Blennerhassett of Co.Kerry
The "Blennerhassett problem"
Since 1985, the "Holy Grail" of my entire
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,
and evidence that George 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 we
descend 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 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.
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.
References
- Denny papers
- Blennerhassett Baronets papers
- Franks addressed to 1st Baronet
- Leslie papers
- Hurly papers (MS 8277-8292)
- Hurly-Walker papers
- "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 Papers, Cambridge
- 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 on
p.53
of
[Smith, 1756].
- 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 [Rowan, 1846]
- Blennerhassett tree in
Ms 20621
(c.1909)
in [Rowan Papers].
See images:
- BLENNERHASSETT in [King]
- "Provost of Tralee, 1613"
(article
on general Blennerhassett history)
by Padraig O Maidin.
26 March, unknown year, maybe around 1960s.
Blennerhassett of England
- The history and antiquities of the counties of Westmoreland and Cumberland,
by Joseph Nicolson and Richard Burn, 1777.
-
The history of the county of Cumberland,
William Hutchinson, 1794.
-
The history and topography of the counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland,
William Whellan, 1860.
-
An accompt of the most considerable estates and families in the county of Cumberland,
John Denton, 1887.
- "The Blennerhassetts of Kerry: Earlier English Stock".
Kerry Archaeological Magazine, July 1919, vol.5 no.21, pp.34-39.
- This is a pedigree of Blennerhassett of Norfolk
by James Franklin Fuller.
Written up with some information on Blennerhassett of Cumberland by "S.M."
-
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].
- "Landed Gentry" notes,
by Thomas Henry Boileau Graham,
pp.45-56 of
vol. 32
(series 2) of
Transactions of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society,
1932.
- See PDF.
- Blennerhassett on pp.49-54.
- "Calendar of the Original Deeds at Tullie House, III",
by Rev. C.M. Lowther Bouch,
pp.136-151 of
vol.39
(series 2) of
Transactions of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society,
1939.
- "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
- Kerry genealogical and historical manuscript, 19th century.
Links
Blennerhassett of England
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.
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