Blennerhassett (Ballyseedy & Beaufort)

Smith states that the Blennerhassett family were originally from Cumbria, in the north of England. The first to settle in Kerry was Robert who married, Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Jenkin Conway, from whom the subsequent generations of Blennerhassetts claim their descent. John Blennerhassett was granted an estate of 2,787 acres in the barony of Trughanacmy, county Kerry and 2,039 acres in the barony of Fermoy, county Cork under the Acts of Settlement in 1666. The representatives of Sir. A. Blennerhassett were among the principal lessors of lands in the parish of Knockane, Barony of Dunkerron North, at the time of Griffith’s Valuation. Rev. William Blennerhassett was among the principal lessors in the parish of Ballincuslane while Charles Blennerhassett held lands in the parishes of Ballymacelligott, Ballyseedy and Currans, barony of Trughanacmy at the same time. In 1861 and 1862, Henry Blennerhassett, MD, and others, offered for sale in the Landed Estates Court rentals of lands in the barony of Fermoy, county Cork and Dunkerron, county Kerry as well as houses in the town of Tralee. These lots were purchased in trust by Messers. McNevin and Russell. In 1865, houses in Dublin and Tralee as well as lands in the barony of Clanmaurice, were offered for sale by the trustees of John Blennerhassett. The Tralee houses were purchased by Mr. Devlin while the lands were purchased by Mr. Neligan and Mr. William Sullivan, in trust. The estate of Sir Rowland Blennerhassett of Churchtown, Beaufort, amounted to over 8000 acres in the 1870s.

Associated Families

Houses

Name	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Churchtown	Churchtown	Knockane	Killarney	Churchtown 76	Dunkerron North	Kerry	OSI Ref: V854921 OS Sheet: 65 Discovery map: 78
Killiney	Killiney	Killiney	Dingle	Castlegregory	Corkaguiny	Kerry	OSI Ref: Q606127 OS Sheet: 35, 36 Discovery map: 71
Shanvally	Gortshanvally	Ballymacelligott	Tralee	Arabela 161	Trughanacmy	Kerry	OSI Ref: Q910130 OS Sheet: 30 Discovery map: 71
Kilquane	Kilquane	Ballymacelligott	Tralee	Arabela 161	Trughanacmy	Kerry	OSI Ref: Q894137 OS Sheet: 30 Discovery map: 71
Ballycarty House	Ballycarty	Ballyseedy	Tralee		Trughanacmy	Kerry	OSI Ref: Q883120 OS Sheet: 38 Discovery map: 71
Ballyseedy Castle	Ballyseedy	Ballyseedy	Tralee	Ballyseedy 162	Trughanacmy	Kerry	OSI Ref: Q884125 OS Sheet: 29 Discovery map: 71
Riverville (Currans)	Urrohogal	Currans	Killarney	Currans 87	Trughanacmy	Kerry	OSI Ref: Q927064 OS Sheet: 39 Discovery map: 71
Ash Hill House	Ash Hill	Ballymacelligott	Tralee	Arabela 161	Trughanacmy	Kerry	OSI Ref: Q897107 OS Sheet: 39 Discovery map: 72
Arabela House	Arabela	Ballymacelligott	Tralee	Arabela 161	Trughanacmy	Kerry	OSI Ref: Q910121 OS Sheet: 39 Discovery map: 71

Archival sources

Genealogical notes on Blenerhassett of Churchtown by Charles French Blake Foster, c 1865. MS 13,560; National Library of Ireland
18th cent-19th cent: family and estate papers; National Library of Ireland
Leighton Hall Collection: papers of the Browne family of Riverstown, county Cork including leases and other Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy estate material. Deposits 823 & 1846; Shropshire Archives
Copy made by A.B. Rowan of genealogical memoranda compiled c.1735 by John Blennerhassett. Ms. 5629; National Library of Ireland
Papers relating to Chancery case, 1889, relating to marriage settlement of Edward Blennerhassett and Cherry Rothwell [1862], concerning lands in county Kerry. M.5409 (1-7); National Archives of Ireland
Pedigree of Blennerhassett of Ballycarty, Ballyseedy, Litter & Rosbeigh, county Kerry and St. Louis, Missouri, includes descent from Conway & Herbert families, c.1600-1911 Genealogical Office Ms. 182, 124-126. ; National Library of Ireland
Copy of indentures of marriage settlement of Frederick Mullins to Martha Blennerhassett, 1683. . Genealogical Office Ms.3, 131-132 & Ms.95, 16-19. ; National Library of Ireland
Copy of volume of Blennerhasssett pedigrees. n.4816, p.3887; National Library of Ireland
Copy of confirmation of Arms to Rowland Blennerhassett of Blennerville, county Kerry. 1808. Genealogical Office Ms.105, 53. ; National Library of Ireland
Pedigree of the Blennerhassett & Eager families with some notes on the Crosbie family. compiled by F.J. Eager, 1840. Ms.4112.; National Library of Ireland
Rowan Collection: legal papers & accounts relating to Blennerhassett family, c.1766-1834. Ms. 20,611. ; National Library of Ireland
Rowan Collection: Assignment by Richard Carrique Ponsonby of Tralee of judgement for £200 obtained by him against Rev. Conway Blennerhassett, 1831. D.26,701. ; National Library of Ireland
Incomplete marraige settlement of Robert Blennerhassett & Catherine Hickson, 1807. D.27,079. ; National Library of Ireland
Rowan Papers: genealogical notes and pedigrees, mostly relating to Denny family of county Kerry with some information on Blennerhassett & Conway families, c.1909. Ms. 15,458. ; National Library of Ireland
Rowan Papers: Leases by Arthur & Jane Blennerhassett of lands in the barony of Trughanacmy, 1782-1803. D.26,671-26,692. ; National Library of Ireland
Rowan Papers: Part of marriage settlement of Frederick Mullins of Burnham & Mary Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy, 1747. D.26,713. ; National Library of Ireland
Copy of Denny-Blennerhassett deed relating to lands at in county Kerry, 1590. Ms.14,347. ; National Library of Ireland
Lease by the Earl of Glandore, Jane Blennerhassett & others of property in Castleisland and Cahirnarard, to Garret Fleming & James Cotter. 1800. D.26,699. ; National Library of Ireland
Copy will & probate of Thomas Baron Ventry (1825) & court records re Godfrey & Blennerhassett lands & fisheries, c 1667-1869. Small Accessions Index 1/141, T.878-879; National Archives of Ireland
Documents re Blennerhasset & Marshall property, Co Kerry, 1713-1870. Mrs G.A. Ruth Collection, Small Collections Index 83. T.3649-3652, CO 2122-2142, M.941-943, D.11260-11294; National Archives of Ireland
Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Blennerhassett, 12 November 1861, Vol 63, MRGS 39/032, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Blennerhassett, 8 July 1862, Vol 66, MRGS 39/033, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Blennerhassett, 5 May 1865, Vol 76, MRGS 39/037, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Pedigree of Blennerhassett family (Leader Collection); Irish Genealogical Research Society Library
Irish Tourist Association Survey, 1942-43: Parish of Ballymacelligott (Ballyseedy); Kerry Library, Local History & Archives Section

Contemporary printed sources

''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Corkaguiny Barony: 99 (Killiney)
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Dunkerron North barony: 16 (Churchtown)
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 141
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] : 40
LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol.I 445 (Currans Parish), Vol.II, 236-7 (Churchtown), 642 (Ballyseedy)
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Trughanacmy Barony: 45 (Shanvally), 46 (Kilquane), 57 (Ballycarty & Ballyseedy), 113 (Urrohogal)
LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 105 (Churchtown)
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 260 (Ballyseedy)
SMITH, Charles. ''The ancient and present state of the county of Kerry. Containing a natural, civil, ecclesiastical, historical and topographical description thereof.'' Dublin: 1774. : 53, 63.
ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS County Kerry: Vol.I, 248 Ballymacelligott Parish.
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland,'' 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix I, Grants under Acts of Settlement: 66
SLATER, Isaac. ''Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats''. (Manchester: 1894) : xxii, 136 (Ballyseedy)
WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 186 (Ash-Hill, Elm Grove, Ballyseedy), 354 (Arabela)
BATEMAN, John. ''The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.44

Modern printed sources

''The Old Kerry Journal'': McMORRAN, Russell. 'Walking in Ballyseedy Wood' and 'A History of Ballyseedy Wood'. II (June 2008), 4-12, 40-50.
Bary, Valerie. ''Historical Genealogical Architectural notes of some Houses of Kerry'' Whitegate, county Clare: Ballinakella Press, 1994. : 41 (Ballyseedy), 74-75 (Churchtown), 209-210 (Riverville), 220 (Shanvally)
BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 28 (Ballyseedy Castle), 83 (Churchtown House)
MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 133-142.
''THE KERRY MAGAZINE'': O'CARROLL, Helen. Richard Blennerhassett - ship's doctor. VII (1996), 13-14.
''Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society'': The Blennerhassetts of Kerry: earlier English stock. V (1919) (old series), 34-39.
''Irish Times'': 9 July 1862, p.4.
''Irish Times'': Landed Estates Court sales, 6 May 1865, p.4
WALFORD, Edward. 'The County families of the United Kingdom''. London: Chatto and Windus, 1885): p.96