1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston

Arms of 1st Baron Curzon of Kedleston

This family, of great and undoubted antiquity, came out of Normandy with WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, to whom that prince gave lands and possessions for their valiant services. ROBERT DE COURÇON, Seigneur of Courçon, near Lisieux, Normandy, was granted Fishead, Oxfordshire, West Lockinge, Berkshire, etc by WILLIAM I.

Robert de Courçon's grandson,

RICHARD DE COURÇON, was granted Knights' fees of Croxall, Kedleston, Edinghall and Twyford, in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Richard's second son, STEPHEN, held Fauld, Staffordshire.

ROBERT OF COURÇON (also written Curzon), the celebrated English cardinal, was living in the reign of KING JOHN.

Robert of Courçon (Image: The National Trust)

The senior line terminated in Mary, daughter and heir of Sir George Curzon, of Croxall Hall, who married, in 1612, Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset KG, the second line being Curzon of Kedleston, and the third, Curzon of Waterperry.

JOHN CURZON (1598-1686), of Kedleston, MP for Brackley, 1628, Derbyshire, 1640, was created a baronet in 1641, designated of Kedleston, Derbyshire.

Sir John married Patience, daughter of Sir Thomas Crewe, and sister of Baron Crew, of Stene; and dying in 1686, was succeeded by his only surviving son,

SIR NATHANIEL CURZON, 2nd Baronet (c1640-1719), who wedded Sarah, daughter of William Penn, of Buckinghamshire, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN CURZON, 3rd Baronet (c1674-1727), MP for Derbyshire, 1701-7, who died unmarried, when the title devolved upon his brother,

SIR NATHANIEL CURZON, 4th Baronet (c1676-1758), MP, who espoused Mary, daughter and co-heir of Sir Ralph Assheton Bt, by whom he had issue,

NATHANIEL, his successor;
Assheton, created Viscount Curzon, in 1802.

Sir Nathaniel was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR NATHANIEL CURZON, 5th Baronet (1726-1804), MP, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1761, in the dignity of BARON SCARSDALE, of Scarsdale, Derbyshire.

His lordship married, in 1750, Caroline, daughter of Charles, 2nd Earl of Portmore, and had issue,

NATHANIEL, his successor;
Charles William;
John;
David Francis;
Henry;
Caroline; Juliana.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

NATHANIEL, 2nd Baron (1751-1837), who wedded firstly, in 1777, Sophia Susanna, third daughter of Edward, 1st Viscount Wentworth, and had issue,

NATHANIEL, his successor;
Sophia Caroline.

He espoused secondly, in 1798, Felicité Anne Josephe de Wattines, a Flemish lady, and had further issue,

Augustus;
Edward;
William;
Frederick;
Ferdinand;
Alfred, grandfather of the 4th Baron;
Francis James;
Felicité; Mary; Caroline.

his lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

NATHANIEL, 3rd Baron (1781-1856), who died unmarried, when the family honours devolved upon his cousin,

ALFRED NATHANIEL HOLDEN, 4th Baron (1831-1916), JP, who married, in 1856, Blanche, daughter of Joseph Pocklington Stenhouse, and had issue,

GEORGE NATHANIEL, his successor;
Alfred Nathaniel;
Francis Nathaniel;
Assheton Nathaniel;
Sophia; Mary; Blanche; Eveline; Elinor; Geraldine; Margaret.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE NATHANIEL, 5th Baron (1859-1925), KG, GCSI, GCIE, PC, who wedded firstly, in 1895, Mary Victoria, daughter of Levi Zeigler Leiter, and had issue,

Mary Irene, Baroness Ravensdale of Kedleston;
Cynthia Blanche; Alexandra Naldera.

His lordship espoused secondly, in 1917, Grace Elvina, daughter of Joseph Monroe Hinds.

1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, KG etc 

His lordship, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA, 1899-1905, was advanced to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1921, as MARQUESS CURZON OF KEDLESTON.

Ancestral seat ~ Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire.

First published in February, 2019. 

New DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

Mrs Alison Millar, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, has been pleased to appoint:-

Mr Ross Logan Wilson BEM
Coleraine
County Londonderry

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County his Commission bearing date the 8th day of February, 2023.

Lord Lieutenant of the County.

Killeen Castle

THE EARLS OF FINGALL WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MEATH, WITH 9,589 ACRES

This noble family was of Danish origin, but its settlement in Ireland is so remote that nothing certain can be ascertained as to the precise period. So early as the 11th century, we find JOHN PLUNKETT, of Beaulieu, County Meath, the constant residence of the elder branch of his descendants.

The successor at Beaulieu at the beginning of the 13th century,

JOHN PLUNKETT, living at the time of HENRY III, had two sons,

John, ancestor of the BARONS LOUTH;
RICHARD, of whom hereafter.

The younger son,

RICHARD PLUNKETT, of Rathregan, County Meath,

Who, with his son and heir, RICHARD PLUNKETT, by royal writs of parliamentary summons, was summoned to, and sat in, the parliaments and council of 1374; one as a baron, and the other "de consilio regis."  

To the same parliament and council was also summoned as a baron "Waltero de Cusake Militi," Lord of Killeen, whose heir general afterwards, as wife of Christopher Plunkett, was previously thought to have first brought the dignity of a parliamentary barony into this branch of the Plunkett family, but how erroneously may best be seen by reference to the writs of summons during the reign of EDWARD III, before alluded to.

The younger Richard Plunkett was father of

SIR CHRISTOPHER PLUNKETT, Knight;

Who, as a recompense for the services he had rendered in the wars of Ireland, and as an indemnity for the expenses he had incurred, had a grant of a sum of money from HENRY VI, in 1426; before which time he was High Sheriff of Meath; and, in 1432, was deputy to Sir Thomas Stanley, Knight, Lord Deputy of Ireland.

Sir Christopher was created, ca 1426, BARON KILLEEN.

He married, in 1403, Joan, only daughter and heir of Sir Lucas Cusack, Knight, Lord of Killeen, Dunsany, and Gerardstown, County Meath, and became, in her right, proprietor of the Barony of Killeen, and was succeeded by his son and heir,

CHRISTOPHER, 2nd Baron (who, in an act of parliament during the reign of HENRY VI was called "Christofre Plunkett le puisne Seigneur de Killeen").

This feudal Lord wedded twice: firstly, to Genet, daughter of Bellew, of Bellewstown; by whom he had two sons.

He espoused secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Wells, LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, by whom he had a daughter and two sons.

Sir Christopher died in 1462, and was succeeded by his elder son,

CHRISTOPHER PLUNKETT, 3rd Baron (1440-c1469); who had summons to parliament in 1463.

His lordship died without issue, and was succeeded by his brother,

EDMOND, 4th Baron (c1450-1510), who had a son and heir,

JOHN, 5th Baron, who was sworn of the privy council of HENRY VIII, and was found by inquisition to have had four sons,

Patrick, dsp;
CHRISTOPHER, heir to his brother;
Henry;
James.

The eldest son,

PATRICK, 6th Baron (1521-c1526), was succeeded by his brother,

CHRISTOPHER, 7th Baron, who succeeded to the titles and estates.

His lordship was an active and gallant nobleman, who discharged many high functions and commissions under the royal authority.

He sat in the parliament of 1509, and having married the granddaughter of the 8th Baron Slane, left issue, three daughters, his co-heirs,

Maude, m 3rd Baron Louth;
Catherine, m David Sutton;
Margaret, m Nicholas Aylmer.

He died about 1567, and was succeeded by his brother,

JAMES, 8th Baron (c1542-95), whose inheritance of the ancient family dignity was not opposed or questioned by the daughters, co-heirs of his deceased brother, and he took his place in the House of Lords in 1585.

In 1589, he enfeoffed trustees in his family estates, and was succeeded at his decease by his son and heir,

CHRISTOPHER, 9th Baron (1564-1613), who, when aged 31, sat in the parliament of 1613; and dying soon afterwards, was succeeded by his eldest son,

LUKE, 10th Baron (1589-1637), styled Lucas More.

This nobleman had a large grant of territory in 1613, and was created, in 1628, EARL OF FINGALL, JAMES I precluding the honour by a most flattering letter beginning thus:-

"That having received good testimonies of the virtuous and many good parts of his right trusty and well-beloved subject, the lord Baron Killeen, being one of the ancient nobility of Ireland, His Majesty was pleased" ... etc etc.

His lordship married four times, and by his second marriage with Susannah, fifth daughter of Edward, 1st Baron Ardee, had issue,

CHRISTOPHER, his successor;
George, ancestor of the 6th Earl.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

CHRISTOPHER, 2nd Earl; who, having been made prisoner at the battle of Rathmines, died two weeks later, in 1649, at Dublin Castle, and was succeeded by his son (by Mabel, daughter of Nicholas, 1st Viscount Kingland),

LUKE, 3rd Earl (1639-84); who was restored to his estates and honours by the Court of Claims, and was succeeded at his decease by his only son,

PETER, 4th Earl (1678-1718); who was outlawed by the name of Luke, in 1691, for his loyalty to his legitimate sovereign, JAMES II, but the outlawry was reversed six years later, 1697.

His lordship wedded Frances, third daughter of Sir Edward Hales Bt, and had issue,

JUSTIN, his successor;
Margaret; Emilia; Mary.

He was succeeded by his only son,

JUSTIN, 5th Earl, who died in 1734, without issue, and intestate, and was succeeded in his titles and estates by his cousin,

ROBERT, 6th Earl, who enjoyed the honours without opposition of question on the part of the three daughters and heirs lineal of Peter, 4th Earl.

About a century later, however, the grandson of the youngest daughter, Maurice O'Connor, made claim to the Barony of Killeen, as a barony created by writ, and, as such, inheritable through females.

Like all other claims of the same nature, it has been unsuccessful, though brought forward at a time when the feelings of the Irish government were violently excited against the Earl of Fingall.

Robert, 6th Earl, was a captain in Berwick's regiment, in the service of France.

He espoused Mary, daughter of Roger Magenis, of Iveagh, County Down; and dying in 1738, left (with a daughter, Anne) a son and successor,

ARTHUR JAMES, 7th Earl (1731-93), then in his seventh year.

His lordship married, in 1755, Henrietta Maria, only daughter and heir of William Wollascot, of Woolhampton, Berkshire, and had issue,

ARTHUR JAMES, his successor;
Luke;
Robert;
William;
Theresa.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR JAMES, 8th Earl (1759-1836), KP, who was created a Peer of the United Kingdom, in 1831, by the title of Baron Fingall, of Woolhampton Lodge, Berkshire.

• Luke Plunkett, 1st Earl (1589–1637);
• Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl (d. 1649);
• Luke Plunkett, 3rd Earl (1639–84);
• Peter Plunkett, 4th Earl (1678–1718);
• Justin Plunkett, 5th Earl (d. 1734);
• Robert Plunkett, 6th Earl (d. 1738);
• Arthur James Plunkett, 7th Earl (1731–93);
• Arthur James Plunkett, 8th Earl (1759–1836);
• Arthur James Plunkett, 9th Earl (1791–1869);
• Arthur James Plunkett, 10th Earl (1819–81);
• Arthur James Francis Plunkett, 11th Earl (1859–1929);
• Oliver James Horace Plunkett, 12th Earl (1896–1984).

The titles became extinct on the death of the 12th Earl.

KILLEEN CASTLE, near Dunsany, County Meath, is said originally to have been a Norman fortification, built for the de Lacy magnates, and held from 1172 by the Cusack family, beginning with Geoffrey de Cusack.

The castle was then held from 1399 by successors by marriage (to Lady Joan de Cusack), the Plunketts.

Killeen Castle was originally built by Geoffrey de Cusack around 1181. The date is carved above the doorway.

The castle fell into disrepair in the late 17th century, was leased out, and was not restored until around 1779, when parts of the demesne were landscaped and some of the estate features were added.

Significant reworking was carried out from 1803-13 under the supervision of Francis Johnston, and in 1841, much of the castle was demolished and rebuilt (using much existing material) by the 9th Earl of Fingall, in the style of a small Windsor Castle.

The two towers added have the dates 1181 and 1841 inscribed, and at the time of completion, it was claimed that Killeen had 365 windows.

The 12th and last Earl sold Killeen Castle and Estate, in 1951, to Sir Victor Sassoon.

Lord Fingall remained as manager of the stud farm established near the castle.

In 1953, Lord and Lady Fingall moved to a contemporary house built in the grounds, and most of the house contents were sold.

Sassoon died in 1961 and his heirs sold the estate on in 1963, to the French art dealer and racehorse owner, Daniel Wildenstein.

Lord Fingall moved from the estate to Corballis on the Dunsany estate, then The Commons.

He died in 1984 and is buried at Dunsany Church.

In 1978, the castle and estate were sold to the advertiser Basil Brindley, who continued the stud farm operation.

In 1981, the castle was burnt out in an arson attack, being left abandoned for many years.

The lands and buildings were sold again in 1989, to Christopher Slattery.

In 1997, Snowbury Ltd purchased the castle and its grounds, with a vision to create the estate that exists today.

Fingall arms courtesy of European Heraldry.    First published in April, 2012.

Athavallie House

THE LYNCH-BLOSSE BARONETS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MAYO, WITH 22,658 ACRES

The family of LYNCH was of great antiquity in the province of Connaught, being amongst the very early settlers, denominated the Tribes of Galway. In an old manuscript in Ulster King-of-Arms' office, William le Petit is stated to be the common progenitor of all the Lynches of Ireland.

The founder of the honours of the family, however, was

HENRY LYNCH, Mayor of, and MP for Galway (eldest of twelve sons of Nicholas Lynch, also Mayor of Galway).

Mr Lynch was created a baronet in 1622, designated of Galway.

This gentleman was the son of Nicholas Lynch fitz Stephen (Mayor 1584–1585) and great-grandson of Mayor Arthur Lynch (died 1539); land agent for Richard, 4th Earl of Clanricarde; mentor to Patrick D'Arcy and Richard Martyn, later senior political figures of Confederate Ireland.

He was stepfather to D'Arcy and married to an aunt of Martyn. He was among the first of his family to become a lawyer, and several of his younger sons followed him into this profession, as did, under his influence, D'Arcy, Martyn, Geoffrey Browne and subsequent generations of The Tribes of Galway.

Sir Henry married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Martin, and widow of James D'Arcy, by whom he had three sons and three daughters.

He died in 1635, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ROBUCK LYNCH, 2nd Baronet, MP for Galway Borough, 1639-42, and was resident counsel for Connaught during the rebellion.

He wedded Ellis, daughter of Sir Peter French, Knight, by whom he had two sons, and was succeeded on his decease, 1667, by the elder, 

SIR HENRY LYNCH, 3rd Baronet, a lawyer of eminence, and one of the barons of the exchequer, in 1689, wedded firstly, Margaret, daughter of Sir Theobald Bourke, 3rd Viscount Mayo, but by that lady had no issue; and secondly, and had (with a younger son) his successor,

SIR ROBERT LYNCH (-c1720), 4th Baronet, who espoused Catherine, daughter of Henry Blake, of County Mayo, by whom he had, with two daughters, a son and heir,

SIR HENRY LYNCH (-1762), 5th Baronet, of Carracastle, who married Mary, daughter of John Moore, of Brees [sic], County Galway, and had one daughter and an only son, his successor,

SIR ROBERT LYNCH-BLOSSE, 6th Baronet, who wedded Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Francis Barker, heir of Tobias Blosse, of Little Belstead, Suffolk.

He assumed the surname of BLOSSE, in addition to, and after, that of LYNCH.

It was a condition of the marriage that Robert would assume the additional surname of BLOSSE and conform to Protestantism.

The issue of this marriage were, HENRY, who succeeded to the title; and Francis, who wedded Hatton, daughter of John Smith, and had issue, Robert, who, succeeding his uncle, became the 8th Baronet.

Sir Robert died in 1775, and was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR HENRY LYNCH-BLOSSE, 7th Baronet (1749-88), MP for Tuam, 1776-83, upon whose demise, without issue, the title reverted to his nephew, 

SIR ROBERT LYNCH-BLOSSE, 8th Baronet (1774-1818), who wedded firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of William Gorman, of Carlow, by whom he had FRANCIS, the next baronet, with several other children.

He married secondly, Charlotte, daughter of John Richards, of Cardiff.

Sir Robert  was succeeded by his son,

THE REV SIR FRANCIS LYNCH-BLOSSE, 9th Baronet (1801-40), who wedded, in 1824, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Lord Plunket, and had issue,

ROBERT, 10th Baronet;
William Conyngham, b 1826.

*****

Sir Richard Hely Lynch-Blosse (b 1953), 17th and present Baronet, lives in Oxfordshire.

ATHAVALLIE HOUSE, near Castlebar, County Mayo, is a long, low, plain, two-storey residence, its main block of five bays, with an entrance door set in a broad stone arch.

The front is extended by a four-bay range of the same height, though set back.

In 1894, Athavallie House was recorded as the seat of Sir Henry Lynch-Blosse, 11th Baronet (1857-1918), and most likely the last of the family to reside there.

In 1920, the Sisters of St Louis founded a school which catered for girls only.

It was a boarding school-cum-day school until the St Louis Sisters left in 1978 and the school became co-educational under the control of the local community.

Balla Secondary School is based here now.

Athavallie House still stands but is no longer used for educational purposes.

It was used as a military hospital during the 1st World War.

Other former seat ~ Castle Carra, County Mayo.

First published in April, 2013.

New Lord-Lieutenant

The King is pleased to appoint Mr Ian Crowe MBE DL as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry to succeed Dr Angela Garvey who retired in March, 2022.

The Downing Street website remarks:

"Mr Crowe is a local business man, now retired."

"He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List for his committed service to the community of Northern Ireland, having supported numerous organisations such as Air Ambulance NI(AANI), Past President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, City of Derry Rugby Club and others in a voluntary capacity over the last forty years."

"Mr Crowe has lived and worked in Northern Ireland since the beginning of his career, with his first leadership role as Captain of City of Derry Rugby 1st XV in 1978 a position he held for four years. Ian also represented Ulster between 1978 to 1985."

"He has been leading CPC Office Supplies as Managing Director since 1984 and his success in business led to several non-executive roles in business and charity organisations."

"He has dedicated himself to supporting organisations across Northern Ireland in sectors ranging from Sport, Peace and Reconciliation, Business and the Charity sector and cites the most notable achievement is being part of a team, including Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), who successfully delivered a fully operational Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) providing a lifesaving service for Northern Ireland."

"In 2009, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry and Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 2021."

The Belmont Thumbstick

One of Sir Max Hastings' favourite pieces of kit happens to be his treasured thumbstick.

 I happen to possess one myself.

A pal and follower of the blog, Stephen Knox, most generously offered to make me a thumbstick several months ago, following my tweet about Sir Max's walking-stick.

I am sure that Stephen shan't mind me remarking that he is considerably leaner and fitter since the photograph below was taken in 2016.

Accordingly, I decided to mark the occasion with dinner at Michael Deane's fish restaurant in Howard Street, Belfast, on the 3rd December, 2016.

Coincidentally it also happened to be the ninth anniversary of the blog.

I arrived slightly early, so I was shown to the champagne bar (which happens to be adjacent to Deane's Eipic.

When Stephen arrived he presented me with my handsome new thumbstick, made mostly of chestnut wood and antler horn.

It has a distinctive, engraved, sterling silver collar band.

I can only imagine the amount of time that Stephen spent on such a handsome item; unsurpassed craftsmanship.

At Mount Stewart (Timothy Ferres, January, 2023)

More recently I went for a walk in Mount Stewart's magnificent woodland with my thumbstick.

First published in December, 2016.

Sheriffs, 2023

APPOINTMENTS BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND OF SHERIFFS FOR 2023

County Antrim

Mr Peter Thomas Watts Mackie DL

County Armagh

Mr Gary Myles Dickson

County Down

Professor William Michael Mawhinney MBE TD

County Fermanagh

Ms Noelle Mary McAlinden

County Londonderry

Mr Peter Arnold Wilson BEM

County Tyrone

Mrs Helen Irene Anderson

County Borough of Belfast

Councillor Samuel John Kyle 

County Borough of Londonderry

Mrs Angela Norma Mary Thompson MBE