Johnston (Friarstown)
The Friarstown estate was held on lease by the Johnston family from the Earl of Milltown though Friarstown House seems to have been leased to others. Aghacashel was leased by the Johnston family from the Blachford estate of Lisnover in county Cavan. Members of the Johnston family of Aghacashel and Friarstown served as High Sheriffs of Leitrim between 1701-1812. In 1802 McParlan recorded Robert Johnston of Ahacashel and John Johnston of Friarstown on his list of "resident gentlemen of property". In 1851 lands, the property of John and Thomas Johnston, at Killaleen, barony of Dromahaire were offered for sale in the Encumbered Estates Court. Later, in June 1855, properties in the baronies of Carrigallen and Leitrim, the estate of Joseph & Robert Johnston, were offered for sale. Jane Page, the administratrix of John Johnston, offered for sale lands in the barony of Dromahaire, in the Encumbered Estates Court in February 1857. In December 1858 demesne lands at Friarstown as well as lands in the baronies of Tirerrill and Dromahaire were offered for sale by John William Johnston. In May 1858 the house and demesne at Aghacashel were offered for sale by William Blachford and Charles Hamilton. The documents indicate that the original lease, in 1744, was between Rev. John Blachford and George Johnston. In May 1862 John Johnston offered for sale over 1700 acres in the parish of Killarga in the Landed Estates Court. The observations indicate that these lands were, until the end of the seventeenth century, the property of the O'Rorke clan. In the eighteenth century they were acquired by Patrick Cullen who later sold a portion to the Johnston estate. The Irish Times reports that some of the lots in this sale were purchased by the owner while others were purchased, in trust, by Mr. Palmer. In November 1865, January and July 1866 John Johnston again offered for sale lands at Friarstown. The house at Aghacashel and over 200 acres of untenanted land had become the property of Thomas Guckian by 1906. Possibly connected with the Johnstons of Killannin.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friarstown | Friarstown | Killanummery | Manorhamilton | Drumahaire 36 | Dromahaire | Leitrim |
OSI Ref: G790313
OS Sheet: 14 Discovery map: 25 |
|
| Aghacashel | Aghacashel | Kiltubbrid | Carrick-on-Shannon | Aghacashel 19 | Leitrim | Leitrim |
OSI Ref: H042138
OS Sheet: 24 Discovery map: 26 |
|
| Tawnahoney | Tawnahoney | Killarga | Manorhamilton | Killarga 41 | Dromahaire | Leitrim |
OSI Ref: G904287
OS Sheet: 15 Discovery map: 26 |
|
| Grouse Lodge | Modorragh | Inishmagrath | Manorhamilton | Drumkeeran | Drmahaire | Leitrim |
OSI Ref: G914236
OS Sheet: 18 Discovery map: 26 |
Archival sources
- Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Johnston, 24 February 1851, Vol 5, MRGS 39/002, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Page & Johnston, 27 February 1857, Vol 44, MRGS 39/021, (microfilm copy in NUIG) ; National Archives of Ireland
- Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Johnston, 14 June 1855, Vol 35, MRGS 39/016, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Blachford & Hamilton, 28 May 1858, Vol 51 MRGS 39/025, (microfilm copy in NUIG; National Archives of Ireland
- Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Johnston, 7 December 1858, Vol 54 MRGS 39/027, (microfilm copy in NUIG; National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Johnston, 2 May 1862, Vol 65, MRGS 39/033, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Johnstone, 3 July 1866, Vol 82, MRGS 39/040, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Johnstone, 19 January 1866, Vol 80, MRGS 39/039, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Johnstone, 3 November 1865, Vol 78, MRGS 39/038, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol II, 141.
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Manorhamilton Union, 94, 119 (Tawnahoney)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 394
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 15 & 190.
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 343.
- McPARLAN, James. ''Statistical Survey of the county of Leitrim''. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1802. : 111.
- WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 417 (Grouse Lodge, [Seily], Gortermone)
Modern printed sources
- HARRISON, A (compiler).'' A roll of all gentlemen....High Sheriffs, MPs & other officers of county Leitrim, 1600-1909.'' Carrick-on-Shannon: printed by P. Brennan, 1910. : 4-9.
- ''The Irish Genealogist'': GRAY, Edward S. Some notes on the High Sheriffs of county Leitrim, 1701-1800. I (1941), 301, 305.
- ''Irish Times'': Landed Estates Court sale reports, 24 May 1862, p.4. 4 July 1866, p.4.