Leake (Rathkeale)
The gravestone inscriptions from the Church of Ireland graveyard at Rathkeale, barony of Connello Lower, county Limerick, show that the Leake family were resident there from at least the mid 18th century. Jonas Leake was buried in 1762. The Leakes were influential in the establishment of the linen industry at Rathkeale. George Leake of Rathkeale Abbey died in 1804. William Leake was a solicitor in Limerick. He was dead by 1853 when the estate of his widow Anna Maria and his infant child Alice was advertised for sale in the Encumbered Estates' Court. Robert Ferguson was Alice's guardian and bought the estate in trust. The estate was comprised of over 1,100 acres and the rental shows that Rathkeale Abbey was held by the Leakes on a lease from John Pigott dated 1779. Lithographs of Rathkeale Abbey and Garryduff Cottage are included. Griffith's Valuation records the representatives of William Lake holding two townlands in the parish of Rathkeale. By April 1858 when Geraldine House was advertised for sale Anna Maria was married again to John R. Tinsley. This surname is spelt Lake in some contemporary records.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rathkeale Abbey | Abbeylands | Rathkeale | Rathkeale | Rathkeale Urban 131 | Connello Lower | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R372 416
OS Sheet: 29 Discovery map: 64 |
|
| Garryduff | Garryduff | Monagay | Newcastle | Garryduff 114 | Glenquin | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R230 318
OS Sheet: 35 Discovery map: 64 |
|
| Geraldine Cottage | Corbally | St Patricks | Limerick | Limerick No 1 Urban | Limerick City | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R583 587
OS Sheet: 5 Discovery map: 65 |
|
| Pyrmont House | Carhoona | Kilnaughton | Listowel | Tarbert 127 | Iraghticonnor | Kerry |
OSI Ref: R043472
OS Sheet: 3 Discovery map: 64 |
Archival sources
- Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Fitzgerald, Tinsley & Leake, 17 Apr 1858, Vol 51 (9), MRGS 39/025, (microfilm copy in NUIG) ; National Archives of Ireland
- Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (Burke), Leake, 7 July 1853, Vol 35; National Library of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Glenquin, 81 (Garryduff)
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: II, 500 (Rathkeale Abbey)
- WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 179 (Fyrmont)