My ancestors - Rowan - Contents

George Rowan

• References:
  • SHEIRCLIFFE in [Rowan, 1846]
  • Obituary of Ven. Arthur Blennerhassett Rowan, Kerry Evening Post, 14th Aug 1861.

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Rowan Papers in [NLI Ms], D. 26664: "Grant by George Rowan of Ratanny, Co. Kerry to Richard Chute of Tullygaran Co. kerry of three hundred pounds (part of a charge on lands at Tubrid and elsewhere in Co. Kerry), 27 May 1746."
  • Ven. Arthur Blennerhassett Rowan in Miscell. Genealog. et Heraldica, new series 3, 116,
    obituary of him in Proc. RIA, series 1, vol.8, p.91, 1861-4,
    obituary of him in Gentleman's Magazine, 1861, 2, 565.

   
Location of Rathanny (or Ratanny), E of Tralee (then seat of Rowan).
W is up in this map.
See also Arabella House nearby (then seat of Blennerhassett).
From Taylor and Skinner's Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed 1777, published 1778.
See full size. From Bill Jehan.

George Rowan,
of Maghera, Co.Down (this would be Maghera, N of Newcastle, Co.Down, see map),
"Mahara, Co.Derry" also seen (this would be Maghera, Co.Derry),
descendant of Robert II, King of Scotland and of Henry I,
mar Mary Blennerhassett [born est c.1682, descendant of Edward III],
settled at Tullaree, Killiney par, on the Dingle peninsula, W of Tralee, Co.Kerry,
presumably settled in Co.Kerry through marriage to Blennerhassett of Co.Kerry,
High Sheriff of Kerry 1716,
had issue:

1. John Rowan,
   of Maghera, Co.Derry,
   and of Castlegregory (or Castle Gregory), Tullaree, Killiney par, Co.Kerry,
   mar 30th Nov 1728 to Sarah Leslie [dau of James Leslie, of Tarbert, Co.Kerry],
   see LESLIE in [Burkes Irish, 1976],
   he died 1732,
   had issue:
   1. Mary Rowan, mar Rev. Edward Day and had issue.

   2. George Rowan, mar Jane Usher and had issue:
      1. John Rowan of Castlegregory, mar 18th Mar 1780 to Elisabeth Usher and had issue:
         1. Harriet (or Harriett) Rowan, mar 1802 to Rev. Edward Day.

   
   

2. George Rowan,
   mar c.1750 to Catherine (or Margaret) Chute,
   (todo) see mar settlement, Rowan Papers in [NLI Ms], D.26711,
   he must be George Rowan who was High Sheriff of Kerry 1760-61,
   had issue:
   1. George Rowan,
      mar Mary Gorham,
      he must be George Rowan jr. who was High Sheriff of Kerry 1769-70,
      Mary must be the widow of George Rowan, of "Ratanny", Co.Kerry, who mar 2ndly, in Tralee, Apr 1789 [Walker's Hibernian Magazine] to William Nash, of Ballyteige [unidentified],
      George Rowan and Mary Gorham had issue:
      1. George Rowan,
         of Rathanny (or Ratanny), Ballymacelligott par (a little bit E of Tralee), Co.Kerry (where George Cashell lived),
         mar Apr 1798 to Catherine Mary Blennerhassett [bapt 1777] and had issue,
         he may be George Rowan who was High Sheriff of Kerry 1807-08.

      
      

   2. William Rowan,
      of Arabella House, Arabela townland, Ballymacelligott par, Co.Kerry,
      listed as "counsellor at law" at mar,
      mar 23rd Oct 1799 [Tralee] to Letitia Denny [descendant of Edward III],
      later lived Tralee,
      Provost of Tralee temp 1800,
      had issue:
      1. Ven. Arthur Blennerhassett Rowan, DD, of Belmont, Co.Kerry,
         local historian and antiquarian writer, born 1800,
         mar 1820 to Alicia Thompson and had issue,
         Curate of Blennerville 1824-54,
         Chairman of Tralee Harbour Commission,
         responsible for building of Tralee Ship Canal, project started 1828, construction started 1832, opened 1846,
         listed as of the Rectory, Blennerville, in Slater's Directory 1846,
         he was author of Lake Lore, or, An Antiquarian Guide to some of the Ruins and Recollections of Killarney, 1853,
         wrote about Tralee 1854,
         Rector of Kilgobbin, Clonfert 1854-56,
         Archdeacon of Ardfert par, Co.Kerry, 1856 until death 1861,
         author of [Rowan, 1860],
         died 14th Aug 1861, age 61 yrs, bur Ballyseedy churchyard.
         See entry in [DNB].
         See portrait in [Co.Kerry Soc. annual report 1938-9].
         Alicia died 1876.

      2. Arabella Rowan, born 1806, mar Charles George Fairfield and had issue:
         1. Charles Fairfield, born c.1841, had issue:
            1. Rebecca West, born 1892, the writer,
               real name Cicely Isabel Fairfield.

   
   

3. Thomas Rowan,
   must be after grandfather Thomas Blennerhassett.

1. Mary Rowan,
   mar 10th June 1716 (this date must be too early, since first of 5 sons born 1736) to William Mullins [born 1691] and had issue.

   
   

2. Sarah Rowan,
   of Droumbegg, Co.Kerry, born est c.1702,
   mar 1stly, 2nd Feb 1721, to William Sheircliffe (or Shiercliffe), of Loughbegg, Co.Kerry (or of Castlegregory, Killiney par, Co.Kerry),
   mar settlement, 7th Dec 1722, Rowan Papers in [NLI Ms], D.26712,
   no issue,
   [Hickson, 1874] describes her as "Mrs. Shiercliffe, the wealthy widow of the Cromwellian purchaser of Walter Hussey's forfeited estate", surely too late for Cromwellian,
   mar 2ndly to Francis Cashell [prob. born 1697] and had issue.

   
   

3. Margaree (Margaret) Rowan,
   mar Roger Crimble of Dunaghadee, Co.Down (no issue).

4. Ruth Rowan,
   must be after grandmother Ruth Blennerhassett,
   mar Charles Chambers of Letterkenny, Co.Donegal (no issue).

5. Katherine (or Catherine) Rowan, mar Pierce Chute of Brenane (O'Brenane) and had issue.
6. Jane Rowan.
7. Elizabeth (or Elisabeth) Rowan.

Arabella House, E of Tralee, Co.Kerry.
See full size.
From Sean Quinlan.