Smyth (Portlick Castle)
This branch of the Smyth family appear to descend from the Rev Robert Smith, rector of Ballyloughloe, county Westmeath, a younger brother of Bishop William Smyth ancestor of the Gaybrook and Barbavilla branches. The Trustees of forfeited estates sold the lands of Portlick and Whinings, previously part of the estate of Garret Dillon, and other lands to John Asgill of Dublin in 1703. Subsequently the lands of Portlick and Whinings were conveyed to John Smyth in trust for the Rev Robert Smyth of Dublin, subject to a 99 year lease to William Palmer. This deed enrolled in 1704. Fennell states that the Rev Smyth bought the castle from Palmer for £885. Rev Robert’s grandson Robert married Friderswide, daughter of Thomas Auchmuty of Bath and their son married in 1858 Sarah Martin. The Smyths continued to own the castle until 1955. See http://www.bomford.net/IrishBomfords/Chapters/Chapter14/Achmuty.htm From the early 18th century the Smyths of Portlick Castle, owned a small estate in county Galway. In 1824 Smyth of Springlawn was recorded as an absentee landlord in county Galway. The estate was comprised of 2 townlands in the parish of Ballynakill, barony of Killian, county Galway in the mid 1850s. The Smyths were involved with the Irelands with a mortgage on Springlawn and Castlegar and lands in Kilkenny West, count Westmeath in 1864. In the 1870s the Smyths owned 799 acres in county Galway and 459 acres in county Westmeath. Two annuities charged on the lands of the Smyths in counties Westmeath and Galway were advertised for sale in January 1871. By March 1916 a final offer of £6,000 had been received by Robert W. Smyth from the Congested Districts' Board for the purchase of his county Galway estate. http://www.celticcastles.com/castles/portlick-castle/history.html
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castlegar | Castlegar | Ballynakill | Mountbellew | Ballynakill 152 | Killian | Galway |
OSI Ref: M680 474
OS Sheet: 46 Discovery map: 46 |
|
| Springlawn | Springlawn | Ballynakill | Mountbellew | Ballynakill 152 | Killian | Galway |
OSI Ref: M656 493
OS Sheet: 46 Discovery map: 46 |
Archival sources
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Smyth, 13 Jan 1871, Vol 100, MRGS 39/047, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Collis & Ward, solicitors' collection, includes a transfer of a mortgage of Springlawn & Castlegar, barony of Killian and lands in Kilkenny West, Co Westmeath, Gibson to Ireland & Smith, 1864. Small Accs. Index 98, D.21,987; National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Smyth, 13 Jan 1871, Vol 100 (4), MRGS 39/047, (microfilm copy in UG); National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''24th Annual Report of the Congested Districts' Board for Ireland'', [Cd 8356], HC 1916, vi, 564-586. Appendix VIII: 45
- 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] : 419
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 299
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Mountbellew Union, 26
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 99, 321
- DUTTON, Hely. ''Statistical and agricultural survey of the county of Galway''. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1824. : 417
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 327, 360 (Portlick).
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland,'' 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix III. Abstracts of the conveyances from the trustees of the Forfeited Estates and Interests in Ireland in 1688'.: 351, 264. 365
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: I, 205 (Portlick)
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Athlone Union, 15 (Portlick)
Modern printed sources
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904: 555
- NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Reports on Private Collections: Report on the Simpson Papers (from 1696), the property of Mrs. H. Simpson, Portlick Castle, near Athlone, relating to the Keightley and Smith families and to lands in Co. Westmeath. No. 72
- O'Brien, Donal. ''The Houses and Landed Families of Westmeath''. The author, Athlone (2nd edition 2015): 163