1st Earl of Clanwilliam

This family have been for centuries settled in the county and city of Cork, and have been landed proprietors from the earliest mention of the name.

 Charles Smith, in his history of that county, mentions that at Meadstown there was formerly a castle built by the Meades; that they had the patronage of the prebend of Lisleary; and that many of this ancient family were interred at Buttevant Friary.

A descendant of this house was William Miagh, consecrated Lord Bishop of Kildare, 1540, and a privy counsellor to HENRY VIII.

JOHN MIAGH, called in Chancery Bills in Ireland "the great John Miagh," was seised in fee of the fishery weir of Lough Mahon, in the Haven of Cork.

His son,

JOHN MIAGH, was called "the younger," and was succeeded by his son,

WILLIAM MIAGH, who died ante 1488, and was succeeded by his son and heir,

JOHN MIAGH, who was adjudged by a decree or deed of arbitration before Maurice Roche, Mayor of Cork, and others, in 1488, the weir in the Harbour of Cork, as heir of his father and grandfather.

He was succeeded by his son and heir,

WILLIAM MEAGH, who is recorded in a Chancery Bill to have been succeeded by his son and heir,

JOHN MEAGH, MIAGH, OR MEADE, elected MP for Cork City, 1559, and again, 1585.

He was Recorder of Cork, the Queen's Attorney for Munster, and was appointed, 1570, Second Justice of the Province of Munster..

He died about 1589, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN MEADE, of Ballintubber and of the City of Cork; who, in 1611, made a Deed of Settlement of his estates.

He died in 1629, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM MEADE, of Ballintubber, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army, aged 17 at his father's death.

His wardship was granted, in 1632, to Thomas Maule, of Dublin.

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Travers, Kt, and had, with three daughters, four sons,

JOHN, his heir;
Patrick, Brigadier-General;
Robert;
Dominick;
Jocelyn (Ven), Archdeacon of Cloyne.

Colonel Meade, who raised a troop of horse for the service of CHARLES II, died in 1666, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN MEADE, Knight (1642-1707), of Ballintubber, Attorney-General to JAMES, DUKE OF YORK, who was created a baronet in 1703, designated of Ballintubber, County Cork.

He espoused Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Pierce, 2nd Viscount Ikerrin, and had issue,

William and
James, both died young;
PIERCE;
RICHARD, successive baronets;
Helen; Catherine; Mary; Jane.

Sir John was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR PIERCE MEADE, 2nd Baronet (1693-1711), who died unmarried and in minority, and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR RICHARD MEADE, 3rd Baronet (1697-1744), who married, in 1736, Catherine, second daughter of Henry Prittie, grandfather of Henry, 1st Baron Dunalley, and had an only son,

SIR JOHN MEADE, 4th Baronet (1744-1800), born a few days before his father's death, in 1744, who wedded, in 1765, Theodosia, only daughter and heir of Robert Hawkins Magill, of Gill Hall, County Down, and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor;
Robert, General in the army;
John, Lieutenant-General in the army;
Pierce (Ven), Archdeacon of Dromore;
Edward, killed in Egypt;
Anne; Catherine; Theodosia Sarah Frances; Melicina Adelaide; Rose Maria Arabella Sarah.

Theodosia, Countess of Clanwilliam (Image: Ulster Museum)

Sir John was elevated to the peerage, in 1766, in the dignities of Viscount Clanwilliam and Baron Gillford; and advanced to an earldom, in 1776, as EARL OF CLANWILLIAM.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 2nd Earl (1766-1805), who married firstly, in 1793, Caroline, Countess of Thun, daughter of Maria Wilhelmine von Thun und Hohenstein, and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor;
Caroline; Selina.

He wedded secondly, Margaret Irene, daughter of John Sarney, and widow of John Harcourt, of Ankerwycke, and of Molyneux, 1st Baron Shuldham, and died two months later.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

RICHARD, 3rd Earl (1795-1879), GCH, who married, in 1830, the Lady Elizabeth Herbert, daughter of George, 11th Earl of Pembroke, and had issue,

RICHARD JAMES, his successor;
Robert Henry;
Sidney;
Herbert George Philip;
Selina Catherine.

3rd Earl of Clanwilliam (Image: the National Trust, Uppark)

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD JAMES, 4th Earl (1832-1907), GCB KCMG, of Gill Hall, County Down, Admiral of the Fleet, who espoused, in 1867, Elizabeth Henrietta, daughter of Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy, and had issue,

Richard Charles, Lord Gillford (1868-1905);
ARTHUR VESEY, 5th Earl;
Herbert, Admiral in the Royal Navy;
Edward Brabazon;
Katharine; Beatrice; Adelaide Jane; Elizabeth Selina Georgiana.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

ARTHUR VESEY, 5th Earl (1873-1953), MC DL, of Montalto, County Down, who married, in 1909, Muriel Mary Temple, daughter of Russell Maule Stephenson, and had issue,

JOHN CHARLES EDMUND CARSON, his successor;
Mary Anne Selina; Elizabeth Louise Margaret.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

JOHN CHARLES EDMUND CARSON, 6th Earl (1914-89), of Montalto, Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, 1975-9.

• Richard Charles Francis Christian Meade, 3rd Earl (1795–1879);

• Richard James Meade, 4th Earl (1832–1907);

• Arthur Vesey Meade, 5th Earl (1873–1953);

• John Charles Edmund Carson Meade, 6th Earl (1914–89);

• John Herbert Meade, 7th Earl (1919–2009);

• Patrick James Meade, 8th Earl (b 1960).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, John Maximilian Meade, styled Lord Gillford.

*****

I recall seeing the 6th Earl, of Montalto, County Down, at a scout conference in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, County Down.

Montalto estate had been acquired by the 5th Earl in 1910.

It was sold by the 6th Earl when he retired in 1979 and became part of a business partnership who replanted the demesne in 1986-89.

The house has been in private hands again since 1995.

Clanwilliam arms courtesy of European Heraldry.   First published in February, 2011.