Landed Estates
University of Galway

Crofton (Mohill)

In the 1870s Sir Morgan Crofton held almost 10,000 acres in county Leitrim. the estate was centred on Mohill House. The family also had properties elsewhere in Ireland, notably at Shanganagh in Dublin and had an English residence at Sunnyside, Box, Wiltshire. Members of the family served as High Sheriffs and MPs for Leitrim from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries. McParlan includes Duke Crofton of Mohill on a list of "Resident Gentlemen of Property" in 1802. In the 1850s the Crofton estate was leasing Aghamore House in the parish of Mohill to Russell Cameron and a second property in Mohill to John Kane. The Crofton estate held lands in Inishmagrath parish which appeared to be on a long lease from the Hamilton estate since the 18th century as well as lands in Drumreilly parish, barony of Dromahaire and Aughrim parish, barony of Roscommon. A Morgan Crofton is recorded as the agent to Lord Lorton in the barony of Boyle, county Roscommon, at the time of the first Ordnance Survey. It is probably the same Morgan Crofton who is recorded as a member of the Grand Panel of county Roscommon in 1828. In the 1870s Sir Morgan Crofton of Mohill owned 9,590 acres in county Leitrim, 1,608 acres in county Longford and 271 acres in county Roscommon. The latter property was in the parishes of Cloonfinlough and Kiltrustan. The Crofton's Longford estates were in the parishes of Clonbroney, barony of Granard and Moydow, as well as barony of Killashee and Killoe, barony of Longford. Reverend Augustus Crofton was among the principal lessors in the parish of Killoe, barony of Longford in the early 1850s. Morgan Crofton offered the rental interest of almost 1200 acres in the barony of Granard, County Longford for sale in the Landed Estates court. Some of this property was held under lease dating to the 1690s. In 1877 James Crofton offered the rental of almost 900 acres in the barony of Granard for sale in the Landed Estates Court. The description of tenure notes its devolvement from John Perceval's estate in the 1690s through members of the Grier family. Reverend Edward Crofton, with an address at Packham, Sussex, England, was recorded as the owner of over 900 acres in County Longford in the 1870s. Laurence H. Crofton, with an address in Glenageary, Dublin, was recorded as the owner of 400 acres in County Longford in the 1870s. The Croftons of Mohill, also had lands in counties Cavan (parish of Kinawley, barony of Tullyhaw) and Monaghan (parishes of Errigal Trough and Tedavnet). In 1876, Charles Crofton of Dublin was the owner of 1,136 acres in county Monaghan while Charles William and the Reverend Henry Crofton (of Inchinappa) owned 955 acres. Parsons Crofton was the main proprietor in county Cavan but Sir Hugh is also recorded in Griffith’s Valuation. In 1876, Parsons Crofton owned an estate of 2,741 acres in county Cavan.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Mohill Castle Mohill Mohill Mohill Mohill 65 Mohill Leitrim OSI Ref: N089971
OS Sheet: 32
Discovery map: 33 		Photo of Mohill Castle
Lakefield Errew Cloone Mohill Rinn 72 Mohill Leitrim OSI Ref: N112942
OS Sheet: 36
Discovery map: 33
Aghamore House Agahmore Mohill Mohill Roosky 73 Mohill Leitrim OSI Ref: N058863
OS Sheet: 37
Discovery map: 33
Lurga House Lurga Cloone Mohill Mohill 66 Mohill Leitrim OSI Ref: N112964
OS Sheet: 33
Discovery map: 34
Abbey View House Knocknashee Boyle Boyle Boyle Rural 32/Boyle Urban Boyle Roscommon OSI Ref: G803028
OS Sheet: 6
Discovery map: 33 		Photo of Abbey View House

Archival sources

  • A/C book of Rev. Henry Crofton relating to lands at Mohill, 1799-1833. Ms.3879. ; National Library of Ireland
  • Rentals of Sir H. Crofton's estates in Leitrim, Longford & Roscommon, 1833. Ms.4531. ; National Library of Ireland
  • Solicitors' records from office of Longfield, Kelly & Armstrong, extract of will of and grant of probate of Sir Hugh Crofton, 1834. T.2100; National Archives of Ireland
  • Notebook containing list of deeds re Mohill. MS 4529; National Library of Ireland
  • Draft deeds and papers re family settlements concerning lands in counties Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon, 1759. MSS. 20,801. ; National Library of Ireland
  • Longfield, Kelly & Armstrong, Solicitors' Collection includes deeds re the Croftons. Small Accs. Index 47; National Archives of Ireland
  • Manuscript history of Crofton estate. File 300. ; Leitrim County Library
  • Documents, mainly leases, relating to Crofton estate in Mohill. File marked Crofton Papers ; Leitrim County Library
  • The Castle, Mohill. 147/075.; Irish Architectural Archive
  • Crofton Papers, re Crofton & Earbery families & estates in Cos Leitrim, Cavan, Cork, Monaghan & Wicklow. MS 20,773-20,806 & D 26,886-27,010; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy lease for one year of the Manor of Mohill & other lands, Hugh Crofton to Morgan Crofton, his son & heir, 17 Aug 1759. Small Accs. Index 65, D.16215; National Archives of Ireland
  • W.B. Scott, solicitor's collection, this extensive collection includes many deeds & attested copies of documents re the Crofton family of Mohill, 18th & 19th centuries. Small Accs. Index 76; National Archives of Ireland
  • Maps (7) of Crofton estate in Co Monaghan, surveyed by John Bell and others and plan of a house, 1754-1802. 26 I. 21 (1-8); National Library of Ireland
  • Rent roll of the Monaghan and Cavan estates of Hugh Crofton, April 1792. Ms 4530; National Library of Ireland
  • Crofton Papers – surveys, valuation, letters and accounts of the Crofton estates mainly in Cos Monaghan, Cavan and Cork, 1719-84. Ms 20,773-20,806; National Library of Ireland
  • Crofton Papers – deeds and leases relating to the estates of the Crofton family in Cos Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan, 18th and 19th cents. D.26,884-26,956; National Library of Ireland
  • Rentals and accounts of the Crofton estates in Counties Cavan and Monaghan and of the Earberry property later Crofton, Co. Cork, 1769, 1783-1814, 1823-51. Ms 8150; National Library of Ireland
  • Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Crofton, 5 Mar 1861, Vol 61, MRGS 39/031, (microfilm copy in University of Galway Library); National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Crofton, 29 May 1877, Vol 127, MRGS 39/057-58, (microfilm copy in NUIG);; National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources