Arthur Blennerhassett, of Fortfield
Arthur is
"Arthur Blennerhassett Robert" (refers to his father) of
Gortnaskarry
in
[Deed, Jan 1772].
Arthur Blennerhassett,
born est c.1745.
Descendant of
Edward III.
See
wikitree.
Arthur is listed in
[Deed, Jan 1772]
as of Gortnaskarry, parish of Knockane,
barony of Dunkerron North, Co.Kerry
(just NW of Churchtown).
"Arthur Blennerhassett Robert" (refers to his father)
is party to
[Deed, Jan 1772]
with his brother
Rowland.
Where Arthur is listed of is slightly illegible, but comparing with his will we see it is Gortnaskarry,
barony of Dunkerron North.
While he came from Annaghgarry,
he possibly only settled back there in 1772-1774.
From 1774 to death he is listed as
of Fortfield (or Fordfield), near Killorglin, Co.Kerry.
He is "Arthur Blennerhassett Robert" of Fordfield, Co.Kerry,
in [Deeds of 1774 and 1777]
and [Deed of 1780].
He is "Arthur Blennerhassett Robert" of Fortfield, Co.Kerry,
in [Deed of 1787].
-
It is thought that Fordfield (Fortfield) is identical with
Annaghgarry House.
-
[1790 will] and
[Robert's 1798 mar settlement]
refer
to Arthur holding a large number of lands, all in Co.Kerry.
They also mention
"a plot of ground with a pound built thereon" at Annaghgarry.
This would be a pound
for stray livestock.
The mention of Annaghgarry suggests Fortfield was at Annaghgarry.
-
This property is also mentioned in
[Deed of 1804].
[Burkes Irish, 1976]
also lists him as of
Cara, Co.Kerry (unidentified).
Rosanna is not mentioned in Arthur's will.
She may have died before him.
Arthur is listed as of "Fordhill" in his will.
His will dated 26 Apr 1790. Codicil on same day.
He is "Arthur Blennerhassett Robert".
He is
NOT "Arthur Robert Blennerhassett". This is a mis-reading.
He died 4 May 1790, at Fortfield, age est c.45 yrs.
He is described as "late of Fordfield"
in his daughter's
marriage settlement, 27 May 1790.
Will proved 7 June 1790. Will burnt in 1922.
See
settlement of will (registered in 1806).
He left all lands to his brother Rowland,
who managed his estate after his death in 1790, paid off his debts,
and set up his children's inheritances when they came of age and married.
Arthur and Rosanna had issue:
- Rosanna Blennerhassett.
She mar 27 May 1790 to
Sir Robert Blennerhassett, 2nd Baronet and had issue.
They were 1st cousins.
Ancestors of Blennerhassett Baronets from the 3rd Baronet on.
-
Robert Arthur Blennerhassett,
Robert Blennerhassett,
of Fortfield.
He was born post-1769 (not yet age 21 at father's death).
He was born before the 1774 will of
Col. John Blennerhassett.
Listed in father's will as "his only son".
Written as
"Robert Blennerhassett Arthur" in
[Deed, Aug 1820].
Arthur also had natural issue:
- Elizabeth Blennerhassett,
illegitimate.
Arthur's will of 1790 left £300 to
"his natural daughter Elizabeth".
She mar pre-1798 to Denis Murphy
and had issue.
Their child was bapt Catholic.
They lived at Cromane, Killorglin par (W of Killorglin).
Their son is called Arthur
(clearly after grandfather).
She is "Elizabeth Hassett" at son's RC baptism 1799.
She is noted as a Protestant at the baptism, which is unusual.
Arthur Blennerhassett, of "Fairfield" was party to a lease dated 21 May 1785
of Kilcoulaght, Killorglin par, Co.Kerry.
From Incumbered Estates Court: Printed estate particulars and rentals, 1854.
King's Inns
M188/5, p.189.
There is a map on p.191.
Think this might be this Arthur.
The will of Arthur Blennerhassett, 1790, was burnt in 1922.
But some of the content survives:
Abstract of the will.
From pp.213-214 of
[Registry of Deeds wills, Vol.3].
This abstract is a bit inaccurate.
He was NOT called "Arthur Robert Blennerhassett". It gets the name of his brother wrong at one point.
And the witness
Arthur Blennerhassett,
aged over 40,
is NOT his nephew
Arthur.
The opening of the settlement of his will.
He is written as "Arthur Blennerhassett Robert" (refers to his father).
The will
lists his children Rosanna and Robert,
and "his natural daughter Elizabeth".
Close-up of the text:
"and to his natural daughter Elizabeth therein also mentioned".
Extract from
[Robert's 1798 mar settlement].
Shows that his father's will left £300 to his natural daughter Elizabeth.
Arthur's natural daughter Elizabeth is mentioned in this summary of Arthur's will and estate in
[Landed Estates Court box 3494].
See full size.
Another reference to
Arthur's natural daughter Elizabeth, on same sheet as above.
See full size.
References
Sources yet to be consulted
- Deed of 22 Dec 1785.
Probably Godfrey and Blennerhassett.
Mentioned in
Deed of 1 May 1787.
Possibly related families
Above we see Elizabeth Blennerhassett, natural daughter of Arthur Blennerhassett.
Her son
Arthur Murphy was bapt in 1799 in Killorglin RC church.
His baptism was sponsored by
"Lucy Hassett".
We suspect "Lucy Hassett"
is related to the mother "Elizabeth Hassett"
(who we know is Elizabeth Blennerhassett).
Could they be sisters?
Could
Arthur have another natural daughter Lucy Blennerhassett,
not mentioned in his will?
Since Elizabeth Blennerhassett lived in Cromane,
it seems likely "Lucy Hassett"
is identical with the following.
To add to that, the following has a DNA match with our family,
and a DNA match to the Blennerhassett Baronets family.
Though it needs some triangulation work to establish if the DNA matches are through the Blennerhassett line
or some other line.
- Lucy Blennerhassett,
born 1779 [by age on grave].
See Wikitree.
Written as
"Blennerhassett" at marriage.
Marriage entry says Edward and Lucy are both
of Cromane, Killorglin par (W of Killorglin).
She mar
4 Feb 1804 to Edward Neill (or O'Neill) and had issue.
They mar at
Kilcolman CoI church,
Co.Kerry (Milltown, NE of Killorglin).
Original entry is in
[RCB] P1024.1.1.
Children baptised CoI.
They lived at Cromane.
One of their sons is called Arthur.
Baptism on 6 September 1799
of
Arthur Murphy,
son of "Elizabeth Hassett" (Elizabeth Blennerhassett).
Sponsor is [illegible] and Lucy Hassett.
Here is an Arthur Blennerhassett of Cromane,
of roughly the same generation as Elizabeth and Lucy,
with a daughter Lucy.
Could Arthur be a natural son of Arthur Blennerhassett of Fortfield (died 1790)?
To complicate things, an Arthur Hassett sponsors the baptism of one of his children.
- Arthur Blennerhassett,
or Hassett.
He mar Emily McCarthy [NOT Elizabeth].
Children baptised Catholic.
Living Cromane at children's baptisms 1811 and 1813.
They had issue:
- Arthur Blennerhassett,
Hassett at bapt,
bapt 24 November 1811,
Killorglin RC church,
sp Arthur Hassett
and Bridget Hassett.
See bapt entry.
- Lucy Blennerhassett,
Blennerhassett at bapt,
bapt 16 September 1813,
Killorglin RC church,
sp John Neil.
See bapt entry.
There are also the following people at Cromane who may be connected:
- Lucy Hasset.
She sp the bapt of
Daniel Chorley of Cromane,
6 June 1815,
Killorglin RC church.
See bapt entry.
Daniel is son of
Daniel Chorley [or maybe Charley] of Cromane
and Mary Neil.
- Elizabeth Hasset.
She had relationship with a Daniel O'Connell.
(No suggestion this is the famous Daniel O'Connell.)
One parent (presumably the mother) was living Cromane at dau's bapt 1826.
They had illegitimate issue:
- Lucy O'Connell,
bapt 24 April 1826, Killorglin RC church,
sp John Hasset and Alice Crowley.
See bapt entry.
Says she is illegitimate.
Baptism of Lucy O'Connell, 24 April 1826, Killorglin RC church.
See
full size.
