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SCANDINAVIAN ANTIQUITIES OF DUBLIN. 233
Above Ringsend the navigation became still more intricate
and difficult. The long line of South Wall, nearly three
miles and a quarter in length, from Ringsend to Poolbeg,
hard by Dublin, both running into
the haven . . . the one at the
north side a little below Drum-
conran ^the Tolka] . . . the
other at the south side close by the
Ringsend. This called Rafernam
water from the village by which it
passeth [the Dodder.] ... is
far the worst of the two, as rising
out of those great mountains south-
wards from Dublin, from whence
after any great rain ... it
groweth so deep and violent that
many p'.aous have lost their lives
therein ; amongst others Mr. John
Usher, father to Sir William Usher
that now is, who was carried away
by the current, nobody being able
to succour him although many
persons and of his neerest friends,
both a foot and horseback, were by
on both the sides. Since that time
a stone bridge hath been built over
that brook upon the way betwixt
Dublin and Ringsend." Ireland's
Naturall History, written [A.D.
1645], by Gerard Boate, late Doctor
of Physick to the State in Ireland,
and now published by Samuel
Hartlib, Esq., and more especially
for the benefit of the Adventurers
and Planters therein, London, 1 652 ;
chapt. vii., sec. 7. " Of the Brooks
of Drumconran and Rafernam by
Dublin." Reprinted in a collection
of Tracts illustrative of Ireland, by
Alexander Thorn, 2 vols., 8vo.
Dublin, 1850. Mr. Usher was
drowned in the beginning of the
year 1629. For letters of administrations
"of the goods of Mr.^John
Usher, Alderman of Dublin," were
granted forth of the Prerogative
Court, Dublin, 16th of March,
1629, to " Sir William Usher, son
of the deceased." Grant Book,
Public Record Office, Four Courts,
Dublin. It must be remembered
that the only way to Ringsend on
those days when the tide was in
was to cross the ford of the Dodder
where Ball's Bridge now stands
(for the sea then flowed to the foot
of Holies - street) . A nd at this ford ,
without doubt, Alderman Usher
was drowned. The Dodder, it may
be observed here, divides the lands
of Baggotrath on the Dublin side,
from Simmons- court on the other.
The stone bridge mentioned by
Boate occupied the site of Ball's
Bridge, and must have been built
between 1629 and 1637. It was
suggested in 1 623.
' '
Easter 1 623.
To the petition of Richard Morgan
pi aying an allowance for erecting
of a bridge going to Ringsend,
Ordered that as private men have
a lease upon the land it therefore
convenienccth themselves to build
the said bridge.'' Assembly Rolls.
" Midsummer 1 640. Certain of the
Commons petitioned, that in the
year of Mr. Watson's mayoralty
[A.I>. 1 637 j, there were some charges
expended in the repairing of the
bridge of Syinons-court alias
Smoothescourt, since which time
the same has fallen to much decay,
ordered that ten pounds be ex-
pended." C. Ilaliday's abstracts
of City Assembly Rolls,
llaliday