HAZLEWOOD.
•
HERMITAGE.
179
.
1. Florence Katharine, m. 1890, G. de L. Bush, of Standish Court, Gloucestershire,
and has issue:—
a. Godfrey, b. 1892.
b . Claude, b. 1894.
c. John, b. 1896.
a. Vera, b. 1891.
2. Ethel Marian, m a r . 1888, Capt. A. M. B. Gage, son of General t h e Hon. EdwaTd
Gage, and has issue:—
' a. John, b. 1901.
3. Beatrice Bingrose, mar. 1894, Major D. F . Boles, Devon Militia, and has
issue:—
a. Hastings, b. 1895.
b. Gerald, b. 1900.
a. Violet
b. Doreen.
.
I. Sarah Grace (co-heir of William Atkins of Fountainville) m a r . 14 March, 1861,
Christopher Crofts, of Velvetstown, near Buttevant (see Crofts of Velvetstown,
Burke's L.G., where she is described as the fifth dau. of William Lysaght of
Hazlewood), and h a d issue.
II. Maria, b. 13 Sept., 1821 (Mallow Begr.).
III. Elizabeth, b. 24 Nov.', 1824 (Mallow Ber.).
IV. Catherine Ann, b. 15 Feb., 1823.
WILLIAM of Hazlewood and Fort William, n e a r Doneraile, Kilbury near Fethard,
4
Co. Tipperary, Castle Wrixon near Charleville, Mintinna, near Newmarket, b. May,
1826, J.P. for Co. Cork, m a r . 1st, 1850, Fanny, dau. of William Murphy, M.D., Dublin.
She d. leaving a daughter, who died young. Mr. Lysaght married secondly, 1868,
Charity Elizabeth, dali. of John S. Haines, J.P., of Lakeville, Douglas, Co. Clare, and
had issue:—
I. William, born 1870, m a r . Edna, dau. of L. Woods of Topeka, TJ.S.A., and has
issue:—
1. William, b . 1903.
1. Helen, b. 1905.
II. John, b. 1871, Capt. Cork Art. Militia, d.s.p. 1900.
HI. George, b . 1873, living a t Kilbury, n e a r Fethard, m a r . J a n e , dau. of George
Hewson, of Ennismore, Co. Kerry, and h a s issue.
1. Grace.
2. Sheela Patricia.
3. Primrose.
IV. Christopher, b. 1875, d. 8 July, 1914, a t Hazlewood.
V. Henry, b. 1878, of F o r t William, n e a r Doneraile, mar. 28 April, 1910, Ethel, dau. of
Sir John Jackson, C.V.O., C.E., and h a s issue:—
1. Gertrude Ethel.
2. Violet Ellen.
VL Robert, b. 1879, of Castle Wrixon, n e a r Buttevant, mar. 4 Nov., 1913, Dulce Evelyn,
youngest dau. of l a t e Graham Burnand, of Worth, Sussex.
I- Bosalind.
ARMS:—Argent, three spears erect proper, on a chief crenelle azure, a lion passant
guardant between two lozenges or. Mantling—Azure and Argent.
CREST—On a wreath of the colour? issuant from clouds, a naked arm embowed,
^ e hand grasping a dagger by t h e point all proper.
MOTTO—Auxilium de superis (Fox Davies's " A r m o u r i a l Families," 1905.).
Hermitage (Claraville) near Mallow.
*
Sheet 33, 6-inch O.S. (not shown).
Sheet 175, i-inch O.S.
(not shown).
Barony of Fermoy. Parish of Kilshannig.
It lies about two miles south of Mallow town (by road), and is close to
Harrietville.
1
tlnna
I4sie p
about IRBQ6,
is
the
a
townland about 6 miles from Newmarket. I t formed p a r t of the
h e a d r e n t of w h i c n w a s
purchased by Mr. Lysaght from Lord Lisle
--
l8o
HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
It is on the townland of Lower Quartertown.
The house was built about i860 by Mr. Rogers Johnson of Lisnagourneen
(about 4 miles by road N . E . of Castletownroche). He called it Claraville,
after his wife. He sold the tenant right to the late Mr. Beresford Massey,
who named it Hermitage. Mr. K. B. Williams, the present owner, bought
it from Mrs. Massey, his widow, in the year 1903.
Highfort.
Sheet 16, 6-inch O.S.
Sheet 164, i-inch O.S.
.
w
Barony of Orrery and Kilmore. Parish of Liscarroll.
Highfort lies about a mile (by road) south of Liscarroll village.
Highfort House is situated on the townland of Knockbarry.
Highfort is celebrated for the gallant defence made by John Purcell
against an attack by the Whiteboys. The house he then lived in was a
thatched one, situated a short distance to the north of the present building.
Dr. Richard Purcell built the existing house about 1837. H e was the 3rd
1
son of the "Knight of the Knife," and married Eliza, a sister of William
Purcell of Altamira^ but had no issue. His widow lived here for some time.
This place has been in the possession of the Purcell family for generations.
They are still (1907) head landlords. Mr. Daniel Stephen Wig-more, J.P->
the present occupier, purchased Miss LongfiekTs interest.
*
I
•
There is a tradition that Dr. Purcell removed all the trees to the north
2
of the house that were obstructing the view of Altamira, where his fiancee
lived. The house is surrounded by trees on all the other sides.
Burke states that Sir John Purcell of Highfort, Co. Cork, was knighted
for the gallant defence he made when attacked by a gang of robbers. He
married Gertrude, dau. of Matthew Franks, Esq., of Moorestown, Co.
Limerick, and had issue (see Franks of Westfield, B.L.G., Irld, 1904). His
eldest son, Rev. Mathew Purcell, of Burton, Rector of Churchtown and Dungourney, married Eliza, dau. of William Leader, Esq., of Mount Leader;
their dau., Margaret, married her cousin, William Purcell, Esq., of Altamira, in 1832; their only child, Eliza Augusta, heir of Highfort, married,
1857, Henry Longfield, Esq., of Seacourt. (Purcell of Burton, B.L.G.,
Irld., 1904.)
The following have resided at Highfort:—In 1814, Sir John Purcell
(D.N.P.). In 1839, the Field Book describes Highfort as a good house, the
residence of Doctor Richard Purcell (Ord. Sur. Off., Dub.). About i860
Robert Weldon, J . P . , son of Robert Weldon, of Cooline, near Charleville,
lived there. He was still at Highfort in 1886. (Guy.)
In 1908 the place was occupied by Daniel Stephen Wigmore, J-PIn 1876 James Wigmore lived at Knockbarry, and Mrs. Wigmore was
there in 1892. (Guy.)
*
iMrs. Elizabeth Purcell of Highfort was buried a t Kilbrin, 27th Oct., 1858.
^Altamira lies about 2J miles, in a direct line n o r t h of Highfort.
HlGHFORT.
D . S. W i g m o r e , J . P . , D . C . , in foreground.
{Photo hy Col. Grove White, rst Aug., 1907.)
•
•
HARRIKTVILLE.
{Photo by Mr. A". B. Williams,
of Mallow,
1908
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HIGHFORT.
l8l
From O'Flanagan's Munster Circuit, pub. 1880, page 272 :
<»
GALLANT DEFENCE OF HIGHFORT BY SIR JOHN PURCELL.
ANECDOTES OF HIM.
" At the Summer Assizes in Cork in 1811, Maurice Noonan was indicted
for that he feloniously and burglariously did break and enter with intent to
steal from the dwelling-house of Highfort the goods and chattels of one
John Purcell in the said dwelling-house, then and being, and that the said
Maurice Noonan then and there, in the said dwelling-house, in and upon the
said John Purcell, in the said dwelling-house, feloniously did make an assault
with intent to kill and murder John Purcell, against, &c.
'' The case was one of considerable interest, and attracted much public
attention, and when the following facts were elicited on the trial, we ceased
to be surprised at this.
" Highfort, the house in which the burglary was committed, lies in a secluded place between Charleville and Kanturk, in the County of Cork. This
was the dwelling of John Purcell, Esq., a gentleman past the middle life, in
the year 1811. He was a man of somewhat peculiar habits. Though much
employed as a land agent and receiver of rents over extensive landed estates
in his neighbourhood, he attended fairs and other places of public resort,
where he was sure to meet the tenants, and to take from them their various
rents without ever making any entry as to the parties who paid him. He
gave the tenants memorandums of the sum paid, which he placed in a bag,
and never gave a stamped receipt.
He acted as agent for the Earl of Egmont, and for landed proprietors
and others, and was always most accurate in accounting for the rents.
" H i s family consisted of himself, his daughter-in-law, and her little
child. His domestics were two maids and a servant-man. Though his
house was in a lonely spot in the country, he had no fears of any seeking
to injure him, and considered himself highly popular and perfectly safe. He
^as soon undeceived in this respect.
" He had a fatiguing day collecting rents on the n t h March, 1811, and
it was long past dinner and tea time as he rode home hungry and tired.
Some cold meat and bread formed his solitary supper, which was served
in his bedroom, and he told the man-servant not to sit up, as he need not
remove the tray till next morning. Mr. Purcell's bedroom was adjoining
the parlour on the ground floor. A door communicated between the rooms,
but this had been nailed up, and some of the parlour furniture, chairs and
tables, placed against it.
<i n
rhere was access to the bedroom from a passage, which was preferred
to going through the parlour to the bedchamber.
Having partaken of his supper, Mr. Purcell undressed and retired to
rest. About one o'clock he was aroused by a noise, as if someone approached the windows of the adjoining parlour. He listened. The windows
of the parlour were pushed in, and several men climbed through. As well
ds
he could judge, as each man came down with a fall on the carpet, he
reckoned that about fourteen men had entered his house.
Mr. Purcell resolved to ascertain what they came for, and to defend
]
s house.
He arose, but was disheartened when he recollected all his
w
c a p o n s were in his little office, out of his reach, and the only implements
13
182
HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
3
available was the knife he used at supper, which lay on the table beside him.
He found this knife before any attempt to enter his bedchamber was made.
When thus armed, he heard the table placed before the nailed door dragged
away, and the long-disused door was pulled open. Through the space the
round, full, silvery moon looked brightly in from the open window, and
while Mr. Purcell stood, shrouded in darkness, he saw a number of men,
many of them bearing fire-arms, with blackened faces, as if for concealment,
crowding the room. Purcell, knife in hand, stood motionless by the side
of the open door until one of the burglars entered his bedroom. Swift and
true, the blade of the knife was plunged into the intruder's body, and the
robber reeled backwards amidst his comrades, swearing * he was killed. '
Another took his place t o receive a like stab, and he too fell back, crying out
'he was done for.' Then some one, who seemed to act with authority,
called out 'fire,' and the loud report of a short gun or blunderbuss was the
reply. Luckily it did no more harm than lodging a brace of balls and a
number of slugs in the opposite wall, while, almost ere the smoke cleared
away, the intrepid Mr. Purcell struck the marksman with his knife and sent
him also wounded to his companions. A rush was then made, which Mr.
Purcell had not counted on. He was resolved, however, not t o flinch, and
struck a fourth robber, when he received a blow on the head and found himself tightly grappled. The floor, rendered slippery by the blood so copiously
shed, made footing insecure, so in the struggle Mr. Purcell and his adversary
both fell. Still thrusting with the knife, the owner found it did not act as
effectually as formerly, and, on passing his finger along the blade, was dismayed to find it was bent near the point. As he lay struggling with his foe
he tried hard to straighten the blade, and soon the hold of his assailant grew
relaxed. He lay dead. (Another account states that Mr. Purcell straightened the bent blade with his teeth.—J. G. W.)
' ' T h i s man carried a sword, which Mr. Purcell gladly seized as a substitute for the now useless knife. The g a n g , finding so many of their party
killed or wounded, began to bear away the bodies on chairs through the
parlour windows; the darkness in the bedroom prevented them seeing they
were only opposed by one man.
" When all were gone, Mr. Purcell aroused his man-servant, who lay
in his bed, and never came to assist his master in this terrible conflict.
" The man was loudly reproached for his dastardly conduct. The daughter-in-law and child were placed in safety for the remainder of the night,
but the attack was not renewed.
" Next morning Highfort could not be accounted lonely. The news of
the attack and gallant defence spread far and wide, and men of all ranks,
creeds and classes came to offer their expressions of abhorrence at the attack, and admiration at the courage, bravery, and skill with which Mr.
Purcell had acted.
11
Mr. Purcell was sure he recognised one named Maurice Noonan, w 0
lived in his neighbourhood. He went himself to Noonan's house; benea^
Noonan's bed was the gun fired the night before. Mr. Purcell identified it
a short gun with the butt broken off, and the barrel secured by a cor I
This, of course, caused Noonan's arrest, and he admitted " M r . Purcell
like to do for h i m . "
3TMs knife is in the possession of Mr. Raymond John Purcell, of Burton
Churchtown, Co. Cork.
-
HIGHFORT.
183
" It transpired the party consisted of nine men, all armed. Two were
killed in the affray, and three severely wounded. Some became panicstruck during the conflict and fled, as they believed a strong force defended
the house.
'' Noonan was tried at the Cork Assizes, found guilty, and hanged on
the 9th September at Gallows Green, Cork. He acknowledged his guilt,
but declared that on the morning of the day of the attack he had no idea of
taking part in i t ; but, being sent for by another of the gang, he joined them
in it. He never was engaged in any other attack.
" W h e n the Irish Government was apprised of the gallantry of Mr.
Purcell of Highfort, from a laudable desire to manifest a sense of his courage, he was offered and accepted the honour of knighthood. H e was called
in the country ''the blood-red k n i g h t , " by some 'the knight of the knife.'
"A daring murder had been committed in his vicinity, and he took an
energetic share in bringing the murderer to justice. The mode he adopted t o
identify the guilty person was creditable to his acuteness. Going to the
house of the suspected criminal, Sir John Purcell asked 'if he could see
him?'
Oh, n o ; he's very sick," was the reply.
I must see him,' insisted Sir John.
He was then introduced into the cabin, and in bed was the man 'taken,'
he alleged, 'with a bad colic.'
Let me see your shoes,' was Sir John's next request.
Och an troth, they're gone to be mended,' was the reply.
What are these under the bed?' asked the inquisitive knight, seizing
a pair of soiled brogues, the shoes he wanted.
" Bearing away the shoes, he left the sick man well watched by a couple
of policemen, while he repaired to the scene of the murder. It was winter,
and congealed snow covered the ground. Sir John found many footprints,
T
but enough to connect the sick man with the deed of blood. A nail w as deficient in the heel of one of the shoes, and the tracks in the congealed snow
showed a like want. This led to further evidence, until the guilt of the pretended invalid was satisfactorily established to the jury who convicted and
the judge who pronounced upon him the sentence of death.
Most probably these deeds made Sir John Purcell an object of dislike to
the peasantry. While at a country fair he received intimatioin 'that his life
was in danger, and he had better get home with all speed.' Satisfied of the
bona-fides of this intelligence, he put spurs to his horse, and soon a hot
pursuit told him the warning was not made too soon. Being well mounted,
he escaped to a farm-house, where he sought and found shelter.
r
On another occasion, when riding w ith a gentleman named Seward
(probably Capt. John Grove Seward, of Nursetown, near Mallow.—J.G.W.,
^°h) near Mallow, both were hemmed in by a party of Rockites. These
men bade Mr. Seward 'not be in dread, for it was Sir John they wanted.'
hey forced him to alight from the horse he rode, and while considering
wnat they could do to him, he said in a low voice to his friend Seward,
o u r hor
s e is better than mine: lend me yours, and I'll make a rush for it.'
voy in God's name,' said Mr. Seward, jumping from the saddle.
He was no sooner out of it than Sir John was in, and despite his four
score years, leaped the next fence like a centaur. The Rockites ran here
i I i
<i
i
184
HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
and there, but he was soon lost to them, and they wreaked their vengeance
on Mr. Seward in making him ride to his house, sans culottes, sitting on a
furze bush tied to the saddle."
Howard's Grove.
Sheet 26, 6-inch O.S. (not shown). Sheet 176, i-inch O.S.
(not shown).
Barony of Fermoy. Parish of Castletownroche.
It is situated in the townland of Naglesborough.
It lies by road about i j miles north of Castletownroche village.
Mr. James Byrne, J . P . , informs me that Howard's Grove was named
by a solicitor who built a lodge there about 100 years ago, and that a daughter of his resided there until about the year 1874. * Mr. David Reynolds
now resides there (1914).
According to the Order Book of the Doneraile Yeomanry Cavalry, it
appears that Mr. Richard Howard was a member of the corps in 1797
(Smith, i. 498).
Hunting Hill or Hunting Hall.
Sheet 26, 6-inch O.S. Sheet 176, i-inch O.S.
Barony of Fermoy. Parish of Castletownroche.
It is situated in the townland of Ballyhimock.
Hunting Hill lies about 3 miles N . W . of Castletownroche village (by
road).
Mr. James Byrne, J . P . , informs me the house was built by the Dwyer
1
family.
It was originally a thatched house, but Mr. Thomas Dwyer built
a slated front to it circa 1840. Another correspondent adds :—One thing is,
however, certain, that the thatched portion at the back, comprising the
kitchen, &c., must have been very old, for when Mr. Roche was getting
some repairs done to a window near the back door about the year i879'
the workmen found that the lentil supporting the wall was a timber axle.
Mr. John Dwyer of the Doneraile Yeomanry Cavalry was residing at
Hunting Hill in 1797; also the Rev. William Dwyer, who was chaplain to
the corps. He was appointed Rector of Templeroan.
In 1814 it was inhabited by Mr. William Dwyer, the post town being
Castletownroche.
Later a Mr. O'Loughlin, an Inspector of National Schools, resided here.
In 1863, Feb. 15, Joshua, son of Henry and Elizabeth Benn, of Hunting
Hill, was born.
The Field Book of 1859 states :—Hunting Hill. This house is pleasantly
situate on the south side of a hill. It is in good repair; consists of one
storey, and is the residence of Mrs. Thomas O'Dwyer. (Ord. Sur. On-,
Dub.)
lElizabeth Georgina Howard, of Howard's Grove, was buried at Castletownroche,
3 January, 1874. Aged 50 (Par. Beg.).
lElizabeth Maud Dwyer, of Hunting Hill, was buried at Castletownroche, 31 Aug-.
1849, aged 44 (C. of I. Par. Reg.).
HOWARD'S GROVE,
H U N T I N G H I L L OR H U N T I N G H A L L .
185
In the year 1863 Mr. William George Roche of Annakissa became tenant
of the place, the landlord being Mr. Richard Grove Annesley. Mr. Roche
farmed the land until the year 1890, when the landlord claimed his right of
pre-emption under the recent Land Acts, and paid Mr. Roche the sum fixed.
Mr. Richard Grove Annesley let the place in 1890 to Mr. Edward
Vaughan. He had been many years in Queensland and New South Wales.
He died in 1905, and was succeeded by his wife and family.
The place contains a fine walled-in kitchen garden; also a large orchard,
and there are some good ornamental trees in the lawn.
It has been bought under the Land Purchase Act of 1903, the landlord
being Mr. Richard Grove Annesley of Annesgrove (adjoining).
Mrs. Margaret Vaughan (widow of Mr. Edward Vaughan) also owns
the adjoining lands of Skenakilla and Ballyhimock.
A creamery and a National School are situated on Skenakilla.
Mr. Edward Vaughan re-built and slated portion of the dwelling-house,
now known as " H u n t i n g H a l l . " He also erected very extensive farm buildings. He was a very successful agriculturist. His sons, Albert and
Richard, have taken prizes at Horse Shows, and are well known with the
"Duhallows."
I Mr. Edward Vaughan was a brother to Mr. Patrick Vaughan, R.D.C.,
of Caherduggan, Doneraile, and to Mr. Cornelius Vaughan of Kanturk.
He was also cousin of the late Dr. Vaughan Keneally, Q.C., M.P., of
"Tichborne" fame. His daughter Beatrice married Mr. D. J. Buckley,
ana<
as
C.E., M.R.I.A.I., of Cork, in 1893,
^
issue two daughters, Ena and
Eveleen.
Imprick
Parish (Ballinigurragh als. Bally nageragh).
Sheets 7 and 8, 6-inch O.S. Sheet 164, i-inch O.S.
Barony of Orrery and Kilmore, but mostly in that of Fermoy.
O'Donovan gives the English of Imprick as ' ' D a m of the t r o u t , " but
adds, "this is very doubtful."
In a grant from James I. to Lord Roche Viscount Fermoy of all his lands
for the purpose of obtaining a Government title to same, we find, "Ballini,,
gurragh, containing eight plowlands called Imerick, mentioned. (16 D e c ,
3 James I., A.D. 1611, p. 209 folio, Patent Rolls of James I., P . R . O . , Irld.)
On the Down Survey (circa 1657) a castle is shown at Imprick, also the
parish is marked as "Protestant Land." ( P . R . O . , lrld.)
Lewis (pub. 1837) states that Imphrick or Emerick is a parish, partly in
the Barony of Orrery and Kilmore, but chiefly in that of Fermoy. It lies 4 I
roues S. from Charleville, near the road to Buttevant, and contained in 1837
about 1,385 inhabitants. It comprised 4,064^ statute acres, as rated for the
county cess, and valued at that time at ^ 3 , 0 5 7 per annum, of which 3,209^
acres were in the barony of Fermoy. The land is described as of medium
quality and chiefly in tillage, and that the state of agriculture was progressively improving (vol. ii., p. 13).
the Field Book of 1840 describes the parish as middle sized, containing
small portion of mountain and a small portion of road, rest arable; also
ta mn
?? ^ & about a dozen Danish forts, five gentlemen's seats, one glen, an
church and graveyard, and several wells. The rivers Awbeg and
"