Friday 11 March 2022

House of Crichton

This name originally assumed from the barony of Crichton in Edinburgh.

This family is descended from a branch of the Viscounts Frendraught, in Scotland.

JOHN CREIGHTON, of Crom Castle, County Fermanagh, settled in County Fermanagh during the reign of CHARLES I.

He married Mary, daughter of Sir Gerald Irvine, of Castle Irvine, and was succeeded by his son,

ABRAHAM CREIGHTON (c1631-c1705), MP for County Fermanagh, 1692-3, Enniskillen, 1695-9, who commanded a foot regiment in WILLIAM III's service at the battle of Aughrim, 1692.

Colonel Creighton, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1673, married Mary, daughter of the Rt Rev James Spottiswood, Lord Bishop of Clogher, and had issue,
DAVID, his heir;
James;
Abraham;
Jane; Marianna.
He was succeeded by his only surviving son,

DAVID CREIGHTON (1671-1728), celebrated for his gallant defence, in 1689, of the family seat of Crom Castle, against a large body of the Jacobite army.

Having repulsed the assailants, young Creighton made a sally, at the instant that a corps of Enniskilleners was approaching to the relief of the castle, which movement placed the besiegers between two fires, and caused dreadful slaughter.

The enemy attempting to accomplish his retreat across an arm of Lough Erne at Inishfendra Island, near Crom Castle, that spot became the scene of such carnage, that it bore the name of the "Bloody Pass".

He represented Augher in parliament, 1695-9, and Lifford, 1703-28; attained the rank of major-general in the army; and was appointed Governor of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, County Dublin.

General Creighton wedded, in 1700, Katherine, second daughter of Richard Southwell, of Castle Mattress, County Limerick, and sister of 1st Lord Southwell, and had issue,
ABRAHAM, his heir;
Meliora.
He and was succeeded by his only son,

ABRAHAM CREIGHTON (c1700-72), MP for Lifford, 1727-68, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1768, by the title of Baron Erne, of Crom Castle.

His lordship espoused Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Rogerson, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench in Ireland, and had issue,
David, died young;
JOHN, his successor;
Abraham;
Meliora; Charlotte; Mary.
He married secondly, in 1762, Jane, only daughter of John King, of Charlestown, County Roscommon, and widow of Arthur Acheson, by whom he had no issue.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

JOHN, 2nd Baron (1731-1828), who was created Viscount Erne in 1781; and advanced to the dignity of an earldom, 1789, as EARL OF ERNE.

His lordship wedded firstly, in 1761, Catherine, 2nd daughter of the Rt Rev Robert Howard, Lord Bishop of Elphin, and sister of the Viscount Wicklow, and had issue,
ABRAHAM, his successor;
John;
Elizabeth; Catherine.
He espoused secondly, in 1776, the Lady Mary Hervey, eldest daughter of Frederick Augustus, 4th Earl of Bristol and Lord Bishop of Derry, and had an only daughter, Elizabeth Caroline Mary, who wedded James Archibald, Lord Wharncliffe.

John Henry Michael Ninian [Crichton] succeeded his father as 7th Earl.

*****

Crom Castle in County Fermanagh, remains the ancestral seat of the Earls of Erne.

Crom Estate, however, has been a property of the National Trust since 1988.

The name Crom, which was sometimes spelt "Crum", is traditionally pronounced "Crum".

The 6th Earl, who died on the 23rd December, 2015, is survived by wife Anna, Countess of Erne, and his son and four daughters: John, 7th Earl; Lady Cleone; Lady Davina; Lady Katherine; and Lady Tara.

The 6th Earl retired as HM Lord-Lieutenant for County Fermanagh on the 9th July, 2012, having served 25 years in office.

One of his final official engagements was to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to the county during Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee tour, on the 26th June, 2012.

First published in January, 2012.

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