MARYBROOK.
89
•
It is said the ghosts of Capt. Jephson and Miss Norreys walk on the
avenue under the ruin of an evening, and lights are seen in the windows
of the old castle.
There are also stories of the Banshee and the Headless Coach.
I find in my father's family notebook : Sir Thomas Norreys succeeded
his brother, Sir John Norreys, to whom Elizabeth gave first the office of
Lord President of Munster. Sir Thomas had an only daughter Elizabeth,
who married Captain Jephson, of Froyle, Hants. Sir Thomas was made
Lord Justice of Ireland, 1598, in which year he returned to Mallow to
quell the rebels; in 1599 he was killed by them and died at Mallow.
In 1584 the custody of Castle, lands, woods and fisheries, was granted
during pleasure (see in Auditor's General Office) to Sir John Norreys.
Queen Elizabeth granted to the family certain privileges, also King James
I. But William Jephson was active against James II., who revoked these
privileges, and Mallow was burnt and depopulated.
There is a note saying the old Bridge over the " F o r d " was built in
1661-1692. The castle commanded the Ford.
Sir Thomas Jephson succeeded his brother Sir John as President of
Munster, 1585.
Both being sons of Lord. Norreys, of Ricot.
The pedigrees of the Norreys and Jephson Families of Mallow Castle
are given by Dr. Henry F . Berry, D . L i t t , I.S.O., in his " English Settlement in Mallow under the Jephson Family," Journal for 1906, p. 1 et seq.
Also see Burke's "Landed Gentry" (Ireland), and Burke's " B a r o n e t a g e . "
•
Marybrook.
Sheet 2$y 6-inch O.S. Sheet 175, i-inch O.S.
Barony of Duhallow. Parish of Kilbrin.
The townland of Marybrook contains 171a. or. 7p. In 1881 the pop.
was 23, and val. ^ 1 5 6 10s. od. (Guy).
It lies about 4 miles, by road, N . E . of Kanturk.
What was the old Irish name for this townland? I see on the Down
r
Survey that the following townlands w ere near this place, viz., Ballyvushine,
Garan, Subulter, Ballyhusty.
In 1814. Edward H. Reardon, Esq., resided here (S.D.N.P.).
By Lewis (pub. 1837) E. Reardon, Esq., was here.
Dr. G. Bolster, R . N . , of Springville, Kanturk, who takes much interest in local research, informs me that a former occupant of Marybrook
had a lease of the place granted to him by Bartholomew Gibbings, Esq.,
01 Cork, in 1851, and that according to local belief, the house was built by
the Gibbings family.
The house is well built, with two upper floors and high gabled. Sixty
acres go with the building.
Under the house is a very fine
m here are still (1905) three fine orchards.
spring well, the water coming out of the solid rock.
is stated that in former days potheen was manufactured here,
he pond, in front of the house was much larger formerly, a part having
•
•
90
HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
On visiting Marybrook in 1905, in company with Dr. Bolster, R.N.,
J . P . , I heard the following anecdote:—Mr. Reardon, who was known as
an enthusiastic sportsman, had a party here one evening. He made a
bet with one of his guests that he had a pony in his stable that would jump
over the dining table at which they sat, and in doing so would not disturb
any of the glasses nor the whiskey on the table, and that a boy would ride
him.
The bet was taken. A boy rode the pony into the room, jumped over
the table, clearing everything, a n d the bet was won by Mr. Reardon. The
cheering of the convivial party frightened the pony, who bolted for the
door, dashed through, and the rider's head striking against the lintel, his
skull was smashed, and the poor boy was killed on the spot.
The Kilshannig (C. of I.) Parish Registry gives the marriage of
Francis Crossley, of Marybrook, in co. Cork, and Elizabeth Gardiner, of
Mallow, on 24th March, 1824.
The Field Book of 1838 gives:—''Marybrook House. A good house,
with woods round it. Mr. Edward Henrick Reardon, proprietor.
"Marybrook Townland.—This is a middle-sized townland, nearly all
arable, about half demesne. It contains a gentleman's house and premises,
one Danish fort, a remarkable stone, some limestone quarries, and three
ponds." (Ord. Sur. Off., Dub.)
About 1845, I am informed, that Mr. Patrick O'Connell lived here. He
succeeded Mr. Edward Henrick Reardon. Mr. Patrick O'Connell died
about 1900.
According to Guy, the following have occupied the house :•
*875. John O'Connell and James Hennessy (under Kanturk).
1886. John and Patrick O'Connell and James Hennessy (under Kanturk).
1896. Patrick O'Connell (under Castlecor).
1899. Thomas Hennessy and Thomas Cronin (under CastlecorV
1909. Thomas Hennessy and Thomas Cronin (under Castlecor).
Mr. Thomas Hennessy occupies a farm, part of the townland of Marybrook. His family have been in possession of it for many years.
The present occupier of Marybrook House (1909), Mr. Thomas Cronin,
married the niece and heiress of the late Mr. Patrick O'Connell.
The present landlord (1909) is Capt. Lowe, who succeeded his father
Mr. Frank Wyse Lowe, of Killshane, Co. Tipperary.
Dr. G. Bolster further adds (1910):—"The tenants now hold under
agreement to purchase. The 'remarkable stone,' mentioned in the Field
Book of 1838, stands in a level field, some two miles distant from the house,
direction west.
There are really two stones about 3 feet apart.
On
approaching from the road, one sees a rugged cone over six feet high,
with about 12 feet circumference; beyond this there is the 'altar stone,
flat, a rough triangle with flattened apex, about 3 feet high, length 5 feet,
breadth 3 feet.
There is a tradition that it was used in the time of the
r
penal law s for celebrating Mass, but for all we know it might have been a
sacrificial stone in the days of Druidical worship. The stones are shaded
by two lichen covered blackthorn trees, very large, and evidently of great
MEADSTOWN.
9i
Meadstown.
Sheet 18, 6-inch O.S. Sheet 165, i-inch O.S.
Barony of Fermoy. Parish of Farahy.
It lies about a mile south of Kildorrery village, by road.
The townland is a large one, and contains 492a. or. 26p. In 1881 the
pop. was 50 and the val. ^ 3 8 0 (Guy).
Fiants of Elizabeth.—2961 (2340). Pardon to (amongst others)
William Synane, of Meadstown, Co. Cork, Gent., 4 Feb., A.D. 1576-7.
Meadstown (Ballinymiagh) belonged to David Roche, Viscount Fermoy, and is mentioned i n 1611 (these " N o t e s / ' II., 163).
The following extracts are taken from Farahy C. of I. Register :—
Baptisms.—Robert Atkins, son of Henry and Elizabeth Franks of
Maidstown, 10 Mar., 1767.
Thomas, son to the same, 26 June, 1769.
Charles, son to the same, 1771.
Mary, dau. to the same, 1774.
Elizabeth, dau. t o the same, 22 April, 1775.
Mathew, son to same, 6 Jan., 1777.
Henry, son to Mr. Henry Franks of Maidstown, 16 Mar., 1777.—
(P.R.O., Irld.)
Probate of Will of Henry Franks of Maidstown was taken out 1787
(Cloyne Wills, P . R . O . , Irld.).
The Field Book of 1840 gives :—"Meadstown. The property of
Henry Cole Bowen, Esq.
The land is of good quality and in a good
state of cultivation. House and roads are in good repair." (Ord. Sur.
Off., Dub.)
The house and demesne shown on the Od. Sur. Maps as Meadstown
House is now (1909) occupied by the parish priest of Kildorrery, the Rev.
William O'Donovan.. It was previously the residence of Dr. Thomas
Reardon, M.D., and Dr. C. Buckley. Dr. T. Reardon was for many years
Dispensary Doctor of Doneraile, where he succeeded his uncle, Dr.
Reardon, and where he died 29th July, 1907.
Mr. James Byrne, J . P . , informs me that this house was built by the
Rev. John Green, P . P . , after building Kildorrery R.C. church, circa 1840.
Mr. Charles D. Oliver, of Rockmills House, writes (1910) :—
The present Meadstown House was built about i860, and was for many
years occupied by Rev. Samuel Sandiford, Rector of St. Nathlash, then by
Kev. R. Hayes, Rector of Nathlash, on whose retirement at the Disestablishment the parish was united with Farahy. It was then rented by Dr.
Buckley.
It is now occupied by the Parish Priest of Kildorrery.
t The old Franks house is that inhabited by Mrs. Fouhy further down the
river.
The trees of the demesne were standing till about 185 s. P a r t of the
demesne wall still remains.
Mr. Henry C. Bowen, B.L., of Bowen's Court, adds (Oct., 1909) :—
ea< stown w a s
Gov
f
granted (under the denominations of Ballnameagh and
gh
by Ietter
Nettle,° }
s patent of Chas. II. in or about 1666, t o Capt. John
es
see
(
B.L.G. under Nettles of Nettleville). In the year 1776 it was
•
92
HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAFHICAL NOTES.
conveyed by John Ryves Nettles (great-grandson of the patentee) to Henry
Cole Bowen, who died in 1788, having settled the lands by his Will.
During the first half of the 19th century the lands of Meadstown wer
held from the Bowens by the Franks family, under a lease (or succession of
leases) for lives renewable for ever.
By fee farm grant (under the Renewable Leasehold Conversion Act),
dated 25th June, 1852, these lands were granted in perpetuity by R. C.
Bowen to Philip W m . Bass and Elizabeth Purcell. (Mr. Bass and Miss
Purcell would appear to have been assignees of the F r a n k s ' interest, and to
have executed a sub-grant to another member of the Franks family).
The late owner, Mr. Franks, resided in Australia, and the estate was
recently sold through the Irish Land Commission by his widow, Mrs. Maria
C. Franks.
From Brady's "Records of C o r k , " etc. (ed. 1863) vol. ii., p. 366, is
an extract from the Nathlash Parish Register.
" T h o m a s Franks, Margaret Franks, and their only issue, Henry
Maunsell Franks, aged 24 years, who were all cruelly murdered in their
house at Lisnagourneen on the evening of the 9th Sept., about 8 o'clock,
were interred in the same grave in Kildorrery Churchyard, on Friday
morning, the 12th Sept., 1823."
Thomas Franks, the victim of this
murder, who married Margaret Maunsell, appears to have been brother
to Robert Franks of " M a i d s t o w n , " co. Cork.
(See Burke's "Landed
Gentry," under Franks of Carrig.
This tragedy is dealt with at length in the note on Lisnagourneen. Mr.
C. D. Oliver points out that in the quotation there given from O'Flanagan's
"Munster Circuit" the geographical description of Lisnagourneen is quite
incorrect, but is precisely that of Meadstown; also that the families of
O'Keeffe and Kearney occupied or owned the adjacent townland of
Ballyvoddy.
Millbrook.
Sheet 33, 6-inch O.S. Sheet 175, i-inch O.S.
Barony of Fermoy. Parish of Mourne Abbey.
Millbrook, now represented by Millbrook Cottage, lies between Quartertown Park and Wilton, and is on the townland of Quartertown Lower.
It is the property of Mr. Arthur Webb, J.P., of Quartertown.
It
came into his possession on the death of Mr. Robert W e b b in 1882.
Dr. Henry F . Berry, Litt.D., I.S.O., in his " M a n o r of Mallow in 13th
Century," states—
"There was a mill at Mallow, out of the profits of which Ellen, wife
of Henry de Rupe, was partly dowered; and there was another mill at
Tylauchynleth, which seems to have been more valuable. W h a t has been
known as the Manor Mill (certainly from the time of James I.) is that a
Millbrook, on the lands of Lower Quartertown, which, though at a considerable distance from the town, must have always been an importan
and valuable one, from the splendid water power which it commands.
this connection it may be mentioned that the ancient water course wnic
supplied the Manor Mill of Mallow, and which had. been specially excepte
•
MILLBROOK
HOUSE.
{Photo by Dr. P. G. Lee.)
MILLFORD
HOUSE.
{Photo by Col. Grove White,
2yd
May, 1913.)
MILLBROOK.
93
from the conveyance in 1668, was diverted in 1826 by Mr. John Dillon
Croker (he being then tenant to Mr. Jephson for the mill and premises),
to supply the new mills erected on the lands of Quartertown, and the
manorial rights of Mr. Jephson and his heirs over this ancient water
course were acknowledged in a memorandum of 1830, drawn up between
the parties, in which Mr. Jephson agreed not to enforce the restoration of
said stream to its ancient course during the continuance of the lease. At
the sale of the Quartertown property in the Incumbered Estates Court,
the lands were sold subject t o the ancient manorial rights of suit and
service, and suit of mill at the manor courts and manor mills of Mallow,
as reserved in the indenture made to the Dillons in 1668." (R.S.A.I, for
1894, p. 28.)
The late Mrs. Jephson Norreys had a head rent on the Mallow Manor,
mills, land and stream.
Millbrook was built by the Bradys, from whom Mr. Robert Webb
bought the property about the year 1875.
1886. Colonel Henry Brown, who commanded the Limerick Militia,
resided here from 1882 to 1889. It is now (1909) occupied by Mrs. Rose
M. Smith, widow of Colonel Richard Smith of the North Cork Militia.
Millfort or Millford.
Sheet 32 6-inch O.S. Sheet 175, i-inch O.S.
Barony of Duhallow. Parish of Kilshannig
Millfort is situated on the townland of Kilvealaton W e s t , which contains 385a. or. 33P. statute. In 1881 the pop. of townland was 51, and
the val. ^ 5 6 8 (Guy).
Millfort House is about 3 ! miles S.E. of Mallow Town by road; it lies
near the right bank of River Blackwater.
Dr. Henry F . Berry, Litt.D., I.S.O., in his article on Parish of Kilshannig and Manor of Newberry, states:—"Kilvealaton. In the Field
Book explained as 'Beledy's Church.' This is one of the ancient denominations, occurring as Kilevyaladae, in a Fiant of 1594, as Killbelleday in the
£>own Survey Map, 1657, and as Killballida in the Book of Survey and
distribution.
In other instances the name is found as Kileveledy, Killebealady, Kilvalide, and Kilbolady. The townland, which had been the
patrimony of the O'Callaghans, was granted in 1686 to Richard Newman,
y whose grandson, Dillon Newman, it was leased to the Foott family.
a memoran um on
th F
^
^ e subject, the late Mr. J. A. R. Newman says that
ootts assisted his ancestor in bringing over yeomen and their families
settlers from Somersetshire, on which account he believed leases for ever
611 t0 the F o o t t s at l o w
iG^J^r
rents. The ancestor of this family was
ott
felT*^
° > °f Mallow, who made his will there in 1677. H e was a near
a t t h e w Foott
wh
as
H ¥
>
° is found in the Hearth Money Roll, 1665,
es ent ln th
e parish of Holy Trinity, Cork. George Foott married in
lGJo ^
lCG
atc
ord
Georoo- J ^
(formerly Blacknall), widow, and had an only son,
6
widow was
Geor? T?
Hving in Mallow in 1704, a tenant of Mr. Jephson.
e
ott
> of Kilvealaton, or Millford, made his will in 1758. He
marrfe d *°
m
n
that
O'Callaghan, and left two sons, George, who succeeded him
property, and Richard, ancestor of the Carrigacunna family. He
8
94
HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAFHICAL NOTES.
had also a daughter, Barbara, who married Quayle Weistead. In his Will,
Mr. Foott mentions George Purdon, of Woodfort, as being his tenant.
The mansion house here was long known as Millford, and in O'Donovan's
time the house and offices had become ruinous." (Journal for 1905, p. 54.)
In 1766, George Foott was residing at Millford (p. 62).
In 1769, Charlotte, dau. of Quayle and Barbara Weistead, was bap.
They are described as of Millford (Kiishannig C. of I. Register.)
From 1787 Milford is mentioned in connection with the Foott family in
the Kiishannig Register, but they were here earlier, and there are earlier
entries under the name of " F o o t t . "
Richard Foot of Millford was a member of the Duhallow Hunt in 1801
(Journal for 1896, p. 51).
Mr. Foot was at Millfort in 1806 (Sleater).
In 1814 Colonel Foot was here (D.N.P.).
Townsend (pub. 1815) mentions Richard Foot, Esq., of Millfort (i. 426).
Geary's Cork Almanac, 1827, gives George Foot of Millford.
The Field Book of 1839 gives : "Millford Townland and House (ford of
the mill). A townland the property of George Foote, Esq. It is of good
quality under cultivation. The north side is a demesne with Millford House
in it. There are some small pieces of plantation and several trees interspersed through it. Also two Danish forts and a limestone quarry in it.
" The house is a large one, with a good many offices attached, belongin
to George Foote, Esq., Blackrock, Cork. It was formerly the residence of
)
the late Colonel Foote. Both house and offices are much gone to wreck
Glebe of Millford. In the north of the parish, and is bounded by the
townlands of Millford and Newberry. A glebe, the property of the Rev.
Mr. Lombard, of Harrietfield, Mallow, Rector of Kiishannig. He has it
in his own possession. It is good ground under cultivation. (Ord. Sur.
Off., Dub.)
The house was built by Geo. Foott, grandfather of Col. Foott.
Mr. Foott, of Milford, writes in 1909 :—
The Foott family came from Kent, where I believe, they lived for
centuries.
The founder of the Millfort branch was one George Foott, who, I think,
lived in Dublin some time between 1630-42, when he crossed over to
England and fought for the kings. Whether he went to France or not after
the fall of Charles I cannot tell, but most probably he did.
He returned to this country after the Restoration, bringing his son
George with him, who married Mrs. Latchford, leaving a son George,
married, I think, to a Miss King. Now, his only son George by Miss King
married Julian Callaghan in 1738, called Shiel Aroune or Julia the rairShe was the daughter of Cornelius Callaghan of Dromshehigh, Mallow, an
a descendant of the Callaghans of Dromineen Castle. He had two sons,
George and Richard, and a daughter, Barbara. George died unmarrie ^
the age of 28 or so. Barbara married Quayle Westead. On the deat ^
George, Richard, afterwards Col. Foott, came in for the property, w
aId
lived all his life at Millfort. He married in 1771 (died 1821) Mary ^ *
of Mount Pleasant, Co. Cork. By her he had three sons and »
daughters, namely, George the eldest, afterwards a barrister-at-law, J- '
Henry Baldwin Foott, father of the present Mr. George Foott of Cat %^
ar
cunna; the 3rd Edward Foott of Gortmore. His daughters were : #
J
< <
MILLTOWN CASTLE.
95
married to Thomas S p r a t t ; Mary Anne to Rev. Samuel Browning Drew,
Mishall; and Alice, who died unmarried.
The house was slated with the heavy Mourne Abbey slate, which was
so heavy that when it went out of repair (1835), it practically by sheer
weight broke down the wood-work inside it and completely wrecked the
entire house. One of the Uppingtons named William of Ballyclough lived
as a tenant in Millfort House between 1840-58, when it went altogether to
ruin.
There is a peculiar spring well in the demesne under three oak trees
containing a lot of iron, and has been never known to run dry.
W h a t strikes the visitor mostly on entering Millfort is the great quantity
of cut stone that is used in the buildings.
Millfort House was built of limestone and brick, all of which was
procured on the lands; the brick kilns can be seen to this day at the bottom
of the lawn, which is called the "Devil's Half A c r e , " but why I don't
know.
The big field near the cross roads was given gratis to the people in
'47 (the famine year) to grow potatoes, and some of the old people here
say that there wasn't one failed.
Millfort lands have been very much reclaimed for the past 30 years,
and what was once a bog is now excellent land.
A house was built above the railway about 40 years ago by the late
George Foott, where I now reside.
At the corner of Killvealaton cross roads, where the Red House now
stands, was a public tavern let by the Footts to people named Mullane.
Some of the cut stone in Millfort, including the big gate, was bought
from Lord Muskerry when he sold his house at Old Dromore.
Col. Richard Foott was the second son of George Foott of Millfort by
his wife, Julian Callaghan.
He succeeded to the property on the death of his elder brother, who
died from the result of an accident while hunting.
He married in 1771 Mary Baldwin, whose sister, according to the
Colonel's will, was married to John W a r e . H e owned a fine property at
his death in 1821, namely, Millfort in the manor of Mallow, Castlemore in
the Barony of Barretts, Glanthanathana, Inchmeagh in the Barony of
Uuhallow, and Bengour near the town of Bandon.
He was in command of the North Corks at Oulart Hill in '98, when
they were cut to pieces. He afterwards became a strong opponent of the
Union, and for that reason lost much influence. He died in 1821, and is
buried in the family vault at the south-western corner of Newberry gravear
y d. His coffin is of i r o n . "
*
Milltown Castle.
Sheet 7, 6-inch O.S. Sheet 164, i-inch O.S.
Barony of Orrery and Kilmore, Parish of Cooliney.
Hie castle is on the townland of Milltown, which contains 291a. or. 26p.
at
- In 1881 pop. was 11; val. ^ 3 2 3 15s. od. (Guy).
Another townland of "Milltown" lies immediately S . W . of the aboveentioned one. It contains 80a. or. 140. stat., and is in the parish of
%hshdrinagh.