Mount Wolseley

THE WOLSELEY BARONETS OWNED 2,547 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY CARLOW

This ranks amongst the most ancient families of Staffordshire, one of its ancestors being Lord of Wolseley, in the 13th century; and another, one of the Barons of the Exchequer in the reign of EDWARD IV.

ROBERT WOLSELEY (1587-1646), Clerk of the King's Letters Patent (son of John Wolseley, of Stafford, by Isabella, daughter of John Porter, of Chillington, in the same county), was created a baronet, in 1628, designated of Wolseley, Staffordshire.

Sir Robert married, in 1630, Mary, second daughter of Sir George Wroughton, Knight, of Wilcot, Wiltshire, by whom he had issue, five sons and six daughters.

The youngest son, Colonel William Wolseley, commanded the Inniskilling Regiment at the battle of the Boyne, and was also at the battle of Newtownbutler.

He was subsequently appointed Master of the Ordnance, sworn of the Privy Council, and constituted one of the Lords Justices of Ireland.

Sir Robert died in 1646, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR CHARLES WOLSELEY, 2nd Baronet (c1630-1714), a distinguished senator during the reigns of CHARLES I and CHARLES II, having represented Staffordshire in Parliament, 1654-60, and taken an active part in public affairs.

He wedded Anne, youngest daughter of William, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele, and had issue,

Charles;
William, 3rd Baronet;
Henry, 4th Baronet;
RICHARD, of whom we treat;
Robert;
Elizabeth; Mary; Anne; Dorothy; Bridget; Penelope; Susan; Penelope; Frances; Constance.

The fourth son,

CAPTAIN RICHARD WOLSELEY (1655-1724), an officer in the army of WILLIAM III in Ireland, MP for Carlow Borough, 1703-13, 1715-24, married Frances Burneston, and had issue,

Richard, died 1733;
WILLIAM, who inherited the English baronetcy;
RICHARD, of whom we treat.

The youngest son,

RICHARD WOLSELEY (1696-1769), of Mount Arran, County Carlow (to whom his father left his Irish estates), MP for Carlow Borough, 1727-60, 1761-8, was created a baronet, in 1744, designated of Mount Wolseley, County Carlow.

Sir Richard married firstly, Anne Smith, and had issue,

William (Rev); grandfather of FREDERICK WOLSELEY (Wolseley Cars);
Clement, father of the 4th Baronet and grandfather of the 5th & 8th Baronets;
Katherine.

He wedded secondly, in 1727, Alice, fourth daughter of Sir Thomas Molyneux Bt, of Castle Dillon, County Armagh, and had further issue,

RICHARD, his successor.

Sir Richard was succeeded by his son,

SIR RICHARD WOLSELEY, 2nd Baronet (1729-81), who espoused, in 1765, Letitia, daughter of Anthony Marlay, of Celbridge, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
Matilda.

Sir Richard was succeeded by his only son,

SIR WILLIAM WOLSELEY, 3rd Baronet (1775-1819), who died unmarried, when the baronetcy devolved upon his cousin,

THE REV SIR RICHARD WOLSELEY, 4th Baronet (1760-1852), of Mount Wolseley, who married thrice, without issue, when the title devolved upon his cousin,

SIR CLEMENT WOLSELEY, 5th Baronet (1794-1857), High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1852, Major, Carlow Militia, who married, in 1833, Alice Elizabeth, daughter of Peter van Homrigh, and had issue,

JOHN RICHARD, his successor;
CLEMENT JAMES, 7th Baronet.

Sir Clement was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR JOHN RICHARD WOLSELEY, 6th Baronet (1834-74), JP DL, High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1861, who wedded, in 1859, Frances Annabella, daughter of Captain Arthur Blennerhassett, and had issue, three daughters,

Ada Frances Alice; Amelia Cecilia Louisa; another daughter.

Sir John died without male issue, and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR CLEMENT JAMES WOLSELEY, 7th Baronet (1837-89), JP DL, who wedded, in 1872, Constance Louisa, daughter of Lieutenant-General Robert Parker Radcliffe, though the marriage was without issue, when the baronetcy reverted to his cousin,

THE VERY REV SIR JOHN WOLSELEY, 8th Baronet (1803-90), of Mount Wolseley, Dean of Kildare, 1859-90, who espoused, in 1832, Anne, daughter of John Maunsell, though the marriage was without issue, when the title reverted to his kinsman,

SIR CAPEL CHARLES WOLSELEY, 9th Baronet (1870-1923), a descendant of the first Baronet, who married, in 1907, Beatrice Sophia, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel William Wallingford Knollys, though the marriage was without issue, when the baronetcy reverted to his kinsman,

SIR REGINALD BEATTY WOLSELEY, 10th Baronet (1872-1933), a descendant of the first Baronet, who wedded, in 1930, Marian Elizabeth, daughter of William Alfred Baker, though the marriage was without issue, when the title reverted to his kinsman,

THE REV SIR WILLIAM AUGUSTUS WOLSELEY, 11th Baronet (1865-1950), a descendant of the first Baronet, who espoused, in 1932, Sarah Helen, daughter of William Cotton Grummitt, though the marriage was without issue, when the baronetcy reverted to his kinsman,

SIR GARNET WOLSELEY, 12th Baronet (1915-91), a cobbler, descendant of the first Baronet.

This Baronetcy has been dormant since the death of the 12th Baronet in 1991. The senior male heir to the baronetcy may exist among the descendants (if any).

Mount Wolseley House (Image: Tripadvisor)

MOUNT WOLSELEY, near Tullow, County Carlow, is a two-storey, Victorian, vaguely Italianate house.

It has a distinctive bracket cornice, camber-headed windows, and a balustraded porch.

There has presumably been a Wolseley dwelling on this location since the designation of the first Baronet, in 1744, of Mount Wolseley.

Mount St Joseph's (Image: old postcard)

Sir John Richard Wolseley, 6th Baronet, was succeeded in the title by his brother, Sir Clement James Wolseley, may have been the last of the Wolseley Baronets to reside there.

Sir John's daughters subsequently sold Mount Wolseley to the Patrician Brothers in 1925, when it became a school.

Today Mount Wolseley House is the private home of the Morrisseys, though a hotel, spa, and golf resort has been built within the grounds.

First published in August, 2020.