My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

"Black Jack's Book"

Early Blennerhassett genealogy 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.

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MS 7937 (Fenit House, 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.
  • It is now "Pedigree of the Blennerhassetts". MS 7937 at [TCD].
  • See also [TCD] Microform, Berkeley Basement, MS MF 651.

Transcripts of Fenit House Ms

Many transcripts exist of the Fenit House Ms, both published and unpublished.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 copied some or all of the Fenit Ms in 1855 (or maybe 1858, but NOT 1885).
  • 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.
  • This Ms was later given to the [NLI], where it became Ms 5629. However it now cannot be found and is "missing". See 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.

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Index into Hickson transcript online

Hickson's transcript of the Fenit Ms is readable online on pp.35-108 of [Hickson, 1872].
Here is an index into the sections of it.

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	pp.1-2	p.35
John Blennerhassett, of Ballyseedy	pp.2-3	pp.35-36
Edward, son of Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty	pp.3-5	pp.36-37
Arthur Blennerhassett of Loughgur	pp.5-12	pp.37-41
Mary Blennerhassett and George Rowan	pp.7-9	pp.38-39
Elizabeth, dau of Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty	pp.12-14	pp.41-42
Capt. Robert Blennerhassett, of Castle Conway	p.15	p.42
John Blennerhassett, "Black Jack"	pp.15-21	pp.42-45
Gun	pp.19-20	pp.44-45
Thomas Blennerhassett and Jane Darby	pp.21-22	pp.45-46
Henry Blennerhassett, of Gortmasherry	pp.22-24	pp.46-47
Daughters of Capt. Robert Blennerhassett, of Castle Conway	pp.24-29	pp.47-50
Conway	pp.30-34	pp.50-53
Eveleigh and Cross	pp.35-46	pp.53-59
Thomas Blennerhassett, of Littur	pp.47-53	pp.59-62
Daughters of John Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty	pp.53-56	pp.62-64
Forrest and Lynne	pp.56-61	pp.64-66
Blennerhassett of Dublin Said to be cousin of Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty.	pp.61-62	pp.66-68
Blennerhassett of Fermanagh Said to be cousin of Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty.	p.63	pp.68-69
Browne and Spring and Ryeves	pp.64-102	pp.69-101
O'Ryan	pp.103-111	pp.101-107
Tuchet	pp.112-115	pp.107-108

The close of "Black Jack's Book", as printed on p.108 of [Hickson, 1872].
"Show me the country, place, or spot of ground; Where 'Hassetts or their allies are not found."

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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.)"
  • Note on card says: "This ms. is called Black Jack. It appear to be a Pedigree of the Blennerhasset and Kerry families".