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John Blennerhassett of Ballycarty

John Blennerhassett signs document of 1654: "as witness my hand the 28th day of October 1654".
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John Blennerhassett,
of Ballycarty, Co.Kerry (and later of Ballyseedy, Co.Kerry).
He is possibly a descendant of Henry I.
See wikitree.
Ballyseedy was acquired by his father c.1620.

His father built the second Ballyseedy Castle c.1627.
He was High Sheriff of Co.Kerry 1640-1641.

Wars of 1641-1653:
The 1641 Rebellion broke out in Oct 1641.
In Nov 1641, John and his aged father surrendered Ballycarty Castle to the rebels.
Tralee was besieged by the rebels in Feb-Aug 1642.
John escaped to Cork and became a Captain of Foot 1643.
Ballyseedy Castle became the main family seat. Though for some time Blennerhassetts lived at both Ballycarty and Ballyseedy.
[Hickson, 28 Apr 1897] says he served under Cromwell, as did his son Robert.

After the wars of 1641-1653 he moved to re-establish his estate.
In 1654 he was granted Littur (or Littor or Letter), Aghavallen par, near Ballylongford, Co.Kerry.
Littur was granted to him by Sir Arthur Denny by deeds dated 30 Sept 1654 [Claim of 28 Oct 1654]. Think he is living Ballyseedy at this time.
Soon after, he made the claim of 28 Oct 1654. This is a claim of Inheritance in Fee Simple, made by John Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty and Ballyseedy, to re-establish his legal ownership of the Ballyseedy Estate after the wars of 1641-1653.

MP for Co.Kerry 1661-1666. (NOT for Tralee, that is his son John.)
He acquired in 1661 the forfeited McElligott lands of E and W Ballymacelligott (E of Tralee, Ballymacelligott par, Co.Kerry), Ballygrelah, and E and W "Gortanleas" (wonder if this is Gortatlea, Ballymacelligott par). See [O'Carroll, 2009, p.46].
His will dated 18 Oct 1673.
He died 1676. Will proved 14 Sept 1676.
John and Martha had issue:

1. John Blennerhassett, of Ballyseedy,
   born est c.1620.

   
   

2. Capt. Robert Blennerhassett,
   of Castle Conway,
   born est c.1622.

   
   

3. Thomas Blennerhassett,
   of Littur, Co.Kerry,
   born est c.1630.

1. Mary Blennerhassett,
   mar 2ndly, pre-1655, to Capt. Thomas Wren and had issue.
   The Wren family inherited Littur.

   
   

2. Lucy Blennerhassett,
   mar Lieut. John Walker,
   had issue:
   1. Martha Walker,
      mar Thomas Shiercliffe and had issue.

Martha Lynne ("Martha 'Hassett") appears at baptism in Tralee of Elizabeth Denny born in Feb 1636 (at the time regarded as end of 1635).
Extract from diary of Sir Edward Denny.
From p.371 of [Denny, 1908].
He refers to Martha Lynne as his cousin. They are 1st cousins through Forrest.

Extract from elegy to this John's grandson John Blennerhassett (died 1709) by the Gaelic poet Aodhagán Ó Rathaille.
Ó Rathaille refers to him as "John, son of John, son of John of Ballyseedy".
From page 207 of [Dineen and O'Donoghue, 1911].

John Blennerhassett in "Black Jack's Book" (c.1737).
This is p.1 of MS 7937.

Transcript of the previous. From p.35 of [Hickson, 1872].

This ruin at Ballycarty may be the old Ballycarty Castle.

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1661 election

 
Notes on the 1661 election for MPs for Co.Kerry.
The High Sheriff of Kerry Thomas Crosbie tried (and failed) to stop the election of John Blennerhassett.
Extract from Appendix IV of [Cusack, 1871].

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Will of John Blennerhassett of Ballycarty

Will of John Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty, dated 18 Oct 1673.
Will proved 14 Sept 1676.
Will burnt in 1922.
Some notes survive on p.70 of [D950/1/9].
Abstract in [MGH, 1883].
See abstract on page 18/312 of [Welpy's abstracts].

Abstract of will in [MGH, 1883].

Notes from the will before it was burnt.
From [D950/1/9, p.70].
Used with permission of The Deputy Keeper of the Records, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

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References

• Manuscript dated 28 Oct 1654 by John Blennerhassett. Kynnersley-Browne papers. Deposit 823 box 14.
  • See image.
  • See transcript by Bill Jehan.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• Notes about will of John Blennerhassett, 1676. [NAI] Testamentary index.
• Gerald O'Carroll says that brothers John and Robert Blennerhassett appear in the Herbert papers in [Smith, 1968].