Part Two: The JAMES Family of Ballycrystal and Willmount House

Two large Wexford estates Ballycrystal (over 2,000 acres) and Willmount House were leased (or owned) by the linen industry JAMES family of Dublin and Carnew (Wexford) in the years leading up to the Rebellion of 1798. Ballycrystal no longer exists (see picture of gate and sentry box below) but Willmount House has been visited, though in somewhat dilapidated shape today.

Willmount House, on the eastern slopes of Mount Leinster housed the family of Lieut. Thomas James, one time commander of the 70 man Killoughram Rangers, a local infantry militia active after the Rebellion of 1798. Thomas JAMES, born in 1771, was the son of John James and Mary Michal (a french (from France) surname which was modified to Mitchell) who married in 1765.

Thomas was said to be (letter of Wilhelmina James) a first cousin of Colonel Ralph James, son of Richard JAMES of Carnew. John JAMES, Ralph JAMES J.P. of Urelands, Wicklow, and Richard JAMES (1730-1994) of Carnew were sons of Thomas and Ann (Lawrenson) James ( b.c.1687/92- 1790) known for his virility eg. riding his horse a few day before his death. Ann Lawrenson was the daughter of one Ralph Lawrenson. There is also at Carnew a further Richard James (wife Mary James 1703-1761) who died in 1779. Richard, brother of Ralph and Alderman William died at Carnew in 1794.*(see will & snippet from Gentleman’s Magazine below)

Richard JAMES’s other son, Lieut. Richard James an officer in the Shillelagh Cavalry died shortly after the Battle of Vinegar Hill (July 1798) after suffering “a fever” while defending Hackettstown. This Richard James operating his father’s tannery and a chandlery business in Carnew suffered losses during the Rebellion of 1798. The losses were declared by his brother Ralph, at the time a half pay Captain of the late Royal Dublin Regiment. Mention in the 1799 claim of “140 pounds yearly in leases for two old lives viz. Alderman James of Dublin and latter’s brother Ralph James” is a reference to Alderman William James (1730-1807) of Dublin being their uncle. Ralph declared that he “has three sisters living” and does not report brothers living. Their uncle, William JAMES who was in the linen trades, had been Police

Commissioner in Dublin, Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1793/4. Descendants were willed by him (1805-7) the lands at Ballycrystal, and possibly (this remains vague) the adjacent lands Willmount House in Cloroughbeg and Cloroghmore which he used as a shooting lodge until granting a lease to brother John James, and his nephew Thomas James (letter from Wilhelmina James).

Willmount House

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* Richard James will 1794 : Richard James of Carnew chandler, brothers Ralph James of Urelands and William James of Dublin city Esq. Sons: Richard James and Ralph James, daughters Ann Leonard, Elizabeth Hope, Mary Harrison, Hester Rudd (Ruth Gore) grandchildren Hester Harrison, Hester Hope (see later reference, marriage to George Janes Esq. of Clonee, Carlow), Hester Leonard ;Debtors Mr. Swan of Tombrane, Major Chamney and Joseph Chamney of Ballyraheen Esq. (interestingly, loans to the Chamney family appear in several James wills.)

Ralph James (1727-1807) was a longtime Justice of the Peace at Urelands (now called Newry) a 604 acre holding a short distance north of the town of Clonegal, near the Newry Hill home of the mother of rebel leader Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey. Ralph and his wife Lettice Astle had no surviving male issue as their son Astle was killed in military service, so Ralph arranged for his son-in-law, Abraham Hope to change his name to James (more about Ralph James below)

Ralph’s nephew, Captain (later Col.) Ralph James (1777-1847), had a sister who was a favourite of (if not at one time married to) Rebellion of 1798 rebel leader, Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey of Bargy Castle. When Harvey was captured and brought to Wexford after giving up command of the rebel forces, Captain Ralph James, asked for his sword as his brother-in-law (Harvey was, in fact, married to Judith Dockrell, who later died at Ballycanew). Harvey was tried, hanged and his body was thrown off the Wexford bridge while his head was spiked and displayed publicly. James turned the sword over to his sister Marcella Donahoe. The family kept it for some time before donating it to the Clonegal museum for display.

Lieut. Thomas James, was the commander of record of the Killoughram Rangers if not during, after the Rebellion of 1798. The Rangers were later responsible for the tracking down and killing of James Corcoran (1770-1804) one of the last rebel holdouts from the Rebellion of 1798 in 1804. But this unit’s reputation did not go unscathed. The infamy associated with the Rangers was that they were also accused of several acts of violence in the aftermath of the Rebellion, such as the burning of Roman Catholic chapels.

Thomas JAMES (1771 - ) married a Miss _______ Wallace (1774 - ) of North Cumberland Street in Dublin (in March 1792) marrying as soon as she was 18 and when he was 21. We do not know the names of all of their nine children, but we know they had a son, John JAMES in 1795* who became a Church of Ireland pastor, and a son, Thomas b. 23 January 1807, and a son, William James (named after MIss Wallace’s father, William), who later changed his name to William James Wallace. The Wallaces were said to descend from the famous Scottish Wallace family, The name change to Wallace allowed him to inherit land in Wexford. Two of the daughters were Anna (m. W.J. Cooper Esq.) and Wilhelmina. Another was named Sarah b.

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about 1796 in Dublin who married Thomas Colclough Watson. Thomas James moved to Willmount House as a widower. (Mina James’ letter to her nephew Thomas James Watson, indicating that she personally knew all the people listed above provided much of the information here. Evidently Mina lived at Willmount House in the 1790’s or shortly afterwards.)

* Rev. John James (1795- ) was the son of Thomas James, Esq, JP, Magistrate of Ballycrystal, Co. Wexford, gent, who was born in Dublin, educated by Mr. Fallon, entered Trinity College, Dublin as FC, June 7, 1813, age 18, BA 1817, MA 1832, ordained Deacon 1818, John James, Killanne Parish, Diocese of Ferns, Bantry Barony, Wexford, 6 miles from Enniscorthy (The Bantry Commons are in the parishes of Killann and Templeudigan, and extend to St. Mullins, totalling 4,234 acres); C. Killanne or Killan (Ferns) 1818, C.Ardcolm (dw) 1826, V. Rathbeggan 1832-62.

*Rev. John James married at Rathaspeck Ch, Co Wexford, Dec 11, 1824, Annette, eldest daughter of Lt. Gen Hatton (D.E.M.) [Maj. Gen. John Hatton, Late Lieutenant Colonel in the 66th Foot???] died Oct 8, 1862. His widow died at Monkstown, Sept 5, 1868. The Hattons of County Wexford, Ireland were shipbuilders involved with the East India Company (E.I.C.) that operated out of the port at Wexford. (The Hatton family of Clonard, Co. Wexford, is first found in 17th century Ireland, coming originally from co. Northampton. Henry Hatton also owned property in Monbeg, Templeshanbo, Wexford where some of the James family lived.)

Thomas James (1807-1871) (whose picture appears below) attracted some infamy of his own by marrying Eliza Gilbert when she was only 16 years old.

Eliza (near left) soon left Thomas (far left) in India where he was stationed, taking on the name Lola Montez, and fashioning a career of dancing and seducing famous men. Thomas pursued his military career in India, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. Lola (Eliza) travelled around the world, variously becoming the lover of composer Franz Liszt and Bavarian King Ludvic, then moving to California, where she became an icon and where she died at age 40.

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BallycrystalSadly, much of the information online about this era at Ballycrystal and Willmount House contains conflicting pieces of information (suggesting, for instance that a John JAMES headed up the Killoughram Rangers. While this may have been the case at some point, officially the captain of this group is listed as Lieut. Thomas James, his son.

I will try to steer through this online confusion by including only information I can document. This begins with the 1803 will of John JAMES of Ballycrystal, which is relatively unrevealing, as he leaves (no wife listed) to his son, Thomas JAMES ” lands of Clorogeemrow (?Cloughemore on present day map) in County

Wexford and all other lands (unspecified)” and 3 Bank of Ireland debentures for 100 pounds each, Nos. 315, 323 and 324 bequeathed to daughter Joanna Howlin, wife of James Howlin, and 15 pounds for a piece of plate for Joseph Beare of Carlow Town Esq. One interesting aspect of the will is that it is witnessed by one Saml. Michel, suggesting that this JOHN JAMES was the JOHN JAMES, father of Thomas (above), who married Mary Michal in 1753.

From Eighteenth-century Ireland Volume 22 we have the following snippet...

This definitively identifies JOHN JAMES of Ballycrystal as a brother of WILLIAM JAMES, Alderman of Dublin (& onetime Lord Mayor. ) Here (in 1799) he is identified as head of the Killoughram Rangers, a role which may well have passed to his son Thomas when he died in 1803.

Ballycrystal and Willmount House were hunting lodges on the slopes of Mount Leinster frequented by the Dublin-based linen-trade JAMES family for the better part of a century at least.

WILLIAM JAMES, Alderman, wrote a will 20 April 1805 which was proved 10-14 July 1807, leaving Cloroquebeg and that part of Ballycrystal called Ballymore, Newpark and Ballintrana to (Major) Ralph James, son of brother Richard, deceased - and if he die without male issue, to nephew Thomas James for his life, then to William Hope, grandson to Richard James, he taking the name of James, if not lands to be sold and proceeds to be divided among daughters of of said Major Ralph James and William Hope, 1000 pounds to grand-niece Mary James daughter of said Major Ralph James. His legacy to Thomas James was later revoked before he died.

restored gate and sentry box at Ballycrystal

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The ill-fated marriage of Thomas James (1807-1871) to Eliza Gilbert a.k.a. Lola Montez gave rise to some rather uncomplimentary narrative by Lola of life at Ballycrystal in the 1830’s.

We see in the ledger books of Ballycrystal Townland in the aftermath of the Rebellion of 1798, that not only the JAMES family of Dublin and Carnew were living there but other JAMES families who do not appear to be a part of this family branch.

The JAMES family at Mangan Townland had suffered the loss of George James At Enniscorthy during the rebellion leaving his widow Elizabeth, daughter Ann age 20, son George age 17, daughter Hannah age 15, son John age 13, son Thomas age 11, daughter Mary age 7 and daughter Elizabeth age 4.

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William James (1730- perhaps 1836) of Fennagh and Mary Noble (1730-1817) of Ballon

The enigmatic couple, of whom Mary Noble (or Nobel James lived almost a century, first show up is a Leighlin Diocesan Marriage License Bond signed February 25 1754 by William James of Fennagh (Carlow) and Phillip Butler of Castlegrace (a townland between Ballon and Ardisstan), Gentlemen, “that there is no impediment to the marriage of said William James and Mary Noble of Ballon, spinster.” (a Quakeress and sister of Captain H.B.R.Noble who had fought for William III at Londonderry.) I wonder who had suggested such an “impediment?” While no record of their marriage has been found, records of other Noble family members have been seen at Tullowphelim. Phillip Butler was buried at Fennagh, as seen below...

"Here lieth the body of Philip Butler of Castlegrace who departed this life on the 10th day of April 1799 aged 76 years. Also his son Philip Butler who departed thislife on the 10th of June 1806 aged 46. Also Hester the good wife of Philip Butler of Borris, who departed this life on the 7th of June 1847 aged 49 years, her loss wasdeeply felt by those who knew her worth.When from the dust of death I riseTo claim my mansion in the skiesEven then this shall be my pleaJesus hath lived hath died for me.

On November 23rd 1755, a William and Mary JAMES baptized a son, Edward at Tullowphelim (where Mary Noble James’ burial was recorded in 1817 “here lieth the body of Mary James the wife of the late William James who departed this life May the 1st 1817 aged 96 years.”). Other family reports suggest William and Mary were both buried in the Fennagh churchyard. If, as it seems likely, this was their first child (married 1754) this would strongly indicate (that by the Irish Naming Tradition) that William was naming his first son after his father, Edward, more or less establishing his own parentage.This indicates, as well, that he was likely the nephew (son of Edward) who received a 1 shilling legacy in the will of John James of Ballyknocken in 1735, and further suggests that William may have been a brother of John James, likely of Ballycanew Parish, Wexford who married Judith Tudor Beaty in 1721 (probably having a son with Judith, named William who grew up in Ballycanew) and later Mary Goff(e). Of course, it would be hard to prove without DNA evidence. As far as can be determined, there was no known living Edward James in the Carlow area in 1755,

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after whom Edward (1755 - >1798) can have been named. Great Grand-daughter, Eliza Jane Smith (Martin) reported in 1887 that William and Mary purchased land in Tankerstown or Paulville. William was known by his to be a tyrannical and selfish man, both to his family and to those he employed. He neglected business and at the time of his death hundreds of acres had passed out of his hands, dying, by Eliza’s account at age 40 of consumption. Other reports are that he lived to 101 (1836) and was buried in the churchyard at Fennagh. (We see a death recorded of a William James at Tullow in 1763, which would be about right). Could this have been his son, William who died at this later date? As seen below, this would make sense. Sketchy references report their family to have been:

1. Edward James b. 1755 Yeoman Tullow Cavalry 1798)2 Launcelot James3.John James ( Yeoman in Tullow Cavalry in 1798 p. 381

Ryan’s History/Antiquities of Carlow) John is said to have married a Catholic girl, and was treated as an outcast. His familymoved to America. 4.William James (see also p. 22)5. Thomas James (said to have married an

emigrated to Australia)6. (Eliza Jane Smith Martin reports there were girls

as well, Elizabeth and possibly 7. Pancy (thought to have emigrated to America)

Edward James Elizabeth (Betty) Salters

At age 30, (about 1785) Edward married Elizabeth (Betty) Salter(s), who was only about 15 when they married. Edward died of consumption about 16 years after his marriage (?1804)

leaving a young widow with 3 boys and 4 girls. Unlike his father, he was honourable, upright and unselfish. While he was a yeoman during the Rebellion of 1798 Tullow Cavalry, three times straw was put in the garrett of his home but this Catholic neighbors caner to the

rescue each time. . on his deathbed he was heard to say that while taking part in the Rebellion, he had “never made an orphan or a widow.” Family: Two

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Edwards (1795, 1799) born/baptized at Tullow died in infancy

Edward (b. 1801) unmarried d. age 42 consumption

Thomas (1791) (m. Jane Smith) inheritted farm

John (1793) (moved to Dublin, married and became a storekeeper, lived in back the store)

Anne (or Mary Anne) b. July 22 1792 (m. Benjamin Coleman of Urglin Parish)

Eliza (1797) (m. John Graham)

Susan b. May 17 1803 (m. Simon Nolan) and

Ellen b. April 29 1804, a year before her mother died (m. William Smith) .............................

His young widow, Betty, married a pensioned British soldier -Captain Harris, who was unkind to the children. When Betty died of consumption when her youngest daughter Ellen was just one year old, Harris absconded (to Britain) with his (own) two children and the family silver. Anne (Mary Anne) married a Benjamin Coleman a farmer living near Carlow, having children named William, Samuel, Benjamin, Edward, Annie and Eliza. Eliza married John Graham a farmer bear Carlow. They had thee daughters and two sons, emigrating to Will county Illinois in 1857. Susan fell in love with the hired man, Simon Nolan, a Catholic, and ran away with him. Ellen/Helen married a farmer William Smith and lived at Ballintrane, going to America (Illinois) in 1849. See details of the emigrant Smiths HERE.

Thomas James (1791-1865) inheritted the farm with wife Jane Smith married in 1832 had 12 children.

Edward James (1832 -72) inheritted Tankardstown d. age 40 of consumption. Farm to his brother David (1860 - and still living there with his wife in 1926)

John Noble James (1836->1899) who m. cousin, Fanny James, daughter of Ephraim / Alicia (Clarke) James of Newtown (see certificate below)

Thomas James b. 1839.

Ellen (b. 1941)

Jane (1844)

Anna Maria (b. 1848)

Sabina

Lancelot 1855 - >1926)

David (b. 1865 took over the farm when Edward died and he and his wife were still there in 1926 when visited by Francis Martin)

Sarah (buried 1859.)

Not an actual picture of the James House

restored gate and sentry box at Ballycrystal

Ardristan

Ballincarrig

Ballon

Carlow

Cloyda

Dunleckney

Fennagh

Fennagh

Myshall

Sliguff

UrglinTullowphelim

KIltennel

Moyacomb

Parishes in Carlow where James families lived

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