Landed Estates
University of Galway

Bell/Gonne Bell

In the mid 17th century the Bells were granted the lands of Streamstown, parish of Kilcolman, barony of Clanmorris, county Mayo, for their support of the Royalist cause. A deed of 1716 records three branches of the family located at Streamstown and at Purrauns and Garreens, both in the parish of Kilcommon, barony of Kilmaine. Some of the Bell estate in the barony of Clanmorris was purchased from Lyndon Bell by the Marquess of Sligo in 1766 to provide for his younger sons. In 1768 Edward Bell married Mary Gonne and inherited the Gonne property in county Mayo. Henry Gonne had been given a lease of Brookhill and other lands by the Archbishop of Tuam, dated 30 June 1703. The Gonne Bells were living in Farmhill in the 1830s and Griffith's Valuation records them holding 13 townlands in the parish of Kilcolman and three townlands in the parish of Crossboyne. In 1847 Colonel Arthur Gonne Bell married Mary Martin, heiress to the vast Martin estates in county Galway. In 1876 the estate amounted to 1636 acres in county Mayo.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Streamstown Streamstown Kilcolman Claremorris Claremorris 88 Costello Mayo OSI Ref: M325 762
OS Sheet: 101
Discovery map: 39
Farmhill/Carradoyne Farmhill Crossboyne Claremorris Garrymore 79 Clanmorris Mayo OSI Ref: M325 724
OS Sheet: 111
Discovery map: 39 		Photo of Farmhill/Carradoyne

Archival sources

  • Westport Estate Papers, Collection List 78; National Library of Ireland
  • Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Gonne Bell, 23 June 1859, Vol 56, MRGS 39/028, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • 18.33.8256; Registry of Deeds
  • Harvey of Duffcarrig Papers, contact Pádraig G. Lane, Co. Cork; Private Possession
  • Copy of grant of arms to Arthur Gonne Bell of Brook Lodge, Co Mayo and his wife to be Mary Letitia Martin, on their assuming name and arms of Martin, 8 Oct 1847. GO MS 107, 374-375; National Library of Ireland
  • Westport Estate Papers, rental of the estate of Arthur D. Bell 1884-5. MS 41,078/2; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of Royal Licence to Arthur Goone Bell and Mary Letitia Martin, allowing them to take the name and bear the arms of Martin, 15 Sept 1847. GO MS 152, 55-57; National Library of Ireland
  • Encumbered Estate Court Rentals. Arthur Gonne Bell. 1852. ; Galway County Library
  • Crown and Peace Records, Register of Trees, Co Mayo 1775-1919. ID/51/62, p.131; National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources