Sunday 25 June 2017

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Esmonde baronets

The Esmonde Baronetcy, of Ballynastragh in the County of Wexford, is a title in the Baronetage of Ireland. It was created on 28 January 1629 for Thomas Esmonde. He raised a cavalry regiment for Charles I and commanded a regiment during the Siege of La Rochelle. Esmonde was the son of Sir Laurence Esmonde, who had abandoned the Roman Catholic faith during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Esmonde in 1632. Lord Esmonde married firstly a Roman Catholic wife of the O'Flaherty family, and they had a son, Thomas, the first Baronet. She feared that the boy would be raised a Protestant and ran away with him, raising him as a strict Roman Catholic. As Thomas's father would not admit his legitimacy, (even though his father had no son by his second marriage) he was not allowed to succeed to the barony, which became extinct on his father's death in 1646. He did however gain possession of the family estates in County Wexford.

Several of the later baronets enjoyed distinguished political careers. The ninth and tenth Baronets represented Wexford and County Waterford respectively in the House of Commons, the ninth additionally serving as High Sheriff of Wexford in 1840. The eleventh Baronet was also a Member of Parliament as well as a Senator of the Irish Free State. The twelfth Baronet was Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Wexford from 1923 to 1936. The fourteenth Baronet was Member of Parliament for Tipperary North from 1915 to 1918 and Fine Gael TD for Wexford from 1937 to 1944 and from 1948 to 1951. The fifteenth Baronet was Fine Gael TD for Wexford from 1951 to 1973. The sixteenth Baronet was a Judge and Fine Gael TD for Wexford from 1973 to 1977. John Joseph Esmonde, father of the fourteenth and fifteenth Baronets, was also a politician. Two of his sons from his second marriage also gained prominence. John Witham Esmonde (1907–1983) was a Captain in the Royal Navy while Eugene Esmonde was a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm and recipient of the Victoria Cross.

The family seat is Ballynastragh, Gorey, County Wexford.

Esmonde baronets, of Ballynastragh (1629)




An interesting  account  of David Esmonde, he was living in the late 14th century he was investigating on behalf of the King probably Richard II the activities of the Abbot of Dunbrody, activities including extortion. This led to conflict with the monastery, and Esmonde being assaulted, imprisoned and his letter of commission torn up.

It is probable that this Norman family arrived in Wexford in the 12th century, that Geoffrey de Estmont came with Robert FitzStephen as one of 30 knights landing at Bannow 1169, it has been asserted that the connections with Ireland were already strong, the daughter of Sir John Esmonde, Eva was married to the Portrieve of Bristol, Robert FitzHarding, this family were close to Diarmait Mac Murchada, did Diarmut call his daughter Aoife after Eva? (Kavanagh 1994)

The Colclough connection, the ubiquitous Burkes pedigree has James Esmonde (lived c 1520) marrying Isabel daughter of Thomas Rossiter of Rathmacknee Castle, eldest son of this union was Lawrence, he married Eleanor whose father was Walter Walsh of the Mountain (Co Kilkenny), their son and heir was William Esmonde of Johnstown, he married Margaret Furlong of Horetown, seven sons and four daughters were the results of this, the youngest of these sons was Patrick his daughter Katherine married Dudley Colclough of the Duffrey. This Sir Dudley  Colclough of Monart Co. Wexford, Knight, born 1613. He was seized of Monart and the Duffrie Estate in 1641, and having become a Roman Catholic, and taken the oath of the Confederation, he was in consequence of his activity in the Royal cause deprived of his estates by Cromwell and ordered to transplant to Connaught. He made his escape however to France (in a woman’s dress) where he remained in attendance on the young King Charles II till the Restoration, when he recovered the greater portion of his estates, chiefly through the interference of the Queen mother, (herself a Roman Catholic and a personal friend). Beauchamp as ever liking the royal connections! JC

Of further interest, and perhaps resulting in the above marriage, back to the Esmonde lineage, Patrick (father of Katherine) had elder brothers of which Robert was the eldest, followed by Lawrence. This Lawrence chose the ‘new religion’ in the reign of Elizabeth I to the benefit his future, gave up ancestral belief and became Major General of all the King’s forces in Ireland, and a knight. He fought the Kavanaghs and the O’Byrnes, claimed he had brought them to their knees. As well as a Major General, Knight and warrior he was a bigamist being married at the same time to Murrought Doe O’Flaherty (daughter of Grace O’Malley!), and Elizabeth Butler.  With all this he was still able to build a castle in Clonegal in present day Co. Carlow, he called this Huntingdon Castle after the place his family originated in England. This castle was then occupied as a military station after Sir Lawrence’s death by Dudley Colclough from 1649 to 1674, taking over from his wife’s uncle.

Further to this union of Dudley and Katherine was a substantial increase in Dudley’s land holdings, Kathrine’s pedigree made her one of three co-heirs of Patrick Esmonde, and provided Dudley with lands in northern Scarawalsh (Co. Wexford). (Whelan 2001)

References

Kavanagh, A, 1994. The Wexford gentry. First. Irish Family Names.

Whelan, K, 2001. Wexford History and Society. 1st ed. Dublin: Geography Publications.

 Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy/Inis Córthaidh, Inis an island or in inland terms a kind of water meadow, Córthaidh is more difficult there seems to be nothing definite but rocks or rocky island seems possible.  Every trip I’ve made from the south east corner to the north west tip has zig zagged through Enniscorthy. I like Enniscorthy it bustles and busies on the Slaney. From the map and even more in a car, it’s a convoluted crossroads, the N11 Rosslare Dublin scuttles in from the south and races away north once sucked into the town,  the N30 from New Ross  wanders in from the  south west, R744 darts from the eastern countryside, R702 flows down from Kiltealy and the mountains in the west. The situation on the river Slaney is a stunner, the Slaney is a river of some beauty, it is easy to see why this place is an ancient settlement, it appears easily reached from the sea, surely a boon in pre roadway days of the first peoples with research providing evidence of settlement up to 5000BC. The Normans of course built a big stone castle there as of course they would. Enniscorthy had a major involvement with then1798 rebellion, Vinegar Hill almost insulting translated from the native Cnoc Fhiodh na gCaor in Irish or hill of the berry-tree in the English, overlooks Enniscorthy this was the rebel headquarters they who controlled County Wexford for thirty days against vastly superior forces, before their defeat on 21 June.
The Colclough family connection with Enniscorthy is strong. Dudley was MP 1689.
In Enniscorthy Church Vestry Minutes Book in 1834, Caesar Colclough who was owner of portion of the Rectorial tithe, who evidently had a front seat in the Church (pew number 8), was requested “to lower the seat which has been raised above the level in the Chancel, as the clergy and congregation are greatly inconvenienced by its elevation”.
Transfer of Corporation of Enniscorthy, 1766.
Heads of an agreement made by and between Vesey Colclough of Tintern in the County of Wexford Esq., of the one part, and Adam Colclough, eldest (surviving) son of Caesar Colclough late of Duffry Hall, Esq., deceased of the other part. First it is fully agreed and concluded upon, by and between the parties aforesaid, that the said Adam Colclough shall surrender his Burgiship in the Corporation of Enniscorthy, and all other the Burgisses of said Corporation under his influence, unto the said Vesey Colclough, his heirs or assigns that is to say, the Rev. Thomas Colclough, brother of said Adam, Richard Colclough, also brother of said Adam, and Caesar Colclough, eldest son of said Adam, and Michael Byrne of the City of Dublin Esq., if they should be required so to do, by said Vesey Colclough, and that the said Vesey Colclough shall have free power and authority, as soon as he pleases to appoint any other Burgesses in their place and stand to serve as Burgisses in said Corporation. Secondly, and on the conditions above mentioned, and on the said Vesey Colclough being put into the quiet and peaceable possession by said Adam Colclough of said Burrough of Enniscorthy, and being duly and properly elected Portrive of said Corporation, the said Vesey Colclough his heirs, executors administrators or assigns, shall pay or cause to be paid unto the said Adam Colclough, his heirs, executors, or assigns, the just and lawful sum of three thousand pounds sterling. And in case of a Dissolution of the Irish Parliament during the sitting of their session of Parliament, the said Vesey Colclough shall pay or cause to be paid unto the said Adam Colclough, the further sum of Five Hundred Pounds Sterling, and no more, as a further compensation for the said Burrough. In Witness whereof, the parties aforesaid have hereunto by the approbation of the Burgisses, who have subscribed as witnesses hereto, put their hands and Seals this 29th day of May 1766. 
Signed and Sealed in the presence of us burgisses. Vesey Colclough. Adam Colclough, B. Thomas, Henry Colclough, John Jervis White, John Hatton, Thomas Colclough, Richard Colclough.
Below a selection of correspondence relating to Enniscorthy.
20 October 1792                       
Caesar Colclough, Paris, to John Colclough Wexford, referring to a Wexford county meeting and discussing his need of money and news, the affairs of (Enniscorthy) borough and the war.
‘... as my father has promised to make you a burgess, you must get him to write to C Sutton to, or rather have the resignation ready, and a little money will easily get the rest done.  If he accedes, as you say, to my proposal, all things will go peaceably otherwise we shall have the same ground as last time to go over again, though we shall now have whores and rogues to oppose us. I intend to hold out the idea to my father of not going at all to Ireland, if he makes you a burgess, but necessity of it otherwise. Furlong can be had at any time, and he is rascal enough to betray his maker for a greater sum whenever we want him...

The next meeting of a parliament will, I think, in both kingdoms be the last; for the question of reform will be so strongly agitated the nincompoop will run restive and Billy (Pitt) be no longer able to hold the reins. Overstreet will give you some idea of politics and if you wish economy, for he is in that a prodigy. He will also tell you the misrepresented situation of Paris, which though heard of in England and afterwards in Ireland, is not known in either.
30 October 1797 
Caesar Colclough, Neufchatel, to John Colclough, Tintern, Fethard,  apparently about the sale of the seats for Enniscorthy.
‘... I have nothing particular to recommend to you in this, but a particular care of the securities, etc, of those whom you mention, and particularly the latter, whose property in nearly exhausted from the paralytic movement of elbows; and I would even wish a smaller sum and sure, than the best prospect of a larger on any security whatsoever... ‘  He refers to the signing of peace between France and the Empire.
Wexford Rebellion 1798.       
John to Caesar.  Dated Fishguard June 15th 1798.
My dear Caesar,    Dreadful and horrid events have happened in the County Wexford since I wrote to you last. I went to Dublin about the middle of last month about Dunmain.  A few days after my arrival Martial Law was proclaimed, and tho’ every thing was perfectly quite, it was very unpleasant as there was no kind of business doing, and all persons should be in their houses by 9 o’clock. I therefore determined to return to the country, which I conceived to be quiet. Accordingly on Saturday evening the 26th I set sail in a Wexford Sloop for that town where I arrived on Monday morning, and found all there in utmost consternation. A party of insurgents to the amount of at least 4000 had assembled near our land; on Saturday night a party of the North Cork Militia amounting to 110 marched out against them. They fired two rounds when the insurgents began to give way, but the Officer most imprudently ordered his men to charge, the other party rallied and received the soldiers on their pikes which being two or three feet longer than the bayonets they killed every one of the party except four. (I should have told you my mother was in Dublin).  The drawbridge was now the only protection of Wexford, for there was no more military there, or indeed in the county, except Yeomanry  Corps which were so scattered up and down, that they could affect nothing. The insurgents proceeded to Enniscorthy having first destroyed all the county between Wexford and Gorey (The latter was taken by another party). They proceeded burning the houses and murdering the families of all that did not join them, till they came to Enniscorthy which after a gallant defence by about 220 Yeomen and Militia, they took the place and burned it to the ground. This happened on Monday. On Wednesday morning 2 Howitzers that were going from Duncannon to Wexford were surrounded at the mountain of Forth and taken and all the party, about 60, cut to pieces.  There was a party of the Army amounting to about 500 on their way from Waterford, but on their hearing of this last business they retreated to Duncannon. 

The whole county was now at their mercy, and Tom Mc Cord and I, and all the Protestants retreated into it also, not that I was a bit afraid of our own people for there was nothing they dreaded as much as being forced through dire necessity to join the insurgents, but Lord Ely’s estate, and Lord Donegal’s, and in short all the surrounding county was rising and as they must pass through Tintern, they would force every single male inhabitant along with them, or murder them and their families. The Army could afford them no protection for they were afraid to stir out of the Fort, so that any thing so dangerous as Duncannon was, cannot be conceived, for if they went to Duncannon, they must starve, and their families that they left behind would be murdered, and if they remained in their houses they would be carried off by the United men, so that their destruction was and is inevitable. On the retreat of the Army, all persons except those belonging to it were obliged to quit the Fort, so on Thursday Tom McCord and family and I sailed in his Sloop and arrived here on the Saturday following. When we left Ireland, we were sure Ross would have fallen, but since that there was a considerable force marched into it, so as to be able on the Tuesday following to repel an attack of the insurgents, with the loss of at least 5000 of them, tho’ many of our acquaintances have been killed, our relations have all escaped except poor Watson who was killed, (shot by a rebel sniper) and my Uncle Cornelius who is a prisoner in his own house.  I forgot to tell you that the day the Howitzers were taken Wexford was evacuated by the Army, and of course fell into the hands of the United men. I think it probable that there will soon be an end put to this business, and that we may soon return. I shall be able to send you £100 or £150, as I had 100 sacks of flour on board, for the Sloop was laden for Dublin. I was so sick that I was two or three days before I recovered, and I waited for some important news before I wrote. I am at Fishguard. Direct to me, care of W. Sutton, Haverford West, We have probably lost three or four of the Burgesses since I wrote. My Uncle Tom has been killed.
 à Monsieur Colclough, Post Restante, Ulm.
29 June 1802 
John Colclough, Dublin, to Caesar Colclough, Lyons France,  about the villainy of Jemmy Simon, who has been embezzling their money and trying to blacken John Colclough in Caesar Colclough’s eyes … “My mother and and all friends are well. Lord Lismore wants to sell the Corporation of Enniscorthy. He asks £500, probably he would take £400, to be sure it is now but a feather, but I think you ought to buy it, on some occasion or another it might be of weight. If you go to Bordeaux enquire for a Mr. Casey, and you will hear of Mary Colclough and her husband (Fitzhenry).”  
I am dear Caesar, yours ever, J. Colclough.                            
à Monsieur Colclough à Lyon, France.

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