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Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty, Co.Kerry

The signatures of Robert Blennerhassett and his father Thomas Blennerhassett on the petition of 1598.
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Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty, Co.Kerry,
born est c.1570, Cumberland, England.
His father was granted lands in Co.Kerry, Ireland, in 1590.
He and his father appear in the petition of 1598 from early settlers who had to flee Kerry in the insurrection of 1598.
His father returned to England but Robert stayed in Kerry.
He lived Ballycarty Castle, near Tralee.
He mar Elizabeth Conway [bapt 26 Aug 1576, poss. descendant of Henry I].
Possibly the entire Blennerhassett family of Co.Kerry has a Royal Descent.

He got a further grant of land in Ireland 1611.
He was the first Provost of Tralee 1611.
He was the first MP for Tralee 1613.
He acquired c.1620 (post-1619) the forfeited Desmond estate of Ballyseedy Castle, near Tralee, Co.Kerry.
He obtained the advowson of Ballyseedy 1622.
He built c.1627 the second Ballyseedy Castle.
[Hickson, 28 Apr 1897]. says he was MP for Tralee again in 1632.
There was a 1638 letters patent listing every freeholder and householder on the Denny estate of Co.Kerry, including Robert Blennerhassett. This is referred to in [Hickson, 14 Apr 1897] and was possibly burnt in 1922.
Robert was alive during the 1641 Rebellion which began in Oct 1641.
He and his son John surrendered Ballycarty Castle to the rebels in Nov 1641.
Robert and Elizabeth had issue:

1. John Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty, Co.Kerry,
   and later of nearby Ballyseedy, Co.Kerry.
   He died 1676.

   
   

2. Arthur Blennerhassett, of Loughgur, Bruff, Co.Limerick.
   Collector of poll tax, Co.Limerick, in 1661.

   
   

3. Elizabeth Blennerhassett.
   See her descendants in "Black Jack's Book". See p.41 of [Hickson, 1872].
   She mar Capt. George Norton.
   They had issue:
   1. Elizabeth Norton,
      mar Augustine Fitzgerald and had issue:
      1. William Fitzgerald, mar Jane Bryan and had issue:
         1. Elizabeth Fitzgerald, mar her 1st cousin Henry Ievers and had issue.

      2. Ellen Fitzgerald, mar Col. John Ievers and had issue.

Robert 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].

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References

• Blennerhassett of Ballycarty by Bill Jehan.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• BLENNERHASSETT, ROBERT in [DIB]

• Robert Blennerhassett and the 1641-1642 rebellion in and near Tralee. [Hickson, 1884].
  • Vol.1 pp.153-154.
  • Vol.2 pp.102-132. See pp. 106, 109, 122.