Dunscombe (Mount Desert & Kingswilliamstown)
A family originally from Devon who settled in county Cork in the mid 17th century. In 1703 William "Duncomb" purchased the lands of Currikippane East and West, in the South Liberties of Cork city, from the trustees for the sale of forfeited estates. In 1764 Nicholas Dunscombe of Mount Desert, barony of Cork, married Mary Parker of Inchigagin, county Cork and had seven sons. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Nicholas Dunscombe held land in the parishes of Inishcarra, barony of East Muskerry and Currykippane, barony of Cork. The ''Appendix to the 34th Report of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods, Forests and Land Revenues'' 1856, [published in the House of Commons Papers Vol 37 page 145] records the purchase of parts of the Kingwilliamstown estate by Nicholas Dunscombe (1,063 acres) in 1855. In 1858 Nicholas Dunscombe, son of Parker Dunscombe and his wife Jane Waggett, bought the Scully part of the Kingwilliamstown's estate in the parish of Nohavaldaly, barony of Duhallow, county Cork and went to live at Kingwilliamstown House. In July 1859 the county Limerick estate of Parker Dunscombe was advertised for sale. The estate amounted to over 4,000 acres in the barony of Connello Upper [actually in barony of Glenquin], county Limerick, most of it held from Dame Charlotte O'Brien by fee farm grant dated 1852. In the 1870s Nicholas Dunscombe of Mount Desert owned 1,126 acres in county Cork and Nicholas Dunscombe of Kingwilliamstown owned 2,678 acres.
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingwilliamstown House | Kingwilliamstown | Nohavaldaly | Kanturk | Williamstown 158 | Duhallow | Cork |
OSI Ref: R152 038
OS Sheet: 21 Discovery map: 72 |
|
| Glencollins Lower | Glencollins Lower | Nohavaldaly | Kanturk | Williamstown 158 | Duhallow | Cork |
OSI Ref: R163 034
OS Sheet: 21 Discovery map: 72 |
|
| Mount Desert | Mount Desert | Currykippane | Cork | St Marys 97 | Cork | Cork |
OSI Ref: W633 721
OS Sheet: 74 Discovery map: 87 |
|
Archival sources
- Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Dunscombe, 1 July 1859, Vol 56 (23), MRGS 39/028, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Dunscombe, 31 May 1853, Vol 21 (9), MRGS 39/009, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Hoey & Denning, solicitors collection, includes will of Thomas Dunscombe, 1847. Small Accs Index 99, T.5856; National Archives of Ireland
- Copy of confirmation of arms to the descendants of Parker Dunscombe and to his elder son, Nicholas Dunscombe of King William's Town House, King William's Town, Co. Cork with mention of descent from Dunscombe of Credeton, Co. Devon, Nov. 3, 1859. Genealogical Office: Ms.108, pp.272-3 ; National Library of Ireland
- Pedigree of Dunscombe of King William's Town, Co. Cork, and Cork City, c.1660 -- 1862. Genealogical Office: Ms.178, pp.346-9 ; National Library of Ireland
- S. Gordon & Son, solicitor's collection, includes papers relating to the estates of the Pennefather family in Cos Tipperary, Wicklow, Kildare, Cork & Wexford, 18th & 19th centuries, divided into sections. Associated families Bunbury, Denroche, Dunscombe, Green & Mulcahy. Small Accs. Index 103, D. 17,597-17,736: T. 7150-7172, M.2090-2175 ; National Archives of Ireland
- Irish Tourist Association survey files, Parish of Ballydesmond; 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: 122
- 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] : 142
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Cork Barony, 20 (Mount Desert)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 233 (Mountdesert)
- 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'.: 378
- SLATER, Isaac. ''Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats''. (Manchester: 1894) : xxx, 184 (Mount Desert)
- WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 238 (Mount-Desert)