Frontis of the November 1768 Issue of Edmund Finn’s Leinster Journal.
We are very grateful to that well known Masonic Researcher – Wor Bro Edwin Hancock for drawing our attention to an interesting Masonic article recorded in the November 1768 edition of Edmund Finn’s The Leinster Journal. This paper founded by Edmund Finn in 1767, was the first published News-Sheet in Kilkenny, published bi-weekly on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s and it quickly build up a readership in counties Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and up as far north as Castledermot in Co Kildare. It was a financial success, establishing the wealth of the Finn family, thanks to the hard work and effort put in by Edmund and his employees. Sadly Edmund died in 1777, so his wife Catherine became quite famous for running the paper, in his stead, whilst still raising her family of seven children.
Details from the Banner Headline.
Modern version of the text of the 1768 Journal.
Enlargement of the Original Article.
For those with a military interest Lord Drogheda’s Regiment was first raised by Charles Moore, First Marquess of Drogheda as the 19th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons in 1759; it was also known as the Drogheda’s Light Horse.It was renumbered the 18th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons in 1763, and briefly the 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons in 1766 before reverting to the 18th in 1769.Lord Drogheda entered the British Army, as cornet in the 12th Dragoons on 1 May 1744; was gazetted as Colonel of the 18th Hussars 3 August 1762; and died on 22 of December 1821; having been colonel of the Regiment for sixty-two years.
charles-moore-1st-marquis-of-drogheda
As some of you may recall, the funeral service described above, is very similar to that described in the extract from the Victorian version that featured in one of our earlier blogs, a couple of months ago. We are always keen to receive any snippets, articles or fillers which illustrate aspects of our earlier Masonic History, and again would thank Wor BroHandcock for his input in this instance.