Landed Estates
University of Galway

Ponsonby (Imokilly)

This branch of the Ponsonby family was descended from the Right Honourable John Ponsonby, Speaker of the House of Commons in Ireland and second son of the 1st Earl of Bessborough. In 1743 John married Lady Elizabeth Cavendish daughter of the 3rd Duke of Devonshire. Their son William was created Baron Ponsonby of Imokilly in 1806 and his son John was promoted to the title Viscount Ponsonby in 1839, which became extinct following his death in 1855. The title of Baron continued with his nephew and successor but this title also died out in 1866 following the death of the 4th Baron. The estates were inherited by Charles William Talbot of Inchiquin, Youghal, a nephew of the 3rd Baron, who took the additional surname of Ponsonby. In the mid 19th century the Ponsonby estate was located in the parishes of Ardagh, Clonpriest, Killeagh, Kilmacdonogh and Youghal, barony of Imokilly, county Cork. In the 1870s C.W.T. Ponsonby of Park House, Youghal, owned 10,367 acres in county Cork. Some premises in the town of Carrick on Suir, county Tipperary, were leased by the Earl of Bessborough to Edmond Fitzgarrett Butler on a fee farm grant in 1855. These premises were advertised for sale with lands in county Laois in 1875 and 1877. Much of the sale was adjourned in 1875 though one lot was sold, in trust, to Mr. Cusack, solicitor.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Park Youghalpark Ardagh Youghal Ardagh 334 Imokilly Cork OSI Ref: X037 802
OS Sheet: 67
Discovery map: 81
Burges House Burges Upper Clonpriest Youghal Clonpriest 335 Imokilly Cork OSI Ref: X035 772
OS Sheet: 67
Discovery map: 81
Inchiquin House Gortnagark Clonpriest Youghal Clonpriest 335 Imokilly Cork OSI Ref: X036 750
OS Sheet: 67
Discovery map: 81
Knockmonalea House Knockmonalea East Clonpriest Youghal Clonpriest 335 Imokilly Cork OSI Ref: X056 768
OS Sheet: 67
Discovery map: 81
Ballykinealy Ballykinealy Kilmacdonogh Youghal Kilmacdonogh 338 Imokilly Cork OSI Ref: X060 709
OS Sheet: 78
Discovery map: 81 		Photo of Ballykinealy

Archival sources

  • Brooke Papers, Letter from Brooke to [Davis] re sale of parts of Ponsonby estate, 15 May 1814. T2975/5/22; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Hickleton Papers, mainly correspondence of members of the Ponsonby family and of the Greys of Howick, 1598-1985. HALIFAX; Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York
  • Tomkinson of Willington Hall Collection, includes newscutting & correspondence, mainly from Canon Keller of Youghal co. Cork, concerning trouble on the Ponsonby Estate between Smith-Barry & tenants,1889-1892. DTM/82; Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Service
  • Harrington Papers, include financial accounts of the Irish National League, including legal expenses incurred in defence of the tenants of the Ponsonby Estate, Co. Cork, 1882 - 1891. Ms. 8582 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Butler, 3 Dec 1875, Vol 121 (41) & 3 Feb 1877, Vol127 (26), MRGS 39/055 & 39/057, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources