| Annesley Papers | Public Record Office of Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Collection | |
|---|---|
Identifier |
D/1503, D/1854, MIC/538, T/3774 |
Description |
Estate, family and political papers of the Annesley Family, Viscounts Glerawly and Earls Annesley, of Castlewellan, Co. Down, 1560-1565, c. 1620-1916. Containing approx. 1500 items, the collection provides important and unique documentation relating to the family, its lands and place in society. In addition to the range of title deeds, leases and legal papers, maps, plans etc charting the development of the Family’s various estates in Counties Down, Cavan, Meath and Queen’s Counties, which are typical of such collections, the Annesley Papers include a range of important political papers dating back to the late 16th century. These comprise: a volume of accounts, 1560-65, of Sir William Fitzwilliam as Vice-Treasurer and Receiver-General for Ireland re the settlement of Ireland; 3 volumes of papers, c.1660-9, of his successor in these offices, Arthur Annesley (1614-86), 1st Earl of Anglesey, relating to civil and military lists, crown rents; Customs and Excise; Petty's Down Survey; journals of Parliament etc.; 22 volumes of a version of the Books of Survey and Distribution, 1676-8; papers of Francis Annesley, MP in both the English and Irish Parliaments of Thorganby, Yorks, and Castlewellan comprising: minutes, reports, petitions, tithe details, accounts etc. of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the Forfeited Estates (1699) and Trustees for the Sale of the Forfeited Estates (1700-3). Other papers of note include the law student notebooks of Richard, 2nd Earl Annesley (d.1824) and Customs and Excise papers, 1673-1810; estate letter-books, 1838-87, relating to estates in Castlewellan, Newcastle, Co. Cavan, Co. Meath and Queen's County of William Richard, 4th Earl Annesley (1830-74), and accounts of the Castlewellan Yeomanry, 1810-19; 35 photograph albums started in 1855 depicting scenes around the Mournes, the Kaffir and Crimean Wars (the largest and most important collection of early photographs in NI) of Hugh, 5th Earl Annesley, and also his dairies; war and holiday diaries of Francis, Viscount Glerawly, later 6th Earl Annesley. The archive also includes family and estate papers, 1641-1879, of the Annesleys of Bletchington, Oxon, whose family property was in Co. Kildare. |
Strengths |
Of interest to those researching the management of large estates and connections of the landed gentry. The photographic collection of Hugh, 5th Earl Annesley, are also of particular note representing the largest and most important collection of early photographs in Northern Ireland. These date from 1855 onwards and include images of the Scots Fusilier Guards in the Kaffir War, 1851-53 and the Crimean War in addition to photographs of family, friends, servants and tenants at Donard Lodge and Castlewellan, including the building of the present castle. |
Physical Characteristics |
c.165 volumes and c.1,275 documents, 1560-1916, occupying c.120 PRONI boxes. |
Languages |
English |
Contents Date Range |
1560 - 1916 |
Collection Type |
Collection. Archive. Text.Image |
Accrual |
Policy: Closed
Method: Purchase
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. Some material is only available as photocopies or microfilm copies |
Collection Notes |
Prints from the photograph collection under D/1854/5 can be ordered from the Local History Library at the Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AB |
Description or Catalogue |
See PRONI references D/1503, D/1854, MIC/538, T/3774 for catalogues of the papers. These are available for consultation in PRONI's Public Search room. A full introduction to the collection is also available on http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/private/annesley.htm" target="new_window">http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/private/annesley.htm . |
Publications Note |
Archival Collection |
| Collector | |
|---|---|
Name |
Annesley Family |
History |
The Annesley Family of Castlewellan, Co. Down claim lineage from Arthur Annesley (1614-1686), 1st Earl of Anglesey and son of Sir Francis Annesley (1585-1660), 1st Viscount Valentia, Clerk to the Signet in Ireland, 1648 and Secretary of State at Dublin under Henry Cromwell. Arthur was created Earl of Anglesey in 1661 in recognition of his services in bringing about the Restoration of Charles II and was successively Treasurer of the Navy (1667) and Lord Privy Seal (1672). The next member of the Annesley family of note was Francis Annesley, M.P., of Thorganby, Yorkshire, and Castlewellan, Co. Down (d. 1750). He was a nephew of Lord Anglesey and a member of both the English and Irish Parliaments. He is best known as one of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the Forfeited Estates in Ireland (1699) and as a Trustee for the Sale of the Forfeited Estates (1700-1703). It is probably under him that the family first settled in Castlewellan when lands passed into their possession in 1742 upon purchase from the Magennis Family. When he died in 1750, his sixth son, William Annesley of Castlewellan, was created Baron Glerawly. He died in 1770 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Francis Charles (d. 1802), who was later created 1st Earl Annesley in 1789 from which date the family title proper commences. Notable successors included his younger brother, Richard as 2nd Earl Annesley (d. 1824), who served as a Commissioner of the Revenue, 1785-1806, and Chief Commissioner of the Board of Excise, 1806-1810; William Richard Annesley (1772-1838), 3rd Earl Annesley; William Richard Annesley (1830-1874), 4th Earl Annesley; Hugh Annesley (1831-1908), 5th Earl Annesley, a Colonel of the Scots Fusilier Guards from 1860 and who had served in the Kaffir War in South Africa, 1851-1853, and in the Crimean War. Patrick Annesley, the current (10th) Earl Annesley, was born in 1924 and succeeded to the Family title in 1979. The Family Seat at Castlewellan Castle was sold by his father in 1962 with the estate demesne passing to the Forest Service in 1967. It was subsequently opened to the public as a major Forest Park in 1969. |
| Owner | |
|---|---|
Organisation |
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland |
Role |
Government agency with responsibility for official and private records |
Telephone |
+44 (0)28 9025 5905 |
Fax |
+44 (0)28 9025 5999 |
History |
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), is the official place of deposit for all public records in Northern Ireland and was established by Act of Parliament in 1923 following the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921. PRONI is also the main repository in Northern Ireland for private records. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
Name |
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland |
Address |
2 Titanic Boulevard |
Website |
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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 |