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Cuffe /Packenham union and transplant of trades people.

I am trying to trace the facts of a story I was told of a wedding between Elizabeth Cuffe from Balinrobe Co. Mayo and Thomas Pakenham of Pakenham Hall, Castlepollard. This was in the 1740's I believe. She brought with her the hereditery title of Lord Longford which apparently her uncle held. She also brought a number of people skilled in farming, one of whom was my gggggrandfather who was employed in his new position as a ploughman. The family name is O Connor. This continued through the 1950's when the last of the O Connors left in Castlepollard died off.

Is there any way of confirming the details here? I do know the wedding took place and a local decendant who was a distant cousin of mine in Castlepollard told me his grandfather confirmed the family originally came from Mayo.

Many Thanks for your help,

Gerry O Connor

Benchurian

2 replies

Hello, Gerry.

Some information about Elizabeth Cuffe and Thomas Pakenham in these books. Extracts available to read online. All links from Wikipedia article about Elizabeth Pakenham, 1st Countess of Longford.

"The Pursuit of the Heiress: Aristocratic Marriage in Ireland 1740-1840"  by A.P.W. Malcomson, publisher Ulster Historical Foundation;  Chapter 7 "Speculation and castle building -  The identification of an heiress" pages 186-

"Burke's Irish Family Records" by Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, publisher Burke's Peerage Ltd. London 1976

"La Belle Ensemblee for January 1827" containing "Illustrative Memoir of the Hon. Mrs Pakenham" 

"The Peerage of Ireland - a Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of That Kingdom" volume 3, by John Lodge, published 1784. A chapter is "Pakenham, Countess of Longford" and includes a section "The Family of Cuff" (pages 367- )  "Elizabeth, only daughter and heir to Michael Cuffe of Ballinrobe in the County of Mayo, Esq., nephew to Ambrose Aungier, the last Earl of Longford" This book was written during the lifetime of Elizabeth, Countess of Longford. The entire text is available on Internet Archive. It has copious footnotes.

There would have been a written marriage settlement, wills and estate papers. The wedding was 5th March 1740 (written as 5th March 1739 in some souces or 5th March 1739/40 in others because a new year began in March).

questor37@gmail.com

Thank you Maggie for that, I will certainly follow that up.  I wonder has anybody followed the Connor/OConnor line in Mayo?  Where in Mayo are they from or anything else about them?

Benchurian

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