects include company accounts and reducing the number
of company directors (Jul). Also, some letters of Lattin
Thunder and Hugh OConnor (a company director)
regarding an attempt to hold an annual general meeting.
Also, a communication regarding income tax due (28 Nov.);
19 items |
|||||
MS
47,599 /14 |
1889-1891
Letters from Sweetman to Charles
Blackney (IACC secretary) about the payment of income tax
and management of company books. Also, a communication
regarding income tax due (24 Oct. 1889). Also, a pocket
diary (mostly blank) from 1889 and three miscellaneous
American business cards; 9 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /15 |
1892
A copy of a Sweetman letter to
Rev. Dr. Fitzpatrick (Mount Melleray Abbey), providing a
history of his previous efforts, made in vain, to get a
religious order to settle at Currie and offering 800
acres to his [Cistercian] order. Also, a grateful but
negative reply from B.F. [B. Fitzpatrick], Abbot;
2 items |
||||
MS
47,599 /16 |
1909-10
Letters and documents regarding
the winding up of the I.A.C.C. (17 Dec. 1909). Includes a
copy of a letter to Walter Sweetman (Currie, |
||||
VIII.vi.
Financial Papers MS 47,600 /1 |
1880-1882
Miscellaneous financial records of
the IACC, includes a printed balance sheet and
profit-and-loss account (31 Dec. 1881) and an annual
report and statement made by Sweetman at a general
meeting on 3 Apr. 1882. Also, some records of land sales;
11 items |
MS
47,600 /2 |
1880-1801
Account book, cash account for
IACC, contains accounts for office expenses,
advertisements, passages and goods of emigrants; c.100pp |
MS
42,086 |
1881
Account book of IACC for the year
1881. Details accounts with various different companies
and individuals, with an index at the front; c.200pp |
MS
42,087 |
1881
|
Waste
or Day Account book of John Sweetman while in [There is some damage to the spine] |
|
MS
42,088 |
1881-1882
Book of printed share certificates
for the IACC. Only the first 20 sheets have been used to
issue shares, the remaining counterfoils give details of
number of shares and who they were issued to; c.200pp [There is some damage to the spine] |
MS
47,600 /3 |
1881-1882
Copies of IACC share certificates
issued to Sweetman and several other prominent
shareholders; 19 items |
MS
47,600 /4 |
1881-1883
Letters from Martins ( |
MS
47,600 /5 |
1881-1884
Receipts for cost incurred by John
Sweetman as director of the IACC, including receipts for
rent of offices, office equipment and some for cost of
relating to emigration, Feb. 1881-Jul. 1884; 53 items |
MS
47,600 /6 |
1881-85
Miscellaneous receipts for
financial transactions of John Sweetman in |
MS
42,089 |
1881-1900
Guard book containing form of
application for shares in the IACC, Bankers Receipts,
financial correspondence, cheques, and witness statements
of transfer of shares, mainly to John Sweetman. Index at
front to those names in documents; c.200pp |
MS
L 181 |
1883
Transfer journal of shares in
IACC; c.100pp |
MS
47,600 /7 |
1887-1889
Profit and loss accounts and
balance sheets for the year ending 31 Dec. 1887, 31 Dec.
1888 and 31 Dec. 1889. Also, a list of shareholders (31
Dec. 1888) and letters from Maxwell and Weldon
(solicitors) requesting a copy of the companys
profit-and-loss account and balance sheet (Nov. 1888); 6
items |
MS
47,600 /8 |
1894
Profit-and-loss accounts and
balance sheets for the IACC for various terms during
1894; 9 items |
MS
47,600 /9 |
1901-1908
Profit-and-loss accounts and
balance sheets for the IACC for 1901-08. Some reports are
in duplicate, no report is present for 1903; 12 items |
VIII.vii.
Maps MS L 192 |
1880
Wall map of New Sections
& Rail Road map of Minnesota & N. W. Wisconsin;
1 item Please note that this item is very
large. |
MS
L 193 |
Undated
Wall map of the Please note that this item is very
large. |
MS
L 194 |
Undated
Fragments of a map of [all or
part] of This map is in very poor condition
and cannot be issued. |
MS
47,600 /10 |
Undated
Wm. H Gurnseys Guide
Map of New York City; 1 item |