The McMahon Baronetcy

THE McMAHON BARONETS, OF DUBLIN, WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY TYRONE, WITH 16,326 ACRES 

JOHN McMAHON, patentee Comptroller of the Port of Limerick, by his first wife had issue, a son,

John, cr a baronet, 1817, designated of Ashley Manor.

He wedded secondly, Mary, daughter of Robert Stacpoole, and had further issue,

WILLIAM, of whom we treat;
Thomas (Lieutenant-General Sir), 2nd Baronet, of Ashley Manor.

John McMahon was butler to Robert, Earl of Leitrim, who granted him the position of Comptroller of the Port of Limerick.

The elder son,

WILLIAM McMAHON (1776-1837), having been bred to the Bar, was appointed Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and sworn of the Privy Council.

Mr McMahon was created a baronet in 1815, designated of Dublin.

He married firstly, in 1807, Frances, daughter of Beresford Burston, of the Irish Bar, and one of His Majesty's Counsel, and had issue,

BERESFORD BURSTON, his successor;
William John, b 1811.

Sir William wedded secondly, in 1814, Charlotte, daughter of Robert Shaw, of Dublin, and sister of Sir Robert Shaw Bt, and had further issue,

Robert;
Augustus;
Charles;
George;
Charlotte; Louisa; Wilhelmina.

The eldest son, 

SIR BERESFORD BURSTON McMAHON, 2nd Baronet (1808-73), of Fortfield House, Captain, Scots Fusilier Guards, espoused, in 1838, Maria Catherine, daughter of Sir Robert Bateson Bt, of Belvoir Park, Belfast, and had issue,

WILLIAM SAMUEL, his successor;
Robert Bateson, died unmarried;
Beresford Burston, died unmarried;
Gerald Charles, died unmarried;
LIONEL, 4th Baronet;
Catherine Charlotte; Frances Thomasine;
Maria Constance Georgiana; Nina Gertrude.

Sir Beresford was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM SAMUEL McMAHON, 3rd Baronet (1839-1905), DP DL, of Mountfield Lodge, County Tyrone, Captain, 2nd Life Guards, attaché to the British Legation at Munich, who died unmarried and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR LIONEL McMAHON, 4th Baronet (1856-1926), DL, who wedded, in 1888, Anne Celia Austin-Cooke, though the marriage was without issue.

Sir Lionel was Lieutenant in the 58th Regiment; fought in the Zulu War, 1879; admitted to Inner Temple, entitled to practice as a barrister; DL of County Tyrone; High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1914.

On his death, the baronetcy became extinct.

Sir Charles McMahon (1824-91), Knight, youngest son of the 1st Baronet, was born at Omagh, County Tyrone and served with the army in Canada and India. In 1853, he went to Australia and was became Melbourne's Chief Commissioner of Police.

At one time his remarkably successful business deals were called into question, but he survived the accusations and was elected a member of the Legislative Assembly and was knighted in 1875. Sir Charles was born at Fecarry Lodge, Omagh, County Tyrone.

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THE VILLAGE of Mountfield, near Omagh, was developed mainly in the 1800s by the 1st Baronet in order to rival Omagh.

The McMahons lived at Fecarry Lodge, near the village.

The area was acquired in 1846, following the sale of the Blessington estate.

The 1st Baronet initially built Fecarry Lodge; Mountfield Lodge was built later.

In 1911, the 3rd Baronet's address was listed as Mountfield Lodge; and he also had a London home at 214 Finchley Road, Hampstead.

First published in  November, 2010.