Licence For Keeping Arms.Tyrone.

    Licence For Keeping Arms.

issued

Omagh
County Tyrone

 16th June 1837.

The above legislation was the forerunner to the 1843 Registration Act. In reality all the gun laws applicable to Ireland and dating back to the late 17th century had the effect of gradually corralling all  weapons in private hands. However, under the above law there was no need to "brand" the weapons but merely register them. As can be seen the description of the weapons are very loose and moreover differ from the upper and lower entries in this case? 

The initial entry appears to to state: Four Guns. Two Blunderbusses, One Fowling Piece, Two Swords. One Brace of Pistols?

In the lower entry the fowling piece is omitted?

It would also appear that "the brace of pistols" was considered one stand of arms?

We are always interested in material related to the licensing of weapons in Ireland prior to 1900. 

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk