John Ponsonby (colonel) facts for kids

John Ponsonby (1608–1678) was an important figure in 17th-century Ireland. He was a colonel in Oliver Cromwell's army during the Irish Confederate Wars. After Cromwell's side won, Ponsonby became a member of parliament for two different counties in Ireland. He also became a very large landowner, receiving land in Donegal, Kilkenny, and Limerick.

Early Life and Military Service

John Ponsonby was born in 1608 in Haugh-Heale, near Whitehaven, Cumbria. His parents were Dorothy Sands and Henry Ponsonby. By 1641, he owned land in Iverk, Kilkenny, but he didn't live there.

In 1641, he arrived in Drogheda as a captain leading 75 men. The next year, his group joined Sir Henry Tichborne's regiment. In 1645, Ponsonby was part of a plan to take control of Drogheda for the Scottish forces. However, the plan was discovered, and he was arrested and sent to prison in Dublin. The English Parliament helped him get released.

After his release, Ponsonby returned to England. There, he took command of a cavalry regiment in the northern army. In 1647, he formed a new cavalry regiment for the English Commonwealth. This regiment arrived in Ireland a few months later.

Fighting in Ireland

In 1649, Ponsonby's regiment joined Charles Coote's forces under Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell's goal was to defeat the alliance of the Catholic Confederacy and the English Royalists.

Ponsonby was made governor of Dundalk in 1649. He impressed Cromwell with his plan to capture Carrick in November of that year. During this campaign, he was promoted from major to colonel. By 1653, the English army had won the war.

Land and Politics

After the war, the Act of Settlement was put in place. This law required a survey of all land, known as the Down Survey. Many landowners lost their properties, especially those who had supported the Confederacy. The land was then given to British soldiers as payment, since they hadn't been paid for 18 months.

Ponsonby was appointed to a special group that collected statements from Protestants about events during the battles. From 1654 to 1655, he served as the sheriff for Wicklow and Kildare.

When Charles II became King of England in 1660, Ponsonby was chosen to help carry out the king's new declaration for the settlement of Ireland. He became a member of parliament for Kilkenny from 1661 to 1666. He was also knighted, becoming "Sir John Ponsonby of Kidalton." The following year, he became a member of parliament for Tipperary.

Receiving New Lands

In 1662, John Ponsonby received official forgiveness for any past actions during the wars, which also applied to his younger brother. He also received two large grants of land under the new settlement. He played a key role in setting up this settlement.

He received properties in Dublin county, two areas in Limerick, sixteen in Donegal, and forty-six in Kilkenny. This included the castle and lands of the Kidalton Estate in Kilkenny. This estate alone covered 3,223 acres and had previously belonged to the Dalton family. Many thousands of acres were involved, and both Protestants and Catholics lost their land. Ponsonby also gained land in County Donegal by buying claims from others.

He did have to give up some of his estate when parts of the Butler family's lands were returned to them.

Family and Legacy

Ponsonby renamed Kidalton Castle as Bessborough House. He did this to honor his second wife, Elizabeth, who was also known as 'Bess.' She was the daughter of Anne Strode and Henry Folliott. The current Bessborough House, which is now Kidalton College, was built 77 years after Ponsonby's death.

John and Elizabeth had three children: Elizabeth, Henry, and William. William was the first person in the Ponsonby family line to become an earl.

John Ponsonby passed away in 1678 at the age of 60. He was buried in the church at Fiddown.