3. Howardstown
Howardstown,[1] Baile Shiuird, Siurd’s Town, lies in the south of county Limerick. It is about 30 km S of Limerick City, 4 km N of Bruree and 10 km NE of Kilmallock.
In Archbishop Allen’s Register, (1181-1212) there is a reference to M. Dondun, a free tenant in Carabria. [2]He held a castle called Stuardstone.
In 1301 the King, Edward I, wrote to among others, John Dandon “to be provided with strong force of men-at-arms in order to proceed vigorously with the war of Scotland”.[3] In 1319 there is a reference to land in Balysward which belonged to the late Peter Daundoun, being taken into the King’s (Edward II) hand on his death; there is a memorandum that Margaret his wife “got dower from a third part of said lands”.[4]
With the passage of time the Normans were assimilated into the Irish way of live, intermarrying and becoming “more Irish than the Irish themselves”. Hence it is no surprise that in 1580 (Richard) Dondon of Balleheward is among names of people in rebellion. His name is coupled with that of John Dondon of Ballesteen.[5] They had allied themselves with Gerald, Earl of Desmond and Irish Chieftains in a counter-Reformation war. In 1583 the castle at Howardstown was held by the Earl.[6] Gerald was captured and beheaded. His head was sent to Queen Elizabeth.
The Plantation of Munster followed on from this war. In 1587 the estate of Richard was granted to Sir Edward Fyton, President of Connacht, by the Lord Deputy, Sir. John Perrot.[7] Richard Dundon was 40 years of age in 1600; he was married to Mary (surname not known) and had a 15 year old son.[8] That same year Richard and Peter were pardoned “provided that they appear before the president, chief justice, or attorney of Munster, within six months and give security for future good behaviour.[9] In 1641 Richard Dundon and his wife, Margaret, held 40 acres at Creevebeg in Ballingaddy Parish and 910 acres in Howardstown, Bruree Parish[10]. Richard Dondon is mentioned in the "Inrolments of the Adjudications in favour of the 1649 Officers."[11] These Commissioned officers had served under Charles I or Charles II. The Dundons were still the proprietors in 1654[12]. The following year, having been disposed of their lands, they were “translated” to Dunamon and Kilbegnet in Co. Galway.[13] The Dondons had held the Howardstown estate from at least 1284 to 1655.[14]
[1] Howardstown is to be found on Map 65 of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, 65 535 327.
[2] Carabria: Brian Hodkinson, Assistant Curator, Limerick Museum, suggests that Carabria may be Ocarbry, a cantred/tricha cet, in south Co. Limerick, Croom being the largest town; it contains the Abbey of May and Howardstown; Howardstown may be Stuardstown. Email from Brian Hodkinson invoking Paul McCotter’s Medieval Ireland.
[3] Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland, Preserved in Her Majesty’s Public Record Office, London, 1171- 1307, No. 19.
[4] In Appendix 1 of Catalogue of accounts of the Great Rolls of the Pipe of the Irish Exchequer; Pipe Roll a.r.xii Reign of Edward II (Year 1319); Forty-Second Report of the Deputy Keeper, p 17.
[5] Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, of the Reigns of Henry VIII, Edward V, Mary and
Elizabeth, Vol. 127, No. 238, Ireland, Elizabeth.
[6] Inquisitions Exchequer, Jas. I, No. 8, in Antiquities, above.
[7] Fiants, 5032, in Antiquities, above.
[8] Ancient Anglo Irish Families; Ms. GO 219, Pg. 302.
[9] The Irish Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, No. 6446, Vol. 3.
[10] Elizabethan Ireland & the Settlement of Ulster, Carew Papers, Down Survey, No.15, Limerick; NL P3772.
[11] The Irish Landed Gentry, pg. 382, Hart. NL Ir 929725 01. The adjudications refer to the Arrears of the Commissioned Officers who served Charles II, or Charles I, in the Wars of Ireland, before the 5th day of June, 1649.
[12] The Civil Survey, Limerick, Vol. 4, NL Ir 9141 C 12.
[13] The Transplantation to Connacht, 1654 - 1658; Simmington, Irish Manuscripts Commission.
[14] Pleas Roll 14, in Antiquities of County Limerick above.
In Archbishop Allen’s Register, (1181-1212) there is a reference to M. Dondun, a free tenant in Carabria. [2]He held a castle called Stuardstone.
In 1301 the King, Edward I, wrote to among others, John Dandon “to be provided with strong force of men-at-arms in order to proceed vigorously with the war of Scotland”.[3] In 1319 there is a reference to land in Balysward which belonged to the late Peter Daundoun, being taken into the King’s (Edward II) hand on his death; there is a memorandum that Margaret his wife “got dower from a third part of said lands”.[4]
With the passage of time the Normans were assimilated into the Irish way of live, intermarrying and becoming “more Irish than the Irish themselves”. Hence it is no surprise that in 1580 (Richard) Dondon of Balleheward is among names of people in rebellion. His name is coupled with that of John Dondon of Ballesteen.[5] They had allied themselves with Gerald, Earl of Desmond and Irish Chieftains in a counter-Reformation war. In 1583 the castle at Howardstown was held by the Earl.[6] Gerald was captured and beheaded. His head was sent to Queen Elizabeth.
The Plantation of Munster followed on from this war. In 1587 the estate of Richard was granted to Sir Edward Fyton, President of Connacht, by the Lord Deputy, Sir. John Perrot.[7] Richard Dundon was 40 years of age in 1600; he was married to Mary (surname not known) and had a 15 year old son.[8] That same year Richard and Peter were pardoned “provided that they appear before the president, chief justice, or attorney of Munster, within six months and give security for future good behaviour.[9] In 1641 Richard Dundon and his wife, Margaret, held 40 acres at Creevebeg in Ballingaddy Parish and 910 acres in Howardstown, Bruree Parish[10]. Richard Dondon is mentioned in the "Inrolments of the Adjudications in favour of the 1649 Officers."[11] These Commissioned officers had served under Charles I or Charles II. The Dundons were still the proprietors in 1654[12]. The following year, having been disposed of their lands, they were “translated” to Dunamon and Kilbegnet in Co. Galway.[13] The Dondons had held the Howardstown estate from at least 1284 to 1655.[14]
[1] Howardstown is to be found on Map 65 of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, 65 535 327.
[2] Carabria: Brian Hodkinson, Assistant Curator, Limerick Museum, suggests that Carabria may be Ocarbry, a cantred/tricha cet, in south Co. Limerick, Croom being the largest town; it contains the Abbey of May and Howardstown; Howardstown may be Stuardstown. Email from Brian Hodkinson invoking Paul McCotter’s Medieval Ireland.
[3] Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland, Preserved in Her Majesty’s Public Record Office, London, 1171- 1307, No. 19.
[4] In Appendix 1 of Catalogue of accounts of the Great Rolls of the Pipe of the Irish Exchequer; Pipe Roll a.r.xii Reign of Edward II (Year 1319); Forty-Second Report of the Deputy Keeper, p 17.
[5] Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, of the Reigns of Henry VIII, Edward V, Mary and
Elizabeth, Vol. 127, No. 238, Ireland, Elizabeth.
[6] Inquisitions Exchequer, Jas. I, No. 8, in Antiquities, above.
[7] Fiants, 5032, in Antiquities, above.
[8] Ancient Anglo Irish Families; Ms. GO 219, Pg. 302.
[9] The Irish Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, No. 6446, Vol. 3.
[10] Elizabethan Ireland & the Settlement of Ulster, Carew Papers, Down Survey, No.15, Limerick; NL P3772.
[11] The Irish Landed Gentry, pg. 382, Hart. NL Ir 929725 01. The adjudications refer to the Arrears of the Commissioned Officers who served Charles II, or Charles I, in the Wars of Ireland, before the 5th day of June, 1649.
[12] The Civil Survey, Limerick, Vol. 4, NL Ir 9141 C 12.
[13] The Transplantation to Connacht, 1654 - 1658; Simmington, Irish Manuscripts Commission.
[14] Pleas Roll 14, in Antiquities of County Limerick above.