Col. John Blennerhassett, MP
Ballyseedy on
p.163
of
[Smith, 1756].
This
shows
John Blennerhassett at
Old Ballyseedy
and his younger brother
William Blennerhassett at
Elmgrove.
Col. John Blennerhassett, MP,
"The Great Colonel John",
of Ballyseedy,
born 1691 or 1692.
See
wikipedia.
His
father died 1709.
He
inherited the old
Ballyseedy Castle
in 1709 (age 17 or 18).
MP from 1709 to 1775:
His father was MP for Co.Kerry at his death in 1709,
and the seat passed to his son John.
John was MP for various constituencies
at various periods from 1709 (age 17 or 18 yrs) to his death in 1775 (age 83 or 84 yrs).
MP for
Co.Kerry
1709 to 1713.
He mar 1713 to Jane Denny.
MP
for Tralee
1713-1715.
MP for Co.Kerry 1715-1727.
MP for Tralee 1727-1760.
He lived at the old Ballyseedy Castle.
At some point, a new house called Elm Grove (later Ballyseedy House)
was built on the estate.
John's brother William lived there.
John
built Blennerville Bridge 1751.
He is
listed as living in Ballyseedy (separate to Elmgrove) in
[Smith, 1756].
He was Colonel of a regiment of foot of the Kerry militia
around 1756.
See
[Ó Snodaigh, 1971].
MP for Co.Kerry 1761-1775.
"Father of the Irish House of Commons".
Leaves Ballyseedy:
Before 1774 he left Ballyseedy Castle and moved to
Oak Park, Killeen, Tralee
(the home after 1758 of his granddaughter
Letitia Bateman, formerly Denny).
It seems Ballyseedy was abandoned and fell into ruin.
See letter
by his daughter-in-law Jane Giradot, July 1774.
This
describes him as age 82 (born 1692).
It indicates that he is living at Oak Park.
His will
dated
19 Nov 1774.
At his will he is described as of
"Oak Park, Co.Kerry, formerly of Ballyseedy".
He
died May 1775, age 83 or 84 yrs,
at Oak Park.
See death notices in [Hibernian Chronicle, Mon 22 May 1775]
and [Dublin Hibernian Journal, Wed 31 May 1775].
Will proved 27 June 1776.
See
entry
in [Boyd's Family Units].
Col. John and Jane
had issue:
- John Blennerhassett,
born 1715
[Collins papers, 10].
See wikipedia.
MP for Co.Kerry 1751-1761.
He mar 2ndly, 1753, to Frances Herbert of Muckross.
MP for Co.Kerry 1762-1763.
His will dated 7 May 1763. "John Blennerhassett of Tralee". Wife Frances.
He died May-June 1763 (before his father).
Will proved 8 June 1763.
His will was burnt in 1922.
But notes survive on p.9
and p.10
of [D950/1/9].
He had issue by 2nd wife:
- Frances Blennerhassett,
mar 1784 to Rev. Jemmett Browne,
of Riverstown, Co.Cork,
had issue:
- Rev. John Browne, born 1795,
had issue:
- Edward Francis Jemmett Browne, born 1835.
Researched family tree, including Blennerhassett.
His research is now in the
Kynnersley-Browne papers
in Shropshire Archives.
- Arthur Blennerhassett,
of Ballyseedy, born 1719.
See wikipedia.
MP for Tralee
1743 to 1761.
He mar Jane Giradot.
See letter by Jane, from Oak Park, July 1774,
published in
The Gentleman's Magazine,
July-Dec 1816, vol.LXXXVI, part II, p.598.
Arthur
inherited Ballyseedy
1775.
This would be the old
Ballyseedy Castle and estate.
The old Ballyseedy Castle fell into ruin.
He moved to England.
He lived in
Bath
as an absentee landlord.
[O'Carroll, 2009, p.72]
says he was NOT MP for Co.Kerry
1776 to 1783,
that was his cousin
Arthur.
MP for Tralee 1794-1797.
He died Bath, 1799, age 80 yrs.
Will pr 1799
[PCC],
[NAI].
Ballyseedy inherited by his cousin
Arthur.
- Agnes Blennerhassett, born 1722,
mar Sir Thomas Denny and had issue.
- Arabella Blennerhassett, born 1726.
She mar 1stly to
Richard Ponsonby.
He
died 1763.
She mar 2ndly, 1764, to her 1st cousin
Col. Arthur Blennerhassett and had issue.
- Letitia Blennerhassett,
born Ballyseedy, 28 Feb 1728.
Did not marry.
Lived Tralee.
She is Letitia Blennerhassett of Tralee, spinster, who is
party to [Deed, 1 May 1801].
The other party is Rev. Edward Day, the younger, of Beaufort, Co.Kerry.
Lease of
property in Tralee town.
The property is leased for the life of, among others, Frances Browne (her niece).
Her
will dated 27 May 1801.
Died unmarried.
Her will says "spinster"
[NAI] T/17747.
- Mary Blennerhassett, born 1729.
She mar Lancelot Crosbie and had issue:
-
Col. John Gustavus Crosbie.
See wikipedia.
He killed Sir Barry Denny, 2nd Baronet in a duel 1794.
He mar 1796 to Catherine Mary Blennerhassett.
He died 1797.
What appears to be a mention of the elderly
"Miss Letitia Blennerhassett"
at a dinner in
Farnham House, Co.Cavan, in 1801.
From
Diary of Justice Robert Day,
25 July 1801.
See
[O'Carroll, 2004, p.53].
It looks like "Mrs" but there is no candidate for "Mrs. Letitia Blennerhassett" in 1801.
I think
it is "Miss" and it is
the elderly unmarried Letitia of Ballyseedy above.
The other candidate would be the young unmarried
Letitia Blennerhassett of Riddlestown, Co.Limerick.
But it must be Letitia of Ballyseedy because:
- It says "a Kerry Colony".
There are various Co.Kerry people there.
-
Also at the dinner is "Lady Anne FitzGerald".
She must be Anne Fitzmaurice (died 1808), widow of
Maurice Fitzgerald, 16th Knight of Kerry
(who was 1st cousin of Judge Day).
- Also there is "Miss Herbert", probably a relation of Letitia of Ballyseedy's sister-in-law
Frances Herbert of Muckross.
- Letitia of Ballyseedy had recently (May 1801)
been party to a deed with Rev. Edward Day, the younger,
nephew of Judge Robert Day.
- Letitia of Co.Limerick is not of Kerry, and was only a teenager (age c.16) in 1801.
References
- Deed, 1 May 1801.
Registered 1801.
[LR]
book 533, p.255, no.353785.
Letitia Blennerhassett of Tralee, spinster.
- Browne:
Sources yet to be consulted
-
D. 26671-26692
in
[Rowan Papers].
"Leases by Arthur and Jane Blennerhassett of lands in the barony of Trughanacmy, Co. Kerry, mainly in the seignory of Castleisland, 1782-1803."
- Deed, 2 May 1776.
Registered 1776.
[LR] 308 611 208085.
Letitia Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy, spinster, and others.
- Col. John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy mentioned in
The Kerry magazine, vol 1 no 5, 1 May 1854, p.74.
Will of Col. John Blennerhassett,
dated
19 Nov 1774.
