Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Rowland Ponsonby Blennerhassett, MP (see here),
Home Rule
MP for Co.Kerry 1872-85:
Rowland served as
Home Rule party
MP for Co.Kerry
1872 to 1885.
His election in the Co.Kerry
by-election of 6 Feb 1872
was a breakthrough for the
Home Rule party.
He defeated James Arthur Dease (Liberal).
The 1872 by-election was in the last few months of election by open vote in Ireland.
(Secret ballot introduced in
Aug 1872.)
Unbelievably, up to this point, tenants had to vote in full view of and risking the wrath of their landlords.
Indeed landlords often treated their tenants as simple extensions of their own vote,
and used their agents to round up the tenants for voting at election time.
[PAT/12, p.14-15]
quotes
[Romantic Hidden Kerry, Thomas O'Sullivan, 1931]
as
telling the hilarious story of this election,
with the agent leading a procession of tenants towards Tralee, but the voters kept escaping.
Kerry had two seats.
The other MP for Kerry in 1872-80 was
Henry Arthur Herbert.
The big breakthrough for Home Rule was the 1874 election
when there were 60 Home Rule MPs elected.
Rowland
mar 1876 to Mary Beatrice Armstrong.
The other MP for Kerry in 1880-85 was his 2nd cousin, the Liberal MP
Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 4th Baronet.
They are listed
in 1881 census
at 54 Hans Place, Chelsea, London.
From here.
He is listed
in 1881 Electoral Register
at 52 Hans Place.
From here.
He was a barrister in London. QC 1894.
They are listed
in 1901 census
at 52 Hans Place.
At death he is described as of 52 Hans Place, London.
He died 7 April 1913, Hotel Prince de Galles (Hotel Prince of Wales),
Monte Carlo.
See Dublin probate of will
granted 1913 to widow Mary
[NAI].
See London admin.
Mary is listed in [Post Office London Directory 1915]
as of 52 Hans Place, and of
Kells, Co.Kerry.
She died 13 May 1928.
Will pr 1 Aug 1928, London.
See admin.
Rowland and Mary
had issue:
Please donate to support this site.
I have spent a great deal of time and money on this research.
Research involves travel and many expenses.
Some research "things to do"
are not done for years, because I do not have the money to do them.
Please Donate Here
to support the ongoing research and
to keep this website free.