Blennerhassett of Co.Kerry
The "Blennerhassett problem"
The "Holy Grail" of my family tree research has always been the
Blennerhassett problem,
the problem of how we connect to the Blennerhassett family.
In 2020, I finally proved that we connect to the
Blennerhassett Baronets branch.
See
Proof of our descent from Blennerhassett.
Some connection to that branch is proved now, through documents and DNA.
But the details remain to be worked out.
Spelling
Normally
"Blennerhassett"
but sometimes
"Blennerhasset" (how the village is spelt).
I normalise the surname spelling throughout to "Blennerhassett".
Blennerhasset village, Cumberland
The family takes its name from the village of
Blennerhasset
(thus spelt now),
Cumbria
(formerly
Cumberland),
N England.
The family took their name from this place
but they did not have lands there
(or at least, not since the 12th century).
Their lands
were elsewhere around Cumberland.
Blennerhasset village (thus spelt now), Cumbria (Cumberland).
The village green.
Click to rotate.
From
Google Street View.
See
Google Maps
and
streetmap.co.uk.
Blennerhasset village, Cumberland.
From old map.
Surveyed: 1863 to 1865.
Published: 1868.
The family of
Blennerhassett of Co.Kerry
descends from
Blennerhassett of Flimby, Cumberland.
We start with:
Arms
granted to
Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 1st Baronet
in 1808.
This is the
state copy of the Grant of Arms.
See
larger
and
full size.
Blennerhassett arms
made out by
James Franklin Fuller.
Originally at
Glashnacree House, Co.Kerry.
See
larger
and
full size.
Blennerhassett arms on Ballyseedy House, Co.Kerry.
Photo apparently 2008. From
Bill Jehan.
See wider shot.
See 2014 shot
from Bob Frewen.
References
- Denny papers
- Blennerhassett Baronets papers
- Franks addressed to 1st Baronet
- Leslie papers
- Hurly papers (MS 8277-8292)
- "Black Jack's Book"
- Rowan papers (Ms 20600 to 20622, D. 26664 to 26719)
- Blennerhassett papers (P30)
- Blennerhassett papers (Collins)
- Chute papers (SL/B/1-34)
- Garvey research (D950/1/9)
- Kynnersley-Browne papers (Deposit 823)
- BLENNERHASSETT
in [Burkes Irish, 1976]
by Brian Fitzelle.
- BLENNERHASSETT
in [Burkes Peerage]
- Note the
[Complete Baronetage]
only goes up to 1800.
(Will not include Blennerhassett Baronets.)
- BLENNERHASSETT in [Rowan, 1846]
- BLENNERHASSETT
on pp.127-128 of
[Burkes Peerage, 1881]
- BLENNERHASSETT in [Foster's Peerage, 1881]
- BLENNERHASSETT on
p.51 of
[Foster's Peerage, 1882].
- BLENNERHASSETT in [King]
- Blennerhassett tree in
Ms 20621
(c.1909)
in [Rowan Papers].
See images:
- "The Blennerhassetts of Kerry: Earlier English Stock",
by James Franklin Fuller
and "S.M.",
Kerry Archaeological Magazine, July 1919, vol.5 no.21, pp.34-39.
-
This is a summary
of a Ms written by David Elisha Davy.
The Ms is in the Davy collection,
[BL] Add. Ms. 19118, folio 348-367.
It is NOT with the Fuller papers
in the [RIA].
- "The East Anglian Blennerhassetts",
G. Andrews Moriarty,
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register,
July 1944, 98: 271-279.
- Modern research on the English Blennerhassetts.
Copies of PCC wills, etc.
[PRO.NI].
D4446/A/13/17.
Sources yet to be fully consulted
Sources yet to be consulted
- Foster's Royal Descents.
The following Royal descents are all through Lynne.
- Royal descents of Blennerhassett and Palmer, on
pp.562-575
of vol.4, 1886.
- Royal descents of Martin and Thorp (Black Jack Blennerhassett branch), on
pp.586-596
of vol.4, 1886.
- Royal descent of Raymond (Blennerhassett of Littur branch), on
pp.639-641
of vol.4, 1886.
- Royal descent of Blennerhassett, on
pp.689-693
of vol.5, 1887.
- BLENNERHASSETT on
p.53
of
[Smith, 1756].
- Kerry genealogical and historical manuscript, 19th century.
Possibly compiled
by Rev. Arthur Blennerhassett Rowan.
Sold in 1993.
Current location unknown.
- "Provost of Tralee, 1613".
Article
on Blennerhassett
by Padraig O Maidin.
26 March, unknown year, but maybe around 1960s.
Links
Hassett
- The name is sometimes found shortened to "Hassett".
- It cannot be assumed, though, that all Hassetts are really Blennerhassetts.
- Hassett
- Various myths have been believed about the name Blennerhassett:
- There is a legend that the name came from a Blenner
marrying a Hassett.
- [Kelly and others, 1989, p.31]
has a story that Blennerhassett descends from Blenner.
- There is a legend that the name derives
from Blenheim.
- All these stories are nonsense.
