The Life and Times of Eyre Massy, First Baron Clarina Of
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"Nor yet blessed city is that worth no more, Erskine Childers (1870-1922), who played Which first in fighting fields thy sons did a prominent role in the War of Independ- claim, ence and Civil War, his son Erskine H. Lo! Coote's strong arm controls the Indian Childers (1906-1974), who held several shore, into possession of the Elm Park Estate in ministries in Fianna Fail governments and And Niagara roam thy Massy's name. " 1757, and it remained in the family until was President of Ireland from 1973 to (An Address to Limerick) 1923. They were a remarkable family for 1974, and Robert Barton (1881-1975), a two reasons: firstly, they were a prominent signatory of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of military dynasty, and three of their 1921, who later became Chairman of the number (the first, second and fourth Agricultural Credit Corporation from 1934 Barons Clarina) rose to the rank of to 1954. The present article is concerned General in the British Army; secondly, with the most interesting figure that the they were closely related to individuals family produced, Eyre Massy, first Baron County Limerick, ~eneral- re Massy, who played a prominent role in the history Clarina, but first it is necessary to examine later the first Lord Clarina, whose gallant of both Britain and Ireland. The first and the history of the family before they took and distinguished military career marked second Barons Clarina were related to up residence in Clarina. him out as one of the most colourful men Elizabeth, Marchioness Conyngham The Massys, an English family of of his day. (1768-1861), a very famous and long-lived Norman descent, arrived in Ireland in The Massys were one of the most mistress of King George IV. In startling 1641 in the person of one General Hugh prominent of the great landed families that contrast to this connection is the kinship Massy. He came over from England to dominated Clarina and the surrounding of the fourth, fifth and sixth Barons fight the Irish Rebels who had taken up area in the eighteenth, nineteenth and Clarina to prominent figures in the Irish arms that year. Hugh Massy claimed early twentieth centuries. They first came National Movement. These figures were descent from Hamo De Massy, a Col Hugh Massy m. Elizabeth Evans Nathaniel Clements M.P I l l I l I l I Hugh, 1st Baron George, Eyre, 1st Baron m. Catherine Clements Alicia m. Ralph Gore, Elizabeth m. Francis, 2nd Baron Massy (1700-88) Archdeacon of Clarina (1719-1804) 1 (1744-1815) Earl of Rosse (d. 1814) Conyngham (d. 1787) Ardfert (1702-82) 1 I I I I--------- -------- 11111--1111-------------- 1 1 -----. George Hannah Catherine Nathaniel William m. Penelope Westropp Henry, 3rd Baron & 1st m. Elizabeth Denison (1771-96) Emily Jane 2nd Baron Clarina (1779-1843) Marquis Conyngham Marchioness Conyngham (1773-1810) I (1766-1832) (1768-1861) Mistress of George IV Hugh Barton (1766-1854) I I-------- -----_____ I I I Thomas Johnson Susan Elizabeth m. Eyre, 3rd Baron Clarina (1798-1872) Barton (1802-64) Barton (1810-86) I I I______________I I Charles William AnnaMaria m. ProfRobert I_______---- ------1 Barton (1836-90) Henrietta (d. 1884) Caesar Childers Eyre Challoner Lionel. 5th Baron Clarina m. (1) Ellen Bannatyne (d. 1883) I (1833-77) 4th Baron Clarina (1837-1922) (2) Sophia Maria Butler (1855-1912 l I (1830-97) 1 Robert Barton Robert ~rskineChilders Unrnamed I (1881-1975) (1870-1922) Involved in Eyre, 6th Baron Clarina m. Mice Erica Allheusen (d. 1961) Signatory of War of Independence & (1880-1952) 1921 Treaty Civil War I I Erskine Childers (1906-74) President of Ireland (1973-4) Genealogical chart showing the relationship of the Barons Clarina with various historical personages. porary, General Sir Eyre Coote (1726-83), a native of Kilmallock, won fame for his victory at Porto Novo in India in 1781, while Field Marshal1 Lord Gough (1779- 1869, who was born in Lisnagry, just outside Limerick City, conquered the Punjab for Britain in the 1840s. Eyre Massy purchased a commission in the army in 1739, and thus began a military career that lasted for over sixty years. ye joined the 27th Foot, known as the Enniskillings, and became a Lieutenant I$ the Grenadiers. I Massy had no sooner received his commission than he found himself on active service in war time. The year 1739 saw the outbreak of war between Britain and Spain. This conflict was known as the War of Jenkins Ear. It soon merged into a major war involving most of the European powers. It was but one of a series of wars which had begun in 1689, and were to continue until 1815. This second "Hundred Years War" was essentially a struggle for world domination between Britain and France, but various conflicts between the powers of continental Europe were also bound up in it. The stakes were very high - at issue was the future of North America, India and other parts of the world where the two great powers and their allies were opposed. The titanic struggle ended in 1815 and resulted in vast areas of the globe coming under the sway of the Anglo-Saxon powers. Massy saw action in two of the most important of these struggles, the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48) and the Seven Years War (1756-63). These were in the nature of world wars, with fighting in North America, the West Indies and India, as well as in Europe. In 1739, the British Government intended to attack and conquer large parts of the Spanish- American Empire. To this end, a fleet commanded by Admiral Edward Vernon Eyre Massy, later first Lord Clarina. set out for the Caribbean. In November Photo courtesy of the Knight of Glin. 1739, Vernon and his forces captured the important city of Portobello in Panama. Companion-In-Arms of William the Like many Anglican clergymen of this The 27th Foot, including Massy, played an Conqueror. After the Rebellion was finally time, he was not a particularly pious man. important role in this battle, which was crushed, General Massy acquired about He was an enthusiastic huntsman, and regarded as a great victory for the British 1,800 acres in Co. Limerick during the kept a pack of hounds at Elm Park. He was forces. Massy and the other survivors Cromwellian Plantation. He settled at jovial and hospitable and enjoyed life to returned to Britain in December 1740. In Duntryleague near Galbally in East the full. He married a Miss Jane Purdon, 1745-6, he served with his regiment in Limerick, and prospered. He was married but they had no family, and on his death Scotland. Prince Charles Edward Stuart, five times, and on his death was from apoplexy in 1782, his brother, Eyre, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, succeeded by his son and heir, Hugh succeeded to the Clarina estate. had raised the Jacobites in rebellion, and Massy. This gentleman married Amy Eyre Massy was already a man of sixty- the British Government sent a strong Benson and on his death was succeeded three when he inherited the Elm Park army to Scotland to crush the threat. This by his son, Colonel Hugh Massy. The estate. Like his brothers, Lord Massy and force was commanded by William, Duke latter married Elizabeth Evans, and they Archdeacon Massy, he was destined to of Cumberland, a son of George 11. had a family of six sons and four live to a ripe and vigorous old age. He was Cumberland's army decisively defeated daughters. Three of the sons were to be born on 24th May, 1719, and spent his the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden in associated with Clarina. The eldest, Hugh, childhood at his father's estate at 1746, and the rebellion collapsed. Massy later the first Baron Massy (1700-88), Duntryleague. It was, perhaps, inevitable was wounded in the battle. His bravery resided at Duntryleague, but in 1757 he that he should take up a military career, attracted the attention of the Duke, who inherited the estate at Elm Park, Clarina. because he was the sixth and youngest became his patron. In 1747, Cumberland He never resided there, and the property son and had virtually no chance of promoted Massy to the rank of Captain- came into the possession of his brother, inheriting the Duntryleague estate. A Lieutenant and it was due to the Duke's George (1702-82), a Church of Ireland military career was also considered a influence that he became Captain in 1751 Clergyman. He enjoyed a successful fitting one for a scion of the gentry, and and Major in 1755. career in the Church, and eventually Massy was not the only Limerickman to In 1756, the Seven Years War broke became Archdeacon of the Diocese of achieve fame as a soldier in the eighteenth out. The most important theatre of war in Ardfert (Kerry). and nineteenth centuries. His contem- the early stages of this conflict was North A strong force invaded Cuba and captured Havana, the capital, which was the centre of Spain's Caribbean possessions. Here Massy, again in command of the grenad- iers, was severely wounded. The following year saw the end of the war, with Britain supreme in North America and poised to establish supremacy in India. The coming of peace in 1763 brought a close to the most exciting phast;,in Massy's career. Although he remained a military officer, he was not destined to$e involved in battle again. He commanded the 27th Foot at New York and Quebec from 1763 to 1769, and witnessed the early stages of the dispute between Britain and the American Colonies.