Introduction
The McMahons of Clonina were descended from the McMahons
of Cnoc a' Locha (Knockalough) in the parish of Kilmihil who were one
of the main
branches of the McMahons, Lords of East Corcabascinn, who in turn were
descended from Brian Ború, High King of Ireland.1 Mahone O'Brien
d 1129, fourth in descent from Brian Ború, conquered the south
west of the present county of Clare, displacing the O'Donnells as lords
of the territory known as Corca Baiscinn. Mahone's descendants became
known as MacMahons. In 1488 their territory was divided into two parts,
East Corca Baiscinn and West Corca Baiscinn, the former being coterminous
with the Barony of Clonderalaw. The history of this family is in many
ways typical of the families of the old Gaelic aristocracy in Ireland
who conquered a territory in medieval times and held it until they were
overwhelmed by the power of the English Tudor monarchs and were forced
to seek an accomodation with Henry VI11 and his successors. Thereafter
families such as the McMahons who refused to conform to the new Protestant
religion spent the next century and a half fighting a rearguard action
to save what they could of their patrimonies until most of them lost
everything following the capitulation of the Irish army of King James
at Limerick in 1691.
Image
1: The McMahons of Clonina.
Pedigree constructed by Martin Breen. Sources: RW Twigge, Mss from the British
Library & elsewhere
The McMahons of Cnoc a' Locha
In 'The History & Topography of the County of Clare', James Frost
gives a genealogy of the McMahons of Knockalocha in the barony of Clonderalaw
based on the Annals of the Four Masters which lists four generations.
It begins with Thomas who had a son Mahone, who in turn had a son Conor
who married Bridget, daughter of Darius MacBrody of Knockanalban (Mountscot)
who were the parents of Murtagh Cam (Mór) who died in 1599, and
his brother John. Conor had a brother Thomas who was living with the
Earl of Arundel in England. When John was aged 10, his uncle Thomas invited
him to join him in England. John later went to Rome where he was ordained
a Jesuit, and when he returned to England was hanged, drawn and quartered
in 15942.
The noted antiquarian and scholar RW Twigge compiled a pedigree of the
McMahons of Corca Baiscinn going back to Brian Ború in which he refers to Murtagh
Cam as Muirchertach Cam Mór. Seán Ó hÓgáin
has a detailed genealogy of these McMahons in his 1938 book 'Conntae an Chláir:
a triocha agus a tuatha'.
An Inquisition taken at Ennis on 3rd April 1626 found that Murtagh Cam (Mór)
was owner of Sheeaun, Knockbrack, and Lack; that he devised these lands in
trust to Scanlon MacGorman and Mahone MacMahon by a Deed dated 10th August,
1585, for the use of his son, Thomas MacMahon, then of full age3.
An Inquisition taken at Ennis on 18th April 1630 found that Thomas, son of
Murtagh (Cam Mór) MacMahon, being owner of Sheen and Knockbrack, demised
same, in 1611, to Teige Roe MacMahon and Conor Roe MacMahon, of Mooghaun, in
trust for his own use, with remainder to his son Murtagh; finds that the same
Thomas, being owner of Knockalough and Knockmore, conveyed these, by Deed of
1621, to his son Murtagh, in trust for the use of himself, of his son, and
of his son’s wife More, and of their descendants. Twigge refers to Murtagh,
son of Thomas, as Muirchertagh Cam Óg.
Knockalough was held in 1641 by Murtagh MacMahon, John MacNamara and John O’Gillahinane,
from whom it was confiscated in 1652, as were most of the McMahon's ancestral
lands4. Most of these lands were
allocated to English Cromwellian adventurers and to displaced innocent Papists.
These lands were sold in 1676 and some were
acquired by Daniel O'Brien of Carrigaholt, 3rd Viscount Clare.
It seems that Murtagh who held Knockalough in 1641 was the Murtagh of the 1621
Deed (Muirchertach Cam Óg), whose wife was More (Máire), and
who was son of Thomas and grandson of Muirchertach Cam Mór. According
to Twigge, Muirchertach Cam Óg had a son Thomas who was slain while
participating in the siege of Bunratty Castle by the Confederate forces in
1642. This Thomas left a son Mortogh, then a young child. By 1659 this Mortogh
McMahon together with Dermot Considine was in occupation of Ballynagun as tenants
of Lord Clare5. At that time
Ballynagun had thirty nine occupants, all of whom were Catholics.
In 1641 Kiltumper was held by Brian McMahon Esq, Murtagh
McMahon and Thomas McMahon.
In the same parish of Kilmihil, Brian and Murtagh McMahon
the elder held the townlands of Ballyduneen & Corraige, while Murtagh
McMahon held Sheeaun. Donough, son of Brian McMahon held Aghaga6.
Murtagh McMahon the younger, John McNamara and Thomas O'Cloghessy were
the three
occupants of Lissanair alias Derrycrossane7.
Brian McMahon Esq and Brian McMahon Gent, presumably father and son,
held Lack.
According to Mrs Morgan John O'Connell, more than a century afterwards
Mortogh McMahon of Clonina commissioned a local scholar named Considine
to produce
a genealogy of his family8. Considine
went to Peter O'Connell, a local hedge school teacher who was a well known
scholar and scribe. It seems that O'Connell
got the necessary information from the papers of Hugh MacCurtin (who died in
1755) and whose family had been the hereditary historians of Thomond. O'Connell
presented his findings to Mortogh saying casually that it contained 'all the
fathers since Brian Ború but only the mothers since one Brian McMahon
who was grandfather to Murtagh's ancestor of Cromwellian times'.
This implies that Muirchertach Cam Óg was succeeded by Brian. If so,
this must be the Brian Esq who in 1641 held Kiltumper jointly with Thomas and
Murtagh McMahon, presumably Brian's sons. However it seems likely that Twigge's
version is more accurate than Considine's.
On 4th March 1689 Mortaugh McMahon of Ballynagon Gent
was on a list of the members of a Special Jury summoned by Sir Donough
O'Bryen Bart,
High Sheriff, on a trial Nisi Prius of Colonel Garrett Moore9.
In 1689 Murtagh McMahon of Knockalocha was appointed an Ensign in Col Charles
O'Brien's Regiment of Infantry in the Irish Jacobite Army. The description
'of Knockalocha' seems to refer to Murtagh's ancestry rather than his then
place of residence as the McMahons had not held Knockalough since 1652. By
the time of the capitulation of the Irish Jacobite army at Limerick in 1691
Murtagh had been promoted to Captain.
The Chicester House List of Claims in 1700 lists Mortagh McMahon as a Claimant
by Deed dated 17th September 1686 re the Town and Lands of Ballynagon, Barony
of Moyarta. In another Petition in 1700, Murtagh M‘Mahon of Ballinagun,
Gent, said that in 1668, Lord Clare demised to him the lands of Knockmore,
alias Kiltinnins, alias Kiltumper, for the lives of the petitioner ... and
of More his wife10. The Petitioner
described himself as within the Articles of Limerick, and in that character
claimed the residue of the term of his lease11.
Article 1 of the Treaty of Limerick stated that the "The Roman Catholics
of this kingdom shall enjoy such privileges in the exercise of their religion
as are consistent with the laws of Ireland, or as they did enjoy in the reign
of king Charles the second: and their majesties, ... will endeavour to procure
the said Roman Catholics such farther security in that particular, as may
preserve them from any disturbance upon the account of their said religion". Article
2 of the Treaty stated that "all the commissioned officers in their
majesties' quarters that belong to the Irish regiments now in being ... and
who shall
return and submit to their majesties' obedience ... shall hold, possess,
and enjoy all and every their estates of freehold and inheritance, and all
the
rights, titles and interests, privileges and immunities, which they ... held,
enjoyed ... in the reign of king Charles II ... and shall be put in possession,
by order of the government, of such of them as are in the king's hands, or
the hands of his tenants ... provided also, that no person whatsoever shall
have or enjoy the benefit of this article, that shall neglect or refuse to
take the oath of allegiance ... when thereunto required."
It thus seems that Mortogh took the oath of allegiance to William and Mary
to prevent the confiscation of the lands which he held prior to 1688. This
also entitled him to carry a sword, a gun and a case of pistols12.
In 1704 Murtagh McMahon of Ballynagon was surety for Fr Gilbert Brody, Parish
Priest of Kilmacduane and Kilmihil. Charles, Thomas and Dennis, the sons
of Mortagh McMahon of Ballynagon were named as lives in the lease of the
lands
of Cloninagh in the Abstract of Lands disposed of to John Craven in 1704
by Henry, Earl of Thomond.
Image
2: Knocklough Castle Ruin. Photo courtesy of Martin Breen
The Move to Clonina13
Mortagh McMahon and his family moved from Ballynagun to Clonina in
1705 as shown by the following deed which is preserved in the Studdert
Papers in the National Library of Ireland, Ms. 20,63:
'This Indenture made the fourth and twentieth day of Augt in the year
of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and eight ... between Cornelius
Gillereagh
of Decamade in the County of Clare gent of the one part and Capt Mortogh McMahon
of Cluoninagh in the County of Clare aforesd of the other part14. Witnesseth
that whereas the right honourable the Lady Henrietta O'Brien now Countess of
Bindon by a deed indented bearing date the fourteenth day of August in the
year of our Lord God seventeen hundred and seven ... did demise and sett unto
the sd Cornelius Gillereagh his heirs exors admors & assigns the farm and
lands of Cluoninagh aforesd containing by estimation 1254 acres of land be
the same more or less ... for the term of ninety and nine years ... to commence
from the twenty fifth day of March ... seventeen hundred and five subject to
the rents ... now in this Indenture Witnesseth that the sd Cornelius Gillereagh
for several causes and considerations ... doth demise grant and to farme lett
unto ye sd Mortogh McMahon all that and those the farme and lands of Cluoninagh
aforesaid ... to have and to hold all and singularly ye sd premises with their
appurtenances to ye sd Mortogh McMahon his exors & admors from the twenty
fifth day of March in ye year seventeen hundred and five aforesd for and during & unto
the full end and term of thirty one years from thence next entering ... if
Charles Dennis & Thomas McMahon, sons of the sd Mortogh McMahon shall for
long live he the sd Mortogh McMahon his exors admors & assigns ... and
paying these ... yearly during ye sd terme to Cornelius Gillereagh ... and
by ye said deed are reserved and made payable unto the yearly Rent of sixty
nine pounds together with six pence a pound for soe much of ... rent as shall
be payable'.
Mortogh McMahon died at Clonina in 171115. If he was the infant son of Thomas
who was slain at Bunratty in 1642, he must have been aged at least 70 years
when he died, and if so was aged at least 48 when he joined the army of King
James in 1689. Mortogh seems to have married relatively late in life, almost
certainly for the second time as we know from the Petition of 1700 that he
was already married in 1668. We also know from a later deed that his eldest
son Thomas was a minor in 1711 but had attained his majority by 1713, so
was born in 1691 or 1692. Mortogh had three other sons after Thomas, ie Dennis,
Mortogh junior and Charles. We know little of the latter and the last mention
of him in any deeds concerning the family is in 1728. Twigge refers to Charles
as Cormac and says that in 1729 he was a Lieutenant in Tracy's (sic) Regiment
in Spain. There was never a regiment known as Tracy's in the Spanish Army
and it is certain that this was a mistranscription of de Lacy's. General
Patrick de Lacy commanded the Ultonia Regiment of the Spanish Army during
the War of the Spanish Succession and thus it appears that this was the regiment
to which Charles belonged. The records of the Archivo General de Simancas
of the Spanish Ministry of Defence in Valladolid show that Teniente Reformado
(Leiutenant on the Reserve List) Carlos MacMahon has served since 30th June
1720, first in the Hibernia regiment for nearly three years, then the Ultonia
regiment since 20th June 1723. Total service to date, 4 years, 6 Months and
21 Days. The notes on the back, all positive, evaluate his performance and
state that he is Irish and a gentleman. The note at the bottom by his immediate
superior states 'This Officer, given his birth, conduct and application,
deserves to be re-employed'. Thus it seems that Charles had been in Spain
since he was aged about 20 or so and had been among the many sons of the
old Irish Catholic aristocracy who saw no future for themselves in the new
Ireland and preferred to join the 'Wild Geese' in the service of the European
states which were perceived to be sympathetic to the Irish cause. Unfortunately
there is no further reference to Charles/Carlos in the Spanish Military Archives.
On balance it seems likely that Charles died without issue.
Before Mortogh McMahon died he appointed Cornelius Gillereagh as guardian to
his four sons who were all still minors. At that time Mortogh held Clonina
from Gillereagh who had acquired it from the Thomond Estate and on Mortogh's
death Gillereagh arranged for Michael Comyn to acquire Clonina in trust for
Mortogh's son and heir, Thomas.
Image
3: Deed of Transfer of Clonina from Michael Comyn to Thomas McMahon. Thomas McMahon of Clonina
When Thomas succeeded his father the fortunes of the old Catholic Gaelic
aristocracy were at a low ebb following the capitulation of Limerick
twenty years earlier. Many had left for France with Lord Clare and continued
the fight in Europe in the regiments of the Irish Brigade. Some, like
Mortagh, remained and relied on the articles of the Treaty of Limerick
to save their estates, but the Treaty was soon broken and the Penal laws
were introduced shortly after. In spite of discrimination against Catholics,
Thomas was a very astute man and was obviously determined to restore
his family's fortunes. He immediately embarked on a series of land acquisitions
as soon as he attained his majority, and where necessary found ways of
circumventing the anti Catholic property laws. Although their landholdings
had by then been greatly reduced, the family seem to have had substantial
cash reserves as witnessed by the large sums which Thomas expended on
land acquisitions over almost three decades. The acquisitions made by
Thomas were mainly of lands which had been held in whole or in part by
the family prior to the Cromwellian confiscations. Some were acquired
in fee and others on leases for lives, the latter including large holdings
in the Carrigaholt area which was outside the patrimony of the McMahons
of East Corca Baiscinn.
The first mention of Thomas in the Registry of Deeds is in 1713 which
involved Nicholas Westby of Ennis in the County of Clare Esq of the
one part & Thomas
McMahon of Clonneynagh Gent & Doct Mathew McMahon of Toureenamona in the
County of Clare of the other part, importing that the said Nicholas Westby
hath demised set & to farm let unto the said Thomas & Matthew McMahon
the lands ... of Rathcrony Ballynrine Cahermore & Sessivgare ... lying & being
in the parish of Dromleafe (sic) Barony of Islands ... during the term & space
of one and thirty years ... at the yearly rent and sum of thirty pounds16.
The will dated 17 May 1742 of Mathew McMahon of Toureen, Doctor in Physick,
was proved on 2 Sept 1742. His wife is named as Mary orse O'Brien, her father
and brother are named as Daniel & Murtough O'Brien. Matthew's children
were Margaret, Daniel & Thomas (an infant). His kinsmen are named as Charles
Creagh, Thomas McMahon, Mort McMahon & John McNemara (sic). Daniel O'Brien
junior is named as his wife's brother and Richard Nagle is named as his brother
in law (Betham's Abstracts). As Richard Nagle was the administrator of the
will of Thomas McMahon of Cloninagh in 1741, it is certain that Thomas of Clonina
was the Thomas who was named as a kinsman in the will of Matthew of Toureen.
The will of Daniel McMahon of Toureene with the date 1748 is listed in the
Ireland Diocesan and Prerogative Wills & Administrations Indexes 1595-1858,
Diocese of Killaloe. The Charles Creagh named in Matthew's will was probably
Charles Creagh of Ballykilty, Quin, whose will was dated 1743.
The lands of Cragiloneborny als Cragilonboyerna als Clonbonerna (presentday
Crag) were, prior to 1652, part of the ancestral lands of Cornelius Gillereagh
whose descendant, also Cornelius, was guardian to Thomas McMahon during
the latter's minority17. These lands in the vicinity of Kilmihil were among
large tracts which had been acquired by the Ievers family in Co Clare
following the Cromwellian confiscations.
In September 1715 Thomas Ievers of Graygrove als Garranreigh Co Clare transferred
to Mary Roe for the consideration of One thousand and Four hundred pounds part
of the Plowland of Garrangreigh als Carranreagh and Knockalough containing
one thousand one hundred and sixty five acres profitable land plantation measure
and Craggiloneborney als Craigiloneboyerna als Clanboyerna containing by estimation
one hundred and twenty six acres of like land and measure18.
In 1716 Thomas Ievers of Graygrove alias Garranereagh, Co Clare together with
Mary Roe, Nathaniel Lucas, George Burdett and Robt Harrison of the one part
conveyed to Thomas McMahon of Clonineagh, Co Clare in consideration of the
sum of £825 the lands ... of Cragiloneborny als Cragilonboyerna als Clonbonerna
containing 126 acres of profitable land Plantation Measure with the unprofitable
acres thereunto belonging being in the Parish of Killfiddane Barony of Clonedirala,
Ballyderraowen containing 112 acres profitable land ... being part of the East
Cartron of Garranereagh sett unto the said Thos Ievers by a writt of Partition,
Cloninieoivlane containing 173 acres profitable and unprofitable ... being
part of the Cartron of Garranereagh aforesaid which said last two severall
denominations are situate in the Parish of Killmihill Bar of Clonderralaw'19.
It seems that, prior to this, George Ievers had held part of these lands under
lease from his brother Thomas of Graygrove, and in November 1717 Thomas McMahon
bought out George Ievers' interest for the consideration of £131.10s20.
Thus Thomas McMahon regained at least a part of his family's ancestral lands
at Knockalough which had come into the posession of Henry Ievers following
the Comwellian confiscations21.
In November 1719 Thomas McMahon of Cloninagh acquired a lease forever from
Thomas Amory of Bunratty of the lands of Leitrim in the parish of Kilmihil
containing 483 acres profitable and 176 acres unprofitable at a rent of £40
per annum22.
On 27th June 1718 Francis Burton of Buncraggy executed an Indorcement (sic)
of a deed of lease for lives to Thomas McMahon of Clonenagh son and heir to
Mortogh McMahon of Clounenagh deceased 'in consideration of the sum of One
hundred and Thirty pounds sterl ... Hath Bargained Sold Released and Confirmed
unto the sd Thomas McMahon the Lands of Ballinagon ... and then in the occupation
of the sd Thomas McMahon'. This lease was for the life of Thomas himself and
clearly replaced the previous lease under which the late Mortogh McMahon had
held Ballynagon. Edmond Dwyre Yeoman was a witness to the Indorcement23.
In 1720 Thomas McMahon of Cluninagh acquired the lands of Reinmadirrigg, Rahona
East, Rahona West, Killcredand, and Clouncunneen, collectively known as the
farm of Carrigholt in the Barony of Moyarta for the sum of £300 by way
of an assignment of a lease24. The lease of these lands had been acquired in
1708 by Edmond Vanhuggardin of Quirin from Francis Burton of Buncraggy. Vanhogarten
died intestate in 1709 and his widow Catherine married Lieut Randall Jones.
Edmond's son and heir John was then a minor. Catherine surrendered the original
lease and in 1711 took out a new lease on her own life and that of her three
sons John, Abraham & George Vanhoggardin. John Morony of Dunahagh was a
witness.
In 1723 Thomas McMahon acquired from Francis Burton of Bonnecragay ... the
Lands of Clonredane containing by estimation Four Hundred and Five acres plantation
measure situate in the Parish of Kilmacaduane and Barony of Moyarta ... for
and during the natural lives of the said Thomas McMahon Chas and Dennis McMahon
his two brothers ... at the yearly rent of Fifty Pounds ... and two fat muttons
or twelve shillings and six pence. Edmond Hogan of the City of Dublin was a
witness25.
In 1726. Chas Smith of Rockmount, Co Clare did demise grant sett and to farm
let to Thos McMahon of Clooninagh Co Clare Esq ... Kilbaghagh & part of
Fordry ... now in the possession of the said Thomas McMahon ... for the lives
of said Thos McMahon, Denis McMahon & Mortagh McMahon the two brothers
of said Thos McMahon26. Two days later Thomas McMahon granted a lease for lives
of these lands to his brother Dennis27.
In 1728 Michael Comyn transferred to Thomas McMahon the lands which
he held in trust for him by way of the following deed28:
An Indented Deed Importing a Declaration of Trust made between Michl
Comyn of Killcarkarane in the County of Clare Gent ... and Thoms McMahon
of Cloninagh
in the sd County Esq ... reciting that ye Rt Hon Henry Earle of Thomond did
by Indenture bearing date the second day of May 1712 in consideration of the
sum of £17 10s paid or secured to be pd by the sd Michl Comyn to ye sd
Henry Earle of Thomond grant demise and let unto the sd Michl Comyn the farm
and lands of Cloninagh als Clonwhite Krigh als Clontragh containing by estimation
1,254 acres together with the woods standing or growing on ye sd premises in
trust for the sd Thomas McMahon then a minor situate and being in the Barony
of Moyarta ... to hold to the sd Michl Comyn his heirs & assigns for and
during the natural lives of him ye sd Thomas McMahon Chas & Dennis McMahon
sons of Mortagh McMahon late of Cloninagh afsd Gent ... with a clause of renewable
forever at ye rent of £60 ... and reciting that ye sd Henry Earle of
Thomd did by another Indenture bearing date ye 26th December 1712 in consideration
of the sum of £180 pd by the sd Michl Comyn to the sd Henry Earle of
Thomd ... grant bargain & sell to the sd Michl Comyn and his heirs in trust
for the sd Thomas McMahon then a minor all the afsd lands ... by the special
nomination and appointed of the sd Thomas McMahon and his Guardian Mr Cornelius
Gillereagh and that the sd several sums of £17.10s and £108 the
consideration in money in both ye deeds specified was the patrimony of the
sd Thos McMahon & therefore the sd Michl Comyn in pursuance of the sd Trust
did grant Remise (sic) Release and confirme unto the sd Thos McMahon his heirs
and assigns forever ... the hereinbefore recited lands and premises.
The lease of Clonina to Michael Comyn superseded the 1707 lease which Cornelius
Gillereagh had held from Lady Henrietta O'Brien.
The connection between the Gillereaghs and the Comyns seems to have gone back
as far as 1615 when Michael Comyn's greatgrandfather Nicholas married Sarah
Gillirea of Clonderalaw.
Thomas McMahon married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Meade of Newcastle,
Co Limerick in early 1726. A deed dated 1752 (Memorial No 111420), executed
between Thomas's sons Mortogh and Andrew, says that, in relation to their
parents marriage, certain articles were executed by their father Thomas
McMahon dated 23rd January 172629. The 1752 deed also refers to a deed
dated 5th April 1729 and to the fact that Mortogh, the eldest son of
Thomas and Elizabeth, was born prior to the execution of the 1729 deed.
There is a badly damaged document in the Studdert Papers at the National
Library of Ireland concerning the marriage settlement of Thomas and Elizabeth.
The first page of the document containing the date is missing but it
was obviously drawn up at around the same time as the 1729 deed as it
also refers to the fact that Mortogh had already been born. William Burke
Valentine Quinn Denis McMahon and Cornelius Gillereagh are referred to
as trustees. The document was signed by Thos McMahon, Will Burgh, Val
Quin, Cors Gillereagh, and Dens McMahon and was witnessed by Thos Morony,
John Morony and John McMahon.
The deed dated 4th April 1729 which was drawn up following the marriage of
Thomas and Elizabeth is worth quoting as it shows the extent of Thomas's landholdings
at this time30.
Indented deed of lease & release between Thomas McMahon of Clouninagh in
the Co of Clare on the one part and Rev William Burke of Killinea in the Co
of Limerick, Valentine Quinn of Adare in the aforesd county Esq, Dennis McMahon
of Clouninagh aforesd Gent, and Cornelius Gillereagh of Aloncard in the county
of Clare Gent of the other part. Whereby the said Thomas McMahon in consideration
of a marriage portion in the said deed of release ... did grant bargain sell
release and confirm unto the said William Burke, Valentine Quinn, Dennis McMahon
and Cornelius Gillereagh and their heirs ... all that and those the Lands of
Craggecloneborney als Cragclonboyerna als Clonboyerna, Baulydorraowen, Clonicowlane
... in the Barony of Cloundirralaw ... of which lands the said Thomas McMahon
is siezed of in fee simple, The Lands of Cloninagh als Clonwhite, Krigh als
Clonotragh lying ... in the Barony of Moyarta ... of which the said Thomas
is likewise seized in fee subject to a payment of a rent reserved upon a fee
farm, and the Lands of Leitrim ...in the Barony of Cloundirralaw ... which
lands is seized also in fee subject to a rent reserved upon a fee farm, The
lands ... of Ballynagon, Clounredan, Killtrumper, Carrigahoulte, Kilcredane,
Rahona East, Rahona West, Cluonacunneen, and Reinmaciderrig, of which last
mentioned lands is seized by virtue of several leases forever ... and being
in the Barony of Moyarta to hold all ... unto them the said William Burke Valentine
Quinn Dennis McMahon and Cornelius Gillereagh & their heirs to the several
uses intents and purposes in the said Deed of Release mentioned which said
Deed of Lease and Release ... by the said Thos McMahon are witnessed by William
Burke Valentine Quinn Dennis McMahon and Cornelius Gillereagh are witnessed
by Thos Morony of Millford in the said county of Clare Esq John Morony of Donaha & John
McMahon of Ennis ... Gent.
Valentine Quinn of Adare was the eldest son of Thady
Quinn 1645-1725 and his third wife Catherine Morony, daughter of Piers/Pierce
Morony
and Margaret Creagh31.
The Moronys had been transplanted from Limerick to south west Clare in
the 1650s. Frost, quoting a 1668 petition, says
that Pierce Moroney was then a Merchant of Limerick and, quoting a 1700
petition, says that in 1669 Lord Clare & Henry Ivers leased various
townlands to Pierce Moroney the elder of Cloonenagh, Merchant. This Piers/Pierce
died at Clounineagh in 1678. Catherine Morony's eldest brother Edmond
married Joan (Jane), daughter of James McNamara of Ennis. Edmond Morony
and Joan/Jane McNamara had three sons; Pierce Morony d s p, John Morony
who married Margaret Meade and Thomas Morony who married Margaret's sister
Mary Meade32. Margaret and Mary Meade's sister Elizabeth
married Thomas McMahon of Clonina33.
When Andrew Meade made his will on 20th October 1727 he named his daughters
as Mary, wife of Thomas Morony of Milltown, Co Clare, Margaret, wife of John
Morony, and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas McMahon. Andrew Meade's will also names
his niece as Anne Meade alias Meara. It is almost certain that this was the
Ann Meara who was named as the second wife of Cornelius Gillereagh in the 1740
deed Gillereagh & Others to McMahon (Registry of Deeds, Memorial No 70219,
Vol 100, p 210, img 119).
Following his marriage Thomas continued to add to his landholdings.
In 1730 Henry O'Brien of Stonehall did grant bargain alien and sell forever
to Thomas McMahon of Cloninagh the lands of Ballyashia in the parish
of Kilnemonagh and Ballyntlea in the parish of Kilfentenan. The witnesses
were Murtagh McMahon of Cloninagh Gent and Thomas Barrett Innkeeper of
Assolas. John McMahon of Ennis Gent was a witness to the memorial34.
On 13th July 1730 Thomas McMahon of Cloninagh was party to a very unusual
'Deed of Bargain and Sale for a Year'35. The other party to this deed collectively
comprised Gustavus Hamilton of the City of Dublin, Nathaniel Preston of the
same, and Randall McDonnell eldest son and heir of James McDonnell of Killquee
deceased. A quadripartite deed of release was executed the following day, the
first party to which comprised Gustavus Hamilton, Nathaniel Preston and the
Hon Henry Hamilton. The second party comprised Francis Burton of Buncraggy,
son and heir of Francis Burton late of Dublin decd, and Wm Westby of Dublin,
son and heir of Nicholas Westby late of Ennis decd. The third party to the
release was Randall McDonnell and the fourth party was Thomas McMahon. This
curious document goes on to recite that Preston and the two Hamiltons 'in consideration
of the Sum of Two hundred Ninety five pounds Eighteen shillings & six pence
to them in hand paid by the said Thos McMahon by the Direction of the said
Randall McDonnell did Grant Alien Release and Confirm & the sd Fras Burton & Wm
Westby did thereby also in consideration of Five shillings apiece to them severally
paid by the said Thomas McMahon confirm unto the sd Thos McMahon and to his
heirs all that and those the Lands and Tenemts of Cloncullin Ternelaghane Brisly
and Corbally ... Bar of Moyferta ... forever, subject to a Condition of Redemption
on payment of the Sum of Two hundred Ninety five pounds Eighteen shillings & six
pence with interest for the same at the rate of six pounds per cent per annum
on the fourteenth day of July then next ...'.
In April 1732 Thomas acquired from Rev George Hickman of Ballykett a thirty
four year lease of the lands of Lisaloghra and Cloghane Sarvane ... in the
Barony of Moyarta ... as hitherto held & enjoyed by the said Thomas McMahon
... 36. At the same time Hickman 'did demise grant sett and to farm lett unto
the said Thomas McMahon of Cloninagh ... the lands of Kiltrellig ... Barony
of Moyfarta ... for the term of thirty four years'. The rent for the first
three years was £38 per annum decreasing to £36 per annum thereafter37.
Hickman in turn held these lands under lease from WmWestby. The witnesses to
both leases were Andrew Morony of Dunaha and Mortagh McMahon of Cloninagh.
On 1st May 1732 Francis Burton of Buncraggy in an indented deed of lease 'did
give grant Demise Sett and to Farm Lett' to Thomas McMahon of Cloneenagh 'the
farm and lands ... of Cloghanbeg and Cloghanmore with each of their subdenominations
with all boggs ... in as large ample and beneficial a manner as John Vandelure
of Kilrush ... formerly held and enjoyed the same containing by estimation
One thousand Ninety and Seven acres plantation measure ... lying and being
in the Parish of Kill Mckaduan Barony of Moyfarta ... for and during the natural
lives of Mortogh McMahon eldest son of the said Thomas the lessee Patrick England
of Lifford ... Gent and David Nighill eldest son of Laurence Nighill of ...
Limerick Mercht and the longer liver and survivor of them'. There were clauses
regarding the payment of rent and of distress and re-entry, and curiously Burton
appointed Dennis McMahon of Cloneenagh Gent to act as his attorney in this
regard38.
In 1736 John Baptist Creagh of Woodfield Co Clare and Pierce Creagh his son
and heir apparent agreed to grant and sell forever to Thomas McMahon of Clonina
the lands of Shyane containing 444 acres profitable in the Barony of Clonderrala
in consideration of £1462 which was to be paid in instalments. The witnesses
were Mort McMahon of City of Dublin Gent and James Comyn of the same Gent39.
Thomas McMahon of Cloninagh and Bryan McMahon of City of Limerick were witnesses
to a deed sworn on 13 Aug 1740 at Ennis re lands at Moyglassmore and Moyglassbegg40.
We know from a 1749 deed that Thomas McMahon built a house which was attached
to Carrigaholt Castle41. The deed refers to 'the edifice that Thos McMahon late
of Clonena ... erected adjoyning the sd Castle'. There is a clear indication
on one of the walls of Carrigaholt Castle that there was once a lower building
with a steeply sloped roof attached to the Castle. It is almost certain that
this was the edifice referred to in the deed. It seems likely that Thomas built
this house around or soon after the time his marriage.
Thomas died in late 1740, aged a little over 50. Administration of
his will was granted on 19th January 1741 to Richard Nagle Esq for Elizabeth
the widow.42
Following her husband's death Elizabeth soon afterwards married
secondly to Richard Henn. Her mother Mary, widow of Andrew Meade, was
'of Clonina, Co Clare', according to her will dated 18th July 1743. In
her will Mary names her daughter as Elizabeth McMahon otherwise Henn,
widow. Richard Henn is named as Mary Meade's son in law, husband of said
daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth Henn otherwise McMahon died about nine
years later and administration of her will was granted to Thomas Connors
of Dublin on 10th March 1753.
Administration of the will of Thomas McMahon of Carrigaholt Esq was granted
to Thos Connor of Dublin on 2nd June 1766. Thomas McMahon's children are correctly
named as Murtagh and Andrew McMahon, and Margaret, wife of Joseph England (Betham's
Abstracts). It is unclear why a second administration of the will of Thomas
McMahon was granted twenty five years after his death to Thomas Connors who
was also the administrator of the will of Thomas McMahon's widow Elizabth Henn
McMahon née Meade. One can only assume that the original administrator,
Richard Nagle, left the will unadministered.
According to this, it seems that Thomas of Clonina may have died at Carrigaholt,
probably in the house which he had built adjoining Carrigaholt Castle.
During his lifetime Thomas achieved great success in rebuilding and adding
to the landholdings which his ancestors had lost following the Cromwellian
confiscations of the 1650s, and indeed he was one of the few members of the
old Catholic Gaelic aristocracy to do so.
We have seen that Michael Comyn had held the lands of Clonina in trust for
Thomas McMahon during the latter's minority. In 1675 Patrick Comyn acquired
a lease of the townlands of Kilcorcoran and Cloghaunmore in Kilfarboy parish
from the Earl of Thomond and his son Michael was born at Kilcorcoran in 1676.
Michael Comyn (Micheál Coimín) was a Jacobite and a noted Gaelic
poet. He was a Protestant but was sympathetic to his Catholic fellow Jacobites
and was willing to help them to circumvent the Penal Laws43. Micheál Coimín
and Thomas McMahon were related by marriage. Coimín married in 1702
Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Creagh and niece of Sir Michael Creagh, Lord
Mayor of Dublin in 168844. It is likely that Francis and Michael were closely
related to Margaret Creagh, wife of Piers Morony who died at Clonina in 1678.
Piers Morony's grandsons John and Thomas Morony married respectively the sisters
Margaret and Mary Meade whose third sister Elizabeth Meade married Thomas McMahon
of Clonina45. James Creagh of Limerick, Merchant (d 1724), married in 1704 Elinor
Morony, daughter of Pierce Morony and Catherine Brown and granddaughter of
Pierce Morony and Margaret Creagh46. Michael Comyn's son Edmond married married
Jane Morony, daughter of Thomas Morony and Mary Meade. Thomas Morony was 'of
Millford' (originally and alternatively known as Carrowkeel) in 1729 (McMahon-Meade
marriage settlement qv). His son Edmond Morony held the lease of Carrowkeel
in 1745 and it seems that the Comyn family moved to Carrowkeel/Milford after
Edmond Comyn's marriage to Edmond Morony's sister Jane47. Micheál Coimín
died in 1760.
On hearing of the death of Thomas McMahon, Coimín composed a poem entitled
'Sliocht Tuire Thomáis Mhic Mhathúna, Cluain Eidhneach, Co. an
Chláir', the first verse of which is as follows:48
Do chuala tásc do chráidh go croidhe mé
Is uall gártha ag táinte gan choimse
Mná fionna bán leasa ag caoine
Ó
Léim na Con go portaibh Luimnigh
I heard the tidings which grieved my heart
And wailing cries of countless multitudes
of fair noble women's lamentations
From Hound's Leap to Limerick's shores49
The poem confirms that Thomas died in December as one line of the original refers to 'Lá Nodlag dubhach san úr-bhrogh aoibhinn' ('A black Christmas Day in the delightful new mansion'). This also appears to confirm that the house then standing at Clonina was either newly built or had been recently rebuilt or extended50.
Image
4: Clonina House. Photo courtesy of Martin Breen. Cornelius (Mac) Gillereagh
The name Cornelius Gillereagh is closely associated with the McMahon
family and occurs frequently in deeds etc relating to the family in the
first half of the 18th century. The Mac Gillereaghs (Mac Gilla Riabhaigh,
anglicé Gallery) were an ancient family in East Corca Baiscinn.
In 1580 Conor Mac Gillereagh held the Castle of Cragbrien in Clondagad
parish. By 1589 he had been forced to transfer his castle and lands to
Donough O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond who was intent on expanding his
landholdings by every available means, often at the expense of families
who were traditionally been followers of the O'Brien51.
In 1626 Donogh Mac Gillareagh was owner of Cloondrinagh and Clonboyerna.
He died on
the 1st March, 1615, leaving as his heir his son Richard, then aged eighteen
years. In 1634 Rickard Mac Gillareagh, late of Cloondrinagh, was owner
likewise of Cloonborna; he died on the 1st August, 1634, leaving Mahone
his son and heir, then aged nine years, and leaving his widow, Johanna
Considine, surviving him52. In 1641 Cloonboyerna was held by Dermot Mac
Gillareagh of Cloonboyerna and Mahone Mac Gillareagh of Cloondrinagh.
Cornelius Gillereagh was in all probability either a son or a grandson
of Mahone. The MacGillereaghs lost these lands in 1652. In 1708 Cornelius
was still in the parish of Clondagad, this time at Decamade (Dehomad),
close to his family's ancestral lands.
In 1708 Nicholas Woulfe of Tyremaclaun in the county of Clare did give
grant bargain sell release and confirm unto Cornelius Gillereagh of Enis
(sic) the
lands of Tyrevaclane and Ballyveskill two plowlands and a half and Ballymacregane
one plowland situate in the county of Clare in as large and ample a manner
as were granted to Nicholas by Henry Earl of Thomond in 1684 under a lease
for lives renewable forever. Woulfe also transferred to Cornelius a large quantity
of lands in Co Limerick totalling 2,006 acres. These lands had been acquired
in trust for Woulfe by David Nihill late of Garruragh, Co Clare, deceased,
from Thomas Hackett in 1688 on a 31 year lease. Woulfe had obtained a decree
in 1708 against Hackett and full benefit thereof in the High Court of Chancery
in respect of these lands. There was a Deed of Defeazance to the Deed of Release
incorporated in the memorial in which Edmond Morony of Kilmacduane Esq was
a party53.
In January 1709 Cornelius Gillereagh was 'of Enis' (sic) when he granted
a 31 year lease to Capt Thady McNemara of Ranna of the lands of Clouintinee,
88 acres profitable land in the Parish and Barony of Tulla for the use of John
McNemara also of Ranna54
By July 1711 Cornelius was 'of Moirieske' (Moyreisk) when he acquired
in trust and for the use of James Creagh of the City of Limerick Merchant
seven acres
plantation measur of profitable land at Coonagh in the City of Limerick from
Connor O'Brien of Cloughur, Co Clare Gent and his mother Catherine, widow of
Mahon O'Brien of Coonagh. Thady MacNemara of Ranna was a witness55.
In November 1711 Cornelius was still at Moyreisk when he acquired a lease
for thirty one years from Garret Gough of Bealdorogie ( Ballyduvroga?),
Co Limerick,
of the lands of Breffa North seventy nine acres and Clouindrinagh seventy six
acres, in the Barony of Islands, the lease to commence in March 171656.
Before his death in 1711 Mortogh McMahon had appointed Cornelius Gillereagh
as guardian to his elsest son Thomas. We have already seen that Cornelius acquired
a 99 year lease of the lands of Clonina in 1707 from Lady Henrietta O'Brien
and the following year he granted a 31 year lease of the same lands to Captain
Mortogh McMahon. Following Mortogh's death, Cornelius arranged for Michael
Comyn to acquire a new lease of these lands in 1712 from the Earl of Thomond
in trust for Thomas McMahon. This lease seems to have superseded the 1707 lease
of Clonina which Cornelius had held from Lady O'Brien and was probably necessitated
by the Penal Laws which had then come into force regarding the ownership or
holding long leases of land by Catholics.
In 1712 the Earl of Thomond granted leases to Thos Drew of Dublin Gent of the
lands of Athlonghurte (Athlunkard) and Shanakeele (Shannakyle) situate in the
Parish of Killquan (Cill Chuáin, now St Patrick's), Barony of Bunratty,
and the lands of Drisane (Derryshaan) situate in the Parish of Killfidan, Barony
of Clondalaw. The deed goes on to say that 'the said leases specifyed ... were
taken in trust only for Cornelius Gillereagh then of Athlonghurte ... who is
in the actual seizen and possession of all the premises ...'. In 1716 Cornelius
borrowed £150 from Zachary Ormsby, Doctor of Law, and executed a Deed
of Assignment in his favour of the three leases subject to a provision or condition
of redemption57.
By 1721 Cornelius had not repaid the £150 and had borrowed a further £50
from Zachary Ormsby of Ballygrenane in the North Liberties of the City of Limerick58.
As security for the extra £50, Cornelius executed a Bond of Warranty
in favour of Ormsby secured on the rental income from the lands of Castlequarter
and Knockanroe, part of the plowland of Trough in the Parish of Killaloe. These
lands were let to Patrick Bourke of Knockalisseen under a lease for 31 years
from 1720 at the yearly rent of £16. 7s. 6d59.
In 1737 Cornelius was involved in a complex tripartite indenture and
deed, Gillereagh & Others to Barclay60.
Apart from Cornelius the parties involved were Arthur Drew of Mogherbegg
in the county of Clare Gent, brother and
heir of Thomas Drew late of the City of Dublin Gent Decd, the Rev Arthur
Ormsby
of Ballygrenan in the City of Limerick the eldest son and heir of Zachary
Ormsby late of Ballygrenan Doctor of Laws Decd, and Mary Ormsby Widow
of Zachary,
Morgan O'Meara of Lissenisky Esq, Eltonhead Meara of Ballyanraghand (both
county of Tipperary), Thomas Esq and Dennis McMahon Gent of Cloninagh.
The memorial
recites that Cornelius Gillereagh Arthur Drew Arthur Ormsby & Mary Ormsby
with consent and approbation of Morgan O'Meara Eltonhed Meara Thomas and Denis
McMahon granted bargained sold released & confirmed to David Barclay
of Ballyerney, county of Clare, the Towns and Lands of Drishane containing
about
208 acres as granted in fee farm to Thomas Drew. It appears that, in return,
Barclay assumed responsibility for, and repaid the debt owed by Cornelius
to the Ormsbys as they released to Cornelius all their right title and
interest in the said Town and Lands of Athlonghart and Shanakiel and the
plowland
of
Trough. Among the witnesses were Mortagh McMahon of Cloninagh Gent, one
of the Attorneys of the Exchequer in Ireland, and Percival Harte of Lissofin61.
Cornelius was still at Aloncard (sic) in 1740 when he was party to a
quadrapartite deed of lease and release in which he, his wife, Mortogh
McMahon of Dublin
(the attorney) and Thomas McMahon of Cloninagh were involved62. Mortogh
McMahon was already in possession by way of lease from Cornelius of the
lands of
Aloncard containing two hundred acres, the lands of Shanakeile containing
eighty acres,
and the lands of Trough containing two hundred and fifty acres, and Cornelius
sold released and confirmed these lands to Mortogh. Cornelius had drawn
up a will in which he had appointed Thomas McMahon as his sole executor.
The
memorial records that Cornelius was entitled to several sums of money
due to him in
right of his first wife who was the widow of Nicholas Rice Esq which
became due to her out of Plantations which Nicholas was possessed of
in the Island
of Barbadoes. In his will Cornelius conveyed his rights and claims to
these sums of money to Thomas McMahon.
This deed tells us that Cornelius's first wife was the widow of Nicholas
Rice who was 'of Lissofin' in 1704 when he was guarantor for the parish
priest of
Tulla. He was 'of Alonghard' when he died in 171063. According to a summary
of his will, which was proved in July 1710, Nicholas was then of the
Parish of
Tulla but late of the Parish of St Philip in Barbadoes and the will was
dated January 169964. The summary gives his wife's name as Mary alias Aylmer,
and
his brother was Lieut Col John Rice. Cornelius's second wife is named
in the deed
as Ann Meara who was presumably sister of Morgan O'Meara and Eltonhead
Meara of the 1737 Deed65. It is certain that Cornelius had no children.
Administration of the will of Cornelius Gillereagh of Aloncard Gent was
granted to his
brother
James on 4th July 174166. The lands of Trough were still in the possession
of the McMahons of Clonina in 1781 when the Hill of Trugh (sic), 172
acres, was
advertised to let by Thomas McMahon's son Mortogh and grandson Thomas67.
Cornelius Gillereagh and Thomas McMahon were connected by marriage. Anne
Meara née Meade, the second wife of Cornelius, was a niece of
Andrew Meade whose daughter Elizabeth married Thomas McMahon. But it
is certain
that there
was an earlier and closer relationship between Cornelius and Thomas,
and it is possible that Cornelius may have been a brother of Captain
Mortogh
McMahon's
second wife.
Dennis McMahon of Kilbaha and Carrigaholt
As we have seen above, Dennis, son of Captain Mortogh McMahon, was
granted a lease for lives by his eldest brother Thomas in 1726 of the
lands of Kilbaghagh and part of Fodry. In 1735 Charles Smith of Derry
demised granted sett and to farm let to Dennis McMahon of Kilbaghagh
Gent the lands of Fodry already in his posession for the natural lives
of sd Dennis McMahon Mort McMahon brother of the sd Dennis McMahon & Mort
McMahon Jun son and heir of Thomas McMahon of Clonina68 .
In 1738 the same Charles Smith granted demised set and to farm let unto
the sd Dennis McMahon of Kilebaha his heirs etc the lands of Moneen in
the Barony
of Moyfarta to have and to hold during the natural lives of the said Dennis
McMahon Mort McMahon brother of the sd Dennis and Mort McMahon eldest son to
Thomas McMahon of Cloninagh brother to said Dennis69. Mort McMahon of the City
of Dublin Gent, was a witness. This Mortogh was a brother of Dennis.
In 1734 Edward Burton of the City of London Esq gave granted demised set
and to farm let to Mortagh McMahon of the City of Dublin Esq the Farm and
lands
of Rinemacinderagh als Carrigiholt Rahonys East & West Kilcredane & Clonconeen
being 1170 acres in the Parish of Moyarta for the lives of sd Edward Burton
Elizabeth the wife of Thomas McMahon of Cloneenagh Mortogh McMahon and Andrew
McMahon first & second sons of the sd Thomas70.
These were the same lands which Thomas McMahon had acquired in 1720
(Memorial No 18218 Vanhuggardin to McMahon). The original 1708 lease
from Burton to
Vanhuggardin must have run out, necessitating the new lease.
Mortagh McMahon of Dublin was Mortagh, then an Attorney and a Protestant,
brother of Dennis and Thomas (and not his nephew Mortogh of Clonina, son
of Thomas).
Mortagh the Attorney must have transferred these lands to his nephew Mortough
of Clonina as witnessed by a 1749 Indenture of Lease between Mortough McMahon
of Clonena and Dennis McMahon of Killbehagh71.
Mortough McMahon demised unto the sd Dennis McMahon ... the lands of Cluonconeen
now in the possession
of the sd Dennis ... and also such parcels of the towns and lands of
Rinemacdirrig and Rahona each as they are now in the possession of the
sd Dennis ...
in
the
Barony of Moyarta. Excepting unto the sd Mortough McMahon all that part
of the edifice that Thos McMahon late of Clonena ... erected adjoyning
the sd
Castle on sd premises ... for and during the natural lives of the sd
Dennis McMahon and Andrew McMahon brother to the sd Mort McMahon yeilding
and
paying yearly ... unto the sd Mort McMahon ... the yearly rent of thirty
six pounds.
Witnesses Andw McMahon of the City of Limerick Gent and Gilbert O'Dea
of Creigh in the County of Clare farmer. Witnesses to Memorial 1st Nov
1751
Gilbert O'Dea
aged upwards of fifty years and John Burke of the City of Dublin Gent72.
Thus 'the said Mortough McMahon' the lessor was a brother of Andrew,
both sons of Thomas, and both nephews of Dennis. This seems to be an
example
of a Protestant
member of a family using his religious status to circumvent the Penal
Laws on behalf of a Catholic relative.
There is a memorandum in the Studdert Papers in the National Library
of Ireland which states that on 8th May 1731 Luke Hickman of Fenloe
demised Rehey Park
to Dennis McMahon of Clonina for the term of three lives to be named
by
Dennis, with a clause of renewal forever. On the death of Dennis these
lands passed
to his nephew, Mortogh McMahon of Clonina,.
Dennis McMahon died in April 1772. Administration of the will of Denis
McMahon Gent of Carrigaholt, Co Clare was granted on 18 May 1772. In
his will Dennis named Mortagh McMahon as his nephew (Betham Genealogical
Abstracts)73. A note in the Studdert Papers in the National Library states
that Dennis died unmarried, intestate and without issue. Certainly Dennis
did make a will, but it will be noted that there is no mention of a wife
or children in Betham's summary of the will. Dennis seems to have died
at Carrigaholt although in earlier deeds he is referred to as 'of Kilbaha'.
It is possible that he had by then moved to the house attached to Carrigaholt
Castle which had been built by his father Thomas.
William Shaw Mason in his 'Statistical Survey of Ireland', written in
1816, says that Mortogh McMahon of Clonina requested the Burtons, who
were the head
landlords of the lands of Carrigaholt etc, to allow the names of his two sons
and his daughter to be substituted on the lease in place of his own name and
those of his brother Andrew and his sister Mrs England. The Burtons agreed
to the substitution but Mortogh's three children all died before their father,
their uncle and their aunt and thus the lease lapsed. The Burtons subsequently
re-let the lands at the advanced rent of £800 per annum.
Mortogh McMahon of Clonina, Dublin, and Dromore
Mortogh, son of Captain Mortogh McMahon of Clonina, converted to Protestantism
in Dublin in 1731. It is likely that this was to qualify for admission
to Kings Inns where he studied Law. In 1734 he was admitted as an Attorney
of the Court of Exchequer in Ireland, one of the senior courts of common
law in Ireland74.
In 1739 Thomas Amory of the City of Dublin Esq and Mort McMahon of the
same Gent executed the following Indented Deed: In consideration of £51
5s Amory covenanted and agreed that if in case the said Thos Amory shall
survive
Thomas McMahon of Clonina he the said Thos Amory shall make a lease for and
during his natural life of the lands of Knockmore als Killtimicus als Kilthumper
in the Barony of Clonderala as the same are now held by the said Thomas McMahon
unto the sd Mort McMahon in trust and for the use of the heirs of said Thomas
McMahon. Witnesses John Morony of Dunaha Co Clare Gent and Ignatius Terry of
City of Dublin Merchant75. Lucy, sister of the above Thomas Amory, was the wife
of Terence McMahon of Ballykilty who died in October 1737, and it seems that
there was a connection between the McMahons of Clonina and the McMahons of
Ballykilty.
Mortogh McMahon married a widow, Jane Burke/Bourke née Stacpoole.
Her first husband was William Bourke who is said to have been 'of Galway'76.
Jane was daughter of William Stacpoole of Annagh, Kilmurry Ibrickan,
and his wife Elinor Foster of Co Galway. Jane's eldest brother William
Stacpoole was apparently admitted as an attorney of the Court of Exchequer
in 1734, the same year as Mortogh McMahon was admitted. Jane had a son
John Burke by her first husband. It is certain that she had no children
by her second husband.
Mortogh and Jane lived at Dromore in the Parish of Ruan, Barony of Inchiquin.
The ruin of the house in which they lived is still visible, close to the Castle
of Dromore77. It does not appear that this house had been previously held by
Jane and William Burke prior to William's death. Dromore was part of the
forfeited estates of Daniel O'Brien, Viscount Clare, and was subsequently
acquired by
the McDonnells of Kilkee and later of Newhall, from whom Mortagh McMahon
held a leasehold interest in a substantial quantity of land. Mortogh
made his will
on 1st August 1752 and died at Dromore soon afterwards78.
In his will Mortogh left to his wife Jane his Farm and Lands of Dromore,
twenty cows and a bull, three horses, his jewels and plate and household
goods etc.
To his stepson John Burke and to his nephew Joseph England Esq, he left all
and every the rest and residue of all his Lands Tenements Hereditaments Leasehold
and Freehold Interests Estate Goods Chattles and Effects real and personal
... . Burke and England were to pay yearly to Jane during her natural life
the Rent Annuity or Sum of Sixty Pounds Stg. To his niece Margaret wife of
said Joseph England he left the sum of One Hundred Pounds Stg. To his servant
John Murphy he left all his cloaths shirts and apparel and also the lease
and interest that he had taken in trust for him of part of the lands of Bealacorrigg
... . John Burke and Joseph England were to fully pay off and discharge all
and every Mortogh's just debts legacies funeral expenses etc. A year after
they had discharged all his instructions, debts etc, Mortogh stipulated that
'John Burke and Joseph England ... shall convey unto the said Mortogh McMahon
his heirs and assigns for his and their own use and behoof the said rest
and
residue of my estate and effects that shall remain after the bequests aforesaid
so devised to them but in case the said Mortogh McMahon my nephew or his
representatives or agent shall do cause procure to be done made or commenced
or shall prosecute
any suite trouble molestation or expense to all or any of my exors or representatives
or to the said Jane my wife for or on account of any debts dues claim or
demand he may have or pretend to have to me then again in every such case
my will
is and I order and bequeath that the said John Burke and Joseph England ...
shall not convey as aforesaid to Mortogh McMahon and that the said Mortogh
McMahon shall not have any benefit or share of my fortune real or personal
but and I will and bequeath that the said John Burke and Joseph England ...
shall convey and make over unto the said Jane my wife her heirs etc ... the
said rest and residue of all my Estates and assets and fortune intended otherwise
to be given to my said nephew Mortogh McMahon ...' . As witness my hand and
seal this First Day of August One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Two .
Signed; Mortogh McMahon.
Mortogh of Dromore clearly did not trust his nephew Mortogh of Clonina. The
latter Mortogh must have satisfied the conditions of his uncle's will as
he was in possession of Dromore when he obtained a new lease in 1765 of the
property
from Charles McDonnell of Newhall. Charles and Mortogh were brothers in law,
Mortagh being married to Charles's sister Mary Ellen. Charles McDonnell 'for
the
consideration therein and of the yearly rent of £110 and a yearly quit
rent of £6.13s.4d
... had granted demised and sold unto the said Mortough McMahon in his actual
possession ... the Mansion house and Lands of Dromore called and known by
the name of the Town and Lands of Tuermore Boulacloneen Dromnagorrnan and
Ona Knock
Carrowmanagh Carrowdrehid and Island being a parcell in Common and Killmakin
containing as by a survey annexed ... (blank) acres ... in as large and ample
a manner as they been heretofore held and enjoyed by the said Mortough McMahon
situate lying and being in the barony of Inchiquin'79.
In 1764 John Damer of Shronehill, Co Tipperary, executed an Indented
Deed in which he assigned to the Right Honourable Joseph Lord Milton
a long list of lands which included the Town Lands Tenements & Hereditaments
of Dromore and its named constituent denominations80. However the assignment
was 'subject to a provision or condition mentioned in two deeds of mortgage
in said Indenture mentioned ...'. Neither the details or the dates of
the two deeds of mortgage are given, or the name of the mortgagor. It
is obvious however that the mortgagor was Charles McDonnell (or his father,
Charles, who died in 1743, or possibly even his uncle Randal who died
in 1726). It seems certain that the McDonnells defaulted on the loan
against which the lands were mortgaged to Damer, and the McDonnells lost
posession of the Dromore estate soon after 176681.
The Dublin Evening Post of 8 July 1783 carried an advertisement for the
sale of part of the estates of the Right Hon Lord Milton including the
Mansion House
and lands of Dromore which Mortogh McMahon held under a lease. Also included
were adjacent lands held under lease by Mortogh McMahon's brother in law Joseph
England. The Dublin Evening Post of 18 July 1789 carried a similar advertisement.
The Dromore estate was purchased by Thomas Crowe of Ennis from Lord Milton
in 1791 for the sum of £5,554.15s. Mortogh McMahon had apparently acquired
a new lease of Dromore from Milton as the memorial of the deed of sale refers
to a 'Certain Indenture of Lease made of the said Premises by the said Joseph
Lord Milton to Murtogh McMahon Esq. that is to say the Castle Park New Orchard
Kussagathera Boulacloneena the Orchard the Stable Park the Millers Park The
Connaught Avenue Munster Avenue Holly Island two other Islands Rabbit Island
Castle Island Kilmacky and the wood now in the Tenure and Occupation of Terence
McMahon Esq Containing three hundred and eight acres one rood and six perches'82.
It seems certain that Jane Stacpoole Burke McMahon had continued to live
at Dromore until her death which probably occurred shortly before her
nephew in
law Mortogh McMahon acquired the new lease from Charles McDonnell in 1765.
It appears that after Jane's death her nephew in law Mortogh leased the house
and lands of Dromore to Terence McMahon. This seems to be the Terence McMahon
who was at Ballykinnacorra in the parish of Rath in 176683.
In 1780 Terence McMahon of Dromore purchased the lands of Carhucore otherwise
Carhuportlicky
otherwise
Port, the lands of Ross, and the lands of Monygatan & Clonygilleon
being one fifth of Tarmon Killinaboy, Inchiquin Barony, already in his
possession84.
Terence still held Dromore as a tenant of Mortogh McMahon in 1791, and
it seems that he continued to hold the lands of Dromore under the Crowes85.
However
he
may have had to give up the mansion house as he was at Cappahard when
he died aged 60 on 1st December 1796 and was buried at Coad86.
Terence McMahon of Dromore is believed to have been a younger son of
Terence McMahon who in 1708 married Joane, daughter of John Cusack
of Kilkishen
and his wife Elizabeth Jones, daughter of the Protestant Bishop of
Meath87. Cusack,
who had no sons, granted a lease of Cloondanagh in the parish of
Tulla to Terence on his marriage. Cusack was High Sheriff of Clare
in 170088. His eldest
daughter
Catherine married in 1701 Michael, brother of Sir Arthur Cole,
later Lord Ranelagh. His other daughter Mabel married Arthus Gore of
Derrymore.
Terence
McMahon's
eldest son Bryan married in 1748 Susanna, youngest daughter of
Percival Harte of Lisofin89. Bryan's brothers are named as Terence and
Thomas
in a deed of
174590. Percival Harte of Lisofin was a witness in 1737 to a
Deed of Lease made between
Cors Gillereagh of Athlonghart in the county of Clare Gent
and others, subscribing witnesses thereto Thomas McMahon (of Clonina)
and
his
brother Denis McMahon
(of Carrigaholt) in presence of their other brother Mortogh
McMahon (the Attorney, later of Dromore)91. This suggests that there
may have been a
family connection
between the McMahons of Cloondanagh and the McMahons of
Clonina.
Terence McMahon married Elizabeth Hogan and had six sons and two daughters92. One of the daughters married John McNamara Esq, Attorney at Law, in 179293. Nothing is known of the other daughter. The eldest son was Andrew to whom his father bequeathed an annuity of 25 guineas in his will. Andrew survived his father by less than a year, dying on 3rd November 1797 aged 36, and was buried in the churchyard at Coad. The second son Terence married Anne Ryan in 1796 but had no children. Terence died in Dublin on 2nd March 1813. His widow died at Brompton, Kent, on 20th March 184894. The third son, Hugh, married but had no children when he died on 16th December 1804 aged 31. He too was buried at Coad. The fourth son was Timothy (Teigue) was 'of Corofin' when he married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Hickman of Newpark, in the Church of Ireland, Ennis on 20th August 180095. (The Hickman estates included Cappahard in the parish of Templemaley, adjoining Ennis). The marriage produced two daughters. Timothy died on 5th May 1804 aged 27 and was buried at Coad. The fifth son was Murtagh (Mortimer) who joined the 8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot of the British Army as an Ensign in 1804. His regiment was sent to Canada in 1808 and from there to the West Indies before returning to Canada. Mortimer fought in the War of 1812 against the Americans, was wounded in action and was captured and held prisoner until the war ended in late 1814. He was a Captain when his battalion was disbanded after the end of the war. He returned to Ireland in 1815 and assumed ownership of the lands which his father had acquired in 1780. Captain Mort M'Mahon had gravestones installed in the churchyard in Coad in memory of his father and his brothers who were buried there. On 9th June 1820 Mortimer married Catherine, eldest daughter of Ralph Morony Esq at Miltown Malbay96. In her claim for an officer's widow's pension Catherine MacMahon of Miltown Malbay said that her husband Mortimer MacMahon, late a Captain on half pay of the 8th Regiment of Foot died at Limerick on 2nd March 1842 aged 60. The sixth son was Donagh (Donatus, Donat) who entered Kings Inns as an apprentice Attorney in 1803. He was then 'of Cappahard'. Donat died unmarried at Corofin on 24th December 1816 aged 34 and was buried at Coad97.
Mortogh McMahon of Clonina.
Thomas McMahon and Elizabeth Meade had two sons, Mortogh and Andrew,
and a daughter Margaret. We know from the deeds and documents relating
to the marriage of Thomas McMahon and Elizabeth Meade that their eldest
son Mortogh was born in late 1726 or early 1727. When his father Thomas
died in 1740 Mortogh was still a minor and only inherited his father's
estates when he reached the age of 21.
Mortogh McMahon of Clonina married on 10th Aug 1750, Mary Ellen, daughter
of the late Charles (Sorley) James McDonnell of Kilkee and his wife Isobel
(Elizabeth),
daughter of Christopher O'Brien of Ennistymon. Brian O'Looney, writing a century
later, said that they married privately but Mortogh 'carried her off from Kilkee
against her mother's consent on the 6th September 1750'. Mary Ellen was known
as Máire Bán or Fair Mary. The McDonnells were noted patrons
of the Gaelic poets and Fair Mary's father Charles McDonnell had brought a
poet named Seán de Hóra from Co Cork to work for him as a blacksmith
at Kilkee. Charles died in 1743 and after Mortogh McMahon's marriage to Mary
McDonnell, de Hóra moved to Clonina to work for Mortogh and remained
there until after Mary's death in 1778. As well as other poems about the McDonnells
and the McMahons, de Hóra wrote two poems in Irish in honour of Mary
and Mortogh, 'Ar Phósadh Mháire Nic Dhomhnaill Chill Chaoi Muircheartach
Mac Mathghamhna na Cluainíneach', and 'Ar Mhuircheartach Mac Mathghamhna
na Cluainíneach agus ar Mháire, a Bhean'. These are contained
in an anthology entitled 'Seán de hÓra' written by Brian Mac
Cumhghaill, who says that although Mortagh was 'a hard man' (fear cruaidh),
he had a great regard for de hÓra. Mac Cumhghaill says that Mary kept
an open house at Clonina for the Irish poets of Corca Baiscinn and quotes Eoghan Ó Comhraidhe
(Eugene O'Curry) in relation to 'Fair Mary' that "she was a very liberal
patroness of the Munster bards"98.
In the mid 19th century Major W E McDonnell of Newhall, a descendant
of the McDonnells of Kilkee, commissioned the eminent Irish scholar Brian Ó Luanaigh
(O'Looney) to compile a collection of poems in Irish by the poets of Clare
relating to the McDonnells. This, with English translations by O'Looney, was
published in 1863 under the title "Dánta Chlainne Domhnaill, A
collection of poems written on different occasions by the Clare bards in honour
of the MacDonnells of Kilkee and Killone in the county of Clare"99. Several
of these poems relate to 'Fair Mary' McDonnell and Mortogh McMahon and their
family.
In her book ''The Last Colonel of the Irish Brigade, Count O'Connell
and Old Irish Life at Home and Abroad 1745 – 1833'' (published in 1892), Mrs
Morgan John O'Connell writing about Mary Ellen McMahon née McDonnell
says that "No stone of either the ancient castle or more modern house
of Clonina where she dwelt, is now to be seen but the most vivid tradition
of 'Fair Mary' still exists in West Clare. ... She was the daughter of important
people — Charles McDonnell of Kilkee, and Isabel O'Brien of the great
house of Ennistymon. Tiege (recte Mortogh) McMahon, of Clonina, who loved her,
had only a long pedigree, a dismantled castle, and an impoverished estate.
She was a famous rider, and he once saved her life out hunting when her horse
bungled at a great leap; and soon after discovered his love to her. Her parents
refused his suit; the lovers eloped, and not only lived happily evermore, like
lovers in a story, but Fair Mary was renowned for her piety, charity, and noble
life".
Mary died at relatively young age at Cahircalla in August 1778. Her
death was reported in the Dublin Evening Post of 29th August 1778: 'In
Cahircalla, near Ennis, the wife of Morti M'Mahon Esq, of Clonina'. The
Hibernian Journal of 31st August 1778 also reported her death: 'At Cahircalla,
near Ennis, Mrs M'Mahon, wife of Morris (sic) M'Mahon Esq of Clonina,
and only sister of the late Charles McDonnell of Newhall Esq'.
When Mary died no fewer than three poets composed laments in Irish on
her passing. They were Seán Lúid (Lloyd) who wrote 'Ar
bhás Mháire
Bhán Ní Mhic Domhnaill; bean-phósda Mhuircheartaigh Uí Mhathghamhna,
Chluain-an-fhíona' , Tomás Ó Miodhcháin and Séamus
Mac Consaidín. Ó Miodhcháin's poem was written in reply
to Lúid's lament, and O'Looney translates the introduction to Ó Miodhcháin's
poem as "on receiving the foregoing elegy from his beloved friend
... John Lloyd". There is no record of any poem written by Seán de
hÓra
on the occasion of Mary's death. Possibly this was because he himself may have
been
ill at the time as he died about two years later.
The 1778 will of Mary's brother Charles McDonnell named Thomas, Charles
and Murtogh McMahon as the first, second and third sons of his sister
Mary Ellen, wife of Murtogh McMahon. We also know that Mortogh and Mary
had one daughter named Margaret.
Burkes Landed Gentry of Ireland says that Daniel O'Donoghue, The O'Donoghue
of the Glens in Co Kerry, married in 1773 Margaret (died November 1788), only
surviving child of Murtogh McMahon of Clonina, Co Clare by Mary McDonnell his
wife. The Ennis Chronicle of 8th December 1788 reported the death on the 28th
ult (November) at Killarney of the lady of O'Donoghue, only daughter of Mortaugh
M'Mahon of Clonena in this county and niece of the late Charles McDonnell.
Seán de hÓra composed a poem 'Do Ó Donnchadha na Fleisce'
on the occasion of Margaret's marriage, which tells us that the marriage took
place in Carrigaholt. He also composed a poem 'A Shéarlais Óig,
a Ghrádh Uí Donnchadha' on the occasion of the birth of the couple's
first son.
After Mortogh and Mary married, Mortogh and his brother Andrew executed
a deed in 1752 which recited that their father Thomas, in his deed dated
the 5th of April 1729, had made a charge of £2000 on the lands
which his eldest son was to inherit100.
The charge was to provide for the payment of £1000 each to his younger children. Mortagh and Andrew
agreed that sufficient of the lands could be sold or mortgaged to provide
for the payment of the several debts owed by Thomas or which Mortagh
still owed, plus £1000 due to Joseph England who had lately married
their only sister Margaret, plus £1000 to which Andrew was entitled.
The deed went on to recite that Mortagh was entitled to settle any reasonable
jointure on his wife and also to charge the lands with a sum not exceeding £3000
in respect of any younger children. In the event that Mortogh had no
(living) male issue the lands were to devolve to Andrew for his lifetime
and thereafter to the use of the first and every other son of Andrew.
Unlike his father, Mortogh did not embark on any further land acquisitions
but in 1754 he surrendered the lease which he held on most of the lands of
Kiltumper and agreed a new lease for lives, renewable forever, with John Westropp
of Lismeehan (sic)101.
There is no evidence that Mortogh was extravagant in his lifestyle but
he seems to have had severe financial difficulties in the 1780s, probably
in part due
to having inherited large debts. By this time his wife was dead. His third
son Mortogh junior seems to have died at a very young age but his other sons
Thomas and Charles were now grown men and perhaps they were not as prudent
in their financial affairs as their father. A document in the Studdert Papers
dated 1784 tells us that Mortogh and his eldest son Thomas were in debt to
John and James Woulfe of Cahirush in Kilmurry Ibrickan102.
They both executed joint bonds and warranties each in the sum of £400
in favour of the Woulfes. Mortogh's nephew D Arthur England was a witness to
the document.
By 1787 Mortogh was in further difficulties according to a Legal Notice in
Saunder's News-Letter of 10th October 1787:
'Stephen Roche John, Assignee of William Ford & John Connor, Administrators
of Patrick Flynn, deceased, Custodee, Plaintiff. Murtagh McMahon Esq Defendant.
Whereas by order made in this Cause, dated the 10th day of July instant,
the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is required to set by public Cant to the
highest & fairest
Bidder the House and Demesne Lands of Clonina in the County of Clare, the
Estate of the Defendant, and granted in Custodium to the Plaintiff for three
Years
from the first day of May last, if Plaintiff's Interest shall so long continue.
... Dated this tenth day of July 1787'. Mortogh seems to have been able to
discharge the debt in time to prevent the sale.
At this time Mortogh was in debt to William Rice of Ennis and his son Stephen
in the amount of £400 plus a large sum in intersts and costs. Mortogh's
kinsman Christopher O'Brien of Ennistymon was guarantor for the loan and
in this capacity was sued for the debt. On 1st December 1782 Mortogh, in
order
to indemnify O'Brien, executed an indenture in which he transferred ownership
to O'Brien of all 'the timber, woods and underwoods standing and growing
in and upon the Town and Lands of Clonina and Clonwhite'. The agreement was
effective
until 1st May 1790 and allowed O'Brien's workmen and servants to enter the
lands with horses and carts and carriages and to erect sheds or conveniences
necessary to cut and carry away the timber. O'Brien was to utilise the money
realised from the sale of the timber, less the costs involved, to discharge
the debt, and any surplus was to revert to Mortogh103.
All three sons of Mortogh McMahon and his wife Mary Ellen died young
and unmarried. The only mention of Mortogh Junior, the youngest, is
in the 1767
will of his
maternal uncle Charles McDonnell. In his will written in 1795 Mortogh Snr
mentioned his late sons Thomas and Charles but not Mortogh Jnr, which might
suggest that
the latter had died in childhood many years earlier.
The will of Charles McMahon of Cloning (sic) with the date 1790 is listed
in the Silles Kelly Abstracts/490, Index to Irish Wills 1484/1858104.
Ennis Chronicle Monday 2 April 1792: 'Died on Friday last (30 March)
after a lingering illness, Thomas M'Mahon Esq, only son of Mort M'Mahon
of Clonina
Esq.' Obviously Thomas was the last surviving son of Mortogh and Mary.
Following the death of the last of his three sons, Mortogh McMahon
transferred his lands to his brother Andrew's eldest son Thomas as per
the following deed which is preserved in the Studdert Papers in the NLI:
This Indenture made the 5th day of April 1792 between Mortagh McMahon of Clonina
in the County of Clare Esq of the one part Andrew McMahon of the City of Limerick
Esq of the second part and Thomas McMahon late of the City of Bath in the United
Kingdom of Great Britain but now of the City of Limerick and eldest son and
heir at law of the said Andrew of the third part.
Whereas the said Mortogh McMahon now stands seized and possessed of and entitled
unto, for and during the term of his natural life with remainder to the said
Andrew McMahon and his heirs of and in all that and those te towns and lands
of Clonina, Clonwhite, Clonwhiterue, Creagh, Leytrim, Shayn, Killtumper, Cragg,
Cloinegoulane, Deer island, Ballintlea, Fodry, Ballyasshie, and Cloughanemore,
together with their several subdenomitations and appurtenances, situate lying
and being in the county of Clare aforesaid, which lands and premises are lyable
to and chargeable with several debts and incumbrances due of the said Mortagh
McMahon. And whereas the said Mortagh McMahon and Andrew McMahon have mutually
agreed to grant assign transfer and convey the several towns lands premises
and tenements and all the estates as they or either of them have or are entitled
to therein unto the said Thomas McMahon for the consideration hereinafter mentioned.
Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Mortagh McMahon and Andrew McMahon
for and in consideration of Five Shillings apiece to them respectively in hand
paid by the said Thomas McMahon, the receipt thereof they hereby respectively
acknowledge and thereof and of every part thereof do hereby and respectively
acquit release and discharge the said Thomas McMahon his heirs and assigns
respectively forever by these presents and for divers other causes and considerations
them the said Mortagh McMahon and Andrew McMahon thereunto moving have and
each of them respectively hath granted bargained sold released and confirmed
And by these presents do and each of them doth respectively grant bargain sell
release and confirm unto the said Thomas McMahon all that and those the aforesaid
towns and lands of Clonina, Clonwhite, Clonwhiterue, Creagh, Leytrim, Shayn,
Killtumper, Cragg, Cloinegoulane, Deer island, Ballintlea, Fodry, Ballyasshie,
and Cloughanemore, with their several subdenominations and appurtenances situate
lying and being in the county of Clare aforesaid all which said lands tenements
and premises are now in the possession of the said Thomas McMahon by virtue
of a bargain and sale to him thereof made by the said Mortagh McMahon and Andrew
McMahon for the term of a whole year by Indenture bearing date the day next
before the day of the date of these presents and by force and virtue of the
Statute for transferring use into possession and to his heirs and assigns and
the reversion and reversions remainder and remainders yearly and other rents
issues and profits thereof and all the Estate, right title interest use property
claim and demand whatsoever both at law and in Equity of them the said Mortagh
McMahon and Andrew McMahon in to or out of the said lands and tenements and
premises to have and to hold the said towns lands tenements and premises hereinbefore
mentioned ... and the said Thomas McMahon doth hereby for himself his heirs
and assigns for the consideration aforesaid, covenant promise and agree and
with the said Mortagh McMahon that he the said Thomas McMahon shall and will
yearly and every year during the therm of the natural life of the said Mortagh
McMahon pay one annuity yearly rent or sum of One Hundred and Seventy Pounds
Stg in two half yearly payments.
The quantities of land involved in the transfer were very substantial. Most
were located in the parishes of Kilmacduane and Kilmihil and other lands were
located in the parishes of Kilchreest, Kilfintinan, Kilballyowen and Kilnamona.
Mortogh McMahon executed four wills dated 1795, 1797, 1803 and 1808,
copies of which are in the National Library of Ireland, although these
are quite badly damaged105.
We know from them that Mortogh was in poor health for many years and
that he had been faithfully
served for the fifteen
years prior to 1795 by a woman called Honora Learhinan (or Lernihan)
who, he said, had often saved his life, and who continued to look after
him up to the time of his death thirteen years later. On 18th July 1793
at Mortogh's instigation, his nephew Thomas had demised and set to Honora
Learanan part of Rinebane being part of Clonina for the term of 99 years
from the date of Mortogh's death at a yearly rent of 5 shillings during
her lifetime106. In further
recognition of her services, in each of the first two wills he bequeathed
to her a
farm at Rehy from the letting
of which she was to derive the profits. He also bequeathed her all the
furniture and fixtures in his house. Mortogh was good to his word, as
a note in the Studdert Papers in the National Library of Ireland tells
us that on 25th June 1803 Mortogh McMahon of Clonina made an indenture
whereby he demised Rehy Park to Honora Learhinane for three lives and
after the longest liver of them for ninety nine years at a rent of £10
per annum107.
In the 1795 will Mortogh stipulated that he wished his body to be deposited
in his family vault at Kilmichael and that the remains of his dearly beloved
wife Mary McDonnell, his sons Thomas and Charles McMahon, Joseph England, and
his sister and mother should be exhumed and put into the vault on its being
opened for his interment. Although the page is badly damaged, the 1795 will
appears to be signed and sealed. In his second will in 1797 he did not mention
his sister and his mother but added that the remains of his late brother Andrew
should also be reinterred in the vault. It is difficult to be certain if this
will was signed and sealed as the bottom of the page is much damaged and illegible.
Strangely no trace is now to be found of a McMahon vault in the old graveyard
in Kilmihil. It seems certain that Mortogh's wife and sons would have been
interred in the vault had it been built at the time of their deaths, likewise
his brother in law Joseph England and Mortogh's brother Andrew who died in
1796. This raises the possibility that Mortogh had intended having a vault
constructed for his family but that it was never built.
In his will of 1803 Mortogh stated that he desired 'to make reparation to my
well beloved Grandson Charles O'Donoghue of (blank) Esq for having
from the Imbarrassed (sic) situation of my affairs & misrepresentation
at the time made to me some acts to the prejudice of my sd Grandson ...'. Mortogh
went
on to say that 'Being Seized & Possessed of all that & those the Town
and Lands of Clonina, Creigh, Clonwhite with all and singular the several subdenominations
thereunto belonging, Shyans, Leitrim, Cloongoulane, The Craggs, Ballyashea & Ballintlea
with all and singular the several and respective subdenominations to them belonging,
the Farm and Lands of Killtumper ... and not conveyed or introduced (in) my
marriage settlement all which lands & premises & every (page torn,
word missing) thereof I leave (illegible) & bequeath unto
my sd well (beloved
Grands) on Charles O'Donoghue & to his heirs & assigns (page
torn, several words missing) subject nevertheless to one Annuity or yearly sum (of)
Fifty
Pounds to be issuing and payable out of all & (illegible) the sd several
Lands & premises and payable unto Honora Learnan for and during the Term
of her natural life ...'. There are no witnesses signature to this document
and there is a note underneath saying: 'A part a copy of my will in the hands
of Charles O'Donoghue Esq of Summerhill, County Kerry'.
The bequest to Charles O'Donoghue is quite puzzling as Mortogh had transferred
ownership of all these lands to his nephew Col Thomas McMahon in 1792.
Mortagh's last will was dated 12th May 1808. It is very brief, and in it Mortagh
bequeathed three guineas to Bridget Hoare and he stipulated that John Ryan
was to get a reasonable allowance for his service108. As in his previous wills,
he again stated his gratitude to Honora Learnan/Lernihan for her attendance
and care and bequeathed to her the entire of his furniture and any part that
remains or appears due of his annuity. This document was signed by Mortogh
and was witnessed by Patk Kelly Mathw Madigan Michl Learhan.
Mortogh died at Clonina on 30th May 1808. He was aged 81. The Ennis Chronicle of 4th June reported his death.
Margaret, daughter of Thomas McMahon and Elizabeth Meade, was 'lately
married' to Joseph England in 1752 when her brothers Mortogh and Andrew
executed a deed in connection with their inheritance. Joseph was entitled
to £1000 which his wife was to receive under the terms of the deed
which was executed by her father in 1729 following his marriage.
The Englands were originally Catholic but had converted to Protestantism. Joseph
England of Cahircalla, Ennis, was High Sheriff of Clare in 1752. In the same
year his wife's uncle Mortogh McMahon of Dromore appointed him as one of the
executors of his will. Joseph later held lands adjoining Mortogh's at Dromore.
We know of three children of Joseph and Margaret. Their son David Arthur England
was High Sheriff of Clare in 1817. Their daughter Elizabeth married William
Johnson of Fort William, Co Limerick, at Cahircalla in 1771109.
Joseph England died in January 1779110.
Margaret died at Cahircalla on 15th November 1807111.
Andrew McMahon of Clonina and Limerick
We know that Andrew was the younger and only brother of Mortogh who
married Mary Ellen McDonnell in 1750. We also know that he was 'of Limerick'
in 1749 (Memorial No 100689 McMahon to McMahon).
In 1755 Stanislaus McMahon of Clenagh Esq did demise set and to farm let to
Andrew McMahon of the City of Limerick Gent the Lands of Crossderry in the
Parish of Killdisart Barony of Clonderla for a term of ninety nine years112.
Andrew had at least one daughter named Mary who died on 23rd March 1773
at Cahircalla, Ennis, the home of Andrew's sister Margaret, wife of Joseph
England113.
We also know that Andrew had a son named Thomas.
Lucas's Directory of 1788 lists Andrew McMahon Esq as Surveyor in the Pool,
Limerick. This was a Revenue position and it was probably necessary for the
holder to be a Protestant. The name Andrew McMahon appears in the Catholic
Qualification & Convert Rolls with the date 1788. His place of residence
is not recorded and therefore it is not certain if this was Andrew of Limerick.
The Catholic Relief Acts from 1778 onwards removed many obstacles facing
Catholics provided they took an oath of allegiance to the Crown but, on balance,
it seems
more likely that Andrew was a convert to Protestantism.
On 17th March 1796 the Ennis Chronicle reported the death near Kilrush of
Andrew M'Mahon Esq, formerly Surveyor of Limerick114.
There is no record in any of the
Limerick City Church of Ireland parishes of the baptisms of any children
of Andrew. This may suggest that his children were born at Crossderry and
it is
possible that Andrew lived there for some years before returning to Limerick.
It is not known for how long prior to 1788 that Andrew held the position
of Surveyor in Limerick. It is also possible that the location where he
died 'near
Kilrush' was actually Crossderry near Kildysart, although it is more likely
to have been at his brother's house at Clonina.
Colonel Thomas McMahon and his Family
Thomas is the only son of Andrew McMahon of Limerick of whom we know.
It seems certain that he was reared as a Protestant115.
Thomas joined the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot. This regiment
was formed in 1689
and a century later the rank and file were mainly Catholic Irish but
the officers were exclusively Protestant. The London Gazette noted the
announcement by the War Office of the promotion on 10th July 1800 by
Brevet of Captain Thomas MacMahon of the 27th Foot to be Major in the
Army. Promotions by Brevet were unusual and were normally only made as
a reward for gallantry or meritorious conduct. Shortly afterwards he
was promoted again as The Royal & Imperial Calendar of 1801 lists
Thomas M'Mahon as a Lt Colonel of the 27th Foot. We know little about
Thomas's military career but the 27th were involved in many theatres
during the Napoleonic Wars including the West Indies, Egypt, Portugal
and Spain, and it must be assumed that Thomas saw much action at this
time.
As would be expected of a serving officer in the British Army, Thomas
was constantly on the move. He was 'late of the City of Bath ... but
now of the City of Limerick'
in April 1792 when his uncle Mortogh McMahon transferred ownership of most
of his estates to him.
Captain Thomas McMahon of Limerick married Miss Mary Scott of Clifton, Gloucestershire,
at Hotwells, Bristol, on 9th Nov 1792. Clifton is a suburb of Bristol and is
only 13 miles from Bath. In later life Mary referred to herself as Maria.
Thomas McMahon held a house for a number of years at Moatfield, Co Kildare,
possibly because of its relative proximity to the Curragh military base116.
He was 'of Moatfield' in 1795 when he executed a deed of lease for lives to
James McNamara of Lispuccane of the lands of Ballintlea in the Barony
of Bunratty
already in his possession117.
A few weeks later Thomas executed a deed of mortgage in favour of Thomas
Brew of Teigrouge, Co Clare,
in respect of the sum
of £400
charged on the farm and lands of Ballintlea. A month later he executed
a deed of annuity or rent charge in the sum of £74 per annum in
favour of Thomas Brew against the lands of Ballintlea for as long as
the mortgage
of £400
plus interest remained unpaid118.
Moatfield was attacked by the rebels during the Rising of 1798. Captain
Thomas McMahon was 'of Southampton' when he claimed the sum of £500
in respect of damage and loss to the house, furniture and corn.
Thomas was resident at Newcourt, Bray, Co Wicklow by 1802 when the Ennis
Chronicle of 4th November reported the birth of his son. Edward, son of
Col Thomas McMahon
of Old Connough (sic) was baptised on 27th Oct 1802 in the Church of Ireland
(St Paul's), Bray. The entry in the parish records states that Edward was
the fourth son of Lt Col McMahon of the 27th Regt.
The Clare Journal of 7th September 1809 reported the 'Birth: Last Wednesday
in Cork street at the house of MN Keating Esq, the lady of Lt Colonel McMahon
of a daughter'.
It appears that by around 1815 Col Thomas McMahon was under considerable
financial pressure and the Clonina estate was heavily encumbered by debt.
This was an era when many of the Irish landed gentry lived well beyond
their means and it seems that the Colonel needed to raise substantial
sums of money to fund his lifestyle and to discharge the debts charged
against the estate. On 1st May 1816 a Bill was filed in the Court of
Exchequer in Dublin by Jane Ormsby O'Beirne against the Colonel, his
wife Maria and their eldest son Thomas. The knowledge that this Bill
was about to be filed against him seems to have caused the Colonel to
embark on a series of legal manouevres to stabilise his financial position
and also to lease out a substantial portion of the Clonina estate to
one lessee.
On 15th August 1815 an Indented Deed was executed between Thomas McMahon
the elder of New Court, his eldest son Thomas McMahon the younger of
the first
part, John Scott of Newry, Co Down and Charles Benson Barrister at Law of Dublin
City of the second part, and David Arthur England of Cahircalla Co Clare and
Wm Richards of Co Wexford of the third part119.
The deed referred to the marriage settlement dated 8th November 1792 of Thomas
McMahon the elder
and Mary McMahon
his present wife120. The settlement
involved all of Thomas's lands in Co Clare other than the lands of Ballintlea,
Clonina,
Clonegolin, Cragg, Kiltumper,
Leytrim, Shyan, Creugh and Ballyashea. The settlement provided for a jointure
of £300 per year in favour of Mary. The children of Thomas and Mary
were named as Thomas the younger who was the firstborn, Robert Andrew the
second,
William Warburton the third, Edward the fourth and John the fifth son.
Their only daughter was named as Maria. Thomas McMahon the elder and Thomas
McMahon
the younger conveyed the lands of Clonina, Clonegalin, Cragg, Kiltumper,
Leitrim, Creigh and none other to John Scott and Charles Benson in trust
to Thomas McMahon
the elder for life with remainder to Thomas the younger for life and to
his male issue and in default of such to the younger brothers and their
male
issue and in default of such issue to their sister Maria and her heirs.
By which
deed the lands were vested in David Arthur England and Wm Richards their
heirs etc for a term of 500 years. Thomas the elder and Thomas the younger
were given
the power to raise up to £5000 to be secured against the lands to
provide for the younger children. By the same deed it was agreed that the
lands of
Shyan and Ballyashea were to be conveyed for natural considerations to
Cornelius O'Callaghan of Dublin, his heirs and assigns. This agreement
was put into
effect in February 1816.
On 19th February 1816 Revd Thos Smyth of the City of Dublin, Thos McMahon
the elder heretofore of Clonina but now of New Court and Maria McMahon
orse Scott
his wife, Thos McMahon the younger, John McDonnell of New Hall, Cornelius
O'Brien of the City of Dublin and Cornelius O'Callaghan of Ballinahinch,
Co Clare were
among nine parties to an indented deed in which was recited a Decree of
the Court of Exchequer wherein Thos Smyth was the Petitioner and Thos McMahon,
his wife, his eldest son and others were the Defendants, and by which decree
Thos McMahon the elder and Thos McMahon the younger for the consideration
therein mentioned did grant and convey to Cornelius O'Callaghan his heirs
and assigns
forever the lands of Shyan, Ballyashea, and further the said Thos Smyth
did
by this deed and with the desire and request of Thos McMahon the elder
and the younger and of Cornelius O'Callaghan assign and convey to Cornelius
O'Brien
the said Decree and money thereby decreed to be paid to Thos Smyth as trustee
of Thos McMahon the elder, the better to protect the said Cornelius O'Callaghan
his heirs and assigns in the quiet enjoyment of the said purchased lands
of Shyan and Ballyashea121.
On 3rd May 1753 Mortough McMahon of Clonina executed a deed of mortgage
to Mrs Mary Burton secured against the lands of Shyan, Creigh, Clonina,
Clonwhite,
Leitrim, Cragclonborney, Ballyashea, Trough and other lands, with a condition
of redemption. The deed was registered on 26th Jan 1758. On 6th September
1766 Mary Burton assigned the mortgage to Charles McDonnell; this deed
was registered
on 17th November. The mortgage subsequently became vested in John McDonnell,
grandson of Charles. In an Indented Deed dated 12th March 1816, John, by
and with the consent and connivance of Thomas McMahon of Clonina but now
of New
Court and Cornelius O'Callaghan of Ballinahinch Co Clare did for the consideration
therein mentioned assign and convey the said mortgage ... to the said Cornelius
O'Brien of Dublin City'122.
It will be noted that Thomas had conveyed the lands of Shyan and Ballyashea
to O'Callaghan the previous August.
On 6th October 1815 Thomas McMahon the Elder of Newcourt, Co Wicklow
and Thomas McMahon the Younger his son, Lieutenant in His Majesties Wicklow
Regiment of
Militia, executed two indented deeds of lease in favour of the Revd Patrick
O'Kelly of Clonreddan, Co Clare123.
In the first the McMahons for the consideration mentioned in the deed,
demised granted and confirmed to Fr O'Kelly his
heirs and assigns forever, the farm and lands of West Creigh part of
the
lands
of Clonina in the Parish of Kilmacduane containing by estimation 300
acres as
are now in the occupation and possession of said Patrick O'Kelly. In
the second deed the McMahons demised released and confirmed to Fr O'Kelly
his
heirs and
assigns forever, the Deerpark and Orchard of Leitrim containing by estimation
40 acres then in the occupation and possession of said Patrick O'Kelly
and also three other denominations of land totalling 110 acres, also
part of
the lands of Leitrim, which had been occupied by three tenants. The leases
were
subject to the payments of the agreed rents124.
From these deeds it appears that Fr O'Kelly had occupied the demesne
lands of Clonina for some time
as a tenant
of Thomas McMahon, probably from soon after the death of Thomas the Elder's
uncle Mortogh McMahon in 1808.
In a third lease dated 6th July 1816 Thomas McMahon the elder of New
Court, Co Wicklow Esq and his son Thomas McMahon the younger Esq, late
Lieutenant
in His Majesty's Wicklow Regiment of Militia executed an Indenture of
Lease to the Revd Patrick O'Kelly of Clonreddan, whereby the McMahons
for the
consideration therein mentioned 'did demise grant set and to farm let
unto the said Patrick
O'Kelly his heirs and assigns in his actual possession then being by
virtue of a Lease therein recited ... all that and those the farm and
lands of
Glanmore and Tourene Thomas, part of the lands of Kiltumper in the parish
of Kilmichael
... containing by estimation twelve hundred acres ... forever ... the
said Patrick O'Kelly paying therefore and thereout yearly ... the sum
of One
Hundred Pounds'. The excution of the memorial of the deed was witnessed
by Thomas
McMahon Snr's uncle in law David Arthur England of Ennis125.
The 'consideration therein
mentioned' is not specified. In a booklet written between 1941 and 1949,
'Kilmihil Parish, Its Origin and Scraps of its History' by Rev Patrick
Gaynor PP, the
author quotes an old man in the area as saying that the Priest Kelly
bought Cloneenagh from McMahon, who gambled and drank, for £400126.
Certainly the sum of £400 was a gross understatement and it is
likely that Fr O'Kelly paid several multiples of this to acquire the
lands. There is
no evidence
that the Colonel ever lived permanently at Clonina and, while he probably
visited
from time to time, it seems that he did not have any real affinity with
his patrimony.
Death: In Clonmel, Colonel M'Mahon of Clonina, County Clare, and Newcourt,
Co Wicklow, late of the 27th, and Barrack Master of that Town. (Saunder's
Newsletter 18th August 1818, and Ennis Chronicle 19 Aug 1818). The
Globe (London) reported on 20 Aug 1818: 'Death: On Sunday se'nnight, at Clonmel,
Lieutenant Colonel McMahon, of Clonina, county Clare, and Newcourt, county
Wicklow, late of the 27th Regiment. His remains were attended to the
grave by his three younger sons, chief mourners, and all the respectable
gentlemen of Clonmel'.
We know that Thomas had five sons and it seems likely that Thomas, the
eldest, who died two months after his father, was too ill to attend his
father's funeral. William Warburton, the third son, seems to have predeceased
his father.
Notice to Creditors: All persons having Charges or Encumbrances affecting the
Estates and Property of Colonel M'Mahon of Clonina in the County of Clare,
and New Court, Bray; and Thomas M'Mahon Esq his eldest son, are required to
furnish a Statement of the nature and amount of such claims to Richard Scott
Esq, Attorney for said Thomas M'Mahon. Dublin, Sept 23, 1818. (Dublin Evening
Post 10th October 1818).
Ennis Chronicle Wednesday 28th October 1818: 'Died last Monday morning at Cahircalla,
the seat of David Arthur England Esq, Thomas M'Mahon Esq of the 82nd Regt,
eldest son of the late Colonel McMahon of Clonena, in the 23rd year of his
age. He had been in a rapid decline for some time and but lately returned from
Mallow'.
The 82th Regiment sailed from Ramsgate for Ireland on board the Boadicea in
January 1816 and she and two other transports were all wrecked off the Waterford
and Cork coasts. The 82nd lost 280 men plus women and children drowned. The
82nd spent the next two years in Ireland. It seems that Thomas only joined
the 82nd after the regiment arrived in Ireland.
Clare Journal 26th April 1819: 'Death, at the seat of his brother, Newcourt,
Bray, in his 22nd year Robert Andrew M'Mahon Esq of the 80th Regt, son of the
late Col M'Mahon of Clonina'. The will of Robt Andrew McMahon, Clonina, with
the date 1827 is listed in the Prerogative Wills 1811-1858. The 80th Regiment
had only returned to England in 1817 after a long period in India so it appears
that Robert Andrew only joined the army then or soon after.
Southern Reporter & Cork Commercial Courier 9th January 1827: 'Death, at
Kilrush on Tuesday last (2nd Jan), in the bloom of life, Edmond McMahon Esq
of Clonina, whose open and generous heart possessed all the hereditary virtues
of his ancient family'. This was Edward, the fourth son, who was baptised in
Bray in October 1802. The will of Edmond McMahon of Newcourt, Co Dublin, is
listed in the Diocesan And Prerogative Wills & Administrations Indexes
1595-1858.
In Michaelmas Term 1825 Michael Studdert obtained a judgement in the Court
of Common Pleas against Edward McMahon of Clonina for the sum of £200.
The debt was not discharged before Edward's death and subsequently Michael
Studdert of Rehy Park became entitled to payment of the principal plus interest
following the sale of the freehold of the McMahon lands in 1843127.
The third of the four sons of Col Thomas McMahon who was alive at the
time of his father's death was John. On the 27th October 1827 John McMahon
Esq of Newcourt, Co Wicklow, executed a deed in which he is described
as the 'eldest son and heir at law of Thomas McMahon Esq deceased, and
also eldest brother now surviving and heir at law of Thomas McMahon and
Edward McMahon Esquires also deceased both late of Newcourt'128.
Whoever drafted the memorial of the deed seems to have been rather careless
as
John should have been described as the only surviving son of Thomas McMahon
Snr.
The memorial refers to the deed dated 6th October 1815 whereby Thomas
McMahon Snr and his son Thomas McMahon Jnr executed a deed of lease to
Revd Patrick
O'Kelly, Parish Priest of Kilmacduane, his heirs and assigns forever, of the
lands of Creigh under the yearly rent of One Hundred and Eighty Pounds Stg.
The memorial goes on to say that John McMahon agreed to reduce and abate the
rent to One Hundred and Ten Pounds Fifteen Shillings and Four Pence Halfpenny
with effect from 1st May 1827. The reason for the reduction is noted as 'the
great decrease in the value of land' since the date of the original lease,
and that 'the said yearly rent ... was too high ... and more than the value
thereof'. This dramatic fall in land values reflected the collapse of the price
of agricultural products following the ending of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815.
The witnesses to the deed were John McMahon's granduncle in law David Arthur
England of Ennis and Fr O'Kelly's brother in law, Thomas Gibson of Ballyvoe129.
Richard Scott of Ennis was a witness to the memorial. Scott was an attorney
who had offices in Dublin and who was to be found 'in Ennis during vacation'130.
John Scott of Newry was a party to a deed executed by Thomas McMahon in
August 1815. It will be noted that Thomas McMahon Snr's wife Mary/Maria
was née
Scott.
John McMahon must have died sometime between October 1827 and June 1832
as he was not mentioned in a court action in which his mother was named
in the
latter year. He may be the John McMahon of Sackville street, Dublin,whose
will dated 1830 is listed in the Ireland Diocesan and Prerogative Wills & Administrations
Indexes 1595-1858131.
The Bill which Jane Ormsby O'Beirne had filed in the Court of Exchequer in 1816 eventually resulted in a Decree to Account being pronounced on 7th June 1832 in which the Chief Remembrancer was charged with investigating the totality of the encumbrances against the lands. By this time Maria was the only defendant still alive. The Remembrancer found that Maria was entitled to two charges against the lands, one for £2000 and a second for £1000 with interest from the death of her late husband. On 18th June 1835 this totalled £5566.3s.1 3/4d present currency and a final decree for this sum was granted to Maria out of the sale of the lands directed to be sold. A further report by the Court Remembrancer found that Maria was also due in respect of her jointure and arrears the sum of £1251. 16s 11d, and on the 24th June 1835 the Court gave an order for the payment of this amount to Maria. On 3rd April 1837 Maria executed a deed of assignment of this amount to William Cullen, solicitor for Jane Ormsby O'Beirne, in settlement of all the latter's claims132.
Maria proceeded to borrow the sum of £200 at 6% interest from
Robert Studdert late of Mount Rivers Co Clare and then of Strokestown
Co Roscommon, Lieutenant in the Revenue Police. On 4th October 1838 Maria
executed a deed of assignment in favour of Robert Studdert in which the
loan was secured against part of the moneys due to Maria out of the sale
of the Clonina estate133.
An order was made by the Court on 14th June 1837 for the sale of the
lands of Clonina alias Clonwhite alias Clonwhiterue, Clonigallen, Cragg
alias Cragclounborna,
Leitrim, Creagh alias Clonetragh, and Kiltumper. The sale was arranged for
18th November 1837 and advertisements were placed in the newspapers134.
However the sale was postponed on a number of occasions and the auction eventually
took place on 29th May 1843135.
The purchase of the freehold of the lands was completed by John Vandeleur
Stewart on 10th June
1843 and he then became
entitled to the head rents payable under the terms of the leases. Stewart's
maternal
aunt was the wife of John Ormsby Vandeleur of Kilrush. Stewart paid the
sum of £17,500 for the freehold of the lands. This was more than
sufficient to cover all the encumbrances and charges on the property.
By a conveyance of lease and release dated 29th November 1843 Maria McMahon
of New Court for the consideration of six hundred pounds transferred to
John O'Kelly the ownership of that part of the lands of Clonina known as
Rinebane
then in the possession of Michael Studdert and Honoria his wife plus an
adjoining area of bog already in the possession of John O'Kelly, subject
to a yearly
rent of 5 shillings136.
The deed states that Maria held these lands from the Earl of Thomond and
thus
they obviously were not included in the 1843 sale
of the
freehold title to the other lands of the Clonina estate. Michael Studdert
lived at Rehy Park near Carrigaholt which he seems to have acquired from
the family
of Honora Learnanan to whom Mortogh McMahon had demised the property
in 1803. Studdert seems to also have acquired the lands of Rinebane which
Mortogh's
nephew Thomas demised to Honora Learnanan in 1793. The lands of Rehy
Park
had been acquired by Dennis McMahon from Luke Hickman of Fenloe in 1731
on foot
of a lease of three lives renewable forever.
Died: At New Court, Wicklow, Maria, relict of Colonel Thomas M'Mahon, of Clonina, Clare, aged 78. (The Globe, London, 20th August 1847). Thus Maria was born c 1769 which suggests that she may have been rather younger than her husband. The deed of 15th August 1815 refers to Mary (Maria) as Thomas's present wife which may suggest that Thomas had been married previously. The Dublin Evening Mail of 3rd December 1847 advertised the sale by auction at Newcourt, Bray, of the furniture and household effects of the late Mrs Colonel McMahon.
The O'Kellys
Fr Patrick O'Kelly, eldest son of Michael Kelly and Margaret McMahon,
was born c1757 at Cloghaunbeg West, near Cree. His paternal grandparents
were Timothy
'Tadgh an Óir' O'Kelly and Honora Mahon. 'Tadgh an Óir' was said
to be a very wealthy man. Honora's sister married Timothy Kelly of Craggaknock
whose father Captain Patrick O'Kelly was slain at the Battle of Aughrim in
1691137. Both O'Kelly families
originated in Co Galway and were possibly already related. It is said that
Capt Patrick O'Kelly's first wife was a sister in
law of Daniel O'Brien, Lord Clare, who introduced this branch of the Kelly
family into Clare. Timothy Kelly of Craggaknock was a son of Capt O'Kelly
by his second wife, Elizabeth Reid.
Patrick O'Kelly was educated at the Irish College in Paris and left France
at the beginning of the French Revolution and returned to his native Clare.
For forty years he was the parish priest of the combined parishes of Kilmacduane
(Cooraclare) and Kilmihil. He was known as 'The Priest' Kelly, An Sagart
Uí Cheallaigh.
He inherited much of his grandfather's wealth and lands and had the financial
wherewithal to acquire the McMahon lands when they became available. When he
died on 31st January 1830 he was buried in the new church at Cree which he
had recently built at his own expense. After his death his estate was valued
at £6,750, a truly remarkable sum for a priest in pre-emancipation
Ireland.
Thomas Gibson, brother in law of Fr Patrick
O'Kelly, and John O'Kelly, nephew of Fr O'Kelly, were the executors
of Fr O'Kelly's
will138. On 1st
July 1850 a notice appeared in the Clare Journal under the heading 'Sale
of Incumbered Estates in Ireland. In the matter of the Estate of John
O'Kelly. Ex parte Thomas Gibson'. The notice stated that "by an
absolute Order, bearing date the 22nd Day of June 1850, it was ordered
that the Lands of Glanmore and Tooreen Thomas, Leitrim otherwise Laytram,
situate in the Barony of Clonderalaw, County of Clare, and the House & Demesne
Lands of Clonina, the Farm & Lands of Clonina Wood, including Moneenavadra,
and that part of the Lands of Clonina commonly called Rhinebawn, situate
in the Barony of Moyarta & County of Clare, held respectively, under
leases in perpituity, shall be sold for the purpose of discharging the
incumbrances thereon".
The sale by auction of the 2169 acre estate of John O'Kelly, deceased,
Owner, continued in the name of James Patrick O'Kelly Esq, was advertised
to take place in Limerick on 3rd March 1855139.
John O'Kelly had died a few weeks earlier on 10th Feb. It is unclear
why Thomas Gibson had instituted
the proceedings but taken at face value it implies that John was indebted
to Thomas and that John's debts were so great that it was necessary to
sell his lands to discharge the debts.
The catalogue containing the rental and particulars of the lands, which were
to be sold in five lots, gives details of each lot and its constituent lands
with details of the leases under which they were held.
Lot 1. The lands of Glanmore and Tuoreen Thomas, being part of the lands of
Kiltumper, Barony of Clonderlaw, held under a fee farm grant made by Thomas
McMahon the Elder and Thomas McMahon the Younger to Rev Patrick O'Kelly, dated
6th July 1816, subject to a head rent of £100 late currency equivilant
to £92.6s.2d present currency. By his will dated 5th December 1856 and
a codicil dated 18th June 1829, Fr O'Kelly devised the said lands to John O'Kelly,
except a portion thereof called the West Division which Fr O'Kelly had devised
to his brother Thady Kelly; and except another portion called the Middle Division
of Glanmore which he had devised to his nephew Partick Kelly, son of Thady.
Lot 2. By a fee farm grant dated 29th November 1843 Maria McMahon of Newcourt
granted to John O'Kelly that part of the lands of Clonina called Rhinebane
then in the possession of Michael Studdert and Honoria his wife containing
66 acres 3 roods 38 perches and the piece of bog on the opposite side of the
road then in the occupation of John O'Kelly subject to a yearly rent of 5 Shillings.
Lot 3. The lands of Clonina Wood including Moneenavaddra, Barony of Moyarta,
held under a fee farm grant dated 15th August 1840 from Maria McMahon to John
O'Kelly and Michael Cullinan of Ennis (in trust for John O'Kelly) at a yearly
rent of £9.4s.7 1/2d140.
Lot 4. The lands of Leitrim in the parish of Kilmichael, Barony of
Clonderlaw, held under a fee farm grant made by Thomas McMahon
the Elder and Thomas McMahon
the Younger to Rev Patrick O'Kelly, dated 6th October 1815 at a yearly rent
of £42. Fr Partick O'Kelly by his will devised the lands of Leitrim
to John O'Kelly except a division of said lands containing about 30 acres
which
he devised to his brother Thady Kelly, who resided there.
Lot 5. The lands of Clonina called the House and Demesne Lands held under
a fee farm grant dated 15th August 1840 made by Maria McMahon of New Court,
widow
of Colonel Thomas McMahon, to John O'Kelly and Michael Cullinan (in trust
for John O'Kelly).
The lands of Clonina were bought by Thomas Gibson's son in law Pat Mór
O'Kelly of Fortview, nephew of Fr Patrick O'Kelly and first cousin of John
O'Kelly141.
Image
5: Swords from the Williamite Wars.
These swords belonged to Thomas
Gibson's ancestor Captain Thomas Gibson who fought at the Battle of the
Boyne on the side of King William.
Conclusion
The story of the McMahons of Clonina is not untypical of that of similar families of the old Gaelic aristocracy. For a century or more after Henry VIII made his big push to bring Gaelic Ireland under English control, they fought a rearguard action to save their ancestral lands, culture and religion. Many lost much or all of their lands in the Cromwellian confiscations of the 1650s. The final throw of the dice for them was when they staked everything in the cause of the Catholic King James II. A few lines of the song "After Aughrim" sums up their situation: "After Aughrim's great disaster, when our foe in sooth was master, ... and Seán ÓDuibhír a' Ghleanna we were worsted in the game". Most of the estates of the Gaelic nobility were forfieted to the English Crown and came into the possession of the supporters of the Protestant King William. The ink in which the Treaty of Limerick was written in 1691 was scarcely dry when the treaty was broken and the harsh Penal Laws against Catholics were introduced. Only a few Jacobite families managed to retain their lands in spite of the measures introduced in the Penal Laws specifically aimed at making it virtually impossible for Catholics to own or hold land on long leases. A small number of families like the McMahons managed to circumvent these laws and some of these continued to maintain some semblance of the old culture and way of life. We see this in the patronage afforded by Máire Bán McMahon (née McDonnell) to the Gaelic poets of West Clare up to the end of the third quarter of the 18th century. From the middle of that century and following the defeat of the Scottish Jacobites at Culloden, families like the McMahons reluctantly accepted the de facto authority of the Hanoverian monarchy. Many of the Penal Laws were rescinded towards the end of the 18th century and Catholics were allowed to hold commissioned rank in the British Army in 1793. Thereafter many members of the old Irish Catholic gentry felt able to join the Army although some such as Colonel Thomas McMahon had already converted to Protestantism. The Colonel must have felt that the descent of his family's estate was secure when he fathered five sons, but their early deaths together with financial pressures meant that this was not to be. This branch of the McMahons thus became extinct in the male line and the connection of the family with Clonina came to an end.
Image
6: The Island in Knockalough Lake. Photo courtesy of Martin Breen.
