Dawson (Cremorne)

The Dartrey Papers in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland document the estates of the Dawson family of Dawson Grove, Lords Dartrey and Cremorne and Earls of Dartrey in counties Monaghan, Armagh, Louth, Waterford, Tipperary and Fermanagh. The Dawsons were a Yorkshire family who settled in Armagh in the reign of Elizabeth I. In 1672 a descendant Walter Dawson married Frances daughter of Richard Dawson, a Cromwellian soldier, and through this marriage obtained the estate Dawson’s Grove in county Monaghan. In 1667, Richard Dawson was granted an estate in the baronies of Cremorne and Dartree of over 4,150 acres. Richard Dawson, son of Walter and Frances, was a Member of Parliament, an alderman of Dublin city and a senior partner in Dawson’s Bank, Dublin, which failed in 1765. Collins writes that the extent of Dawson land holding expanding greatly under the alderman as he had access to capital. In 1723, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Archbishop John Vesey of Tuam. Their eldest son Thomas was given the title Baron Dartrey in 1770, Viscount Cremorne in 1785 and Baron Cremorne in 1797. Thomas’ second wife was a granddaughter of William Penn but none of his children survived to be adults. He died in 1813 and was succeeded by his grand-nephew Richard Thomas Dawson, 2nd Baron Cremorne, whose eldest son was created Earl of Dartrey in 1866. At this time the county Monaghan estate of Lord Cremorne was located in at least eleven parishes, principally the parishes of Donagh, Errigal Trough, Monaghan, Currin, Drummully and Killevan. Lord Cremorne also held three townlands in the parish of Lorrha, barony of Lower Ormond, county Tipperary and was among the principal lessors in the parishes of Colligan, Dungarvan and Fews, barony of Decies without Drum, county Waterford. In 1876 the Earl of Dartrey owned 17,345 acres in county Monaghan, 1,565 acres in county Armagh, 1,578 acres in county Louth and 7,985 acres in county Waterford.

Associated Families

Houses

Name	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Lackeen	Abbeville	Lorrha	Nenagh	Lorrha East 17	Lower Ormond	Tipperary	OSI Ref: M951 042 OS Sheet: 4 Discovery map: 53
Colligan Lodge	Colligan More	Colligan	Dungarvan	Colligan	Decies without Drum	Waterford	OSI Ref: X213976 OS Sheet: 30 Discovery map: 82
Freame Mount	Freame Mount Demesne	Ematris	Cootehill	Dawsongrove	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H591163 OS Sheet: 22 Discovery map: 28A
Glenburne Cottage	Boyher	Ematris	Cootehill	Dawsongrove	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H644189 OS Sheet: 18 Discovery map: 28A
Fairfield	Fairfield Demesne	Ematris	Cootehill	Dawsongrove	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H624179 OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 28A
Forest View	Drumanny	Ematris	Cootehill	Dawsongrove	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H583176 OS Sheet: 22 Discovery map: 28A
Cumry	Cumry	Aghnamullen	Cootehill	Anny	Cremorne	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H694188 OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 28B
Cumry Lodge	Cumry	Aghnamullen	Cootehill	Anny	Cremorne	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H695186 OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 28B
Dartrey House/Dawson's Grove	Dawsongrove Demesne	Ematris	Cootehill	Dawsongrove	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H607171 OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 28A
Dromore Lodge	Dromore West	Ematris	Cootehill	Dawsongrove	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H595154 OS Sheet: 22 Discovery map: 28A
Lake View (Ematris)	Fastry or Racreeghan	Ematris	Cootehill	Killynenagh	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H558162 OS Sheet: 22 Discovery map: 28A
Tonnagh House	Tonnagh	Ematris	Cootehill	Dawsongrove	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H599171 OS Sheet: 22 Discovery map: 28A

Archival sources

Volume of maps of the estate of Lord Cremorne in the County of Waterford. 1779. Ms. 3201 ; National Library of Ireland
A book of 16 maps of the estate of Thomas Lord Viscount Cremorne in the County of Waterford. Oblong quarto, late 18th century. Ms. 2746 ; National Library of Ireland
Maps and survey of the Co. Waterford estate of Lord Cremorne by Edmond Foley and Michael Broderick, 1778 - 1780. Ms. 3201; National Library of Ireland
Dartrey Papers: 1636-20th cent: Irish deeds, legal and estate papers, mainly rel to Co Monaghan, Co Armagh, Co Louth and Co Waterford. D3053; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
1781-1883: Chelsea (Cremorne House) deeds, plans and papers. MSS 43721-96 ; Kensington and Chelsea Libraries and Arts Services
Copies of deeds, rentals, accounts of lands in counties Monaghan and Fermanagh, including the Willoughby estate in Dartrey purchased by the Dawsons of Dartrey from Hugh Willoughby Montgomery, 1658-1752. D1939/19/6; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Title-deeds of the lands of Corinshigo, Drumavady, Tullynample, Tonytallagh [see also D3053/6/11] and Aughareagh, the property of Francis Aldrich of Coolnecart, Co. Monaghan, sold by him to the Hamilton family of Johnstown, Co. Dublin, [and ultimately sold to Alderman Richard Dawson in 1726]. 1665-1709. D3053/6/4 ; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Survey of the estate of John Dawson in the barony of Dartry, Co Monaghan by N. McKinlie, 1719. Ms 3180; National Library of Ireland
Small book showing the acreage and valuation of the estate of John Dawson in the barony of Cremorne, mid-18th century. Ms 3666; National Library of Ireland
Volume of manuscript maps (20) of lands in Co Monaghan, part of the estate of Lord Dartrey, surveyed by John Brusten, 1779-1780. Ms 3181; National Library of Ireland
Townley Hall Papers, accounts of Richard Dawson of Ardee, 1767-1807, with notice of sale of Dawson Grove, Co Monaghan, 1807. Ms 10,278; National Library of Ireland
Sheriff’s account of sale of stock, furniture etc sold by him at Dawson Grove, 5 April 1827. Ms 741; National Library of Ireland
2 volumes of manuscript maps of the estates of Lord Cremorne, situated in Co Monaghan by Robert Wilson, 1841-1842. 15 A. 18-19; National Library of Ireland
Accounts of expenditure on and rents received from the Co Monaghan estates of Lord Cremorne by his agent Andre Allen Murray, 1850-1856. Ms 4852-4859; National Library of Ireland
Estate Papers of Lord Cremorne and Earl of Dartrey, 1848-1929. D1670/3/2; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Dartrey Papers, mainly relating to the Dawson estate in Co Armagh. D526/2; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Rental of Viscount Cremorne’s estates in Co Monaghan and William Mayne’s valuation of Dernamoyle, 1796-1797. Ms 3674; National Library of Ireland
Accounts and papers relating to the Dawson family, Earls of Portarlington, in Leix and Offaly and at Shantonagh, Co Monaghan, 19th century. M6188/1-24; National Archives of Ireland
Photocopy of a volume of maps of the Dawson estate, Co Monaghan, surveyed by Daniel Hanly, 1768. T3170 (Original in Monaghan County Museum); Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Notes on the estates of Thomas Dawson in Co Monaghan, by Daniel Hanly, 1768-89. Ms 1647; National Library of Ireland
Photocopy of rental of the Dawson estate in Co Monaghan, 1885. T3036 Add.; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Lloyd of Leaton Knolls Estate and Personal Papers, copy bond (1805), Richard Dawson of Dawson Grove to executors of Francis Lloyd in sum of £1,648.15s.2d., 1 Dec 1799. 103/4/76 ; Shropshire Archives
Hinchingbrooke Collection - probate copy of will (29 March 1755) of Walter Dawson of the city of Dublin, in which he leaves his lands and leasehold interests in Co Monaghan to his second son James Dawson, 14 Mar 1767. HINCH 2/145; Cambridgeshire County Record Office, Huntingdon
Book of estate maps of Dawson Grove, Co Monaghan, signed Daniel Hanly, 1768. Ref. 1975:125; Monaghan County Museum
H. and W. Stanley, solicitors. Documents relating to the Rockcorry estate, 1780-1881. 1061; National Archives of Ireland
Rossmore Estate Manor Estate Accounts and Corporation Estate accounts. Also contains Jones Estate, Dartrey Estate, Douglas Estate, McMoran Estate, The Wingfield Estate, 1886-1907. 23 items. P/1/1 ; Monaghan County Library (Clones Branch)
Rentals of Cremorne estates, c. 1780 Ms 3282; 1790 Ms 3184; 1795 Ms 1696; 1828 Ms 3189; 1846 Ms 1648; National Library of Ireland
Valuation of Cremorne estates 1841-1842, Ms 1698; National Library of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Lower Ormond, 87 (Abbeville)
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 294 (Colligan More), 90 (Dawson Grove Demesne)
BATEMAN, John. ''The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.120
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Cootehill Union, 46, 53, 55, 60, 67
LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: I, 598 (Freame Mount, Dartrey, Dromore Lodge & Tonnagh)
ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Monaghan: I, 466 (Dartrey & Dromore), 478 (Fairfield), 489 (Tonnagh)
HUSSEY DE BURGH, U. H. ''The Landowners of Ireland. An alphabetical list of the owners of estates of 500 acres or £500 valuation and upwards in Ireland''. Dublin: Hodges, Foster and Figgis, 1878. [available online at www.askaboutireland.ie] : 116
SHIRLEY, Evelyn Philip. ''The History of the County of Monaghan''. London: Pickering and Co, 1869: 182-186
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland,'' 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix III. Abstracts of the conveyances from the trustees of the Forfeited Estates and Interests in Ireland in 1688'.: 124

Modern printed sources

BURKE, Sir Bernard & BURKE, Ashworth P. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Peerage and Baronetage, The Privy Council and Knightage''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1932: 712-713
BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 100 (Dartrey/Dawson Grove)
COLLINS, Peter. ''County Monaghan Records in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland''. PRONI, Belfast, 1998: 37-53
McKENNA, Peter. ''A history of Rockcorry St. Mary's in "The Emetresse" '', (1991): All
''Clogher Record'': BROWN, June. Dartrey: the rise and fall of an Irish Estate. XVIII, No 2 (2004), 269-278.
''Clogher Record'': BAIRD, Victoria. A woman before her time: Lady Augusta in the Dartrey legacy. XX, No 1 (2009), 1-8.
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Reports on Private Collections: Report on Shirley Papers, Lough Fea, relating to the Shirley and Devereux families and to lands in Co Monaghan, No 142