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My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

William Lindsay

Marriage of William Lindsay and Letitia Blennerhassett, 1811.
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William Lindsay,
bapt 19 Mar 1790,
from Tarbert, Co.Kerry,
his father died Feb 1805, leaving his mother a widow with a young family,
he was immediately given his father's job as a boatman in the Customs and Revenue service at Tarbert,
appointed Mar 1805 [CUST 20/49], age barely 15,
his boss (head of customs) was Letitia's 1st husband Richard Ponsonby,
[Joseph Lindsay, 1897] says William worked under Ponsonby in the Revenue service at Tarbert Island,
William is listed as a boatman, Tarbert, in CUST 20/48 (Salary Books and Establishments - April 1809 to Mar 1810),
listed as a boatman, Tarbert, in CUST 20/49 (Salary Books and Establishments - Establishment Book, 5 Jan 1811),
Ponsonby died Apr 1811, and soon after, in July 1811, William married his widow,
listed as of Tarbert at mar, he was age 21, Letitia was age 31,
mar July 1811, Limerick, to Letitia Blennerhassett [bapt 10th June 1780, descendant of Edward III],
they lived Tarbert, listed as of Tarbert at children's baptisms,
he is listed in 1817 in [Vestry Minutes Book, Kilnaughtin],
he is listed as of Tarbert in 1818 in [Vestry Minutes Book, Kilnaughtin] when he is appointed as a Church Warden for 1818-19,
in [Deed, 1820] he has succeeded his father to the property in Tarbert, and Robert Leslie renews the lease to William Lindsay of Tarbert,
William Lindsay of Tarbert wrote a letter on 23 Jan 1822 to the Chief Secretary for Ireland, reporting a book "which is in private circulation amongst the lower orders of the Roman Catholicks" which predicts "the Prodestants exterminated out of this kingdom before the year 1825",
this book was General History of the Christian Church by "Pastorini" (an English Catholic bishop, died 1797) which predicted the end of Protestantism by 1825,
Letitia's dau Louisa Ponsonby (living with Ponsonby relations) got pregnant outside marriage in 1825,
he is listed in 1828 in [Vestry Minutes Book, Kilnaughtin],
William living Tarbert as at Deeds of 1829,
he is listed at Tarbert in [Kilnaughtin Tithe Book, 4 Aug 1832], he has 1 rood and 29 perches (nearly 1/2 an acre), his mother is also listed,
his mother died Nov 1832,

William lived for a time at Granard, Croom par, S of Adare, Co.Limerick (see map),
Louisa Ponsonby's mar settlement 1833 was witnessed by "William Lindsay of Granard, Co.Limerick, gent.",
William is described as of Adare at dau's death 1834,
William and Letitia are party to [Deed, 1842], in which Thomas Carrique Ponsonby is selling off the Ponsonby estate,
there was an inheritance from the Ponsonby estate inherited by Letitia's daughters by her 1st marriage,
in [Deed, 1842] William is described as of Adare, Co.Limerick,

they later lived back in Tarbert,
William's will dated 5 Jan 1852, from Tarbert,
he is listed in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852] as renting out the old Lindsay properties on Church St, Tarbert,
he is also listed in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852] as landlord of various properties in Chapel St, Tarbert,
he himself in 1852 is occupying a modest house (house numbered 17) in Chapel St (smaller than 3 of the properties he is renting out),
he might have been away living in Adare for some time, renting out his properties in Tarbert, only needed a small house when he came back (children grown up),
also, it may not have been convenient to remove the tenants when he came back, so initially he lived in one of the smaller properties,
he moved to another Chapel St property later, and later still we see his widow living in one of the larger Church St properties,
his will of 1852 leaves his Tarbert properties - the two houses on Church St and the 3 storey building on Chapel St - to his brother Thomas, except Thomas ended up dying before him,
he is listed as "Gentleman" at son's mar 1854,
he did not stay in the house numbered 17 in Chapel St,
[Deed, 1864] says he lived before his death in another of his houses on Chapel St (must be house numbered 10, beside the 3 storey building),
an undated addition to his will leaves the house in which he dwells, together with the furniture, to his wife,
described as "gentleman", of Tarbert, at death [NAI],

he died Tarbert, 16 Apr 1862 [death notice], [NAI], or 15 Apr [grave], or 19 Apr [Lindsay family tree], age 72 yrs,
bur Aghavallen church, near Ballylongford, Co.Kerry,
notes of Rev. T.E. Lindsay say there was an entry in Aghavallen parish register (possibly now lost) which said he was bur 19 Apr,
see death notice in Freemans Journal, Apr 23, 1862,
Letitia continued to live in Tarbert,
[Deed, 1864] says she was then living in one of the Lindsay properties in Church St (would be The White House),
an item in Freemans Journal, Jan 19, 1865, says that a Mr. Sterne (see following) is applying in the Court of Probate to get "James Lindsay" of Tarbert (unidentified) to produce the will of William Lindsay,
admin (with will) of estate of William Lindsay granted 25 Feb 1865 to William Sterne, attorney, of Dublin, "a creditor of the deceased", "effects under £21", no papers survive in [NAI],
see Chancery notice in Co.Kerry newspaper, probably Tralee Chronicle, Dec 1865,

[Hickson, 1897] says about Letitia in Tarbert: "I never saw her but friends of mine knew her very well in 1860-70.",
notes (and here) of Rev. Thomas Enraght Lindsay recall a visit to Tarbert in 1872 when his father took him and his brother to see Letitia (his father's aunt), her son Joseph "did not appear", Letitia "was then 98" [actually 92] "and said she managed her own little property because she could not rely on Joseph then aged about 65!" [actually 57],
as at 1875 Letitia was living in the old Lindsay property, The White House, Church St, Tarbert
the Lindsay buildings in Church St were put up for sale in 1875, subject to the continuing occupation of one of the houses (the White House) by Letitia,
she is described as "gentleman's widow" at death,
she died Tarbert, 29 Oct 1876 [GROI], [NAI], [Lindsay family tree], or 27 Oct [grave], age 96 yrs, of "obstinate constipation",
her age is given as 101 on grave and in [GROI], but this is not true, spelt "Lititia" on grave but not in other records,
see death cert from [GROI],
bur Aghavallen church,
notes of Rev. T.E. Lindsay say there was an entry in Aghavallen parish register (possibly now lost) which said she was bur 31 Oct,
Irish Times, November 4, 1876, notes her recent death and says she was 101,
admin granted at Limerick, 7 Dec 1876, to her son Joseph, "effects under £50", no papers survive in [NAI],
had issue:


  1. William Lindsay,
    after father,
    bapt 20 Dec 1812 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records],
    must have died young (there is another William).


  2. Letitia Lindsay,
    after mother,
    bapt 6 Mar 1814 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records],
    [Joseph Lindsay, 1897] describes her as eldest child,
    described at death as "only daughter" of William Lindsay,
    died unmarried at Granard, nr Adare, Co.Limerick, 22 July 1834, age 20 yrs,
    see Limerick Chronicle, 30 July 1834, [NLI] microfilm, "At Granard, Adare, in this county, in the bloom of life, aged 19 years, to the deep affliction of her sorrowing family and friends, Letitia, only daughter of William Lindsay, Esq. - charitable, amiable, and gentle in her manner, her memory will be long regretted by the poor of that neighbourhood.",
    see Kerry Evening Post, 2 Aug 1834, [NLI] microfilm, lists her as "only daughter",
    did NOT die 1891,
    bur Aghavallen church, near Ballylongford, Co.Kerry, but no inscription,
    notes of Rev. T.E. Lindsay say there was an entry in Aghavallen parish register (possibly now lost) which said she was bur 22 July.


  3. Joseph Lindsay, Joe,
    after grandfather,
    bapt 31 Aug 1815 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records],
    did not marry,
    his father died 1862, he inherited the Lindsay property in Tarbert,
    notes of Rev. Thomas Enraght Lindsay say "A poor specimen. Lived with his mother and sisters and on them" (what sisters?), "No profession or occupation known. Content to be 'a jolly good fellow'",
    John Fitzgerald of Tarbert, attorney, plaintiff, obtained a judgement against Joseph Lindsay of Tarbert, defendant, in Court of Exchequer, 19 May 1864, for a debt of £78 plus costs [Deed, 1864],
    [Deed, 1864], says he is heir of the 3 storey building on Chapel St,
    he registered brother's death 1864, living Tarbert,
    in [Deed, 1865], "Joseph Lindsay of Tarbert" leases out the two Church St houses,
    in [Deed, 1871] he is leasing out the new Church St building to Fitzgibbon the drapers, he is listed as of Tarbert,
    at mother's death 1876 he is listed as "gentleman", of Tarbert [NAI],
    notes of Rev. Thomas Enraght Lindsay say "After her death he [Joseph] was much disappointed that she had left him nothing - Then he had to support himself somehow",
    in [Deed, 1878] (about the lease of the Church St property) he is still described as of Tarbert,
    later he went to Australia, death cert says he went to New South Wales in 1882,
    notes of Rev. Thomas Enraght Lindsay say "he went to Sydney" where his cousin Mary Riley "being well off tried to help him but he could not reform. He ended in some Institution in Liverpool, New South Wales",
    entry in [Foster's Royal Descents, 1886] describes him as then in Australia,
    wrote letter on 12 May 1897 (him age 81) to Rev. Thomas Enraght Lindsay from Liverpool Asylum (Liverpool Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute), Liverpool, Sydney, New South Wales,
    listed as "labourer", unmarried, at death,
    died 21 Sept 1903, in Liverpool Asylum, age 88 yrs [death cert, New South Wales BMD],
    did NOT die in Lismore, New South Wales,
    [death cert] says he was bur 23 Sept 1903, Catholic cemetery, Liverpool (see map) by a Catholic priest, wonder why he had a Catholic burial,
    notes of Rev. Thomas Enraght Lindsay say his cousin Mary Riley "erected a marble tombstone for him",
    however he is not found in Liverpool burials,
    try Australia Cemetery Index,
    there is a Joseph Lindsay, no date, buried in Barham street cemetery, Lismore.


  4. Catherine Lindsay,
    after grandmother,
    bapt 7 Apr 1817 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records],
    might have died young,
    her sister Letitia is described at death 1834 as "only daughter".


  5. Eliza Lindsay,
    bapt 26 April 1818 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records],
    might have died young,
    her sister Letitia is described at death 1834 as "only daughter".
  6. Blennerhassett Lindsay,
    Blennerhassett Goddard Lindsay, Goddard after grandmother,
    bapt 25 Apr 1819 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records].
  7. Mathew Lindsay,
    bapt 20 Jan 1822 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records],
    the parish records have an entry showing "Mathew, John, William, sons of Letitia and William Lindsay", all bapt 20 Jan 1822.
    Are they triplets? Note Letitia age 41 at this point.
    Note that in their step-sister Louisa Ponsonby's mar settlement 1833 she refers to her "favourite stepbrothers ... Joseph Lindsay, Blennerhassett Goddard Lindsay and William Lindsay", which suggests that Mathew and John did not live.
    William was William John. Perhaps there was no John. Perhaps the parish records are in error and there were twins, Mathew and William John.


  8. John Lindsay,
    would be after grandfather,
    Letitia had a previous son John,
    bapt 20 Jan 1822 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records].


  9. William Lindsay,
    William John Lindsay, would be after father and grandfather,
    second William (earlier one must have died young),
    bapt 20 Jan 1822 [Kilnaughtin (Tarbert) Protestant par records],
    he was alive as at his step-sister Louisa Ponsonby's mar settlement 1833,
    (todo) try mar of William Lindsay and Anne Mahony, 1840, Diocese of Cork and Ross [NAI],
    [Deed, 1841] implies that he is alive,
    he died 1847, age 25 yrs (think it is NOT his brother John who died then),
    his father's will 1852 refers to "my late son William John Lindsay".

Signature of William Lindsay in 1818 in [Vestry Minutes Book, Kilnaughtin].



[Hickson, 1897] writes about Letitia in Tarbert.
See full size.



Baptism of William Lindsay, 1812.
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Baptism of Letitia Lindsay, 1814.
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Baptism of Joseph Lindsay, 1815.
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Baptism of Catherine Lindsay, 1817.
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Baptism of Eliza Lindsay, 1818.
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Baptism of Blennerhassett Lindsay, 1819.
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Baptism of "Mathew, John, William, sons of Letitia and William Lindsay", 1822.
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Might be related (Catherine Lindsay who married Brodrick)

Catherine Lindsay above (bapt 7 Apr 1817, family from Tarbert, family grave at Ballylongford)
may be the same as the following Catherine Lindsay (who had a son born 1846, Ballylongford).

Evidence against:

  1. Catherine's sister Letitia Lindsay is repeatedly described at her death in 1834 as "only daughter". This indicates that Catherine (bapt 1817) died young.
  2. The Brodricks are very humble. James Brodrick is a fisherman, and their son is actually illiterate.

It may be nothing but [Deed, 1871] was witnessed by John P. Broderick, solicitor, of Tralee.

Probably not related (George Lindsay, son of a William Lindsay)

The following is interesting.
Could our George Cashel have been born George Lindsay, the child of William Lindsay and Letitia Blennerhassett while she was married to Ponsonby in 1809? And then given up for adoption by a family called Cashel? And not recovered when in 1811 Ponsonby died and William Lindsay and Letitia Blennerhassett married?
Probably not. See the following.

Points in favour:

  1. This William Lindsay is otherwise unidentified.
  2. There is an empty gap for her name before "his wife", which might indicate something strange going on.
  3. It would reduce Letitia's partners from 3 to 2.
  4. It was an unusually late baptism, for those days (age 5 weeks).
  5. Our William Lindsay had a brother George. Maybe named child after him.
  6. George Cashel was pensioned 1st Feb 1867 (perhaps at his birthday).
Points against:
  1. Our William Lindsay was not in the army.
  2. In fact, our William is clearly listed as in the customs service from 1805 to 1811.
  3. This William Lindsay is unidentified because he was probably not from Co.Kerry. He was only temporarily stationed in Tralee, as the baptism record makes clear.
  4. The baptism says "his wife".
  5. The gap for her name was just because her name was never collected, and locals did not know the family (because they were not from Co.Kerry).
  6. Our William Lindsay would probably be too young to be a staff sergeant in Feb 1809 (only age 18).
  7. How does George end up with surname Cashel? How does George end up Catholic?
  8. George Cashel was "George Blennerhassett" not "George Patrick".
  9. The date of [Deed, 1806] matches an 1807 birth better than an 1809 birth.
  10. If George born 1809, why say he was 21 when joining the police in 1828? (You did not have to be 21.)
  11. George Cashel perhaps more likely to retire with pension at age 60 rather than at age 58.

Was George Cashel Protestant until marriage?
If George was the child of Protestant Lindsay and Protestant Blennerhassett, he would hardly be given up for adoption by Catholic Cashel.
But maybe George Cashel was Protestant, and only became Catholic at marriage in 1838?
In that case, Protestant Lindsay could be his father and he could be adopted by Protestant Cashel.
Or Protestant Cashel could be his father.

Baptism of George Patrick Lindsay, 1809.
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The original in [RCB] is quite legible, and clearly shows a gap before "his wife".

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