Knox (Rappa)
Originally a Crofton estate which passed through a marriage connection to a younger son of the Knoxes of Castlereagh, county Mayo. Francis Knox was established at Rappa Castle by the mid 18th century and his descendants included the Knoxes of Belleek Manor, Broadlands Park, Netley Park, Greenwoodpark and Palmerstown. By the time of Griffith's Valuation the estate included six townlands in the parish of Bekan and one townland in parish of Aghamore, barony of Costello. Also included were at least three townlands in each of the parishes of Ardagh, Ballysakerry and Kilfian, barony of Tirawley, county Mayo. In 1876 Annesley Knox of Rappa held 6855 acres in county Mayo and 724 acres in county Galway. His wife Elizabeth, daughter of Arthur Knox of Bushfield, held a further 3,000 acres in her own right. Annesley Knox is recorded as one of the principal lessors in the parish of Ballynacourty, barony of Dunkellin, county Galway in 1855. The Ordnance Survey Name books from 1837 record William Ryan of Oranmore as his agent.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rappa Castle | Rappacastle | Ardagh | Ballina | Fortland 20 | Tirawley | Mayo |
OSI Ref: G184 221
OS Sheet: 30 Discovery map: 24 |
|
| Palmerstown | Rathnawooraun | Templemurry | Killala | Lackan South 101 | Tirawley | Mayo |
OSI Ref: G171 318
OS Sheet: 14 Discovery map: 24 |
|
Archival sources
- Map of 268 acres of Rappa demesne, [early 19th cent]. 16.I.3(3); National Library of Ireland
- Pedigree of Knox of Lifford, Co Donegal, of Castlereagh, Moyne, Rappa Castle, Broadlands, Netley Park, Bushfield, Greenwood Park, Lissodrone, Co Mayo and of Woodstock, Co Wicklow and Dublin city, c 1600-1824. GO MS 169, 280-289; National Library of Ireland
- Pedigree of Knox, later Knox Gore of Rappa Castle, Broadlands Park, Ballina House, Beleek Manor, Netley Park and Bushfield, Co Mayo, c 1740-1868. GO MS 179, 341-346; National Library of Ireland
- Rental of estate of Henry Knox, early 19th century. 5630(1); National Archives of Ireland
- Rappa Castle photos. 011/080; Irish Architectural Archive
- Irish Tourist Association. Topographical and General Survey, 1941-1945. File Mayo North 1-16, parish of Ardagh (Rappa) & parish of Killala (Palmerstown); Mayo County Library
Contemporary printed sources
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol I, 438 & Vol II, 95
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Ballina Union, 7
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 310
- HUSSEY DE BURGH, U. H. ''The Landowners of Ireland. An alphabetical list of the owners of estates of 500 acres or £500 valuation and upwards in Ireland''. Dublin: Hodges, Foster and Figgis, 1878. [available online at www.askaboutireland.ie] : 254 & 255
- M'PARLAN, James. ''Statistical survey of the county of Mayo''. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1802: 101
- TAYLOR, George & SKINNER, Andrew. ''Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783''. Facsimile of 2nd edition. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1969: 219
- ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Mayo: Vol I, 391
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 327
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Killala Union, 75 (Palmerstown)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 354
- ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Galway, http://places.galwaylibrary.ie/default.html: Ballynacourty Parish
- SLATER, Isaac. ''Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats''. (Manchester: 1894) : xxxii, 62 (Rappa)
- WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 124 (Rappa)
- BATEMAN, John. ''The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.256
Modern printed sources
- MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 675-681
- QUINN, J. F. ''History of Mayo''. Ballina: Brendan Quinn, 2000: IV, 192-194
- CROFTON, H. T. ''Crofton memoirs'' . York : the author, 1911: 186-189
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 230 (Palmerstown) & 238 (Rappa)
- GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds).'' Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland''. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 110 (Rappa)