Fraser of Gortfoyle

JOHN FRASER (1803-75), a crofter, of Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire, married Margaret Tulloch, and had a son,

JAMES FRASER (1831-1908), of Plevna, Bloomfield, County Mayo, who married, in 1853, Catherine Ann, daughter of Robert Moore, of Donegal, and had issue,

ROBERT MOORE, of whom presently;
John James, d 1880;
Jane, d 1933.

Mr Fraser resided in successive properties in Belfast, including: 81 Springfield Terrace; 10 Cameron Street; Plevna Street; and, in 1902, 33 Cyprus Gardens, where he died in 1908.

The eldest son,

DR ROBERT MOORE FRASER (1865-1952), of Gortfoyle, Ballyhackamore, Belfast, married firstly, in 1899, Margaret Boal, daughter of Adam Boal Ferguson, of Lark Hill, County Antrim; and secondly, in 1907, Alice Josephine, youngest daughter of Dr Alexander Cuthbert, of Londonderry.

Dr Fraser practiced in his surgery at 211, Albertbridge Road, Belfast.

His residence was Gortfoyle, a villa at 364 Upper Newtownards Road, Ballyhackamore; and, after 1939, 10 Winston Gardens, Belfast.

Following Dr Fraser's death his widow, Margaret, moved to 20 Cloverhill Park, Belfast.

His son,

Sir Ian Fraser, by Carol Graham (Image: the Queen's University of Belfast)

 

BRIGADIER SIR IAN FRASER DSO OBE DL MD (1901-99), wedded, in 1931, Eleanor Margaret, daughter of Marcus Adolphus Mitchell, of Quarry House, Strandtown, Belfast, and had issue, 

IAN MARCUS, b 1939;
Mary Alice, b 1938.

Do any readers have photographs of Gortfoyle, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast?

First published in April, 2014.

Carrick Lodge

THE MUSGRAVES WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DONEGAL, WITH 23,693 ACRES

The Musgrave family may be said to have begun their connection with Belfast at the beginning of the Victorian era.

James Musgrave's father, Samuel Musgrave, was a general practitioner, who began there in 1799.

Dr Musgrave was about twenty when he started his practice.

His wife was Mary Riddel, a daughter of William Riddel, founder of Riddel & Company, Donegall Place and Fountain Street, Belfast.

The Musgrave firm was an off-shoot of the Riddel establishment.

The Musgrave family consisted of a dozen children.

When Dr Musgrave died at Lisburn aged 66 in 1834, the family soon removed to Belfast and lived in Upper Arthur Street.

By 1852 they were living at 1 Donegall Square South, and later moved to DRUMGLASS HOUSE, Malone Road, which they built ca 1855.

As young men, the brothers Robert and John Riddel were in partnership with their uncle, John Riddel, at 54 High Street in Belfast.

With their brother James they founded the firm Musgrave Brothers and opened the establishment on the 30th May 1843 (which later became Richard Patterson’s of 59 High Street).

Here the ironmongery trade was carried on successfully until expansion of business brought the manufacturing lines and, from 1860 onwards, this branch was conducted at the Ann Street Ironworks until a limited company was formed.

John and James Musgrave were the principals, Robert having died in 1867. From this time forward the firm of Musgrave & Company Ltd created what was a new industry which attained world-wide fame with the manufacture of stoves, heating apparatus, stable fittings and high-class ironwork.

John R Musgrave was the chairman and director, and represented his brothers' interests in the company. The expanding business now removed to new works at Mountpottinger.

About 1854, the other brothers, Henry and Edgar, started the wholesale tea and sugar business.

The Musgrave family were benefactors of the city of Belfast and its institutions: Sir James, when he retired, devoted a large part of his energy and abilities to developing the Port of Belfast, the possibilities of which he foresaw, the great scheme which he devised and which he lived to see completed.

His name is forever linked with the Musgrave Channel which he did so much to further from the time he was elected chairman of the Harbour Board in 1897 until a year before his death in 1904.

In recognition of these services the dignity of baronetcy was bestowed upon him.

He also proved himself a firm friend of Queen's College (now University), where he founded the chair of Pathology which bears his name.

Like his brother James, Henry gave many benefactions to the City.

When the estate at Carrick, County Donegal, was acquired a similar bold policy was adopted.

The Musgraves' old-fashioned courtesy and graciousness of manner, combined with a distinctive style of dress, gave the impression that evoked a link with the early Victorian period.

Their unbounded generosity to charitable, educational and other worthy institutions will secure for them an imperishable memory.

THE LODGE, Carrick, County Donegal, is a five-bay, two-storey, former country house or hunting lodge, built ca 1867 and extensively altered and extended ca 1910, having a central advanced single-bay projection to the main elevation.

The main central block is flanked to either side (east and west) by lower wings having advanced gable-fronted single-bay two-storey terminating blocks with crow-stepped parapets over.

A two-storey range of outbuildings is attached to the rear (north) of the terminating block to the west.

Carrick Lodge was extensively renovated about 1990, following destruction by fire in 1970.

It is now in use as a private home.

This substantial former country house or hunting lodge/retreat retains some of its early character and form despite modern alterations.

The symmetrical front elevations is notable for the good quality "Tudoresque-style" cut stone surrounds with mullions to the window openings, hood mouldings to the ground floor openings and particularly by the striking crow-stepped parapets over the advanced blocks to the centre and terminating either end.

The crow-stepped parapets are reminiscent of the Scottish Baronial architectural style, an architectural idiom that was popular during the Victorian period, and into the first decades of the 20th century, but relatively rare in County Donegal.

These crow-stepped parapets were added as part of extensive alterations and extension to the house, around 1910, when the recessed wing and advanced gable-fronted terminating block to the east, and the projecting central gable-fronted bay were added.

Prior to this, the house was a modest and plain two-storey building.

Carrick Lodge was destroyed in a fire about 1970 and remained derelict until extensive renovations two decades later.

It was originally built in 1867, when the Musgrave family purchased extensive lands around here in that year) and apparently replaced or incorporates an earlier house on the same site built sometime between 1836-47.

The Musgrave family had their main residence at Drumglass House, Belfast, which suggests that Carrick Lodge was originally built as a hunting lodge or retreat.

It was the home of James Musgrave (later a knight and a baronet) and John Musgrave in 1881, who were both Justices of the Peace; and of John Musgrave in 1894.

Although altered, this building is a striking feature in the dramatic landscape to the west of Carrick, and is an addition to the built heritage and social history of the local area.

It forms a pair of related structures along with the attendant gate lodge to the south.

The simple outbuilding and former walled gardens to the rear, and the gateways and boundary walls to site add to the setting and historical context.

First published in March, 2013.

The Mount Stewart Acquisition

SELECTIVE ACQUISITIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

PROPERTY: Mount Stewart Gardens, County Down

DATE: 1955

EXTENT: 77.38 acres

DONOR: Derek, Viscount Bury

*****

PROPERTY: Temple of the Winds, Mount Stewart Estate

DATE: 1963

EXTENT: 3.61 acres

DONOR: Mairi, Viscountess Bury (the Lady Mairi Bury)

*****

PROPERTY: Mount Stewart House

DATE: 1976

EXTENT: 13.03 acres

DONOR: The Lady Mairi Bury

*****

PROPERTY: Mount Stewart Land and Buildings

DATE: 1987-2009

EXTENT: 6.43 acres

DONOR: The Lady Mairi Bury

*****

PROPERTY: Mount Stewart Lands

DATE: 2015

EXTENT: 900 acres.

First published in January, 2015.

The Langford Baronetcy

The family of LANGFORD was once prominent in the borough of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, and had formerly considerable property in the town's corporation. Both Sir Roger Langford and Sir Hercules Langford were Mayors of Carrickfergus, 1614, 1615, 1623, 1631, and 1639.

Captain Roger Langford, sometime joint governor of Carrickfergus, commanded 100 foot-soldiers at Carrickfergus in 1603.

He was granted the abbey (or priory) and lands of Muckamore in 1621; and we find 

HERCULES LANGFORD (1626-83), another of the family, who began to build a castle in the town, which was called by the family name, and was completed in the early 17th century.

Mr Langford was created a baronet in 1667, designated of Kilmakevit, County Antrim, and of Summer Hill, County Meath.

Sir Hercules, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1661, married Mary, daughter of Henry Upton (MP for Carrickfergus, 1634), of Castle Upton, County Antrim, and had issue, Arthur, Henry, Theophilus, Mary and Martha. 

MARY LANGFORD was the wife of Sir John Rowley MP, ancestor of Lord Langford. Their grandson, Hercules Langford Rowley, married Elizabeth Upton, who was created Viscountess Langford in 1766. Their daughter, the Hon Jane Rowley, married Thomas Taylour, 1st Earl of Bective. Lord and Lady Bective's fourth son was created Baron Langford in 1800. 

Sir Hercules died in 1683, and was buried at St Michan's Church, Dublin; when the Summer Hill estate devolved upon Lady Rowley.  

Bishop Jones (Lord Bishop of Meath, 1661-82) sold Summerhill in County Meath and many other townlands to Sir Hercules Langford.

Sir Hercules' eldest son, 

SIR ARTHUR LANGFORD, 2nd Baronet (c1652-1716), MP for Duleek, 1692-3, Coleraine, 1695-1713, County Antrim, 1715-16, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and admitted to Lincoln's Inn, London, in 1671.

He was said to be a fervent Presbyterian and gave funds to the Church in Dublin. He leased Rahinstown in 1691 to Thomas Bomford.

Sir Henry Langford, 3rd Baronet
(Image: Royal Albert Museum and Art Gallery)

Sir Arthur was succeeded by his younger brother,

SIR HENRY LANGFORD, 3rd Baronet (c1655-c1725), MP for St Johnstown (Donegal), 1695-9, who possessed estates in Devon at Bradninch and Combsatchfield, near Silverton.

Sir Henry acquired Barton Hall estate, near Torquay, in 1710. 

He was the third High Sheriff of Devon and a judge at Greys Inn, London.

In 1710, Sir Henry bought the manor of Kingskerswell, and bequeathed all his estates to his godson, Thomas Brown, who later built the family vault and buried Sir Henry therein.

On Sir Henry's death the title expired.

First published in March, 2011.  Langford arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

House of Cromwell

Thomas Cromwell (son of Walter Cromwell alias Smith, a blacksmith at Putney, Surrey), upon his return from foreign service under the Duke of Bourbon, obtained a situation in the suite of Cardinal Wolsey, and, after the fall of that celebrated prelate, was taken into the service of the King (at HENRY VIII's special command, from his fidelity to his old master), in which he evinced so much zeal and ability, that the road to the highest honours of the state presented very soon an unimpeded course for his ambition.

In a short time he filled successively the important situations of Master of the Jewel Office, Clerk of the Hanaper, Principal Secretary, Justice of the Forests, Master of the Rolls, and Lord Privy Seal, and was elevated to the peerage, in 1536, in the dignity of BARON CROMWELL, of Oakham.

He was afterwards constituted the King's Vice-Regent of Spirituals, honoured with the Garter, and finally created EARL OF ESSEX, when he was invested with the Lord High Chamberlainship of England.

His instrumentality in allying the King with Anne of Cleves was the rock upon which his fortunes foundered. 

Unprepared for such a proceeding, Cromwell was arrested, under the King's especial order, by the Duke of Norfolk, at the Control Board, 1540, hurried off to the Tower, attainted unheard, and beheaded, notwithstanding Archbishop Cranmer's powerful exertions in his behalf; and all the honours of the ex-minister were of course forfeited under the attainder; but his son, Gregory, who, in his lifetime, had been summoned to Parliament as Lord Cromwell, had that dignity confirmed to him in the December following his father's execution.

Thomas Cromwell, Earlof Essex

SIR GREGORY CROMWELL KB (c1514-51), born at Putney, Surrey, was tutored by Richard Southwell and attended Cambridge University.

In 1539, he was summoned to Parliament as Lord Cromwell, servant of HENRY VIII, and in 1540 he was created BARON CROMWELL.

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Seymour, sister of Edward, Duke of Somerset, and widow of Sir Anthony Oughtred; by whom he had three sons, of whom the eldest,

HENRY, 2nd Baron (1538-92), summoned to parliament in the reign of ELIZABETH I, wedded Mary, daughter of John, Marquess of Winchester.

His elder son,

EDWARD, 3rd Baron (1559-1607), was with the Earl of Essex in his expedition at sea against the Spaniards, and joined in the insurrection three years afterwards, which cost Lord Essex his head.

The 3rd Baron, however, received an especial pardon in 1601. 

His lordship, having alienated his estates in England by sale, purchased the barony of Lecale in County Down from Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport, or "made an exchange thereof".

He married twice, and, dying in Ulster, was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS, 4th Baron (1594-1653), who was created by CHARLES I, in 1624, Viscount Lecale. 

His lordship was advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 1645, as EARL OF ARDGLASS.

Lord Ardglass remained firmly attached to the interests of the King during the civil wars, notwithstanding his friendship with the Earl of Essex. 

Ardglass was an important town during the middle ages, which would explain Cromwell's choice of title.
 
The 1st Earl was commander of the Regiment of Horse in Ireland for CHARLES I during the Civil War; and subsequently made his peace with Parliament, paying £460 for his "delinquency".

The 1st Earl married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Robert Meverell, of Throwleigh, Staffordshire.

He was succeeded by his eldest son, 

WINGFIELD, 2nd Earl (1622-68), who was educated at Stone School in Staffordshire; matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1637/8; was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Laws at Oxford University in 1642. In 1649, he was taken prisoner in the Royalist cause.

His only son,

THOMAS, 3rd Earl (1653-82), married a daughter of the Most Rev Michael Boyle, Lord Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland; but dying without issue, 1682, the family honours reverted to his uncle,

VERE ESSEX, 4th Earl (1623-87), PC, a son of the 1st Earl, who married, in 1672, Catherine Hamilton.

He died at Bonecastle, County Down, and was buried at Downpatrick Abbey [Down Cathedral].

Lord Ardglass was educated at Stowe School and at Finstock, Oxfordshire.

This nobleman married, though died without male issue, when the titles expired; except the barony of CROMWELL, originating in the writ of 1539, devolved upon his daughter,

ELIZABETH CROMWELL, as Baroness Cromwell, in which rank her ladyship assisted at the funeral of MARY II, and the coronation of Queen Anne.

She wedded the Rt Hon Edward Southwell MP, Principal Secretary of State in Ireland, and had issue, two sons and a daughter, who all died sine prole; and another, a son, Edward Southwell, who, marrying Catherine, daughter of Edward Watson, Viscount Sondes, and sole heiress of her brothers, Lewis and Thomas, Earls of Rockingham.

Her ladyship's son,

EDWARD SOUTHWELL (1705-55), succeeded to the barony of DE CLIFFORD.

The Lady Cromwell died in 1709, and the barony of CROMWELL is now considered to be vested in the Barons de Clifford.

Dundrum Castle was held by the 1st Earl between 1605-36.

The colours of Downpatrick High School's crest are taken from the arms of Elizabeth, Baroness Cromwell, owner of the Downpatrick estate.

The Earls of Ardglass were landlords of most of the barony of Lecale.

Dr Eileen Black has written about the Southwells here.

The lands of Lecale were held, prior to the Reformation, either by the great religious corporations in Downpatrick or by the descendants of the early English colonists.

The Church lands, having become vested in the Crown, were leased to the Earl of Kildare and, after the expiration of that lease, came into the possession of the Cromwells, Earls of Ardglass.

They still form the Downpatrick estate, except large portions of them that have been sold or leased by the Cromwells or their descendants.

The estates held by the descendants of the early English colonists were almost all confiscated under the Act of Settlement, after the termination of the civil wars of 1641.

Throwley Old Hall, Staffordshire, was a seat of the Cromwells through marriage. Elizabeth, the last of the Meverells, married Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's chief minister, responsible for the disillusion of the monasteries. A descendant of them was Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector.

The writer and poet Charles Cotton married into the Cromwell family in 1669 – his 2nd wife Mary was a widow of Wingfield Cromwell. He spent time fishing the local river with his great friend Izaak Newton and building his famous fishing lodge on the River Dove.

Following the Cromwells the house passed to the last Baron de Clifford, Edward Southwell, who sold to Sir Samuel Crompton in 1790, who let the property to the reputable Phillips family.

Several members of the family are interred at Down Cathedral. The 1st Earl held Dundrum Castle between 1605-36.

First published in February, 2012.

Castle Martyr

THE EARLS OF SHANNON OWNED 11,232 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY CORK

This is a branch of the noble house of BOYLE, Earls of Cork and Orrery, springing from THE HON HENRY BOYLE (1682-1764), second son of Roger, 1st Earl of Orrery, whose son, by the Lady Mary O'Brien, daughter of Murrough, 1st Earl of Inchiquin, HENRY BOYLE, of Castle Martyr, being sworn of the Privy Council in Ireland, filled some of the highest political offices in that kingdom (Speaker of the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Justice etc).

Mr Boyle was elevated to the peerage, in 1756, in the dignities of Baron Castle Martyr, Viscount Boyle, and EARL OF SHANNON.

His lordship married firstly, in 1715, Catherine, daughter of Chidley Coote, of Killester, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, in 1726, the Lady Henrietta Boyle, youngest daughter of Charles, 3rd Earl of Cork, and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor;
Henry;
William;
Charles;
Robert;
Juliana.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 2nd Earl (1728-1807), KP, PC, who, having filled some high political offices, and being sworn of the Privy Council, was enrolled amongst the peers of Great Britain, in 1786, as Baron Carleton, of Carleton, Yorkshire.

His lordship was a Knight Founder of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, 1783.

He wedded, in 1763, Catherine, eldest daughter of Mr Speaker Ponsonby, of the Irish house of commons, and had issue,

HENRY, his successor;
Catherine Henrietta.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

HENRY, 3rd Earl (1771-1842), KP, PC, who espoused, in 1798, Sarah, fourth daughter of John Hyde, of Castle Hyde, and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor;
Henry Charles;
Robert Francis;
Catherine; Sarah; Louisa Grace; Jane; Elizabeth; Charlotte Anne.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

• Richard Boyle, 4th Earl (1809–68);

• Henry Bentinck Boyle, 5th Earl (1833–90)

• Richard Henry Boyle, 6th Earl (1860–1906);

• Richard Bernard Boyle, 7th Earl (1897–1917);

• Robert Henry Boyle, 8th Earl (1900–63);

• Richard Bentinck Boyle, 9th Earl (1924–2013);

• Richard Henry John Boyle, 10th Earl (b 1960).

The heir presumptive is the present holder's second cousin, Robert Francis Boyle. 

CASTLE MARTYR, County Cork, was built in the early 18th century by Henry Boyle, Speaker of the Irish house of commons, afterwards 1st Earl of Shannon.

The house was substantially enlarged by the 2nd Earl between 1764-71; and further re-modelled in the late Georgian period.

The entrance front is of two storeys and seventeen bays, comprising a five-bay recessed centre and giant pedimented portico between projecting wings.

The entrance front of the house overlooks a sheet of water which is part of the remarkable artificial river made before 1750 by the 1st Earl.

Castle Martyr was sold early in the 20th century to the Arnott family; then became a Carmelite college.

It now forms the nucleus of a luxury hotel resort.

Former town residence ~ 7 Connaught Place, London.

First published in July, 2013. 

The Minnowburn Acquisition

SELECTIVE ACQUISITIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

PROPERTY: Terrace Hill, Minnowburn, near Belfast, County Down.

DATE: 1963

EXTENT: 9.01 acres

DONOR: Messrs H W and F M Clokey

*****

PROPERTY: Land at Terrace Hill

DATE: 1992

EXTENT: 0.35 acres

DONOR: Department of Health & Social Services for Northern Ireland

First published in January, 2015.