
Luke Batterham
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Senior Valuer
Among the letters by Bellingham to his father, resident at Ardagh, is one written from Killarney on 30 December 1796: "We have this Morning heard that the Enemy have gone off the Coast but there are so many Lies flying that there is no knowing what to believe – certain it is that there were a Lieut & seven Men, taken by the country People up to Dublin – The Country People on all the Road from this to Limerick are contrary to our Expectations, as inimical to them... & treated our Men in the most civil & brotherly manner possible". This is followed by two journal-letters, the first written from Tralee on 4 January 1797: "Tuesday 27th Decr 96 Received Orders to march forthwith for Bantry Bay to oppose the landing of the Enemy & we got positive Orders not to take any Baggage except our Ammunition & what we could carry on our Backs for ourselves – left Limerick about 10 oClock A:M arriv'd in Rathkeale about 5 p:: got some Refreshment for the Soldiers..."; with its continuation, written from Newcastle on 9 January 1797 and ending: "9th Halted in Newcastle expect to march to Limerick tomorrow News this Morning of two French 74s being brought into Cove, not corroborated".