My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Capt. Robert Blennerhassett, of Castle Conway

• References:
  • Blennerhassett of Killorglin, etc. by Bill Jehan

Tomb of Avice Conway.
This is part of an 18th century reading of the now-vanished tomb at Castle Conway.
"Here also lies Avice, mother of said John [Blennerhassett], who was drowned at sea in April 1683." (1663 is an error.)
From p.148 of [Smith, 1756].

Capt. Robert Blennerhassett (see here),
of Castle Conway, born est c.1622.
Descendant of Edward III.
Captain in Cromwellian army (1649-53) in Irish Confederate Wars.
He mar perhaps around 1660 to Avice Conway [poss. descendant of Edward III].
She was co-heiress of Castle Conway, Killorglin, Co.Kerry, which now passed into the Blennerhassett family.
He was MP for Tralee 1674 (NOT 1634).
High Sheriff of Co.Kerry 4 Jan 1682 - 23 Nov 1682 [O'Kief, vol.6].
The old Castle Conway was a ruin as at 1682.
Avice drowned at sea in April 1683. NOT 1663.
The original Ms of "Black Jack's Book", written by her son, has her tomb inscription and clearly shows she died April 1683.
She was bur in the chapel at Castle Conway. See her now-vanished tomb at Castle Conway.
Capt. Robert and Avice had issue:

1. John Blennerhassett, "Black Jack",
   born 1665, Co.Kerry,
   of Castle Conway.

   
   

2. Conway Blennerhassett.

   
   

3. Thomas Blennerhassett,
   born est c.1670.

   
   

4. Henry Blennerhassett,
   of Annaghgarry, Co.Kerry,
   also called Henry of Gortmasherry,
   born est c.1675.

1. Catherine Blennerhassett,
   mar Richard McLoughlin
   and had issue:
   1. Avice McLoughlin,
      mar c.1704 to John Mason,
      see MASON in [King],
      had issue:
      1. James Mason,
         had issue:
         1. Elizabeth Mason, mar 1760 to Dr. Robert Emmet and had issue.

         2. John Mason, mar Jane Hurly.

   
   

2. Avice Blennerhassett.
   She mar Thomas Spring and had issue.

3. Alice Blennerhassett.
   She mar Walter Spring and had issue.

   
   

4. Lucy Blennerhassett,
   mar Jean Plaguavan and had issue:
   1. Jane Plaguavan,
      mar John Poujade and had issue:
      1. Mary Poujade, mar Henry Blennerhassett and had issue.

   
   

5. Anne Blennerhassett.
   She mar 1701 to Dennis Hurly and had issue.

The original of "Black Jack's Book" (c.1737) clearly shows his mother died April 1683. He was only age 18.
This is p.38 of MS 7937.

Robert Blennerhassett in "Black Jack's Book" (c.1737).
This is p.15 of MS 7937.

Transcript of the previous. From p.42 of [Hickson, 1872].

Gerald O'Carroll points out this snippet about the Cromwellian war (1649-53).
This is from a long item by John T. O'Flaherty in the Tralee Chronicle, 4 April 1846, p.3.
"In that ferocious service ... Captain Blennerhassett ... [a] benevolent and high-minded individual had, so far as he could have gone, rescued the lives of hundreds of innocent persons from torture and death. ... When O'Sullivan More, of Dunkerron Castle, had been betrayed, handed over to Nelson, and summarily put to death, Blennerhassett, on receiving the intelligence, exclaimed, with tears, "Alas for that brave and generous Irishman, who had always given quarter to my men!""
"Governor Nelson" is John Nelson, the ruthless Cromwellian Governor of Kerry and Desmond from 1652 to 1658.
Gerald O'Carroll says "Captain Blennerhassett" is the Cromwellian Capt. Robert Blennerhassett.
Which O'Sullivan More was killed is not clear.

The remaining ruined wall of Castle Conway, Killorglin, Co.Kerry.
Now in a beer garden.