Denis B. Cashman Papers

1865-1887, undated
Manuscript Collection #458
Creator(s)
Cashman, D. B.
Physical description
0.073 Cubic Feet, 36 items , consisting of correspondence, a diary, a book of poetry, printed poetry, newspaper clippings, a photograph, and a biography of Michael Davitt.
Preferred Citation
Denis B. Cashman Papers (#458), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
The original materials located in Box 1 are restricted from access and use. The copies of these materials in Box 2, however, may be freely accessed.

Papers (1865-1887, undated) including correspondence, a diary, book of poetry, printed poetry, newspaper clippings, a photograph, dictionary, etc.


Biographical/historical information

Cashman, who worked as a law clerk in Dublin from 1862 to 1865, eventually immigrated to the United States. He worked as a journalist in Boston, wrote verse for the Boston Pilot, Donahoe's Magazine, and other publications, and became a partner in a printing firm there. O'Reilly (June 28, 1844-1890), son of William David and Eliza Boyle O'Reilly, was born in County Meath. Prior to becoming involved in political activities in the 1860s, O'Reilly worked as a reporter for English newspapers. He settled in Boston in 1870, where he edited the Pilot and published works of poetry and fiction.

Both men participated in the Irish Republican Brotherhood (Fenians), a secret revolutionary society committed to winning Irish freedom from English rule through use of force. O'Reilly was arrested in 1866; Cashman, the following year. In October, 1867, Cashman and O'Reilly, along with other political prisoners, were transported to a penal colony in Fremantle, Western Australia, aboard the convict ship HOUGOUMONT. With the assistance of a Catholic priest, Patrick McCabe, O'Reilly escaped in February, 1869, aboard the whaling bark GAZELLE, commanded by Captain David R. Gifford of New Bedford, Massachusetts. It is unclear how or when Cashman left Australia, although family tradition claims that Cashman escaped with O'Reilly.


Scope and arrangement

This collection reflects the political and literary activities of Denis B. Cashman and his friendship and literary collaboration with Irish poet John Boyle O'Reilly.

For additional information concerning O'Reilly, see James Bernard Cullen, ed. and comp., The Story of the Irish in Boston (Boston: James B. Cullen & Company, 1889), pp. 207-213; and Henry Boylan, A Dictionary of Irish Biography (Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1978).

Of particular importance is the diary kept by Cashman between October 15, 1867, and January, 1868. It contains details of Cashman's incarceration at Millbank Prison near London and the prisoners' voyage to Australia. Some entries pertain to the Wild Goose, a newspaper edited by Cashman and published by the prisoners while on the HOUGOUMONT. Also included in the diary are poems by O'Reilly, Cashman, and John Flood.

A small book of poetry, apparently in Cashman's handwriting, contains transcriptions of verse written by a variety of poets.

The collection contains a few pieces of correspondence (1865-1887), including letters from Mrs. Cashman concerning family matters (Jan., 1867). A letter of Cashman (Feb., 1868) briefly describes his adjustment to prison life and activities of other prisoners. A letter of Cashman's son, Willie (1878), written on stationery bearing an engraving of the College of Ottawa, briefly mentions his schoolwork there.

Additional items include examples of Cashman's published poetry, a photograph of Cashman taken in Australia, a newspaper clipping discussing O'Reilly's escape from Australia, and a copy of Cashman's book Life of Michael Davitt (Boston: Murphy & McCarthy, 1881).

Researchers are requested to use the photocopies of the manuscript material in this collection.


Administrative information
Custodial History

November 15, 1982, 14 items, 3 volumes; Papers (1865-1887), including a diary, correspondence, clippings, a book of poetry, a biography, a photograph, and an announcement. Gift of Dr. Alfred Sheehy, Belhaven, N.C.

November 13, 2003, (unprocessed addition 1.0), N/A items; Fenian Diary: Denis B. Cashman on board the Hougoumont, 1867 - 1868. Edited by C. W. [Charles W.] Sullivan, III (Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 2001). Donor: Sullivan, C. W. III

Source of acquisition

Gift of Dr. Alfred Sheehy

Gift of Sullivan, C. W. III

Processing information

Processed by S. Morgan, June 1983

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Personal Names
Cashman, D. B.
Cashman, D. B.--Diaries
O'Reilly, John Boyle, 1844-1890
Corporate Names
Hougoumont (Ship)
Millbank Prison (London, England)
Topical
Fenians--Biography
Fenians--Poetry
Penal transportation--Australia
Poets, Irish--19th century--Diaries
Prisoners--Diaries

Container list
Box 2 Folder a Life of Michael Davitt, by Denis B. Cashman (Boston: Murphy and McCarthy, 1881). 1 item. 128 sheets (256 p.) Note: Poor condition. Copied from original in #458.1.g
Box 2 Folder b Fenian Diary: Denis B. Cashman on Board the Hougoumont, 1867-1868, by C.W. Sullivan III (Wolfhound Press, 2001). 1 item. 96 sheets (192 p.) Note: Copy also available in Special Collections Reference, DA 958 C3 A3 2001
Box 2 Folder c Photographic print (ca. 1868-1869) of Cashman; a posed studio print by Manning & Knight, Perth, West Australia and autographed by Denis B. Cashman. 1 item. 1 sheet. Copied from original in #458.1.e
Box 2 Folder d Book of poetry (ca. 1867-1868) apparently in Cashman's handwriting, containing transcriptions of verse written by a variety of poets, including Edgar Allen Poe, Rev. Richard H. Barham, John Savage, Thomas Hood, Lord Macauley, Marsden. Holograph mss. 1 item. 74 p. (50 p. used out of 148). Copied from original in #458.1.a
Box 2 Folder e Diary (15 October 1867 - January 1868) compiled by Denis Cashman containing details of his imprisonment at Millbank Prison near London and the his voyage to exile in Australia, containing entries pertaining to the Wild Goose, a newspaper edited by Cashman and published by the prisoners while on the convict ship HOUGOUMONT; also included in the diary are poems by Cashman and poems and sentiments addressed to Cashman by his fellow convicts, including Thomas McCarthy Fennell, and John Boyle O'Reilly. Holograph mss. 1 item. 34 sheets. Copied from originals in #458.1.b
Box 2 Folder f Correspondence (1865-1887). 5 items. 12 sheets. Note: Copied from originals in #458.1.c
Box 2 Folder g Clippings (ca. 1896-1933) of newspaper articles containing obituaries, articles, and poems by Denis B. Cashman, published in the Boston Herald and unidentified newspapers. 7 items. 7 p. Copied from originals in #458.1.d