Rathlin Manor House

Arms of the Viscount Gage

THE GAGES OWNED 3,311 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

This family is a branch of GAGE of Firle.

JOHN GAGE, whose name is found in deeds during the time of HENRY IV, and who was lineally descended from the Norman, left a son,

JOHN GAGE, who married Joan, daughter and co-heir of John Sudgrove, of Sudgrove, Gloucestershire.

The son and successor of this John,

SIR JOHN GAGE (c1420-75/6), Knight, made great additions to his estate by purchases, and, further, by marrying Eleanor, daughter and heir of Thomas St Clere, lord of the manor of Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, and had issue,

William, ancestor of GENERAL GAGE;
JOHN, of whom we treat.

The younger son,

JOHN GAGE, married Margaret, daughter of John Tawyer, and had issue, an only child,

HENRY GAGE, of Raunds, Northamptonshire, espoused Margaret, daughter of George Boyvill, and had issue,

GEORGE;

Mary; Anne.

The son and heir,

GEORGE GAGE, of Raunds, wedded Cecily, daughter of William Wolston, and had issue,

Henry;

John;

ROBERT;

Thomas;

William;

Mary; Elizabeth; Allane.

The third son,

ROBERT GAGE, of Raunds, married, in 1573, Anne, daughter of Robert Pemberton, and had issue,

JOHN, of whom presently;

Thomas;

William;

Mary; Anne.

The first of the family to settle in Ulster,

JOHN GAGE, married, before 1608, Jane, daughter of Richard Goodwin, and had issue,

Richard;
Charles;
William;
John, ancestor of GAGE OF BELLARENA;
ROBERT, of whom hereafter;
Jane; Anne; Alice; Florinda; Elizabeth; Margaret; Mary.

Mr Gage, Clerk of the Peace for Northamptonshire, 1611-22, acquired the Magilligan estates, County Londonderry, in 1635.

His younger brother, William, purchased the lease of Magilligan in 1630 from the Lord Bishop of Derry, and was Mayor of Londonderry, 1631-2.

The youngest son,

THE REV ROBERT GAGE (c1659-1725), Chaplain to QUEEN ANNE, and to Lionel, Duke of Dorset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, for many years Prebendary of Aghadowey, County Londonderry, and in which he was succeeded by his son,

THE REV JOHN GAGE (1693-1763), Prebendary of Aghadowey, who wedded, in 1733, Susannah, daughter of the Rev John Johnston, Rector of Clondevadogue, in the Diocese of Raphoe, and had issue,

John, died unmarried;
Frederick, died unmarried;
ROBERT, his heir;
Barbara, m R Harvey, of Malin Hall;
Susan; Mary Anne.

The Rev John Gage, who purchased Rathlin Island in 1746, was succeeded by his third son,

ROBERT GAGE JP (1739-1801), of Rathlin Island, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1787, who married, in 1776, Barbara, daughter of the Rev John Richardson, of Somerset, Coleraine, County Londonderry, and had issue,

John, died unmarried;
Frederick; RN; died unmarried;
ROBERT, his heir;
Barbara Frances; Susanna Maria; Elizabeth; Mary Anne;
Henrietta; Catherine; Jane; Elizabeth Harriet.

Mr Gage was succeeded by his third son,

THE REV ROBERT GAGE JP (1790-1862), of Rathlin Island, who wedded, in 1812, Catherine, daughter of Ezekiel Davis-Boyd, of Ballycastle, County Antrim, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
EZEKIEL, succeeded his brother;
John;
John;
Catherine; Barbara; Rosetta; Amelia; Susan; Elizabeth; Adelaide;
Dorothea, m HSH Prince Albrecht of Waldeck & Pyrmont.

Mr Gage was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT GAGE JP (1813-91), of Rathlin Island, who died unmarried, when the family estates devolved upon his next brother,

MAJOR-GENERAL EZEKIEL GAGE (1819-1906), of Raghery House and Rathlin Island, who espoused, in 1848, Maria, daughter of John Dobbs, and had issue,

ROBERT CHARLES, his heir;
RICHARD STEWART, succeeded his brother;
FRANCIS (Dr);
ALEXANDER HUGH (Rev);
Marianne;

CATHERINE (1854-1918), m Col. AS Grove ;

Amy Boyd. 

General Gage devised Rathlin Island between his four sons, the eldest of whom,

ROBERT CHARLES GAGE (1851-88), of Rathlin Island, espoused Georgina, daughter of William Braddell, and died leaving a son, ROBERT HARVEY, who married and had issue, one son and a daughter.

General Gage's second son,

RICHARD STEWART GAGE (1862-1909), of Rathlin Island, Captain, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, wedded, in 1895, Norah Lilian, daughter of O'Donnell Grimshaw, and had issue,

EZEKIEL HUGH;
RICHARD FRANCIS O'DONNELL.

Captain Gage's elder son,

EZEKIEL HUGH GAGE MC (1896-1931), Captain, Royal Horse Artillery, died unmarried, when the family estates devolved upon his only brother,

BRIGADIER RICHARD FRANCIS O'DONNELL (Rex) GAGE CBE MC (1897-1973), of Rathlin Island, who wedded, in 1931, Marjorie, daughter of Captain Conn Alexander, and had issue,

EZEKIEL CONN;
Patrick Richard, OBE, Commander RN;
Patricia Ruth.

Brigadier Gage was succeeded by his eldest son,

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL EZEKIEL CONN GAGE (1933-), of Rathlin Island, who married, in 1965, Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Major Frederick George Bolam, and had issue,

Matthew James George, b 1967;
Victoria Louise, b 1968;
Alexander Richard, b 1972.

THE MANOR HOUSE, Rathlin Island, was home to the Gage family for over 200 years.

The last member of the family to live there was Brigadier Rex Gage, who died in 1973.

It is thought that the Gages left the manor-house in 1975, though still spend holidays on the island at the Old Glebe House.

The Manor-house, Rathlin Island, ante 1936 (Welch Collection/NMNI)

The Gages added a walled garden, other walled enclosures, a corn mill, boat-house and kelp store.

The Rev John Gage bought Rathlin Island from the 5th Earl of Antrim in 1746 for £1,750 (equivalent to £324,000 in 2024).

Mark Bence-Jones describes the Manor House thus:

a long, low range of buildings on the water-front of Church Bay; incorporating work-rooms for weavers which were built in the 1760s by Robert Gage, former cottages and a two-storey, six-bay late-Georgian house. The house is entered by a porch at one end - and at the extreme left-hand end of the whole long range - with a doorway of rusticated quoins surmounted by an oculus, or oeil de boeuf.

Various additions were made in 1816; a stone archway was built in 1819; and still further additions in 1831.

Some of the rooms have Victorian marble chimney-pieces.

After 1975, the manor-house lay vacant and derelict for a period till it was restored by the Rathlin Island Trust.

Following his rescue off the coast of Rathlin on his hot-air balloon in 1987, Sir Richard Branson generously donated £25,000 to the Rathlin Island Trust towards the restoration.

The National Trust acquired the Manor House in 1998 and it opened as accommodation shortly thereafter.

*****

CATHERINE GAGE (1854-1918) married, in 1873, Colonel Alexander Sinclair Grove DSO MC, and had issue, eight daughters, of whom MARY GRACE MONTGOMERY GROVE wedded, in 1897, Colonel Alan James Campbell DSO, of Lisvarna, Ballycastle.

Their younger son, MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ALEXANDER DOUGLAS CAMPBELL KBE CB DSO, was the father of COMMANDER PETER CAMPBELL LVO OBE DL RN, born in 1927.

Commander Campbell married, in 1966, the Lady Moyra Kathleen Hamilton (Lady Moyra Campbell CVO), daughter of James, 4th Duke of Abercorn.

Commander Campbell, a cousin of the Gages, retained the shooting and fishing rights on Rathlin Island.

First published in July, 2009.

Glanomera House

THE ARTHURS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY CLARE, WITH 10,534 ACRES

The Arthurs are stated to have been originally 'Artureighs', and to derive their descent from a common ancestor with the O'Briens, viz. Cormac Cas, King of Munster. The name, it is further asserted, was anglicised, in common with many others, on the invasion of Ireland by HENRY II, who is stated to have conferred honours and grants of land on one of that name in 1178.

In the records of Limerick, the name of ARTHUR frequently occurs from the earliest period down to the time of CHARLES I, when the family estates in County Limerick were confiscated by the usurper CROMWELL for loyalty to the royal cause.

The Arthurs subsequently removed to County Clare, and became seated at Glenomera. On the municipal roll of the city of Limerick are given the names of no less than forty-eight ARTHURS as mayors etc of that city.

From John Arthur, Mayor of Limerick in 1340, and Sir Dominick Arthur, also Mayor of that city, we pass to Sir Nicholas Arthur, Knight, Mayor in 1591.

Thomas Arthur was Bishop of Limerick in 1470; Richard Arthur was RC Bishop, 1643.

The Rev Geoffrey Arthur, of the Church of Rome, Treasurer of Limerick Cathedral, died in 1519, and was buried there, where his monument, with a curious Latin inscription, may still be seen.

Edward Arthur was MP for the city of Limerick, 1599; and Thomas Arthur, MP in 1585.

THOMAS ARTHUR, of Glanomera, son of Piers Arthur, wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Butler, heiress of the BUTLERS of Kilmoyler, County Tipperary, descended from the 9th Earl of Ormonde and the 11th Earl of Desmond; and was father of

THOMAS ARTHUR DL, of Glanomera, who wedded Lucy, fourth daughter of Sir Edward O'Brien Bt, of Dromoland, and left by her at his decease, 1803 (with a daughter, Mary), an only son and successor, 

THOMAS ARTHUR DL (1778-1845), of Glanomera, who espoused, in 1803, Harriet, second daughter and co-heir (with her only sister, Charlotte, wife of Sir Edward O'Brien Bt, of Dromoland) of William Smith, of Cahermoyle, County Limerick, and had (with nine daughters) seven sons,

THOMAS, his heir;
William Smith;
LUCIUS (Rev);
Edward;
Augustus;
Henry;
Frederick Brian Boru (Rev).

Mr Arthur was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS ARTHUR (1806-84),  of Glanomera, who wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Butler, of Kilmoyler, descended from Piers, seventh son of James, 9th Earl of Ormonde.

He was succeeded by his brother,

THE REV LUCIUS ARTHUR (1810-87), of Glanomera, who married, in 1840, Caroline Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Haycock Jervis, of Moseley, Warwickshire, and had issue,

THOMAS LUCIUS JERVIS, his heir;
Edward Henry Frederick;
Charles William Augustus;
Harriet Elizabeth Augusta; Ellen Lucy Julia; Maria Anne Florence;
Charlotte Katherine Susan; Grace Caroline Frances.

The eldest son,

THOMAS LUCIUS JERVIS ARTHUR JP (1847-88), of Glanomera, Captain, 6th R V Regiment, married, in 1881, Constance Helen, daughter of William Steele Studdert, of Clonboy, County Clare, by Constance his wife, daughter of Robert George Massy, and had issue,

CHARLES WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, his heir;
Desmond Phelps Pery Lucius Studdert, b 1884.

His elder son, 

CHARLES WILLIAM AUGUSTUS ARTHUR (1882-1934), of Glanomera, County Clare, wedded, in 1904, Rose Violet, daughter of John Joseph Roche-Kelly, of Rockstown Castle and Islandmore, County Limerick, and had issue,

Charles Augustus, died in infancy;
LUCIUS, of whom hereafter.

His second son, 

LUCIUS ARTHUR, born in 1913, was the grandfather of the surviving members of that line.

Photo Credit: Limerick City Museum; © Michael Kelly; Paul Kelly

GLANOMERA HOUSE, County Clare, was burnt in 1905.

Select Bibliography: Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland, 1912, page 15.   First published in March, 2013.

Bovagh House

Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet KBE CB DSO DSC
(Image: Walter Bird, National Portrait Gallery)

THE HEZLETS OWNED 675 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY

The family of HEZLET appears to have had a long connection with County Londonderry. Some sources claim that the Hezlets derived from Haesluyt in Holland, a place name which means 'the hazel-lot.' They are first recorded in Ulster during the early 17th century: Thomas Heslett [sic], of Artidillon, appeared in the Coleraine rent roll of 1620-41.

The Rev Robert Hezlet (d 1821) was Mayor of Coleraine in 1781, and Rector of Killowen for forty years.

Maj-Gen Robert Knox Hezlet CB CBE DSO DL

Major-General Robert Knox Hezlet CB CBE DSO DL (1879-1963), of Bovagh House, High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1947, was father of

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ARTHUR RICHARD HEZLET KBE CB DSO DSC (1914-2007), of Bovagh House, Legion of Merit (United States), High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1968.

Sir Arthur's honours included:- 

• Knight Commander (Military Division) of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• Companion (Military Division) of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
• Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar
• Distinguished Service Cross

He became the Royal Navy's youngest captain, aged 36, and its youngest admiral, aged 45.

Sir Arthur died at Bovagh in 2007, aged 93.

In my youth, I once stood beside Sir Arthur, then Area President of the Royal British Legion in Northern Ireland. My late father supervised the lighting in a voluntary capacity at the annual RBL Festival of Remembrance in Belfast.

In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the festival was held in the Ulster Hall, one week before the national Festival at the Royal Albert Hall.

About 1979, Sir Arthur - as Area President - recited "As We Grow Old" on the stage; and a young teenage army cadet, Timothy Collins (Colonel Timothy Collins OBE), also recited a poem.

What struck me was how Sir Arthur always made a point of going over to these young people, encouraging them and saying a few words, like "very well done".

Bovagh House (Image: Benson's/PropertyPal)

BOVAGH HOUSE, near Aghadowey, County Londonderry, was formerly a land agent's house of the Beresfords, Marquesses of Waterford. It was built ca 1740.

The Beresfords were major landowners in the county and were seated at Bovaugh Castle in the vicinity. 

Theobald Jones MP (1790-1868), of Bovagh House, and of 54 Curzon Street, London, was a second cousin of the 3rd Marquess of Waterford.

The house has a small, high quality parkland with mature trees set on the southern banks of the Agivey river, having replaced an earlier house.

The main avenue, which meets the road near Bovagh Bridge to the west, contains the remains of a collection of exotics.

The walled garden, which lies to the south of the house, is not planted up.

There is a very pretty Victorian glasshouse immediately to the west of the house, with a small box parterre in front.

Bovagh House (Image: Benson's/PropertyPal)

An area in the stable yard is kept up as a modern ornamental garden.

The gate lodge has been demolished.

The property is approached by a sweeping, tree-lined, pebbled driveway.

Ourbuildings (Image: Benson's/PropertyPal)

To the rear of the property there is also a walled courtyard with various outbuildings and garaging with large stone barns and former stables.

There is also an ancient woodland and an old orchard dotted with bluebells and wild flowers.

The grounds today extend to approximately 44 acres.

The lands which surround the house are laid out in three fields.

Bovagh House and its 35-acre grounds are for sale (September, 2026). 

First published in August, 2012.

Ballymenoch Demesne

BALLYMENOCH HOUSE, a Georgian mansion, became the residence of Sir Daniel and Lady Dixon when he purchased it in 1863.

It was situated on the outskirts of Holywood, County Down.

The grounds are now a municipal park.

Mr Dixon received the honour of knighthood in 1892, and was created a baronet in 1903:-

WHITEHALL, September 7, 1903.

The King has been pleased to direct the preparation of Warrants under His Majesty's Royal Sign Manual, authorising Letters Patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Ireland, conferring the dignity of a Baronet of the said United Kingdom upon each of the under-mentioned Gentlemen, and the heirs male of their respective bodies lawfully begotten :—

The Right Honourable Sir Daniel Dixon, of Ballymenoch in the Parish of Holywood, in the County of Down, Knight, Lord Mayor of Belfast.

Sir Daniel's younger son, Herbert, was elevated to the peerage in 1939, in the dignity of BARON GLENTORAN, of Ballyalloly, County Down.

Ballymenoch House (above) and its grounds originally extended down to the sea, close to the present Sea Park.

I have been unable to find the origin of the painting or engraving above, if any readers can be of assistance.

The grounds were bisected by the main Bangor Road.

The house itself was of two storeys with tripartite windows, bow fronts, portico and urns on the balustrade; numerous chimneys, too.

It dated from the late 18th century.

There were two charming lodges, locally known as "ink-wells" owing to their shape.

One of them was knocked down in the 1930s; the other in 1971.

It would appear that the first owners, in 1783, were called Hamilton; then the Holmes'; closely followed, in 1802, by Cunningham Gregg, a prosperous Belfast merchant from Macedon in County Antrim.

The Gregg family sold Ballymenoch to Daniel Dixon in 1863, who also bought the demesne and part of the coastline from Holywood pier to Clanbrassil in the 1880s.

In 1876, Thomas Gregg owned 492 acres at Ballymenoch and London, which provides us with an indication of the size of the demesne.

On the 3rd July, 1914, seven years after Sir Daniel's death, Ballymenoch House was burnt to the ground by the suffragettes.

Lady Dixon had been away from home for several months, leaving the house in the care of John Nevin and Robert Wilson, two caretakers.

The Belfast Newsletter reported at the time:-

BEAUTIFUL MANSION NEAR BELFAST GUTTED: DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £20,000 (£2.3 million in 2019). 

Ballymenoch House, one of the largest and most stately mansions in Ulster, was totally gutted by fire yesterday - between five and six o'clock yesterday morning it was discovered that the building was on fire. 

Although the brigade remained on the scene until half-past three yesterday afternoon, they were unable to do any effective work after the water supply failed; and when they left, the whole of the roof collapsed. 

About four o'clock, when the fire seemed to have spent itself, huge sheets of flame commenced to shoot up from the cellars, and burnt fiercely until everything of a combustible nature had been destroyed. 

No explanation can be given for the origin of the fire, but two copies of The Suffragette, the organ of the militant women, were found in the grounds, and on the windows of the conservatory, which are painted white, the words 'Votes for Women' had been written.

The Eventide Home, its successor, was erected in a slightly different position by the industrialist, Sir Samuel Kelly.

First published in August, 2010.

Higginson of Carnalea

THE HIGGINSONS OWNED 81 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DOWN

The first recorded representatives of the family in Ulster were the brothers Nathaniel and Nicholas, sons of the Rev John Higginson (1546-1624), Vicar of Claybrooke, Leicestershire. Nathaniel was despoiled of his property, Knockballymore Castle, County Fermanagh, and Nicholas of his estate at Belturbet, County Cavan, in the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

EDWARD HIGGINSON (c1636-c1713), of Lisburn (grandson of the Rev John Higginson, of Leicester), a colonel in Lord Conway's Regiment (Rawdon's Troop of Horse), settled at Ballinderry, County Antrim, where he built Mosslands House.

He married Mary, daughter of Robert Savage, and had issue,

PHILIP;
THOMAS, of whom hereafter. 

The elder son,

CAPTAIN PHILIP HIGGINSON (1685-1783), of Mosslands, Ballinderry, married Eleanor Talbot, and was father of

PHILIP TALBOT HIGGINSON (-1819), Lieutenant, 73rd Regiment, who wedded, in 1764, Margaret, daughter of Richard Taylor, by whom he had an only child, JANE, who espoused her cousin, the Rev Thomas Edward Higginson.

Colonel Higginson's younger son,

THOMAS HIGGINSON (-1756), of Mosslands, Ballinderry, settled in County Wexford, and married Mary Colley, and was father of

THE REV DR THOMAS HIGGINSON (1722-89), Rector of Lisburn, Vicar of Ballinderry, who wedded Ann Moore, of Boley, County Wexford, and had issue,

THOMAS EDWARD, his heir;
Eliza, m H Marmion, of Lambeg;
Maria, m J Johnston, of Dublin;
Letitia, m Captain Greydon, HM Dragoons.

Dr Higginson's son and heir,

THE REV THOMAS EDWARD HIGGINSON (1767-1819), Incumbent of Lambeg, espoused, in 1788, his cousin Jane (maternal first cousin of the Earl of Shrewsbury), daughter of Philip Talbot Higginson, Lieutenant, 73rd Regiment, Usher in Court of Exchequer, and had issue,

Thomas Edward, b 1789, lawyer, East India Co; m F Clay; dsp;
Philip Talbot, Capt. Royal Irish Fusiliers; dsp;
HENRY THEOPHILUS, of whom we treat;
Margaret, m Rev Edward Leslie, Rector of Annahilt.

The third son, 

HENRY THEOPHILUS HIGGINSON JP (1798-1869), of Carnalea House, Crawfordsburn, County Down, Captain, Derriaghy Yeomanry, High Sheriff of Carrickfergus, 1849, married, in 1825, Charlotte, only surviving daughter and heiress of John McConnell, of Belfast (son of James McConnell, by Elizabeth his wife, only daughter of Dr Andrew Bogle, of Strabane (one of the claimants of the dormant Earldom of Menteith), by Charlotte his wife, daughter of James Potter, of Mount Potter, County Down), and had issue,

JOHN McCONNELL, of Carnalea;
Thomas Edward (1828-50);
Charles Henry, of New York and Norfolk, Virginia, USA (1830-69);
Theophilus, CB, Colonel, Indian Army (1839-1903);
Henry Talbot (Dr);
Charlotte Potter; Jane; Dorothea Josepha.

Mr Higginson was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN McCONNELL HIGGINSON JP (1826-91), of Carnalea House, and Tudor Hall, Holywood, Registrar of the Diocese of Down, Connor & Dromore, who wedded, in 1850, Susan Arabella Gertrude, only daughter of Robert Conry, of Clonahee, County Roscommon, and Lisbrack, County Longford, Captain, 90th Regiment, and had issue,

HENRY HARTLAND, his heir;
Charles William Shaw;
Thomas Edward;
Robert Conry;
Gertrude Arabella; Charlotte Augusta.

The eldest son,

HENRY HARTLAND HIGGINSON (1855-1908), of Carnalea House, Major, 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, wedded, in 1886, Elizabeth Mary, youngest daughter of Andrew Armstrong, of Kylemore, County Galway, and St Andrew's, County Dublin, and had issue,

HENRY CLIVE HIGGINSON (1887-), of Carnalea House, County Down.

I am keen to acquire images of Carnalea House, Crawfordsburn, County Down.

First published in July, 2012.

Bellamont Forest

THE EARLS OF BELLAMONT OWNED 5,321 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY CAVAN

This is the parent stock whence the noble houses of COOTE, Earls of Mountrath, and COOTE, Lords Castlecoote, both now extinct, emanated. 

This noble family derives its origin from

SIR JOHN COOTE, a native of France, who married Isabella, the daughter and heir of the Seigneur Du Bois, of that kingdom, and had issue,

SIR JOHN COOTE, Knight, who coming into England, settled in Devon, and married a daughter of Sir John Fortescue, of that county.

His lineal descendant,

JOHN COOTE, heir to his uncle, 28th Abbot of Bury St Edmund's, wedded Margaret, daughter of Mr Drury, by whom he had four sons,

Richard;
FRANCIS, of whom we treat;
Christopher;
Nicholas.

Mr Coote's second son,

FRANCIS COOTE, of Eaton, in Norfolk, served ELIZABETH I; and by Anne, his wife, had issue,

SIR NICHOLAS COOTE, living in 1636, who had two sons,

CHARLES, his heir;
William (Very Rev), Dean of Down, 1635.

Sir Nicholas's elder son,

SIR CHARLES COOTE (1581-1642), Knight, of Castle Cuffe, in the Queen's County,

Served in the wars against O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, at the head, as Captain of the 100th Foot Regiment, with which corps he was at the siege of Kinsale, and was appointed, by JAMES I (in consequence of the good and faithful services he had rendered to ELIZABETH I), provost-marshal of the province of Connaught for life. 

In 1620, he was constituted Vice-President of the same province; and created, in 1621, a baronet, designated of Castle Cuffe, Queen's County. Sir Charles distinguished himself, subsequently, by many gallant exploits; but the most celebrated was the relief of Birr, in 1642. Being dispatched, with Sir Thomas Lucas and six troops of horse, to relieve that garrison, and some other fortresses, it was necessary, in order to effect the objective, to pass the causeway broken by the rebels, who had thrown up a ditch at the end of it. 

Sir Charles, leading thirty dismounted dragoons, beat the enemy, with the loss of their captain and twenty men; relieved the castles of Birr, Borris, and Knocknamase; and having continued almost forty hours on horseback, returned to the camp with the loss of only one man.

This is the surprising passage through Mountrath woods which justly caused the title of MOUNTRATH to be entailed upon his son.

Sir Charles married Dorothea, youngest daughter and co-heir of Hugh Cuffe, of Cuffe's Wood, County Cork, and had issue,

Charles, 1st Earl of Mountrath;
Chidley, of Killester, Co Dublin;
RICHARD, 1st Baron Coote, ancestor of the EARL OF BELLAMONT (1st Creation);
Thomas, of Coote Hill;
Letitia.

The younger son,

RICHARD COOTE (1620-83), for his hearty concurrence with his brother, SIR CHARLES, 2nd Baronet, in promoting the restoration of CHARLES II, was rewarded with the dignity of a peerage of the realm.

Being the same day that his brother was created Earl of Mountrath, Richard Coote was created, in 1660, Baron Coote, of Colloony.

In 1660, his lordship was appointed Major to the Duke of Albemarle's Regiment of Horse; and the same year he was appointed one of the commissioners for executing His Majesty's declaration for the settlement of Ireland.

He was, in 1675, appointed one of the commissioners entrusted for the 49 Officers. 

In 1676, the 1st Baron resided at Moore Park, County Meath, and Piercetown, County Westmeath.

His lordship married Mary, second daughter of George, Lord St George, and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor;
Thomas;
Lætitia; Mary; Catherine; Elizabeth.

Following his decease, in 1683, he was interred at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 2nd Baron (1636-1701), Governor of County Leitrim, 1689, Treasurer to the Queen, 1689-93, MP for Droitwich, 1689-95, who was, in 1688, one of the first to join the Prince of Orange.

In 1689, he was attainted in his absence by the Irish Parliament of JAMES II.

His lordship was created, in 1689, EARL OF BELLAMONT, along with a grant of 77,000 acres of forfeited lands.

His lordship was Governor of Massachusetts, 1695, and Governor of New York, 1697-1701.

The King had sent Lord Bellomont to New York to suppress the "freebooting."

Unfortunately he was responsible for outfitting the veteran mariner William Kidd, who turned into "Captain Kidd," who terrorised the merchants until his capture in 1698.

According to Cokayne "he was a man of eminently fair character, upright, courageous and independent. Though a decided Whig he had distinguished himself by bringing before the Parliament at Westminster some tyrannical acts done by Whigs at Dublin."

His lordship wedded, in 1680, Catharine, daughter and heir of Bridges Nanfan, of Worcestershire, and had issue,

NANFAN, his successor;
RICHARD, succeeded his brother.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

NANFAN, 2nd Earl (1681-1708), who married Lucia Anna van Nassau (1684-1744), daughter of Henry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk, in 1705/6 at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, London.

He died at Bath, Somerset, from palsy, without male issue, when the family honours devolved upon his brother,

RICHARD, 3rd Earl (1682-1766), who, in 1729, sold the family estate of Colloony, County Sligo, for nearly £17,000.

In 1737, he succeeded his mother to the estates of Birtsmorton, Worcestershire.

Macaulay described him as "of eminently fair character, upright, courageous and independent."

On his death the earldom expired. 

The last Earl was succeeded in the barony of Coote by his first cousin once removed,

CHARLES, 5th Baron (1738-1800), KB PC, son of Charles Coote, MP for County Cavan, 1761-6, son of the HON THOMAS COOTE, a Justice of the Court of the King's Bench of Ireland, younger son of the 1st Baron.

THE HON THOMAS COOTE (c1655-1741) was the father of

CHARLES COOTE (c1695-1750), of Coote Hill, County Cavan, High Sheriff of County Cavan, 1719, MP for Granard, 1723-27, Cavan County, 1727-50, who wedded, in 1722, Prudence, daughter of Richard Geering, and had issue,

CHARLES, his heir;
Frances; Elizabeth.

His only son,

SIR CHARLES COOTE (1736-1800), KB PC, of Coote Hill (afterwards renamed Bellamont Forest) married, in 1774, the Lady Emily Maria Margaret FitzGerald, daughter of James, 1st Duke of Leinster, and had issue,

Charles, Viscount Coote (1778-86);
Mary; Prudentia; Emily; Louisa.

Sir Charles succeeded his cousin, Richard, in 1766, as 5th Baron Coote; and was created, in 1767, EARL OF BELLAMONT (3rd creation).

1st Earl of Bellamont KB

His lordship was created a baronet, in 1774, designated of Donnybrooke, County Dublin, with remainder to his natural son, Charles Coote, of Dublin.

Following his death in 1800, the titles became extinct as he left no legitimate male issue, though he was succeeded in the baronetcy according to the special remainder by his illegitimate son Charles, 2nd Baronet.

BELLAMONT FOREST, near Cootehill, County Cavan, now sits amid approximately one thousand acres of parkland and lakes.

Bellamont is generally acknowledged to be one of the finest 18th-century Palladian houses in the British Isles.

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

It is thought to be one of the earliest brick houses in Ireland.

An article published in Country Life in 2010 tells the story of Bellamont and some of its owners:

Despite its historical importance as the first and most perfect Palladian villa built in Ireland, Bellamont is relatively little known, whereas the Cootes, who built it, were very well known, not to say notorious, in their day. 

The first to make his mark in Ireland was Sir Charles Coote, a military adventurer who died in battle at Trim, County Meath, in 1642, leaving estates in four counties to his four sons. 

His youngest son, Colonel Thomas Coote, was granted the O’Reilly lands in County Cavan at the Act of Settlement in 1662. 

He married a Miss Hill from Hillsborough in County Down and founded the town of Coote Hill (now Cootehill). 

On his death in 1671, his estate passed to his nephew, also Thomas Coote, who became a Lord Justice of the Kings Bench in Ireland, and was made a Knight of the Bath ‘in testimony of his good and laudable service in suppressing tumultuous and illegal insurrection in the northern parts of Ireland’. 

He also established Cootehill as a prosperous linen town, which, by 1800, was attracting buyers from Belfast, Dublin and London. 

On marrying his third wife, Ann Lovett, in 1697, Coote became the uncle-in-law of Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, a cousin of Vanbrugh, and by far the most important architect working in Ireland in the early 18th century. 

According to architectural historian Dr Maurice Craig (Country Life, May 21 and 28, 1964), it was Pearce who built Thomas Coote’s new house at Cootehill in 1729-30, the design of which was reputedly based on Palladio’s Villa Rotonda at Vicenza and Villa Pisani at Montagnana. 

Its name was later changed to Bellamont Forest by Coote’s grandson, Charles, who inherited in 1764 and became the Earl of Bellamont in 1767. 

The new Lord Bellomont was a complex figure, being variously described as a man of ‘the highest refinement’, but also as a ‘tyrant’, ‘madman’ and ‘a person of disgusting pomposity’. 

An inveterate womaniser, he sired at least six illegitimate children, all of whom were provided for in his will. 

On his death in 1800, the estate passed to these descendants who lived on at Bellamont Forest, becoming gradually ever poorer. 

In 1874, Edward Smith JP, having amassed a considerable fortune from the coal trade between Liverpool and Newry, bought Bellamont Forest and lands for £145,000 (equivalent to £16.5 million in 2019). 

Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021

The mansion, built between 1725-30 for the Hon Thomas Coote, is four bays square, built over two storeys, with a mezzanine floor and a basement.

It is built of red brick with ashlar facings, and has a Doric limestone portico, with pediments over the windows.

There are both excellent formal reception rooms and beautiful entertaining rooms, coupled with a comfortable family atmosphere.

Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021

It provides extensive bedroom accommodation for both family, guests and staff, and in addition boasts the former linen hall.

The gardens have also been developed and greatly enhanced and act as further entertaining space.

A particular feature is the walled garden.

The descendants of the last Earl of Bellomont sold Bellamont Forest in 1874 to Edward Smith, a wealthy coal merchant.

The Dorman-Smiths sold the estate to Bryan Mills in 1981; and they sold it in 1987 to John Coote.

Mr Coote died in 2010, and in 2015 Bellamont Forest was purchased by its present owner, John Manuel Morehart.

The mansion, outbuildings, and demesne were completely restored in 2021.

First published in August, 2013.   Bellomont arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

Stewart of Ramelton

THE STEWART BARONETS OWNED 7,547 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DONEGAL

The Stewarts of Ramelton are said to descend from the Earls of Galloway and the Lords Blantyre. They were the first of the Stewarts to be raised to the Baronetage, in 1623; and from them sprang the Viscounts Mountjoy and the Earl of Blessington.

GENERAL THE RT HON SIR WILLIAM STEWART, 1st Baronet, of Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, and Ramelton, County Donegal, went over to Ulster in 1608 as Captain Commanding a company of Scottish troops sent to serve in the Province.

He is stated by William Douglas of Glenbervie in his Historical and Genealogical Tree of the Royal Family of Scotland and name of Stewart (1750) to have been a son [or grandson] of Archibald Stewart, 3rd Laird of Fintalloch who died ca 1596, and whose family descended from Sir William Stewart, 2nd of Garlies, the ancestor of the Earl of Galloway.

He was in great favour with JAMES VI and I, and became an undertaker for the plantation of escheated lands in the province of Ulster, 1610.

He was Knighted in 1619, and created a Baronet in 1623, designated of Ramelton, County Donegal.

In the rebellion of 1641 Sir William and Sir Robert Stewart, Governor of Derry, routed Sir Phelim O'Neill near Strabane, and in other places.

Sir William received large grants of land from the Crown in counties Donegal and Tyrone.

He was a Privy Counsellor in the reigns of JAMES I and CHARLES I, and having served as a military officer in the troubles of Ireland, received in satisfaction for arrears of pay due to June, 1649, one debenture of £4,329 (equivalent to £636,500 in 2024); while his son, Sir Alexander Stewart, was allotted for his services a debenture for £2,599.

Sir William married Frances, second daughter of Sir Robert Newcomen, 1st Baronet, of Mosstown, County Longford (by Catherine his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Molyneux), and had issue,

ALEXANDER, his successor;

Thomas, of Fort Stewart, Co Donegal; ancestor of ANNESLEY, 6th Baronet;

Catherine, m 1631 Sir J Montgomery, of Rosemount; son of 1st Viscount Montgomery.

Sir William died in 1647, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ALEXANDER STEWART, 2nd Baronet, a distinguished military commander, who wedded, ca 1648, his first cousin, Catherine, daughter of Sir Robert Newcomen, 4th Baronet.

Sir Alexander was a Covenanter heading the Logan forces, and fell at the battle of Dunbar, 1650, on The King's side, having by his wife had an only son,

SIR WILLIAM STEWART, 3rd Baronet (1653-92), who was advanced to the dignities of Baron Stewart of Ramelton, County Donegal, and Viscount Mountjoy, County Tyrone (see armorial bearings at top), in 1683, being constituted at the same time Master-General of the Ordnance for life, and Colonel of a regiment of foot.

He served in Hungary at the siege of Buda (1686), and upon his return to Ireland was raised to the rank of Brigadier-General with the pay of £497 10s a year.

His lordship undertaking, with the Lord Chief Baron, Sir Stephen Rice, 1688, a mission from Lord Deputy Tyrconnell to JAMES II, then at Paris, was, immediately upon his arrival in that city, thrown into the Bastille, and there confined until 1692, when, being released,  he waited upon WILLIAM III in Flanders, and lost his life, in 1692, in the battle of Steenkerque (or Steinkirk).

Sir William espoused Mary, eldest daughter of 1st Baron Coote of Coloony, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;

Alexander, ancestor of 1st Earl of Blessington of 2nd creation;

Charles;

Mary; Catherine.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM, 2nd Viscount and 4th Baronet, Lieutenant-General in the Army, and Master-General of the Ordnance, who married, in 1696, Anne, younger daughter and eventually heiress of Murrough, 1st Viscount Blessington.

This lady brought into the Stewart family the Boyle estates in counties Wicklow and Kildare, and the Manor of Silchester, in Hampshire.

By her Lord Mountjoy had issue, with five sons and four daughters (died young),

WILLIAM, his successor;

Mary, m 2nd Baron Tyrawley.

His lordship died in 1728, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM, 3rd Viscount and 5th Baronet (1709-69), who was created, in 1745, EARL OF BLESSINGTON (first creation).

His lordship wedded, in 1733, Eleanor, daughter and heiress of Robert FitzGerald, of Castle Dodd (Castle Harrison), County Cork, and had issue,

1. William, styled Viscount Mountjoy (1734-54), dvp;

2. Lionel Robert, died young.

His lordship dsps 1769, when the Peerages expired, but the Baronetcy devolved upon his heir-at-law, 

ANNESLEY STEWART (1725-1801), of Fort Stewart, 6th Baronet, MP for Charlemont, 1763-97, who espoused, in 1755, Mary, daughter of John Moore, of Drumbanagher, County Armagh, by whom he had (with a daughter) two sons,

JAMES, his successor;

William Henry.

Sir Annesley was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR JAMES STEWART, 7th Baronet (1756-1827), MP for Enniskillen, 1783-90, and for County Donegal, 1802-18, who married, in 1778, Mary Susanna, daughter of Richard Chapell Whaley, of Whaley Abbey, County Wicklow, and had issue,

JAMES ANNESLEY, his successor;

William Henry;

Anne; Elizabeth Susanna; Sophia Frances.

Sir James was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR JAMES ANNESLEY STEWART, 8th Baronet (1798-1879), Vice-Lieutenant of County Donegal, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1830; Colonel, Donegal Artillery; served for some time in the Inniskilling Dragoons.

He wedded, in 1830, Jane (dsp 1886), daughter of Frances Mansfield, of Castle Wray, County Donegal.

Sir James dsp 1879, and was succeeded by his kinsman,

AUGUSTUS ABRAHAM JAMES STEWART, as 9th Baronet (1832-89), JP DL, great-great-grandson of 1st Baronet, a barrister, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his nephew, 

Armorial bearings of the 9th Baronet

SIR WILLIAM AUGUSTUS ANNESLEY STEWART, 10th Baronet (1865-94), who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR HARRY JOCELYN URQUHART STEWART, 11th Baronet (1871-1945), DL, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1905, Major, Donegal Artillery, who married, in 1896, Isabel Mary (Dromore House, Letterkenny, County Donegal), daughter of Colonel Frances Stewart Mansfield DL, of Castle Wray, County Donegal, and had issue,

William Frances (1901-44), killed in action in Normandy;

JOCELYN HARRY, his successor;

Walter Annesley;

Malcolm Geoffrey;

Alan Robert;

Isabel; Kathleen Mary; Hester Anna Lilian; Violet May; Evelyn Frances.

Sir Harry was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

SIR JOCELYN HARRY STEWART, 12th Baronet (1903-82), of Fort Stewart, Ramelton, County Donegal, who wedded firstly, in 1932, Constance Mary, daughter of D'Arcy Shillaber, of New South Wales, Australia, and had issue,

ALAN D'ARCY, his successor.

He married secondly, in 1946, Katherine Christina, daughter of James Sweeney, of Tamney, County Donegal, and by her had further issue,

Brian Jocelyn;

Terence Annesley;

Marie Jeanette; Katherine Benedicta.

Sir Jocelyn Harry Stewart was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ALAN D'ARCY STEWART, 13th Baronet (1932-2024), of One Acre House, Church Street, Ramelton, County Donegal, who married, in 1952, Patricia, daughter of Lawrence Turner, of Ramelton, County Donegal, and had issue,

NICHOLAS COURTNEY D'ARCY, his successor;

Lindsay Stephen, born 1956;

Constance Patricia; Siobhan D'Arcy.

Sir Alan was succeeded by his eldest son,

NICHOLAS COURTNEY D'ARCY STEWART, who would be 14th Baronet (1953-).

Entrance front, Fort Stewart House (Image: UAHS, 2020)

FORT STEWART, near Killydonnell, County Donegal, is a Georgian mansion built between 1730-60 to replace an earlier dwelling to the north-east.

This is a three-storey house, double gable-ended, with a seven-bay entrance front.

There are single-storey, irregular, two-bay wings.

Garden front, Fort Stewart House (Image: UAHS, 2020)

A pilastered porch was added about 1823.

Entrance porch (Image: Buildings of Ireland)

The entrance hall is adorned by four Tuscan columns, with rib-vaulting rising from them.

Outbuildings attached to Fort Stewart (Image: UAHS, 2020)

Fort Stewart House succeeded a fortified plantation dwelling, likely a bawn, erected by Sir William Stewart about 1619.

Town Address of 9th Baronet ~ 5, King's Bench Walk, Temple, London.