Landed Estates
University of Galway

Pratt (Cabra Castle)

Burke’s Landed Gentry of Ireland (1904) states that the Pratts came from Leicester and that Cromwell granted them land in county Meath. The county Cavan estate came into their possession through the marriage of Joseph Pratt and Frances Cooch, sister and heir of Thomas Cooch of Cabra Castle, county Cavan. Thomas Cooch was granted an estate in county Cavan of 3,813 acres in December 1667. The ruins of this first Cabra Castle are marked on the first edition six inch Ordnance Survey map (publ. 1837), located to the east of Cabra Cottage, the original home of the Pratt family until the acquisition of Cormey Castle in 1813. In 1704, Joseph Pratt’s fifth son, Mervyn, by his second wife Elizabeth Mervyn, married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Coote of Coote Hall and sister of the Earl of Bellamont. In the 1850s, their great grandson, Colonel Joseph Pratt, held an estate of at least 30 townlands in the parish of Enniskeen, barony of Clankee, county Cavan. His eldest son Mervyn married Madeline, daughter and heiress of Colonel William Jackson of Enniscoe, county Mayo. The Jackson estate at Enniscoe, parish of Crossmolina, barony of Tirawley, county Mayo became the property of the Pratts of Cabra Castle, county Cavan, following this marriage in 1834. In 1876, Mervyn Pratt owned 17,955 acres in county Mayo, 8095 acres in county Cavan and 1,014 acres in county Meath. In 1916, the Congested Districts' Board made a final offer of just under £50,000 for the Pratt's county Mayo estate. Enniscoe was inherited by the Nicholson family in the 20th century and the nucleus of the property has remained in the ownership of descendants of the Jacksons for over 300 years. http://www.enniscoe.com/ At the time of Griffiths Valuation Joseph Pratt was among the lessors of townlands in the parish of Conwal, barony of Raphoe, County Donegal. In November 1868 over 6000 acres of the Pratt estate in Donegal was offered for sale by Mervyn Pratt in the Landed Estates Court.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Enniscoe House Prospect Crossmolina Ballina Crossmolina South 17 Tirawley Mayo OSI Ref: G143 142
OS Sheet: 38
Discovery map: 23 		Photo of Enniscoe House
Rockhill House (Raphoe North) Rockhill Leck Letterkenny Ballymacool Raphoe North Donegal OSI Ref: C144095
OS Sheet: 61
Discovery map: 6 		Photo of Rockhill House (Raphoe North)
Cabra Cottage Cabra Enniskeen Bailieborough Kingscourt Clankee Cavan OSI Ref: N787974
OS Sheet: 35
Discovery map: 35
Cabra Castle Cormey Enniskeen Bailieborough Kingscourt Clankee Cavan OSI Ref: N806968
OS Sheet: 35
Discovery map: 35 		Photo of Cabra Castle
Corrinshigo House Corrinshigo Enniskeen Bailieborough Kingscourt Clankee Cavan OSI Ref: N778974
OS Sheet: 35
Discovery map: 35
Mullantra Mullantra Enniskeen Bailieborough Kingscourt Clankee Cavan OSI Ref: N795979
OS Sheet: 35
Discovery map: 35

Archival sources

  • Enniscoe Papers, include abstract of title 1862, rentals, account books and other records, contact Susan Kellett, Enniscoe House, Castlehill, Ballina, Co Mayo; Private Possession
  • Enniscoe, cuttings. 078/096; Irish Architectural Archive
  • Irish Tourist Association. Topographical and General Survey, 1941-1945. Parish of Crossmolina. ITA/2/8; Mayo County Library
  • Estate and family papers of the Pratt and other families, Co Cavan, 1639-1914, unsorted collection.; National Library of Ireland
  • Deeds (270) relating to the estates at Cabra, Co Cavan and Garradice, Co Meath, of the Pratt family, late 17th – 19th centuries. D 22,134-22,403.; National Library of Ireland
  • About 130 documents (copies) relating to the families of Pratt, Gardiner, Rolleston and Morton and their lands in Cos Meath and Westmeath but mainly in Co Cavan, circa 1705-1847, prepared for use oin a case Rolleston v Morton, 1845-1847. Ms 11,450.; National Library of Ireland
  • Report on the Pratt and Sheppard Papers 17th-20th centuries deposited in the National Library by Mr M. Sheppard, of Cabra Castle in 1961. Report No 433.; National Library of Ireland
  • Surveys, accounts, legal documents, correspondence etc relating to the estate of the Pratt and Winter families in Cos Cavan and Meath, 18th and 19th centuries. Mss 13,314-13,327.; National Library of Ireland
  • Valuation book of the Cavan estate of Colonel Joseph Pratt, 1842. Ms 5087.; National Library of Ireland
  • Atlas of the Cavan and Meath estates of Colonel Joseph Pratt, 1842. 21 F 121.; National Library of Ireland
  • Rental of Pratt's Castle estate, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, 1869-70. D2881.; National Library of Ireland
  • Map of property in the parish of Enniskeen, Co Cavan, belonging to Mervyn Pratt, 1735. M.5746.; National Archives of Ireland
  • Map of the demesne of Cabra Castle, seat of Colonel Pratt by Henry Walker, 1809. Ms 2147.; National Library of Ireland
  • Rentals of the Pratt estate at Cabra Castle, 1819, 1837, 1844, 1847, 1850-1864, 1865-1875, 1878-1898 and of Garradice, Co Meath, 1855. Mss 3021, 3122 & 3284, 5086, 5088-5091.; National Library of Ireland
  • Manuscript map of Kingscourt and the town parks, parish of Enniskeen, estaee of Joseph Pratt, surveyed by S. Wainright, with names of tenants, 1834. 15 B 8 (4).; National Library of Ireland
  • Manuscript map of Lower Cormey, surveyed by J. McEneny, 1844. 15 B 8 (3).; National Library of Ireland
  • Manuscript map of Cappenagh [Coppanagh], Edendugallen [Edennagully] and Corveliske [Corraweelis], parish of Enniskeen, barony of Clankee, according to the mearings shown by Peter Clarke, by J. Frain, Oct 1818. 15 B 8 (5).; National Library of Ireland
  • Manuscript map of mountain colops in Enniskeen parish, Co Cavan, part of the estate of the Reverend J. Pratt, by C. O’Hara, Sep 1773. 15 B 8 (15).; National Library of Ireland
  • Rentals of the estate of Colonel Pratt at Kingscourt with index to the map and leases prepared by John Barnes, solicitor, 1853 with additional information re leases, 1860. Mss 3123-3124.; National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigree of Pratt of Garradice and Agherpallice, Co Meath and Cabragh, Co Cavan, 1621-1769. GO MS 112: 174-176.; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of grant of arms to Harvey Pratt, second son of the Reverend Joseph Pratt, by Sarah, daughter of Harvey, Viscount Mountmorres on his assuming under Royal Licence the name and arms of De Montmorency, 13 Oct 1831. GO MS 107: 61-62. ; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of confirmation of arms to the Reverend Joseph Pratt of Cabragh Castle, 3 Nov 1810. GO MS 106: 4.; National Library of Ireland
  • Purdon of Cloverhill Papers include Copy of diary of John Pratt of Agher, Co Meath 1745-1747 with genealogical notes on the Pratt family 17ll-1761. P 4160.; National Library of Ireland
  • Bargain and sale of lands in the parish of Enniskeen, county Cavan by Marmaduke Hegartie the elder and the younger and Patrick Hegarty of Colerane, Co Derry, to Thomas Cooche of Carbagh, Co Cavan, 1681. D 10,472; National Library of Ireland
  • Draft Mortgage from the Rev. Joseph Pratt of Cabra, Co. Cavan, and his son Mervyn Pratt to John McClintock of Drumcar, Co. Louth. The Mortgage is for £3,000 and is on a part of the Pratt Estate in Co. Cavan which was charged with the portions of the younger children of Joseph Pratt by the terms of his Marriage Settlement. The £3,000 is the portion of his younger son, Anthony Pratt. Francis White and Dr. Thomas Foster are the Trustees for this part of the Marriage Settlement. 1773. MIC500/27; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • 5 Letters from Francis Pratt, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan to Charles Eyre Coote. 1847-1848. D3168/7/4; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Two documents comprising title deeds relating to Cormey: the first a mortgage from its then owner, the Rev. Joseph Pratt of Dublin, to the Rev. Dr Thomas Foster and one other; the second a lease from James Butler Pratt of Mullintra, Co. Cavan, to Henry Foster of Cormey, of parts of the lands of Cromey. 1746-1808. D3618/H/8/1-/2; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Deed to make a tenant to the precipe, (1) Mervyn Pratt of Cabragh, Co. Cavan, esq., and Rev. Joseph Pratt of Finglass, Co. Dublin, his only son and heir, (2) Alexander McClintock of Dublin, gent., (3) Andrew Charleton of Dublin, esq.: property in barony of Raphoe, Co. Donegal. 25 May 1741. D4084/1/1/3/6; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Four documents relating to the Pratt family, Cabra, Co. Cavan, including two letters to Dean Benjamin Pratt, 1745-1755, including a side prospect of Cootehill, by Kath[erine] Coote, 1745, and three plans and elevations for a [Court-House] with a 'Grand Jury Room, c.1810. T3443; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Deed leading to Fine and Recovery Mervyn Pratt, Esq., Cabragh, Co. Cavan, his son Rev. Joseph Pratt, Finglass, Co. Dublin Clarke, 1st Party. Alex. McClintock, Dublin, gent, 2nd Party. Andrew Charlton, Esq., Dublin, 3rd Party. 16 June 1741. MIC500/2; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Tew & Pratt, 26 Mar 1850, Vol 1 (3), MRGS 39/001, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Lawler & Pratt, 17 Nov 1863, Vol 70 (36), MRGS 39/035, (microfilm copy in NUIG) interest of Richard Pratt, an insolvent in lands of ‘Halpstead, otherwise Colps’ [Collops], parish of Enniskeen, leased by Rev Joseph Pratt and Mervyn Pratt to James Butler Pratt in 1779, 335 acres; National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Pratt, 17 Nov 1868, Vol 91 (37), MRGS 39/044, (microfilm copy in NUIG) – lands in counties Cavan and Donegal; National Archives of Ireland
  • Land Judges Court Rentals (O'Brien), Clarke, 3 July 1877, Vol 128 (1), MRGS 39/058, (microfilm copy in NUIG) Edennagully; National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), McEneny, 11 Dec 1885, Vol 149 (70), MRGS 39/066, (microfilm copy in NUIG) Edennagully ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Pratt, 17 Nov 1868, Vol 91, MRGS 39/044, (microfilm copy in University of Galway Library); National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources