Cecil Manor

THE GERVAISES OWNED 7,727 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TYRONE 

JEAN GERVAIS, of Tournon, Guyenne, France, married Anne Fabre, and had two sons,

PIERRE, of whom we treat;
DANIEL.

After their parents' death, and while still children, they fled with an uncle following the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and settled in England.

In 1710, DANIEL, the younger, was naturalized, and subsequently became a captain in the Army and gentleman usher to Queen Anne.

He wedded Pauline Belagnier, daughter of the minister of the French protestant church, Dublin, but dsp.

Daniel's brother, elder son of Jean Gervais, 

PIERRE GERVAIS, espoused, in 1717, Marie Françoise Girard, and died in 1730, having had three sons, the eldest of whom,

PETER GERVAIS (1722-1800), Collector of Revenue, Armagh, wedded, in 1763, Elizabeth, fourth daughter of the REV SAMUEL CLOSE, of Elm Park, County Armagh.

Peter Gervais, Photo Credit: Armagh County Museum

They both died in 1800, leaving issue,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Mary Anne, m Rev D Kelly;
Elizabeth, m Captain John Winder.

The only son,

THE REV FRANCIS GERVAIS JP (1764-1849), of Cecil, Rector of Tartaraghan, Carlingford, married, in 1807, Katherine Jane, daughter of Michael Tisdall, of Charlesfort, County Meath, and had issue,

FRANCIS JOHN, his heir;
Elizabeth; Catherine; Juliana Henrietta.

Francis Gervais (1764-1849), Photo Credit: Armagh County Museum

The only son,

FRANCIS JOHN GERVAIS JP DL (1819-82)), of Cecil Manor, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1846, wedded, in 1852, Annie Catherine, eldest daughter of the Rev John Richardson Young, of Kilmarron Rectory, County Monaghan, and had issue,

FRANCIS PETER, his heir;
Katherine Mary; Frances Elizabeth Haton.

Francis John Gervais, Photo Credit: Armagh County Museum

The only son,

Francis Peter Gervais, Photo Credit: Armagh County Museum

FRANCIS PETER GERVAIS JP DL (1858-1918), of Cecil Manor, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1902, a barrister,

Mrs Georgina Frances Gervais, Photo Credit: Armagh County Museum 

married, in 1884, Georgina Frances Dalrymple, daughter of James Gilmour, of Warren Hill, County Londonderry, and had issue,

DOROTHY, born ca 1886.

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CECIL MANOR, near Augher, County Tyrone, was a rather austere three-storey, early 19th century block, probably attributed to William Farrell.

It was built ca 1830 for the Rev Francis Gervais, who had purchased the estate from the Cairnes family in 1811.

The windows were set wide apart in the solid expanses of wall.

Its entrance front had a Classical porch, prolonged by a wing of the same height.

There was a slightly overhanging roof with a bracket cornice; and chimney-stacks grouped together in a long line.

The mansion, originally called Saville Lodge, is now demolished.

I'm seeking more images of Cecil Manor.

The demesne had four gate lodges, of which two seem to have survived, albeit in a parlous state.

This was formerly a fine demesne on the lower slopes of Knockmany.

There is still an avenue of Douglas Fir and forest planting, and a lake.

A garden house is at the site of a formerly productive garden.

There was a boys and girls school, on Erasmus Smith's foundation, endowed with two acres of land by the Rev Francis and Mrs Gervais, who, in conjunction with the trustees of that charity, built the schoolhouse.

Much of the estate is now part of the Northern Ireland Forest Service's Knockmany Forest.

Former London residence  ~ 2 Strathmore Gardens.

First published in September, 2010.