1st Earl of Normanton

THE EARLS OF NORMANTON OWNED 7,625 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TIPPERARY, 3,294 IN COUNTY KILKENNY, AND 1,003 IN COUNTY LIMERICK

CHARLES AGAR (1639-96), of York, Yorkshire, married Ellis, daughter of Peter Blancheville, of County Kilkenny, and settling at Gowran, in that county, died there, and was succeeded by his son,

JAMES AGAR (1672-1733), of Gowran Castle, MP for Gowran, 1713-15, who wedded firstly, in 1692, Susannah, daughter of John Alexander, but by that lady had no issue to survive youth.

He espoused secondly, Mary, eldest daughter of Sir Henry Wemyss, Knight, of Danesfort, County Kilkenny, and had by her (who died in 1771, aged 106),

HENRY, his heir;
James;
Ellis, created COUNTESS OF BRANDON;
Mary.

The elder son,

HENRY AGAR, MP for Gowran, 1727, married, in 1733, Anne, only daughter of the Most Rev Welbore Ellis, Lord Bishop of Meath, and had issue,

James, his heir, created VISCOUNT CLIFDEN;
Welbore Ellis;
CHARLES, of whom we treat;
Henry;
Diana.

The third son,

THE MOST REV AND RIGHT HON DR CHARLES AGAR (1736-1809), Lord Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of Ireland and Metropolitan, married, in 1776, Jane, daughter of William Benson, and had issue,

WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
George Charles;
James (Rev);
Frances Anne.

Dr Agar was of Westminster School, and Christ Church, Oxford; he went as Chaplain with Hugh, 1st Duke, then Earl of Northumberland, KG, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1763, and was promoted to the deanery of Kilmore, consecrated Lord Bishop of Cloyne, 1768, translated thence to the archbishopric of Cashel, 1771, and to the archbishopric of Dublin and primacy of Ireland, 1801.

His Grace was elevated to the peerage, in 1794, in the dignity of Baron Somerton; and advanced to a viscountcy, in 1801, as Viscount Somerton.

He was further advanced to an earldom, in 1806, as EARL OF NORMANTON.

The 1st Earl was interred beside his Countess at Westminster Abbey.

The inscription on His Grace’s great marble monument in the Abbey reads,

Sacred to the memory of Charles Agar, D.D. Earl of Normanton, and Archbishop of Dublin.

He was educated at Westminster School, and was a student of Christ-Church Oxford.

In 1768 he was consecrated Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland; and translated from thence to the Archbishopric of Cashel in 1779.

In 1795 he was created Baron Somerton of Somerton in the county of Kilkenny, and Viscount Somerton in 1800.

In the following year he became Archbishop of Dublin and in 1806 was created Earl of Normanton. 

He departed this life on the 14th of July 1809 aged 72 years and rests near this spot, in the same grave with his uncle the Right Honorable Welbore Ellis, Baron Mendip.

In the course of his episcopal labours not less than seventeen churches and twenty two glebe houses for the residence of his clergy were built under his direction and assistance; and he erected principally at his own expense the cathedral church of Cashel.

As a statesman and a prelate he was an able and zealous supporter of the religion which he professed and taught, and of the country at whose councils he assisted.

His care for the welfare of the church is testified by the numerous Acts of Parliament which he framed for its permanent regulation and support.

The perfect state in which his dioceses were left, and the veneration impressed by his talents and virtues on the hearts of those over whom he presided are far nobler monuments than any which can be erected to his memory.

His Grace’s eldest son,

WELBORE ELLIS, 2nd Earl (1778-1868), of Somerley House, who wedded, in 1816, the Lady Diana Herbert, daughter of George, 11th Earl of Pembroke, and had issue,

JAMES CHARLES HERBERT WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
Herbert Welbore Ellis;
Charles Welbore Herbert;
Mary Jane Diana.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES CHARLES HERBERT WELBORE ELLIS, 3rd Earl (1818-96), JP DL, of Somerley, who espoused, in 1856, Caroline Susan Augusta, daughter of William, 6th Viscount Barrington, and had issue,

CHARLES GEORGE WELBORE ELLIS, styled Viscount Somerton (1856-94);
SIDNEY JAMES, of whom hereafter;
Henry Augustus Bernard;
Francis William Arthur;
Caroline Elizabeth; Mary Beatrice; Margaret Elizabeth Diana; Mary Adelaide.

His lordship was succeeded by his second son,

SIDNEY JAMES, 4th Earl (1865-1933), of Somerley, who married, in 1894, the Lady Amy Frederica Alice Byng, daughter of Henry, 4th Earl of Strafford, and had issue,

EDWARD JOHN SIDNEY CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
Georgiana Mary Elizabeth; Alexandra Henrietta Alice; Caroline Amy Cora;
Mary Karen; Diana Julia; Amy Louise; Rosemary Beatrice.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

EDWARD JOHN SIDNEY CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, 5th Earl (1910-67), of Somerley, who wedded firstly, in 1937, Barbara Mary, daughter of Sir Frederick William Francis George Frankland Bt; and secondly, in 1944, the Lady Fiona Pratt, daughter of John, 4th Marquess Camden, and had issue,

SHAUN JAMES CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
Mark Sidney Andrew.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

SHAUN JAMES CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, 6th Earl (1945-2019), of Somerley, who espoused firstly, in 1970, Victoria Susan, daughter of J H C Beard, and had issue,

JAMES SHAUN CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, his successor;
Portia Caroline; Marisa Charlotte.

He married secondly, after 2000, Rosalind Bernice Nott.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

JAMES SHAUN CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS (1982-), 7th Earl, of Somerley, who married, in 2012, the Lady Lucy Caroline Alexander, daughter of Shane, 2nd Earl Alexander of Tunis, and has issue,

ARTHUR ALEXANDER CHRISTIAN WELBORE ELLIS, styled Viscount Somerton;
Frederick Charles Edward;
Georgiana Rose.

Seat ~ Somerley House, near Ringwood, Hampshire; former London residence ~ 3, Seamore Place, Curzon Street.  
 
First published in December, 2019.  Normanton arms courtesy of European Heraldry.