French Family Association
The Official Website of the Surname French
Tower Remains of the Monivea Castle. Nearby are the remains of the stables, and in the distance is the Mausoleum. I was fortunate to visit the thousands of acres of land several times and will post photos and more data as I have time. Mara
Chart #IREH, ffrenches of Monivea Castle,
Co. Galway, Ireland
Last updated by Mara French on 11/20/08. Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. An asterisk (*) shows continuation of that line. Send corrections or additions to Mara French. Revised 1989, 2008.
Note:
This is a very extensive ffrench family. There is so much
information online about them that I plan to include only a small part here. I
am mainly trying to research the connection of the French, ffrench, and de
Freyne families born in Ireland who immigrated to America. With this particular
line, one family immigrated to Australia in the 19th century, and
one family immigrated to Canada in the 20th century.
Contents
Generations 11-12, plus other records and the Bibliography
Sixth Generation
Children of Robert Ffrench and Nichola Acheson, 5.1
6.1* Acheson Ffrench, heir to his father Robert Ffrench [2], m. 1775 to Miss Miller of the Isle of Wight, and d. 1779, leaving an only son, Robert [2].
6.2 Thomas Ffrench (perhaps died without issue) [22].
6.3 Patrick Ffrench (perhaps died without issue) [22].
6.4 Jeremiah Ffrench, m. Lucinda St. George, relict of Thomas St. George, Esq., and 4th dau. of Archibald, 1st Viscount Gosford. He d. 1819 and was the 4th son [22]. He m. Lucinda Acheson, dau. of Archibald Acheson, 1st Viscount Gosford, relict of Thomas St. George [22].
Dromoland Castle, built in 1835 by the OÕBrien family.
6.5 Anne Ffrench, m. Sir Lucius OÕBrien, 3rd Bart. of Dromoland in May 1768. Dromoland Castle in County Clare, Ireland, was owned for eight generations by the OÕBrien family, dating back to 1551 [34]. Sir Lucius OÕBrien d. in 1794 [34]. His son, Edward, rebuilt the castle, beginning around 1822 and completing the structure in 1835 [34]. It is now a hotel (in 2008), located near Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, Ireland.
Seventh Generation
Children of Acheson Ffrench, 6.1
7.1* Robert Ffrench, Esq. of Monivae Castle, J.P., high-sheriff, Co. Galway, b. 1 Jan 1776, m. 1 Jan 1799 Nichola-Maria OÕBrien, eldest dau. of Sir Lucius OÕBrien, Bart. of Dromoland and Anne Ffrench (see 6.3 above) [2]. Nichola d. 1848. Robert d. 1850 or Jan 1851 [28]. They had issue. His great-grandson was Conrad OÕBrien-ffrench.
Eighth Generation
Children of Robert Ffrench and Nichola-Maria OÕBrien, 7.1
8.1* Robert Ffrench Esq., b. 6 Dec 1799, twin with Richard, d. Nov 1876, had issue, was J.P., and D.L., high-sheriff in 1824. He m1. 5 Jul 1830 Katherine-Eleanor Browne, of a Galway "tribe", only dau. of Nicholas Browne, Esq. of Mount Hazel, Co. Galway and his wife Ellen Burke, youngest dau. of Sir Thomas Burke, Bart. of Marble Hill. She d. 1843. They had issue. Robert was formerly in the army, and served in the 63rd regt. He was deprived of his estate in Monivea. Robert m2. Evelina Kirwan, also of a "tribe", whose tombstone remains in the interesting ruins of Abbey Knockmoy. Lady Evelyn (Evelina) m2. Sir Oliver Ffrench and obtained the lands of Derryglassam, Kilbeg [2]. Robert lived in the Òevil daysÓ of civil strife, and was deprived of his estate [2]. Robert and Katherine had 2 daughters [32].
8.2 Richard Ffrench, twin with Robert, b. Dec 1799, Lieut. Royal art., d. in 1832 [2].
8.3 Lucius John Ffrench, Capt. 9th Laucers, b. 1801 [28], d. in India in 1842 [2].
8.4 Edward Hyde Ffrench, of Hyde Park, Co. Galway, b. 1802 [28], d. 16 Sep 1851 [2].
8.5 Patrick-Digby Ffrench, b. 1810 [2] or 1818 [28].
8.6 Adelaide Ffrench, m. Jun 1827 to Henry Blake, brother of Martin Blake [28].
8.7 Nichola Ffrench, m. Henry Blake of Windfield [28].
8.8 Louisa Ffrench, m. in 1836 to William Traill of Ballylough [28].
8.9 Evelina Ffrench, m. in 1825 to Stephen Donelan of Killagh [28].
8.10 Mary Ffrench [28].
8.11* Acheson Jeremy Sydney Ffrench of Monivae, migrated to Hamilton, Australia, in the colony of Victoria, b. 24 May 1812, d. 29 Jan 1870, m. 8 Feb 1842 Anna Clarke Watton, 2nd dau. of Dr. John Walton of London, and had issue [2]. They were married at St. James Church in England [22]. Anna was b. 1825 in London, England. Because of religious reasons, Acheson left Monivea and sailed to Australia, discovering the town of Hamilton. He was the first police magistrate in Hamilton [11]. The year of the potato famine was 1845, which could have also been a reason Acheson migrated to Australia. He lived at ÒMoniveaÓ, his home in Hamilton named after his home in Ireland, between about 1841-1870.
Acheson Ffrench [30]
Acheson was a first cousin of Lord Inchiquin and Mr. Smith O'Brien. He arrived in this colony in 1839 and settled near Mount Macedon. In 1841 he removed to the Grange, now called Hamilton, where he was appointed police magistrate. He resigned in 1850 and retired to his station "Monivea" outside Hamilton, Australia [7]. During his residence of 30 years in the colony, Mr. Ffrench earned the esteem of a very large circle of friends.
Photo of AchesonÕs home in Hamilton, called ÒMoniveaÓ after his Irish homeland. Acheson occupied this home from 1841 to 1870. Photo supplied by Ian Black [30]. The Australian spelling is Monivae is different than the Irish spelling Monivae. It is a 16 room house with detached servants quarters. [30]
He d. 29 Jan 1870, age 58, at St. KildaÕs Bath in Melbourne while diving into too of a shallow fenced-off area (4 ½Õ deep) of the bath. He dislocated his neck. In Melbourne with his daughters, he was on his way to write a will. He leaves a widow and 11 children. The following newspaper obituary was sent to me by Ann Burnell in Australia, Ref [7].
