Charters, Ulster plantation, Irish towns, Cavan
As legal documents charters put in place a framework for both the governance of the town and its economic development particularly through the granting of rights to holds fairs and markets. The Cavan town charter outlined the rules and regulations as to how the town was to be governed; named the initial office holders; the oaths that were to be taken by the office holders; the manner in which the election of new office holders should take place; the right of the town to elect two Members of Parliament; details regarding the dates for the holding of markets; the extent of the towns jurisdiction; the extent of the towns lands and other observations regarding the regulation of civic life within the town. The charter granted by James I was the governing charter of the town from 1610-1840, with the town government styled the Corporation of the Borough of Cavan