Landed Estates
University of Galway

Mathew (Thomastown)

The Mathew family of Thomastown, county Tipperary had close connections in the 17th century with the Butler family, Earls of Ormonde. George Mathews of Reaghill was granted a large estate in county Tipperary by patent dated 1666 including part of Thomastown. In 1760 Thomas Mathew of Annefield succeeded to the Mathew estates of Thomastown and Thurles. Thomas was succeeded by his son Francis in 1777 who was created Earl of Llandaff in 1797. In 1764 Francis married Ellis Smyth of Tinny Park, county Wicklow and had three sons and one daughter who all died childless. Their daughter, Elizabeth, left the estates to her cousin, Viscount Chabot, her mother's nephew, who succeeded in 1842. In 1840 the Ordnance Survey Name Books record the ownership by "Lady E. Mathew" of townlands in the parish of Kilfeacle, barony of Clanwilliam. The birthplace and early home of Father Mathew 'The Apostle of Temperance' whose father was a cousin of the 1st Earl of Llandaff and for whom he worked as agent. Mark Bence Jones in an article about Thomastown Castle in ''County Life'' (2 Oct 1969) records the purchase in 1938 of the ruin and 20 acres by Archbishop Mathew, a family connection, to save it from destruction.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Thomastown Castle Thomastown Demesne Relickmurry & Athassel Tipperary Thomastown 165 Clanwilliam Tipperary OSI Ref: R980 372
OS Sheet: 60
Discovery map: 66 		Photo of Thomastown Castle
Rathcloheen Rathcloheen Reclickmurry & Athassel Tipperary Thomastown 165 Clanwilliam Tipperary OSI Ref: R992 371
OS Sheet: 68
Discovery map: 66 		Photo of Rathcloheen

Archival sources

  • Pedigree of Mathew of Annefield, Co. Tipperary, c.1680 -- 1800. Genealogical Office: Ms.169, pp.370-1 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Genealogical Office report on Mathew of Wexford, Mathew of Bonnettstown, Co. Kilkenny and Mathew of Thurles and Annefield, c.1600 -- 1850. Genealogical Office: Ms.814(8) ; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of confirmation of arms to The Rev. David James Mathew, Litt. D., elder son of Francis James Mathew, B.L., who was the great grandson of James Mathew of Thomastown, Co. Tipperary, March 8, 1938. Genealogical Office: Ms.111f, fol.129 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Notes of evidence presented in the Chancery Court during a dispute case between George Mathew, Plaintiff, and Joseph Jaques, defendant, concerning lands in Thomastown and Ballymakeady, Co. Tipperary, 1673. T/2993; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Draft pedigrees of the Mathew family, Earls of Landaff and of Annefield and Thomastown, Co. Tipperary, with correspondence of Geo. B. Mathew to Sir William Betham 1838, with note on Anne Mathew (mother of Nano Nagle) who died Jan., 1748. Genealogical Office: Ms. 814 (3) ; National Library of Ireland
  • Lease by Lady Elisha Mathew of Thomastown Castle, Co. Tipperary, to John Evans of Middlesex, of part of the South division of the Thomastown Demesne. Oct. 20, 1834. D. 19,834 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Lease by the Earl of Landaff of Thomastown, Co. Tipperary to James and Michael Mahon of Thurles, Co. Tipperary of part of the lands of Gurteendrishla, Co. Tipperary. Aug. 7, 1813. D. 19,832 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Survey of Ardoboreen in the barony of Clanwilliam, Co. Tipperary, the estate of Lady Elisha Mathew. By Brassington and Gale. Quarto sheet with names of tenants, 1837. 21 F. 94 (3) ; National Library of Ireland
  • Lease by Baron Landaff to James Russell of the lands of Raheenroe, barony of Eliogarty, Co. Tipperary. Jan. 5, 1786. D. 19,732 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Lease by Francis Lord Viscount Landaff to Daniel Maher of Thurles of a holding known as the Castle Meadows, barony of Eliogarty, Co. Tipperary. Aug. 18, 1792. D. 19,733 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Agreement between Francis James, Earl of Landaff and Patrick Ryan of Thurles concerning a holding in Bawnthemeen, barony of Eliogarty, Co. Tipperary, June 5, 1828. D. 19,731 ; National Library of Ireland
  • London: British Museum, Add. Charter, 19,522 - Assignment from James, Duke of Ormonde to George Mathew of his interest in the manor or abbey of Thurles and other townlands in Co. Tipperary, 1690. Microfilm P1492; National Library of Ireland
  • General survey of Thomastown and other lands in the barony of Clanwilliam, Co. Tipperary, the estate of Lady Elisha Mathew by Brassington and Gale. One sheet, coloured, 1836. Similar survey, 1837. Also survey of Ardobeen, 1837. 16 I. 17 (6, 7, 8). ; National Library of Ireland
  • Agreement between Francis James, Earl of Landaff and Joseph Creagh of Kill and Michael Creagh of Burrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary concerning portion of the lands of Knockane in the Barony of Eliogarty, Co. Tipperary, June 15, 1814. D. 19,730 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Papers of Dr Martin Callanan of Thurles, include documents re the Mathew estates. Collection List 94; National Library of Ireland
  • Scully Papers, 1735-1983. Collection List 7. Mss 27,478-27,599; National Library of Ireland
  • Ryan of Inch Collection, 1656-1964. BL/EP/R ; University College Cork, Boole Library Archives
  • Sackville Manuscripts include settlement by George Mathew of Thurles (co. Tipperary) on his wife Mary, known as Lady Shelley, 1764. U269/T81/4 ; Kent History and Library Centre
  • Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Chamley (Lissaroon), 7 May 1863, Vol 68 (8), MRGS 39/034, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Papers relating to property of the Lenigan family in and near Thurles, Co. Tipperary, especially the Castle Fogarty estate, with references to families of Armstrong, Evans, Fogarty, Parker & Mathew, 18th-19th centuries. D.23,432-500; M.5302-42; T. 12,780-5 ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Accounts of the Butler estates in Annefield, Clanwilliam, Killensule and Thurles, Co. Tipperary and Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, for various dates between 1851 and 1870. Ms 11,707 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Notes on the Mathew family of Llandaff and Radyr, Wales, and Annefield, Castleborris, Rathcloheen, Thomastown and Thurles, Co. Tipperary, ancestor of Father Theobald Mathew, the Apostle of Temperance, d. 1856 Prepared by Robert Mathew M.P. Also family tree of the descendants of Charles Mathew, d.1871, brother of Father Theobald Mathew. Prepared by Owen Mulholland. 12th–20th centuries. 999/174 ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Map of Ardoboreen, bar. Clanwilliam, Co. Tipperary, the estate of the Honourable Lady Elisha Mathew. With names and holdings of tenants, 1837. 999/330; National Archives of Ireland
  • Proposed Ground Plan of Thomastown Castle 1812 by Richard Morrison,: Thomas Pakenham 16/90R2; Irish Architectural Archive
  • British Records Association, Lease for 3 lives of Meeldrom & Kilstafford, Thomas Mathew of Anfield to Oliver Latham of Meeldrom, 3 Dec 1707. Small Accs. Index No 101, D.18,609; National Archives of Ireland
  • Mathew Estate Papers, including Thurles estate rentals, 1827-1899 with gaps, accounts receipts & maps. TL/F/12 ; Tipperary Studies Research Library (Archives), Thurles
  • File includes copy of article "Thomastown Castle, Co Tipperary, the property of Archbishop Mathew" by Mark Bence Jones in ''County Life'' 2 Oct 1969. Also contain other copy documents re the Mathew family. TL/A/11; Tipperary Studies Research Library (Archives), Thurles
  • Irish Tourist Association Survey file, early 1940s, South Tipperary No. 19 (Thomastown Castle); Tipperary Studies Research Library (Archives), Thurles
  • Thurles & Tipperary leases - Earl of Llandaff, Lord Dunsandle, Lady Elisha Matthews & Viscount Chabot. Box 33; Roscrea Heritage Society Centre, Damer House, Roscrea
  • Menton, solicitor's collection, which contains deeds re Llandaff estate, 1835. Boxes 38 & 90 ; Roscrea Heritage Society Centre, Damer House, Roscrea
  • Indenture the Honourable Francis James Earl of Landaff to the Honourable George Massy of Avondale, Co. Dublin. Release from earlier indenture of 1703 between George Matthew, Thomastown, Co. Tipperary and Justin McCarthy, Spring House, Co. Tipperary re: lands in the Barony of Clanwilliam, Co. Tipperary, 1813. Box 68; Roscrea Heritage Society Centre, Damer House, Roscrea

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources