Tuesday 5 July 2022

1st Earl of Erne

This name originally assumed from the barony of Crichton, Edinburgh. WILLIAM DE CRICHTON, living about 1240, was ancestor of the Crichtons, Viscounts Frendraught, which title ceased with Lewis, 5th Viscount, about 1699; and of

JOHN CREIGHTON, of Crum [sic] Castle, County Fermanagh, settled in County Fermanagh during the 17th century.

This John married Mary, daughter of SIR GERALD IRVINE, of Castle Irvine, and was succeeded by his son,

ABRAHAM CREIGHTON (c1631-1705), MP for County Fermanagh, 1692-3, Enniskillen, 1695-9, who commanded a regiment of foot in WILLIAM III's service at the battle of Aughrim, 1692.

Colonel Creighton married Mary, daughter of the Rt Rev James Spottiswood, Lord Bishop of Clogher, and was father of

DAVID CREIGHTON (c1670-1728), celebrated for his gallant defence, in 1689, of the family seat of Crom Castle, against a large body of the Royal Army (JAMES II's).
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, near Crom Castle, that spot became the scene of such carnage, that it bore the name of the "Bloody Pass". 
This gentleman represented Enniskillen in parliament, and attaining the rank of major-general in the army, was appointed governor of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham.

He wedded, in 1700, Catherine, second daughter of Richard Southwell, of Castle Mattress, County Limerick, and sister of 1st Lord Southwell.

Mr Creighton, MP for Augher, 1695-9, Lifford, 1703-28, was succeeded by his only son,

ABRAHAM CREIGHTON (c1700-72), MP for Lifford, 1727-68, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1768, in the dignity 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.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder surviving son,

JOHN, 2nd Baron (1731-1828), who was created, 1781, Viscount Erne; and advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 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 FREDERICK AUGUSTUS, EARL OF BRISTOL, LORD BISHOP OF DERRY, and had an only daughter, Elizabeth Caroline Mary, who wedded James Archibald, Lord Wharncliffe.

His lordship was succeeded by his son and heir,

ABRAHAM, 2nd Earl (1765-1842), MP for Lifford, 1790-97, who changed the spelling of the family name to CRICHTON.

He died unmarried, and was succeeded by his nephew,

JOHN, 3rd Earl (1802-85), KP, who wedded, in 1837, Selina Griselda, daughter of the Rev Charles Cobbe Beresford, and had issue,
JOHN HENRY, his successor;
Charles Frederick;
Henry George Louis (Sir), KCB;
Louisa Anne Catherine.
His lordship was installed a Knight of St Patrick in 1868.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN HENRY, 4th Earl (1839-1914), KP PC, who wedded, in 1870, the Lady Florence Mary Cole, daughter of William Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen, and had issue,
Henry William, MVO, DSO, dvp;
George Arthur Charles (Sir), GCVO;
Arthur Owen;
James Archibald, DSO;
Evelyn Louisa Selina;
Mabel Florence Mary, MBE.
His lordship was appointed a Knight of St Patrick in 1889.

4th Earl of Erne KP

He was succeeded by his grandson,

JOHN HENRY GEORGE, 5th Earl (1907-40), DL, who espoused, in 1931, the Lady Davidema Katharine Cynthia Mary Millicent Bulwer-Lytton, daughter of Victor, 2nd Earl of Lytton, and had issue,
HENRY GEORGE VICTOR JOHN, his successor;
Rosanagh Mary; Antonia Pamela Mary.
His lordship, a Page of Honour to GEORGE V, 1921-24, and Lord-in-Waiting to GEORGE VI, was killed in action in France during the 2nd World War.
  • John Henry Michael Ninian Crichton, 7th Earl (b 1971).
The heir presumptive is the 4th earl's great-grandson, Charles David Blayney Crichton (b 1953), and his son, Oliver Charles Martin Crichton (b 1995), heir apparent.
*****
Crom Castle is the ancestral seat of the Earls of Erne.

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

The name Crom is correctly pronounced "Crum", as in bread-crumb.

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.

6th Earl of Erne KCVO

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.

CROM CASTLE, near Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, is a large castellated mansion combining baronial and Tudor-Revival elements.

It was built in 1829 to the design of Edward Blore (who also completed the design of Buckingham Palace).

I visited the Castle about thirty years ago and remember the indoor swimming-pool, which was adjacent to the conservatory.

Although remote, Crom is one of my favourite places in Northern Ireland; I always relish revisiting it.

I stayed on the estate several times during the 1980s.

In those days, if my memory serves me correctly, the family had a golden retriever called Boomer which visited us at our cottage occasionally.

*****

The then housekeeper, Mrs Johnston, was a well-known tea-leaf reader in the vicinity.

One night there was a knock on the door. It was a man inquiring if we read "tea"in a local accent.

At first we were puzzled and uncomprehending as to what he meant; later, however, we discovered Mrs Johnston's talented gift! 

Erne arms courtesy of European Heraldry.   First published December, 2009.

4 comments :

Andrew said...

Lord B, can you explain why the title is sometimes referred to as 'Earl of Erne' and apparently also as 'Earl Erne'?

Timothy Belmont said...

Probably a simple misunderstanding by a clerk of official in Debrett's or Burke's peerages. I've seen Belmore referred to as "Earl Belmore," too. Tim.

Mary said...

Dear Lord Belmont,
Thank you for such a comprehensive account of the Creightons. All very helpful.
I am studying the family from their time in Dublin, in particular while in residence at 37, Parnell Square, then Rutland Square.

Thanks again,

Mary Enright

Timothy Belmont said...

Mary, Many thanks for the compliment, and I'm delighted that you've found my blog useful. Tim.