King (Kingston/Lorton)

The King estate was one of the largest in Connacht including lands in Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo as well as the main estate in County Roscommon. In 1667 Lord Kingston was granted over 23,000 acres in Connacht and over 14,000 acres in Munster and other very large estates particularly in counties Cork and Tipperary in 1669. Most of the King's Munster estate was in County Cork and through marriage with the Harman family they also acquired lands in County Longford. The family name became at various times King-Harman, Harman-King-Harman and Stafford-King-Harman. In 1703 lands at Ardcarne were conveyed to Neave Coghill. At the same time Sir Robert King sold lands to George Gore. The estate was centred around Boyle in County Roscommon, firstly at King House and later at Rockingham. In 1828 Robert King was a member of the Grand Panel of county Roscommon. In the mid 19th century the county Limerick estate of the the Earl of Kingston was in the barony of Coshlea, mainly in the parishes of Ballylanders (thirteen townlands) and Kilbeheny (21 townlands) but he also held land in the parishes of Ballingarry and Effin. Almost 21,000 acres in the parishes of Ballylanders and Kilbeheny, county Limerick, 18,180 acres in county Tipperary and 3,951 acres of the Araglin estate in county Cork, belonging to Lord Kingston, were advertised for sale in June and July 1851. The Freeman's Journal gives details of the purchasers in both 1851 and 1852. Griffith's Valuation records the Earl of Kingston holding land in various parishes in the baronies of Fermoy and Condons and Clangibbon, county Cork. The vast bulk of his estate around Mitchelstown was in the parishes of Brigown, Kildorrery, Kilgullane, Marshalstown, Macroney and Templemolaga, barony of Condons and Clangibbon. The county Tipperary estate was comprised of the parish of Templetenny, barony of Iffa and Offa West. It was advertised for sale in July 1851 and mainly purchased by the Irish Land Company and Edward Sandiford Power. Part of the settled estates of Lord Kingston, over 26,000 acres in county Cork and 250 acres in county Limerick were advertised for sale in February 1855. The settled estates were advertised in 3 divisions, the first was comprised of lots north west of Mitchestown, the second division was located south east of Mitchelstown and the third was a tract of 9,000 acres of land in the barony of Duhallow on which Lord Lismore paid the head rent. Over 7,000 acres of the settled estates in the baronies of Condons and Clangibbon and Fermoy were to be auctioned on 5 June 1855. In the 1870s the Kingston estates in counties Limerick and Tipperary were only 250 and 211 acres while the county Cork estate amounted to 24,421 acres.

Associated Families

Houses

Name	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Rockingham	Rockingham Demesne	Ardcarn	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G847038 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Tower Hill	Carrowkeel	Aghanagh	Boyle	Templevanny 7	Tirerrill	Sligo	OSI Ref: G756125 OS Sheet: 34, 40 Discovery map: 33
Ardcarne House	Ardcarn	Ardcarn	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G859015 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Glencarne House	Ardcarn	Ardcarn	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G872013 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Castle Island	Castle Island	Ardcarn	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G847048 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Ardcarn Glebe	Glebe	Ardcarn	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G867025 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Grevisk	Grevisk	Ardcarn	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G852019 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Millmount	Macmoyne	Boyle	Boyle	Boyle Rural 32 & Boyle Town	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G797024 OS Sheet: 5 6 Discovery map: 33
Warren/Drum	Warren or Drum	Boyle	Boyle	Boyle Rural 32	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
King House	Knocknashee	Boyle	Boyle	Boyle Rural 32	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G803028 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Lough Key House	Ballykeevican	Kilbryan	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G836026 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Carrickard House	Keeloges	Kilbryan	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G831017 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Ellesmere	Ardcarn	Ardcarn	Boyle	Rockingham 36	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G871024 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Mount Erris	Erris	Boyle	Boyle	Boyle Rural 32	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G823033 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Abbey View House	Knocknashee	Boyle	Boyle	Boyle Rural 32/Boyle Urban	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G803028 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Drum Lodge	Warren or Drum	Boyle	Boyle	Boyle Rural 32	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G819030 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Loughananna	Loughananna	Kilbeheny	Mitchelstown	Kilbeheny 87	Coshlea	Limerick	OSI Ref: R875 176 OS Sheet: 58 Discovery map: 74
Roskeen	Roskeen	Roskeen	Kanturk	Roskeen 168	Duhallow	Cork	OSI Ref: W445 992 OS Sheet: 32 Discovery map: 80
Springvale	Springvale	Kildorrery	Mitchelstown	Kildorrery 292	Fermoy	Cork	OSI Ref: R695 131 OS Sheet: 18 Discovery map: 73
Ballinwillin	Ballinwillin	Brigown	Mitchelstown	Mitchelstown 298	Condons & Clangibbon	Cork	OSI Ref: R821 133 OS Sheet: 10 Discovery map: 74
Mitchelstown Castle	Mitchelstown	Brigown	Mitchelstown	Mitchelstown 298	Condons & Clangibbon	Cork	OSI Ref: R808 132 OS Sheet: 19 Discovery map: 74
Marshalstown	Marshalstown	Marshalstown	Mitchelstown	Marshalstown 294	Condons & Clangibbon	Cork	OSI Ref: R746 117 OS Sheet: 18 Discovery map: 74
Mounteagle Cottage	Marshalstown	Marshalstown	Mitchelstown	Marshalstown 294	Condons & Clangibbon	Cork	OSI Ref: R740 114 OS Sheet: 19 Discovery map: 73
Araglin Cottage	Billeragh East	Macroney	Fermoy	Gortnaskeky 145	Condons & Clangibbon	Cork	OSI Ref: R904 053 OS Sheet: 28 Discovery map: 74
Lisserlough	Lisserlough	Killaraght	Boyle	Killaraght 6	Coolavin	Sligo	OSI Ref: G750002 OS Sheet: 47 Discovery map: 33
Ballywilliam	Ballywilliam	Shanrahan	Clogheen	Ballyporeen	Iffa and Offa West	Tipperary	OSI Ref: R912 126 OS Sheet: 86 Discovery map: 74
Galtee Castle	Skeheenaranky	Templetenny	Clogheen	Coolagarranroe 72	Iffa and Offa West	Tipperary	OSI Ref: R881 189 OS Sheet: 80 Discovery map: 74
Cloontykilla Castle	Rockingham Demesne	Ardcarn	Boyle	Rockingham	Boyle	Roscommon	OSI Ref: G854055 OS Sheet: 6 Discovery map: 33
Kilshanny	Kilshanny	Brigown	Mitchelstown	Mitchelstown	Condons & Clangibbon	Cork	OSI Ref: R826130 OS Sheet: 19 Discovery map: 74

Archival sources

Rentals of King estate, 1671, 1697 & 1765, MacDonagh MSS, ; Sligo County Library
MSS Maps of estate of Earl of Kingston in Roscommon & Sligo, 1765-1770. 21 F 13.; National Library of Ireland
MSS Maps of King-Harman estate, 1814-1886. ; National Library of Ireland
Rental of estate of Earl of Kingston, 1913-28. Robinson Collection. ; Sligo County Library
Rental & sale particulars of Kingston estates, baronies of Corran, Tireragh & Tirerrill, 1826, F.C/D2/33; Sligo County Library
Quit Rents paid by Lord Lorton, 1827. F.C/D2/33; Sligo County Library
Lease books of Lord Lorton's estates in counties Roscommon & Sligo18th-19th centuries. MSS.3104-3105. ; National Library of Ireland
18th century MSS maps of Earl of Kingston's estates in counties Roscommon & Sligo. ; National Library of Ireland
MSS maps of estate of Harman King-Harman in county Sligo, 1814-86. 14 A 3 and county Roscommon, 1778-1887, 14 A 1-2. ; National Library of Ireland
King-Harman Family Papers, 1656-1893. Small Accs. Index 90; National Archives of Ireland
MSS 8810. Rockingham Papers: documents relating to the King family and estates, including financial accounts, correspondence, building of Rockingham House, 1673-1838. ; National Library of Ireland
CO 1975. Writ of Covenant, Common Bench, 1684, Standish Hartstong & Robert Choppyne v Robert, earl of Kingston re lands in Sligo and Roscommon. ; National Archives of Ireland
Two account books re building new house at Rockingham, Viscount Lorton's estate, 1809-1816. MSS.3775-3776. ; National Library of Ireland
Lease from John, Lord Kingston to Thomas Caulfield, of lands in Ballymoe barony, 1668. D.8768.; National Library of Ireland
Account books from office of A. Bole detailing accounts of King-Harman estates, Longford and Westmeath, Rev. W. Handcock, Roscommon & Westmeath, 1845-late 19th century. MSS. 14,103-109. ; National Library of Ireland
Funeral certificate of Catherine, Lady King, mother of Sir Robert King of Abbey Boyle and of John King, Dec. 1617. GO Ms. 87, 89. ; National Library of Ireland
Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Earl of Kingston, 2 December 1851, Vol 12, MRGS 39/005, (microfilm copy in NUIG; National Archives of Ireland
Tyndall Presentation, re the King estate, 1604-1764. Acc No. 1151; National Archives of Ireland
Notes and cuttings re Co Roscommon, compiled by R.D. Walshe, includes cuttings from ''Ireland Ilustrated'' June 1903 re Rockingham and the Dudleys. MS 14,034; National Library of Ireland
Private Act, House of Lords, for authorizing the raising of Money for Payment of Incumbrances on the Estates in the Cos Roscommon & Sligo & Queen's County of which the Right Honourable Robert Viscount Lorton is Tenant for Life in Possession, by Mortgage instead of Sale, 1860.HL/PO/PB/1/1860/23&24V1n316; Parliamentary Archives
King Harman family, Co Longford, family & estate papers, 1720-1997. D/4168; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), King (1st & 2nd Divisions – Cos Limerick, Tipperary, Cork & Sligo), 17 June & 1 July 1851, Vol 9 (1, 2 & 3), MRGS 39/004, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), King (1st Division – Co Limerick), 17 June 1851, Vol 8 (17) & 22 June 1852, Vol 16 (35), MRGS 39/003 & 39/007, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Kingston, Eyre & Sadlier, 20 Feb 1855, Vol 33 (42), MRGS 39/015, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Rental of the Earl of Kingston in Cos Limerick, Tipperary & Cork, 1841-1842. MS 5276; National Library of Ireland
Collection of miscellaneous items from the British Records Association, contains papers re property in Cos Cork Limerick & Tipperary of the Walcott family, including references to Yeamans & Earl of Kingston,18th & 19th centuries. Small Accs Index 101, D.18692-18723, M.2375-2386, T.7319-7320 ; National Archives of Ireland
Baker Papers: draft of lease by John Asgill to Sir William King, George Alymer & others re lands in the manor of Castletown & town of Killarney, Co Kerry & elsewhere on Cos Limerick & Cork, 1703. D 27,204; National Library of Ireland
Baron James Kingston v John Damer re estates at Curraghgorum & Banenoneeny, Co Cork & Kilglass, Co Limerick leased to Thomas Sergeant & Garret Fitzgerald, May 1742. House of Lords Appeals, Vol 4a ; King's Inn Library
Stewart of Tyrcallen Papers, includes set of detailed accounts, 1797-1800, between the 'Hon. Colonel King [Robert King, later 1st Viscount Lorton] as sole executor to his father, Robert Earl of Kingston, and residuary legatee ... with Henry Stewart Esq., from 24 November 1797 to 30 June 1800', 1668-1982. D3319; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Records relating to the King Harman family & their estates, especially in Cos Longford and Roscommon, 1604-1893. Accs 1/211:/270, 1/393, 1/582, 90 & 1151 ; National Archives of Ireland
Rental of the Co Limerick estate of the Earl of Kingston, 1840. MS 3276; National Library of Ireland
Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Kingston, Eyre & Sadlier, 5 June 1855, Vol 35 (5) & 19 Feb 1856, Vol 38 (33) MRGS 39/016 & 39/018, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Kingston, Eyre & Sadlier, 19 Feb 1856, Vol 38 (33), MRGS 39/018, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Kingston, Eyre & Sadlier, (Ballyvisteen & Gurthacurrig), 4 July 1865, Vol 78 (16), MRGS 39/038, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Land Judges’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Frazer, (Kildrum leased from Kingston), 23 June 1885, Vol 149 (15), MRGS 39/065, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Arthur Young Papers, copies of 23 letters relating to Arthur Young, agent for the Kingsborough estate, Mitchelstowen, Co. Cork, princpally conerning Ango-Irish trading and commercial issues. Correspondents include amongst others: the 1st Earl of Charlemont, Alexander Wedderburn, [later Lord Loughborough], Edmund Burke, George Rose, William [Burton] Conyngham, etc.1777-1797. T3469 ; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Kingston v. Kingston. Ms 3275; National Library of Ireland
Timber & garden account books of Caroline Dowager Countess of Kingston. Ms 19,077; National Library of Ireland
Kingston Papers, miscellaneous documents, in possession of O'Brien & Co, solicitors, Bank Place, Mitchelstown, Co Cork. ; Private Possession
Irish Tourist Association Survey files, Parish of Mitchelstown; Cork County Library

Contemporary printed sources

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 127, 150, 164, 321
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland,'' 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix I, Grants under Acts of Settlement: 130, 151, 183, 204-206 & 271
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Boyle Union, 19 (Ardcarn), 21 (Rockingham), 22 (Castle Island, Glebe, Grevisk), 36 (Macmoyne), 46 (Warren/Drum), 72 (Ballykeevican, Demesne, Keeloges), 75 (Carrowkeel).
LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol.I, 43. I, 225 (Ballinwillin), II, 88 (Springvale), 372 (Mitchelstown)
WELD, Isaac. ''Statistical Survey of the county of Roscommon''. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1832. : 231-243 & 651
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'.: 368 (Coghill)
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'.: 370
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Coshlea, 96 (Loughananna)
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Duhallow, 152 (Roskeen)
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Fermoy Barony, 107 (Springvale)
LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 58 (Ballywilliam - Joshua Sutton), 288 (Mitchels-town), 360 (Springvale - Roger S. Bourke)
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] : 252
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Condons and Clangibbon Barony, 3 (Ballinwillin), 27(Mitchelstown), 139 (Marshalstown)
TOWNSEND, Horatio. ''Statistical survey of the county of Cork...'' Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1810: 533 (Mitchelstown mansion house)
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Iffa and Offa West, 97 (Ballywilliam)
PRIOR, Thomas. ''A list of the Absentees of Ireland, and the yearly value of their estates and incomes spent abroad''. 1730: 5
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 247 (Mitchelstown)
SLATER, Isaac. ''Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats''. (Manchester: 1894) : xxx, 273 (Mitchelstown Castle)
WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 103 (Kingston-Hall), 210 (Mitchel's-town), 233 (Kilshenan), 423 (Boyle [King House])
ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Tipperary: Vol.VIII, Parish of Shanrahan, pp.86. Vol.IX, Parish of Templetenny, pp.42-42-50.
BATEMAN, John. ''The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.208

Modern printed sources

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Reports on Private Collections: Ainsworth, J.F. Report on the King Papers. No. 105
BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 177 (King House) & 244 (Rockingham), 207-208 (Mitchelstown Castle)
GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds).'' Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland''. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 127 & 129
Historical Manuscripts Commission Reports: Petition of Sir. R. King to House of Commons stating services and losses, including taking of his house at Boyle, 1646. Portland Mss. Vol. XIII, 1 1891, 394.
Historical Manuscripts Commission Reports: Letters from Lord Kingsborough to Edw. Weston, June 1748. X, App. 1, 1885, 301.
KING-HARMAN, Anthony Lawrence. ''The Kings of King House''. The author, 1996: All
KING-HARMAN, Robert Douglas. ''The Kings, Earls of Kingston – An account of the family and their estates in Ireland between the reigns of the two Queen Elizabeths''. Cambridge: the author, 1959 (for private circulation - copy in Roscommon County Library): All
''Jnl. of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society'': Nĺ CHINNÉIDE, Síle. A Frenchman’s Tour of Connacht in 1791. XXXV (1976), 52-66
TODD, Janet. ''Daughters of Ireland: the rebellious Kingsborough sisters and the making of a modern nation.'' New York: Ballantine Books, 2003: All
HAJBA, Anna-Maria. ''Historical Genealogical Architectural notes on some Houses of Cork. Volume I: North Cork''. Whitegate: Ballinakella Press, 2002: 45, 258, 265-266, 272, 338
POWER, Bill. ''Mitchelstown through seven centuries''. Fermoy: Éigse Books, 1987: All
McTERNAN, John C. ''Sligo: the light of bygone days, Vol.I Houses of Sligo and associated families''. Sligo: Avena Publications, 2009. : 388-389 (Lisserlough)
BLAKE, Tarquin. ''Abandoned mansions of Ireland''. Cork: Collins Press, 2010.: 272-281 (Rockingham Demesne, Castleisland & Cloontykilla Castle)
''Weekly Irish Times'': 6 Feb 1937 Mitchelstown Castle
''Weekly Irish Times'': 15 Jan 1938 Rockingham
TONRA, Henry.''Parish of Ardcarne: a history''. (Cootehall, county Roscommon: [the author], 2001. : 118-120
CLAPISON, John & MULLANEY-DIGNAM, Tríona (eds). ''Rockingham: memories of a vanished mansion''. (Boyle, county Roscommon: The King House, 2009 [2nd edition]): All
''Freeman's Journal'': Incumbered Estates Court sale report, 26 February 1851, p.4. [Sale of Sutton estate, county Tipperary]. 2 July 1851, p.4. 3 December 1851, p.4. 23 June 1852, p.3.
O'Byrne, Robert (ed). A vanishing world: the Irish country house photographs of Father Browne. Dublin: Messenger Publications, 2024.: pp.84-87 (Rockingham)