| Notes |
- Robert Culbertson lived in a house (see photo) called Avena in Ballysodare, near Sligo, Eire. He was a mill owner (see photo) and a J.P.
He had one son from a first marriage to Ellen Spencer Ashlin and then 6 children by Agnes Harvey.
There was also a strong link with the LYONS family.
- Need to travel to Sligo and Ballysodare (Ballysadare) to try and find the deeds for the mills etc. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Robert Culbertson was in fact Robert CUTHBERTSON and that his surname was mispelt in a deed as CULBERTSON.
- Photo taken by London Stereoscopic Company of 54 Cheapside (12 doors from Bow church), under the patronage of Her Majesty. Has "Robert Culbertson, mother's father" written on back.
- From "History of Sligo" by Archdeacon O'Rorke
In 1833 Mr Robert Culbertson erected a great Oatmeal Mill. He later erected on the left bank a famous Flour Mill. A great explosion occurred here in 1856, which destroyed the mill and killed and maimed many workers. The shock ruined Mr Culbertson's health, and it was due to the memory of this disaster that the large hearted and tender hearted man's health deteriorated, also the state of his mind. So much not for his own losses, but for the loss of life and limb that had befallen so many of his neighbours.
Also ...
About 1840 Mr Culbertson's new mill was burned down with immense quantities of oats and meal that it contained; and in 1856 an explosion took place in his flour mill - the largest and best appointed in Ireland - which blew off the roof with a stunning sound, shot sheets of flame in an instant through all parts of the building, destroyed vast stores of bread stuffs, and caused the loss of nine lives. It is supposed that this calamity was occasioned, in some way not discovered, by chemicals, which, it seems, were freely used for colouring the flour, and were kept under lock and key in a room in the mill. The person who had care of this department was absent in England at the time of the explosion.
The names of those who lost their lives are, James Brennan, James Tighe, Mark Brown, John Connington, Edward Drummy, William Boyd, William Boyd, jun. (son of preceeding), William Taylor and William Smith.
Those who suffered, but survived, were Edward Rochfort, Robert Mulvagh, John Brothers, Thomas Tiernan, James Carter, John Carroll and John Johnston.
- 22-Feb-1999 Letter from Tom Waugh with inscription on grave stone in St Johns Church of Ireland cemetery in John Street, Sligo as follows:-
"Necminus Fortiter
Sacred to the memory of Ellen M Culbertson who departed this life on the 18th April 1845 aged 25 years. Also of her daughter Ellen who died January 2nd 1847 aged 4 years, also Robert Culbertson Ballisodare who departed this life 9th May 1862 aged 52 years. Universally beloved and respected. Also of Agnes Culbertson who departed this life 8th October 1868 aged 46 years."
Also pamphlet with
In the year 1833, Mr Robert Culbertson erected the great oatmeal mill on the right bank of the river. Later, he put up, on the left bank, the famous flour mill, which for several years after its erection, supplied all the shopkeepers and bakers of County Sligo as well as many in the counties of Roscommon and Leitrim. In 1840, Culbertson's new mills were burned down, and large quantities of oats and meal were destroyed. The cause of the fire is not known, but we do know that the mills were quickly rebuilt and Culbertson continued to work them successfully. In 1856, there was a fatal explosion in the mills which blew the entire roof off the structure, killed nine men, maimed several workmen, destroyed vast stores of wheat and flour and much of the machinery. It is reputed that the explosion was caused by chemicals which were used for discolouring the flour, and which were kept locked in a room at the mill. The person in charge of this department was absent in England when the explosion occurred, and thus, it is not known how it came about.
- February 1853
The 170 ton Tolagazone carrying Indian corn for Robert Culbertson of Sligo and Ballisodare wrecked on the Bomore Rocks off Inishmurray. Captain and crew rescued by the Mullaghmore Coastguard.
- In Ballysodare church there is a handsome stained glass memorial window in memory of Robert Culbertson Esq. J.P. as well as a memorial plaque. See photos.
- From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837
BALLYSADERE, or BALLASODARE, a parish, partly in the barony of LENEY, but chiefly in that of TIRAGHRILL, county of SLIGO, and province of CONNAUGHT, comprising the post-town of Collooney and the villages of Ballydryhed and Tubberscanavin (all of which are separately described); and containing 7562 inhabitants, of which number, 546 are in the village. It is situated on the road from Boyle to Sligo, and on the Unshion or Ballysadere river, which issues from Lough Arrow, near Boyle, and is here joined by the Coolaney river; and after falling over several ledges of rocks, the last of which is ten feet in height, empties itself into an arm of the sea, called Ballysadere channel. St. Fechin founded a monastery here towards the middle of the seventh century, which was richly endowed; in 1179 it was burnt by the men of Moylisha and Moylterary, and in 1188 was again destroyed by fire, but was restored and existed until the general dissolution, when a lease of it was granted, in the 30th of Eliz., for 21 years, to Bryan Fitz-William, at an annual rent of £2. 13. 4.: the remains are situated above the waterfalls, and consist merely of the outer walls, which are richly clothed with ivy. St. Fechin also founded an abbey at Kilnemanagh, which existed till the general suppression, when it was granted to Richard, Earl of Clanricarde; there are yet some remains. The parish comprises 9999 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: between one-third and one-half of it is waste land and bog; there is little woodland, except from 600 to 700 acres on the Markree estate.
The land under cultivation is generally good, but the old system of tillage, though gradually improving, is still mostly practised. There are quarries of excellent limestone, much used for building, and some of it is also hewn into mantel-pieces and other ornamental parts of masonry; and a lead mine, yielding also a considerable proportion of silver, was worked a few years since, but has been abandoned. Near it are some chalybeate springs; not used. The village of Ballysadere, which comprises about 45 houses, is a place of some little business, and has a penny post. The falls on the river afford favourable sites, and a never-failing supply of water for mills: there is a large corn-mill, belonging to Mr. Sim, worked by two wheels of 36-horse power, and employing 25 persons; and another on a large scale, with the most approved machinery, was built by Mr. Culbertson in 1835, having two water-wheels of 70-horse power, and employing 20 persons; there are also some smaller corn-mills, and a large bleach-mill and green. Vessels of about 100 tons' burden come up the channel for the exportation of corn and meal: a small pier has been built, and it is in contemplation to erect one on a more extensive scale. Fairs are held at the village on Feb. 8th, May 30th, July 1lth, Aug. 4th, Oct. 24th, Nov. 12th, and Dec. 15th; and besides those held at Collooney and Tubberscanavin (which are enumerated in the accounts of those places), the largest fair for horses in the county is held at Carricknagatt, on Feb. 1st. Here is a station of the constabulary police. Petty sessions are held every alternate Thursday at Collooney; and a manorial court is occasionally held there, under the seneschal.
Markree, the seat of E. J. Cooper, Esq., is a handsome and modern castellated building, situated in the centre of an extensive demesne clothed with wood and spreading into verdant lawns, through which the Unshion pursues a winding course: the gateways leading into the demesne are handsome structures, of ancient English architecture, and in the grounds there is a very excellent observatory. The other seats are Cloonamahon, that of J. Meredith, Esq.; the Cottage, of R. Culbertson, jun., Esq.; Ballysadere House, of J. Reed, Esq.; and Ballysadere Villa, of A. Sim, Esq.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Achonry, constituting the corps of the prebend of Ballysadere, in the patronage of the Bishop: the rectory is impropriate in Matthew Baker, Esq.; the tithes amount to £461. 10. 9½., payable in moieties to the impropriator and the incumbent. The church, situated at Collooney, is a handsome building, in the ancient English style of architecture, and contains some good monuments, of Which one to the memory of the late Mrs. Cooper, executed at Florence, is a fine piece of sculpture; it was enlarged in 1834, by aid of a gift of £700 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and donations of £800 from Mr. Cooper and £50 from Major O'Hara. The glebe-house was built by aid of a gift of £400 and a loan of £400, in 1819, from the late Board of First Fruits: the glebe comprises 20 acres. In the R. C. divisions this parish is the head of a union or district, called Collooney, comprising also the parish of Kilvarnet, and containing three chapels, situated respectively at Collooney and Currownagh, in Ballysadere, and the third in Kilvarnet. There are seven schools, two of which, at Ballysadere and Collooney, were built and are supported by Mr. Cooper; also five private pay schools and Sunday schools. On an eminence immediately over the harbour is an ancient burial-ground of considerable extent, still used, in which are the remains of a church.
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Est 1810 - 1862 (52 years)
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