Col. John Blennerhassett, MP
- 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.
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
(see
here),
"The Great Colonel John",
of Ballyseedy,
born 1691 or 1692.
His
father died 1709.
He
inherited
Ballyseedy Castle
1709 (age 17 or 18).
MP for
Co.Kerry
and
MP for
Tralee,
at various periods 1709 (age 17 or 18 yrs) through 1775 (age 83 or 84 yrs).
"Father of the Irish House of Commons".
He mar 1713 to
Jane Denny.
It has been said that he built the new
Elm Grove (later Ballyseedy House)
1721.
But he did not live there.
He lived in
the old Ballyseedy Castle,
and his younger brother
William lived at Elm Grove.
Possibly he built it for his brother,
who he was perhaps like a father to.
His brother was only age 4 when their father died and John (age 17 or 18) inherited the estate.
In 1721 his brother was age 16 and John was age 29 or 30.
He
built
Blennerville Bridge 1751.
He is
listed as living in Ballyseedy (separate to Elmgrove) in
[Smith, 1756].
He
commanded a regiment of foot of the
Kerry militia temp 1756.
See
[Ó Snodaigh, 1971].
Letter
by his dau-in-law Jane Giradot, July 1774,
describes him as age 82 (born 1692).
See
Ballyseedy Entail
as incorporated into his Will
dated
19 Nov 1774.
See summary of his will dated 1774 in
Kerry Evening Post,
19 Oct 1892.
He lists many relations, even distant ones.
He
died May 1775, age 83 or 84 yrs,
at
Oak Park, Killeen, Tralee,
the home of his granddaughter
Letitia Bateman (formerly Denny).
See death notices in [
Hibernian Chronicle, Mon 22 May 1775]
and [
Dublin Hibernian Journal, Wed 31 May 1775].
See
entry
in [Boyd's
Family Units].
Col. John and Jane
had issue:
- John Blennerhassett,
born 1715
[Collins papers, 10],
mar 2ndly, 1753, to Frances Herbert of Muckross
and had issue:
- Frances Blennerhassett,
mar Rev. Jemmett Browne, of Riverstown, Co.Cork,
and had issue.
- Arthur Blennerhassett,
of Ballyseedy, born 1719.
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 lived
Bath.
He died Bath, 1799, age 80 yrs.
Will pr 1799
[PCC],
[NAI].
- Agnes Blennerhassett, born 1722,
mar Sir Thomas Denny and had issue.
- Arabella Blennerhassett, born 1726,
mar 1stly to
Richard Ponsonby,
mar 2ndly 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,
mar Lancelot Crosbie and had issue:
- Col. John Gustavus Crosbie,
killed Sir Barry Denny, 2nd Baronet in a duel 1794,
mar 1796 to Catherine Mary Blennerhassett and had issue.