Landed Estates
University of Galway

Acheson (Gosford Park)

Archibald Acheson of Gosford, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, came to Ireland in the early 17th century and was granted estates in counties Armagh and Cavan. In 1628 he was made a baronet of Nova Scotia. His descendant Sir Arthur Acheson, 6th Baronet, was created Baron Gosford of Market Hill, county Armagh in 1776 and Viscount in 1785. He was married to Mary Richardson of Rich Hill, county Armagh. Their eldest son became the 1st Earl of Gosford in 1806. In 1878 the 4th Earl of Gosford owned 12,177 acres in county Armagh and 6,417 acres in county Cavan. The county Cavan estate was mainly located in the parish of Killashandra with a few townlands in the parish of Scrabby. Both parishes were located in the barony of Tullyhunco. The introduction to the Gosford Papers in PRONI states that ‘the family owned from the early 17th century the manor of Corrowdownan (in and round the town of Arvagh), Co. Cavan, which had a rental of £2,700 in 1817 and comprised c.6,500 acres and the following townlands: Arvagh, Brankill, Castlepoles, Corduff, Carrinainey, Corron, Corhanagh, Cardownan, Corlisbrattan, Cordonaghy, Drumshinny, Drumhillagh, Drumyouth, Drumlarney, Drumcrow, Drumberry, Forthill, Woodland, Gartylouth, Ticosker, Dunaweel, Lackin, Drumalt. The family seat was Gosford Park, Markethill, county Armagh.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Laurel Bank/Holly Bank Drumnawall Killashandra Cavan Arvagh Tullyhunco Cavan OSI Ref: N267973
OS Sheet: 30
Discovery map: 34

Archival sources

  • Gosford Papers, a large collection of deeds, leases, rentals, accounts, correspondence, maps, Land Commission papers etc. The collections includes sale rentals of the Cavan estate in 1876 and 1878, 1750-1960. D1606; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Mortgage for £1300 between Sir John Allen Johnston, Springmount, Queen Co., Bart., Archibald Eyre Obins, Castleobins, Co. Arm., Robt. Bernard Sparrow, Tanderagee, Co. Arm., 1st pt.; Lord Gosford, Market Hill, Co. Arm., Hon. Archibald Acheson, 2nd pt.; Alex Gordon, Teltrim, Co. Dublin, Exors of late Hugh Montgomery, Castlehume, Co. Fermanagh 3rd pt. - Lord Gosford's Estates in Co. Armagh and Cavan. 30 October 1798. D627/72; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Box of miscellaneous correspondence, maps and sketches concerning the requisition of Gosford Castle during the 1939-45 emergency. Included is a copy rental, c.1950, of lands on the Armagh and Richhill estates, Co. Armagh and one townland in Co. Cavan. Also included are tenancy agreements concerning Town Parks, Markethill, Co. Armagh, 1918-19. 1918-1950. D1670/5/1; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Ordnance Survey map, Co Cavan, sheet 30, [showing part of the Gosford Estate?]. 1836. D2476/3; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Volume including press accounts of cases heard in the Land Commission courts by Sir Samuel Byers; these give accounts of cases in South Armagh, counties Down, Antrim, Monaghan, Cavan and Kilkenny. Also a wide selection of press articles, editorials and readers' letters dealing with specific land controversies, on the Land Question in general, and the operation of the Land Commission, including letters from tenants on the Gosford estate. 1892-1900. D3033/1; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Pedigree of Acheson, Viscounts Gosford, c. 1750 -- c.1850. GO Ms. 171, p.451; National Library of Ireland
  • Gosford Papers. Letters on public and private affairs to Sir A. Acheson, afterwards Viscount Gosford of Markethill, Co. Armagh, 1752-1790 and letters to his son Arthur afterwards 1st Earl of Gosford, 1793-1802. Ms. 8018; National Library of Ireland
  • Gosford estate papers. Crown and quit-rent ledger of lands in parts of Counties Tyrone, Monaghan and Armagh, 1793-9. D386 [see NLI, sources catalogue]; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Gosford, 23 May 1876, Vol 123 (49), MRGS 39/056, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Land Judges Court Rentals (O'Brien), Gosford, 25 June 1878, Vol 133 (1), MRGS 39/059, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources