Thomas Ponsonby (captain) facts for kids
Thomas Ponsonby (1660–1717) was an Irish army captain and the owner of a large estate called Crotta in County Kerry. He was the first person in his family born in Ireland to take over this important family estate.
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Who Was Thomas Ponsonby?
Thomas Ponsonby was born in 1660. His mother was Rose Weldon from Athy, Kildare. His father was Henry Ponsonby, a soldier from Cumbria who came to Ireland with Oliver Cromwell's army in 1649.
In 1666, Henry Ponsonby became the new owner of lands that had been taken from other families. Henry Ponsonby passed away in 1681.
How Did Thomas Get the Crotta Estate?
Thomas had an older brother named John. John married Margaret Holmes but did not have any children. Because of this, when John passed away, Thomas Ponsonby inherited the huge Crotta estate, which included thousands of acres of land.
A Legal Challenge Over Land
In 1685, Thomas Ponsonby's mother, Rose, had to go to court. Someone named Chidley Coote claimed that the Ponsonby family owed years of rent on a large part of Stack's Mountain. This was about half of the area of Stack's Mountain.
After several court hearings, the judges decided in favor of the Ponsonby family. Even though the decision was challenged, the families eventually settled the issue by dividing some properties.
Challenges During a Time of Change
On October 15, 1691, Thomas Ponsonby and his late father were named in a special law by the English Parliament. This law was called the "Act for the Attainder of Divers Rebels." It meant that they were seen as disloyal to the king at the time, William III.
This happened during a period when King James II (who had fled to France) was trying to regain his power in Ireland. Many important landowners faced similar challenges during these changing times.
Thomas Ponsonby's Family Life
In 1685, Thomas Ponsonby married Susannah Grice. They had several children, and six of them survived. Their children were Richard, Samuel, Rose, Alice, Honora, and Ann.
Thomas Ponsonby became a captain in the army.
What Happened to His Children?
- Richard Ponsonby: Their son Richard became a member of parliament for Kinsale. He inherited the Crotta estate when his father, Thomas, passed away.
- Samuel Ponsonby: Samuel passed away in Cork around 1729.
- Rose Ponsonby: Rose married John Carrique, who was a high sheriff of Kerry. Their son, also named Richard, inherited the Crotta estate after his uncle Richard.
- Alice and Honora: Alice and Honora also married and had children.
