Tracy
peerage case
Viscount
and Baron Tracy of Rathcoole and Baronet of the
county of Limerick, so created 12th January 1642, Charles the 1st.
The title
was claimed:
(I) in 1835 by Joseph Tracy formerly of Geashill,
Kings Co. (b. 7 Mar 1765), s. & H. Of James Tracy of the same (b. 27 Jan 1729/30
d. 4 Apr 1749) s. & h. of William Tracy, of Ross, Kings Co. (who d. 15 Oct
1734 at Castlebrack, Queens Co.) which William was
alleged to be identical with William (Bapt 22 Feb
1692/3 at St. Andrews Holborn London), 3rd s. of the Hon. Robert
Tracy (one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas), who died 11 Sep 1735,
aged 80 and who was s. of the 2nd Viscount by his 2nd
wife. This petition was presented 15 May 1836 but the claimant d. 17 Mar 1836
(II) On his
death his s. & h. James Tracy, “of South St Grosvenor Esq”
(b. 14 Feb 1800) presented a petition in Mary 1836 which in consequence of the
report of the Attorney-Gen in aug 1837, was referred
to the House of Lords. He again petitioned in 1842 but the case was dismissed
by the House in 1843. In both these claims the assertation
was that William the 3rd s. of the Hon. Robert Tracy above named,
formed an imprudent alliance in Dublin with Mary O’Brien, and was consequently
disinherited by his father and family. The identity of this William was not
established further than (a) an entry in a prayer book - “married in Dublin
April 17th 1728, William, son of the Honourable Robert Tracy, late
one of the English Judges, to Mary, daughter of Mr. James O’Brien, Merchant”
and (b) by parole evidence that there had been a tombstone at Castlebrack afsd, with an
inscription to the said William (said to have died 1734) by the same
description fragments of such a tombstone were indeed found later at Castlebrack, and exhibited before the Committee for
Privileges in 1847 but it was alleged in evidence that these had been forged in
1843. It appears probable that William, s. of Hon Robert Tracy bap 22 Feb
1692/3 as afsd, d. an infant as he is not mentioned
in an entail of his father’s lands, date 15 Dec 1732
(III) The
case of Matthew Tracy of Streamstown, Co. Westmeath
(IV) The
case of Matthew Tracy, claiming the said Viscontancy was printed in London 1862.
(V)
Benjamin Wheatley Tracy Lieut R.N. whose claim
thereto was made in 1853, and was still being asserted in 1866, was yet another
candidate.
The Sudeleys – Lords of Toddington. The Manorial
Society of Great Britain. 1987. pp.196-199
(VI) Another claim to the Tracy Peerage, was put forward by Mr Edward Tracy Turnorelli, whose mother was Margaret Tracy, a claimant to the Tracy peerage who died in 1835.
(I) and (II)
Tracy
Peerage Case
CL &
7 Vol 10 [Legal Reference]
1. William
Tracy of Canelly (Ross), Kings Co. d. 1734 married
Mary O’Brien
1.1 James of Gurteen,
Kings Co. b. 1729 d. 1794
1.1.1 Joseph
1.1.1.1 James
1.1.2 BLANK
1.1.3 BLANK
1.2 Timothy of Coole,
Co. Westmeath. b. 1730 d. 1799 (~~ unreadable)
1.3 Anne m. Casrole
of Killoughy, Kings Co.
(The
following was included on the same page but may not be connected to the above)
1. July
1724 Wm Tipper of Tipperstown, Co. Kildare and Edward
T. Now of Dublin set to Benj.Gale of Dublin lands of Tippertown for 3 lives (?).
GO Ms
576 Sadleir Pedigree Notebook, page 206.
(Included
in the index of GO Ms 470 with the following in pencil “JA 2/9/44”)
January
21, 1832 (FJ) Viscount Tracy, of Rathcoole
We understand that Mr. Tracy, of the firm of
Cosgrave and Tracy, of this city [Dublin], has presented a petition to his
Majesty, claiming the above ancient title...
12 & 26 Nov
1833 (BL)
...of Tracy of Rathcoole, 'which has been now
nearly 37 years in abeyance, is at present actively prosecuted by a member of a
respectable mercantile house in this city...- Dublin Despatch
Rathcoole…This place formerly gave the title
of Viscount to the family of Tracey, to which James Tracey, Esq., of Geashill, in King's county, is at present prosecuting his
claim before the House of Lords.
7 October 1837
(FJ) Tracy Peerage
The Attorney-General, we understand, has reported to her Majesty in this
case, wherein he states that if one document (out of 49 proofs) which has been
laid before him, and which contains handwriting, dated 1730, is genuine, that
the claimant, James Tracy, Esq., has made out of his case. In support of the
document alluded to, we are told there was produced the evidence of some of the
most respectable antiquarians in London, who proved it to be genuine and free
from suspicion, and the writing was of the time and day of which it bears date.
Several other antiquarians had proposed to attend if called on to give similar
evidence. Large estates in England will go with this peerage as they have been
entailed on heirs male.
House of Lords, Lunae, 23 die Julii, 1838
Tracy Peerage
Petition of James Tracy, of 11 South Street, Grosvenor Square, in the county
of Middlesex, Esquire, to his late Majesty, - claiming to be Viscount and Baron
Tracy of Rathcoole, presented by her Majesty’s
command; together with the Report of the Attorney General thereon. – Read, and
referred to the Committee for Privileges, to consider and report.
8 Papers relating to
the claims to the Viscount [of Tracy] http://www.traceyclann.com/files/8
papers.pdf
Page 6: Minutes of Evidence...Petition of James Tracy, Esquire...printed
19th March 1841
Page 70: Minutes of Evidence [continued]...Petition of James Tracy,
Esquire...21 March 1843
Page 92: Minutes of Evidence [continued]...Petition of James Tracy,
Esquire...2 March 1843
Page 168: Minutes of Evidence [continued]...Petition of James Tracy,
Esquire...30 March 1843
Page 198: Minutes of Evidence [continued]...Petition of James Tracy,
Esquire...9 June 1843
Page 206: Minutes of Evidence [continued]...Petition of James Tracy, Esquire...8
March 1843 [Not the Tracy Peerage Case - Evidence on the Marchmont
Claim of Peerage.]
Page 218: Minutes of Evidence...Petition of James Tracy, Esquire [of
No.10 Albemarle Street, Piccadilly]...printed 23d March 1847
Page 268: Minutes of Evidence [continued]...Petition of James Tracy,
Esquire ...4 Maii 1847
Page 352: Minutes of Evidence [continued]...Petition of James Tracy,
Esquire ...15 Junii 1847
Page 406: Tracy Peerage. Case on the part of Matthew Tracy, of No. 40
Kensington Gardens Square...July 1862 [see (IV) below]
Evidence of Patrick Culleton's of Rurie in the Queen's County...lives near Castlebrack...his mother was a Tracy, a daughter of Bryan
Tracy…Thomas Tracy near Castlebrack… Also buried in Castlebrack, brothers Philip Tracy, Hugh Tracy and Bryan
Tracy…
Evidence of Martin Higany...Joe Tracy,
brother of the Claimant [James]...lives near Maryborough...
Evidence of Barrakia Lowe Tarlton...heard
of other claimants...knew old Patrick Tracy of Tullamore,
now dead...William Welden Tracy of Ard [Geashill]...present claimant
was a Wine Merchant in Dublin...my Aunt was married to William Tracy...
Evidence of Patrick Boyne...I married a daughter of Mr. Wyer [of Dureen near Portarlington in the Kings County]...my father-in-law's
mother was a Tracy and connected with the Tracys...
Statement of Joseph Tracy made in 1836...formerly of Geashill in the King's County Ireland now of Chapel Place
North, South Audley Street, London...aged seventy
years and upwards...I was principally reared by my uncle, the late Timothy
Tracy of Coole in the County of Westmeath
Ireland...that on the 10th day of August 1796 he gave me a Prayer Book...In
1798 I married the daughter of Mr. Philip Tracy of Castlebrack
in the Queen's County, by whom I have a family of four sons and two daughters.
In the year 1815, I gave the aforesaid Prayer book to my eldest son James...on
his going to reside in Dublin...
Statement of William Carroll made in 1836...will be 72 years of age the
eight day of August next ensuing...[lived at the age of six or seven] in the townland of Bonatern, Parish of Killoughy, Barony of Ballyboy, in
the Kings County in Ireland...mothers maiden name was
Ann Tracy...was born in the Parish of Lismally [Lynally?] in the King's County...his uncles James Tracy
[and] Timothy Tracy...[grandparents] William Tracy and Mary Tracy...his uncle
Timothy, who was at that period abroad, engaged in the German War...Deponent
was about twelve or Fourteen years of age his Uncle Timothy came home,
accompanied by his wife, an English Woman...gave money to his mother...and was
afterwards a Clerk in the General Post Office in the City of Dublin...became
agent to Lord Boyne, who had an estate in the Parish of Lanelly...employed
for many years by Lord Portarlington, near Spire Hill
at Portarlington,
but his uncle not considering the salary sufficient entered into the
service of Mr. Smyth of the county of Westmeath, member of parliament, who gave
him a freehold in the townland of Coole,
county Westmeath, where he settled, died and was buried around 1799...Uncle
James living in Gurteen in the Barony of Geashill on Lord Digby's
Estate...wife maiden name was Carrier...had one child named Joseph... Mr. O'Brien, a merchant in Dublin, came to
London on mercantile business with his daughter Mary...William Tracy made his
acquaintance with her there...and came over to Dublin and married her...they
settle in Dublin and Mr. O'Brien took him in as a partner, they failed in
Business and that William Tracy and his wife, with his two sons, went to the
country, to the Parish of Lanelly, in about 1731 and
settled on Lord Boyne's Estate where Ann was born...William Tracy died
1734...James Tracy died 1794 and was buried in Castlebrack...His
children...Joseph the eldest son and two other sons Andrew and Patrick and one
daughter...Timothy was a protestant and James a catholic - he went with his
wife.
Evidence of Samuel Sheane, magistrate at Mountmelick...I
know an old man [named Tracy, not a relation of the claimant], he is a
solicitor, a very old man, upwards of eighty years old...They pronounce the
word Tracy in the same way, but the name is spelt differently from what it is
on this tombstone. How is it spelt? Trecy. In Ireland e is pronounced like a...There are Three or
Four [Tracy] Families at Mountmellick, there are
others within the Parish of Castlebrack or in the
immediate neighbourhood of it...
Evidence of John Delany...A
protestant James Tracy was...There were no other that I know of of the Tracy's that were Protestant but Doctor Tracy [Mountmellick], but he was not any thing
to that family...That man is dead many years ago...
Evidence of John
Rotherham...I know two [Tracy] families. There is the family of Mountmelick [catholic] and there is the family at Ard [protestant]...The Claimant's family do not live any of
them about us now...I know the Ard family well; he is
a solicitor and he has done business for me...It is twelve or fourteen years
since I employed him...
Evidence of Digby Baynham..."Here lyeth the body of William Tracy, Esq., late of Ross in the
King's County, the Third Son of the Honourab e Robert
Tracy, late one of the Judges of the Common Place in ngland
who depa ted the 15th October 1734 in 42nd Year
[missing] ving his [missing] Widow Ma [missing]
ted"...
Evidence of J.F.Martin...Mrs. Tracy lodged in Exchequer street...a
dozen houses from Grafton Street...on the first or second floor...business
carried on below a pastrycooks...of the name of
Tracy...she had nothing to do with the business...
Superior Courts. House of Lords reported by W. Finnelly, Esq.
Barrister-at-Law
The claim
of Mr. James Tracy to the titles and dignities of Viscount and baron Tracy
of Rathcoole,
in the Kingdom of Ireland, has been before the House of Lords since 1836…that
he (the judge) had three sons, two of whom (before mentioned) died, one without
issue, the other leaving a son, who died without issue; that William, the third
son (of the judge), was baptised in 1692, and in 1728, married Mary O’Brien,
daughter of a merchant in Dublin, of inferior station to himself, and afterwards
resided in Ireland, up to his death in 1734, renouncing, and renounced by his
father and connections in England, and for that reason no mentioned was made of
him in the wills of his father and brothers; that this William Tracy and his
said wife had two sons James and Timothy, and that James had a son Joseph who
claimed these titles in 1835, but died in 1836, before his petition was
referred to the House of Lords, leaving the present claimant his only son…
The only
difficulty that claimant had to overcome ultimately was to prove that the said
William was a son of Judge Tracy and he attempted to prove it in two ways, viz.
by entries in an old prayer book, and by an inscription on a tombstone…
The entries
in the prayer book were, (on the title-page) “James O’Brien, Sept. 1st, 1730”,
and (on the back of that page) “Married in Dublin April 17th 1728,
William, son of the Honourable Robert Tracy, late one of the English Judges, to
Mary, daughter of Mr. James O’Brien, Merchant. James Tracy,
the eldest son, born January 27th 1729; Timothy Tracy, the second
eldest, born January 20th, 1730.”…
A suspicion
had existed in the minds of some of the Lords present that the entries…were
forgeries…
It was in
evidence that the William in the claimant’s pedigree died in 1734, and that the
Judge lived till 1735…
His
Lordship then observed at length on the evidence as to the tomb-stone, and
concluded thus:- I am of the opinion that the evidence
which has been laid before your Lordships does not establish the claim; that it
is defective, and that the case is attempted to be supported by forgery. * * *
I have therefore no hesitation in concurring in the motion that the claimant
has not made his case. Resolved accordingly.
On the claim to the Tracy Peerage, 2d of May, and 9th of June
1843.
The Legal Observer or
Journal of Jurisprudence. May to October 1843. Vol. XXVI. London 1843. p.443
The Tracy
Peerage.---On
Monday, an inquiry was held at Castlebrack church
yard, before Captains Tibeaude and Warburton, George Newcombe, J. W. Tarleton, and Samuel Sheane,
Esqrs., magistrates, relative to the genuineness of
the tombstone, by which James Tracy, Esq,, (sic)
proves his title to his long disputed peerage; and which the House of Lords decided in his favour,
subject to their proving of this stone. A great number of respectable people
attended to give evidence as well as to hear such a novel inquiry. Mr. John
Rafter, a stone-cutter and builder, proved that the four pieces of stone
produced must have originally been in one--they all corresponding with the
grain, breaks, and letters, when laid together closely to form one stone--and
it was his opinion that the said stone was the
original one belonging to the family, placed there as a tombstone; in which
other witnesses also concurred, and signed declarations to that effect.--Leinster Express.
May 5, 1843 (FJ) The
Tracy Peerage [1]
…Mary Atkins sworn
and examined…at the age of 20 [56 years ago] I was acquainted with an old lady
of the name of Tracy, in Exchequer-street, Dublin. She had been a widow for
several years and I used to work for her. Her brother, Mr. O’Brien, a woolen draper [in Francis street], and her son James
Tracey, were also known to me. The latter married and had a son named Joseph,
who is the father of the present claimant…[eldest son
James, and his wife Mary, and their eldest son Joseph...Mrs. Mary Tracy wife of
William...she was in business in a Pastrycook’s shop
in Exchequer Street..died 1787...was buried at the round protestant church
called St. Andrew’s Church, near College Green, nearly opposite the Commercial
Buildings...Burial. On 13th Sep. 1787 - Widow Tracy...James Tracy and Timothy Tracy,
protestants...]...
September 15, 1843 (FJ) The
Tracy Peerage [2]
…[William Tracy]
resided in Fleet street, in the parish of St. Marks, Dublin, in which parish he
married, according to the rites of the Protestant Church on the 17th
April 1728, Mary, daughter of Mr. James O’Brien, a woolen
merchant in that city…and in the same parish his eldest son, James Tracy
[eldest son, born January 27th 1729; and Timothy Tracy, second
eldest born January 20th, 1730], the claimants grandfather, was born
on the 27th January 1729. In 1732, he settled at Ross, in the King’s
County, where he died on the 15th October 1734, in the 42d year
of his age, and was buried at Castlebrack, in the
Queens county…His eldest son, James Tracy, married in the parish of Geashill, King’s County, 10th May 1764 and
resided at Gurteen in that parish, where he died 4th
April 1794, in the 65th year of his age and was buried next to his
father’s tomb in Castlebrack, burial ground, leaving
Joseph Tracy, of Geashill, his eldest son, born 7th
March 1765, and who married also in that parish a person of his own name, but
in no way related to the Tracys of England. He died,
and was buried at St. George’s, Hanover-square, London, on the 20th
March 1836, in the 71st year of his age, leaving James Tracy, his
eldest son, the claimant. [Joseph Tracy, Chapel Court, buried March 20th 1836,
75 years, St. George's Hanover Square London.]
October 24, 1844 (FJ) The
Tracy Peerage [3]
…William Tracy, came
to Ireland, with his sister [Anne], who married Thomas Wylde,
Esq, M.P., for the city of Worcester, and Chief
Commissioner of Revenue in Ireland…he (claimant) found a judgment in one of the
courts in Dublin, dated 1732, against said William Tracy, from which he was
able to prove, that he (William) got an appointment in a public-office in the
north of Ireland…
25 Nov
1844 (CE)
James Tracey, who was struck by Mr. Ashton, of the Watch-office in
Self-defence, at the South Dock station, has since been elevated to the Tracy
Irish peerage.
7 May 1845 The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW)
The Peasant,
Policeman, and Peer.-
We last week recorded the
circumstance of a Liverpool policeman having been elevated to the Irish peerage
by the title of Earl Tracy. A correspondent, who says he has an "intimate
knowledge of the family," forwarded us the following:-
"James Tracy, the policeman, who has recently been elevated to the
peerage, was born in Geashill, a small village in the
King's County, Ireland. He is the eldest of a large family, who was a tolerably
good specimen of what O'Connell would call 'the finest pisantry
in the world.' When a boy he was noticed by a gentleman of the neighbourhood, who took him into his house, where he
acquitted himself so much to the gentleman's satisfaction, that he bestowed on
him a liberal education, and procured him a situation in a counting-house. He
subsequently married a lady of great beauty, with a fortune of about £2000. He
then embarked in the wine and spirit business, and for some years had an
establishment on Summerhill, Dublin. Under these
circumstances of affluence he did not forgot his parents' humble roof, and his
brothers were appointed to minor offices in his establishment. His long-pending
case in the Lords, however, drained his resources, and we next find him
exercising the functions of a policeman in Liverpool. This might be said to be
a 'step from the sublime to the ridiculous, but lo! again
the scene is changed, and we behold him a peer of the realm! possessing
a fine, portly frame, that would not disgrace a monarch, added to a good and
generous disposition and an extensive knowledge of human nature." -Bristol
Mercury.
3 April
1847 (N) The Tracy Peerage Case
...The evidence was not very material, consisting chiefly of a letter
from Mr. Justice Tracy, dated "Coscomhe[?] Jan. 20, 1732-3" addressed to his daughter, who
married Thomas Wylde, Esq., of the Excise-office,
Dublin...
1847 Case of James
Tracy, esq. in support of his
claim to dignities of Viscount Tracy and Baron Tracy in the
Peerage of Ireland. (2 copies).
[Gloucestershire Archives, SUDELEY Manuscripts]
Information relating to document ref. no. D2153/1064,
1065
April 7, 1848 (FJ) Died
At
Geashill, in the King's County, of Fever, Mary Anne,
daughter of James Tracy, Esq, the claimant to the
Tracy Peerage.
April 24, 1849 (FJ) The
Tracy Peerage
We have learned with
regret that Mr. Tracy, the claimant to the Tracy Peerage, died this (Monday)
morning in this city [Dublin], where he had only arrived within the last few
days from England. - Press
27 Apr
1849 (BL) The Tracy Peerage
Mr. Tracy, the claimant to the Tracy Peerage, died on Monday morning, in
Dublin, where he had only arrived within the last few days from England.
17 May
1950 The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW)
BEFORE THE COURT.-IV This is the fourth of a
series of articles on sensational British court cases.
PEERAGE CLAIM BASED ON BOGUS TOMBSTONE
By RICHARD SINGER
Even an Irishman has been known to love a lord. This is the story of
Irishmen who strove mightily to acquire that title.
The fact was that they had no claim to either the title or the far more
important estates that went with it. The case proved to be founded upon a mass
of perjury, fraud and forgery.
The title of Viscount and Baron Tracy of Rathcoole
in the County of Dublin in the Kingdom of Ireland has long been forgotten. It
was created by King Charles the First in 1642. It became dormant when the
eighth Baron died in 1797, and has remained dormant ever since.
It was not until 1835 that one Joseph Tracy made a claim to the title and
honours and to the estates of Baron Tracy. The
monstrous piece of litigation continued spasmodically for fourteen years.
Just as in those other fraudulent claims, the Tichborne
case and the Druce claim to the Portland millions,
there were numerous gullible persons who speculated thousands of pounds in the
hope of sharing in the spoils of the fight for the title.
Joseph Tracy asserted that he was the eldest grandson of a certain
William Tracy, who died in 1735, and that on the death of the eighth Baron in
1797 he became entitled to the Peerage. It was put that William Tracy's father,
who was an English Judge, had cut Joseph's grandfather out of his will because
this son, William, had married in Dublin a mere Irish tradesman's daughter
named Mary O'Brien. Joseph Tracy took so long getting his witnesses and
presenting his case to the House of Lords that he died before it could be
heard. Then his son, James Tracy, took up the cudgels, which turned out to be
more like boomerangs. In the year 1843, eight years after its first launching,
the claim was solemnly presented to their Lordships. The main pieces of
evidence were two: firstly an alleged old Family Prayer Book containing
significant written entries; and secondly the inscription on the lost tombstone
of William Tracy, the son of Mr. Justice Tracy. The Prayer Book entries read as
follows:
"James O'Brien, September 1st, 1730.
"Married in Dublin. April 17th, 1728, William Tracy, son of the Honourable
Robert Tracy (late one of the English Judges), to Mary, daughter of Mr. James
O'Brien, merchant
"James Tracy, their eldest son, born January 27th, 1729
"Timothy Tracy, second eldest, born June 26th, 1730
"This book belonged to my grandfather James O'Brien, afterwards to my
father William Tracy, who was an Englishman, it contains the entry of his
marriage, and the birth of my elder brother James and my own I now give it to
my nephew Joseph Tracy of Geashill
"Coole, August 10th, 1796. "Timothy Tracy"
The principal witness as to the Prayer Book was old Mrs
Mary Atkin. This party was then 76, and she tottered
into the witness box and prattled to the Lords
Old Mrs Atkin swore
that she had done sewing in that century in Dublin for Mrs
Mary Tracy, the widow of the all important William Tracy. Mary Tracy used to
talk to her about the neglect of her husband and herself by his family on
account of the misalliance These talks had taken place in 1786 and Mrs Atkin declared that Mary
Tracy died in 1787, when she was 80 years old Mrs Atkin had seen the Family Prayer Book and its entries 57
years before, and she identified the old volume then shown to her
The Lords pointed out that it was very strange that it had not been shown
to Mrs Atkin when her
supremely important testimony was first disclosed to the claimant
More calamitous was the evidence of one William Carroll, a cousin of the
claimant, and who was a sworn witness called by the claimant himself For
Carroll swore that Mary Tracy had actually died in 1750, 36 years before the
alleged conversations between Mary Tracy and Mrs Atkin
Law Lords Indignant
One Patrick Culleton swore that he had seen the
tombstone of William Tracy and its inscription 20 years before, but this stone
of testimony had since mysteriously disappeared
The inscription on the alleged tombstone WPS as follows
"Erected by Mary Tracy to the memory of her husband William Tracy Esq . late of Ross in the Kings County, the third son of the Honourable Robert Tracy, late one of the Judges of the
Common Pleas in England,' who departed this life the 15th Oct., 1734."
Culleton was a cousin of the claimant and a tenant on the Tracy estates. He had
to admit that he owed eighteen months' rent for his farm and that he would not
account the claimant ungrateful if he became Baron Tracy and excused Culleton the arrears of rent.
The Lords noted that it was not until 9 years after the launching of the
claim that the tombstone had even been mentioned in the case.
The indignation of the learned Lords who patiently listened to such
testimony may be imagined. They refused to accept it as conclusive proof of the
claim.
Witnesses Disappear
In 1847 the Tracy Peerage claim was revived. A new and far more startling
piece of evidence was now produced. It was none other than the long lost
William Tracy tombstone itself. It was broken into four blocks, but on them,
though much darkened, there was clearly the inscription already deposed to.
But the Law Lords were still gravely suspicious, and they postponed their
formal decision. This was lucky for the holders of the Tracy estates. For the
next year there was presented the shattering testimony of one Patrick Holton.
Holton had only just recently himself engraved this very stone with his own
hands. He had helped to break it into the four blocks and to hold them over a
fire in order to make them look old.
After a naturally necessary adjournment the claim came before the House
again in 1849. Witnesses who were to have been called by the claimant to refute
Patrick Holton had disappeared -the alleged employer of Holton to America, and
the claimant's solicitor, whom the Lords were very anxious to question, to
Belgium.
The Law Lords found it impossible to act upon the "docked"
evidence adduced.
They considered that the Prayer Book entries had all been written at the
same time and in the same hand, and that of a schoolboy and not of an adult.
Since the year 1849 the Tracy Peerage has lain dormant. It must have died
in its sleep.
TO-MORROW: Murder and The Unwritten Law.
(III)
Pedigree
of the Tracy Family from John the First Lord Viscount Tracy to Martin Tracy
Esq. of Streamstown in the count of Westmeath, in
Ireland. The gr. Grandson of the Honble
Robt Judge Tracy of the Common Pleas in
England. The claiment to the
Title, Honors and Dignities of Viscount and Baron
Tracy of Rathcoole in the county of Dublin and
Kingdom of Ireland.
Ì
1. Sir John
Tracy
The son of
Sir John Tracy knighted in 1574 by Queen Elizabeth. He was created Lord
Viscount Tracy of Rathcoole by letters of patent by
Chas 1 dated 12th Jan 1642.
married
Anne Daughter of Thomas Shirley of Isfield in the
county of Sussex by whom he had issue 2 sons.
Ì
1.1 Robert
the eldest son of John 1st Viscount who on the death of his father
became 2nd Viscount
he was
knighted by King Chas 1st was married twice
Died &
was buried at Toddingham, May 1683
1st Wife
Bridget Daur of John Lyttleton
Esq. Of Frankley Court in Worestershire
by whom there was issue 4 sons by Muril his wife Daur of the Lord Chancellor Bromley
Ì
1.1.1a John
3rd Viscount
The eldest
son of Robt 2 Visc succeed
on the death of his father He was married but dying at Hales March 8th
was buried at Toddington March 11t 1686
1.1.2a Honorable Thomas second son of Robert 2nd
Viscount Tracy by Bridget his 1st wife He died without issue.
1.1.3a Honorable William third son of Robert 2nd
Viscount Tracy by Bridget his 1st wife He died without issue.
1.1.4a Honorable Henry fourth son of Robert 2nd
Viscount Tracy by Bridget his 1st wife He died without issue.
2nd wife Dorethy Daughter of Thomas Cocks Esq
of Castlebtch in the County of Harford
Ancestor of the present Earls of Somars.
1.1.5b The Honorable Robert Tracey many years
Judge of the Common Please which office he resigned in 1726. He died and was
buried at Didbrook on the 19th September
1735
married ??? daur of William ??? Esq ??? ??? and ??? sons and ??? daughters
1.1.5.1 Robert Tracy the eldest son of Judge Tracy He was a member of
the Middle Temple London but died in his fathers
lifetime unmarried on the 7th September 1732
1.1.5.2 Richard Tracy 2nd son of Robert Judge Tracy he was
also a member of the Middle Temple London. He died also in his fathers lifetime on the 15th November 1732
having married Margaret daughter of Owen Salisbury Esq. She died 12th
May 1773 aged 85 leaving an only son
1.1.5.2.1 Robert Tracy the only son of Richard Tracy and Margaret his
wife
NOTE: He bequethed the Coscombe
estate to his cousin Robert Pratt son of his aunt Dorethy
daughter of his grandfather Judge Tracy by will dated 14th May 1736.
He died unmarried and without issue 30th May 1756.
1.1.5.3 Ann eldest daughter of Judge Tracy. She was twice married 1st
to Mr. Dowdeswell 2nd to Mr. Wylde.
1st husband Charles Dowdeswell in
the county of Worcaster. He died 30th May
17?3 in the 26th year of his age
1.1.5.3.1a Ann Dowdeswell
daughter of Charles Dowdeswell by Ann the eldest
daughter of Judge Tracy. She died 12th May 176? Aged having issue
married Robert Wylde
son of Thomas Wylde by his 1st wife
Katherine. He died 26th October 1741
1.1.5.3.1.1 Thomas Wylde son of Thomas and Ann
Wylde who died 25th April 1789 having
married Elizabeth Browne and had issue 2 children
1.1.5.3.1.1.1 Ralph Wylde who died 10th
Dec 1810
1.1.5.3.1.1.2 Robert Wylde now living
1.1.5.3.1.2 Rev Charles Edmund Wylde son of s Tho’ and Ann Wylde He died 25th
January 1798 having married Mary Fewtrell and had
issue 4 children
1.1.5.3.1.2.1 Rev Robert Wylde son of the Rev Cha’ Edm’ Wylde and Mary Fewtrell his wife. He died 14th Nov 1833. Married Emma Pritchard daughter of Edward Pritchard Esq.
1.1.5.1.3.1.2.1.1 Rev Charles Edmund Fewtrell Wylde born 12th May 1808 now living at Bridgenorth
1.1.5.1.3.1.2.2 Mary Wylde who died unmarried
22 Nov 1833
1.1.5.1.3.1.2.3 Elizabeth Browne Wylde who married Wm Lambe Esq of Albury. She gave her evidence before the
Lords in 1847 and is since dead
1.1.5.1.3.1.2.4 John Fewtrell Wylde of the 4th Regiment of Queens own
Dragoons. He died in 1851 leaving all his property to his nephew the Rev Chas Edm Fewtrell Wylde
of Bridgenorth
2nd husband Thomas Wylde M.P. ??? He was 1st married to Katherine daughter of
Sir Bayton Throckmenton
Bar’
1.1.5.1.3.1b Elizabeth Wylde who died
unmarried 17th May 1791 aged 63 years. She was aunt to Mrs.
Elizabeth Brownlambe.
NOTE: She bequethed her property to her nephew
the Rev Charles Edmond Wylde son of Robert Wylde who married her half sister Ann Dowdeswell
1.1.5.1.3.2b ??? Wylde who died an infant.
1.1.5.4 Dorethy 2nd and youngest daur of Judge Tracy. She was born at Cheltenham 26th
Oct 1697 and died 23rd March 1727 having married John eldest son of
Sir John Pratt Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench and half broth of Charles
1st Earl of Camden who died 1770.
1.1.5.5 William Tracy 3rd son of
Robert Judge Tracy formerly of Donore & afterwards
of Streamstown in the county of Westmeath where he
died 12th June 1782 aged 90 years having married the widow Gagharan whose maiden name was Bridget Nester and whose
family resided in the parish of Dysart or Castletown.
She died in the year 1782 aged 74 years. Both buried at Castletown
Geoghegan leaving issue 4 children 3 sons and one daur
1.1.5.5.1 Daniel Tracy who was born at Donore in the county of Westmeath in the year 1736 and died
in April of the year 1823 was buried at Castletown Geoghegan in the same grave as his father William Tracy
having married Mary Wheelaghan of the parish of Durrow in the Kings County and had issue 4 children
1.1.5.5.1.1 Joseph Tracy who went
to America. 50 years age and there died unmarried.
1.1.5.5.1.2 William Tracy who
also went to America. About 45 years age and there
died unmarried
1.1.5.5.1.3 Bridget Tracy who
married Mr Edward Neil of Kilbeggan & both died
without issue
1.1.5.5.1.4 Elizabeth Tracy who
died young
1.1.5.5.2 Malachy or
Loughlin Tracy born in the year 1742 at Donore he afterwards went to Meldrum where he died on the
22nd June 1816 aged 74 years and he lies buried in Horsesleap church yard see epitaph. He married Miss Mary
Moore Parish of Horseleap in the County of Westmeath
and had issue
1.1.5.5.2.1 Miss
Catherine Tracy now the widow of Thomas Clarke to whom she was married by
special licence in Dublin 24 September 1798 & now residing in Meldrum House
in the county of Westmeath her late husband Thomas Clarke Esq
formerly of Dublin died on the 18th August 1816 aged 45 years. See
his tomestone in Horseleap
church yard. They had issue 4 sons and 2 daughters
1.1.5.5.2.1.1 James
Clarke the eldest son of said Thomas & Catherine Clarke a retired solicitor
residing at Meldrum House
1.1.5.5.2.1.2 The
Reverend Thomas Tracy Clarke the 2nd son residing at Beaumont Lodge
Old Winsor in the count of Berks.
1.1.5.5.2.1.3 The
Reverend Malachy Clarke 3rd son now
residing abroad
1.1.5.5.2.1.4 Christoper Clarke M.D. the 4th son now residing at Naas in the county of Kildare. M.R.C.S. England A.B. & M.B. Trinity College Dublin. Physician to Clongowes College Kildare.
He married Mary daur of the late Daniel Hodgens Esq of Dove House
Blackrock Co. Dublin
1.1.5.5.2.1.5
Catherine Clarke a nun at the convent of at Navan in
the county of Meath
1.1.5.5.2.1.6
Maria Clarke now residing at Meldrum House.
1.1.5.5.3. James Tracy born in 1744 at Donore and died in the year 1834 aged 90 years & was
buried at Castletown Greghegan
having married Dorothy Carroll Balinabarna in the
parish of Kilcumreagh in the county of Westmeath and
had issue.
1.1.5.5.3.1. Martin
Tracy the present claimant who is a bachelor & is now residing at Streamstown in the count of Westmeath.
1.1.5.5.3.2. William
Tracy died unmarried in his 24th year and lies buried at Castletown Greghegan
1.1.5.5.3.3. Daniel
Tracy late of Streamstown died 5th
November 1855 and was buried at Castletown Greghegan having married Bridget White on the 17 November
1848. She is now living at streamstown having had
issue.
1.1.5.5.3.3.1 James Tracy
who died at Demarara 11th May 1841
1.1.5.5.3.3.2 Martin
Tracy now living in New York in America
1.1.5.5.3.3.3 William
Tracy now living in Streamstown. He married Hannah
Jordan and has issue 3 children
1.1.5.5.3.3.3.1 Joseph Tracy
1.1.5.5.3.3.3.2 Mary Tracy
1.1.5.5.3.3.3.3 Daniel Tracy
1.1.5.5.3.3.4 Joseph Tracy now living in
America
1.1.5.5.3.3.5 Mary Tracy who died unmarried
1.1.5.5.3.3.6 Dorethy
Tracy now living at Ballymore in the county of Westmeath unmarried
1.1.5.5.3.3.7 Anne Tracy now living at Streamstown and unmarried.
1.1.5.5.4. Anne Tracy born in 1746 at Donore in the county of Westmeath she was married in 1762
to the Late Mr. Patrick Seery in the county of
Westmeath and had issue
1.1.5.5.4.1 Bridget their
daughter now living in Lara in the county of Westmeath.
Ì
1.1.1.1 William 4th Viscount succeeded
his father as eldest son & having married twice had issue. He died 17th
April and was buried at Toddington 19th April ????
1st wife Frances Daughter of Lacester
Darerour Harford by whom
there was issue one son and one daughter.
1.1.1.1.1a Honorable John son of William 4th Viscount Tracy
by Frances his 1st wife He died young and unmarried.
2nd
wife Jane third and youngest daur of Sir Tho Lagh who died before his
father the 2nd Lord Lagh by his 2nd
wife Daur of Patrick the 19 L Karry
ancestor of the present Marquis of Lansdown by whom
there was issue 1 son
1.1.1.2 Honorable Charles 2nd son of John 3rd
Viscount Tracy who died and was buried at Todington 6th
May 16?6 young ??? ????
1.1.1.3 The
Honorable Ferdinande 3rd
son of John 3rd Viscount Tracy he was left by Sir John Tracy Bart
heir to the Stanway estate where he bacame ???
He married and had issue 2 sons
married
Miss Catherine Keck the daur of Sir Ant Keck Commissioner
of the Great Seal and brother of Francis Keck Esq of
Great ???
1.1.1.3.1 Ferdinande Tracy eldest son of the Hon Ferdinande
Tracy and Catherine his wife. He died an infant and was buried at Toddington the 19th February 1682.
1.1.1.3.2.
John Tracy 2nd son of the Hon Ferdinande
Tracy & Catherine his wife. He suceeded
to the Stanway Estate on the death of his father.
Married and died leaving his wife and six sons surviving him
married
Anne daughter of Sir Robert Atkins of Saperion in the county of Gloucester Chief Baron of the
Exchequer
1.1.1.3.2.1
Robert Tracy the eldest son. He married the daughter of Sir Robert Hudson Esq.
He left his own estates intact but died without issue in Sept 1767 having by
his will dated 16th Oct 1766 left his estate to the children of his
brother Anthony.
1.1.1.3.2.2
John Tracy surnamed Atkins 2nd son. He was the survivor of the
family. He was Cursilor Baron of the Exchequer but
died without issue in July 1773. His will being proved
in 1774.
1.1.1.3.2.3
Ferdinande Tracy 3rd son. He was mentioned
in the will of his great uncle Francis Keck Esq dated
june 1788 but died without
issue.
1.1.1.3.2.4
Anthony Tracy surnamed Keck 4th son. He married 1736 Lady Susan
Hamilton sister to the Duke of Hamilton. He died July 1767 without male issue
leaving his 2 daur ???
1.1.1.3.2.5
Thomas Tracy 5th son. Sandywell Park. He married Mary the daur
& heiress of Sir William Dodwell but died in 1770
without male issue. His son Dodwell
dying in his lifetime.
1.1.1.3.2.6
William Tracy 6th son was baptised in January 1721. Died and was
buried at Stanway in May 1729 being only 8 years when
he died.
Ì
1.1.1.1.1b
Thomas Charles 5th Viscount succeeded his father 1712. He was the
settler of the Tracy Estates in 1748 ??? married twice died and was buried at Toddington
on the 7th June 1756
1st
wife Elizabeth eldest daur of William Kevl Esq who died before his
father Sir William Kevl of Ebringhim
in the county of Glousester Bar. She was born 11 Sep
1689 died and was buried at Toddington 19 Nov 1749.
By her was issued 2 sons.
2nd wife Frances youngest daur of
Sir John Packington of Westweed
in the county of Worester Baronet. She died and was buried at Toddington 26 April 1754 and there was
issue 3 sons & 4 daurs
1.1.1.1.1.1.a
The honorable William Tracy eldest son of Thomas
Charles 5th Viscount He joined his father in the settlement of the
16 Sept 1748 but dying in his fathers lifetime
without issue was buried at Toddington on the 15
April.
The Honorable Jane who married on the 17 Oct 1743 Capel Hanbury Esq
of Penly pool in the county of Memmouth.
She died on the 13 Aug 1744 ??? issue
only son
Ì
1.1.1.1.1.2.a Thomas Charles 6th Viscount succeeded on the
death of his father 1756. He was a ??? ??? ??? in 1773. He died on the ??? and was buried at Toddington on
the 18 August 1792 in the ??? year of his age. He was
married but died without issue.
married
Harriet daur of Peter Bathurst Esq. Of Claranden Par in the county of Wilts by his second wife
Lady Selina Shirley daur of
the Earl Ferrens by this marraige
there was no issue.
Ì
1.1.1.1.1.3.b John 7th Viscount succeeded on the death of Tho Cha the 6th Visc
his half brother 1792. He was DD in 1761 made Warden of All Souls Oxford and
died on the 2nd February 1793 unmarried leaving his brother Henry
his surviv.
Honorable Robert Packington second son of Thomas Charles 5th
Viscount by Frances his 2nd wife. He went out as a cadet in the E.I comp
Service. He died in Bombay in the East Indies unmarried as appears by his will
dated 29th July 1748
Ì
1.1.1.1.1.4.b Henry 8th Viscount succeeded his brother John
7th Viscount in 1793. He was an officer in the army and married 12 Dec
1767 to a daur of Ames Weaver Esq. He died without
male issue & was buried at Toddington 11 May 1797
leaving an only daughter surviving him
Henrietta
Susanna Tracy Eldest and only daur of Henry 8th
Viscount She was married in 1798 to Charles Hanbury 3rd
son of John Hanbury Esq. Of Penty
Pool in the county of Mommouth . He afterwards took the name of Tracy now Lord Sudley. Ì
Regarding 1.1.1b above:
Tracy, Hon. Robert, Judge of Common Please, 5th
s. of Robert, Viscount Tracy, Toddington, Glos., M.T., 15 April 1673, called 1680. 14 Nov 1699.
Keane
E, Phair PB and Sadleir TU
(1982) Kings Inns Admission Papers
1607-1867. Stationery Office, Dublin for Irish
manuscripts Commission.
GO
Ms 184 LE II p 131 John Tracey Viscount Tracey of Rathcoole
[3rd Viscount?] married, thirdly, Elizabeth, dau of
Edward Leigh
17 May 1856 (NG) The Tracy Peerage
In our last publication we briefly referred to the fact that a new
claimant to the Tracy Peerage had been discovered in the person of Mr. Martin
Tracy, of Streamstown, in the county of Westmeath. we
have been informed that within the past week important information has been
obtained, - and most conclusive facts have been brought to light, which leave
not the shadow of doubt as to Mr. Tracy's ultimate success in establishing his
claim to this ancient. The family of Tracy is well known in the parish of Horseleap, where the father (Mr. J. Tracy) of the present
claimant cultivated extensive farms, and was much and actively engaged in other
business pursuits during his long life - he having reached the patriarchal age
of ninety, and died only a few years since, a reputedly wealthy man. We
understand that Mrs. C. Clarke of Meldrum House, a lady of superior
intellectual acquirements, who is granddaughter of William Tracy, third son of
Judge Tracy, and still in the enjoyment of excellent health and unimpaired
faculties entertains a distinct and clear remembrance of her grandfather. As
far as we have been able to learn, the family of the claimant are not allied to
any family bearing the name residing in this or adjoining counties, but stands
perfectly distinct as the real descendants of the first Viscount Tracy, of Rathcoole, created a peer for services rendered the crown
by raising a regiment of dragoons in Ireland - a fact which proves that he must
have possessed considerable wealth and much influence and played no
inconsiderable if not conspicuous part during a stormy period of our country's
history. We wish his descendants success in the prosecution of his claim, and
shall eagerly watch every new phase in this long-contested and interesting
peerage case. - Leinster Express
2 Dec
1856 (BL) The Tracy Peerage
We are happy to inform our readers that the late
Attorney-General, Sir A. Cockburn, now Lord Chief Justice, has reported to her
Majesty most favourably on the claim of Martin Tracy, Esq., of Streamstown. This is a great triumph for Mr. Tracy, more
particularly when such a report emanates from a lawyer possessing the acuteness
and great legal talant of the late Attorney-General.
We stated a short time since that Mr. Tracy would undoubtedly prove his claim
to the titles of Viscount and Baron Tracy of Rathcoole
and the report of the Attorney-General to her Majesty confirms us that we were
right. The Attorney-General concludes his report as follows:- "Having
fully considered the nature of the evidence laid before me on behalf of the
claimant, Martin Tracy, esq., in support of his
petition to your Majestry, I beg humbly to report -
That in my opinion the evidence submitted is sufficient to justify my referring
the petition of the claimant and the statement in support thereof, to the House
of Lords for consideration and adjudication thereon, if your Majesty shall be
graciously pleased so to do; all which I humbly submit to your Majesty (Signed)
A. Cockburn. We beg to congratulate the claimant upon his prospects of sucess, which are much nearer realisation than we expected,
but not that we hoped for. - Westmeath Independent.
(IV)
Case on the part
of Matthew Tracy, of No. 40 Kensington Gardens Square, London
Also based
on his descent from William Tracy and Mary O’Brien but very different to that
stated above.
1.1.1.5
William Tracy (3rd son of the Judge), born 16th of February 1692, at Tucks or Tooks Court, in the Parish of St. Andrew’s,
Holborn...married [Mary O’Brien], and settled, and had one son. William Tracy, settled at Ross, in the King's County, Ireland. He
died 15th October 1734 and was buried in the Church yard of Castlebrack
in the Queen's County.
1.1.1.5.1
John Tracy, born in 1727, settled in County Mayo, where he married Catherine,
daughter of John Treston, Esquire, of that County, by
whom he had an only son. Died in 1799. Married into a
Roman catholic family appears to have adopted their religious
profession.
1.1.1.5.1.1
Edward Tracy, born in 1755. who married, first Mary,
daughter of John Treston, Esquire, of Cottage, in the
County of Mayo, by her he had issue
1.1.1.5.1.1.1a
Luke, better known as John, born in 1786, died in 1834 at Greenwich, having
married the widow of Captain Hill, but died without issue.
And
secondly Margaret, daughter of Martin Mc Hale, Esq., of Cloonkeash,
in the parish of Turlough, county of Mayo, and by her
had issue:
1.1.1.5.1.1.2b Catharine, who married Mr. Patrick Owens.
1.1.1.5.1.1.3b
Martin, the father of the Claimant, born 1800 and died in 1847 and was buried
in Abney Park Cemetery Stoke Newington, having married Catherine, daughter of
Matthew Toole, Esq. of Tuam,
in the county Galway, and by her he left issue:
1.1.1.5.1.1.3.1. Edward, born in 1828, was drowned while
bathing at Bhooz at Bombay in the East Indies, in
1850, unmarried, where upon the title to the Peerage devolved upon the Claimant
1.1.1.5.1.1.3.2. Matthew, the Claimant, born in 1829.
1.1.1.5.1.1.3.3. Marian.
1.1.1.5.1.1.3.4. Luke Charles.
1.1.1.5.1.1.3.5. Robert Alfred Martin.
1.1.1.5.1.1.3.6. Arthur Walter.
1.1.1.5.1.1.3.7. Constantine Henry.
1.1.1.5.1.1.3.8. Augusta Mary.
1.1.1.5.1.1.4b Mary, married to Mr. Mullawney
1.1.1.5.1.1.5b John, born in 1804, died in 1848, leaving
issue.
Matthew Tracy and another. Tracy of Rathcoole Peerage
Petitions. Treasury Solicitor, HM Procurator General
and Law Officers' Department: Peerage Cases:
Petitions and Papers Date range: 1853 - 1862.
Treasury
Solicitor, HM Procurator General and Law Officers' Department: Peerage ...
November 25, 1854 (FJ) Marriage
November 23, in the Parish
Church of Loughboy [Lugboy,
Annagh, Mayo], by the Rev. Mr. Horan, Matthew Tracy,
Esq., of South Hackney, London, eldest surviving son of the late Martin Tracy, Esq, and great-grandson of the Hon. Robert Tracy, to Anne
Kate, only daughter of Luke Treston, Esq, of Feamore, county Mayo.
- At Loughboy, Matthew
Tracy, esq. of South Hackney, eldest surviving son of
the late Martin Tracy esq. And
great-grandson of the Hon. Robert Tracy, to Anne-Kate, only dau.
of Luke Treston, esq. of Fenmore, Co. Mayo.
The Gentlemans Magazine and
Historical Review January 1855.
15 December 1859 (BL) The Tracy Peerage Case
...It is consequently, with much satisfaction that we record a new
claimant to this long disputed succession in the person of Mathew Tracy, esq., of Hackney Terrace, Hackney, County of
Middlesex...tracing his descent in gradual succession from Robert, the second
Viscount Tracy...
8 Papers relating to
the claims to the Viscount [of Tracy] http://www.traceyclann.com/files/8
papers.pdf
Page 406: Tracy Peerage. Case on the part of Matthew Tracy, of No. 40
Kensington Gardens Square...July 1862
“A copy of this case, printed in
1862, is in the Inner Temple Library. Matthew claimed that the judge’s son
William had a son John (d. 1799), whose son Edward had two sons, Luke and
Martin. Luke died without issue, and Martin (d. 1847) had issue Edward
(deceased) and the claimant. No report of the hearing, if any
occurred, has been found.”
Dr. Baker’s essay in The Sudeleys
– Lords of Toddington
March 1862
The Tracy Peerage Case
It is stated that this long-suspended case is likely to be early brought
before the Committee of Privileges, in the House of Lords, for further hearing
and final adjudication. The present claimant is Matthew Tracy, Esq., who traces
his descent from the second marriage of Robert, second viscount, and Baron
Tracy - John, the third viscount, and Baron Tracy having died without male
issue. He is the eldest surviving son of Martin Tracy, Esq., of county Mayo,
Ireland, and seeks to recover possession of the titles, honours, and dignities
of the family estate of Rathcoole, county of Dublin.
The claimant's petition to her Majesty was referred by the Queen to Sir Richard Bethell,
when Attorney-General, to report on its merits, and Sir Richard reported that,
in his opinion, the evidence was sufficient to justify his referring the
petition of the claimant, and the statements in support thereof, to the House
of Lords for consideration and adjudication.
March 30,
1862 The Era (London)
...the present claimant to this peerage is Mr. Matthew Tracy, born in
1829...as the eldest surviving son of Martin Tracy, who died in 1847...
July 1862 Tracy Peerage
Petition of Matthew
Tracy, of No. 40, Kensington Gardens-square, in the county of Middlesex,
Esquire, claiming to be Lord Viscount Tracy of Rathcoole
in the Peerage of Ireland, has presented a petition to the House of Lords
praying that, upon the hearing of his claim to the dignity of Viscount and
Baron Tracy of Rathcoole, now pending, he may be
permitted to prove the extinction of the male issue of the second Viscount
Tracy, who would be seniority to the line of William Tracy, the ancestor of the
petitioner, by reference to the evidence taken before the Committee of
Privileges in the sessions of 1839 and
1843, upon the claim of James Tracy, and to read such evidence from the minutes
of the proceedings of such Committee, and to have the benefit of the evidence
so given, and that he may be, in like manner, permitted to avail himself of the
evidence of Elizabeth Browne Lambe, and of any other
evidence given on the hearing of the several claims of the said James Tracy in
the sessions of 1847 and 1848; or so far and in such manner as to their lordships
shall deem fit; and also that, upon the hearing of the petitioner’s claim, the
officers of this House having the custody of the same may be directed to
produce the fragments of the tombstone and all letters and documents remaining
in their custody since the hearing of such former claim, or either of them.
(V)
Case of
Lieut. Benjamin Wheatley Tracey, R.N., claiming the titles: Honor
& Dignities of Viscount & Baron Tracey of Rathcoole,
in the Kingdom of Ireland.
Also based on
his descent from William Tracy and Mary O’Brien but very different to that
stated above.
1.1.1.5 William Tracy 3rd son of
the Judge, and who was born in St. Andrew’s, Holborn in 1692...married [Mary
O’Brien], and settled, and had three children, viz.-
1.1.1.5.1 William b. 14th
November 1740 [alias Beau Tracey] came to Bath, England on the death of his
father [perhaps also called beau Tracy see note below] in 1756...married Sarah
Pink, Parish of Walcot, 26th January 1766,
and went to Portsea. In 1783, this William Tracey of
Portsmouth Common, was involved in the attempt to raise the Royal George, and
published a pamphlet on his attempt. [In January 1787, William Tracey of
Portsmouth Common, pawnbroker, was declared a bankrupt] Their children were:
1.1.1.5.1.1 Ann b. 25th December
1767 Portsea, married Wm. Scoffield
24th November 1799 Portsea and had two
children...
1.1.1.5.1.2 George
Thomas Tracey (b. 18th November 1770 Portsea)
married Frances Bain Mackay 20th
February 1793, Chapel of Garrison, Gibraltar. He was a
Purser and Paymaster R.N. 1805. Purser
appoint to the HMS Albion 1815. Their children were:
1.1.1.5.1.2.1 Mary Ann
Tracey b. 24th February 1796 Parish of Portsea,
married Robert Kellow 25th March 1816
Minster, Kent
1.1.1.5.1.2.2
Frances Bain (b. 28th August 1797 Parish of Portsmouth) m. John
James Hough 28th August 1815 East Stonehouse
Devon. By that lady he had issue a son and three daughters.
[Miss Tracey m.
Commander
John James Hough (1785-1849)
1815 married Miss
Tracey of Co. Cork. (Marshall 8, O’Byrne;
for Miss Tracey’s origins see the O’Byrne entry for her brother, Lieutenant
Benjamin Wheatley Tracey)
O’Byrne, William Richard A Naval
Biographical Dictionary: comprising the life and services of every living
officer in Her Majesty’s navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to that of
lieutenant, inclusive. Compiled from
authentic and family documents (London: Murray, 1849).]
Register of Marriage
of Frances Bain Tracey with John Hough, in the Parish of East Stonehouse, in the County of Devon, where it appears,
That John James Hough,
Esq., Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, a bachelor, and Frances Bain Tracey, of
this Parish, spinster, were married on the 28th day of August, in
the year of our Lord 1815. W.H. Nates, Minister.
1.1.1.5.1.2.3 George Thomas
Tracey b. 14th September 1799, died 1800
1.1.1.5.1.2.4 George
Thomas Tracey b. 18th June 1801 Parish of Plymouth, died at Sierra
Leone in 1827
1.1.1.5.1.2.5 Sarah
Pink Tracey b. 22th February 1803 Parish of Liskeard,
Cornwall married Richard Lane 24th April 1827 Tonbridge Kent
1.1.1.5.1.2.6 Benjamin
Wheatley (b. 22nd July 1805 Parish of Cork) m. Elizabeth Howard (b.
1819 Ireland) 16th April 1831 Stonehouse
Devon and had 5 children up to 1853.
1.1.1.5.1.2.2.1 Alicia Howard Tracey b. 1831 approx.
May 15, 1914 (FJ) Death
Bradley - May 11 1914, at Southsea,
Alicia Howard, widow of the late Henry Bradley, of Blackheath, and the Temple,
and daughter of the late Captain B.W. Tracey, RN, aged 52 years.
1.1.1.5.1.2.2.2 Robert Lambert Tracey b. 1833
1.1.1.5.1.2.2.3 Elizabeth Wallis Tracey b. 1834 approx m. Robert Fitzgerald
1.1.1.5.1.2.2.4 Richard Edward Tracey K.C.B.
admiral R.N. (b. 24 January 1837 Cork d. 7 March 1907 London) married:
(1) to
Janet Douglas Wingate (b. 1844 d. 1875) daughter of the Rev. William
Wingate, on 8 Jul
1865 at Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France (marriage recorded for potential Royal Navy
widow's pension).
(2) on
30 November 1887 to Hon.
Adelaide Constance Rohesia de Courcy (b. 1855 d. 9 July 1926), the only daughter of John
Constantine de Courcy,
(22nd Lord Kingsale and 29th
Baron Kingsale in the Irish peerage) and Adelaide Brown-Westhead.
From 30 November 1887, her married name became Tracey. She held extensive lands
in Cork (see above).
1.1.1.5.1.2.2.5 Stopford Cane Tracey (b.
1839 Cork d. 18 September 1906 Isle of Wight) (See English Census, 1901 living
in Chelsea)
In the English Census, in 1841 they are living in Chesire, in 1861 they are living in Sussex (with Lucy), in 1871 they are living in London.
Benjamin
Wheatley Tracey, then aged 59, married Lucy Agnes Troy (widow) nee Lucy Agnes
Glynn on 1 Mar 1866 at St Georges Catholic Church, Southwark, Surrey (marriage recorded for potential Royal Navy widow's
pension). ADM 13/71 Marriage Certificates
1.1.1.5.1.2.7 Margaret
Foote Shepeard Tracey b. 13th March 1808
Parish of Portsea (unmarried)
1.1.1.5.2 Thomas b. 23rd
June 1743
1.1.1.5.3 Sarah b. 23rd
July 1746, went with her brother to Portsea, and
married Richard Hoare at Kingston Church, Portsea, 15th
May 1779 (Witness Ann Tracey) and had two children...
[Note: The London
Magazine or Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligence. Deaths...May 1756...21 William
Tracy, Esq; commonly called beau Tracy.]
Ref:
Tracey, Benjamin Wheatley.
1853? Petition
to the House of Lords. HMSO publication.
A Candid and Accurate
Narrative of the Operations used in Endeavoring to raise his Majesty’s Ship
Royal George, in the Year 1783...William Tracey. 1785
http://traceyclann.com/files/A
candid and accurate narrative 1785.pdf
Richard Edward Tracey K.C.B. admiral R.N. (1837-1907)
http://traceyclann.com/files/Richard
Edward Tracey.htm
12 Dec 1853 (BL)
The present
claimant to the Tracy Peerage, Lieut. Bejamin
Wheatley Tracy, has been referred by the Secretary of State to the
Attorney-General.
1853 The Tracy Peerage: Case of Benjamin Wheatley Tracy, esq., Lieut. of Royal Navy, claiming titles of Viscount and
Baron Tracy of Rathcoole, Ireland, with
petition of Her Majesty and observations thereon.. [Gloucestershire Archives,
SUDELEY Manuscripts]
Information relating to document ref. no. D2153/1073
1874 Tracey
Viscounty and Barony (Ireland) Claimant: Cdr.
Benjamin Wheatley Tracey, R.N. Result: Petition to amend petition of 1853. Referred to Attorney General.
Home
Office: Registered Papers HO 45/9363/34017
Other
references:
The pillar of
witness: a Scriptural view of the Great pyramid By Benjamin Wheatley Tracey 1876
(VI)
Edward Tracy Turnerelli (1813-1896), son of Peter Turnerelli (1774 Belfast-1839 London) and Margaret Tracy (d. 1835). They were married in Dublin and the family later moved to London, where Peter became a royal sculptor. Margaret Tracy was a claimant to the Tracy Peerage.
Some early Tognarelli
marriages recorded in Pallot's Marriage Index for
England: 1780-1837:
Peter Tognarelli and Margt Treacy [or Treay], 1795, St.
Marylebone Parish
Erato Re: Tognarelli
families origen 31 October 2008
Edward was born in Newman Street, London, on 13 Oct. 1813. For a time he studied modelling under his father and at the Royal Academy, but in 1836 went to Russia, where he spent eighteen years, visiting, under the emperor’s patronage, the most distant parts of that country and sketching its ancient monuments. He returned to England in 1854, and, obtaining an independent income by his marriage with Miss Martha Hankey, devoted the remainder of his life to politics as an ardent supporter of conservative principles. In 1878 he earned notoriety as the projector of a scheme for presenting a ‘people's tribute’ — in the form of a gold laurel wreath — to the Earl of Beaconsfield in recognition of his services at the Berlin congress, but the earl declined to accept the gift, and the wreath was left on Turnerelli’s hands. Turnerelli died at Leamington on 24 Jan. 1896. He wrote : 1. ‘Tales of the Rhenish Chivalry,’ 1835. 2. ‘Kazan, the Ancient Capital of the Tartar Khans,’ 1854. 3. ‘What J know of the late Emperor Nicholas,’ 1855. 4. ‘A Night in a Haunted House,’ 1859, and many political pamphlets. In 1884 he published his ‘Memories of a Life of Toil, or the Autobiography of the Old Conservative.’
[European Mag. 1821, i.
387-93; Gent. Mag. 1839, i.
548; Autobiography of Tracy Turnerelli; Times, 25
Jan. 1896; Exhibition Catalogues; Jordan's Autobiogr.
p. 118.]
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Dictionary_of_National_Biography_volume_57.djvu/375
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Dictionary_of_National_Biography_volume_57.djvu/376
1 September 1855
(N) Talk of the Week
Mr. Edward Tracey Turnerelli, a gentleman who after
a residence of sixteen years in Russia, has published
some sketches of Russian life...
September 1880
Tracy Peerage
Mr Tracy Turnorelli, who connection with the
golden wreath rejected by Lord Boaconsfield will be
widely remembered has published some letters regarding his claim to the Tracy
"Titles and Estates”. He states that the advisability of bringing this
claim for the third time in his family history before the House of Lords is at
the present time occupying the attention of his legal advisors.
1 December 1880 Inangahua Times, NZ
Another Claimant! This time it is Turnerelli of
the Golden Wreath. Sixty years ago his mother laid claim to the "Tracey
peerage and estates" and died. A cousin subsequently made a second attempt
and now T.T. having brought to light certain fresh facts, proposes to make a
third attempt and is anxious to put himself in communication with any person
who can afford him any additional information.
Converts to Rome : a list of about four thousand Protestants who have
recently become Roman Catholics (1885)
Mrs.
Tracy Turnerelli, sister of Thomson Hankey, M.P., and cousin of Earl Bathurst (1866.)
April 1893
Mr Tracy Turnerelli in a letter to a Carlow
journal, stated his father was the son of an exiled Italian nobleman, and that
he was placed in Carlow College, where he completed his education.
Apr 18, 1903 (IT) The bust of Grattan...Peter Turnerelli, othwise Tognarelli, to whom the portrait of Grattan is due, was an
artist who established his reputation by a bust of the Princess Charlotte,
exhibited in the Royal Academy of 1802. After that Wellington, Blucher, Platoff, Aberdeen, Palmerston
- every celebrity sat to him. He married Margaret Tracy, a claimant to the
Tracy peerage. Their son Edward Tracy, born in 1813, a protégé of the Russian
Emperor, and the husband of the rich Miss Hankey, became the well-known Tracy Turnerelli
of a later date...
Notes
and Queries (1945) 188 (8): 171-b-171.
...Another memorable instance is the grave of Tracy Turnerelli,
in Leamington cemetery. His proper surname was Turner, but he thought euphony
demanded the addition of "elli". Modesty
was never a besetting virtue of his. Some years before his death he bought a
plot of ground in the cemetery and built a strong vault. Over this he erected a
huge rough rock, or monolith, weighing tons, and a sculptor was engaged to cut
smooth facets on all four sides. On each of these facets he instructed the
sculptor to incise various virtues he possessed or imagined.
He achieved some notoriety once by collecting thousands of pennies from
workingmen, to pay for a gold wreath (or victor's laurel) which he presented to
Lord Beaconsfield when Prime Minister. The latter declined the gift. Turnerelli then melted down the gold and spent the proceeds
on plum puddings for the poor.
WM. JAGGARD
Other
Information
There is
also a document listed in the Genealogy Office Dublin, gives a genealogy of the
O’Tracy who were probable
located in the west of Ireland, which also references the Viscounts of Rathcoole.
1000 to 1625 AD O'Tracy Genealogy (Irish Genealogy Office Ms 159)
1720’s Accordingly, I set out, and made my way through Kilkenny, where I had the good fortune of meeting with a Gentleman, who, taking pity of my helpless condition, and in regard of some services done him formerly by my father, ordered a support for me, and put me to a school in that Town, endowed by the Ormond Family: Captain [William?] Tracy, I think, of Lord Nassau Pawlet’s Horse, Son to Judge Tracy of London, paid for my Maintenance and Education for near three years, but a Reverse in his affairs, and a melancholy, which I was told, he had contracted by the Terrors of a Shipwreck, from which he narrowly escaped with Life, put a sudden stop to all Remittances from that Gentleman. I had at this time equaled, if not surpassed, the most forward Youths in the School, of whom I saw many advanced before me to the University, not without concern and sorrow, to find that nothing stopped my progress, but the want of means, and that all my hopes were vanished at my disappointment in the fortunes of Mr. Tracy, of whom I never heard more, till I found him, in the Year 1728, in the most deplorable condition that can happen to human nature, deprived of his senses, at Montpelier, where he found no cure but in Death.
Clancy, Michael (1750) The
memoirs of Michael Clancy, M.D. Dublin, MDCCL. [1750].
pp.30-1.
1731 An Historical
list, of all horse-matches run
Subscribers...Worcestershire...Capt.
Tracey
1733 The London Magazine
Capt.
Tracey, son to the late Judge Tracey, promoted to the Post of a lieutenant in
the Foot-Guards.
Treacy/Tracy family papers (1813-1853)
Contains: Letter from Elizabeth Treacy to her cousin James, dated Oct. 10, 1853; Lease of twenty acres of land in lower Ballylehane [Killabban, Laois] from Henry Hovenden to William Treacy, 4th September 1813; Revenue exchequer for Treacy/Hovenden (cover only - no date); Revenue exchequer accounts for William Treacy/ John Moore Hovenden, 1827; [Accounts] Thos. Gregory to Wm. Treacy, 1826; Revenue exchequer accounts, William Treacy, plaintiff, John Moore Hovenden, defendant, trinity term, 1827; Common Pleas, copy costs, William Treacy, plaintiff, John Moore Hovenden, defendant, Easter term, 1826; Common Pleas, costs of outlay and findings, Tracey [sic]/Hovenden, Easter term, 1826; Indenture of James Rouget, son of Daniel Rouget, to Elisha Mollet, captain of the brig, Two Brothers, dated 1793; Letter from William Harte of Dublin to James Treacy of New York City, dated Sept 8, 1851; document titled "The Rathcool Peerage"; document relating the extinction of the title of viscount for the Tracy [i.e., Treacy] name; document titled "Baron Sudeley" tracing the Tracy [i.e., Treacy] lineage; will of Anne Treacy, dated 1824.
FHL British Film [1696691 item 2] -
LDS
Catalogue of the manuscript
indexes and compilations of John D’Alton
11. One volume quarto, containing full
notes and contents of sundry Charters, Patents, and Inquestions,
from the Rolls’ Office; with particulars of the Descent and Pedigree of the
King, Malone, and Tracy Families.
53.
Thirty volumes octavo, similar compilations for illustrating, the histories
of families, with the authorities, selected as the last, and for the same
reasons and object; being, in truth, a continuation of the three former, and
as such are they classed and arranged. Vol. 4
contains similar compilations and notices of the families of De Bathe,
Hudson, Johnstone, and Tracy. D’Alton, John (1845) The
History of Ireland: From the Earliest Period to the Year 1245, when the
Annals of Boyle ...Dublin.
|
Guide to the John D’Alton Collection ca. 17th-19th centuries – Chicago University Library
Series XI: Number 11 Notes and contents of sundry charters, patents and inquisitions from the Rolls Office Box: 7 Folder: 2 n.11 Series XLVII: Number 53 Illustrations of various Pedigrees of Ireland. Syllabus of selected pedigrees, wherein the origin of each of these families, their habitats, the periods when and places where they existed etc., are detailed. Box: 23 Folder: 6 n.53, v.2 |
Sir William Betham's
Manuscripts
Pedigrees, rolls on vellum. Not traced
'60/150. Pedigrees of the families of Turner, Mostyn,
Trimleston, Tracy, Talbot of Malahide
etc. and papers relating to the claim of the Earl of Shrewsbury to the Earldom
of Waterford. Rolls on vellum with the arms emblazoned in gold and colours, by Sir Richard Carney, Ulster King of Arms
[1687?]; papers by Sir William Betham, etc.
Ph. 15342.
P. B. Phair. Sir William Betham's Manuscripts. Analecta Hibernica, No. 27
(1972), pp. 1-99
Last
update: 27 April 2012