Mary Agnes Hickson facts for kids

Mary Agnes Hickson (born April 7, 1821 – died April 6, 1899) was an Irish historian and family researcher. She spent her life studying and writing about the past, especially the history of Ireland and tracing family trees.

Mary Agnes Hickson's Life

Early Life and Education

Mary Agnes Hickson was born in Tralee, County Kerry, on April 7, 1821. Her parents were John James Hickson and Sarah Day. She was a very good student and received her education locally and at a boarding school.

Family History and Challenges

Mary could trace her family's roots back many generations. She found connections to important families like the Blennerhassetts. Her family faced tough times during the Irish Famine. Many people couldn't pay their rent, which caused financial problems for Mary's family. They even had to sell some of their land.

Her Work as a Historian

Mary Agnes Hickson became a well-known historian and genealogist. A genealogist is someone who studies family histories and traces family trees. An antiquarian is someone who studies old objects and records. She wrote articles for the Kerry Evening Post newspaper. These articles were called Old Kerry Records.

She also joined the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. This is a group for people who study old things and history. Mary wrote three books about the history of Ireland and County Kerry. She was especially interested in the Blennerhassett family.

Her Unique Viewpoint

Mary Agnes Hickson had a different way of looking at Irish history. She was a Protestant Unionist. This means she was Protestant and believed Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom. This was at a time when many Irish people wanted independence.

She tried to be fair in her writings. However, her work on the Irish Rebellion of 1641 caused some debate. She wrote about violence against Protestant settlers. Some people felt her numbers for Protestants killed were much higher than what actually happened. Mary was concerned that her view of history wasn't getting enough attention.

Later Life and Legacy

Mary Agnes Hickson was friends with other important historians, like W.E.H. Lecky. She lived in a place called "Hillville" in Cloghane, County Kerry. Her father had built this house in 1833.

Mary's handwritten notes and copies of old records are kept in important libraries today. You can find them in the London library of the Society of Genealogists and the National Library of Ireland. Mary Agnes Hickson passed away in Mitchelstown in 1899. She was buried in Tralee, her hometown.