In 2014 Muckross House Research Library received this collection of documents from Mr Paul Hick of Buckinghamshire, England. The documents had been in the possession of Mr Hick for approximately four decades. As a teenager growing up on the Island of Jersey he and a friend had purchased the contents of a farm shed at auction in St Lawrence. The two boys had been surprised to find that the contents of the shed included two tea chests of documents. Among these were hand-written accounts relating to the first Afghan expedition of 1839; they were deposited with the India Office Library. Some other Chinese prints were sold at Christies. The two boys divided the remaining documents between themselves.

Mr Hick was intrigued when, on a visit to Kerry c. 2013, he happened upon Muckross House. He immediately recognised the name ‘Muckross’ from some of the documents. Mr Hick subsequently donated all of the documents from Jersey, that were then in his possession, to the Trustees of Muckross House

The last of the Herbert family to live at Muckross, Henry Arthur Keane Herbert, moved to Dinish Island, in Kenmare Bay c. 1900. He subsequently moved to Jersey c. 1909. See Muckross Newsletter, Spring /Summer 2000, Issue 9

When deposited at Muckross the documents were tied together in six bundles. Many are clearly associated with the Herbert family of Castleisland and of Muckross, Killarney. For instance, Hick 0030 appears to refer to Thomas Herbert. He was the first of the Herbert family to settle at Castleisland c. 1655. An 18th century memorandum written by one of Thomas’ descendant’s, Edward Herbert of Muckross (Hick 0478), also forms part of this collection. It has been uploaded separately under Herbert Documents for ease of use.
See Here.

Many other documents in the Hick Collection are, however, 19th century in date. They do not appear to have any obvious connection to Muckross or indeed to the Herbert family.