The McConnell Baronets

THE McCONNELL BARONETCY WAS CREATED IN 1900 FOR ROBERT JOHN McCONNELL, LORD MAYOR OF BELFAST

ROBERT McCONNELL (1807-50), of Clougher, County Antrim, born in 1807, married, in 1828, Margaret, daughter of James McKnight, and had issue, a son,

JOSEPH McCONNELL (1829-72), of Clougher, who wedded, in 1851, Elizabeth, daughter of James McBride, and had an only son,

ROBERT JOHN McCONNELL JP DL (1853-1927), Lord Mayor of Belfast 1900, who married firstly, in 1874, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Smylie, of Killinchy, County Down, and had issue,

JOSEPH, his heir;
Alfred Edward;
Thomas Herbert;
William Clarke;
Charles John;
Sarah Elizabeth; Mary Elizabeth; Margaret; Ethel Muriel.

He wedded secondly, in 1897, Elsie, daughter of George Hewson JP DL, of Ennismore, County Kerry.

Mr McConnell, Lord Mayor of Belfast, 1900, was created a baronet in the same year, designated of the Moat, Strandtown, Belfast.

Sir Robert McConnell, 1st Baronet (Image: Belfast City Hall)

Sir Robert was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOSEPH McCONNELL, 2nd Baronet (1877-1942), DL, MP for County Antrim, 1929-42, who espoused, in 1900, Lisa (Adelaide Park, Belfast), daughter of Jackson McGowan JP, and had issue,

ROBERT MELVILLE TERENCE, his successor;
Jackson Desmond;
Josephine Patricia.

Sir Joseph was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR ROBERT MELVILLE TERENCE McCONNELL, 3rd Baronet (1902-87), VRD, Commander RNVR, who married firstly, in 1928, Rosamond Mary Elizabeth, daughter of James Stewart Reade JP, of Clonmore, Lisburn, County Antrim, and had issue,

ROBERT SHEAN, his successor;
(James) Angus (1933-2018), father of Terence Reade McConnell, 5th Baronet;
(William) Donn, b 1938;
Elizabeth Moyne , b 1935.

He wedded secondly, in 1967, Alice Ann Mary, daughter of Robert Graham Glendinning.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his eldest son,

(ROBERT) SHEAN McCONNELL, 4th Baronet (1930-2021), of Stockwell, Lambeth, London, who was succeeded in the baronetcy by his nephew,

SIR (TERENCE) READE McCONNELL, 5th Baronet (1959-), former Major, Royal Irish Regiment, who married, in 1987, Lorel Natalie Willetts, and has issue,

JAMES ALEXANDER, b 1989, his successor;

Kitty Sarah, b 1991.

THE MOAT, Old Holywood Road, Belfast, was designed in 1862 by the architect W J Barre for Thomas Valentine JP (below), a well-known Belfast linen merchant:

Thomas Valentine married Elizabeth Harriet Purdon, in 1852, in Belfast. His son, George Frederick Valentine, was born in 1858 in County Antrim. His father was Thomas. A List of Subscribers to the Historic Memorials, First Presbyterian Church of Belfast, published in 1887, lists Thos. VALENTINE, J.P. at The Moat, Strandtown, and William VALENTINE, J.P. at Glenavna, Whiteabbey. The Moat was leased by John L Bell in 1863 from Sir Thomas McClure Bt. St Mark's Church Dundela lists Thomas Valentine as a church warden in 1879 and 1881. Thomas Valentine died in 1898.

Thomas Valentine JP

It has a full height bay window and an entrance portico.

The Moat was converted into apartments in 1938 and restored in 2008.

In 1907, The Moat was purchased from Sir Robert McConnell, 1st Baronet, by Frank Workman, of Workman Shipbuilders, who lived at The Moat until his death.

Sir Robert's estate comprised 421 acres of land in 1876.

Former residence ~ Glenalmond, Quarry Road, Belfast.

First published in May, 2009.