Ross-Lewin (Ross Hill)

The Ross-Lewin estate was in the parishes of Kilchreest and Killadysert, barony of Clonderalaw, county Clare. George Ross of Fortfergus, parish of Kilchreest, county Clare, was High Sheriff of county Clare in 1664. John Ross-Lewin of Fortfergus was High Sheriff in 1724 and in the 18th century the Ross-Lewins intermarried with the Westropps, Stacpooles and the Lewins of county Mayo. Harrison Ross-Lewin, High Sheriff in 1755, had six sons, the three eldest John, George and Westropp lived at Fortfergus, Ross Hill and Cornfield respectively. By the mid 19th century Fortfergus and Cornfield were in the possession of Major William Ball and Ross Hill became the family seat in county Clare. The Lewin lands were in the parishes of Kilchreest and Killadysert, barony of Clonderalaw in the mid 19th century. In the 1870s three members of the Ross-Lewin family between them owned over 800 acres in county Clare. The Ross Hill estate appears to have been small at about 270 acres. Members of the Ross-Lewin family followed military or clerical careers.

Associated Families

Houses

Name	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Kincora Lodge	Knockyclovaun	Killaloe	Scarriff	Killaloe 121	Tulla Lower	Clare	OSI Ref: R695 734 OS Sheet: 45 Discovery map: 58
Ross Hill	Coolteengowna	Killadysert	Killadysert	Killadysert 68	Clonderalaw	Clare	OSI Ref: R235 588 OS Sheet: 59 Discovery map: 64
Fort Fergus	Fortfergus	Kilchreest	Killadysert	Ballynacally 65	Clonderalaw	Clare	OSI Ref: R298 646 OS Sheet: 50 Discovery map: 57
Cornfield	Cornfield	Kilchreest	Killala	Ballynacally 65	Clonderalaw	Clare	OSI Ref: R286 646 OS Sheet: 50 Discovery map: 57

Archival sources

Genealogical notes on Ross Lewin of Ross Hill by Charles French Blake Foster, c 1865. MS 13,560; National Library of Ireland
Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (Dunboyne), Rosslewin, 29 Apr 1858, Vol 11, 1-6; James Hardiman Library, University of Galway
Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Rosslewin, 29 Apr 1858, Vol 51 (24), MRGS 39/025, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Deeds, testamentary, legal & miscellaneous records including documents re Ross Lewin, mainly 19th century. A.Lane Joynt solicitor's collection, Small Accessions Index 51, Co.965-990, M.353-363, D.5534-5753, T.1176-1198; National Archives of Ireland
Massy & others v Lewin & others, Chancery 1850, brief re estates of Thomas Lewin. M.4892; National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Scarriff Union, 7 (Knockyclovaun); Killadysert Union, 5 (Fortfergus & Cornfield) & 30 (Coolteengowan)
LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 187 (Fort-Fergus)
LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: II, 60 (Fort Fergus) & 89 (Ross Hill)
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 113
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: 204 (Fort Fergus)
WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 177 (Fort Fergus)

Modern printed sources

WEIR, Hugh W. L. ''Historical, Genealogical and Architectural notes on some Houses of Clare''. Whitegate, county Clare: Ballinakella Press, 1999. : 87, 127-128, 166, 233-234
BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904: 335-336
GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds).'' Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland''. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 41 (Cornfield & Fort Fergus)
BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 126 (Fortfergus)