Some figures here: in 1821 the population of Wexford was 170,806 and in 1871 it was 132,666. I list 1871 because that is the first year that I have a breakdown for religious percentages. In 1871 the people of RC persuasion in Wexford made up 90.7% of the total population. 1871: COI - 8.5% of the total population of the county Methodists 0.3% Presbyterians - 0.3% All others 0.2% I have no figures for the numbers of 'gentlemen' vs. ordinary people, nothing to indicate the numbers of poor farmers..... However, regardless, I imagine that for this man to have managed to 'procure' the 22,251 signatures to the petition he speaks of in one week alone was no small feat. It is possible that a number of those signatures were those of people who were only signing because their landlords instructed them to - but - it still doesn't take away from the fact that it was done. I wonder what happened this list of signatures? If there is any record of it in Parliamentary papers? For anyone who missed my original posts - the following are not my words but those of a man called Edward Hay from Co. Wexford and written in the early 1800's. Jane ------------------------- The Irish Rebellion: An Introduction: 2. "The liberality of the times contributed much to the relaxation of the penal Laws, passed from time to time against the Catholics of Ireland; and they were at length induced to lay their grievances at the foot of the throne, as the most effectual source of redress. They were in part relieved, but many oppressive causes of complaint still remained, and many more modes of procuring their abolition were resorted to. A various train of circumstances occurred to produce the circular letter of the Sub-Committee of the Catholics of Ireland in 1792, and pursuant to its tenor, delegate for all the counties and principal towns were chosen to represent them in the general committee. I had the honour of being elected a delegate for the county of Wexford, and I exerted myself in that situation with all the energy and ability in my power. The declaration adopted by the catholic Committee in March 1792, was subscribed by a multitude of signatures, and those of the county of Wexford I was instrumental in procuring. I attended my duty in the general committee of the Catholics of Ireland, where a petition to His Majesty was framed and signed, in November 1792; and a vindication of the cause of the Catholics of Ireland, containing an exposition of their objects and motives, was adopted; and afterwards published and authenticated. In consequence of Royal interposition, by the Kings gracious recommendation, the parliament of Ireland (which almost unanimously rejected a petition of the Catholics in 1792) was induced considerably to extend their privileges in 1793. I attended a subsequent meeting of the general committee, at which an address of gratitude, for his gracious interposition was voted for His Majesty, and a similar one to the Lord Lieutenant expressive of the earnest loyalty of the Catholics, and, requesting the former to be transmitted was drawn up, approved and presented by deputation to Lord Westmoreland. Along with the repeal of the most odious of the penal laws, a new oath to be taken by the Catholics to avow their loyalty was framed by parliament. All the delegates and a great number of other catholic gentlemen, anxious to avail themselves of the earliest opportunity of displaying their gratitude for the newly acquired privileges, and eager to satisfy the public mind as well as to set an example to the whole nation, attended in the court of King 's Bench, on Saturday the 19th of April, 1793, where they took the oath ands subscribed the special declaration prescribed to them; and this was by the appointment of Lord Chief Justice Clonmel, on whom a deputation from the general committee had previously waited for that purpose. The magic of royalty, in earnestly recommending "a union of all descriptions of subjects", having lately proved so effectual in altering the conduct of parliament to the Catholics, the erection of a statue of the king was voted as a monument of catholic gratitude; but this along with other honourable engagements was adopted by the general Committee, was superseded by illiberal and calumnious outcries raised, against the conduct and intentions of the catholic body, so as to preclude the possibility of carrying into effect the plan of subscription, formed for these purposes. I was, however, determined to proceed in the county of Wexford, but was at length obliged to give up the object, in consequence of the baleful operation of party-prejudice; and thus did the enemies of the Catholics, under the mask of loyalty, defeat the executing of the project, that would exhibit the conduct of the Catholics in a point of view too meritorious for their wishes. Very serious disturbances took place in a part of the county of Wexford in the month of June 1793; but they were soon suppressed y the exertions of the country gentlemen, who formed 'an association for the preservation of the peace'. I constantly attended their meetings and I believe it will be allowed, that my conduct and endeavours proved as effectual as that of any other to restore public tranquillity. In January, 1795, while Lord Fitzwilliam was Viceroy, I procured a great number of signatures to a petition to parliament, from the Catholics of the county of Wexford, and in the same month, I was one of those that presented an address from them to his Excellency. When his Lordships recall was announced from the Government of Ireland, a meeting of the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the county of Wexford was convened on the 23rd of March of the same year, when a petition to his majesty was unanimously agreed to, and I was appointed as one of the delegates to present it to the King. I had been as far as Dublin to take ship for England, when it was thought advisable to have the petition subscribed by as many persons as possible, and while my brother delegates proceeded to London, I returned to the county of Wexford, and considering I was the chosen delegate of Protestants as well as of Catholics, I took the precaution of consulting the principal Protestant gentlemen of the county first, to prevent the possibility of misrepresentation, or of denominating my pursuit the business of party; and I was so successful as to procure, in the apace of one week, twenty two thousand two hundred and fifty one signatures to the petition, with which I then proceeded to London, and had the honour to present it, along with my brother delegates, to his Majesty at a public levee, at St. James's, on the 22nd of April 1795; and we met with a most gracious reception."