Landed Estates
University of Galway

Leslie (Ballybay)

The Leslies of Ballybay descend from the Reverend Peter Leslie, a clergyman in county Antrim at the beginning of the 18th century. His son, Reverend Henry Leslie of Ballybay, was rector of Tandragee, county Armagh and according to Shirley the Leslies purchased the Ballybay estate in the mid-18th century. The Reverend Henry died in 1803 when he was succeeded by his son Charles Albert Leslie. Charles Albert Leslie married Ellen Magenis in 1799 and they had two sons both of whom died before their father. Charles Albert Leslie died in 1838. By the mid-19th century his representatives, [his daughter Emily], held land in the parishes of Ematris, Clontibret and Aghnamullen. In 1876 Emily Leslie of Ballybay owned 5,463 acres in the county. She had married as her second husband her cousin James Leslie. Her eldest son by her first marriage, Robert Charles French, assumed the surname of Leslie in 1885, in compliance with his grandfather’s will and succeeded his mother in 1884.

Associated Families

No associated families were found for this estate

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Derryvally Derryvally Ballybay Castleblayney Ballybay Rural Cremorne Monaghan OSI Ref: H698210
OS Sheet: 18
Discovery map: 		Photo of Derryvally
Craig's Castle Derryvally Ballybay Castleblayney Ballybay Rural Cremorne Monaghan OSI Ref: H702206
OS Sheet: 18
Discovery map: 28A 		Photo of Craig's Castle
Annaneese Acres Ballybay Castleblayney Ballybay Rural Cremorne Monaghan OSI Ref: H715192
OS Sheet: 19
Discovery map: 28B
Ballybay House Knocknamaddy Ballybay Castleblayney Ballybay Rural Cremorne Monaghan OSI Ref: H729202
OS Sheet: 19
Discovery map: 28B

Archival sources

  • Pedigree of Leslie of Sheeplands, Co Down, Ballybay, Co Monaghan, & Leslie House, Co Antrim, c 1635-1842. GO Ms 174, 356-363; National Library of Ireland
  • Lease by Charles Leslie, Ballybay, to Margaret Strain of lands in Ballybay, 1813. Lease by C. Leslie to John Corry, Derryvally, of lands in Derryvally, 1837. Map of Derryvally. D873; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Martin and Brett, solicitor’s collection, includes title deeds, leases, correspondence, surveys, Irish Land Commission Papers, etc relating to the Leslie estates at Ballybay, Co Monaghan and in the barony of Lecale, Co Down, 1559-1923. D3406/D; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Copy of grant of arms to Robert Charles Leslie French of Ballybay, son of Arthur French of Sackville St, Dublin by Emily Eleanora Wilhelmina Leslie, daughter of Charles Albert Leslie of Ballybay on his assuming additional name and arms of Leslie, 9 July 1885. GO Ms 110, 63-64; National Library of Ireland
  • Rental of the Forster of Killeevan estate 1802-22, includes rental of estate of Charles Albert Leslie, Ballybay, 1872, 1878. MIC661/1; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Copy of the conveyance of the Ballybay estate from Edmond Beaghan of East Bradenham, Norfolk, to Rev. Dr Henry Leslie of Hillsborough, Archdeacon of Down, for £3,600 British, and the original of a subsequent release connected with the transaction; the conveyance of 1712 mentions that the whole estate was then let to Francis Lucas of Castleshane. 1712-1720. D3406/D/4/3; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Rental books of the Ballybay Estate 1867-1868, 1872-1876, 1881-1888, 1901-1905, P/1/2. 8 volumes; Monaghan County Library (Clones Branch)
  • Estate Maps, Leslie of Ballybay. Ref. 1981:51; Monaghan County Museum

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources