Blennerhassett of Co.Kerry
The "Blennerhassett problem"
Since 1985, the "Holy Grail" of my
family tree research has been the
Blennerhassett problem,
the problem of how we descend from the Blennerhassett family.
Since 1985, I had proof that we descend from
George Cashel (born 1807),
and evidence that George Cashel descends somehow
from the large and complex Blennerhassett family of Co.Kerry.
But through which line was unclear.
After many wrong turns, in 2020 I finally proved, through documents and confirming DNA,
that George Cashel descends from the Blennerhassett Baronets branch.
See
Proof of our descent from Blennerhassett.
We probably descend through a natural child in that branch.
But the details of how, and whose child, remain to be worked out.
Spelling
Normally
"Blennerhassett"
but sometimes
"Blennerhasset" (how the village is spelt).
And (as to be expected)
spelling of such a complex name varies widely,
especially before 1700.
I normalise the surname spelling in most places to "Blennerhassett".
Blennerhasset village, Cumberland
The family takes its name from the village of
Blennerhasset
(thus spelt now),
Cumbria
(formerly
Cumberland),
N England.
Blennerhassetts are found living at Blennerhasset
in the 1270s.
See
[Graham, 1932, p.49].
But later they are not found at Blennerhasset but rather
elsewhere around Cumberland.
(Obviously I am normalising the spelling to the modern spelling for surname and village.)
Blennerhasset village (thus spelt now), Cumbria (Cumberland).
The village green.
Click to rotate.
From
Google Street View.
See
Google Maps
and
streetmap.co.uk.
Location of
Blennerhasset village ("Blynroset", inland in the centre here), Cumberland.
From 1646-1649 map.
Nearest town is Ireby.
Carlisle
would be some distance to the NE.
See similar 1662-1665 map.
Blennerhasset village, Cumberland.
From 1773 map.
N is not exactly up.
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.
These
may descend from
Blennerhassett of Carlisle and Allonby, 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.
Myths and legends
Bill Jehan has a page of
Myths and legends
about the Blennerhassett family.
- 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 false.
From
p.405
of
vol.1
of
Recollections of the life of John O'Keeffe
(1826).
This story is nonsense.
William Day Blennerhassett
in 1934 also has a version of this story,
along with other "oral tradition" fictions.
Links
Blennerhassett of England
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