My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Arthur Blennerhassett of Loughgur

Will of Mary Blennerhassett, widow, proved 1695, listed in [Vicars' index of wills 1536-1810].
This was burnt in 1922.

Arthur Blennerhassett.
He was originally from Ballycarty Castle, near Tralee, Co.Kerry.

1641 rebellion:
The 1641 Rebellion began in Oct 1641. Tralee was besieged in Feb 1642.
Arthur made a deposition dated 25 Feb 1643 (new style year) about events in the rebellion. See pp.112-114 of [Hickson, 1884, vol.2]. He is described as "late of Ballycarty". His deposition is hostile to the rebels and reports their crimes. He says he was living near to Tralee Castle (i.e. at Ballycarty) during the siege of Tralee.
He says Tralee Castle fell and he was taken prisoner by the rebels.
He was a Captain in the Army.

He is later described as of Loughgur, N of Bruff, Co.Limerick.
There is a Loughgur townland, at the lake of Lough Gur. There are a number of castles in the area.

Arthur was Collector of poll tax, Co.Limerick, 1661.
He died pre-1695. (Mary described as "widow".)
Mary's will dated 15 Mar 1694 (regarded at time as end of 1693).
She died 1695, bur Ballinard.
Her will pr 14 June 1695.
She is described in [Vicars' index of wills 1536-1810] as of "Ballynagannagh", Co.Limerick. This must be Ballynagranagh, Ballinlough par, Co.Limerick (E of Lough Gur, near Ballinard, see map). This may be where the Blennerhassett house was rather than exactly at Lough Gur.
[Bill Jehan's tree] must be wrong to say Arthur died 1696, since Mary is described as "widow" in 1695.
Arthur and Mary had issue:

1. Edward Blennerhassett.
   He mar Elizabeth Windall.
   She was heiress of Riddlestown, Co.Limerick.
   Riddlestown was eventually inherited by her nephew.

   
   

2. Robert Blennerhassett, born 1652.
   He mar Alice Osborne.
   His will dated 20 Jan 1712.
   Will would be burnt in 1922. Notes survive on p.37 of [D950/1/9].
   They had issue:
   1. Arthur Blennerhassett, born 1687,
      of Dawson St, Dublin.
      MP for Tralee 1727 to 1743.
      He inherited Riddlestown, Co.Limerick.
      He built new house, Riddlestown Park, c.1730.
      LLD, KC, Justice of King's Bench 1743.
      He died 1758, age 71 yrs.

   
   

3. Thomas Blennerhassett,
   of Co.Kerry.
   He mar post-1681 to his 1st cousin's dau Ruth Blennerhassett [descendant of Edward III].
   They had issue:
   1. Mary Blennerhassett, born est c.1682.
      She mar George Rowan and had issue.

   
   

4. Gerald Blennerhassett.
   He inherited Riddlestown Park, Co.Limerick.
   He had issue:

   
   

   1. Arthur Blennerhassett, of Riddlestown,
      only son.

      
      

   2. Rachel Blennerhassett.
      She mar 1715 to Daniel Heaphy.
      See Blennerhassett Heaphy family.
      They had issue:
      1. John Heaphy, mar Lucy Blennerhassett and had issue.

Gerald Fitzgerald, Archdeacon of Emly 1617-38, mentioned in a Court of Inquiry at Cashel, Co.Tipperary, in 1629.
It is an inquiry into the property of Malcolm Hamilton, Archbishop of Cashel who had just died in April 1629.
From "Abstracts from the Ancient Records of the Corporation of Cashel", Thomas Laffan, JRSAI, 5th Series, Vol. 34, No. 1 (1904), pp.30-40.

Old graveyard in Ballinard townland, Ballinard par, Co.Limerick.
This must be where Mary Fitzgerald was buried in 1695.
From 1829 to 1842 map.
See modern satellite view.

Riddlestown Park, Co.Limerick.
Photo 2004 by Bill Jehan.

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References

• Blennerhassett of Riddlestown by Bill Jehan.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• Gerald Fitzgerald in: Clergy of Cashel and Emly, Ulster Historical Foundation and Diocesan Council of Cashel and Ossory, 2012. [NLI] 13A 402. (Includes Clergy of Cashel and Emly, by St. John Drelincourt Seymour, 1908.)