Fair (Fortville)
In 1788 Robert Fair of Ballyjennings, parish of Kilmainemore, county Mayo, was leasing lands from a number of landlords including the farm of Toocananagh, near the village of Bohola, barony of Gallen, from Denis Daly; Ballyjennings and adjacent lands from Christopher Bowen of Hollymount and Ellistronbeg or Fortville from the Brownes of Glencorrib. He also had a share in a lease of the lands of Island, parish of Bekan, barony of Costello, from Francis Knox of Rappa. By 1809 he was able to buy the lands of Creggagh near Foxford from James Daly of Dunsandle, county Galway. It is likely that the Elizabeth Fair, who married Thomas Ruttledge of Bloomfield and Bushfield, was his sister. Two of his sons, John of Creggagh and Robert of Bushfield, married daughters of David Ruttledge of Tawnaghmore, parish of Kilbelfad, barony of Tirawley. Robert died in 1837 and left all his freehold property to his third son, Thomas of Fortville and later of Millmount, county Galway. His second son, Robert Fair of Carravilla and Bushfield, prospered and by the time of Griffith's Valuation had land in the parishes of Kilcommon, Kilmainemore and Robeen, barony of Kilmaine, Crossboyne and Mayo, barony of Clanmorris, county Mayo and barony of Ross, county Galway. He purchased in the Encumbered Estates' Court, parts of the estates of the Dillon-Brownes of Glencorrib, Marquess of Sligo, Henry Martin Blake of The Heath and Lord Oranmore and Browne. He had an only daughter, Jane, who married Thomas Ruttledge of Bloomfield. In 1876 Mrs Ruttledge Fair owned 2765 acres in county Mayo and 2799 acres in county Galway. Most of the Fair's estate was vested in the Congested Districts' Board on 29 May 1913.
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushfield | Bushfield | Kilcommon | Ballinrobe | Kilcommon 38 | Kilmaine | Mayo |
OSI Ref: M294 659
OS Sheet: 119 Discovery map: 38 |
|
| Fortville | Ellistronbeg | Kilmainemore | Ballinrobe | Kilmaine 24 | Kilmaine | Mayo |
OSI Ref: M257 612
OS Sheet: 118 Discovery map: 38 |
|
| Carravilla | Caheravoostia | Kilcommon | Ballinrobe | Kilcommon 38 | Kilmaine | Mayo |
OSI Ref: M265 637
OS Sheet: 118 Discovery map: 38 |
|
| Creggagh | Creggagh | Toomore | Swineford | Toomore 104 | Gallen | Mayo |
OSI Ref: G288 054
OS Sheet: 49 Discovery map: 31 |
|
| Millmount House | Gortnamacken | Kilchreest | Loughrea | Killogilleen 132 | Dunkellin | Galway |
OSI Ref: M573148
OS Sheet: 105 Discovery map: 52 |
|
Archival sources
- Will of Robert Fair, 5 June 1837. Thrift Abstracts 2028; National Archives of Ireland
- Sale of Creggagh, Daly to Fair, 1809. 609.220.421159; Registry of Deeds
- Copy of grant of arms to Jane wife of Thomas Ruttledge of Cornfield, Hollymount, on her assuming name and arms of Ruttledge Fair, 26 Oct 1857. GO MS 108, 193-194; National Library of Ireland
- Copy of royal licence to Jane Ruttledge nee Fair, wife of Thomas Ruttledge of Cornfield, Co Mayo to use the surname Fair in addition to Ruttledge, 28 Aug 1857. GO MS 152, 280-282; National Library of Ireland
- Westport Estate Papers, rental of the estate of Major R Ruttledge Fair deceased for the year ending Nov 1919. MS 41,078/3; National Library of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol II, 67 (Bushfield/Knox), 67 &171 (Fortville)
- ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Mayo: Vol IV, 59 (Bushfield) & Vol V, 169 (Fortville)
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Ballinrobe Union, 99 (Bushfield)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 308
- 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] : 151
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 188 (Fortville)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''24th Annual Report of the Congested Districts' Board for Ireland'', [Cd 8356], HC 1916, vi, 564-586. Appendix VIII: 52
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Loughrea Union, 31 (Millmount)