My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty, Co.Kerry

The signatures of Robert Blennerhassett and his father Thomas Blennerhassett on the petition of 1598.
See larger and full size.

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 got a further grant of land in Ireland 1611.
First Provost of Tralee, 1612:
He was the first Provost of Tralee. Appointed in Charter of Tralee, 1612-1613.
First MP for Tralee, 1613:
After the enactment of the Charter, Tralee was given two MPs. Robert Blennerhassett and Humphrey Dethick became the first MPs for Tralee in 1613.

Irish Parliament dispute, 1613:
[O'Carroll, 2009, p.37] says that as a Protestant MP, Robert took the side of the Crown in a dispute in the Irish Parliament in 1613.
On the first day of the Irish Parliament on 18 May 1613, the Protestant MPs chose John Davies as Speaker, with the support of the Crown's deputy. The Catholic MPs chose John Everard, and in confused scenes installed him in the chair. Everard refused to vacate the chair. In comical scenes, MPs carried Davies and deposited him in Everard's lap. Everard was removed, and later briefly imprisoned.

Robert acquired in 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.

MP for Tralee, 1634:
Robert Blennerhassett came in as MP for Tralee in 1634 to replace George Radcliffe who had decided to sit for another constituency.
[Hickson, 28 Apr 1897] is wrong to say this was 1632. See [Cusack, 1871] and [O'Carroll, 2009, p.41].

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.
He died before 1654, when his son John has inherited.
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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The walling of Tralee, 1612

After the destruction of Tralee in 1598, plans were made in 1612 to make Tralee a walled town.
Robert Blennerhassett was made surveyor of the work, and collector of money.
The plans were never carried out in the end.
Tralee was destroyed again in 1642.

 
Document of 22 Aug 1612 about the plan to wall Tralee.
Printed with other documents in [Kerry Magazine, 1 Apr 1854].
See full size.
These documents may have been burnt in 1922.

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Charter of Tralee, 1612-1613

 
Robert Blennerhassett is named the first Provost of Tralee in Tralee's Charter of 1612-1613.
Gerald O'Carroll explains the two dates.
The text refers to the grant of the charter on 26 Sept, 10th James I (which is 24 Mar 1612 to 23 Mar 1613 new style). So this is 26 Sept 1612.
The end of the text refers to the charter being enrolled in Chancery, witnessed at Dublin, 31 March, 11th James I. So this is 31 Mar 1613.
Printed in Appendix VI of [Cusack, 1871].
See also a hand-written transcript of the charter, created by the Chancery Rolls Office in 1810-1820.

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Journals of the House of Commons

 
Notes on a complaint by Robert Blennerhassett in the Irish House of Commons in 1613-1614.
Blennerhassett had a complaint against an attorney, and he got the House of Commons to investigate it.
Extract from Appendix IV of [Cusack, 1871].

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A son Robert?

"Robert Blennerhassett" was MP of Tralee in 1634. He came in to replace George Radcliffe who had decided to sit for another constituency.
That is this Robert. The suggestion this was a different Robert seems to be an error.

[McGrath, 1997, p.A51] thought this was a son of this Robert.

This is repeated in [DIB].

• But [Burkes Irish, 1976] and Bill Jehan list no such son.
• [O'Carroll, 2009, p.41] says it is the original Robert.
• We know the original Robert was alive in 1641.

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References

• BLENNERHASSETT, ROBERT in [DIB]

• Blennerhassett of Ballycarty by Bill Jehan.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• The Journals of the House of Commons of the Kingdom of Ireland, vol.1 (1613-1661), pub 1753. [NLI] RR M9.

• 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.