Fetherston (Ardagh)
Francis [Frances] Fetherston was the owner of over 200 acres in county Leitrim in the 1870s with substantial estates in county Longford, centred on Ardagh house. In June 1877 the trustees of the will of Francis [Frances] Fetherston 'deceased' advertised the sale of lands mainly in county Longford but also in the barony and county of Leitrim, in the parish of Cloontuskert, barony of Ballintober South, county Roscommon, in county Westmeath and in the city of Dublin. The sale of some lots was adjourned due to insufficient bidding while other lots were purchased in trust. In the 1880s Bateman records Reverend Sir George Ralph Featherstone residing at Chapmanslade, Westbury, England, as the proprietor of the Ardagh estate, amounting to over 8000 acres. At the time of Griffith’s Valuation in the early 1850s, members of the Fetherston family were principal lessors in the parishes of Ardagh and Kilglass, barony of Ardagh, Killoe, barony of Longford, Cashel, barony of Rathcline, Forgney, barony of Shrule, in County Longford. Sir George Ralph Fetherston had died in 1853 and the estate was being run by his widow, Frances. In the 1870s their grand-nephew, Reverend George R. Fetherston, owned over 8000 acres in the county while the representatives of Francis Fetherston of Wicklow was the owner of over 1300 acres. Sir Thomas Fetherston, of Wilton Castle, County Wexford, was the owner of over 1200 acres in Longford. In 1867 the rental of lands in the parish of Columbkille, barony of Granard, owned by Gustavus Jones but ultimately leased from the Fetherston estate, was offered for sale in the Landed Estates Court. The estate was divided up in the early 20th century. On Reverend George’s death in 1923 the remainder passed to a cousin and was subsequently purchased by the Sisters of Mercy. In 1837 Lewis noted Lissaquill House, parish of Noughaval, County Westmeath as the seat of Harding Fetherstone. He died in 1844 and administration of his estate was granted to his daughter, Emma Mary Townsend, wife of William Chambers Townsend, Dean of Tuam.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drombaun House | Drombaun | Ardagh | Longford | Ardagh West | Longford |
OSI Ref: N192708
OS Sheet: 19 Discovery map: 41 |
||
| Corboy (Longford) | Corboy | Killoe | Longford | Corboy | Longford |
OSI Ref: N209733
OS Sheet: 14 Discovery map: 41 |
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| Ardagh House (Longford) | Bohermore (later Ardagh Demesne) | Ardagh | Longford | Ardagh East | Longford |
OSI Ref: N202689
OS Sheet: 19 Discovery map: 41 |
|
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| Lissaquill House | Nicholastown | Noughaval | Ballymahon | Noughaval | Westmeath |
OSI Ref: N139517
OS Sheet: 16 Discovery map: |
Archival sources
- Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Dombrain, Dickinson & Fetherston H., 8 June 1877, Vol 128, MRGS 39/058, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Fetherston estate, Ardagh: including account book, 1820-55 and photograph album, 1877; County Longford Archives Service
- Calendars of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1920. 1 September 1882. p.226. https://willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/reels/cwa/005014897/005014897_00128.pdf; National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Jones, 29 Jan 1867, Vol 84, MRGS 39/041, (microfilm copy in University of Galway Library); National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of names of proprietors and area and valuation of properties in counties in Ireland, held in fee or perpetuity or long leases at chief rents,'' 1876. (412) LXXX. 395: 163
- BATEMAN, John. ''The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.163
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Longford Union, p. 46 (Ardagh), p.128 (Corboy)
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol.I, p.40 (Ardagh)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: p.53
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol.II, p.443 (Noughaval parish)
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : p.8
Modern printed sources
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1886: 530-531
- ''Irish Times'': Landed Estates Court sale reports, 9 June 1877, p.3
- Baxter, Luke. Our roots in stone: memorial records, Ardagh, Co. Longford, 1649-1910. Ardagh: Tidy Towns Committee/[the author], (2013): All.