Seaver of Heath Hall

THE SEAVERS OWNED 172 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ARMAGH

The ancestor of the SEAVERS came from Germany to Ulster, an officer in Cromwell's army, and settled at Tray, near Armagh, which property was in possession of a junior branch of the family. By letters patent, dated during the seventh year in the reign of JAMES I, the monastic house and manor of Killeavy, County Armagh, was granted to Sir Marmaduke Whitechurch, who left one daughter, who was married to John Symonds.

They had issue, Marmaduke, who died young, and three daughters, the eldest of whom was married to

CHARLES SEAVER, of Tray, County Armagh.

His eldest son,

NICHOLAS SEAVER, wedded Bridget, daughter of Jeremiah Paterson, of Dundalk, County Louth.

Their eldest son,

JONATHAN SEAVER, of Tray, served as High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1748.

His eldest son,

THOMAS SEAVER, built Heath Hall in 1769, and served as High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1775.

He espoused Catherine Cramer, and had issue,

JONATHAN, his heir;

Thomas, died a lieutenant in the army;

Eliza; Mary Anne; Bridget.

The elder son,

JONATHAN SEAVER (1760-1841), of Heath Hall, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1807, married firstly, Nicholina, only child and heir of John Pockrich, of Derrylusk, County Monaghan.

Jonathan Seaver (Armagh County Museum)

Mr Seaver espoused secondly, Anne, eldest daughter of the Rev Charles Seaver, of Tray, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;

John Pockrich;

Joseph, Lieutenant, 21st Foot Regiment; married;

Charles, Lieutenant, Royal Navy; married;

Nicholina; Hester Susanna.

The second son, John Pockrich Seaver, Lieutenant, 15th Foot Regiment, married Miss Margaret Aiken, of County Fermanagh, and had issue, the Very Rev Dr Charles Seaver; Alicia; Nicholina. Dr Seaver was father of Henry Seaver, Architect.

Mr Seaver's eldest son,

THOMAS SEAVER JP (1788-1847), of Heath Hall, County Armagh, High Sheriff of County Monaghan, 1816, wedded, in 1824, Jane, fourth daughter of Neale McNeill, of Faughart, County Louth, and had issue,

THOMAS (1825-1900);

Jane; Julia; Emily.

Thomas Seaver (1825-1900). (Armagh County Museum)

HEATH HALL, Seavers Road, Newry, County Down, Thomas Seaver built a two-storey thatched house on this location in 1769.

Heath Hall, by unknown artist (Image: Armagh County Museum)

The estate was sold by the family in 1853, but bought back in 1897.

Thomas Seaver’s grandson, Jonathan, employed his cousin Henry Seaver, a Belfast architect, to restore the existing building and add the castellated tower.

Heath Hall (Historic OS map)

 It was subsequently occupied by Peter McDonnell.

The present owner states that the house was gutted by fire in 1976.

Heath Hall features in J A K Dean's Plight of the Big House in Northern Ireland, page 60.