My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Thomas Blennerhassett, of Flimby, Cumberland

Thomas Blennerhassett,
born est c.1540,
of the Manor of Flimby, Flimby, Cumberland (Cumbria).
See the family of Blennerhassett of Flimby.

[Burkes Irish, 1976] thinks he is the Thomas Blennerhassett who was MP for Carlisle 1584-1588.
He would be MP in the 5th Parliament of Elizabeth I, assembled on 23 November 1584, dissolved 14 September 1585.
He would be MP in the 6th Parliament of Elizabeth I, assembled on 15 October 1586, dissolved 23 March 1587.
See list of MPs for Carlisle in 1558-1603.
Him being the MP makes some sense. It could explain how he attracted some attention in London to be granted land in Ireland.

Granted lands in Ireland, 1590:
He was granted lands in Ireland in 1590 by Sir Edward Denny, Governor of Kerry and Desmond, as part of the Munster Plantation.
He was granted the forfeited Desmond estate of Ballycarty, near Tralee, Co.Kerry.
See grant dated 14 Aug 1590.
Thomas visited Ireland, "at an advanced age".
Thomas and his son Robert appear in the petition of 1598 from early settlers who had to flee Kerry in the insurrection of 1598.
He returned to Cumberland, but his son Robert stayed in Kerry, and was ancestor of Blennerhassett there.
He had issue:

1. Robert Blennerhassett,
   born est c.1570,
   of Ballycarty, Co.Kerry.
   He settled in Ireland and was ancestor of Blennerhassett of Co.Kerry.

Photocopy of 1590 grant to Thomas Blennerhassett of lands in Ireland.

The signatures of Thomas Blennerhassett and his son Robert Blennerhassett.
From the petition of 1598 from early settlers who had to flee Kerry in the insurrection of 1598.
See larger and full size.

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Probably not him: Thomas Blennerhassett of Orton

In 1578, a Thomas Blennerhassett held part of the manor of Orton, Cumberland (on W side of Carlisle).
He had inherited it from an earlier Blennerhassett ancestor.
There has been a suggestion this was Thomas of Flimby, but it seems probably not.

Extracts from entry for Orton on pp.207-208 of vol.2 of [Nicolson and Burn, 1777].
In 1578, a Thomas Blennerhassett held a share of the manor of Orton.

Extract from entry for Orton on pp.82-83 of [Denton, 1887].
This thinks Thomas Blennerhassett was of Carlisle.

[Graham, 1932, p.53] says Thomas Blennerhassett was "probably" Thomas Blennerhassett of Flimby.
It is unclear why he says this.

• Graham says Thomas was a burgess for Carlisle in 1586. It is unclear if he means Thomas of Orton or Thomas of Flimby.
• Bill Jehan says Thomas of Orton is from a different line to the Flimby line.
• Bill Jehan also says Thomas of Flimby was burgess for Carlisle in 27 and 28 Elizabeth I (Nov 1584 to Nov 1586) but it is unclear what the source is, and maybe this should be Thomas of Orton.

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Not him: The other Thomas Blennerhassett MP

[Burkes Irish, 1976] says it is a different Thomas Blennerhassett who is Mayor of Carlisle at various dates in 1601 to 1623, and MP for Carlisle in 1603-1604.

• There are entries at historyofparliamentonline and wikipedia which make all these the same person.
• There is also a Thomas Blennerhassett who is Mayor of Carlisle in 1597. See p.272 of vol.4 (1877) of Some municipal records of Carlisle. That must be this other Thomas since it seems our Thomas would be in Ireland at this time.
• MPs for Carlisle in 1558-1603.
• MPs for Carlisle in 1604-1629.

 
Left: Mayors of Carlisle around this period.
Right: MPs for Carlisle around this period.
From pp.135-137 of [Whellan, 1860].