1st Earl of Erne

THE EARLS OF ERNE WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY FERMANAGH, WITH 31,389 ACRES

THURSTANUS DE CRICHTON, the first of the name appearing on record, was a witness to the foundation charter of the Abbacy of Holyrood House, in 1128.

WILLIAM DE CRICHTON, Lord of Crichton in 1240, had issue, a son,

THOMAS DE CRICHTON, one of the great Barons who swore fealty to EDWARD I of England, in 1296.

He died ca 1300, leaving issue by Eda his wife,

NICHOLAS, of whom presently;

William, ancestor of the Barons Crichton, and the Earls of Dumfries;

Thomas, Burgess of Berwick.

The eldest son,

NICHOLAS DE CRICHTON, living during the time of Robert Bruce, left issue, a son,

SIR JOHN DE CRICHTON, Lord of Crichton ca 1340; who died ca 1358, leaving issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;

John.

The elder son,

SIR WILLIAM DE CRICHTON, had a grant of the lands of West Brunston in Penicuik, confirmed in 1373.

Sir William had issue,

John, of Crichton, ancestor of the Viscounts Frendraught;

Stephen, of Carnis;

Thomas;

EDWARD, of whom we treat.

The youngest son,

EDWARD CRICHTON, of Brunston, and Gilbertoun, living in 1419 and 1425, died in 1447, leaving a son,

THOMAS CRICHTON, of Brunston, living in 1450, who died 1456, leaving issue,

George, of Brunston;

JOHN, of whom we treat.

The younger son,

JOHN CRICHTON, of Brunston and Daltonwick, succeeded his brother, and died in 1487, leaving issue,

EDWARD, his heir;

John.

The elder son,

EDWARD CRICHTON, of Brunston, married Agnes Cockburn, daughter of the Laird of Ormiston, and died 1506, when he was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

JOHN CRICHTON, of Brunston, who wedded Janet, daughter of Sir Alexander Hamilton, of Innerwick, East Lothian, and died in 1536, having had issue, a son,

ALEXANDER CRICHTON, of Brunston,

A zealous promoter of the reformed religion, at first the supporter, but afterwards the resolute opponent of Cardinal Beaton, was employed in many diplomatic and secret missions. He was a leading protector of Wishart. He was attainted in 1548, but the attainder was reversed 1558. 

He wedded, before 1530, Janet, daughter of John Pennycuke of that ilk, and died before 1558, having had issue, a son,

JOHN CRICHTON, of Brunston, and of Stany Hill, who sold his estates in 1597.

He espoused Margaret Adamson, daughter of the Laird of Graycrook, near Edinburgh, and died before 1604, having had issue, four sons, of whom,

James, settled at Aghalane Castle, Co Fermanagh, before 1616;

ABRAHAM, of whom we treat.

The youngest son,

ABRAHAM CREICHTON, of Drumboory, near Devenish Island, on Lough Erne, settled in Ulster before 1616, and died before 1631, leaving issue, by Nicholas [sic], his wife,

ABRAHAM, his heir;

Jane; Elizabeth.

The only son,

ABRAHAM CREIGHTOUN (ante 1631-1705), of Drumboory, and afterwards jure uxoris, of Crom Castle, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1673, MP for County Fermanagh, 1692-3, Enniskillen, 1695-9,

Was celebrated for his successful defence of Crom Castle, against King James's army. The first siege took place in 1689; the second in July following. He was in command of his regiment at the battle of Aughrim, County Galway, in 1691. 

Colonel Creighton married, in 1655, Mary, daughter of the Rt Rev James Spottiswood, Lord Bishop of Clogher, and Elizabeth Staunton his second wife, and widow of Thomas Perkins, of Lifford.

With her he obtained Crom Castle on Lough Erne, which had been granted, in 1624, to Bishop Spottiswood.

Colonel Creighton died in 1705, having had, with other issue,

James;

Abraham;

DAVID, of whom we treat;

Jane; Marianna.

The youngest son,

DAVID CREIGHTON (c1670-1728), of Crom Castle, 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, ante 1695, Katherine, second daughter of Richard Southwell, of Castle Mattress, County Limerick, and sister of 1st Lord Southwell, and had issue,

ABRAHAM, his heir;

Meliora.

Major-General Creichton, MP for Augher, 1695-9, Lifford, 1703-28, was succeeded by his only surviving 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 George Crichton, 5th Earl (1907–40);

• Henry George Victor John Crichton, 6th Earl (1937–2015);

• 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! 

Former London residence ~ 19, Cavendish Avenue, St John's Wood, NW8.

First published December, 2009.