Richard O'Farrell Caddell
- Born
- 1780-01-01 12:00:00
- Died
- 1856-01-17 12:00:00
- Gender
- Male
- Place of migration
- Stayed in Ireland
CATHOLIC LANDLORDS
The Caddells were were one of the few Catholic families to retain ownership to landed estates in Ireland. The main branch of the Caddell family settled on the Meath side of the Delvin river, in the 12th century. Whitecastle or Snowton castle' beyond Naul is thought to have been built by a Richard Caddell in the 13th century (now incorporated into Naul Park House).
The Caddells were Cambro-Norman in origin. Cadwal is a Welsh personal name, variously spelt Caddel, Caddell, Cadel and Cadell, and is the equivalent of the Irish Cathal (strong in battle). They seem to have been relatives of Hugh de Lacy and settled on the borders of Meath and Dublin in the 12th century. A Caddell, residing at The Naul, reputedly gave fifteen acres to the Lord Deputy, as he embarked upon an expedition against O'Neill of Tyrone. Dean Butler's 'History of Trim' also mentions Caddell.
At the beginning of the 16th century, a Richard Caddell de Nall came into possession of the Harbourstown estate. Herbertstown (aka Harbourstown / Harbertstown / Harbetsson alias Darleston alias Damsellston) is one of 18 townlands that make up the parish of Stamullin.
In 1649, Cromwell's forces en route to Drogheda, passed through Herbertstown. There, they plundered and sacked the Caddell house, and desecrated the chapel, lopping off the arms of a life-size statue of the Redeemer taken down from the Cross. During the night, while camped in one of the fields, Cromwell's soldiers and horses were over-run by vermin and stricken with a foul disease. Hence the field became known as the Lousy Lea.
The Caddell family were evicted by Cromwell's General De Fyne in 1649. The Civil Survey 1654-58 shows Caddells in Moorestown, Swords, Herbertstown and The Naul (Co. Dublin) and at Dameselstown, Heathstown, Baronstown, Great and Little Mooresydes, and Flemingstown (Co. Meath).
THE "O'FERRALL CADELL" INHERITANCE
In the mid 18th century Richard Caddell succeeded to estates in counties Sligo, Roscommon and Galway, by the will of his uncle, James Farrell of Kilmore, county Roscommon. The will stipulated that he take on the name O'Ferrall.
585 FARRELL, JAMES, Killmore, Co. Roscommon, Esq.
25 July 1738. Codicil 18 Aug. 1738. Full, 3 1/2 pp., 27 Jan.
1738/39.
Wife Jean Farrell als. Blake. My brother-in-law Peter Daly of Quansbury and
my kinsman Denis Daly of Raford, both Co. Galway, Esqrs., trustees and
exors. (revoked in codicil). In default of issue male or female of my own
... estates etc.... to John Kelly, junr., second son of my nephew Jno. Kelly
of Clonlyon, and his heirs; they are to assume surname of Farrell and take
the coat of arms of Farrell. Richard Caddell eldest son of my sister Cecila
Caddell als. Farrell by my brother-in-law Thos. Caddell; Robert Caddell,
second son of said sister Celia. Denis Kelly the youngest son of my
brother-in-law Jno. Kelly of Clonlyon deceased. My sister Anstas Kirwan als.
Farrell, her husband Richard Kirwan. My nephew Arthur French (trustee); my
nieces Margery and Rose French, sisters of said nephew. My nephew Patrick
French their brother. My nieces Fras. Kelly and Hellen Kelly, two of the
daughters of my brother-in-law John Kelly. My nephew John Kelly their
brother. Bridget Nettervill, daughter of my brother-in-law Patrick
Nettervill. Edmd. Nettervill, Esq., (a trustee named in codicil). My sister
Rose Farrell. Great loss sustained by my poor kinsman James Costelloe,
brother to William Costelloe of Tullaghan, Co. Mayo, in his long lawsuit
with my late mother.
All my estate in the counties of Galway, Roscommon and Sligo. My estate in
the north of Ireland in the counties of Down and Monaghan. Lease of houses
and plots in Meeting House Lane [Dublin].
Witnesses: Richd. Shillen, merchant, Patrick Missett, wool draper, both of
Dublin, Myles McDonough, clerk to Peter Daly, Dublin, Esq.
Codicil witnessed by: Thos. Caddell, Herbertstown, Co. Meath, gent., Rich.
In 1795, when young Richard came of age, he took a "grand tour" of the continent of Europe, as was customary for young men of his quality. Fr. Michale O'Hanlon of Dowth, curate of Slane, having studied at Bordeaux, was appointed to accompany Caddell. Their trip included a stay at the Irish College in Paris.
In 1806 Richard O'Ferrall Caddell married Paulina Southwell, daughter of the 2nd Viscount Southwell of Castle Mattress, Co. Limerick.
In the Dublin Evening Post, Saturday 13 March 1819, through his solicitor George McGusty (42 Northumberland Street, Dublin) Caddell advertised his lands in counties Roscommon, Sligo and Galway TO LET for a lease of one life or 31 years. In Co. Roscommon alone, O'F. Caddell owned 3,300 acres.
In the district of Croghan he advertised: Ballinvilla, Drumerr (Ballinavilla & Dremor), Canbo (Camboe), Finnor (Fennor & Lough), Ballenanreagh & Lough, Carrowreagh (Carrowregh, Skelp & Sheevolagh), Derraun (Derrane), Drumlion (Drumlyn) Carrowmore, and Ardcolagh (par Kilmacumsy, where his agent George M McGusty was the immediate lessor of Lisphillip and Runnacocka). In the district of Kilmore, he advertised: Meelick, Cartroon Bawn, Feeragh (Feeraghmore), Scrabbagh. In the district of Bellanagare/Castlerea, he advertised: Caddellbrook (Ballinadullaghan) 93 acres at farm #6 which was taken up by Mary Dillon's husband.
In 1834, the artist Thomas Bridgford painted portraits of Richard O'Farrell Caddell and the Hon. Mrs Caddell (held by the RHA).
By 1836, Richard O'Farrrell Caddell of Harbourstown was living at Southsea near Portsmouth in Hampshire England. Whereas Robert Caddell was residing at Harbourstown Co Meath when they borrowed £5,500 from Samuael Durham of Bath. (See Deed Abstract dated 25 Nov 1836). This deed includes mention of the following townlands in the Barony of Boyle:
- the town and quarter of Camboe otherwise Canboe;
- the quarter of Drumhir otherwise Drunham otherwise Drumhurr, otherwise Ballinvilly, otherwise Balliwilly;
- the quarter of Carrowmore;
- the quarter of Drumlyon otherwise Dromline otherwise Drumlyne otherwise Drumlegume otherwise Drumline
- the quarter of East Finor otherwise Fennor otherwise Ballynamreagh and Theevelagh
- the quarter of Fennor otherwise West Fennor
- the quarter of Carrowreagh otherwise Carrureagh with the two mills
- the half-quarter of Scalpy otherwise Scalpie otherwise Scalpe otherwise Scalp otherwise Skalpie otherwise Skalp
- the quarter of Ardcollan otherwise Ardcollagh otherwise Ardcola.
In 1837, “Harbourstown" the home of Mr. O'Farrell Caddell, was described by Lewis as "a handsome modern mansion, with a desmesne comprising more than 400 acres tastefully laid out and well-planted, and commanding an extensive view from the summit of a tower within the grounds, which forms a conspicuous landmark to mariners".
During the famine Caddell had a gazebo (known as “Caddells Folly”) erected as a poor relief construction project. As the story goes, Richard Caddell stood on the roof of his gazebo to view the Bellewestown Races (after refusing to attend, due to a falling-out with the organisers).
His only son Robert O'Ferrall Caddell would go on to inherit the Caddell estate in 1856.
A GOOD LANDLORD
In June 20 1837, Douglas Boyd of Croghan and Killucan wrote, in the Freeman's Journal of his pleasure to hear that Richard O Ferrall Caddell had been introduced to the General Association. Caddell was “one of the best landlords the people of Roscommon can boast of – having an independent, comfortable tenantry, the entire of whom can be qualified to register”.
To the Editorial of the Freeman Finner Carrick on Shannon August 18 1848
Dear Sir – Thought you never fail to hold up to public extraction the landlord who oppresses the poor man either by rack rents or by sending himself and family adrift on the world, still I perceive that it is more grateful to you to chronicle the humane and kind actions of the few good landlords we have in Ireland. Hence it is that I trouble you with the present notice.
Sometime last May, Mr Robert Caddell of Harbourstown, county Meath, visited his estates both in Roscommon and Sligo, which are extensive in both counties. Accompanied by his agent, Mr P O’Reilly, he inspected each tenant’s holding, and though his lands were set a fair rent in the times gone by, still as he came to the conclusion that land, however cheap in times past, could not be considered worth the same rent in those bad times, he generously resolved to share the burden with his tenants, and gave directions to his kind agent to allow the very handsome abatement of 20 per cent to all his tenants paying up to November 1848.
Besides, he has joined other landlords on is estates in Roscommon in drainage, which is at present going on very spiritedly under the Board of Works, I wish many other landlords in the neighbourhood would follow his noble example.
In 1858, the Caddells sold their county Galway estate of 4,816 acres (parishes of Clonbern, Dunmore and Tuam) in the Encumbered Estates' Court.
In the 1870s, Richard O'Farrell Caddell, Harbourstown House, Balbriggan, county Dublin is recorded as the owner of over 3000 acres in each of counties Roscommon and Sligo. Following his death at Jachbrook, Bournemouth in England in 1887, the male line died out. The assets of his will exceeded £60,000.
The Caddell estate was then inherited by Sophia Mary M. Caddell (who married Arthur William Jerningham in 1836 and had 3 children). The Caddell estate passed to their daughter Agnes Mary Stanley Jerningham who married Stanley Edward George Cary.
[Researched by Rua Mac Diarmada © 2017]
