My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

"Black Jack's Book"

Early Blennerhassett genealogy (up to 1730s) by John Blennerhassett, "Black Jack" (born 1665).
The Blennerhassett family, plus his other ancestral lines and his wife's ancestors.

He is believed to have started writing it down when in prison in Galway in 1689.
He did the final version in the 1730s shortly before his death.

Images used with the kind permission of the Board of Trinity College, The University of Dublin.

The cover made in 1862 for the original Fenit Ms (MS 7937 at TCD).
See full size. It says: "Black Jack's Book. 1735"
See other side. It says: "John Hurly. 1862"

The Fenit Ms (MS 7937 at TCD)

This is the definitive Ms of "Black Jack's Book", dating from the 1730s (shortly before he died).

It has additions up to the 1730s.
[Hickson, 3 Apr 1897] says the latest entries are dated 1737.
Inherited by Hurly:
- It was inherited by the Hurly family, descendants of Black Jack's sister Anne Blennerhassett, who married Dennis Hurly.
- It was inherited by John Hurly (died 1878) of Fenit House, Co.Kerry. He made a cover for it in 1862. The cover says "Black Jack's Book. 1735".
- It was inherited by John Hurly (died 1929) of Fenit House.
- As at 1957 it was in the possession of Maurice Fitzmaurice Hurly.
Donated to TCD:
- It was presented to TCD in 1977 by Dr. Maurice G.D. Hurly of New Zealand.

Black Jack's Book is hidden under the rather anonymous label of "Pedigree of the Blennerhassetts" as MS 7937 in [TCD].

There is also a microform version as MS MF 651 in [TCD].

Transcripts

Many transcripts exist of the Fenit House Ms, both published and unpublished.

Eagar transcript
- Transcript of the Fenit Ms.
- Made by Frederick John Eagar in 1840 in [Ms 4112]. With added notes.
- Has index of names.
- Eagar writes a note that: "Another Pedigree of this family of an earlier date, not so copious as this, was drawn up by the same writer". Note it is Eagar (NOT Rowan below) who writes this note.
- It is unclear if this earlier pedigree survives. This is NOT the PRO.NI copy below.
Rowan transcript
- Transcript of the Fenit Ms.
- Rev. Arthur Blennerhassett Rowan (died 1861) copied some or all of the Fenit Ms in 1855 (NOT 1858).
- See item on p.13 of [Co.Kerry Soc. annual report 1934-35]. This notes the sale of the Rowan transcript. It was bought by Canon John McGuirk.
- The original Ms is now in the Canon McGuirk Collection at the MAI.
- A photocopy of it was given to the [NLI], where it became Ms 5629. However it now cannot be found and is "missing". (todo) It may be re-classified as Ms. 2771.
Hickson transcript
- Transcript of the Fenit Ms.
- Copy of the Fenit Ms was published by Mary Agnes Hickson in 1872. See pp.35-108 of [Hickson, 1872]. Introduction on pp.31-32. Says it is a transcript of the Ms as it was written.
- Original Hickson Ms is in [SOG] Ac3857.
- Brief note in: "Extract from the Blennerhassett Pedigree, Written between 1684 and 1736", Mary Agnes Hickson, JRSAI, Series 5, Vol 1, pp.323-324 (1890). [NLI] Ir 794105 r 1.
  (todo) See also vol.15, p.356
- Version in "Blennerhassett and related pedigrees", by S. Burgoyne, 1921, [NLI] GO Ms 562, [LDS] microfilm 0100151. This is basically Hickson's version in tree form.
- Copy of Hickson in [O'Kief, vol.5].
- Bill Jehan says Rowan's transcript is more accurate than Hickson's.
Browne transcript
- There is another transcript in [Blen. Pedigrees]. Maybe around 1910.
- Probably of the Fenit House Ms.
Garstin manuscript
- On the death in 1917 of antiquarian John Ribton Garstin, his library was sold, including Lot 883: "Black Jack, an old MS pedigree of Blennerhassett and other Kerry familes, in box."

Images

We present here an index of images of the original Fenit Ms (MS 7937 at TCD).
Used with the kind permission of the Board of Trinity College, The University of Dublin.

Then there is an index of names. Not photographed.
p.127 quote
Spring notes:
Conway notes:
Other notes:

Images plus transcript

This section divides the book into family groups, linking to the images of the original, and also to the transcript by Hickson.

Images of the original Fenit Ms (MS 7937 at TCD).
Used with the kind permission of the Board of Trinity College, The University of Dublin.

Index into the relevant pages of Hickson's transcript of the Fenit Ms.
This is pp.35-108 of [Hickson, 1872].

Section	MS 7937 pages	Hickson transcript
Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty	p.1	p.35
John Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty	p.1	p.35
John Blennerhassett, of Ballyseedy	p.1 p.2	p.35
John Blennerhassett, of Ballyseedy	pp.2-3	pp.35-36
Edward, son of Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty	p.3 pp.4-5	pp.36-37
Arthur Blennerhassett of Loughgur	p.5 pp.6-7 pp.8-9 pp.10-11 p.12	pp.37-41
Mary Blennerhassett and George Rowan	p.7 pp.8-9	pp.38-39
Elizabeth, dau of Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty	pp.12-13 p.14	pp.41-42
Capt. Robert Blennerhassett, of Castle Conway	p.15	p.42
John Blennerhassett, "Black Jack"	p.15 pp.16-17 pp.18-19 pp.20-21	pp.42-45
Gun	p.19 p.20	pp.44-45
Thomas Blennerhassett and Jane Darby	p.21 p.22	pp.45-46
Henry Blennerhassett and Dorcas Crumpe	pp.22-23 p.24	pp.46-47
Daughters of Capt. Robert Blennerhassett, of Castle Conway	pp.24-25 pp.26-27 pp.28-29	pp.47-50
Conway	pp.30-31 pp.32-33 p.34	pp.50-53
Eveleigh and Cross	p.35 pp.36-37 pp.38-39 pp.40-41 pp.42-43 pp.44-45 p.46	pp.53-59
Thomas Blennerhassett, of Littur	p.47 pp.48-49 pp.50-51 pp.52-53	pp.59-62
Daughters of John Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty	p.53 pp.54-55 p.56	pp.62-64
Forrest and Lynne	pp.56-57 pp.58-59 pp.60-61	pp.64-66
Blennerhassett of Dublin Said to be cousin of Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty.	p.61 p.62 and insert	pp.66-68
Blennerhassett of Fermanagh Said to be cousin of Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty.	insert and p.63	pp.68-69
Browne and Spring and Ryeves	pp.64-65 p.66 and inserted p.67 inserted p.69 p.67 pp.68-69 pp.70-71 pp.72-73 pp.74-75 pp.76-77 pp.78-79 pp.80-81 pp.82-83 pp.84-85 pp.86-87 pp.88-89 pp.90-91 pp.92-93 pp.94-95 pp.96-97 pp.98-99 pp.100-101 p.102 and insert p.1 insert pp.2-3 insert pp.4-5 insert pp.6-7 insert p.8	pp.69-101
O'Ryan	p.103 pp.104-105 pp.106-107 pp.108-109 pp.110-111	pp.101-107
Tuchet	pp.112-113 pp.114-115	pp.107-108

Quote in "Black Jack's Book".
From p.127 of MS 7937.
"Show me the country vale or spot of ground, where Hassetts or their allies are not found."

Transcript on p.108 of [Hickson, 1872].
She has it a bit different: "Show me the country, place, or spot of ground; Where 'Hassetts or their allies are not found."

Inserts

Card inserted in the book to explain what it is.
See full size.

Letter of 1908 from John C.D. Hurly explaining that he has the original book.
Found inserted in the book.
See full size.

D680/3/1 (PRO.NI)

D680 at [PRO.NI] has an 18th century copy of Black Jack's genealogy.
It has entries up to at least 1736.
It is written in a book with late 18th century accounts.
It is apparently a late 18th century transcript of Black Jack's Book, probably a transcript of the Fenit House Ms.
D680 is "Title deeds relating to properties in Co.Limerick and Co.Cork". Dates: 1411-1881. Contents: Vineyard accounts, Chablis, France, c.1411. Conveyance of lands in Co.Limerick from Thomas Browne to Sir Richard Boyle, 1604. Title deeds and testamentary papers relating to the Earl of Cork, 1631-1811.
- D680/3. Accounts. Dates: c.1779 - 1809.
- D680/3/1. Combined workmen's account book and genealogical notebook. Dates: c.1779-1793. Also: "Account book, with genealogical notes on the Blennerhassett family, relating to roads in the Ardraw area, Co.Kerry (late 18th C.)"
- Ardraw is near (NW of) Churchtown.
- Note on card says: "This MS is called Black Jack. It appears to be a Pedigree of the Blennerhassett and Kerry families. Dr. Brady got it I think through the McGillycuddy and considered it of importance."