Blunden Villa

THE BLUNDEN BARONETS OWNED 1,846 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY KILKENNY

This family springs from

OVERINGTON BLUNDEN, of Southwark, London, who, in 1667, was granted Glanmore, alias Clanmore, "to be for ever called Blunden's Castle", and other lands in County Kilkenny, the Queen's County, and County Waterford.

By Elizabeth his wife he left two sons and four daughters.

Mr Blunden, whose will was proved in 1685, was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN BLUNDEN, of Castle Blunden, who died intestate, when administration was granted, 1717, to his son,

JOHN BLUNDEN (c1718-83), of Castle Blunden, MP for Kilkenny City, 1761-76, by Martha, daughter of Agmondesham Cuffe, of Castle Inch, County Kilkenny, and sister of John, 1st Baron Desart, was created a baronet in 1766, designated of Blunden Castle, County Kilkenny.

Sir John was a distinguished member of the Irish bar, and represented the City of Kilkenny in Parliament.

He married, in 1755, his cousin Susanna, daughter of John, 1st Baron Desart, and had issue (with seven daughters) three sons, of whom,

JOHN, his successor;
William Pitt, father of JOHN, 3rd Baronet;
Overington, Lieutenant-General; MP.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN BLUNDEN, 2nd Baronet (1767-1818), High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1805 and 1813, who wedded firstly, Miss Hewitson (d 1808); and secondly, in 1812, Hester, daughter of John Helsham, of Leggetsrath, County Kilkenny, though the marriages were without issue, and the baronetcy reverted to his nephew,

SIR JOHN BLUNDEN, 3rd Baronet (1814-90), DL, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1843, 44 and 47, a barrister, who wedded, in 1839, Elizabeth, daughter of Major John Knox, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
John Overington;
Edward Herbert;
Maurice Robert;
Arthur Henry;
Abraham;
Kate; Harriette; Nicola Sophia.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM BLUNDEN, 4th Baronet (1840-1923), High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1904, who espoused, in 1879, Florence Caroline, daughter of Henry Shuttleworth, and had issue,

JOHN, his successor;
Eric Overington;
Muriel.

Sir William was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR JOHN BLUNDEN, 5th Baronet (1880-1923), who married, in 1918, Phyllis Dorothy, daughter of Philip Crampton Creaghe, and had issue,

WILLIAM, 6th Baronet;
PHILIP OVERINGTON, 7th Baronet.

Sir John was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR WILLIAM BLUNDEN, 6th Baronet (1919-85), Lieutenant-Commander RN, who wedded, in 1945, Pamela Mary, daughter of John Purser, and had issue,

Sarah Vanessa; Griselda Jane; Caroline Susan;
Rowena Mary; Elizabeth Anne Gabrielle; Fiona Christine.

Sir William died without male issue, when the title devolved upon his brother,

SIR PHILIP OVERINGTON BLUNDEN, 7th Baronet (1922-2007), who wedded, in 1945, Jeanette Francesca Alexandra, daughter of Captain D Macdonald, and had issue,

HUBERT CHISHOLM, his successor;
John Maurice Patrick;
Marguerite Eugenie.

Sir Philip was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR HUBERT CHISHOLM BLUNDEN, 8th Baronet (1948-), who married, in 1975, Ellish O'Brien, and had issue,

Edmund, b 1982;
Amelia, b 1977.

BLUNDEN VILLA, Castle Blunden, County Kilkenny, is a delightful small Regency house with a high ground floor above a semi-basement.

At the end of the 18th century Sir John Blunden built Blunden Villa near the gates of his family home, just outside the mediaeval city of Kilkenny.

By family tradition this elegant Georgian villa was built as a dower house for Sir John’s mother, the daughter of a neighbour, Lord Desart, to provide her with her own establishment when he married and brought home his heiress bride.

The façade of the villa comprises three bays, with the front door at the upper level approached by a wide flight of stone steps with contemporary iron railings.

The door is surmounted by a fanlight and has delicate Wyatt windows to either side.

The plan is very slightly over square, as the façade is marginally shorter than the width from front to back, while the interior has high ceilings and well-proportioned rooms.

Castle Blunden (Image: the Irish Times)

For many years Blunden Villa was used as a gate lodge to the principal house, but in 2006 Jane and Caroline Blunden, twin daughters of the 6th baronet, decided to restore the building, which is now their Irish home.

First published in January, 2018.  Select bibliography ~ Irish Historic Houses Association.  Blunden arms courtesy of the NLI.

Harden of Harrybrook

THE HARDENS OWNED 1,436 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ARMAGH

HENRY HARDEN JP DL (1710-51), married Catherine Hartford, and was father of

JAMES HARDEN (1741-1805), High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1792, who wedded Mary, daughter and heiress of W Walker, of Ballybreagh, County Armagh, and had issue,

Henry, b 1774; Captain, Armagh Militia; High Sheriff of Co Armagh, 1782;
ROBERT, of whom hereafter;
John, b 1789; Captain, 17th Foot;
Mary Anne, m William Gray, of Graymount;
Catherine.

The second son,

ROBERT HARDEN JP DL (1781-1840), of Harrybrook, County Armagh, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1809, espoused, in 1804, Ann, daughter of John Hardy, of Loughgall, County Armagh, and had issue,

JAMES, his heir;
William (1810-89);
Henry (1811-42);
Robert Acheson (1815-70);
Archibald (Rev);
George Wellington, died in infancy;
Charles John, died in infancy;
Sarah; Mary; Sophia Catherine; Anne Eliza.

The eldest son,

JAMES HARDEN JP DL (1805-61), of Harrybrook, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1850, married, in 1844, Annabella, daughter of Colonel Lloyd Edwards, of Nanhoron, Caernarvonshire, and had issue,

Robert Acheson, died unmarried 1864;
RICHARD JAMES, succeeded his brother;
Frederick John, Lieutenant-Colonel;
George, Lieutenant-Colonel.

Mr Harden was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD JAMES HARDEN JP DL (1846-1918), of Harrybrook, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1871, who wedded, in 1872, Annie Johnstone, daughter of Joseph Atkinson JP DL, of Crowhill, County Armagh, and had issue,

JAMES EDWARDS, his heir;
Robert Atkinson;
George Frederick;
Kathleen Annie.

Mr Harden was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES EDWARDS HARDEN JP (1873-1945), of Harrybrook, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1940, Major, 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, who espoused, in 1904, Letitia Grace Campbell, eldest daughter of Robert Nutter Campbell Connal, of Glasgow, and had issue,

JAMES RICHARD EDWARDS, his heir;
Esmé Grace; Amy Margaret.

Major Harden was succeeded by his son,

JAMES RICHARD EDWARDS HARDEN DSO OBE MC DL (1916-2000), of Harrybrook and Nanhoron, Major, Royal Tank Regiment, who married, in 1948, Ursula Joyce, daughter of Captain Gerald Murray Strutt, and had issue,

DAVID JAMES, his heir;
Thérèse Annabella; Carolyn Emily.

Major Harden's son and heir,

DAVID JAMES HARDEN (1954-),  married, in 1983, Bettina Clare Lascelles Tayleur, MBE, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Charles Lascelles Tayleur, and had issue,

EDWARD RICHARD;
Matilda Clair.

At least three members of the Harden family were Deputy Lieutenants for the county at the same time as the second, third and fourth EARLS OF GOSFORD (all named Archibald Acheson), Lord-Lieutenants of County Armagh.

HARRYBROOK HOUSE, near Tandragee, County Armagh, is a two-storey country house of ca 1834.

It has a long, low front with Wyatt windows, a small, central, pediment gable and a pillared porch.

The side elevation is irregular.

Major Harden inherited Nanhoron in 1953.

Harrybrook (Buildings of County Armagh)

He sold Harrybrook in the 1956 and the family now lives permanently at their Nanhoron estate in Carnarvonshire.

First published in June, 2017.

Armagh Robinson Library

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY GAZETTEER OF IRELAND, PUBLISHED IN 1846

THE ARMAGH ROBINSON LIBRARY CELEBRATED ITS 250th ANNIVERSARY IN 2021

THIS building stands in the vicinity of the cathedral; presents a very handsome appearance; contains spacious and neat accommodation for a large collection of books, and an elegant suite of apartments for the resident librarian; and has attached to it a court of ten acres.

The Lord Primate endowed the library, a noble edifice in the Grecian style, situated to the north-west of the cathedral, with lands at Knockamell and houses in Armagh yielding a clear rental of £339 [about £35,000 in 2020].

PRIMATE ROBINSON not only constructed the edifice, and stored it with an accumulation of scarce and valuable works in both ancient and modern literature, but endowed it with a perpetual fund, which 40 years ago [ca 1800] yielded £300 per annum, and is applied to the purchase of books, the salarying of the librarian, and the repairing of the edifice.

The front of the building bears the date "1771," above which is the inscription, Ψ Υ Χ Η Σ Ι Α Τ Ρ Ε Ι Ο Ν, translated as "The Healing-Place of the Soul."

Armagh Robinson Library (Image: Robert French)

In 1820, an additional staircase was erected, as an entrance to the west end, which has in a great measure destroyed the uniformity and impaired the beauty of the building.

The library contains, at present, between 20,000 and 30,000 volumes, and comprises many valuable works on theology, the classics, and antiquities.

Armagh Robinson Library in 2007 (Image: Henry Clark/Geograph/ Wikimedia Commons)

It may be used by every person who resides within 30 miles of the city, and deposits double the value of the books which he borrows.

Rokeby coat-of-arms

In the record-room of the diocesan registry are writings and books bequeathed by PRIMATE ROBINSON to the governors and librarian, in trust, for the sole use of the Primate for the time being.

The observatory and the library are under the corporate governorship, for the public use, of the Archbishop, the Dean, and several members of the chapter of the cathedral, by an Act of GEORGE III, with liberal powers.

First published in April, 2021.

Jonathan Swift

BRYAN SWYFTE had a grant from Lewis de Beaumont, Bishop of Durham (who died 1333), of part of the lordship of Allergill, County Durham, to be held of the palatine earldom of the Bishop by service of the eighth part of a knight's fee.

He was succeeded by his son,

SIR HUMPHREY SWYFTE, Knight, of Allergill, who married a daughter of Alexander, of Beddick, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN SWYFTE, of Allergill, who wedded Maria, daughter of John Hedworth, and was succeeded by his son,

EDMOND SWYFTE, of Allergill, who espoused Margaret, daughter of Thomas Trollope, of Thornley, County Durham, and was succeeded by his son,

ANTHONY SWYFTE, of Allergill, who married a daughter of Sir Richard Surtees, Knight, of Dinsdale, and was succeeded by his son,

ROBERT SWYFTE, of Allergill, and of Rotherham, Yorkshire, who wedded firstly, a daughter of William Hansard, of Walworth, by which lady he had issue,

THOMAS, of whom presently.

He espoused secondly, Agnes, daughter of Martin Anne, of Frickley, by whom he had two sons,

Robert, of Rotherham;
William, of Rotherham.

The eldest son,

THOMAS SWIFTE, of Allergill, was father of

HENRY SWIFTE, of Sheffield; at whose decease he left two sons, viz. Sir Francis Swifte, knighted 1616, who died in 1642; and

THE REV THOMAS SWIFT, Rector of St Andrew's, Canterbury, Kent, 1566-92, who was buried in Canterbury Cathedral.

He married Margaret, daughter of daughter and heir of the Rt Rev Dr Thomas Godwin, Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, and left an only son,

THE REV THOMAS SWIFT (1595-1658), Vicar of Goodrich and Rector of Bridstow, Herefordshire, distinguished for his active devotion in the cause of CHARLES I, and to the person of his son, Prince Charles (afterwards CHARLES II, during the latter's protracted wanderings).

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter of John Dryden, sister of Sir Erasmus Dryden, 1st Baronet, of Canons Ashby, and grand-aunt of John Dryden, the poet, by which lady he had (with four daughters) ten sons, of whom,

Godwin, succeeded him;
Dryden, dsp;
Thomas;
William;
JONATHAN, of whom we treat;
Adam, of Greencastle, County Down.

The fifth son,

JONATHAN SWIFT (1640-67), of Dublin, a solicitor, espoused Abigail Erick, of Leicestershire, by whom (who died in 1700) he left, with a daughter, Jane, a posthumous son,

Jonathan Swift (Image: Bodeian Libraries)

THE VERY REV DR JONATHAN SWIFT (1667-1745), the celebrated Dean of St Patrick's, born in Hoey's Court, Dublin, who has related many anecdotes of his grandfather's loyalty in his account of Anecdotes of the Family of Swift, the original manuscript of which is still preserved in the library of Trinity College, Dublin.

Dr Swift died unmarried, and was interred at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

First published in April, 2019.

Old Market House, Belfast

High Street and the Old Market House, Belfast, 1786 (Image: J W Carey). CLICK TO ENLARGE

AN ARTICLE BY ALISON MITCHELSON, FORMER ART UK PAINTINGS PROJECT COORDINATOR

"ONE of Belfast’s most prized art collections – the famous Carey paintings – a collection of thirteen large canvases dealing with the history and mythology of the Belfast region, originally located in the area above the Ulster Hall balcony, are now on permanent display for everyone to enjoy."

"When Belfast Corporation, now Belfast City Council, took over the Ulster Hall in 1903, a full refurbishment and redecoration began."

"The architect, Robert M Young, commissioned the artists Joseph W Carey and Richard Thomson to produce the paintings between 1903 and 1908."

"Fondly known as ‘Joe,’ Joseph W Carey (1859–1937) had a lengthy career as a popular water-colourist."

"He was the son of a Moravian minister of Kilwarlin, County Down, the Rev J W Carey, and older brother of the painter and illustrator John Carey (1861–1943)."

"Also an illustrator, Joseph Carey trained with the firm of Marcus Ward and Co., Belfast."

High Street, Belfast, in 2021 (Image: Timothy Ferres)

"The paintings were part of the decorative scheme and not that easy to see in their original position, nor were they intended to be viewed close up or as works of art."

"They are not accurate representations of the time, but more a nostalgic view of a time when Belfast was a rural town rather than the booming industrial city it was at the beginning of the 20th century."

"This was the most prestigious commission of Carey’s career and included the paintings Origin of Shipbuilding, Ritchie's Dock; White Linen Hall, 1896; Old Turnpike with Dublin Coach, Lisburn Road and Blockade of Belfast by François Thurot, 1760."

"The paintings sadly suffered a lot of damage over the years, by leaks and the effect of bombs, but also by misguided attempts to restore them."

"With the aid of a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant in 2009, Belfast City Council was able to conserve the paintings and relocate them to their current display, with very low light levels, in order that they will survive into the future."

First published in March, 2021.

The King's Official Birthday

HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY CHARLES THE THIRD, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, AND OF HIS OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES KING, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Sovereign of the Orders of the Garter and the Thistle, Order of St Patrick, Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael & St George, Royal Victorian Order, and Order of the British Empire.

Today is The King's Official Birthday.

Since 1748, the Trooping the Colour ceremony or The King's Birthday Parade at Horse Guards Parade in London has marked the Sovereign's official birthday.

The list of Birthday Honours is also usually announced on the eve of the Official Birthday celebrations.

Rathcavan

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY GAZETTEER OF IRELAND, PUBLISHED IN 1846

RATHCAVAN, or Racavan, a parish in the barony of Lower Antrim, County Antrim.

It contains the town of Broughshane.

The surface reaches to within three miles of Glenarm, and descends to within ½ a mile of Ballymena; and it includes the greater part of the southern half of the valley of the Braid, and a grand and romantic portion of the heights which are piled round the central watershed of the county.

Slemish mountain, the highest ground, has an altitude above sea-level of 1,457 feet.

The soil of the valley grounds is light in colour and in texture; and though well cultivated, and favourable for potatoes and oats, it is not suitable for wheat, or even for barley.

Slemish and the Braid (Image: William Alfred Green)

Whether its comparative infertility is occasioned by some property in itself or by the vicinity of the mountains, seems not to have been ascertained.

Yet the whitethorn [hawthorn], which is supposed to indicate considerable strength of subsoil, flourishes in the district, and well-kept fences of it ornament much of the country between Broughshane and Ballymena, and impart to the landscape an aspect of improvement and comfort.

The road from Ballymena to Glenarm, and that from Carrickfergus to Ballymoney, intersect each other in the interior.

This parish is a rectory, and part of the benefice of Skerry, in the diocese of Connor.

The church was built [in 1765] at the private expense of the ancestor of the EARL O'NEILL [Charles O'Neill].

There is a small, ancient church-yard at some distance from the main road, and difficult of access; it is of triangular form and well walled, and is now used exclusively as a burial place for Presbyterians.

A large fair is held at Broughshane on the 17th August, for horses, cattle, and pigs; and great numbers of carcasses of pigs are sold in the market every Tuesday, to the agents of the Belfast merchants.

The parish is within the jurisdiction of the manorial court of Buckna, held every month at Broughshane, for the recovery of debts not exceeding £20.  

First published in April, 2021.

Thomas A Hope

THOMAS ARTHUR HOPE WAS A MAJOR LANDOWNER IN COUNTY TYRONE, WITH 14,006 ACRES

The surname of HOPE is of great antiquity in Scotland, and so early as 1296, John de Hope swore fealty to EDWARD I. 

JOHN HOPE, of Hopefold, Astley Green, Lancashire, was father of

PETER HOPE (1671-1741), who married Hannah Kirkman, and had a son,

SAMUEL HOPE (1709-81), who wedded firstly, Amy Venables; and secondly, Martha Hepworth, by whom he had issue,

WILLIAM HOPE (1751-1827), of Liverpool, who married, in 1779, Mary, daughter of Robert Jones, of Liverpool (both of whom were buried at the Necropolis, Liverpool), and had issue,

William;
SAMUEL, of whom presently;
Joseph Walley;
Maria.

The second son,

SAMUEL HOPE JP (1781-1837), of Liverpool, Banker, wedded, in 1816, Rebekah, daughter of Thomas Bateman, of Middleton Hall, Derbyshire, and had issue,

THOMAS ARTHUR, of whom presently;
William Carey;
Samuel Pearce.

The eldest son,

THOMAS ARTHUR HOPE JP (1817-97), of 14 Airlie Gardens, Kensington, formerly of Stanton, Bebington, Cheshire, married, in 1839, Emily, youngest daughter of Christopher Hird Jones, of Liverpool, and had numerous issue.

THE HOPES were a large, wealthy and well connected family of Liverpool bankers and landowners.

Samuel Hope was a Liberal non-conformist, noted for his philanthropic work in the city.

His son, Thomas Arthur Hope, and his wife, Emily Hird Jones, had thirteen children.

The family owned land in Cheshire, Flintshire, Lancashire, and County Tyrone.

During Victorian times they owned 2,220 acres in Cheshire, 447 in Flintshire, and 18 in Lancashire.

They lived in a succession of properties in Liverpool, the Wirral and London.

They are known to have associated with other prominent Liberal families including the Rathbones of Liverpool and the Gregs of Styal in Cheshire. 

The famous Hope Collection can be seen at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Liverpool. The Hopes were wealthy bankers: Thomas Hope, born in 1769.

The Rt Hon Sir Alexander James Beresford Hope was married to the Hon Louisa Beresford, daughter of William, 1st Lord Decies (3rd son of 1st Earl of Tyrone).

First published in December, 2009.

Parkmount House

THE McNEILES, OF PARKMOUNT, OWNED 7,011 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

PARKMOUNT HOUSE, off Antrim Road, Belfast, was a two-storey Georgian house with a three-storey return.

It had a six-bay front, with a single-storey Ionic portico.

Coupled columns were added later.

There were also Ionic loggias at the end of the house.

Park Mount ca 1930 (historic OS map)

The portico was subsequently glazed and the loggia filled in with a one-storey projection.

The roof had a lofty, solid parapet.

To one side there was a substantial Victorian conservatory running parallel with the front of the house, though set back.

This concealed a lower service wing to the rear.

Parkmount ca 1832

Parkmount was originally (c1666) a hunting-lodge or country residence of the Chichesters, Earls (later Marquesses) of Donegall.

The district now known as and called Oldpark should not be confused with the New Park, formed by the Lord Deputy's nephew, Arthur, 1st Earl of Donegall, which is recorded as having been in process of formation in 1666. It extended in an easterly direction from the Cave Hill towards Belfast Lough, terminating at Parkmount.

Thereafter it was acquired by Thomas Ludford.

This lodge was rebuilt ca 1796 by Hugh Cairns:

The finest house on this road, or perhaps in the parish, is Parkmount, built by the late Mr Cairns, on or near the site of a residence, or hunting lodge, formerly belonging to the Donegall family.

Mary Harriet, wife of 1ST EARL CAIRNS, was the eldest daughter of John McNeile, who purchased Parkmount from Captain William Cairns ca 1828.

The McNeiles were of the same family as the Very Rev Hugh Boyd McNeile, Dean of Ripon, whose brother John (1788-1855), a banker, had made his fortune in South America.

John McNeile, DL, was married to Charlotte Lavinia Dallas, daughter of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Dallas GCB.

They continued to reside at Parkmount for most of the 19th century; while the Cairnses moved to Cultra, County Down, at the opposite side of Belfast Lough.

In 1905, SIR ROBERT ANDERSON, first and last Baronet, bought Parkmount from the McNeiles.

Parkmount House was demolished in 1932.

First published in May, 2013.

Rowan of Mount Davys

THE ROWANS OWNED 3,423 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM

The family of ROWAN is of Scottish descent, and derives from JOHN ROWAN, of Greenhead, in the parish of Govan, Lanarkshire, born in 1548, who acquired these lands with his first wife, the daughter and heir of John Gibson, of Greenhead.

His only son by this lady,

JOHN ROWAN, of Greenhead, died in 1614, leaving, by Agnes Shanks his wife, an elder son and heir,

JOHN ROWAN, of Greenhead, who wedded Janet Anderson, of Govan, Lanarkshire.

He died in 1685, having had, with other issue, an eldest son,

THE REV ANDREW ROWAN, who went over to Ulster, and was inducted to the rectory of Dunaghy, diocese of Connor, County Antrim, in 1661.

He resided at Old Stone, alias Clough, County Antrim.

Mr Rowan married firstly, about 1660, a daughter of Captain William MacPhedris, of Camglass, in the same county, and by her had, with two daughters, two sons,

WILLIAM;
JOHN (Rev), of whose line we treat.

He wedded secondly, Alice Dunlop, and by her had, with two daughters, three sons,

Robert;
Archibald;
George, of Maghera.

Mr Rowan's eldest son,

CAPTAIN WILLIAM ROWAN, of Londonderry, was attainted, with his father, by the parliament held by JAMES II at Dublin, 1689.

He espoused Mildred Thompson, and left an elder son,

WILLIAM ROWAN, of Richmond, in Surrey, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Eyre, County Galway, and left at his decease an only daughter and heir,

JANE ROWAN, who wedded firstly Tichborne Aston; and secondly, Gawn Hamilton, of Killyleagh, County Down.

The Rev Andrew Rowan died in 1717.

His second son,

THE REV JOHN ROWAN, espoused Margaret Stewart, of County Down, and had issue, his seventh son,

THE REV ROBERT ROWAN, of Mullans, County Antrim, Chancellor of the diocese of Connor, who married Letitia, daughter and sole heir of John Stewart, of Garry (by his wife, a daughter and co-heir of Redmond, of Blaris, County Down) and had an eldest son and heir,

JOHN ROWAN (1733-), of Mullans and Garry, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1755, who wedded, in 1753, Rose, daughter of Captain Charles Stewart, of Lisburn, County Antrim.

The eldest son and heir,

ROBERT ROWAN (1754-1832), of Mullans, Garry, and Belleisle, County Antrim, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1779,  espoused, in 1777, Eliza, daughter of Hill Wilson, of Purdysburn, County Down, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Hill Wilson, m Eliza Jackson, sister of Mr Justice Jackson;
Robert;
James;
Charles (Sir) KCB, Commissioner of Metropolitan Police;
Frederick;
Edward, Captain RN;
William (Sir) GCB, Field Marshal;
Eliza; Elinor.

Mr Rowan was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN ROWAN JP DL (1778-1855), of Garry and Ahoghill, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1814, Major, Antrim Militia, who wedded firstly, in 1809, Eliza Honoria, eldest daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander McManus, of MOUNT DAVYS, County Antrim, High Sheriff, 1782, by Hester Henrietta, his wife, second daughter of Mark Kerr O'Neill, of Flowerfield, County Londonderry (cadet of O'NEILL of Shane's Castle), and had issue,

ROBERT WILLSON, his heir.

He espoused secondly, in 1823, Dorothea Shaw Ogilvie, widow of James Blair, of Merville, County Antrim.

Mr Rowan was succeeded by his son,

THE REV ROBERT WILLSON ROWAN JP (1810-86), of Mount Davys, County Antrim, who married, in 1834, Anna, second daughter of Joshua Minnitt, of Anabeg, County Tipperary, and had issue,

JOHN JOSHUA, his heir;
Alexander Macmanus;
Robert Kerr O'Neill;
Eliza Hester; Mary Dorothea Stuart; Anna Villiers.

His eldest son,

JOHN JOSHUA ROWAN JP DL (1838-1921), of Mount Davys, Lieutenant-Colonel, 4th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, wedded firstly, in 1866, May Amelia, eldest daughter of George Wright, sometime colonial treasurer of Prince Edward Island, which lady dsp 1879.

He espoused secondly, in 1881, Ellen Augusta, daughter of the Rev Edward W Vaughan, Rector of Llantwit Major, Glamorganshire.

Family of MacManus

The Macmanus sept, an ancient Irish family, was formerly possessed of extensive property in counties Antrim, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and in the town of Carrickfergus, descended from Magnus O'Conor, 48th King of Connaught, and 181st elected monarch of Ireland.

A branch of this sept settled in County Antrim, of which

BRYAN MACMANUS, of Ballybeg, married, in 1662, Esme Macnaghten, of Beardiville, County Antrim, and had issue,

ALEXANDER MACMANUS, of Carndonaghy, who wedded, in 1708, Honoria, daughter of McGuinness, of Cabra, County Down, and had issue,

ALEXANDER MACMANUS, High Sheriff of County Antrim, 1782, who espoused Hester Henrietta, daughter of Mark Kerr O'Neill, of Flowerfield, and had a daughter,

ELIZA HONORIA O'NEILL MACMANUS, who married, in 1809, John Rowan, of Garry and Ahoghill (see above).

Click to Enlarge

Mount Davys was situated beside the River Maine, opposite Galgorm Manor hotel (formerly called Fenaghy House).

It was occupied during the 17th century by a family called Davys, from Carrickfergus.

John Davys was MP for Carrickfergus in 1640; Hercules Davis, 1661; Hercules Davys, 1695.

John Davys and Arthur Davys were MPs for Carrickfergus in 1713.

Later it came into the possession of the McManus family, when Bryan McManus purchased four townlands, in 1744, in the district of Ahoghill, and the Davys estate, from the heirs of Ezekiel Davys, and Mount Davys passed to the Rowans through marriage.

The Ballymena Observer recounted in 1902 that Mount Davys House was "large and commodious, and contained four reception rooms, seven bedrooms, dressing-rooms, and servants' apartments."

"The garden, with a conservatory, is well stocked, with the offices, consisting of stabling for eleven horses, coach-house, harness-room etc, are extensive and convenient."

"There is a good gate lodge at entrance."

I am seeking photographs of Mount Davys House and estate.

First published in June, 2015.  MacManus Rowan arms courtesy of the NLI.

Belmont House

THE MACKYS OWNED 2,647 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY

WILLIAM MACKAY (-1849), of Belmont, County Londonderry, married, in 1796, Ann, daughter of James Porter, and had issue, a son and heir,

JAMES THOMPSON MACKY JP DL (1800-85), of Belmont, and Castlefin, County Donegal, High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1860, Director, Finn Valley Railway, who wedded, in 1843, Caroline, daughter of Rear-Admiral Francis Holmes Coffin (1768-1842), of Alwington House, Stonehouse, Devon, and had issue,

William;
FRANCIS COFFIN, of whom hereafter;
Caroline.

Mr Macky was succeeded by his younger son,

FRANCIS COFFIN MACKY JP DL (1847-1920), of Belmont, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1888, Captain, 3rd Dragoon Guards, who espoused firstly, in 1873, Frances Caroline, daughter of the Rev George Robinson, and had issue,

FRANCIS CHARLES THOMPSON, born in 1874.

He married secondly, in 1881, Emma Clara, daughter of John Barré Beresford JP DL, of Learmount and Ashbrook, County Londonderry, and had further issue,

John Barré Beresford, b 1889;
Eleonora Caroline Lucia; Frances Mary; Gladys Kathleen; Emma Clara.

BELMONT HOUSE, thought to date from 1833, is an early Victorian house in Neo-Renaissance style.

Its character is retained in the west and south façades, the entrance hall and main staircase area.

Segmented bays are a feature of the south side.

Additional alterations were undertaken in the second half of the 20th century.

*****

BELMONT'S original history can be traced as far back as 1696.

The Lecky family, from Scotland, leased the land from the Honourable the Irish Society in 1614, and proceeded to build a large house, in 1696, on a hill at Belmont on the present site of Belmont House.

In 1692, Alderman Lecky was mayor of the city.

The Leckys lived at Belmont until about 1831, when it was sold.

In 1833, Dr Sir William Miller, Mayor of Londonderry 1875-77, is believed to have built the house, when it was described as being a "plain lodge".

The house and estate were acquired by the Macky family ca 1837, and they resided there until the 1940s.

In 1858, James Thompson Macky was lessee; the Honourable the Irish Society and the Marquess of Londonderry, the lessors.

Belmont House ca 1930s, Photo Credit ~ Gordon Bell

The Mackys remained resident at Belmont until the outbreak of the 2nd World War, when it was used by the American Forces.

After the war the house was divided into flats.

In the late 1950s, it was acquired by the Education Authority.

Belmont Special School was opened in 1961.

In the early 1970s, the Western Education & Library Board assumed responsibility for the area, during which period numerous additions and adaptations took place to and within the original building.

In the walled garden is an inauguration stone (St Columb's Stone), believed to be one of the crowning stones of the ancient kings of Ulster.

A member of the Macky family, Captain Ross Macky, records that his father dug around the stone in 1900, searching for treasure though none was found.

However it revealed that the stone was pear-shaped.

Near the stone, buried in the ground, a stone effigy of an armoured knight was unearthed in the 19th century.

The effigy, clad in cloak and armed with brooch and sword, with hands joined and head missing, appears similar to the figure on O'Cahan's tomb in the former Augustinian Monastery in Dungiven, County Londonderry.

*****

THE WALLED GARDEN is recorded in the Heritage Gardens Inventory of 1992 and is partly cultivated.

Parkland remains around the house in an otherwise built-up area and contains some fine mature trees.

First published in June, 2015.

The Pottinger Baronetcy

This family is a branch of the Pottingers of Berkshire, seated in that county since the Conquest, and members of which frequently sat for Reading in the 17th century.

THOMAS POTTINGER, of Mount Pottinger, County Down, son of Edward Pottinger, of Kirkwall, Orkney, married firstly, in 1663, Janet, daughter and heiress of Hugh Doake, Sovereign of Belfast, 1647; and secondly, in 1682, Esther Eccles, sister of Hugh Eccles (Sovereign of Belfast, 1674), and had issue.

 Of his sons, EDWARD POTTINGER had the honour of conveying WILLIAM III to Ireland; but sailing on HMS Dartmouth the day after landing His Majesty, to intercept the ships coming from France with supplies for JAMES II, was lost with all his ship's crew, leaving, by Margaret his wife, daughter of Sir William Strickland Bt, of Boynton, in Yorkshire, and had, by her, three daughters, his co-heirs, the eldest daughter married Sir Patrick Butler Bt, of Garryhunden;

The second, Vesey, of Lucan, ancestor of the noble family of de Vesci; and the third, Leslie, of Castle Leslie, County Monaghan.

The aforesaid THOMAS POTTINGER (c1633-1715), High Sheriff of the county when WILLIAM III landed in Ulster, when Mr Pottinger met and welcomed the King at the head of all the nobility and gentry of the county, and afterwards provided His Majesty's army with provisions, clothes, and money, by which he was enabled to advance and gain the battle of the Boyne.

He wedded secondly, in 1685, MISS ECCLES, of Fintona, County Tyrone, and had a daughter, a son, Edward, and an elder son,

JOSEPH POTTINGER, who married Mary, daughter of the Lady Mary Dunlop, and granddaughter of the Earl of Dundonald, and was father of

THOMAS POTTINGER, High Sheriff of County Down, 1759, who wedded, in 1752, Frances, third daughter of Eldred Curwen, of Workington and Sella Park, Cumberland, MP for Cockermouth, 1738-41, and had issue,

ELDRED CURWEN, his heir;
Henry;
Frances.

The elder son, 

ELDRED CURWEN POTTINGER (1758-1807), of Mount Pottinger, County Down, married, in 1779, Anne, daughter of Robert Gordon, of FLORIDA MANOR, County Down, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir, of Kilbride house, Co Kildare; m Miss Fulton and had issue;
Robert, military officer, East India Company;
HENRY, 1st Baronet;
Eldred Curwen, East India Company;
Charles James Fox, military officer, East India Company, d 1834;
John, Midshipman RN;
Edward, died in infancy;
William;
Charlotte; Alicia; Frances.

The eldest son,

THOMAS POTTINGER, married firstly, Charlotte Moore, and had issue, a son,

ELDRED POTTINGER CB (1811-43), renowned for his heroic exploits at Herat, Afghanistan.

He wedded secondly, in 1814, Eliza, daughter of John Williamson Fulton, and had further issue (with three sons and four daughters) a son, Major-General John Pottinger (1815-77).

Mr Pottinger's younger son, 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL THE RT HON SIR HENRY POTTINGER GCB (1789-1856), born at Mount Pottinger, near Belfast, espoused, in 1820, Miss Cooke, eldest daughter of Richard Cooke, of Dublin, by his wife, the daughter of Sir Joseph Gilpin (a descendant of the Gilpins of Westmorland), and had issue,

Eldred Elphinstone, died in infancy;
FREDERICK WILLIAM, his successor;
Henry;
Henrietta Maria. 

Sir Henry was created a baronet in 1839, designated of Richmond, Surrey.

His brother William erected a memorial tablet to him at St George's Church, High Street, Belfast, in 1861.

Sir Henry was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest surviving son,

SIR FREDERICK WILLIAM POTTINGER, 2nd Baronet (1831-65), born in India, who emigrated to Australia where he became a police inspector.

Sir Frederick was succeeded by his brother,

SIR HENRY POTTINGER, 3rd Baronet (1834-1909), whose only child, Ethel Adeline Pottinger, married, in 1885, Henry Meysey Meysey-Thompson, 1st and last Baron Knaresborough, son of Sir Harry Stephen Meysey-Thompson, 1st Baronet, and Elizabeth Anne Croft.

She died in 1922.

The 3rd Baronet died at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, without male issue, when the title became extinct.

THE ANTIQUITY of this family is proved by the fact, as shown in the Herald's Office, that Sir Henry Pottinger was thirty-first in lineal descent from Robert, first Saxon King of all England, and grandfather of Alfred the Great.

They are descended from a common ancestor with the Pottingers of Berkshire, settled in that county since the Conquest.

The elder branch settled in Ireland at a very early period.

One historical narrative states that Thomas de Pottinger married to Agnes, a daughter of the Earl of Warwick (presumably illegitimate) was killed at Hatfield in 1471 - the day before the battle of Barnet.

Agnes took refuge in Bruges with two sons, and an infant daughter who subsequently married Pierre Vauban, and was mother to the great marshall.

The second son became a merchant in Bruges, and from him are descended the Pottingers of Berkshire.

The eldest son entered the service of the States, and commanded a regiment of cavalry in which he was succeeded by his son or grandson Thomas, who was taken prisoner near Frankfort-on-Maine by Philip, Count de Bethune.

He escaped through the assistance of Fanny, the Count's daughter, who accompanied him to England, where they resided some years at the Hoo in Hertfordshire.

He followed Sir Walter Raleigh to Ireland, and, after the defeat of Essex by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, he accused Hugh De Clapham and Ambrose Seton (who commanded a Scottish contingent) of cowardice and killed them both the same day in duels, for which he was outlawed by ELIZABETH I and fled to Venice, where he was afterwards assassinated.

His wife entered a convent at Clones and survived him many years.

His eldest son Walter was killed in the expedition of Guiana under his godfather, Sir Walter Raleigh.

His second son was a naval captain and father to Thomas Pottinger, who assisted in the subjugation of Ulster with Arthur Chichester and Sir Moyses Hill, receiving grants of land both in counties Down and Antrim, where he settled and was elected sovereign of Belfast in 1661.

A fee farm grant of 1672 from Henry, Earl of Clanbrassil, to Thomas Pottinger, of Belfast, merchant (whose place of business was likely 111 High Street, near the present Pottinger's Entry), witnessed that,

The said earl, in consideration of £300, granted, bargained, sold, released, and confirmed, unto the said Thomas Pottinger, his heirs and assigns, for ever, the Townland of BALLYMACARRETT, in the Parish of Knock, in the Barony of Castlereagh and County of Down, and then in the tenure and occupation of John Kelso,

and Captain James McGill, their undertenants and cottyers, together with all and singular the castles, &c; loughs, ponds, fishings, marshes, and waye of water, ferrie and ferry boats, and all and singular other profits, commodities, emoluments, immunities, rents, reversions, remainders, appendances [sic], rights, members, advantage.

And appurtenances whatsoever, to the said townland, incident, belonging, or in any waye appertaining, by what name or names soever the same be called or known, by or belonging to, or to the same usually had, occupied, enjoyed, or reputed, accepted, used, and known as part and parcel thereof;

and also the Come Mill called by the name of Owen Corke Mill, situate neere or upon the premises; together with the lands belonging to the said Corne Mill then, in the possession of John Wilson, and his under-tenants and cottyers;

that was to say, six acres of land, part of Ballymacarrett, aforesaid, and six acres of land, part of Ballyhackamore, together with the nett profits of toll or mulcture thereunto belonging, issuing and payable out of the townes and lands of Ballymacarett, Ballyhackamore, Knocke, Ballyloghan, Strandtown, Ballymather, and Ballymaser;

and also the fynes payable thereout by the tennants inhabitinge the said townslands for not grinding their corne and grayne at the said mill, according to the covenants therein exprest, and all other incident profits and dutyes to the said mill belonginge:

Yielding and paying yearly and every year, to the said Earl, his heirs and assigns, yearly for ever, the full sum of £30 sterling.

Ballymacarrett's only residents of note at the end of the 18th century were the Pottingers, who had built a large three-storey house called Mount Pottinger, later known simply as The Mount.

Having experienced some financial difficulties, the family was forced to sell BALLYMACARRETT to Barry Yelverton, lord chief baron and later Lord Avonmore.

He began planning and building a number of streets in Ballymacarrett.

The 1st Marquess of Donegall was not keen to see another town beyond his influence being on the other side of the river, so purchased Ballymacarrett for £20,000.

The old demesne of Mount Pottinger was remodelled during the 1840s as a square of substantial gentlemen's residences complete with spacious gardens.

First published in February, 2011.

3 St James's Square

 

THE MARQUESSES OF DONEGALL WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY ANTRIM

ST JAMES'S SQUARE, London, remains one of the finest addresses in the metropolis.

In the 18th century, seven dukes and three earls had town houses here.

Number Three, St James's Square, London, was, from 1762-99, the town-house of the 1st Marquess of Donegall, who bought it from Henry, 2nd Viscount Palmerston, in 1770 for £12,000 (£1.6m in today's money).

This town-house was perhaps altered during Lord Donegall's ownership, but there is no documentary evidence of this.

It became vacant in 1772.

If an alteration was made in that year it may have been carried out by 'Capability' Brown, who was at that time building Lord Donegall's country seat in Staffordshire, Fisherwick Park.

Lord Donegall enjoyed an annual income from his 250,000 acre estates of £48,000 in 1797 (about £4.5m today).

St James's Square in 1753

Following the 1st Marquess's decease in 1799, the house descended to his younger son, LORD SPENCER CHICHESTER, who evidently determined to dispose of it.

In 1800, the house was surveyed by John Soane on behalf of Philip, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke, for whose father he had worked at Wimpole in 1791–3.

A plan was made and Soane reported that the premises were extensive and substantial, with 'very large and low' back rooms.

He suggested that the 'common staircase', being 'steep and confined', should be altered; and that, as there was room for further building, dressing-rooms should be added to the library and to the chamber over it.

Soane thought the house was worth £11,500 as it stood, though a purchaser might have to go to £12,500; and that needful repairs and additions would cost a further £3,500.

From 1801, Lord Hardwicke appeared as the ratepayer for Number 3, though his purchase of the house was delayed, perhaps by his appointment, in 1801, as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

The purchase was, in the end, made for only £10,500.

The present building (above) is a 1930s office-block.

The 3rd Marquess's town residence was at 25 Grosvenor Square from 1857 until 1883.

First published in March, 2010.