My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

John Blennerhassett, of Allonby, Cumberland

The life of John Blennerhassett who married the heiress Joan Martindale can be sketched out.
The question is whether they are parents of Thomas Blennerhassett of Flimby.

John Blennerhassett,
born est c.1510,
of Carlisle, Cumberland.
Later of Allonby, Cumberland.
See Wikitree.

He mar before 1538 to Joan Martindale [or Janet].
She was co-heiress of the Martindale estate of West Newton, Cumberland.

John is listed in [Plea Roll of 1538] as of Carlisle, now married to Joan, dau of "James Martyndall".
He is described in [Knights fees, 1543-1544] as entitled through his marriage to a fifth of the manor of "Newton upon the sea" (West Newton).
He became Lord of the Manor of Allonby. Apparently through his wife's inheritance.
[Whellan, 1860] says the Manor of Allonby was joined to the "Ormesby lands", which were part of the Martindale estate of West Newton.
[Whellan, 1860] says that in 1578, John Blennerhassett holds the Manor of Allonby.
[Burkes Irish, 1976] thought John died 1578. It may be identifying him with John Blenerhassett, Cumberland, Inquisition 1579-80.

Are John and Joan parents of Thomas Blennerhassett of Flimby?

[Burkes Irish, 1976] says that John Blennerhassett and Joan Martindale are "probably" parents of Thomas Blennerhassett of Flimby.

However there are problems with this idea:

Joan Blennerhassett, widow, and Thomas Blennerhassett purchased the Manor of Flimby, Cumberland, by patent roll dated 1546.
That looks at first like Joan Martindale, after the death of John, and her young son Thomas. Bill Jehan thinks so.
That would mean John died before 1546.
However, the problem is John seems clearly to be alive in [Plea Roll of 1549].
We are also unsure about Thomas. If this is Thomas of Flimby he would be very young, probably a child.
It is also noted that Flimby is far away from Allonby and Newton.
But the core problem is John cannot be dead in 1546 and alive in 1549. Until that is solved, we cannot say John is the father of Thomas.

The definite Co.Kerry line starts with:

Thomas Blennerhassett,
born est c.1540,
of Flimby, Cumberland.
He was granted lands in Ireland in 1590.
Ancestor of Blennerhassett of Co.Kerry.
Almost all male line Blennerhassetts in the world today seem to descend from the Irish branch.
The Cumberland male line seems extinct.

Extract from 1646-1649 map of Cumberland.
Allonby ("Allonbye") on the coast to the NW.
West Newton, Allerdale ("Newton in Ardale") inland of it.
Blennerhasset village ("Blynroset") further inland.
Flimby ("Flimbye") on the coast to the SW.
Carlisle is off the map to the NE.
See similar 1662-1665 map.

Extract from entry for Addingham, Cumberland, on p.451 of vol.2 of [Nicolson and Burn, 1777].
John Blennerhassett of Flimby presents the new vicar to the church of Addingham in 1574.
It is unclear who this is.

The Manor of Allonby

Extract from entry for Allonby on pp.162-163 of vol.2 of [Nicolson and Burn, 1777].
Blennerhassett inherits the Manor of Allonby through marriage.

Extract from entry for Allonby on p.295 of vol.2 of [Hutchinson, 1794].

Extracts from entry for Allonby on p.219 of [Whellan, 1860].
Whellan says part of the Martindale estate called "Ormesby lands" "became joined to the Manor of Allonby".
So it seems John Blennerhassett became Lord of the Manor of Allonby through his marriage.
In 1578, John Blennerhassett holds the Manor of Allonby. That could be this John, if he did not die in the 1540s.

References

Blennerhassett of Carlisle and Flimby by Bill Jehan.
- See p.6.

Sources yet to be consulted

Inquisition into death of John Blenerhassett, Cumberland, 22 Elizabeth I (Nov 1579 to Nov 1580). [NA.UK] reference C 142/188/14.