My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy

• References:
  • Browne:
    • BROWNE of Riverstown in [Burkes Irish, 1912]
    • KYNNERSLEY-BROWNE in [Burkes LG, 1952]

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Rowan Papers in [NLI Ms], D. 26671-26692: "Leases by Arthur and Jane Blennerhassett of lands in the barony of Trughanacmy, Co. Kerry, mainly in the seignory of Castleisland, 1782-1803."

New Ballyseedy.
Photo apparently 2005. From Bill Jehan.

John Blennerhassett,
of Ballyseedy, born est c.1660,
mar Margaret Crosbie,
MP for Tralee 1692, MP for Dingle 1695-99, MP for Co.Kerry 1703-09,
died 1709, age est c.49 yrs,
will pr 9th May 1709,
elegy 1709 by the Gaelic poet Aodhagán Ó Rathaille to "John, son of John, son of John of Ballyseedy",
think describes his wife as "the stately, polite, gentle lady, descendant of warriors, branch sprung from kings",
had issue:

1. Col. John Blennerhassett, MP, "The Great Colonel John",
   of Ballyseedy, born 1691 or 1692,
   inherited Ballyseedy Castle 1709,
   MP for Co.Kerry and for Tralee, various periods 1709 (age 17 or 18 yrs) through 1775 (age 83 or 84 yrs), "Father of the Irish House of Commons",
   mar 1713 to Jane Denny,
   it has been said that he built the new Elm Grove (later Ballyseedy House) 1721, but he did not live there, he lived in the old Ballyseedy Castle, and his brother William lived at Elm Grove,
   possibly Col. John built it for his brother?,
   in 1721 Col. John was age 29 or 30, and had inherited all Ballyseedy, and his brother William was age 16,
   his brother was only age 4 when their father died, so maybe his much older brother Col. John always felt responsible for his welfare,
   he built Blennerville Bridge 1751,
   he is listed as living in Ballyseedy (separate to Elmgrove) in [Smith, 1756],
   commanded a regiment of foot of the Kerry militia temp 1756, see [Ó Snodaigh, 1971],
   letter by his dau-in-law, from Oak Park, July 1774, describes him as age 82 (born 1692),
   see Ballyseedy Entail as incorporated into his Will dated 19th Nov 1774,
   died May 1775, at Oak Park, Killeen, Tralee (home of his granddaughter Letitia Bateman), age 83 or 84 yrs,
   see death notices in [Hibernian Chronicle, Mon 22nd May] and [Dublin Hibernian Journal, Wed 31st May],
   see entry in [Boyd's Family Units],
   had issue:

   
   

   1. John Blennerhassett,
      mar 2ndly, 1753, to Frances Herbert of Muckross and had issue:
      1. Frances Blennerhassett,
         mar Rev. Jemmett Browne, of Riverstown, Co.Cork, and had issue.

   2. Arthur Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy, born 1719,
      mar Jane Giradot,
      see letter by Jane, 1774, pub in [The Gentleman's Magazine, July-Dec 1816, vol.LXXXVI, part II, p.598],
      inherited "Ballyseedy" 1775,
      think this means the old Ballyseedy Castle and estate,
      the old castle fell into ruin,
      he lived Bath,
      died Bath, 1799, age 80 yrs, will pr 1799 [PCC], [NAI].

   3. Agnes Blennerhassett, born 1722, mar Sir Thomas Denny, Knt. and had issue.

   4. Arabella Blennerhassett, born 1726,
      mar 1stly to Richard Ponsonby,
      mar 2ndly to her 1st cousin Col. Arthur Blennerhassett and had issue.

   5. Letitia Blennerhassett, born Ballyseedy, 28 Feb 1728,
      lived Tralee,
      she must be Letitia Blennerhassett of Tralee, spinster, who is party to a deed, dated 1 May 1801, registered with [LR] 27 June 1801, book 533, p.255, no.353785, (todo) read in full, the other party is Rev. Edward Day, the younger, of Beaufort. Co.Kerry,
      will dated 27 May 1801,
      died unmarried, her will says "spinster" [NAI] T/17747.

   6. Mary Blennerhassett, born 1729, mar Lancelot Crosbie and had issue:
      1. Col. John Gustavus Crosbie,
         killed Sir Barry Denny, 2nd Baronet in a duel 1794,
         mar 1796 to Catherine Mary Blennerhassett and had issue.

2. Arthur Blennerhassett,
   mar Frances Lucia Denny [born 1701, niece of his brother's wife].

3. Thomas Blennerhassett, of Ballymacelligott and Listrim, Co.Kerry, born est c.1695,
   mar Avice Spring and had issue:
   1. Col. Arthur Blennerhassett, MP, born 1731,
      of Arabella House, Arabela townland, Ballymacelligott par, Co.Kerry (some distance to the E of Ballyseedy),
      mar 1stly, 1764 [her a widow, age 38] to Arabella Blennerhassett [born 1726] and had issue,
      he built Arabella House, named after his wife,
      see ARABELLA in [Houses of Kerry],
      Arabella House was later owned by Rowan,
      MP for Co.Kerry 1775-76 and 1776-83,
      Colonel 1779-82 of the "Kerry Legion" regiment (also known as the "Palatine" or Ballymacelligott corps) of the Kerry Volunteers,
      inherited "Ballyseedy" 1799,
      think this means the old ruined Ballyseedy Castle and estate,
      lived 8 Russell St, Bath,
      died Bath, 1810, age 79 yrs.

   2. Thomas Blennerhassett, born 1736,
      said to have mar without his father's consent and been disinherited [this branch would have inherited Ballyseedy otherwise],
      believed to be the father of:
      1. Arthur Blennerhassett, of Gortatlea, Co.Kerry, born c.1755.

4. William Blennerhassett, of Elmgrove, born 1705.
   He (or someone in his family, possibly his brother Col. John) built the new Elm Grove (later Ballyseedy House) 1721, which became his residence.

   
Location of big houses near Tralee. W is up.
From Taylor and Skinner's Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed 1777, published 1778.
Oak Park (then seat of Bateman) is on N side of Tralee.
Ballyseedy area is E of Tralee.
Arabella House is further E (then seat of Blennerhassett, later seat of Rowan).
Rathanny (or Ratanny) also further E (then seat of Rowan).
See full size. From Bill Jehan.