Newbury Hall

THE VISCOUNTS HARBERTON OWNED 453 ACRES IN COUNTY KILDARE

JOHN PRINCE, Vicar of Berry Pomeroy, in his famous work, The Worthies of Devon (1701), says of the family of POMEROY that "this great progeny had their "dwelling" at the Castle of Berry Pomeroy, near Totnes, Devon, "from the Norman Conquest unto the days of KING EDWARD VI, which is upward of 500 years.

The name in several ages was severally written, as de Pomerio, de Pomeri, de la Pomerai and then Pomeroy. The first so called in England was RALPH DE LA POMERAI, who came in with WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, and was greatly assistant to him in obtaining this kingdom; for which reason he conferred upon him a noble estate, no less than fifty-eight lordships in Devonshire, as Sir William Dugdale tells us in his Baronage of England."

In the House of De La Pomerai, by Edward B Powley (1943), the descent is traced of the Pomeroy family from the above-mentioned RALPH, through a succession of the Baronial Lords of Berry Pomeroy, to SIR THOMAS POMEROY, who sold Berry Pomeroy to the Duke of Somerset in 1548.

ROBERT POMEROY, of Ingsdon Manor (now Ilsington), Devon, married Elizabeth, only daughter and heir of John Beaumont, of Ingsdon, and died in 1517, leaving issue,

ST CLEER POMEROY, of Ingsdon, who wedded Joanna Young, who was living in 1533, and had issue,

JOHN POMEROY, of Ingsdon, who died 1532-3, leaving by his wife Elizabeth a son,

HUGH POMEROY, who was under age in 1533, when his wardship and marriage were committed to Sir Philip Champernon.

He married twice, and had issue by his first wife,

JOHN POMEROY, who espoused Mary, daughter of Arthur Secombe, and had issue,

THE VERY REV ARTHUR POMEROY DD, who went to Ireland, 1672, as Chaplain to the Lord Lieutenant, Arthur Capel, Earl of Essex, and obtained the Deanery of Cork.

He married Elizabeth, second daughter of Sir Richard Osborne, of Ballintaylor, County Waterford, and died in 1710, having had surviving issue a daughter, Mary, m to Sir Richard Cox Bt, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and a son,

THE VEN. JOHN POMEROY, Archdeacon of Cork, 1717, who wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund Donellan, of Cloghan, County Roscommon, and died having had,

ARTHUR;

John.

The elder son,

ARTHUR POMEROY (1723-98) was elevated to the Peerage, 1783, by the title (derived from the town of Harberton, Devon, the land barony having come into the family of Pomeroy by marriage with the heiress of the De Valletorts in 1207), of Baron Harberton, of Carbery, and advanced to the dignity of a viscountcy, 1791, as VISCOUNT HARBERTON. 

His lordship, High Sheriff of County Kildare, 1752, MP for Kildare, 1761-83, wedded, in 1747, Mary, daughter and heir of Henry Colley, of Castle Carbery, County Kildare, and niece of Richard, 1st Lord Mornington, by whom he had, with other issue,

HENRY, his successor;

ARTHUR JAMES, 3rd Viscount;

JOHN, 4th Viscount.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY, 2nd Viscount (1749-1829), MP for Strabane, 1776-97, who espoused, in 1778, Mary, daughter of Nicholas Grady, of Grange, County Limerick, by whom he had one son, Henry (1778-1804).

His lordship was succeeded by his brother,

ARTHUR JAMES, 3rd Viscount (1753-1832), who married, in 1800, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Kinsley, of Dublin.

His lordship dsp 1832, and was succeeded by his brother,

JOHN, 4th Viscount (1758-1833), in holy orders, Prebendary of St Patrick's, Dublin, who wedded, in 1785, Esther, eldest daughter and co-heir of James Spencer, and had issue,

JOHN JAMES, his successor;

Arthur William (Rev);

George Francis;

Spencer Stewart;

Henry;

William Knox;

Elizabeth Esther.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN JAMES, 5th Viscount (1790-1862), who espoused, in 1822, Caroline, sixth daughter of the Rev Sir John Robinson Bt, and had issue,

John (1828-30);

Arthur James (1831-40);

JAMES SPENCER, his successor;

Mary Ann; Esther Caroline.

His lordship was succeeded by his only surviving son,

JAMES SPENCER, 6th Viscount (1836-1912), who married, in 1861, Florence Wallace, only daughter of WILLIAM WALLACE LEGGE, of Malone House, Belfast, and had issue,

ERNEST ARTHUR GEORGE, his successor;

RALPH LEGGE, 8th Viscount.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

ERNEST ARTHUR GEORGE, 7th Viscount (1867-1944), who wedded, in 1932, Fairlie, daughter of Colonel Charles D'Oyly Harmar, of Ramridge, Andover.

His lordship dsp 1944, and was succeeded by his brother,

RALPH LEGGE, 8th Viscount (1874-1956), OBE, who espoused, in 1907, Mary Katherine, only daughter of Arthur William Leatham, of Smallfield Place, Smallfield, Surrey, and had issue,

HENRY RALPH MARTYN, his successor;

THOMAS DE VAUTORT, 10th Viscount;

Robert William (twin), father of 11th Viscount;

Rosamund Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY RALPH MARTYN, 9th Viscount (1908-80), who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

THOMAS DE VAUTORT, 10th Viscount (1910-2004), who married firstly, in 1939, Nancy Ellen, daughter of C A Penoyer; secondly, in 1950, Paula Stafford, daughter of Wilfred Sydney Baker; and thirdly, in 1978, Wilhelmine, daughter of Heinrich Wahl.

His lordship dsp, and was succeeded by his nephew,

HENRY ROBERT, 11th Viscount (1958-), who wedded, in 1990, Caroline Mary, daughter of Jeremy Grindle, and has issue,

PATRICK CHRISTOPHER, born in 1995;

Hugh William, Born 1997.

Image credit: Raymond Potterton, Auctioneers

NEWBURY HALL, or Newberry Hall, Carbury, County Kildare, is, Mark Bence-Jones in his Burke's Guide to Country Houses, remarks,

A Palladian house of red brick with stone facings.

It was built in the 1760s for Arthur Pomeroy, afterwards 1st Viscount Harberton, probably to the design of the amateur architect, Nathaniel Clements.

The centre block comprises two storeys over a basement with an attic storey above the cornice which has windows in the garden front, but not in the entrance front. 

Entrance front (Image: NLI)

The entrance front comprises three bays; a pedimented breakfront with Diocletian window above tripartite fan-lighted doorway with baseless pediment.

The roof parapet has urns.

The centre block is linked to two-storey wings or pavilions, each with one bay on either side of a three-sided bow, by curved sweeps with roundheaded rusticated doors and windows. 

Garden front (Image: NLI)

The garden front of the centre block is of one bay on either side of a curved central bow.

The house was purchased ca 1840 by Edward Woolstenholme and then by William Pilkington, a prominent Dublin publisher.

The Robinson family bought Newbury Hall and estate in 1911.

Image credit: Raymond Potterton, Auctioneers

The house and estate are currently for sale (June, 2026).

Franklin Maxims: I

Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), a Founding Father of the United States of America, published an almanac entitled Poor Richard's Almanack.

This series of pamphlets ran from 1732 until 1758.

They contained many wise and profound maxims.

I've been so impressed by them that I'm going to post some on the blog.

Here's the first:-

A LITTLE NEGLECT MAY BREED GREAT MISCHIEF;

FOR WANT OF A NAIL THE SHOE WAS LOST;

FOR WANT OF A SHOE THE HORSE WAS LOST;

AND FOR WANT OF A HORSE THE RIDER WAS LOST, BEING OVERTAKEN AND SLAIN BY THE ENEMY, ALL FOR WANT OF CARE ABOUT A HORSE-SHOE NAIL.

First published in April, 2020.

General Cornwallis

William Harvey, Clarenceux King-of-Arms, in his heraldic visitation of the county of Suffolk, made in 1561, states that THOMAS CORNWALLEYS, of London, merchant, the first of the family mentioned in the visitation, was a younger brother, and born in Ireland, and that he bore the same arms which the house, at the time of the visitation, used. This Thomas was High Sheriff of London in 1378.

Thomas  Cornwalleys died in 1384, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN CORNWALLIS, who added to his patrimony the lordships of Brome and Oakley, with other lands in Suffolk, by intermarrying with Philippa, daughter and one of the heirs of Robert Bucton.

This John represented Suffolk in Parliament in the reign of RICHARD II.

He died in 1446, and was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS CORNWALLIS, MP for Suffolk in the reign of HENRY VI.

The three elder sons of this Thomas having successfully inherited the estate of Brome, and all dying without issue, the youngest son eventually succeeded as

SIR WILLIAM CORNWALLIS KB, of Brome, who married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Stanford.

He died in 1519, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN CORNWALLIS (c1491-1544), Steward of the Household to the Prince Edward, son of HENRY VIII.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON SIR THOMAS CORNWALLIS MP (1519-1604), a gentleman who displayed great personal courage against the Norfolk rebels under Kett, the tanner, in 1549, and he subsequently served the office of High Sheriff for Norfolk and Suffolk.

He was also instrumental in the suppression of Wyatt's insurrection, and was commissioned, with the Earl of Sussex and Sir Edward Hastings, for the trial of Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger in 1554.

At this time he was sworn of the Privy Council, and constituted Treasurer of Calais.

Sir Thomas Cornwallis (The National Trust/ Canons Ashby)

Sir Thomas represented Suffolk in Parliament between 1547 and 1558.

Upon the accession of ELIZABETH I, being a Roman Catholic, he was left out of the Privy Council, and removed from the comptrollership of the Household, which he held under QUEEN MARY.

He then retired into the country, and built BROME HALL.

Sir Thomas Cornwallis wedded Anne, daughter of Sir John Jerningham, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Charles (Sir);
Mary; Elizabeth.

He was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR WILLIAM CORNWALLIS (c1549-1611), of Brome Hall, who espoused firstly, Lucy, eldest daughter and co-heir of John Neville, 4th Baron Latymer, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Frances; Elizabeth; Cornelia; Anne.

He married secondly, Jane, daughter of Hercules Meautys, and by that lady had an only son,

FREDERICK, who succeeded his brother.

Sir William was succeeded by his elder son,

THOMAS CORNWALLIS, MP for Suffolk during the reign of CHARLES I; who dying unmarried was succeeded by his brother,

FREDERICK CORNWALLIS (c1610-62), who was created a Baronet in 1627; and for the active part he had taken in the civil wars, and his faithful adherence to CHARLES II, through all fortunes, was elevated to the peerage, in 1661, in the dignity of BARON CORNWALLIS, of Eye, Suffolk.

His lordship wedded firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Ashburnham, and had issue, with two other sons and one daughter, who all dspm),

CHARLES, his successor.

He espoused secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Crofts, and had a daughter, Jane.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 2nd Baron (1632-73), who married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Playsted, and was succeeded by his son,

CHARLES, 3rd Baron (1655-98), who wedded firstly, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir Stephen Fox, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor.

He espoused secondly, Anne Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch, widow of the unhappy James, Duke of Monmouth, and by Her Grace had one son, Lord George, who died in youth, and two daughters.

His lordship filled the office of First Commissioner of the Admiralty during the reign of WILLIAM III, and was Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk.

He was succeeded by his only surviving son,

CHARLES, 4th Baron (1675-c1722), a military officer who served in several campaigns under WILLIAM III, who married the Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter and sole heir of Richard, 1st Earl of Arran, fourth son of James, 1st Duke of Ormonde, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
Stephen, Major-General;
John;
Richard;
Edward, Lieutenant-General;
Frederick (Most Rev), Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England;
Henry;
Charlotte; Elizabeth; Mary.

His lordship was appointed, in 1715, Joint Postmaster-General.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 5th Baron (1700-62); who was created, in 1753, Viscount Brome and Earl Cornwallis.

The 1st Earl's armorial bearings are illustrated at the top of this article.

His lordship wedded, in 1722, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Charles, 2nd Viscount Townshend, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
Henry;
JAMES (Rt Rev), 4th Earl Cornwallis and Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry;
William (Admiral Sir);
Mary; Elizabeth; Charlotte.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 2nd Earl (1738-1805), KG, who espoused, in 1768, Jemima, daughter of James Jones, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
Mary.

His lordship, a General in the Army, played a prominent role in the American War of Independence, and his surrender in 1781 to a combined American and French force at the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, ended significant hostilities in North America.

He was installed a knight of the Garter in 1786.

Cornwallis Monument, St Paul's Cathedral, London

General Cornwallis, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, India, was advanced to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1792, as MARQUESS CORNWALLIS.

He was constituted Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and commander of the forces there in 1799.

General the Most Hon the 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG

In 1804, his lordship had the honour of being appointed, a second time, Governor-General of India; and in that station he died, in 1805, and was succeeded by his son,

CHARLES, 2nd Marquess (1774-1823), Master of the Buckhounds, 1806, who married, in 1797, the Lady Louisa Gordon, daughter of Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon, KT, and had issue, five daughters,

Jane; Louisa; Jemima; Mary; Elizabeth.

The 2nd Marquess died in 1823, when the marquessate expired; but the other honours reverted to his lordship's uncle,

THE RT REV JAMES CORNWALLIS (1743-1824), Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and Dean of Durham, as 4th Earl.

His lordship wedded, in 1771, Catherine, daughter of Galfridus Mann, of Egerton, and sister of Sir Horace Mann Bt, by whom he left an only surviving child,

JAMES, 5th Earl (1778-1852), who espoused firstly, in 1804, Maria Isabella, daughter of Francis Dickens, and had issue,

Charles, Viscount Brome (1813-35);
Jemima Isabella.

He married secondly, in 1829, Laura, daughter of William Hayes, of Wollaston Hall, which lady dsp 1840; and thirdly, in 1842, Julia, fourth daughter of Thomas Bacon, by which lady he had issue, a daughter, Julia.

His lordship's only son had died unmarried at the age of 22, and the titles consequently became extinct on his decease in 1852.

First published in March, 2020. 

Lissan House

THE STAPLES BARONETS OWNED 3,078 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TYRONE

This family settled in Ulster during the reign of JAMES I. THOMAS STAPLES, of Lissan, the founder of the family in Ulster, came from Bristol ca 1610, as part of the plantation of Ulster. This Thomas, fifth son of Alexander Staples, settled in Moneymore, County Londonderry (then being constructed as part of the terms of the plantation grant to the Worshipful Company of Drapers, which had been granted large swathes of the new county in 1611).

His stone house is marked in a map of 1635 as in the centre of Moneymore, beside the Market Cross. 

ALEXANDER STAPLES, of Yate Court, Gloucestershire, married firstly, Avis, daughter of Richard Browne, of Marlborough, Wiltshire, and secondly, Elizabeth.

Tomb of Alexander Staples (Image: Lissan House)

He had issue,

George, purchased the Manor of Fovant, Wiltshire;

Richard, of Boreham;

Alexander, of Nottingham;

Edward;

THOMAS, of whom hereafter;

William.

Mr Staples died in 1590. His fifth son,

THOMAS STAPLES, of Lissan, County Tyrone, and of Faughanvale, County Londonderry, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1640, wedded, ante 1623, Charity, only child and heiress of Sir Baptist Jones, of the Worshipful Company of Vintners, and had issue,

BAPTIST, his successor;
ALEXANDER, 3rd Baronet;
Thomas;
ROBERT, 4th Baronet;
Charity; Elizabeth.

Mr Staples was created a baronet by CHARLES I in 1628, designated of Lissan, County Tyrone.

About the same date, Sir Thomas purchased several leases, including the lands of the town of Cookstown and 180 acres at what now comprises the Lissan demesne.

It is thought that a dwelling existed on the estate at this time along with an Iron Forge which was used to smelt the iron deposits found across the estate.

Mainly as a result of the existence of the forge, the dwelling house survived the Rebellion of 1641.

Sir Thomas died in 1653, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR BAPTIST STAPLES, 2nd Baronet (1630-72), of Lissan and Faughanvale,, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR ALEXANDER STAPLES, 3rd Baronet, of Lissan and Faughanvale, MP for Strabane, 1661-5, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1661, who married Elizabeth Conynham, and had issue,

Elizabeth;
another daughter.

Sir Alexander died in 1673, and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR ROBERT STAPLES, 4th Baronet (1643-1714), of Lissan, MP for Dungannon, 1692-3, Clogher, 1696-9, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1703, who wedded, in 1681/2, Mary, daughter of the Most Rev John Vesey, of Abbey Leix, County Laois, and had issue,

JOHN, his successor;
Robert, died in infancy;
another son, died in infancy;
Thomlinson;
ALEXANDER, 6th Baronet;
Thomas (Rev), 1702-62; father of Rt Hon John Staples MP;
Jane; Ann; Rebecca; Mary.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN STAPLES, 5th Baronet (1684-1730), who espoused Mary Goslin, and had issue,

Isabella Elizabeth;
two other daughters.

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

SIR ALEXANDER STAPLES, 6th Baronet (1693-1741), who wedded, in 1735, Abigail, daughter and heiress of Thomas Townley, of County Cavan, and had an only son,

SIR ROBERT STAPLES, 7th Baronet (1740-1816), who espoused firstly, in 1761, Alicia, daughter of the Rev Thomas Staples, of Lissan, by whom he had one daughter, Sarah, who married Samuel Jacob, of Mowbamam, County Tipperary.

He married secondly, Mary, eldest daughter of Sir William Barker Bt, and had issue,

ROBERT, his successor;
Anna Maria, m, 1790, R Smyth.

Sir Robert wedded thirdly, in 1776, Jane, third daughter of John Denny, Lord Knapton, and sister to the Viscount de Vesci, by whom he had issue,

Isabella; Elizabeth Selina; Anne; Catherine.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his only son,

Sir Robert Staples, 8th Baronet

SIR ROBERT STAPLES, 8th Baronet (1772-1832), who died unmarried in 1832, when the title reverted to his cousin,

SIR THOMAS STAPLES, 9th Baronet (1775-1865), a barrister, MP for Knocktopher, 1800, son of the Rt Hon John Staples, of Dunmore, Queen's County, who espoused, in 1813, Catherine, daughter of the Rev John Hawkins.

Sir Thomas Staples, 9th Baronet,  by Martin Cregan

The marriage was without issue, and the baronetcy reverted to his cousin,

SIR NATHANIEL ALEXANDER STAPLES, 10th Baronet (1817-99), DP DL, son of the Rev John Molesworth Staples, Captain, Bengal Artillery, who wedded, in 1844, Elizabeth Lindsay, daughter of Captain James Head, and had issue,

JOHN MOLESWORTH, his successor;
James Head (1849-1917);
ROBERT PONSONBY, successor to his brother;
Cecilia; another daughter.

Sir Nathaniel was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN MOLESWORTH STAPLES, 11th Baronet (1848-1933), who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR ROBERT PONSONBY STAPLES, 12th Baronet (1853-1943), who married, in 1883, Ada Louise, daughter of Mr H Stammers, and had issue,

ROBERT GEORGE ALEXANDER, his successor;
Violet Hope; Beatrice Joyce Head; Nora Lettice Mary.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his only son,

SIR ROBERT GEORGE ALEXANDER STAPLES, 13th Baronet (1894-1970), of Lissan, Lieutenant, Royal Army Service Corps, who wedded, in 1922, Vera Lilian, daughter of John Jenkins, and had issue,

HAZEL MARION, of Lissan;
Elizabeth Hope (1924-70).

Sir Nathaniel Alexander Staples, 10th Baronet (1817-99);
Sir John Molesworth Staples, 11th Baronet (1848–1933);
Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, 12th Baronet (1853–1943);
Sir Robert George Alexander Staples, 13th Baronet (1894–1970);
Sir John Richard Staples, 14th Baronet (1906-89);
Sir Thomas Staples, 15th Baronet (1905–97);
Sir Gerald James Arland Staples, 16th Baronet (1909–99);
Sir Richard Molesworth Staples, 17th Baronet (1914–2013).

LISSAN HOUSE, near Cookstown, County Tyrone, is now open to visitors.

It owes its existence to Sir Thomas's third son, Sir Robert, 4th Baronet.

There is some evidence of building on the site ca 1580.

Construction of the present building began about 1620.

It was reconstructed ca 1690, with notable alterations in ca 1780, 1840 and  1880.

Lissan House today is mainly a plain, three storey, nine bay Georgian residence (with the later additions).

At one end there is a single-storey wing with a three-sided, mullioned bow.

The other end has a gable-ended office range; and in the middle of the entrance front, a "single-storey protuberance of unusual depth" embodying a porch and a bow-fronted porte-cochére with windows.

At some stage, after the mid-18th century, a garden was laid out here with "an artificial sheet of water with cascades and a picturesque bridge".

Lissan House was originally built ca 1690 by Sir Robert Staples, 4th Baronet.

It was extended in the early 1800s, and altered and extended again in the 1870s, including the addition of a clock tower in 1878 and a windowed porte-cochére ca 1880.

The main staircase and entrance hall were enlarged about 1888.

A long gallery wing to the west integrated with house in the early 1900s to permit easier access to the first floor of the house.

Apart from its 17th century origins and later Victorian additions, the house as it stands now is basically of the 18th century in general form and exterior appearance, while the interior is largely of the 19th century, with some 18th century elements.

The original house of the late 17th century was built of brick made on the estate; local stone, probably from a quarry near the house; and massive oak beams thought to have come from the woodlands on the estate.

Part of this 17th century building can still be seen in the core of the house, particularly in the kitchen area where the walls are between six and eight feet thick; and in the basement, where very old timbers survive.

The form and siting of Thomas Staples' first residence at Lissan is uncertain, but it may have been in the block attached to the south-west corner of the present house, known today as the Creamery.

The house remained the home of the Staples family for over three centuries, reputedly the longest occupation by any single family of a country house in the western part of Ulster.

The last owner and occupant, and last descendant of the Staples family, was Hazel Dolling, daughter of Sir Robert George Alexander Staples, 13th Baronet, who died in 1970.

She died in 2006 and passed the house and estate in trust, bequeathing the house to the community, intended by her to become a centre for music and arts for central Ulster.

The extensive estate, which is over 250 acres, includes a number of other buildings, including old farm buildings, an ice house, old stone bridges over the Lissan Water river, a walled garden of four and a half acres, a gardener's cottage, a gate lodge and pillars, an 18th century bridge and cascade designed by the architect Davis Ducart, and a generator house dating from 1902.

A 19th century ballroom is attached to the east side of the house.

The ornamental gardens have gone and the five acre walled garden (three walls) is today used as community allotments.

The Gardener’s House and offices are no longer used.

There are mature trees and forest planting.

The Lissan Water flows near the house, wooded on either side, and there are several bridges crossing the river, which is also the county boundary.

There were at least two gate lodges: the Cooktown entrance lodge of about 1830, which was derelict in 1994; Castor's gate lodge (demolished), en route to Lissan parish church; and a third Moneymore lodge, not far in a south-easterly direction from Castor's Lodge.

Lissan House and demesne is now run by a Trust.

Other former residence ~ 2, Barkfield, Freshfield Road, Formby, Lancashire.

First published in November, 2010.

The Blackwood Baronets (1763)

The Blackwoods, represented by the noble house of Dufferin, are of Scottish extraction, and can be traced in the public records of Scotland to a very early period. One branch migrated to France, of which was the celebrated Adam Blackwood (1539-1613), privy counsellor to MARY, Queen of Scots (whose marriage with the Dauphin of France he had negotiated), and senator of the Presidial Court of Poitiers.

He died there in 1613, leaving ample proofs of his talents as a civilian, a poet, and a divine; and was there interred with great pomp under a marble monument, inscribed with a long epitaph, styling him "Nobilis Scotus, inclytorum majorum, in Caledonia notus." 

The male line of the French Blackwoods became extinct at the death  of SIMON XAVIER DE BLACVOD, Chevalier, Seigneur des Frozes in Poitou, whose eldest daughter and co-heiress, MARIE THÉRÈSE BLACVOD, married, in 1776, Jean Philippe Bellin de la Bontadière, Chevalier, Seigneur des Cotes. A scion of the Fifeshire family (from which Fifeshire family also derived the Poitou branch) was

JOHN BLACKWOOD, of Bangor, County Down, born in Scotland in 1591, who became possessed of considerable landed property in Ulster, which he settled on the marriage of his son. 

He died in 1663,  and was interred at Bangor Abbey.

His grave-stone reads:

HERE LIES [JOHN] BLACKWOOD, MERCHANT, LATE PROVOST OF BANGOR, WHO DEPARTED THIS LYFE THE 22 OF MAY 1663 AND OF AGE 72. 

HERE LYES A MAN WHO LIV'D OF LATE INTO A FLOORISHING ESTATE YET WAS IT HIS GLORY THAT THERBY HIMSELF HE DID NOT MAGNIFY A SOBER IVST [Just] AND ..... MAN AND THOVGH HIS LIFE WAS BVT A SPAN YET IT SO BLAMELESS WAS THAT HE DESERVES A LASTING MEMORIE.

John Blackwood wedded Janet Clerke, and had, with three daughters, a son and successor,

JOHN BLACKWOOD, of Ballyleidy, County Down, who was attainted by JAMES II.

He espoused Anna Wauchope, and died in 1698, leaving, with three daughters, an only son,

JOHN BLACKWOOD, of Ballyleidy, also attainted by JAMES II's parliament. 

He married Ursula, daughter and co-heir of Robert Hamilton, of Killyleagh, and by her had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;

James, ancestor of the Blackwoods (now PRICES) of Saintfield;

Ursula.

The elder son,

ROBERT BLACKWOOD (1694-1774), of Ballyleidy, married firstly, in 1721,  Joyce, sister of JOSEPH, 1ST EARL OF MILLTOWN, and had issue,

Leeson, d 1773;
JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Margaret.

He wedded secondly, Grace Macartney, and had further issue,

William;
Grace; Sarah; Elizabeth; Ursula Harriot; Dorcas.

Mr Blackwood was created a baronet in 1763, designated of Ballyleidy, County Down.

He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

SIR JOHN BLACKWOOD, 2nd Baronet (1721-99), who married, in 1751, DORCAS, 1ST BARONESS DUFFERIN AND CLANEBOYE, eldest daughter and heiress of James Stevenson, of Killyleagh, and had issue,

Leeson;
Robert;
JAMES STEVENSON, his successor;
John (Rev);
HANS, succeeded his brother;
Price;
Henry, Vice-Admiral; cr a baronet, designated of the Navy;
Anne; Sophia; Dorcas; Margaret Catherine.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

SIR JAMES STEVENSON BLACKWOOD, 3rd Baronet (1755–1836), who inherited the barony at the decease of his mother and succeeded, in 1807, as 2nd Baron Dufferin and Claneboye.

Sir James married, in 1801, Anne Dorothea, daughter of John, 1st Baron Oriel, though the marriage was without issue.

He was succeeded in the family honours by his brother,

HANS, 3rd Baron and 4th Baronet (1758-1839), who espoused firstly, in 1784, Mehetabel Hester, daughter of Robert Temple, and had issue,

Robert Temple (1788-1815);
Hans;
PRICE, 4th Baron;
Henrietta.

His lordship wedded secondly, in 1801, Elizabeth, daughter of William Henry Finlay, and had further issue,

William Stear (Rev);
Henry Stevenson;
Anna Dorothea; Elizabeth Dorcas; Henrietta Catherine; two other daughters.

The 3rd Baron was succeeded by his son and successor,

PRICE, 4th Baron and 5th Baronet (1794-1841), who married, in 1825, Helen Selina, daughter of Thomas Sheridan, and had issue,

FREDERICK TEMPLE, 5th Baron and 6th Baronet (1826–1902), who was created, 1871, Earl of Dufferin; and advanced to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1888, as MARQUESS OF DUFFERIN AND AVA.

*****

John Francis Blackwood, 11th Baron Dufferin and Claneboye (b 1944), would be the 12th Blackwood Baronet of Ballyleidy, and the 8th Blackwood Baronet of the Navy; the baronetcy, however, remains dormant.

The Blackwood Baronets' London residence was 13 Cavendish Square.

First published in June, 2012.

Knocktopher Abbey

THE LANGRISHE BARONETS OWNED 2,615 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY KILKENNY

This family is descended from Sir Nicholas Langrish, Knight, who was seized of the Manor of Langrish, Hampshire, in 1273. The Irish branch is descended from Rafe, or Ralph, third son of Nicholas Langrishe, of Langrishe. 

Ralph Langrishe, of Bordon, died between 1542-59; the third in descent from him was Major Hercules Langrishe (1594-1659), Carver in Ordinary to Queen Henrietta Maria, who prevented the arrest of the "Five Members" by CHARLES I.

HERCULES LANGRISHE (1620-), took part in the first battle of Roundway Down, Wiltshire, where his father and brother Lucullus were wounded, and in the defence of Bristol.

He appears in the Petty Census as Lieutenant in the garrison at Drogheda in Captain FitzGerald's Troop of Horse and was appointed Commissioner for setting out lands to the officers and soldiers of the Army, 1657, and Collector of Poll Tax, 1661.

He married, in 1657, Anne, sister of Daniel Reading, of Rathfarnham, County Dublin, MP for Newcastle/Lyons, County Kildare, and had issue, all born in Drogheda,

JOHN, his heir;

Elizabeth; Anne.

Hercules Langrishe was living in Drogheda, 1662, according to the Ormonde Papers of that year, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN LANGRISHE (1660-1735), who became proprietor of the borough of Knocktopher, County Kilkenny.

Mr Langrishe, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1696, married firstly, Alicia, second daughter of Harry, 2nd Baron Blayney, and widow of Thomas Sandford, of Sandford Court; and secondly, Miss Sandford, daughter of Colonel Sandford; but had issue by neither of those ladies.

He wedded thirdly, Mary, daughter of Robert Grace, feudal baron of Courtstown, and had an only son, his successor,

ROBERT LANGRISHE (c1696-1769), of Knocktopher, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1740, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in Ireland, 1745-9, who espoused Anne, daughter of Jonathan Whitby, and had issue,

HERCULES, his heir;
Olympia.

Mr Langrishe was succeeded by his son and heir,

THE RT HON HERCULES LANGRISHE (1731-1811), of Knocktopher, MP for Knocktopher, 1761-1800, who was created a baronet in 1777, designated of Knocktopher Abbey, County Kilkenny.

Sir Hercules, who was a member of the Privy Council, represented the borough of Knocktopher in the Irish parliament for forty years, during which period he ranked amongst the most distinguished of its members, and was the first who advocated and obtained a partial relaxation of the most atrocious code of laws which oppressed the Roman Catholics of Ireland, a code that consigned 80% of the population to unmitigated and grinding slavery, and reduced the whole of the state to semi-barbarism.

He married, in 1755, Hannah, daughter and co-heir of Robert Myhill, of Killarney, County Kilkenny, and sister of Jane, wife of Charles, 1st Marquess of Ely, and had issue,

ROBERT, his successor;
John;
James (Very Rev), Dean of Achonry;
Elizabeth; Mary Jane; Hannah.

Sir Hercules was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ROBERT LANGRISHE, 2nd Baronet (1756-1835), who wedded, in 1782, Anne, daugher of Bellingham Boyle, and granddaughter of the Most Rev Dr John Hoadly, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, and had issue,

HERCULES RICHARD, his successor;
Anne; Henrietta Maria; Elizabeth.

Sir Robert as succeeded by his only son,

THE REV SIR HERCULES RICHARD LANGRISHE, 3rd Baronet (1782-1862), who espoused, in 1817, Maria, daughter of James Henry Cottingham, and had issue,

JAMES, his successor;
Richard;
Anne Maria; Rose Isabella.

Sir Hercules was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JAMES LANGRISHE, 4th Baronet (1823-1910), JP DL, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1866, Lieutenant-Colonel, 5th Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, who married firstly, in 1857, Adela de Blois Eccles; and secondly, in 1906, Algitha Maud, daughter of Sir Henry Daniel Gooch Bt, and had issue,

HERCULES ROBERT, his successor;
Adela Constance; Maria Cecilia; Mary Isabella; Frances Alice; Norah Elizabeth.

Sir James was succeeded by his only son,

SIR HERCULES ROBERT LANGRISHE, 5th Baronet (1859-1943), JP DL, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1891, Honorary Major, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, Temporary Commander RNVR, who wedded, in 1887, Helen Amelrosa Hume, daughter of the Rt Hon William Wentworth Fitzwilliam Dick, and had issue,

TERENCE HUME, his successor;
Hercules Ralph, Lieutenant.

Sir Hercules was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR TERENCE HUME LANGRISHE, 6th Baronet (1895-1973), Captain, the Intelligence Corps, who married, in 1926, Joan Stuart, daughter of Major Ralph Stuart Grigg, and had issue,

HERCULES RALPH HUME, his successor;
Patrick Nicholas;
Robert Gore.

Sir Terence was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HERCULES RALPH HUME LANGRISHE, 7th Baronet (1927-1998), who married, in 1955, Grania Sybil Enid, daughter of Mervyn Patrick, 9th Viscount Powerscourt, and had issue,

JAMES HERCULES, his successor;
Miranda Grania; Georgina Emma; Atalanta Sue.

Sir Hercules was succeeded by his only son,

SIR JAMES HERCULES LANGRISHE, 8th and present Baronet (1957-), of Arlonstown, Dunsany, County Meath, who married, in 1985, Gemma Mary Philomena, daughter of Patrick O'Daly, and has issue,

RICHARD JAMES HERCULES, b 1988;
Victoria Anna Jean, b 1986.

KNOCKTOPHER ABBEY, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny, is a house which incorporates the remains of the first Carmelite friary in Ireland.

It was rebuilt ca 1866 in the High-Victorian-Gothic style, following a fire.

The house has trefoil-headed, mullioned windows and several gables; high roofs; and a pyramidal-roofed porch tower.

The Abbey remained in the family until 1981.

First published in July, 2018.

Manor of Florida: III

Kilmood Parish Church (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

ST MARY'S parish church, Kilmood, County Down, was historically the estate church of FLORIDA MANOR.

Samuel Lewis (c1782-1865), in his topographical dictionary, remarked that

In 1819 the present church, an elegant structure, in the later English style, with a handsome tower and spire rising to the height of 120 feet, was erected near the site of the ancient ruins.

Stanley pointed out the armorial plaques on the south and west faces of the tower, representing the Marquesses of Downshire and the family of Gordon, who shared the alternate patronage of the vicarage.

No less than three marquesses had a connection with Kilmood, namely Downshire, Dufferin, and Londonderry.

St Mary's wouldn't look out of place in Suffolk, Surrey, or Kent, with its tall slim pinnacles, battlements, clock, and family arms. Really quite charming.

The original medieval church, after the dissolution of Comber monastery, fell into decay, and the tithes were annexed to those of the parish of Hillsborough, 14 miles away.

The present Georgian church was built in 1819 at the joint expense of the GORDON family, lords of the manor of Florida, and the Marquess of Londonderry, aided by a gift of £900 [about £100,000 in 2020] from the Board of First Fruits.

The cost was £2,215, equivalent to about £250,000 in 2020.

The interior is fitted up with Riga oak; the east window, of stained-glass, and of large dimensions and very beautiful, appears to have been copied from that of Salisbury Cathedral.

In the centre of the nave is a large, twenty-light, brass chandelier, reputedly of Dutch origin.

There was a private gallery used by the Gordons and their staff, which was at the back of the nave; it had to be removed in 1950, however, due to rotten, wooden joists in the west wall.

The Gordons sat at one side of the gallery, and the staff at the other; the former section having a heating-stove.

I'm seeking photographs of the Gordon gallery in the church.

Stanley took me upstairs and pointed out the former entrance to this gallery, through a door from the first landing, on the circular staircase in the tower.

The door has a brass plaque, inscribed PRIVATE.

St Mary's is renowned for its bell-ringing: Stanley informed me that they currently have a team of seventeen bell-ringers - there are six bells.

Memorial to David Gordon (1759-1837) & Mary Gordon
(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

There are several Gordon memorials in the nave, adorned with the family coat-of-arms and motto, Animo Non Astutia.

Memorial to Robert Gordon (1791-1864) (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

In the church-yard is a mausoleum in the crypt belonging to the Gordon family.

Stanley told me that he counted seven coffins, with plaques, belonging to the Gordons.

Kilmood had a royal visitor in 2019: His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent.

HRH The Duke of Kent visits St Mary's (Image: Diocese of Down & Dromore)

HRH visited St Mary's for a service to mark the unveiling and dedication of the church's newly-installed Walker pipe organ, and also the new Peace Bells, which were unveiled in 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice.

Kilmood parish church celebrated its bicentenary in 2022.

First published in April, 2021.