Landed Estates
University of Galway

Cox (Cork & Kilkenny)

The Cox family, baronets, of Dunmanway, county Cork, and Castletown Cox, county Kilkenny, held extensive estates in counties Kilkenny, Cork and Tipperary and descend from Sir Richard Cox, Lord Chancellor, 1703-1707 and Chief Justice, 1711-1714. The Cox estates eventually passed to the Villiers Stuart family through the marriage in 1833 of Catherine Cox, daughter and eventual heiress, of Michael Cox of Castletown, county Kilkenny and William Villiers Stuart. A sale rental dated July 1853 records the former Cox estate as comprised of 12,479 acres in the baronies of West Muskerry, Ibane, Barrymore and East Carbery and 1,826 acres in the baronies of Iffa and Offa East and Slievardagh, county Tipperary, plus 6,877 acres in county Kilkenny. In 1810, Townsend noted estates around Dunmanway, the property of Henry Cox, who was then resident in North America. William Arnoppe was granted an estate of almost 3,000 acres at Dunmanway in 1666 which was purchased by Richard Cox before the end of the 17th century. Martha and Catherine Cox were among the principal lessors in the parish of Fanlobbus, barony of East Carbery, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. In November 1858, they offered almost 7000 acres of the estate, including The Manor House, and the town of Dunmanway, for sale in the Encumbered Estates Court. The sale notice indicates the purchasers of the various lots. They included the Baldwin, Bryan, Becher, Hamilton and Shuldham estates. In October 1873, 1300 acres owned by Katherine Anne Cox, in and around the town of Dunmanway, were offered for sale in the Landed Estates Court. The sale notice indicates the purchasers included the Shuldham, Fuller and Lucas estates. see http://www.leighrayment.com/baronetage/baronetsC5.htm. In 1943 the Irish Tourist Authority Survey, referring to the Cox estate, mentioned that Sir Richard Cox's descendants were said to be residing in the USA.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Brookpark House (Dunmanway) Brookpark Fanlobbus Dunmanway Dunmanway 124 East Carbery (West) Cork OSI Ref: W233523
OS Sheet: 107
Discovery map: 85 		Photo of Brookpark House (Dunmanway)
Woodbrook House & Darkwood Mill Cloontiquirk Fanlobbus Dunmanway Dunmanway 124 East Carbery (West) Cork OSI Ref: W218527
OS Sheet: 107
Discovery map: 85 		Photo of Woodbrook House & Darkwood Mill
The Manor House (Dunmanway) Kilbarry Fanlobbus Dunmanway Dunmanway 124 East Carbery (West) Cork OSI Ref: W218515
OS Sheet: 107
Discovery map: 85 		Photo of The Manor House (Dunmanway)
Prospect Hill (Dunmanway) Tonafora Fanlobbus Dunmanway Dunmanway 124 East Carbery (West) Cork OSI Ref: W230518
OS Sheet: 107
Discovery map: 85
Woodlands (Dunmanway) Coorycullane Fanlobbus Dunmanway Dunmanway 124 East Carbery (West) Cork OSI Ref: W227533
OS Sheet: 107
Discovery map: 85
Carbery House (Dunmanway) Dunmanway North Fanlobbus Dunmanway Dunmanway 124 East Carbery (West) Cork OSI Ref: W234528
OS Sheet: 107
Discovery map: 85 		Photo of Carbery House (Dunmanway)

Archival sources

  • S. Gordon & Son, solicitor's collection, includes papers relating to the estates in Cos. Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork of Sir R. Cox (died 1733), M. Cox, Archbp. of Cashel and other members of the Cox family, with references to families of Ryan, Cane, Mountfort and Ormond, 1675-1853. D. 17,025-101; 17,488-96; M. 2065; T. 7095 Small Accs Index 103 ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Cox, 12 November 1858, Vol 53, MRGS 39/027, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Cox, 25 October 1873, Vol 111, MRGS 39/051, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (Burke), Lawder, Cox, 12 July 1853, Vol 35; National Library of Ireland
  • James Emerson Tennent documents, include letters from Sir Richard Cox 1st Baronet & Judge to Sir Robert and Edward Southwell re Irish affairs & with reference to the Southwell estate at Kinsale & the Cox estate at Dunmanway, 1687- 1726. T2827/4; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Rental of the Cox estates in Co. Cork, 1839. Gordon Pres. No. 214 ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Small bound collections of letters mainly between the Jemmett Browne Bishop of Cork and Sir Richard Cox of Dunmanway, 1738-49. Ms. 12. W. 35: (Arthur Cox Ms.) ; Royal Irish Academy Library
  • Lease, Richard Cox to John Patrickson of lands at Dunmanway and Kilbarry, Co. Cork, March 26, 1702. D. 24,023 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Coloured map of Edencurro and Glaune, barony of East Carberry Co. Cork, made for Sir Richard Cox, by John Davis, May 1[7]17. Ms. 4788 ; Trinity College Dublin
  • Lease by Edmund, Earl of Cork and Orrery to Samuel Cox of Lands at Shanakiel, alias Sundayswell in the North Liberties of the city of Cork, 2 Sept, 1805. D.27,099 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Genealogical notes on the Cox family of Co. Cork, Co. Tipperary and Dublin, c. 1600-1652, with some reference to the disputed baronetey of Cox of Dunmanway, Co. Cork. T/1625; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Papers relating to the estates in Cos. Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork of Sir R. Cox (died 1733), M. Cox, Archbp. of Cashel and other members of the Cox family, with references to families of Ryan, Cane, Mountfort and Ormond, 1675-1853. D. 17,025-101; 17,488-96; M. 2065; T. 7095 ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Cox of Dunmanway, PC 12,331; National Library of Ireland
  • Irish Tourist Association Survey files, Parish of Dunmanway; Cork County Library

Contemporary printed sources