The Trant Family Author(S): S

The Trant Family Author(s): S. M. Source: Kerry Archaeological Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 12 (Mar., 1914), pp. 237-262 Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30059690 Accessed: 27-06-2016 07:43 UTC

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HE Trants are of Danish extraction, and are, in Ortelius' Map, located in the barony of Cor- caguiney. One of their principal strongholds was Cahir Trant, situated on a peninsula to the west of Ventry Harbour, which of course derived its name from the family. There is a tradition that Cahir Trant was the last ground held by the Danes in Ireland; but, on the same authority, the Trants themselves are said to descend from a Danish Chieftain.1 It is almost certain that they are descended from followers of Strongbow's who settled at Dingle very soon after the Norman invasion. The spelling of the name is given as Teraunt in a journal written by Nicholas White in 1580. He was Master of the Rolls, and accompanied Sir William Pelham, the Lord Jus- tice, from Limerick to Dingle. The journal was composed for the use of Lord Burleigh. The name is also so spelt in the Records of the Exchequer relating to Dingle in Plan- tagenet times. The earliest mention is of Philip Trant, who was in Kerry in 1272. There are records of a William Trant in 1307 and 1310, of another William Trant in 1324, and of a Patrick Trant in 1398. In 1485 Richard Trant and Philip

1 At the present day in Denmark there are persons bearing the following surnames:-Transe, Trantel, Trane, Trautner. Traulsen, and Tramsen, in some of which may, perhaps, be traced a resemblance to that of the family of which we now treat. Miss Clarissa Traxt, in her diary, speaks of her grandfather (whose name, however, she does not give) having received a letter from a Danish nobleman signed "Trant."

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Fitzgarrett FitzDavid Trant2 were jurors at the Dingle Assizes. The Trants seem to have hibernicised rapidly, and were devoted adherents of MacCarthy Mor and the Desmond. In a letter from the former to Captain Thornton, who required assistance for provisioning Castle Magne in 1580, he says:- "You shall know that, according to commission, I have protected one Garrett Trant of Dingel alle his familie and son-in-law, and also Thomas FitzGerrot Duffe, of the same, if your worship meet them, I request you to be good to them, and leving to trouble you further, I am, from Killhoriglon (Killorglin) this 29th of April, 1580. Your friend in any wise---Donnyl Clancare." In the following September Garrett Trant was the first to speed the intelligence, to Clancare, of the arrival of the Spaniards at Fort-del-ore, and James Trant (probably his son or brother) was actively engaged in negociating between Desmond and Sir William Winter, and seems to have done his best to induce his feudal lord to act wisely, but in vain. In 1584, after the Earl's death, an inquisition was held at Dingle; and, amongst those who gave evidence were several Trant merchants. In 1585 James and Thomas Trant represented Dingle in the Irish Parliament. In 1588 James Trant was one of five gentlemen who signed a document testifying to the declaration made by the Earl of Clancar, in their presence, that his consent to his daughter's marriage to Florence McCarthy was conditional on its being approved by the Queen.3 In the same year Tames "Traunte" gave information to Sir Edward Denny of the arrival at Downegueyne (Dunquin) of three great Spanish ships. Richard Trant was sovereign of Dingle in 1592, and

2 At page 112 of the volume for 1895 of the Cork Historical and Archaeolo- gical Society's "Journal" is printed an interesting translation of an award made, on the 22nd May, 1482, by the 9th Earl of Desmond and John iHussey, arbitrators in a' dispute between those two persons regarding their shares of the emoluments payable to them by parties entering the port of Fyntray (Ventry). In that document Richard Trant is sty'ed "Chief of his nation." 3 "Life and Letters of Florence MacCarthy," pages 58-9.

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Thomas Trant represented the borough in the parliament of 1613. Pardons were granted to several members of the Trant family at different periods during the latter half of the 16th century, and to a large number of them in 1601. In the list of Irish who passed into Spain from various parts of Munster in 1601, O'Sullivan Bear's son, with "one Trant of Dingle" are said to have "shipped themselves from Castle- haven." In 1605 Rechard Rice of Dingle had a grant of the wardship of Maurice, son of James Trant, with an allowance for his maintenance at Trinity College, Dublin. Among the witnesses to the will of Daniel O'Sullivan More, dated the 14th November, 1632, is one Patrick Traunte, and amongst the Assessors, who sat at an Inquisi- tion on the death of Connor McGillicuddy, in 1633, was Dominick Trant of Rahinagh. The names of a large number of Trants are to be found among the forfeiting proprietors of Corcaguiny in 1657, and the Transplanter's Certificates included some of them also. There is, amongst the MacGillicuddy papers, a document, bearinr date 28th Januiry, 1673, signed by Patrick Trant, certifying that Colonel Donogh McGillicuddy and his son- in-law had necessary occasion to proceed to London and West- minster. This signatory appears to have held some official position, and was perhaps the same person as was afterwards known as Sir Patrick Trant. From the facts above mentioned it is clear that, for many centuries, the Trants held a very prominent position in the County of Kerry, and especially around Dingle and Ventry. They seem to have been the leading people in those parts, and continued to be so during the 18th and a portion of the 19th century. Some of the family emigrated to the West Indies and settled in Antigua and Xtontserratt, where many of the name lived during the 18th century and a part of the 19th century. The family seem to be now extinct in that part of the world. Notwithstanding the fact that they once flourished in such

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numbers in Corcaguiney afid other parts of Kerry (and perhaps partly for that reason) it is not possible now to trace any of them back for many generations, and no complete pedigrees of any of the numerous branches are in existence. In Mrs. M. J. O'Connell's "Last Colonel of the Irish Brigade" we find the following pedigree :--

DOMINICK TRANT OF FENITT, HONORA, dau of James Fitz- Co. KERRY, sent to Spain, gerald of Bally Macadam, Co. 1583, by the x6th Earl of Des- I Kerry mond, to seek arms, etc.

Garrett of Feenitt Margaret, *dau of Thomas I Trant of Cahir Trant, Kerry, M.P. for Dingle, 1613

Edmond of Feenitt Barbara, dau of Rowland Rice of Ballingolin, Kerry

Twenty-three other sons, four of Edward of Feenitt=-Ellen, dau of Richard Trant of whom were Colonels in Spain. Glen Sherune, Kerry, by his From one of these twenty-three wife Catherine, dau of Timothy descended Sir Patrick Trant, O'Connor of Tarighe, Kerry, bart., who went to France with who was of the O'Connors, James II., and had Kerry, and his mother was dau of Corn. O'Sullivan, 2nd son to O'Sullivan Beare

Sir John, James, Colonel, Daughter Daughter Catherine Thomas Fitzgerald murdered killed at siege md Lord md Prince (? Anne) of Cosfeal in London of Cork Slane d'Auvergne

? Richard Ellinor-Owen Mahony of Knockavola

Another descendant of Edmond of Feenitt, David Trant of Killeen, was Michael O'Mahony Bartholomew (died father of Garrett, Edward and David I in Paris Trant, Captains in James II.'s army, of whom Garrett and Edward were killed I at Aughrim. Garrett leaving an only Bartholomew, Ccunt child, Margaret, who married Richard, Chevalier de Malte 4th Earl of Cavan, obiit 1741.

4 This Margaret Trant had a sister Helena, who md. Stephen Rice, M.P.

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Sir Patrick Trant, Baronet, is no doubt the best known member of the family, if we except Sir Nicholas, who perhaps may be considered the most distinguished, and who belongs to a later period. He has been mentioned as a lineal descendant of Sir Patrick, but this statement is not borne out by evidence and seems improbable.' Of Sir Patrick's ancestry there is no authentic record. He is said to have been the son of a London merchant, whose christian name even is not handed down. Of his early career nothing is recorded. We only know that in 1684 and 1685 he held some appointment connected with the excise. In 1686 he wrote claiming arrears of salary for those years to the total amount of q2,000 (MSS. in British Museum), and in 1688 was Commissioner of Revenue and M.P. for Queen's County. He possessed extensive estates in Kerry, Kildare, Dublin, King's and Queen's Counties; and, within these the manors and lordships of Portarlington, Lea, and Charleston. He was High Sheriff of Kildare (but in what year is not known), and had been created a baronet in 1686. He was also one of the Assessors for the Queen's County appointed for carrying out the Commission, issued by James II., on the 16th April, 1690, for applotting x20,000 per mensem on personal estates and the benefit of trade and traffic "according to the ancient custom of this Kingdom used in time of danger." As he followed the fortunes of that monarch, whom he afterwards accompanied to France, his estates were confiscated.5 The attainders of 1691 include Sir Patrick himself (described as Baronet of Coldwell in the Co. Dublin) his wife Lady Helen Trant, with her sons Richard Laurence and Charles, and also Maurice Trant of Dublin, Garrett of Portarlington, and Gerald of Dingle. After being in France for some time Sir Patrick petitioned to be allowed to return to Ireland, but this was refused. He died at St. Germain about 1694. D'Alton says that after James II. fled from Dublin Castle

5 It is said that during the warfare in Ireland in 1690-1, James IL. commissioned Sir Patrick to leave the camp on the Boyne and proceed to the South Coast, and charter a vessel to take the King to France, in case the fight should go against him.

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 242 THE TRANT FAMILY. three unsigned patents were found there for the raising of Sir Patrick Trant, Sir Stephen Rice, and Mr. Grace to the Peerage. Amongst other interesting documents preserved at Dovea is a pardon granted by James II., in the 4th year of his reign, to Sir Patrick Trant, Bart.; Sir Cornewall Bradshaw, Kt.; William Bridges, Esq.; Anthony Rowe, Esq., and Robert Nott, Esq. This pardon is of a very wide and general nature, and embraces crimea and offences of every kind, from treason and murder downwards, previously committed, or thereafter to be committed by all or any of those persons, with a command to all judges, sheriffs, and other officials to construe the pardon in the most ample manner. It winds up with a proviso that it shall not be construed as releasing or exonerating the parties from any debt due by them to the King. After Sir Patrick's death, on the petition of his widow, she and her family were allowed to retain a small portion of the Kerry estates. The rest of his estates were sold, and were purchased by the Hollow Sword Blade Company from the Trustees of the Forfeitures for y30,000. Amongst the claimants upon Sir Patrick's confiscated estates at Chichester House in 1700 was John, son of Richard Trant." He sought a charge, affecting the whole estate, for a debt of w875, remainder of m2,200, but his petition was afterwards dismissed for non-prosecution. One Thomas Trant claimed a debt of v714 due by Sir Patrick. Another Thomas (whether the same or not does not appear) claimed a mortgage in fee for h40 on various lands. Peter Trant claimed a mortgage for 99 years for s200 on the lands of Rynvarka and Kilfanoge. Sir Stephen Rice claimed various estates for Ellen, daughter of Lord Slane, and grand-daughter of Sir Patrick. Sir Patrick Trant appears to have married a Miss Helen

SD'Alton erroneously speaks of him as a grandson of the Baronet. But one Richard Trant, late of Barbadoes, in his will made in 1684, appointed his "near and dear kinsman" Patrick Trant, Esq., of London (possibly the future Baronet), to be executor and guardian for his only son John, and it may be that the latter was the person who preferred the claim.

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Nagle, by whom he had several sons. Besides the three already mentioned (Richard, Laurence, and Charles), the pedigree which we have given from Mrs. O'Connell's book shows two sons, namely, Sir John, "murdered in London,"' and James, "killed at the siege of Cork." The only one of them alluded to by Lady Helen Trant in her will, dated ihe 26th October, 1721, is Laurence, whom she speaks of as her "dear son, Sir Laurence Trant, Baronet." From the records of a Chancery suit filed in 1729 by Frances Trant, spinster, then only surviving child of Sir Patrick, against Moore and others, trustees for the children, it appears that, in the first year of Queen Anne's reign (i.e., 1702), his widow, Dame Helen Trant, with the children then surviving, namely, three sons (Charles, James, and Laurence) and three daughters (Frances, Henrietta, and Olivia), petitioned the House of Commons for certain mone- tary relief. Before that, as appears from the House of Commons Journals, in the British Museum, a petition had been presented to the House by John Trant, eldest son and heir of Sir Patrick on behalf of himself and of his mother, brothers and sisters. This, with other petitions, was, on the 31st May, 1701, referred to the Trustees for Forfeitures in Ireland. On the 11th April, 1702, leave was given to bring in a Bill making provision for John Trant and his mother, brothers and sisters, and a Bill was brought in accordingly on the 13th May. The matter, however, appears then to have fallen through, probably owing to John Trant's death. On the 19th May, Charles Trant petitioned for reversal of the outlawry, but this was thrown out by a majority of 41 to 22. It must have been later on in that year that Dame Helen Trant, with her surviving children as above mentioned, petitioned to the House. The result was that a private Act was passed, under which the Trustees of Forfeited Estates had to pay g7,000 to the trustees of the widow and Protestant children of Sir Patrick Trant. This sum was accordingly paid over, in 1704, to Charles Campbell, the surviving trustee. From Lady Helen Trant's

7 He appears to have been killed in a duel at Covent Garden in 1702.

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will it would appear that a portion at least of the sum of l7,000, paid to Charles Campbell for her and her children, still remained in his hands, and it was for the recovery of this that Frances Trant sued the executors and trustees named by Charles Campbell in his will. It is very doubtful whether any descendants of Sir Patrick Trant now survive, or if any of his sons left lawful male issue. In a diary kept by Clarissa, the daughter of Sir Nicholas Trant, she alludes to "Sir Paddy" (presumably Sir Patrick), whom she calls her "good great-grandfather" (possibly the word "good" may have been a clerical error for "great"). Then again Ignatius Trant, whose daughter Ellen, in 1799, married James Fagan, of Cork, is described as being a lineal descendant of Sir Patrick. Now to go back again to the Chancery Bill of 1729, filed by Frances Trant, we find it stated that, some years after the payment of b7,000 into the hands of Charles Campbell, Charles, James and Henrietta Trant all died intestate, and without issue. Their mother took out administration in 1712. She died in 1724, and the surviving trustee, Charles Campbell, in 1725. In her will Lady Helen speaks of her only surviving son as "Sir Lawrence Trant, Baronet." Now, he could only have succeeded to the baronetcy on the death, without male issue, of all his elder brothers. There is em- bodied in the Chancery suit a statement by the plaintiff that her brother Laurence, too, had died intestate and without issue, which fact is admitted by the defendants. It is clear, therefore, that of Sir Patrick's five sons, the third, fourth and fifth, i.e., Charles, James and Laurence, died without issue. The second son, John, too, must have died in 1702 before the private Bill introduced at his in- stance could be passed, and in all probability without issue. As regards Richard, the first of the three sons named by D'Alton, nothing whatever is known about him or his son John, even granting that D'Alton was right in saying that Sir Patrick had a grandson of that name. The fact that the name of neither occurs in the petition by Lady Helen Trant to the House of Commons in 1702 shows that neither of them was then alive, and there can only be a very remote pos-

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms THE TRANT FAMILY. 245 sibility of their having left any descendants. Under these circumstances it is difficult to see how the allegation of lineal descent from Sir Patrick Trant can be maintained. In Farrar's "Irish marriages," which is also a chronicle of deaths, there is a notice of the death in 1794 in Cork, at an advanced age, of Ignatius Trant, a merchant. Again William Trant, of Cork, in his will made in 1725, alludes to his son Ignatius. It is by no means improbable that the Ignatius Trant who died in 1794 was not only the son of William Trant, but the father-in-law of James Fagan. The probability is enhanced by the fact that Ignatius is such an uncommon Christian name. Amongst many long lists of Trants which I have seen, I have not come across any other person bearing that name. But even if the above conjecture be correct, it does not go towards establishing any descent from Sir Patrick Trant. There is no mention of the baronet's having had a son named William. And the William who made his will in 1725, and must have been then well on in years, could scarcely have been Sir Patrick's grandson. Sir Nicholas Trant was grandson of Dominick Trant, of Ballintlea. The latter is sometimes spoken of as Dominick Fitzwilliam; but in a Chancery bill filed by him on the 27th February, 1719, he is described as the son and heir of Peter Trant of Dingle, who died in 1715, and who was the only brother and heir of Dominick Trant of Dingle. It is also set forth in the bill that he married a daughter of Edward Ferriter (who was, in fact, Sir Nicholas' grand- mother). It is, therefore, quite clear that Sir Nicholas Trant could not have been a lineal descendant of Sir Patrick. From the Chancery bill before referred to, it appears that Sir Patrick Trant had at least three daughters- Frances, Henrietta and Olivia. They were all alive when their mother petitioned to the House of Commons in 1702. Henrietta appears to have died in or before 1712. The only one of them mentioned in their mother's will (1721) is Frances, who was therein nominated sole executrix, and was left a sum of a1,000. Dame Helen left t20 to her "grand-daughter, Mistress Ellen Fleming, daughter of the

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Right Honorable now Lord Viscount Longford, late Lord Slane." It appears that one of Sir Patrick's daughters married Lord Slane, and another the Prince d'Auvergne, whilst Frances, who survived all the rest of the family, remained unmarried. In Burke's Extinct Baronetages (published about 1835) there is a note to the effect that Sir Patrick Trant had another brother, Dominick, who married a sister of Sir Stephen Rice, and was ancestor of the Trants of Montserrat. Amongst the few Trant families who still survive and flourish, is that of Dovea, near Thurles, in the Co. Tip- perary, now represented by Laurence Dominick, eldest son of the late Colonel Fitzgibbon Trant, J.P., D.L. It seems that they are collaterally related to Sir Patrick Trant. In the edition of Burke's Extinct Baronetages above quoted, it is stated that "nearly connected also with Sir Patrick were two brothers, from one of whom descends William Trant, formerly M.P. for Dover, and from the other descend Sir James Fitzgerald, Bart., and Mrs. Pepper, of Portman Square." If this statement be correct, Sir James Fitzgerald's great-grandfather, Henry Trant (will 1729, vide Tabular Pedigree which follows) and William Trant's great-grandfather John, who were contemporaries, and of a generation later than Sir Patrick, must have been very near cousins- in fact, first cousins. This is practically certain, so that John's father and Henry's father must have been the two brothers connected with Sir Patrick. Now, the question is, who was John's father? We see that Richard Trant of Barbadoes, in his will dated 1684, speaks of his "only son John," for whom he appoints his "near and dear kinsman, Patrick Trant," as executor and guardian. Now, it seems more than probable that this John was the father of Dominick the elder, and that the "near and dear kinsman" was no other than the person soon afterwards known as Sir Patrick. We shall now proceed with the history of the Dovea family. Dominick Trant (John), whose will bears date the 31st October, 1755, was (as is indicated by this mode, then

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms THE TRANT FAMILY. 247 prevalent, of writing the father's name at the end) the son of John Trant, and was a prosperous Dingle merchant. He acquired extensive landed property in the counties of Kerry and Tipperary. On the 20th February, 1748, Stephen Rice, formerly of Mount Rice in the County of Kildare, demised to him the under-mentioned lands in the County Kerry, which he held in fee, subject to a yearly rent of u130: -Ballydrew, Kildrum, Ballynena, iGlynns, Bally- conneen, Riesk, Farranakilly, Cahir Trant, Reenvarke, Ballybeg, Ballybowler, Ardfert, and Ballyristeen. He also in the same year sold to him the lands of Lower Dovea, Ballinahow, Ballybristy, and Killaghra, in the Co. Tip- perary. Dominick Trant also acquired, through his second wife, Ellen (ne6 MacCarthy), an interest in the lands of Knockavullen, in the Barony of Duhallow, Co. Cork. He married, firstly, Catherine, daughter of Henry Trant of Dingle, and relict of John Gould, by whom he had two sons, (1) James and (2) Dominick. He married secondly Ellen, daughter of Justin McCarthy, of Begnis, and widow of Theobald McGhee. In his will he left the bulk of his property, real and personal, to his second son, Dominick. It is supposed that he passed over his elder son by reason of the latter's having become a "Papist," and having entered some foreign service. However, he did not absolutely disinherit him, but willed the property to him in the event of the younger son dying without issue. But as this did not happen, James never came into the property. His brother Dominick, in his will (1790), left him a rent charge of f72 out of the lands of Farran Cantillon, near Dingle, and to his wife Rose a sum of c36 per annum out of the same lands, commencing from her husband's death. This annuity, or a portion of it, would appear to have been afterwards continued to James' daughters. He appears to have married Rose Anne, daughter of Francis Eagar, of Ballin- voher. It is not known when he died, but he must have lived on until 1808 or 1809. He left no son, but six daughters-Mary, Ellen, Catherine, Bridget, Clara and Eliza. As the eldest of these, according to the census returns of 1821, was then only 24 years old, and could not have been

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 248 THE TRANT FAMILY. born until 1797, the youngest being only 12, it may be that they were all children by a second wife, as their mother's name is given in the return as Mary, and her age 51. The only one of those daughters who married was the eldest, Mary, who became the wife of Mr. Florence McCarthy, of Killarney, well known in the first half of the 19th century as Principal of a College in that town, by whom she had three sons and four daughters. The only one of these who is known to have married was the youngest daughter, Bidelia, who married a Mr. Hans, and who was alive a few years ago. The last survivor of James Trant's children was Clara, who was accidentally burned to death in Dingle in 1881, at the age of 75. Up to the time of her death she, as also her sisters while they lived, had been in the receipt of a pension from their cousins of Dovea, the descendants of their uncle Dominick. The latter, who succeeded to the property, was a successful barrister, and made a lot of money by his profession. He appears to have done a very good business as counsel for his friends, the smuggling gentlemen of the South. In a case where a ship and valuable cargo were at stake he got 50 guineas on his brief, and seven guineas a day from the moment of stepping into his postchaise at the door of his town house.8 There are extant some letters of his, giving graphic pictures of his fatigues as managing counsel at the Kerry Election of 1790. In one of them, dated Tralee, 14th May, written when the election was drawing to a close, he says :-"A strongly contested election is certainly a most severe trial to the constitution of the leading counsel, as I have felt it severely more than once, and I think it probable I shall never try the experiment again." It is pretty certain, indeed, that he never did so, as he seems to have died later on in that year. His will bears date the 5th October, 1790. Dominick Trant was member in the Irish Parliament for

S There is at Dovea a handsome piece of plate, representing a ship, which was presented to him by the inhabitants of Belfast as a token of their appreciation of his skill in conducting a case for them to a successful issue.

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St Canice, Kilkenny, from 1776 to 1783. He resided for many years at Dunkettle, near Cork, where he had a beautiful house, full of treasures of literature and art inside, and of the charms of landscape gardening without, of which Arthur Young gives a glowing description in his Tour in Ireland, referring to Dunkettle as "one of the most beautiful places he had seen." Dominick Trant was undoubtedly

DOMINICK TRANT, OF DUNKETTLE, d. 1790. a man of great ability, and attained considerable eminence in his profession. He was, moreover, possessed of culti- vated tastes, great charm of manner, and, as his portrait shows, of handsome appearance.9 He seems to have taken his share in the burning controversies of the day, and a

9 There is at Dovea an excellent portrait of him, painted in Rome in 1770, which exhibits him as a man, tall, stout, and of florid complexion, with a bright, genial expression.

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 250 THE TRANT FAMILY. certain pamphlet written by him, entitled "Consideration of the present Disturbances in Munster," wherein he favoured the Catholic claims, caused much commotion in that Province. He had, in fact, to fight a duel in connec- tion with it, in which he mortally wounded his opponent, Sir John Gonway Colthurst. This was on the 14th Feb- ruary, 1787. The duel appears to have arisen from Sir John's taking up, as a personal insult, some remarks in the pamphlet. As it was a remarkable combat in its way, with features of more than ordinary interest, we shall give the following details from an account of it drawn up by Dominick himself. On the 12th February, 1787, Mr. Trant was waited on, at his residence in Dublin, by Counsellor John Egan,1o on behalf of Sir John Colthurst, and asked to explain a certain passage in his pamphlet, which the latter considered allusive to himself. Trant, after consultation with his friend, Mr. R. H. Hutchinson, decided that he was not bound to explain the passage in question, and wrote a note to Mr. Egan to that effect. The end of it was that a meeting was arranged for 4 p.m. on the 13th, on the river side near Ball's Bridge. The principals, with their seconds, namely, Mr. Hutchin- son, who acted in that capacity for Mr. Trant, and Mr. Egan for Sir John Colthurst, arrived there at the time appointed. With them came also two surgeons, one for attendance 'on each of the combatants. However, before anything could be done, the proceedings were interrupted by the arrival on the scene of Mr. Fleming, one of the Sheriffs of Dublin. Trant was able to get away, but his adversary was arrested by the Sheriff, and taken to Judge Henn's house, who bound him to keep the peace. How- ever, the parties managed to arrange another meeting for

10 This was doubtless the well known "Bully" Egan, so called from his great size and swagger. He once fought a duel with Ourran, and )n the ground complained that the disparity of their sizes (Curran being a little man) gave the latter a better cha'nce of hitting him (Egan). Curran declared that he wished to take no advantage, and suggested that his own size should be chalked out on Egan's side, and that every shot hitting outside the mark should go for nothing. It will readily be believed that the duel was not a deadly one.

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms THE TRANT FAMILY. 251 the following day, the 14th February, which took place a little way out of Bray. There all preliminaries having been settled, each of the principals fired two shots without any injury, except to Sir John's hat and Mr. Trant's coat. After that a lengthened parley took place, which lasted about an hour and a half, at the end of which time Trant proposed an amicable settlement, and suggested that the matter should be left to the arbitration of three men of "judgment, character and impartiality." But, as Sir John Colthurst would not consent to any kind of arbitration, and Mr. Trant refused to give the explanation demanded, the combat was resumed. The first shot of each party took no effect. When they fired again, Sir John's ball just grazed the calf of Trant's right leg, whilst the latter's took effect in Sir John's right breast, just under his arm, which caused him to fall. Sir John was then taken to a house close by, where he lingered for five days, dying on Monday, the 19th February. On the day after the duel he sent his surgeon, Mr. Hume, to Mr. Trant with a message to the effect that he felt convinced he had pushed matters too far, and should have been satisfied after the first four shots, and that he was entirely satisfied with Mr. Trant's conduct throughout the whole business. On Tuesday, the 20th February, a Coroner's inquest was held, which resulted in a verdict of "Manslaughter by Dominick Trant in his own defence." Dominick Trant appears to have travelled a good deal on the Continent of Europe. He spent much time in France, Belgium and Germany, and also visited Florence, Rome, Naples, and other places in Italy. He has left a diary full of interesting notes about the places he visited and the distinguished persons whom he met. Whilst so- journing in 1767-68 in the South of France, at Pezenas, near Montpelier, at that time a fashionable resort, he met Lord Clive, then not long back from India, with whom he appears to have formed an intimate acquaintance, and who struck him as a man of commanding intellect. From him he says he derived more valuable information, especially about India. than from any one else he had ever met. He speaks of having, in 1781, crossed the Rhine from Dussel-

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 252 THE TRANT FAMILY. dorf to Duys in a large Pont Volant capable of ferrying at one time 20 carriages, 600 horses, and 100 men ! At Naples in 1770 he met Don Raymond Burgh or Burke, an Irish- man, then aged 104, and second in command of the Neapoli- tan forces, who gave him a full account of the siege of Limerick, where he had served as an ensign, and previous transactions in King James's time. He was carried to France under the capitulation of 1691, and was Lieut.- Colonel in the Irish regiment at Cremona in 1702, which took such a distinguished part in the repulse of Prince Eugene. Dominick Trant married, firstly, Mary, daughter of Edward Rice, and relict of Colonel Degge and Judge Arthur Blennerhassett. He married secondly, in 1776, Elenor Fitzgibbon, daughter of John Lord Clare, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, by whom he had :- (1) John Frederick, his successor, of whom presently. (2) William Henry, who entered the Bengal Civil Ser- vice in 1798. He filled, amongst other offices, those of Secretary to the Board of Revenue, Col- lector of Bareilly, Collector of the 24 Pergunnahs, Member of the Board of Commissioners, and, before finally leaving India, in 1820, officiated as Member of the Board of Revenue. He retired from the service in 1824. He entered Parliament in that year as member for Dover, and was afterwards member for Okehampton. He married Charlotte Lumsden, and had one son, Henry, who died unmarried, and a daughter, Madeline, who married a Mr. Edmundson, and had two sons. She inherited her father's property in Kerry and Limerick. Dominick Trant had also a daughter, Maria, who married Henry Prettie, 2nd Lord Dunally. John Frederick Trant, J.P., D.L., born in 1781, was educated at Eton, and entered the Army at an early age. He joined the 10th Hussars (then the 10th Light Dragoons). He sold the greater part of his property near Dingle in 1809 to Lord Ventry for e40,000. It appears that he also

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms THE TRANT FAMILY. 253 sold the house and estate of Dunkettle, where his father used to reside. He married Caroline, dahghter of Francis Brooke of Colebrooke, by Hannah, daughter of the 1st Lord Dunally, and by her had (besides three daughters, namely, (1) Caroline, who married James Hans Hamilton, and had a son, Ion Trant Hamilton, afterwards Lord Holmpatrick; (2) Louisa Anne, and (3) Selina, who md. A. B. Kane) an only son, John Trant. John Trant, J.P., D.L., High Sheriff 1847, born in

JOHN TRANT, OF DOVEA, b. 1819; d. 1887-

1819, .md. in 1842 Sarah Sophia, daughter of Sir Henry Carden. He then settled down permanently at Dovea, and lived there all his life. He devoted his time to the im- provement of his property, and considerably enlarged the house. During -the famine period of 1847-9 he was most generous in his relief of the famine-stricken, supplying some with food, and providing employment for others, and in this way kept many hundreds of people alive. He also helped many to emigrate. At a later period, during the troubles of 1881 and subsequent years, he did much towards

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 254 THE TRANT FAMILY. the relief of boycotted persons by the establishment of a bakery in the village of Dovea where they could procure food Mr. Trant died in 1887, having had by his wife, already mentioned, the following issue: (1) Fitzgibbon, late of Doven, of whom presently. (2) Frederick Ion, b. 1856, md Alicia Motherhead.

COLONEL FITZGIBBON TRANT, b. 2849 ; d, i912.

(3) John Francis, Captain in the Army, b. 1858. (4) Hans Arthur. (1) Caroline Frances. (2) Sara Louise, md. Francis Wise Low. (3) Eleanor Nina, md. Rev. R. W. Nash. (4) Emily Henrietta. (5) Alice Sophia. (6) Florence Rose, md. Thomas Bruen Ruttledge.

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms THE T'RANT FAMILY. 255

(7) Arabella Maud. (8) Mabel. Fitzg-bbon Trant, J.P., D.L., High Sheriff 1889, was born 1849, and was educated at Eton. He joined the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders in 1868, and spent some years with that regiment in India. By reason of his father's ill- health, he had to return home, exchanging into the 64th Regiment, then at Limerick. He left, the Army in 1873, and joined the North Tipperary Militia, with which he

LAURENCE DOMINICK TRANT, NOW OF DOVEA. remained for 28 years. Colonel Trant travelled a good deal in Asia, North and South America, and other parts of the world. He married in 1882 Georgina Emily, youngest daughter of Philip Jocelyn Newton, of Dunleckney Manor, Co. Carlow, and had issue:- (1) Laurence Dominick, now of Dovea, b. 1887. (2) John Philip, b. 1889. (1) Irene, md. 1910 Major Wm C. Olpharts. (2) Hope Minnie. (3) Ruth Mary. Colonel Trant died on the 12th April, 1912.

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 256 THE TRANT FAMILY.

It has been stated that John, the father of Dominick Trant the elder (will 1755), was probably one of the two brothers referred to in Burke's Extinct Baronetages as being nearly connected with Sir Patrick Trant. It is not known what the other brother's name was, but he was, in all probability, the father of Henry Trant (will 1729), and of Richard Trant (will 1748). Henry Trant had several children, and was, through them, the ancestor of several well known families still extant. From various data appearing in wills and other documents, we have been enabled to prepare the following tabular pedigree of his descendants: The above is a correct pedigree, so far as can be ascer- tained, of the descendants of Henry Trant (will 1729). Of these the most distinguished was certainly his great- grandson, Sir Nicholas Trant, whose name figures in the pedigree, and about whose career it is necessary here to give some account. Born on the 12th November, 1769, Nicholas Trant appears (according to the diary of his daughter Clarissa, afterwards Mrs. Bramston) to have passed the first years of his childhood in the woods of Dunkettle, the beautiful seat of his cousin Dominick, already described. In his youth he was an officer of the Irish Brigade in the French service. In the Etat Militaire de Frahce for 1786, he is mentioned as a lieutenant in the regiment of Comte Walsh de Serrant, then stationed at Olron. Afterwards, when that became a British regiment, as the 2nd Regiment of the English-Irish Brigade, his name figures in the list of captains, his commission being dated the 1st October, 1794. Ih the meantime, however, as appears from his daughter's diary, he received a cornetcy in the King's Dragoon Guards, and served under the Duke of York in Flanders in 1793, and the same year made the acquaintance of his future wife, Sarah Georgina Horsington, whom he married at the end of 1799. In the meantime he had served at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope in 1795, in Portugal in 1797-8, and at the capture of Minorca in 1799. In the Army 'List for that year he is named as major in a regiment of foot in

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms James Trant Philip Trant Phillis Trant md 1743 An- md [720Wil- astasia Cree- liam Hickie don

Joanna Trant md James Philip Michael Hickie James Trant Catherine Sir Richard Fitz- Trant md r779 md Margaret md Steph gerald, bart. of Margaret Heg- Nagle Fagan Ballyishin arty

Sir James Trant *Philip Henry William Hickie Patrick md James Fitzgerald Trant, R.N , mdJaneCreagh Clara O'Con- md (This baronetcy be- md 1811 Mrs. nell Ellen came extinct on the Power death, in 1894, of Sir Gerald Fitzgerald)

* Philip Henry Trant, born 1876, entered the Navy and became lieutenant in 18o9. Nothing further is known about him or his descendants. He had a sister Maria Anas- tasia, who married, x8o6, Richard Martin of Bally Skedane. Nothing further known. William IHickie Ellen md William md Miss Daniel M.P., m( Murphy McCarthy Addis

W\in. Creagh Samuel Trant McCarthy Hickie md Ist, Dorcas Louisa Newman; 2nd, Cauton Ehba De la Gardie

Wrn. Scott Hickie Eileen Kathleen md present represen- Mr Joseph tative Carroll

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms HENRY TRANT OF DINGLE (Will 1729).

rant Elizabeth Trant Wil- md James Trant ckie of Castleisland

ickie James Trant Catherine Barbara md Dau md garet md Stephen - Callaghan Thomas Fagan Trant

Hickie Patrick md James Fagan Peter md James Clarissa md (Sir) Nicholas Creagh Clara O'Con- md 1799 Mary Andrew imd Miss nell Ellen Trant Delany O'Shea Horsington

HIickie Ellen md William Fagan, William Anna Clara md Dau md Thomas MIiss Daniel M.P., md Miss Mariamd - Colley - Nichol- Abercrombi phy McCarthy Addis - Payne son d. unmd.

reagh Samuel Trant McCarthy Capt. William Fagan md Ist, Dorcas Louisa md Miss Mahony Newman; 2nd, Cauton Ehba De la Gardie

Hickie Eileen Kathleen md Winm. Charles Fagan presen- Mr Joseph present representa- Carroll tive

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms DINGLE (Will 1729).

BIridget Trant Barbara Trant Catherine md M md Stephen md Laurence ist, - Gould Rice Gieran 2nd, Dominick Trant d Dau md Thoimas Rice md James Trant Dominicl an Thomas Mary Fitzger- md md (2nc Trant ald, dau of the Rose Eagar Miss Fit Knight of Kerry gibbon

Clarissa md (Sir) Nicholas Stephen Edwar, I Mary md Florence John William Andrew md Miss Rice md Miss McCarthy Frederick Henry O'Shea Hlorsington Spring 2 Ellen md Caroline Charlo Brooke Lumsd 3 Catherine

4 Bridget

5 Clara

Diedunmarried 6 Eliza a md Dau md Thomas Clarissa md Thomas Spring Rice John md Collev - Nichol- Abercrombie Rev. John (Ist Lord Mont- Sarah Sophia son d. unmd. Bramston eagle, grandfather of Carden the present Lord)

Col. Fitzgibbon Trant nid Georgina Emily Newton

Laurence Dominick John Philip Irene md now of Dovea Major Olpherts

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms BIridget Trant Barbara Trant Catherine md Mary Clara md Stephen md Laurence ist, - Gould Rice Gieran 2nd, Dominick Trant

Thomias Rice md James Trant Dominick Mary Fitzger- md md (2nd) ald, dau of the Rose Eagar Miss Fitz Knight of Kerry giblon

Stephen Edward I Mary md Florence John William Maria Rice md Miss -- McCarthy Frederick Henry md mnd Lord Spring 2 Ellen mni Caroline Charlotte Iunally Brooke Lumsden 3 Catherine

4 Bridget

5 Clara

DiedUnmarried 6 Eliza

Clarissa md Thotmas Spring Rice John md ie Rv. John (Ist Lord Mont- Sarah Sophia Bramston eagle, grandfather of Carden the present Lord)

Col. Fitzgibbon Trant nid Georgina Etnily Newton

Laurence Dominick John Philip Irene md Hope Ruth now of I)Dovea Major Minnie Mary Olpherts

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms SIR NICHOLAS TRANT, K.T.S., b. 1768; d. 1839. (From a Cameo likeness by Neri, taken at Rome in Iasy.)

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 260 THE TRANT FAMILY. the island of Minorca. This was a regiment of foreigners, composed mostly of German-Swiss, raised by Sir John Stuart after his capture of the island, and was sometimes known as "Stuart's Regiment." It served with distinction in Egypt during the war of 1800-01, under Trant's command, and took part in the battle of Alexandria.11 After the Peace of Amiens in 1802, which promised to be of long duration, Trant, being then a Lieut.-Colonel, sold out of the Army, and returned to England. When war was again declared in 1803, the Trants were at Boulogne, and only obtained a passport to return to England through the interest of Lady Tweedale. Napoleon passed through the town while they were there. Nicholas Trant's wife died in 1806, and soon after that he again volunteered for active service. Afterwards he was one of the many British officers lent to the Portuguese Government, when Marshall Beres- ford was sent to organise the Portuguese Army. He went to Portugal in 1808, and served there with great distinction. He was appointed by Sir Arthur Wellesley to the command of the province of Entre Douro e Minho, with the title of "Governor of Oporto." He displayed con- summate valour and generalship on several occasions, as set forth in Napier's History of the War. His most brilliant achievement was the capture of Coimbra in 1816, and for this he was knighted. Napier gives the following account of this affair:-"Colonel Trant reached Milheada, intending to unite with Miller and J. Wilson, the latter having made a forced march for that purpose, but they were still distant. His own arrival was unknown at Coimbra, and he resolved to attack the French in that city, without waiting for assistance. Having sur- prised a small post at Fornos early in the morning of the 7th, he sent his cavalry at full gallop through the streets

11 Honoured by reason of their bravery on this occasion by the title of the "Queen's 'German Regiment," they were later admitted to the Army List a's the 97th Foot, and re-numbered in 1816 as the 96th (when the 95th were converted into the Rifle Brigade). This 96th Regiment was disbanded at Limerick in 1818, when commanded by Col. William McCarthy. A new 96th was raised in 1824, which has now become the 2nd battalion of the Manchester Regiment.

This content downloaded from 131.247.112.3 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:43:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms THE TRANT FAMILY. 261 of Coimbra, with orders to pass the bridge and cut off all communication with the French Army, of whose progress he was ignorant. Meanwhile his infantry penetrated at different points into the principal parts of the town; the enemy astounded, made little resistance, and the Convent of Santa Clara surrendered at discretion. Thus, on the third day after the Prince of Esling had quitted the Mondego, his depots and hospitals and nearly 5,000 prisoners, wounded and unwounded, including a company of Marines of the Imperial Guard, fell into the hands. of a small militia force. The next day Miller and Wilson arriv- ing, spread their men on all lines of communication, and picked up above 300 more prisoners, while Trant conducted his to Oporto." Sir Nicholas Trant was decorated by the King of Por- tugal with the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword, and was given an estate of ten square miles in the Brazils, which, however, he never claimed. He was promoted to Major-General in 1818. He had married in 1799 Miss Sarah Georgina Horsington, by whom he had (besides a daughter, who died in her infancy) one son, Thomas Aber- crombie Trant (born in 1804, died s.p. 1832), and a daughter, Clarissa, born in 1800, who married in 1832 the Rev. John Bramston, Rector of Great Braddon in Essex, by whom she had a son, the Rev. John Trant Bramston, and a daughter, Clara, who married the Rev. B. G. Luard, and died in 1907, leaving five sons and six daughters. Sir Nicholas died on the 16th October, 1839, at Great Braddon, aged 70. His son Thomas, while yet a boy, went with his father to Spain. He entered the Army in 1819, obtaining an ensigney in the 38th Foot, then quartered at the Cape of Good Hope. During his service there he was employed on the survey of a large tract of country. After that he went to Bengal, and took part in the expedition to Ava. He also served in the West Indies and at the Ionian Islands. Captain Trant was an officer of great promise. Though cut off at the early age of 28, he had already seen much service, and had greatly distinguished himself. Ile was the author of a work called "Two Years in Ava."

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Sir Nicholas' daughter, Clarissa, was born at Lisbon in 1800. Up to the time of her marriage she kept a journal, which, as the Trants travelled about a good deal and went much into society, furnishes a singularly interesting record of her life and experiences, and is full of clever and piquant sketches of many notable persons whom she met. It is in 11 volumes. She died in 1844. Sir Nicholas' eldest brother, Peter, who lived at one time at Castleclough, near Killarney, married in 1783 a Miss Delany, who belonged to the same locality. He afterwards lived at Myrtleville, near Cork. He owned a small property at Cahir Trant, a remnant of what had been possessed by his ancestors in line direct since 1540. This he sold in 1830. He left no issue. lis next brother, James, had at least one son and three daughters, who all married, but none of their descendants can now be traced.

S. M.

(To be Continued).

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