| Whyte Papers | Public Record Office of Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Collection | |
|---|---|
Identifier |
D/2918 |
Description |
Estate, family and political papers of the Whyte family, Loughbrickland, Co. Down, 1622-1950. This collection is of considerable significance partly because the Whytes are by Irish standards a very old-established family, their ancestors having come to Ireland with Strongbow in 1170, and partly because they are a Roman Catholic gentry family who weathered the penal era without losing their Loughbrickland estate and without at any stage changing their religion. The estate, household and family part of the collection includes: title deeds, 1611-1894; leases and agreements for property mainly in Tullyear, Loughbrickland, Dooghary, Ballydown and Coolnacran, Co. Down, 1739-1913; rentals and rent accounts, 1738-1913; estate and financial correspondence, 1773-1916, which includes references to the construction of Loughbrickland Chapel, 1827-33; household and personal accounts of the Whyte family, 1816-c.1900. There are also maps, surveys and valuations, 1727-c.1900, one of which shows the village of Loughbrickland in 1819, and some sketches of Loughbrickland House, 1840-1860. All generations of the Whyte family were widely-travelled and this is reflected in the cosmopolitan nature of parts of the archive which includes letters from various members of the family while on military service in India, during the Boer War and during World War I. The Whyte family also played a significant role in Co. Down politics and there are 132 letters, 1816-63, about patronage and local politics and administration documenting the activities of John Joseph Whyte (1826-1902) and Nicholas Whyte (1785-1867), the first Roman Catholic High Sheriff of Co. Down, 1830-1. Correspondents include Viscount Castlereagh (1769-1822), Lord Dufferin (1826-1902) and Lord Downshire and the letters pertain to issues such as Catholic Emancipation, the Great Reform Bill and the new Poor Law system for Ireland. As a leading Roman Catholic, the views and role of Nicholas Whyte on subjects such as Catholic Emancipation were highly regarded. The papers also include genealogical notes and pedigrees pertaining to the Whyte family, 1110-c.1930, copies of newspapers and magazines retained because of references to the Whyte family in them, c.1880-c.1950, and official documents of appointments to various positions by members of the family, 1732-1863. |
Strengths |
The principal strength of the collection lies in the general point that it is unusual to find such detailed documentation of a small to medium sized estate like Loughbrickland. |
Physical Characteristics |
c. 4,000 items, 1622-1950, comprising a range of documents, volumes, photographs, press cuttings etc. occupying 23 PRONI boxes. |
Languages |
English |
Contents Date Range |
1622 - 1950 |
Collection Type |
Collection. Archive. Text. Image. |
Accrual |
Policy: Closed
Method: Indefinite Loan
Periodicity: Closed |
Access |
The collection is stored in secure, closed accommodation and can be requested for on-site consultation using an in-house document ordering system. Access is supervised and for research and/or reference purposes only. |
Description or Catalogue |
See PRONI reference D/2918 for catalogue of the papers. The catalogue is available for consultation in PRONI's Public Search Room. |
| Collector | |
|---|---|
Name |
Whyte Family |
History |
The ancient and eminent family of Whyte traces its descent from Ethelbert Le Whyte who was appointed Chief Justice in Pembroke by Henry II who reigned between 1154 and 1189. In 1170, Le Whyte's eldest son, Walter, accompanied Strongbow in his expedition and conquest of Ireland, being knighted by Henry II in Dublin in 1171. Having played a leading part in the conquest of Ulster he was rewarded with large grants of lands on the west shore of Strangford Lough. The connection with the Loughbrickland area of Co. Down, which the greater part of the collection relates to, originated when Colonel John Whyte, 1684-1741 became connected through marriage to the family of Sir Marmaduke Whitchurch of Loughbrickland. From then on the Whyte family had a strong influence in that area: in the nineteenth century Captain Charles Whyte and John Joseph Whyte were both Deputy Lieutenants for Co. Down and Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 1834 describes Loughbrickland House as 'the handsome residence' of N.C. Whyte. No further information. |
| Owner | |
|---|---|
Name |
Whyte Family |
History |
The ancient and eminent family of Whyte traces its descent from Ethelbert Le Whyte who was appointed Chief Justice in Pembroke by Henry II who reigned between 1154 and 1189. In 1170, Le Whyte's eldest son, Walter, accompanied Strongbow in his expedition and conquest of Ireland, being knighted by Henry II in Dublin in 1171. Having played a leading part in the conquest of Ulster he was rewarded with large grants of lands on the west shore of Strangford Lough. The connection with the Loughbrickland area of Co. Down, which the greater part of the collection relates to, originated when Colonel John Whyte, 1684-1741 became connected through marriage to the family of Sir Marmaduke Whitchurch of Loughbrickland. From then on the Whyte family had a strong influence in that area: in the nineteenth century Captain Charles Whyte and John Joseph Whyte were both Deputy Lieutenants for Co. Down and Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 1834 describes Loughbrickland House as 'the handsome residence' of N.C. Whyte. No further information. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
Name |
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland |
Address |
2 Titanic Boulevard |
Website |
|
Access Control |
The Record Office is open to the general public on weekdays between 9.15 am and 4.45 pm, with late night opening until 8.45 pm on Thursday evenings. The Office is closed on the main public holidays and is closed annually for two weeks late November/early December. All readers are required to register their membership on their first visit to the office for which some form of identification will be asked. Registration and admission to the office is free of charge to the public, although certain commercial users (i.e. solicitors, journalists, television reporters and professional genealogists) are subject to a fee. Disabled access facilities, self-service microfilm and a chargeable copying service are provided. |
Role |
Government agency with responsibility for official and private records |
Phone |
0442890534800 |