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,
born est c.1570, Cumberland, England.
His father was granted lands in Co.Kerry, Ireland, in 1590.
He mar Elizabeth Conway [bapt 26 Aug 1576 in London, poss. descendant of Henry I].
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.
Robert returned to Kerry after the war ended in 1603.
He lived Ballycarty Castle, near Tralee, Co.Kerry.
In May 1611, Sir Arthur Denny granted to Robert the ponds of Carrignafeela, E of Tralee, and certain lands. See [O'Hea O'Keeffe, 2022, p.87].

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.
See Robert Blennerhassett as an MP.
The 1613 Parliament was the first Irish Parliament since 1586. It was carefully designed to have a Protestant majority. Creating new seats for places like Tralee was part of this design. The 1613 Parliament was in fact the start of a new parliamentary system in Ireland, that lasted until 1801.

Irish Parliament dispute, 1613:
On the very first day of the Irish Parliament on 18 May 1613, the Protestant MPs and Catholic MPs clashed. 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.
[O'Carroll, 2009, p.37] says that as a Protestant MP, Robert took the side of the Crown.
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 continued to live at Ballycarty.

MP for Tralee, 1634-1639:
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.
Hickson says Robert was MP until 1639. See p.110 of [Hickson, 1884, vol.2].

1641 rebellion:
Robert, who had lived through the 1598 rebellion, was still alive during the 1641 Rebellion, which began in Oct 1641.
In 1641, he and his son John are both living at Ballycarty Castle.
At first, he was sympathetic to the rebels. He was accused of helping the rebels, declining to help Tralee Castle, and betraying the English settlers who sought protection in Ballycarty Castle.
He and his son John surrendered Ballycarty Castle to the rebels in Nov 1642.
By the end of 1642, Robert and John are against the rebels and are helping Denny.
Robert died before 1654, when his son John has inherited.
Robert and Elizabeth had issue:

John Blennerhassett,
of Ballycarty, Co.Kerry, and later of Ballyseedy, Co.Kerry.
He was born maybe around 1595. (His wife was probably bapt 1598.)
He died 1676.
Edward Blennerhassett.
He mar Annabel Vauclier and had issue.
She has been written as "Mary", but Hickson argues she was Annabel. See p.124 of [Hickson, 1884, vol.2].
Arthur Blennerhassett, of Loughgur, Bruff, Co.Limerick.
Collector of poll tax, Co.Limerick, in 1661.
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].

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.

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.

The Tralee charter on p.161 of [Smith, 1756].

Error of 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 is an error.

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

This is repeated in [DIB].

However, this is an error. No source gives this Robert with a son Robert.
"Black Jack's Book" (c.1737) and [Burkes Irish, 1976] and Bill Jehan list no such son.
[Smith, 1756] lists the sons, and lists no such son.
[Hickson, 1884, vol.2] has documents of 1643 discussing the family in the events of the 1641 rebellion, and no son Robert appears.
[O'Carroll, 2009, p.41] says the 1634 MP is the original Robert.
We know the original Robert was alive in 1642.
Conclusion: It is simply an error. There is no son Robert.

My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty, Co.Kerry

The walling of Tralee, 1612

Charter of Tralee, 1612-1613

Error of a son Robert

References