Landed Estates
University of Galway

Croker (Ballynagarde)

The Crokers settled in county Limerick in the 17th century and were resident at Ballynagarde early in the 18th century. Cussen writes that one of the Crokers was agent to the Croom estate of the Earls of Kildare in the early 18th century and obtained a lease for ever of the Croom property. In the 1730s Ballinagarde was added to the Crokers' land holding. In 1783 Edward Croker married Emilia Hare, daughter of the Earl of Listowel, and they had eight sons and two daughters. At the time of Griffith's Valuation their eldest son, John Croker, held land in the parishes of Cahercorney, barony of Smallcounty, Caheravally, Cahernarry, Fedamore and Rochestown, barony of Clanwilliam and the town of Croom, barony of Coshma. Henry Croker, probably John's younger brother, also held land in the parishes of Corcomohide, barony of Connello Upper and Croom, barony of Coshma. In the 1870s John Monck Croker owned 3,328 acres in county Limerick and Henry Croker of Dromkeen owned 724 acres. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Richard Croker held land in the parish of Shandrum, barony of Orrery and Kilmore, county Cork. On four occasions between November 1865 and January 1867 the 1,910 acre estate of Edward Hare Croker at Corroghclonbroe and Killabraher North and South, parish of Shandrum, barony of Orrery and Kilmore, was advertised for sale. About half of this county Cork estate was held in fee simple and the rest by fee farm grant from John Bowen to E.H. Croker dated 1856.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Fort Elizabeth Garrane Monasteranenagh Croom Garrane 18 Pubblebrien Limerick OSI Ref: R536 424
OS Sheet: 22
Discovery map: 65
Cahercorney Cahercorney Cahercorney Kilmallock Fedamore Smallcounty Limerick OSI Ref: R666 418
OS Sheet: 32
Discovery map: 65
Grange Hill Grange Monasteranenagh Kilmallock Grange 19 Smallcounty Limerick OSI Ref: R636 413
OS Sheet: 32
Discovery map: 65 		Photo of Grange Hill
Rawleystown Court Rawleystown Cahercorney Kilmallock Cahercorney 29 Smallcounty Limerick OSI Ref: R652 424
OS Sheet: 23
Discovery map: 65
Ballynagarde Ballynagarde Caheravally Limerick Ballybricken 48 Clanwilliam Limerick OSI Ref: R616 481
OS Sheet: 22
Discovery map: 65 		Photo of Ballynagarde
Dromkeen House Dromkeen North Dromkeen Limerick Kilmurry 52 Clanwilliam Limerick OSI Ref: R727 475
OS Sheet: 24
Discovery map: 65 		Photo of Dromkeen House
Williamstown Castle Williamstown Fedamore Limerick Ballybricken 48 Clanwilliam Limerick OSI Ref: R614 470
OS Sheet: 22
Discovery map: 65
Rockview Carriganattin Rochestown Limerick Ballybricken 48 Clanwilliam Limerick OSI Ref: R632 471
OS Sheet: 23
Discovery map: 65 		Photo of Rockview
Croom Castle Croom Croom Croom Croom 16 Coshma Limerick OSI Ref: R512 408
OS Sheet: 30
Discovery map: 65 		Photo of Croom Castle
Croom House Croom Croom Croom Croom 16 Coshma Limerick OSI Ref: R511 411
OS Sheet: 30
Discovery map: 65 		Photo of Croom House

Archival sources

  • Croker Papers, include account book of John Croker 1807-1815. P8; Limerick City Archives
  • Deeds re Croker family. D1300-1330; Limerick City Archives
  • Notebook containing memoranda on the estate of Edward Croker, barony of Clanwilliam, c 1900. MS 2636; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of confirmation of arms to Richard Welsted Croker of Glencairn, Co Dublin & to the descendants of his grandfather Major Henry Croker, fifth son of John Croker of Ballynagarde, 20 Feb 1905. GO MS 111:161-162; National Library of Ireland
  • Abstracts of wills of Croker of Rawleighstown, Co Limerick, Whitestown, Co Dublin, city of Cork, Ballyanker, Co Waterford, Youghal & Nadrid, Co Cork, 1704-1732. GO MS 142:48-50 & 62-63; National Library of Ireland
  • Lease & release K. Barazier, Lizard, Co Limerick to E. Croker, Rawleighstown, Co Limerick of lands in parish of Stradbally, Limerick city, 3 & 4 Nov 1727. D/106-107 ; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • S. Gordon & Son, solicitors collection, includes documents re lands at Croom, Co Limerick of the Croker family, contains original will of John Croker, 24 Sept 1751, 1763-1854. Small Accs Index 103, T.7087-7089, D.17007-17015; National Archives of Ireland
  • An Act for giving further effect to a compromise of certain opposing claims affecting the Croker Estates in the county of Limerick in Ireland, 1881. HL/PO/PB/1/1881/44&45V1n246 ; Parliamentary Archives
  • Irish Tourist Association Survey file for parish of Donaghmore, barony of Clanwilliam, 1942. Limerick North East 12 ; Limerick Studies Department, Dooradoyle
  • William B. Fitt & Co, auctioneers, 46 O'Connell St., Limerick, inventories & valuations of Co Limerick properties, including Ballynagarde Stud, 1919. Ref. 1993.0163; Limerick City Museum
  • Croker Estates Act, an Act to give further effect to a compromise affecting opposing claims relating to the Croker Estate, Co Limerick. 1881. LM1987.0099; Limerick City Museum
  • Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Croker, 24 Nov 1865, Vol 79(27), 2 March 1866, Vol 80 (50), 15 Nov 1866, Vol83 (24), 18 Jan 1867, Vol 84 (21), MRGS 39/038, 39/039, 39/040, 39/041, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources