Viewmount House itself was one of several handsome residences built in the charming countryside of County Carlow during the Georgian Age. It was one of the earliest houses in the county, built by the Browne family in 1750 and predating Browne's Hill by 13 years. 18th century MPs were wont to devote their latter years to overseeing the construction of magnificent new homes that might reflect their lifetime achievements for centuries to come. Such properties were erected throughout Carlow at this time - consider Burton Hall (1730), Ballintemple (1740s), Beechy Park (1750s), Duckett's Grove (pre-Gothic, 1760s) and Browne's Hill itself (1763). (2) The latter was a detached six-bay three-storey over-basement neo-Classical country house. It was built in the Doric style with a granite ashlar façade, having a pedimented central breakfront and a full-height canted bay to the rear.
Unfortunately much of the Browne and Browne-Clayton archives have been lost or destroyed, meaning much of the Viewmount history may be lost forever. In the preset archive is a letter from the family's Dublin based solicitor, dating to the 1880s, in which he apologizes for the fact that his cellar has flooded with the result that certain boxes of Browne deeds and papers had been damaged beyond recognition. A number of papers were burned shortly before the family left Browne's Hill in the1950s. When Frank Tully, the present owner of Browne's Hill House, moved in during the late 1950s, he found a large pile of Browne-Clayton family documents in one of the rooms. Those relating to land in the area were duly framed. Following the death of the Carlow solicitor Hugh O'Donnell in the 1960s, one witness recalled seeing a young man burning all the papers and deeds relating to O'Donnell's clients, including the Browne-Claytons. This same witness points out that we are thus extremely lucky that there is anything left of the Browne -Clayton papers at all.
Viewmount was advertised for lease by the Browne family in 1792. The successful lessee was Sir Edward Crosbie, 5th Bart, descendent of a once powerful Catholic dynasty whose influence waned during the religious troubles of the 17th century. Sir Edward's brother, Richard Crosbie, was a household name across the British Isles on account of his pioneering journey in a hot air balloon from Ranelagh to Clontarf in the summer of 1785. On 24th May 1798, the Viewmount estate was the chosen location for over a thousand United Irishmen from across Leinster to meet in advance of the next days attack on Carlow Town. The attack was an unmitigated disaster, leaving over 600 rebels dead. In the aftermath of the massacre, all United Irishmen suspects were rounded up. Amongst these was Sir Edward Crosbie who appears to have been framed by one of the Burtons who held a grudge against him over a duel fought some years earlier. Sir Edward was tried before a military court and beheaded. The illegality of his murder was still a source of heated debate in Westminster thirty years later. The history of the Crosbie family, including Sir Edward and Richard, is explored in greater detail below.
The Crosbie family trace their ancestry to Normandy where the family name of Crosbi existed before 1050. By approximately 1100, Sir John de Crosebi, a man of Norse origin, whose ancestors settled in Normandy with Rollo, at a place named Corbic in Picardy. The name was then spelt CROSBJ. Coming to England with the Conqueror, he was granted lands at the mouth of the Mersey River near present day Liverpool.(3) He and his wife raised at least four sons. Simon, the eldest, founded the Lanarkshire branch of the family. Robert, the second, was a man of prominence and founded the Cumberland branch. Adam, the third son, founded the Annandale branch. Thomas the youngest founded the Berwickshire branch. I'm not yet certain which of these branches gave rise to the Crosbies of Co. Kerry and, in due course, Viewmount.
Patrick Crosbie, brother of the Bishop of Ardfert, came to Ireland in the late 16th century and acquired large grants in Laoise and Offaly from the disposessed O'Moore family. These lands were later forfeited by his great-nephew Sir John Crosbie and passed to the Coote family. Patrick also acquired the lordship of the Seignory of Tarbert in north Kerry which his son Sir Piers was later obliged to sell. Patrick's brother, Dr. John Crosbie, was Prebendary of Dysart, Co. Limerick, and advanced to the see of Ardfert in 1600. According to the patent of his advancement, Dr. Crosbie was 'of competent private fortune, a graduate of the schools, of English race, and yet skilled in the Irish tongue'. The Bishop left just two surviving sons - Sir Walter Crosbie, who succeeded to Sir Piers, and Colonel David Crosbie, who became Sir Piers's enemy and was ancestor to the Crosbies of Kerry.
Patrick's son Sir Piers Crosbie was a Privy Councillor in Ireland
and a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Charles I. The baronetcy is
supposed to have been created by Charles's father, James I, on 24th
April 1630 but [according to Gentleman's Magazine, 1833] 'no enrolment
of the patent has been discovered'. In a Privy Seal of 1832, Piers is
distinctly described as a Baronet. When Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford,
arrived in Ireland to take up the office of Viceroy, he and Sir Piers seem
to have had an instant dislike for one another. When Sir Piers voted against
one of Strafford's bills, he was sequestered from the Privy Council ('till
his Majesty's pleasure should be known') and brought before Strafford's
Court of Star Chamber. He was heavily fined to such an extent that
he was bankrupted and thrown in Fleet Street Prison. The Rev. Rowan
remarks that a normal man should have been utterly shattered by this situation
but Sir Piers reappears from the mists one year later, to find Archbishop
Laud and Strafford in the dock and the King powerless to help them. Now
allied with Pym and the Puritans, Sir Piers was a key witness in Strafford's
trial. Strafford tried to have him dismissed as 'it was probable he might
be transported by the desire of private revenge beyond the bounds of truth
and public justice'. Among those defending Sir Piers was Sir John Clotworthy
(whose family later intermarried with the Crosbies). Sir Piers's evidence
was admitted. Strafford is duly 'done to death'.
In 1641, Sir Piers was back as a Privy Councillor in Ireland, signing two
proclamations condemning the 1641 Rebellion. However by 1646, Sir
Piers had abandoned his allegiance to Pym and his puritanical friends, and
overcame his earlier objections to the Rebellion, in order to ally himself
with the Irish Catholic Royalists, or Recusants, in the Irish Confederacy.
At the time, the Recusants had, 'by the fortune of war, become rulers
for a season'. This put him in direct conflict with his cousin, Colonel
David Crosbie, second son of the Bishop of Ardfert. There was little
love lost between the two men. When Sir Piers was struggling against the
Star Chamber, the Colonel had purchased his beloved Abbey at Odorney
in order to cover his costs. Piers now wanted his Abbey back. Colonel Crosbie
dug in his heels at Ballingarry on the Shannon and somehow managed
to hold his fortress when every other stronghold in Kerry either submitted
or was destroyed by the rebels. The Colonel negotiated a useful peace with
the rebels but, when he found the terms ignored, entered into fresh complaints.
The rebels struck again and The Colonel was captured and imprisoned. At
this point, Sir Piers came forward with a petition requesting that his Abbey
at Odoreny be returned to him, not least because its present owner was a
good-for-nothing enemy of Catholicism. In May 1646, the Council of Confederate
Catholics then in Limerick duly granted him the Abbey. Sir Piers was not
to enjoy his repossession long for Cromwell's army soon arrived and put
an end to the Confederacy - and Colonel Crosbie was rewarded for his loyalty
with the post of Governor of Kerry. Sir Piers died issueless later that
same year, bequeathing his property to Sir Walter Crosbie, eldest son of
his uncle, the Bishop of Ardfert. Sir Piers by his will, dated November
17th 1646, directed that he should be 'buried in the chapel of St Patrick,
Dublin, if his heir might conveniently do it; if not, in the Franciscan
abbey of Kildare'. The latter request is surely evidence of his continuing
adherence to the Roman Catholic faith. However, in this same will,
he left the town and castle of Clouniher to his cousin Richard
Crosbie, and £40 a year to his cousin Piers Crosbie, on
the condition that they both 'adhere to the Protestant party'. In
his will, he also laid claim to all the lands granted to him by the Confederacy,
bequeathing them to 'his cousin, Sir John Crosbie, Baronet'
as 'rightful heir'. He was married to the Countess of Castlehaven,
widow of the 1st Earl of that title, and daughter of Sir Andrew Noel,
of Brooke, Rutland, but left no issue. Sir John obtained probate of the
will in 1663 but, 'being attained of rebellion at the time it was made
in his favour, took no possession under it', and lost all the great
[Crosbie family] estates in the Queen's County. (4)
Sir Walter Crosbie of Maryborough, Queen's County, was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1629, according to Beatson, or 1630, according to Lodge. He died in 1638 and was succeeded by his son, Sir John Crosbie, 'rightful heir' to Sir Piers. Sir John lived at Ballyfin, Queen's County (later home of the Coote family). Although he inherited a vast landed estate from Sir Piers, he was unable to take ownership of it due to his support of the Royalist cause. His son Maurice Crosbie married Dorothea Annesley but died young. Thus Sir John was succeeded by his grandson, Sir Warren Crosbie.
Sir Warren Crosbie, 3rd Bart, established the family seat at Crosbie Park, Co. Wicklow and died in 1759. Crosbie Park was situated on lands that acquired from the Saunders family of Newtownsaunders. It is presumed the house, now called Slaney Park, dates to Sir Warren's period. He was born in Wicklow and, as a Captain in the army, served under the Duke of Marlborough in most of his great battles. He 'made some efforts to recover the estates, and escape the effects of his grandfather's and father's attainder, but without effect'. He was married on 11th February 1705 to Dorothy Howard, a kinswoman of the art connoisseur Hugh Howard and the Earls of Wicklow. Lady Dorothy drowned in the Slaney on 29 October 1748. Sir Warren died in February 1759. (5)
Sir Warren was succeeded by his son Sir Paul Crosbie, 4th Bart, the man whose mechanical mind is credited with inspiring his younger son Richard to become Ireland's first baloonist. On 21st December 1750, he married Mary Daniel, daughter of Edward Daniell (1687 - 1746) of Freadsom, Cheshire, and sister of John Daniell, last owner of Daresbury Hall. Mary died in Bath. Sir Paul died in November 1773, leaving two sons, Sir Edward Crosbie, 5th Bart, and Richard [the balloonist, see below], and three daughters, Mary who married Archibald Douglas of Darnock [a cousin of the Marquess of Queensbury, see below], Dorothea who married M. Bossier and Henrietta who married John Walsh Esq and died, aged 70, on 14th March 1828. (She left a son, Henry Walsh, who died aged 60 on Sep 27 1847). (6)
The luckless Sir Edward Crosbie, 5th Bart, of Crosbie Park, B.A.
Dublin, MP for Maryborough, was married on 14th December 1790 to
Castiliana Westenra. She was the third daughter of Warner Westenra,
MP for Maryborough, of Rossmore Park, Co. Monaghan and a sister of
Lord Rossmore. Her mother Lady Hester Lambert was the second
daughter of Richard, Earl of Cavan. Castiliana was the widow of Captain
Henry Dodd, 14th Dragoons, of Swallowfield, Berkshire. Their daughter
Hester Dorothea Crosbie died aged 64 on Dec 23 1857.
Finn's Leinster Journal has an advertisement for the Lease of
Viewmount, Carlow 1792. That same year, Sir Edward leased the property
from Robert Browne of Browne's Hill. At about this time, Sir Edward seems
to have become embroiled in a conflict with the Burton families,
which led to a duel. The Burtons were one of Carlow's famous 'B families'
and, as one commentator put it, this B had a sting in its tail. This was
a time of considerable tension between the various Whig and Tory
interests in Leinster at this time. The Burton family had lately defected
from the Whigs in Carlow. Sir Edward Crosbie played a prominent role in
the 1797 election. LM Cullen notes: "The stresses and strains
of this appalling contest in which Sir Edward Crosbie had played so prominent
a part were reflected in the events a year later (which included a duel
with young Robert Burton at the time of the spring assizes), and
which were a prelude to his becoming on slight evidence, after the rebellion
had broken out, the victim of his political enemies. His court martial and
execution were a measure of the political traumatising of the county ina
sequence of electoral and law and order issues'. (LM Cullen, 'Politics
& Rebellion: Wicklow in the 1790s', Wicklow History & Society,
Hannigan & Nolan, p. 433). Professor Cullen also notes that Carlow was
one of the few places where the United Irishmen lacked upper class leadership.
'It was in fact the absence of upper-class involvement in Carlow, in
contrast to Wicklow, Wexford and Kildare, that accounts in part for the
loyalist obsession that Sir Edward Crosbie was both a United Irishman and
a military leader of the movement' (p. 435).
To this day, it is falsely stated that 'the cause of the Catholics was
spearheaded by Sir Edward Crosbie'. He was arguably doomed by the fact
that the United Irishmen met on his estate at Viewmount the night
before their disastrous attack on Carlow Town which left 600 of their number
dead. Whether Sir Edward knew of this gathering or not is unclear. He was
certainly not present at the occasion.
He was tried for alleged high treason before a military court and executed
on 5th June 1798. His body was buried beneath a cross of stones at Viewmount
and his severed head was buried in a secret grave in a lead box measuring
14 by 12 inches. Later generations of Browne-Claytons claim to have seen
his ghost walking the lands of Viewmount.
There is a biography of Sir Edward in 'The Carlowovian' (which issue?).
The Croppies Grave at '98 Street, Graiguecullen, Carlow Town, marks the final resting place for some 600 United Irishmen who were killed in the early morning of 25th May 1798. The 2000-strong rebel force was apparently repulsed by a garrison, consisting partly of regular troops and partly of yeomanry, amounting in the whole to 450. Several houses in Carlow were burned by the garrison in their bid to smoke out all rebels therein. The memory of those who died is enshrined in the '98 Street Monument, paid for with funds raised by the GAA, with a memorial slab gifted by an Orangeman, Rowan McCoombe. The inscription on the slab reads:
"To the memory of 640 United Irishmen who fell in Tullow Street on May 25th 1798."
The savage response of the garrison is occasionally cited as one of the
darker hours of the King's troops in Ireland. However these citations are
often accompanied by statements to the effect that 'the cause of the
Catholics was spearheaded by Sir Edward Crosbie, a member of the Established
Church'. This is palpable nonsense but one can forgive the confusion
for Sir Edward was certainly tried and executed as a rebel leader.
The story runs that the Carlow branch of the United Irishmen met at Viewmount
on 24th May to plan their attack the next day. By the evening this gathering
is said to have numbered 1,195 men. According to an article in 'Fiacc's
Folk' Parish Magazine( 1997/98), this included including the following
corps; 500 pikemen from Ballon, Rathoe and Rathvilly, under Captain Jam
Roche; 200 from Kellistown, Chaplestown and Ballinacarrig, under John
Murphy and 275 pikemen from Bennekerry, Rutland, Johnstown, Killerig
and Pollerton, underCaptain Nolan. An auxiliary corps of 200 ''gunmen"
under Captain William Murphy and Myles Doran, were assembled
at Ballickmoyler with the object of joining in operations. The Queen's County
Corps were to march against the town first and having arrived at Graigue,
on their own side of the Barrow, they were to fire three successive volleys
as a signal for their brethren. Then the body at Viewmount would go into
action, starting by the Staplestown route and entering at a thoroughfare
called Tullow Street.
Fiacc's Folk goes on to say that, 'a few days before the outbreak,
a turncoat named James Keogh, also called "Yellow Jim", who had
won the confidence of the Rebels by his loud denunciation of the Orangemen,
and by various other devices, secretly informed the British Commander of
the frill details of the conspiracy. With the greatest secrecy, the King's
troops stationed in Carlow' were now instructed, not alone to repel the
intended attach but also if possible, to annihilate the attacking body.
"Dame the Croppies and no quarter" was the order of the day. At
the approach of dusk on May 24th, the King's troops quietly took up positions
assigned to them; 'A' Squadron of the 9th Dragoons posted themselves on
Hanover Bridge, while Graigue Bridge was occupied by a strong Corps of Yeomen.
Two Companies of the North Cork Militia extended from Bridewell Lane to
Burrin Street and Potato Market and another Squadron of the Dragoons were
stationed at Coal Market. A strong detachment of Durham Fencibles were in
the old graveyard of St. Mary's on Castle Hill, the most commanding vantage
point. Most of the houses in Barrack Street and Tullow Street, through which
the attacking forces were expected to pass, were taken possession of by
Yeomen Infantry.
The Ballickmoyler auxiliaries started for their destination at the appointed
time, but on arriving at Graigue Bridge, learned that the Bridge was occupied
by the military. They decided to retreat. The insurgents at Viewmount waited
impatiently for the agreed signal and none being heard, the Commander-in-Chief,
Captain Roche, finally set his forces in motion, hoping to capture the town
without outside aid.
Day was dawning when the insurgents reached Tullow Street. Not a sound issued
from the grey, closed-up buildings of Tullow Street, not a soul appeared
to be stirring within. Then suddenly, the window shutters on all sides flew
open and a fearful volley of shot brought down 50 United Irishmen. From
every house and every roof-top the shot and shell rained down upon the assailants.
The United Irishmen panicked and in their rush for shelter, they plunged
headlong into an ambush in Barrack Street. There they were caught by another
murderous crossfire, which brought down whole ranks at a time, including
every leader of importance. This final blast completed the rout. The rebels,
who had so far escaped death, threw away their weapons and dashed into the
houses around hoping to find security'. (7)
There can be little doubt that Edward Crosbie was framed. Several of his
'judges' were said to have been young offices, under age. 'His
innocence of any voluntary participation in the cause of the rebels is strongly
maintained by his relatives and friends who some years since published a
vindication of his conduct throughout those unfortunate times'. (8)
This defence provided the facts upon which Daniel O'Connell repeatedly
raised the issue of Sir Edward's murder in Westminster during the 1830s.
On Tuesday Mar 5th 1833, for instance, O'Connell found an excuse to give
vent to his outrage to the House of Commons over the court martial of Sir
Edward Crosbie and at court martials generally. Standing before Lord
Lefroy, he reminded his listeners of Sir Edward's case explaining how
'that unfortunate gentleman' was tried before a court martial at
which a major of dragoons, a field officer of rank presided. O'Connell told
the House how he had lately received a letter from Sir Edward's son Edward
Crosbie and asked the house permission to read an extract 'in justice
to the writer [ie: the son] and 'in justice to the memory of his
respected father'. The letter contained another letter written by Sir
Edward's nephew, the Rev. Archibald Douglas, Rector of Kilcullen,
on 1st August 1826 from the Glebe House in Kilcullen. 'I am but glad
to communicate a fact which came to my knowledge but a few days ago, and
which gives decided confirmation of the generally received opinion of your
lamented father's innocence; indeed, there can be but one opinion on this
murder of your father. Mr Dundas, who lives near me, was in the rebellion
of 1798, aide-de-camp to his father, General Dundas, who had the command-in-chief
in Ireland. When the report of the court martial was laid before him, he
saw at one glance that the conviction of Sir Edward Crosbie was against
justice and truth, unsupported by any evidence; he instantly sent off an
express to stop proceedings, and even to release my uncle; but the General
who commanded at Carlow anticipated the reprieve he knew must come, and
had my dear uncle executed at torchlight, about 20 minutes before the Dragoons
arrived'. (9)
However, the following week Mr Stanley stood up in court and announced
that he had received word from Edward Crosbie disclaiming all knowledge
of this letter to O'Connell. O'Connell swiftly retorted that this letter
must have come from a different son, that his had been sent from Liverpool.
Meanwhile, General Sharpe took the opportunity to inform the audience
that he had been in command of a division of cavalry in Ireland during the
period of Sir Edward's trial and 'had no doubt that the court martial
which tried him had sufficient evidence of his guilt'.
Writing from Derrynane in October 1838, O'Connell still insisted that 'Sir
Edward Crosbie, a baronet of most ancient and respected family, of unquestionable
loyalty, was hanged by the sanguiry caprice of some officers of the Carlow
garrison'. (10)
Sir Edward's brother Richard Crosbie, Ireland's first balloonist
and aeronaut, was born at Crosbie Park, Co. Wicklow, in 1755. He and grew
to be a man of 'immense stature being above six feet and three inches
high'. From an early age he was mechanically minded, a trait he inherited
from his father, Sir Paul Crosbie. However his father tried to suppress
his son's interest in mechanical experiments lest they interfere with his
studies and often destroyed his creations and deprived young Richard of
his tools. Unfortunately Sir Paul died in 1773 and did not witness the success
of his son's endeavours
Richard was seen as a mechanical genius by his fellow students at Trinity
College where his room looked more like an artisans workshop than a
study. He had a practical knowledge of many trades and sciences and with
his inventive genius often considered the practicability of flight and discussed
the idea with his friends and colleagues. He had often discussed the notion
of flight by the time the Montgolfier brothers invented the hot air
balloon in 1783. The French brothers created the first hot air balloon in
the summer of 1783, and later that year launched a balloon containing a
sheep, a duck and a rooster before a huge crowd, including Louis XVI.
The first human flight took place in November 1783, when Pilatre de Rozier
and the Marquis d'Arlandes flew for a distance of nine kilometres
some 100 metres above Paris, in a journey that lasted 25 minutes. The Montgolfier
brothers' father had allowed his sons to opt out of the family business
so as to concentrate on their inventions only on the agreement that they
would never themselves fly the balloons.
Inspired by events in France, Richard set out to make his own flying device
and carry out some experiments of his own. He wisely chose to use hydrogen
rather than hot air to create lift in his balloons. This was a safer option
and eliminated the risks involved in constantly stoking a furnace with straw,
sheep's wool or other combustible materials which could cause sparks that
would ignite the balloon fabric.
It was in a hydrogen balloon that the French physicist Professor J.A.C.
Charles achieved the second manned flight just days after the Montgolfier
brothers, confirming the suitability of hydrogen as the balloon stayed aloft
for more than 2½ hours and travelled a distance of 27 miles.
Richard's intention was to cross the Irish Sea and become the first
aeronaut to make a sea crossing. This would have been possible with a hydrogen
balloon which had greater lifting capacity and was capable of making a much
longer flight than a hot air balloon of the same size. Richard also invented
what he called an Aeronautic Chariot to carry his equipment, scientific
instruments and ballast which he exhibited to the public charging a moderate
price in order to raise much needed funds to complete his project.
To raise additional money and to prove the practicability of his voyage
he floated a balloon 12 feet in diameter successively for several days at
Ranelagh Gardens in Dublin, each day sending up some animal or another,
and eventually launched the balloon with a tame cat on board. The balloon
travelled north west and was seen passing over the coast of Scotland that
same day. The following day, with a change in the wind direction, it was
seen descending near the Isle of Man and fortunately for the experiment,
a passing ship recovered both balloon and cat.
Richard continued with preparations for his great aerial voyage and according
to newspaper reports at the time he had plenty to occupy his mind. With
huge crowds expected to witness the historic event, a traffic plan was announced.
Although in 1785 Ranelagh was little more than a tree nursery on the outskirts
of Dublin, the ladies and gentlemen attending the event were requested to
park their carriages in an orderly manner at the rear of Ranelagh House
and avoid blocking the drive. Police closed down several roads to cope with
the crowd. Carriages were not permitted to stand on the road between Northumberland
Street and Cold Blow Lane and their drivers were advised to carry on towards
Milltown.
It was also discovered that forged tickets and passes were in circulation.
This caused great inconvenience and resulted in genuine tickets being recalled
and replaced with new tickets. With all the stress and fatigue of the project,
Crosbie suffered a severe bilious complaint and his colleagues who were
regulating all matters relating to his aerial excursion prevailed on him
to defer his voyage.
Bad weather prevented an attempt on the 4th January and Richard Crosbie
eventually succeeded in making his historic flight on 19th January 1785.
This was the first successful manned flight in Irish history. He was just
30 years of age at the time and ascended from Ranelagh Gardens in Dublin
and landed safely near Clontarf a short time later. It was a remarkable
achievement occurring just fourteen months after the Montgolfier flight.
On the morning of the flight he intended to treat his friends to breakfast
at Ranelagh House but the owner, Mr. Hollister informed him that it would
be utterly impractical because his house had been unoccupied for a long
period and that he was not prepared for such entertainment.
Crosbie initially intended to ascend at 10.00 am but for the benefit of
students at Trinity College who were sitting exams that morning the time
was put back until 11.00 am.
At 2.30 in the afternoon, the flamboyant Richard Crosbie stepped into his
Aeronautical Chariot. He was a real showman and was dressed in a
long robe of oiled silk which was lined with white fur and he wore a waistcoat
and breeches of white quilted satin, Morocco boots and a Mantero cap of
leopard skin. The balloon now standing fully inflated and anchored to the
ground between two tall poles was beautifully embellished with paintings
of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, and Mercury, the
messenger of the Gods, carrying the Arms of Ireland. At seventeen minutes
to three he ordered the ropes to be cut and he ascended majestically into
the Dublin sky.
Richard the balloonist was married in 1780 to Charlotte Armstrong.
He is to be honoured with a plaque in Ranelagh Gardens in 2008.
Mr. Crosbie's experiment yesterday proves his genius as great as his
intrepidity; a trial was made in between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning
with filings of iron to fill the balloon, but from its bad quality and consequent
slowness of solution, was the cause of considerable delay; from the time
Mr. Crosbie ordered to charge with zinc, the process went on with desired
success, and about half past two o'clock he took his aerial flight, amidst
the concourse of at least 20,000 spectators - idea cannot form anything
more aweful and magnificent than his rise; he ascended almost perpendicular
and when at a great height seemed stationary, he was but three and a half
minutes in view when he was obscured by a cloud. It was agreed upon by his
particular friends as the wind was to the SE and being late in the day that
when he cleared the city he should descend as soon as possible, accordingly,
by means of his valve he let himself down near Clontarf, and fulfilled every
engagement and expectation that the public, his friends, and those who have
the honour of his acquaintance, always formed of him.
No man ever undertook such a perilous voyage with so much cheerfulness,
and we are doubly happy that no accident has happened this enterprising
youth, nor can we doubt a moment of his original plan to cross the Channel
succeeding and thereby prove to the World that Ireland in scientific knowledge
is not inferior to any part of it.
Faulkner's Dublin Journal, 1785
Sir Edward and Richard Crosbie's sister Mary married Archibald Douglas (born before 1790) of Darnock, a cousin of the 3rd Marquess of Queensbury. Their eldest son was the Rev. Edward Douglas, Rector of Drumgoon, Co. Cavan (died Blackrock, aged 76 in July 1855). Edward married firstly Lady Susan, widow of John Drewe Esq, and before that of John Thorpe Esq, 3rd daughter of John, 4th Earl of Dunmore. Edward and Susan had a daughter, Augusta, who married the Hon. John Wilson Fitzpatrick, MP for Queen's County, and had issue. After Susan's death, Edward married secondly Kitty, only daughter of James Collins of Knaresborough & Foleyfote in Yorkshire, who died on 13th March 1955, the same year as Edward, aged 75. (12)
Edward's sister Emily Douglas (1796 - 15 Jun 1841) was married twice - firstly, before 1811, to the Hon. Joseph Leeson. In his 'Recollections', her second husband, Sir Valentine Browne Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry, recalls how he had been passing his time 'entirely in the ordinary employments of a magistrate and country gentleman, until my quiet was painfully disturbed by occurrences that ended, in the year 1811, in a dissolution of my hasty and imprudent marriage'. 'Shortly afterwards', he continues, 'I formed another, and more fortunate connexion, with Emily Douglas, the widow of the Hon. Joseph Leeson, and mother of Joseph, Earl of Milltown, with whom I lived in uninterrupted happiness and affection for thirty years'. The marriage took place at Carnallwey, County Kildare on 30 June 1811. Sir Valentine was the son of Sir Nicholas Lawless, 1st Baron Cloncurry and Margaret Browne. Her father-in-law was raised to the UK peerage in 1831. She died on 15 June 1841 at London Hotel, Albemarle Street, London, England. She was the mother of Hon. Cecil John Lawless (d. 1853) and Sir Edward Lawless, 3rd Baron Cloncurry (13 Sep 1816 - 4 Apr 1869). (13) Emily's mother, Mary Douglas, would be drawn in to the affairs of the Cloncurry family in due course.
In the first decade of the nineteenth century, the Rev. William Grogan came to Baltinglass as Rector. He married a Saunders daughter and, with her, secured Crosbie Park, renamed Slaney Park. It has remained with the Grogans ever since.
Sir Edward was succeeded by his only son, four year old Sir William Crosbie, 6th Bart, who was born on 18 May 1794. In 1830, he married his first cousin Dorothea Alicia Walsh. Sir William, an officer in the Army, severely wounded at the taking of Bergen-op-Zoom. He died aged 66 and without issue in Bray on 3 Oct 1860; his widow passed away at Bray Cottage aged 86 on 11th Feb 1880. Sir William had a sister Hester Dorothea Crosbie who died unmarried. He was succeeded by his cousin, Sir William Richard Crosbie, 7th Bart.
Sir William R Crosbie died in 1877. His only daughter, Ada Catherine Crosbie, was married on 31st October 1899 to Cecil Augustus Seymour Browne (b. 1864), third son of Hon. Major George Augustus Browne and grandson of James Caulfield, 2nd Baron Kilmaine, MP for Carlow (1790 - 1794) and owner of Gaulston Park in Co. Westmeath. Cecil was a descendent of the Brownes of The Neale in Co. Mayo, see B. Kilmaine). Ada died in 1958, leaving one son Claude Lancelot Seymour, born 25th February 1891. (BP1959p.2852).
On March 24th 1881, The Times noted Sir William Crosbie's appointment as
Director of the Pluto Gold Mining Company. On June 9th he was made
a Director of the Keystone Gold Mining Company (Limited), headquartered
'in heavy timber country' at Sylvanite, now a wilderness ghost
mine near Kalispell in the extreme northwest corner of Montana. In
1897 - 1898 the population at Sylvanite peaked at 1,000, with three hotels.
two restaurants, six saloon with dance halls and girls, a post office, three
general stores, one meat market, one brewery, one drugstore, and a sawmill.
Sylvanite was noted to be very orderly. In other words only 4 men died due
to a brawl. By 1899 the easy to work ore was mined out. In 1907 Sylvanite
became a hideout for two train robbers, who used one of the tunnels in a
mine to store their stash. In late August of 1910 a forest fire swept down
and destroyed Sylvanite. All was destroyed but a structure containing whisky.
The boys fought hard to preserve the whisky. Those who have seen pictures
before the fire destroyed Sylvanite described it as looking like a park,
set in a white pine forest.
The 8th Bart's wife Dame Georgina Mary Crosbie of Earl's Court, SW
London, died on March 24th 1931. Four days later, The Times revealed
that she had 'left unsettled estate of the gross value of £3, 344,
with net personalty £3,196'.
Sir William and Dame Georgina's daughter Marjorie Kathleen Crosbie
was married on 13th December 1920 to Godfrey Sutcliffe Marsh, India
Civil Service, eldest son of William Sutcliffe Marsh. They had issue
and, in 1959, had an address at 37 Scarsdale Villa, W8.
The Crosbie baronetcy became extinct on 29th December 1936.
It is not yet known what happened to Viewmount after Sir Edward's death.
One imagines his widow and children were ill-disposed to living there. At
some stage it appears to have been leased to the Bennett family although
these may well have been employees or tenants. At the church in Dunleckney
is a grave to John Bennet of Viewmount who died in 1827 aged 63.
(14) The full text reads:
BENNET
Beneath this stone rest the mortal remains of John Bennet, Esq., of Viewmount
in this county, who departed this life on the 4th May, 1827, aged 63 years.
Truly regretted, an honest man and a sincere friend.
Viewmount House returned to the Browne family soon after. By 1837, Viewmount
was the residence of Robert Clayton Browne, Esq. Viewmount was still
his residence two years later when he was recorded in the Commercial
Directory under the heading 'Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy'. (15)
Robert Claton Browne (1799 - 1888) was also described as 'of Viewmount'
in an affidavit relating to 'the last Will and Testament of William Browne
of Brownes Hill in the County of Carlow Esquire who died on the 1 April
1840'. (B-C Papers, BP7).
1. Carlow Town and Civil Parish from Lewis Topographical Dictionary.
The family of the Orator Henry Flood also had a residence called
Viewmount near Gowran in Co. Kilkenny. Tom King might have an image of Viewmount
and Mick Purcell thinks there's a map in the PPP.
2. Ballintemple: Dark Knights, Blue
Bells, by Turtle Bunbury
3. Information from "Edgar's History of Dumfries" written
in 1746, Edited and published by R.C. Reid in 1915 -350 copies printed by
J. Maxwell & Sons, Dumfries. Scot H2 11. Crosbie's mentioned pps. 61,
64, Genealogy Note 62a p. 167-168, Crosbie Genealogy Appendix D
4. 'The
Sequel of the History of Sir Piers Crosbie', the Rev. Arthur B.
Rowan, DD, MRIA, The Gentleman's Magazine & Historical Review,
July 1854.
5. Sir Warren Crosbie's will dated 3 Jun 1757, proved in Prerogative Court
Ireland, 21 Feb 1759.
6. See Rootsweb.
7. See Rootsweb
- Croppies Graves.
8. Letters regarding Crosbie
Family, The Gentleman's Magazine, January 1833, p. 208.
9. Quoted in The Times, Wednesday, Mar 06, 1833; pg. 1; Issue 15105;
col D
10. The Times, Monday, Oct 15, 1838; pg. 2; Issue 16860; col E
11. Taken from: Rice, Eoghan (2006-12-17), 'First Irishman to take to
the skies to be honoured'. Retrieved on 2007-04-09. Irish Ballooning
Association Limited. See also: J. C. Kelly-Rogers, 'Aviation in Ireland
- 1784 to 1922', Éire-Ireland, 6, 2 (Summer 1971), pp.3-17.
12. The Gentleman's Magazine, July 1855.
13. The 3rd Baron Cloncurry married Elizabeth Kirwan, daughter of
John Kirwan and Penelope Burke, on 17 September 1839 at Lyons Castle, with
whom he had four sons (two of whom died unmarried) and four daughters. He
held the office of Sheriff of County Kildare in 1838 and was Sheriff of
County Dublin in 1846. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Baronet Lawless,
of Abington, co. Limerick [I., 1776]; 3rd Baron Cloncurry, of Cloncurry,
co. Kildare [I., 1789] and 2nd Baron Cloncurry, of Cloncurry, co. Kildare
[U.K., 1831] on 28 October 1853. He died at Lyons on 4 April 1869 at age
52 by throwing himself out of a window. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
Sir Valentine Lawless, 4th Baron Cloncurry, who was born on 2 November 1840.
He was educated at Eton College and graduated from Balliol College, Oxford
University in 1861 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).On 23 January 1883, the
4th Baron married Hon. Laura Sophia Priscilla Winn, daughter of Rowland
Winn, 1st Baron Saint Oswald of Nostell and Harriet Maria Amelia Dumaresq,
at Nostell, Yorkshire, England. He died on 12 February 1928 at age 87 at
Lyons Castle, County Kildare, Ireland and was succeeded as 5th Baronet by
his octogenarian bachelor brother, Sir Frederick Lawless (20 April 1847
- 18 July 1929), sometime Governor of the National Gallery of Ireland, who
died at Maretimo in Blackrock in 1929.
14. John Ryan's "History & Antiquities of the County of Carlow"
(1833), p. 337, transcribed by the indomitable Susie Warren. A copy of this
book can be found in the Carlow Library, County Carlow and at the LDS Library
Film # 1441050. There is an index in the back of the book, which could be
expanded extensively, as many names that appear in the book, do not appear
in the index.
15. THE NEW COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY FOR THE TOWN CARLOW. For F. Kinder
& Son. 1839.
With thanks to the P.P.P., Paul Gorry, Tom King, Mick Purcell, Susie
Warren and the Irish Ballooning Association Limited.