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THE BALFE FAMILY OF COUNTY ROSCOMMON FROM THE 1830s
by Mary Elmer. The purpose of this history is to explore the family of my paternal grandmother, Kate Mary Balfe who was born on 14 August 1870 at Gardenstown, Cloontusket in Co Roscommon. Her father, James Joseph Balfe was the third son of Michael Balfe and Alicia Smith, died on 21 July 1872. He was only forty nine years old and died at The Acres, Roscommon Town where he was Secretary to the Grand Jury. The family seem to have lived from the time of the marriage till mid-1871 at Gardenstown which was close to the family seat at Southpark House.
Grandmother’s siblings were:
· Michael James born 1 April 1867 Gardenstown, Cloontusket · James born 9 December 1868 Gardenstown, Cloontusket · Caroline*** · Alice*** · Geraldtina born 15 October 1865 Gardenstown, Cloontusket · GRANDMOTHER (Katie Mary Balfe) born 14 August 1870 Gardenstown, Cloontusket · Arabella Kate born 27 November 1871 The Acres, Roscommon Town.
***Irish records only began in about 1865 and it is probable that Caroline & Alice were born before records started. I have also been unable to find the date of the marriage of James Joseph Balfe and Arabella Hawkes/Hawker.
After his death James Joseph Balfe was “taken to the family vault in Southpark demesne” (the family vault) and buried there with his ancestors.
The Burial Vault at Southpark (2009) (note the shelves for the coffins to rest on).
A stone seat at Southpark has the name
"Anna Balfe 18 August 1881" on it – she was the wife of Patrick
Balfe and I remember seeing a photograph of it in situ on the drive
at Southpark House and the ground around it was well tended. The
photograph above was taken in August 2010. Does anyone have a copy
of the original photograph? Photographs: © Copyright Mary Elmer. Obituaries of James Joseph Balfe from local Roscommon newspapers at the time of his death in July 1872:
“We regret to inform our readers that the indisposition of the above-named gentlemen, briefly referred to in our last issue, terminated fatally on Sunday night, at his residence at Acres House, near this town and sincere sympathy is universally felt for his bereaved widow and her youthful family. Mr Balfe filled the office of Secretary to the Grand Jury and indeed it may be safely said of him, either in connection with his official or private character, that he never lost a friend or made an enemy, while the tenants on his brother’s property, over whom he acted as agent, speak in the most grateful terms of his kind and charitable disposition. A large number of cars and carriages with people on horseback and on foot accompanied the remains to the family burial place at Southpark. Several of the principal of the county will be placed in mourning by the demise of Mr Balfe.
It is almost needless to add that there are already several candidates in the field for the vacancy, amongst whom perhaps we may mention by name, Mr. Michael Balfe, nephew to the deceased gentleman, and who proposes to hold the office, should he obtain it, in trust for the widow and seven orphan children of the late lamented incumbent.”
The Roscommon Journal, Saturday July 27, 1872
DEATH OF JAMES J. BALFE. ESQ.
It is with regret that we announce the demise of James J Balfe, Esq., Secretary to the Grand Jury of this county, which said event took place at his residence at Acres on Sunday night last. The deceased gentleman was a member of one of the leading families of this county, and his premature death has cast a gloom over a large circle of relatives and friends. The greatest sympathy is felt for his afflicted widow and her young family. The funeral took place on Wednesday last, and the cortège which accompanied the remains to their last resting place, in the family vault in Southpark demesne, was exceedingly large and respectable. May his soul rest in peace.”
Roscommon Messenger 27 July 1872
James Joseph Balfe’s father, Michael Balfe, married twice, (1) Sally Dolphin who bore him a daughter and (2) Alicia Smith in 1819 who produced seven children.
James Joseph Balfe’s siblings were:
** Captain Patrick Joseph Balfe was born in September 1819. He married Anna Mary MacDermott, daughter of William MacDermott and Anna Bodkin, on 5 November 1847. She died on 5 September 1884. He died in December 1886 at age 70. Captain Patrick Joseph Balfe gained the rank of Captain in the service of the 5th Battalion Connaught Rangers. He held the office of High Sheriff in 1858. He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.). He lived at South Park, County Roscommon, Ireland.
Their children were:
**Major Michael Joseph Balfe gained the rank of Captain and honorary Major in the service of the 5th Battalion Connaught Rangers. He held the office of High Sheriff in 1875, and again in 1890. He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.). He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.). He lived at South Park, County Roscommon, Ireland.
Major Michael Joseph Balfe married Katie O’Connell (niece of Daniel O’Connell) on 29 July 1885. The latter was a frequent visitor to the estate. Her sister, a painter artist stayed there regularly. Unfortunately all her works were burned in the fire in 1921.
They lived at Southpark and their children were:
Photograph: © Copyright Mary Elmer. 2009.
Headstone of Grave in Castlerea Cemetery with inscription badly eroded:
“Pray for the Soul of Captain Patrick Balfe JP of Southpark died 9 December 1886 aged 70 years And of his wife Anna Balfe who died 5 September 1884 aged 53 years And of their grandson Edward Michael Balfe of Frenchlawn Who died on 30 May 1919 aged 31 years”
Major M.J. Balfe lived in Southpark House from 1887-1911. He was a good Landlord, a staunch Catholic, and much respected in the area. Southpark House was a house of entertainment. Mass was celebrated weekly in 'The Big House'. His staff numbered 70 permanent and 70 casual workers. The workers had freedom and were “paid in kind with the grass of a cow, donkey or horse.”
Major Balfe was an expert horseman and had a commission to buy horses for the British Army. Races were held twice a year on the estate. His horse 'The Liberator' won the English Grand National. (This does not appear to coincide with the Grand National records which say that The Liberator won the National in 1879 and was owned by Mr George Moore).
The Major was master of the famous 'Roscommon Staghounds' for almost quarter of a century and for a time master of the 'Mid-Roscommon Harriers'. There were two packs (fifty two dogs) of hounds kept on the estate, harriers for hunting foxes and hares and staghounds for hunting deer. The hunting season started in early October and continued until April, with hunts being held twice a week. A joint hunt was held on St. Stephen's Day with a party that night for the gentry. Next day the workers had a party at which the Balfe family attended. Major Balfe was not a very good business man. He trusted everybody. When the number of horses declined during World War 1 his financial situation deteriorated. The land was sold little by little until eventually he had to sell Southpark altogether. Southpark House was burnt by the IRA in 1921 because of the Major’s connections with the British Army (he had provided them with horses in the Boer War). They thought the Black & Tans would requisition the house. The house had not been lived in for about 3 years when it was burnt but I don’t know why it was unoccupied.
It is said that the Major was a smallish man who wore a cap and had a bushy moustache.
FACTS ABOUT THE SOUTHPARK DEMESNE
The “Big House” as it was called had 365 windows.
It had a two acre orchard which boasted 32 different types of apples, It grew pears, cherries and under glass gooseberries, raspberries. It had four people to tend it.
There were three women employed to look after the “fowl” on the Estate. Two sheep were slaughtered each week to feed the workers on the estate and it was said that if an estate worker died and there were insufficient funds the Major would provide a cart and pay for the person to be buried. He was apparently greatly loved and respected which makes the fact he may now lie in a pauper’s grave all the more mysterious and sad.
The walls of the Orchard and Inside the Old Orchard (2009)
The Gates of the Old Orchard and Foundations of Southpark House in 2009
Looking from the foundations across to the walls of the Orchard (2009)
Photographs: © Copyright Mary Elmer. 2009. THE GHOST LEGEND AT SOUTHPARK
Southpark House boasted a coach pulled by 2 horses and carriages. There was a coachman and a reserve coachman employed. On the night following St Stephen’s Night in 1899, Richard McIntyre, the coachman, was brought from his bed to bring a party of four people – 2 ladies and 2 gentlemen, to Castlerea Church - about 4 miles - there was no public lighting but the moon was young and about to set. Richard tackled the four horses and carriage. Two lamps in front of the carriage lit their way. There was no conversation between the driver and the passengers. The driver was only allowed to reply to questions asked as Richard let his passengers off at the church and they went in. After a time they returned and the carriage headed home. he horses were pouring sweat and frothing at the month. They struggled all the way back to Southpark. It took Richard many hours to settle the horses.
Next day Richard met Biddy Warren who used to look after the pigs and poultry on the estate. She told him that there were “queer things happening here”. Lord Gisbourne a previous owner of the estate and an officer in the Cromwellian Army was said to have ordered the burial of a massive amount of gold sovereigns in two barrels one on either side of the entrance pillars. The two men who buried the gold were beheaded. Shortly afterwards two young women arrived at the gates and they too were beheaded. These were the four people who went to the church that night. They were the last ghosts at Southpark.
All that remains of the Gates to Southpark (where the gold was supposedly buried) (2009)
Photograph: © Copyright Mary Elmer. 2009. THE BALFE FAMILY HISTORY (NOT JUST OUR BRANCH)
The Balfe family were settled at Heathfield in county Roscommon in the 18th century but had moved to South Park by the 19th century. Walter Balfe and his wife Jane French of Frenchlawn had 10 sons, some of whom owned property in county Roscommon in the 19th century.
In 1828 Michael Balfe of South Park was a member of the Grand Panel of county Roscommon. James Balfe of Southpark, county Roscommon, was advertising for sale 236 acres of Kinlough, parish of Shrule, county Mayo, in February 1850. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Thomas Balfe held the townland of Rooaunalaghta in the same parish and Nicholas Balfe held a number of townlands in the parishes of Kilglass, barony of Ballintober North and Cloontuskert, barony of Ballintober South, county Roscommon. The representatives of James Balfe also had land in the parish of Ogulla, barony of Roscommon. In the 1870s Nicholas J. Balfe of Dublin owned 110 acres in county Galway, 47 acres in county Roscommon, 433 acres in county Sligo and 412 acres in county Westmeath. Patrick Balfe of South Park owned over 6000 acres in county Roscommon in the 1870s. Some of his lands in the barony of Castlereagh were offered for sale in the Landed Estates' Court in June 1858, November 1874 and again in February 1875. Some of these lands were held on leases from the Lyster and Murphy families. Over 900 acres of Patrick Balfe's estate in the barony of Frenchpark was offered for sale in the Landed Estates' Court in November 1860. James Balfe of Runnemead, tenth son of Walter Balfe of Heathfield, county Roscommon, died leaving 4 daughters and co heiresses. His daughters married into the Chichester, Berington and De Morelle families. The Chichester's eldest son, Walter George Raleigh Chichester, succeeded to the Irish estates of his mother and also to the Burton Constable estate, Yorkshire and in 1894 he took the name Constable by royal licence. 375 acres of the estate of Michael Joseph Balfe in county Galway were vested in the Congested Districts' Board on 26 Apr 1905 and a further 740 acres in county Roscommon on 4 Feb 1909. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Bernard Balfe held land in the parish of Cloonfinlough, barony of Roscommon. The estate of John Balfe in the parishes of Cloonfinlough, barony of Roscommon and Creeve, barony of Frenchpark, was advertised for sale in May 1851. The senior branch of the Balfe family of South Park afterwards moved to Balinluska House, Myrtleville, county Cork. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Patrick Balfe owned an estate in the parishes of Aglishcormish, Dromkeen and Grean, barony of Clanwilliam, county Limerick. The interest of his niece Ellen McDermott in these lands was advertised for sale in June 1862. Captain Walter Balfe of South Park, Castlerea, owned 1,042 acres in county Limerick in the 1870s.
Quotations from IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN by B. M. FITZPATRICK. (1878) about the Balfe Family
And finally, Southpark House itself – the only photo I have been able to find before it was burned to the ground by the IRA in 1921 – the sad ending to an interesting family history – the family has now scattered to Australia, South Africa and America and some Balfes still live in Roscommon although I did not meet up with them.
Photograph: M. Fitzmaurice. Image from: The Roscommon Herald - 2009.
Mary Elmer: 25 August, 2009. The author is most grateful especially to Paul Connolly & Paddy Concannon, Mary Skelly at the Roscommon Heritage & Genealogy Company and the librarians at the Roscommon Town Library for their patience and assistance in helping me put together this history of her family. Anyone with further information or photographs regarding this family can contact Mary via the website: HERE. BACK TO GENEALOGY PAGE BACK TO WEBSITE HOMEPAGE |
