County Meath
County Meath
County Meath Research
My great-great grandfather Patrick was in Griffiths Evaluation, in the parish of Painstown, Townland of Dollardstown, County Meath. We visited there in 2010.
Dollardstown, Painstown, County Meath, Ireland From the Topographical dictionary of Ireland
PAINSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of Lower Duleek, county of Meath, and province of Leinster, 2 miles (S. W.) from Slane, on the road from Trim to Drogheda by Navan; containing 1184 inhabitants. This parish is intersected, in the northern portion, by the river Boyne, and comprises 3342 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The land is of good quality, nearly equally divided between tillage and pasture ; and there is neither waste land nor bog. Copper is supposed to exist here, but it has never been raised; and there are quarries of building stone. Beauparc, the spacious and elegant mansion of Gustavus Lambert, Esq., is situated on very elevated ground, overlooking the river Boyne, and commanding a view of some richly varied scenery ; the grounds are celebrated both for natural and artificial beauty; the demesne contains about 300 Irish acres. Dollardstown, a spacious mansion, the property of Sir W. Meredyth Somerville, Bart., and formerly a seat of the Meredyth family, is now occupied by a farmer.
In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Blacklion, and has a chapel at Yellow Furze, a neat modern structure. A school at Yellow Furze, in which are about 30 boys and 12 girls, is aided by an annual donation from the R. C. clergyman.
Patrick lived on land owned by Sir William Meredyth Somerville. Somerville leased to John Obrien who leased to Thomas Obrien, who leased to Patrick. No land, just a house.
Driving into Yellow Furze
Beauparc Cemetery
The farm at Dollardstown, the land where Patrick Pugh lived as described on Griffiths Valuation.
George said some of the farm buildings are more than 200 years old.
The Baronetcy, of Somerville in the County of Meath, was created in the Baronetage of Ireland in 1748 for James Somerville, who had earlier served as Lord Mayor of Dublin. His great-grandson, the fourth Baronet (the title having descended from father to son), represented County Meath in both the Irish and British Parliaments. He married Mary Anne, daughter of Sir Richard Gorges-Meredyth, 1st and last Baronet. He was succeeded by his son, the aforementioned fifth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage in 1863.
A mausoleum inside the gates of the Beauparc Cemetery.
Driving into the farm. How did we find this? We hired an Irish Geneaologist, Helen Kelly. She told us what map to purchase and then said, when you get in the area, ask around. We asked a few people until they directed us to George Donnelly, who was most helpful in showing us around. After coming home, I see George's great grandfather was listed on the same Griffiths Valution as Patrick Pugh. His family stayed, and George has a farm not to far from this one where he raises race horses. He is 84 and was fascinating.
Baron Athlumney, of Somerville and Dollarstown in the County of Meath, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1863 for the politician Sir William Meredyth Somerville, 5th Baronet, who had previously served as Chief Secretary for Ireland. In 1866 he was also created Baron Meredyth, of Dollarstown in the County of Meath, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He was succeeded by his eldest and only surviving son from his second marriage, the second Baron. He was childless and on his death in 1929 the baronies became extinct while the baronetcy became dormant.
George Donnelly, our gracious host.
