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| Ancketill of Ancketill's Grove |
It seems probable, however, that Capt. Oliver Ancketill (1609-66) was the son of a minor gentry family from the Shaftesbury area of Dorset, who emigrated to Ireland about 1636 and built a house on what became the Ancketill's Grove estate. His son, Matthew Ancketill (1651-89), who obtained a confirmatory grant of the estate from the Crown after the Restoration, is said to have built a new house on higher ground, and to have laid out an avenue of copper beeches leading to it. He was one of those included in James II's Great Act of Attainder in 1689 but he was in fact already dead by the time it passed the Irish Parliament. His son, William Ancketill (1677-1709) died without issue and was succeeded by his brother, another Oliver Ancketill (1680-1760), who was perhaps the most prominent member of the family. Expected to be a younger son, he was educated for a career in the law, and obtained a doctorate from Trinity College, Dublin. It is not clear whether he continued a legal practice, but he served as MP for Monaghan and lived partly in Dublin, where he became a founder member of the Royal Dublin Society. His only son having predeceased him, he was succeeded by his grandson, Charles Ancketill (1754-1828) who built the present house at Ancketill's Grove when he came of age. Charles in turn was succeeded by his nephew, William Anketell (1790-1851), whose son Matthew John Anketell (1812-70), made the Italianate additions and alterations to the house and left it largely as it now stands. His son, William Ancketill (1851-1931), resumed the ancient spelling of his family name but sold the estate at some point around 1890.
Two of the younger sons of William Anketell (1790-1851) also acquired country houses. William Robert Ancketill (1820-89) married into the Ker family, and both he and his son, Amyatt William Ancketill (1853-1915) rented Quintin Castle on the coast of County Down from the Kers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fitz Ameline Maxwell Ancketill (b. 1825) inherited Killyfaddy from his maternal uncle in 1877 and it remained the property of his descendants until the early 1950s. William Ancketill (1851-1931) seems to have lived there after selling Ancketill's Grove at the beginning of the 20th century, presumably as a tenant of his cousin, Reginald Ancketill (1861-1937).
Ancketill's Grove, Emyvale, Monaghan
The Ancketill's first house here is said to have been built about 1640 on low ground as the successor to a McKenna stronghold near the site. In the late 17th century it was rebuilt on higher ground at the head of a famous copper beech avenue.
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| Ancketill's Grove |
This second house was in turn replaced by the present building in about 1781. This began as a gable-ended house of five bays and two storeys with a projecting pedimented central bay, linked by single-storey quadrants to pedimented wings of two bays with Gothick sashes. The ground floor and wings are rendered but the upper floor is of pale ashlar blocks. The central bay is partly obscured by an exceptionally large early 19th century porch with a hipped roof and Tuscan doorcase, set well forward of the house and linked to the original entrance by a short passage. In about 1852 a bulky Italianate square tower with a low pyramid roof on wide eaves was added to the rear of the house, and the Gothick windows were given round heads, flat hoods and plate glass, robbing the house of much of the prettiness it once possessed; they have been replaced even more unsuccessfully since. Inside, several rooms were given ceilings of carved woodwork.
Descent: Granted c.1636 to Oliver Ancketill (1609-66); to son, Matthew Ancketill (1651-89); to son, William Ancketill (1677-1709); to brother, Oliver Ancketell (1680-1760); to grandson, Charles Ancketill (1754-1828); to nephew, William Anketell (1790-1851); to son, Matthew John Anketell (1812-70); to son, Matthew David Anketell (1841-72); to brother, William Ancketill (1851-1931), who sold c.1890 to his brother-in-law, Clement Kennedy Cordner (1832-1905); to widow, Frances Emmeline Cordner (1845-1916)...sold in 1920s to Patrick McKenna... sold 1970 to Laurence Clerkin (fl. 2019).
Quintin Castle, Portaferry, Down
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| Quintin Castle. Image: Dave Murdoch |
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| Quintin Castle in 2012. Image: Gary Quigg |
A romantic and now largely 19th century castle that rises spectacularly from among the rocks on the sea coast of County Down. The present building incorporates elements of the castle built by John de Courcy in 1184 and occupied later by the Savage family and their dependents, the Smiths. In 1324, Edward Bruce, invited by a discontented faction of Irishmen in Ulster, invaded the northeast and drove the Audleys, Talbots and Mandevilles from the Ards area, but constant strife with the O'Neills of Clandeboye left the Savages very poor. When the Ards area was planted in 1607, Hugh, 1st Viscount Montgomery, married his daughter to Patrick Savage, who abandoned his Catholic faith for Protestantism. Under the influence of the Montgomerys, the Ards area became more prosperous. The Viscount's son, Sir James Montgomery, then living at Rosemount, Greyabbey, purchased the Quintin estate from Dulaltaigh Smith, and his son William made additions to the original castle, building a walled courtyard and other smaller towers, a large house adjacent to the central tower and a great kitchen to the seaward side of the castle structure. He then re-roofed the castle and added new floors, all probably before 1659. In the late 17th century, the Montgomerys sold the castle to George Ross of Mount Ross, but he never lived there and over the next hundred and fifty years it slid into dereliction. In the early 19th century the castle passed by marriage to Rev. Nicholson Calvert, who largely rebuilt it about 1855.
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| Quintin Castle in the early 20th century, from an old postcard. |
The central keep was raised, a walkway made within the battlements, a drawing room opened into the inner gardens, and a dining room constructed on the lowest floor of the great tower. Most of the grounds were also enclosed by a massive stone wall. The house remained in private occupation until the 1970s but became a care home in 1978. Happily it has since been restored and returned to private occupation.
Descent: Dulaltaigh Smith; sold to Sir James Montgomery; to son, William Montgomery (fl. 1659); sold c.1700 to George Ross...Mary Ross, wife of Rev. Dr. Blacker (1771-1849); to daughter, Elizabeth Blacker, wife of Rev. Nicholson R. Calvert; to daughter, Rose Jane Calvert, wife of Richard John Charles Rivers Gervas Ker (1822-90); to daughter, Olga Ker, wife of Adm. Sir George Fowler King-Hall (1850-1939); sold to [forename unknown] Burgess (fl. 1930s-50s); sold 1950s to Skeets Martin of Belfast, auctioneer; sold 1978 to Sheridan & Co. for use as care home; sold to Mr. & Mrs. James O'Hara; sold, restored and returned to private occupation; sold 2006 to Paul Neill and restored for private occupation but repossessed by Irish Government National Asset Management Agency and sold again 2012. The house was leased in the later 19th century to William Robert Anketell (1820-89) and his son, Amyatt William Anketell (1853-1915), and later to General Maxwell and Col. Kennedy.
Killyfaddy Manor, Clogher, Tyrone
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| Killyfaddy Manor |
A spare and cubic three bay house with a shallow hipped roof, of two storeys above a concealed basement, built for R.W. Maxwell before 1837 and attributed to William Farrell, who is known to have built another house (Cecil Manor) nearby. The house has Farrell's typical attempts at style: a tripartite window with heavy consoles above the central Greek Ionic porch; recessed panels around the windows at either side; and a shallow mutule cornice at the eaves.
Descent: built for Robert Waring Maxwell (1790-1855); to widow (d. 1877) and then nephew, Fitz Ameline Maxwell Ancketill (1825-after 1901); to son, Reginald Ancketill (1861-1937); perhaps to brother, Charlemont Fitz Ameline Ancketill (1872-1947); sold after his death to Boyd family.
Ancketill family of Ancketill's Grove
Ancketill, Capt. Oliver (1609-66), of Ancketill's Grove. Son of William Ancketill of Shaftesbury (Dorset), born 12 November 1609. A Royalist, he settled in Ireland in 1636 and was a JP for Monaghan and High Sheriff of Monaghan in 1662. He married Rebecca (b. 1617), daughter of John Bullingbrooke, and had issue:
(1) Sarah Ancketill; married, December 1660 or February 1663, Col. James Corry MP (d. 1718) of Castle Coole (Fermanagh) and had issue;
(2) Elizabeth Ancketill (b. 1648);
(3) Matthew Ancketill (1651-88) (q.v.);
(4) William Ancketill (b. 1652), from whom the Anketells of Dernamuck (Monaghan) claim descent;
(5) Richard Ancketill (b. 1654).
He acquired the Ancketill's Grove estate in 1636.
He died 8 June 1666.
Ancketill, Matthew (1651-89), of Ancketill's Grove. Eldest son of Capt. Oliver Ancketill (1609-66) of Ancketill's Grove, and his wife Rebecca, daughter of John Bullingbrooke, born 1651. High Sheriff of Monaghan, 1682; included on the list of those attainted by the Great Act of Attainder in the Irish Parliament in 1689, though he was dead by then. He married, 1672, Matilda, daughter of Robert Moore of Ravella and Garvey (Tyrone) and had issue:
(1) William Ancketill (1677-1709); High Sheriff of Monaghan, 1707; died without legitimate issue, 1709;
(2) Oliver Ancketill (1680-1760) (q.v.);
(3) Robert Ancketill;
(4) Frederick Ancketill;
(5) Bullingbrook Ancketill (fl. 1750); married and had issue;
(6) Catherine Ancketill; married Thomas Singleton of Fort Singleton (Monaghan).
His ownership of the Ancketill's Grove estate was confirmed by letters patent in 1668. At his death the estate passed in turn to his sons William (d. 1709) and Oliver.
He was killed at the Battle of Drumbanagher, 13 March 1688/9 and was buried at Donagh, but his body was later moved to Glaslough church.
Ancketill, Oliver (1680-1760), of Ancketill's Grove. Second son of Matthew Ancketill (1651-88) and his wife Matilda, daughter of Robert Moore of Ravella and Garvey (Tyrone), born 1680. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (admitted 1695; MA, LLD). High Sheriff of Monaghan, 1703; MP for Monaghan borough in the Irish Parliament, 1754-60; a founder member of the Royal Dublin Society. He married 1st, 28 February 1716, the Hon. Sarah (d. 1742), daughter of William Caulfeild, 2nd Viscount Charlemont, and 2nd, c.1760, Mrs. Anne Stephens (né Tuton), and had issue:
(1.1) William Ancketill (1724-56) (q.v.).
He inherited the Ancketill's Grove estate from his elder brother in 1709; at his death it passed to his grandson.
He died shortly after his second marriage, 27 May 1760. His first wife died in December 1742.
Ancketill, William (1724-56). Only son of Oliver Ancketill (1680-1760) and his first wife, the Hon. Sarah, daughter of William Caulfeild, 2nd Viscount Charlemont, born 18 March 1724. He married, 11 March 1748, Anne, eldest daughter of Charles Coote MP, of Coote Hill (Cavan) and sister of 1st Earl of Bellamont, and had issue:
(1) Oliver Anketell (b. 1749), born December 1749; died young;
(2) Charles Anketell (1754-1828) (q.v.);
(3) Richard Anketell (1755-1814), married Margaret Cochrane (d. 1814) of Omagh (Tyrone) and had issue two sons and one daughter, who all emigrated to Canada; died the same day as his wife;
(4) Matthew Anketell (1756-1828) (q.v.).
He died in 1756.
Anketell, Charles (1754-1828), of Anketill's Grove. Eldest surviving son of William Ancketill (1724-56) of Ancketill's Grove and his wife Anne, daughter of Charles Coote MP of Coote Hill (Cavan), born 1754. He changed the spelling of his name from Ancketill to Anketell. He was unmarried and without issue.
He inherited Ancketill's Grove from his grandfather in 1760; at his death it passed to his nephew, William Anketell (1790-1851).
He died 20 November 1828.
Anketell, Matthew (1756-1828), of Arlington Castle, Portarlington (Offaly). Youngest son of William Ancketill (1724-56) of Ancketill's Grove and his wife Anne, daughter of Charles Coote MP of Coote Hill (Cavan), born 1756. Captain in 57th Regiment; High Sheriff of Monaghan, 1783; Lt-Col. of Monaghan Militia. Like his brother, he changed the spelling of his name from Ancketill to Anketell. He married 1st, Prudentia Martha (d. 1781), daughter of John Corry of Rockcorry, Cootehill (Monaghan) and 2nd, Mary (d. 1838), only child of Rev. Richard Norris DD and had issue:
(1.1) Prudentia Catherine Anketell; died aged 8;
(2.1) William Anketell (1790-1851) (q.v.);
(2.2) Maria Anketell (d. 1842); died unmarried, 28 April 1842;
(2.3) Matilda Anketell (d. 1819); died unmarried, 28 June 1819;
(2.4) Caroline Anketell (d. 1817); married, 1817, Lt. Augustus Woodville Amyatt (?d. 1857) of Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and died three weeks later.
He died 11 April 1828. His first wife died 7 October 1781. His widow died in August 1838.
Anketell, William (1790-1851) of Ancketill's Grove. Only son of Matthew Anketell (1756-1828) of Arlington Castle, Portarlington (Offaly) and his second wife, Mary, daughter of Rev. Richard Norris, born 10 October 1790. DL and JP for Monaghan; High Sheriff of Monaghan, 1830. He married, 23 June 1809, Sarah (1792-1874), daughter of Lt-Col. John Charles Frederick Waring Maxwell MP of Finnebrogue (Down) and had issue:
(1) Maj. Matthew John Anketell (1812-70) (q.v.);
(2) Anne Dorothea Anketell (c.1813-91); married, 10 December 1833, Rev. Robert Loftus Tottenham (d. 1893), chaplain to HM Legation to Florence, son of Rt. Rev. Lord Robert Ponsonby Tottenham, bishop of Clogher, and had issue five sons and five daughters; died 16 October 1891;
(3) Maria Anketell (c.1813-88); married, 5 December 1838, Rev. Sir John Richardson-Bunbury (1813-1909), 3rd bt. and had issue one son and two daughters; died March 1888;
(4) William Robert Ancketill (1820-89) (q.v.);
(5) Oliver Charles Anketell (1821-41), born 18 August 1821; educated at Trinity College, Dublin (admitted 1839); Lieutenant in 37th Madras Infantry of East India Co.; diarist; died unmarried at Hong Kong, 13 July 1841;
(6) Matilda Jane Anketell (1823-40), born 15 November 1823; died unmarried, 14 March 1840;
(7) Fitz Ameline Maxwell Ancketill (b. 1825) of Killyfaddy, Clogher (Tyrone), born 14 April 1825; JP for Tyrone; High Sheriff of Tyrone, 1881; married, 8 November 1859 at Alexandria (Egypt), Laura Valetta (c.1830-1907), eldest daughter and co-heiress of Henry Ranking of Eaglehurst, Bathford (Somerset), co-manager of Bank of Egypt, and had issue three sons and one daughter; inherited Killyfaddy from his uncle in 1877; died after 1901;
(8) Maxwell Ancketill (1826-88) of Leatherhead (Surrey), born 24 October 1826; married 1st, 29 September 1857, Julia Elizabeth (d. 1869), only surviving child of Gustavus Whitaker of St Petersburg (Russia) and had issue three sons and two daughters; and 2nd, 1879, Mary Louisa, third daughter of Henry Ranking of Eaglehurst, Bathford (Somerset), and died 22 February 1888; will proved 13 April 1888 (estate £243);
(9) Moutray Ancketill (1829-99), born 18 April 1829; served in Royal Artillery (Lieutenant, 1848; Captain, 1854; retired, 1881); died unmarried, 3 April 1899.
He inherited the Anketell's Grove estate from his uncle in 1828.
He died 23 April 1851. His widow died 2 April 1874.
Anketell, Maj. Matthew John (1812-70), of Ancketill's Grove. Eldest son of William Anketell (1790-1851) and his wife Sarah, daughter of Lt-Col. John Charles Frederick Waring Maxwell MP of Finnebrogue (Down), born 31 October 1812. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (admitted 1830). JP and DL for Monaghan; High Sheriff of Monaghan, 1834; Major in Monaghan militia. William Scoular exhibited a bust of him at the Royal Academy in 1839. He married, 6 February 1840, Catherine Frances Anne (d. 1887), elder daughter of David Ker MP of Portavo and Montalto (Down) and had issue:
(1) Matthew David Anketell (1841-72), born at Douro (Portugal), 5 January 1841; actor, diarist and Egyptian hieroglyphist; died as a result of a fall from his horse, 17 July 1872;
(2) Selina Sarah Anketell (1843-1921), born 10 April 1843; died unmarried, 2 December 1921; will proved 14 February 1922 (estate £4,029);
(3) Ada Anketell (b. & d. 1844), born 8 and died 14 September 1844;
(4) Frances Emmeline Anketell (1845-1916), born 8 October 1845; married 1st, 22 January 1867, Capt. Newton Haworth Wallace (d. 1870) of Royal Bengal Fusiliers, and 2nd, Clement Kennedy Cordner (d. 1905) of Greenmount, Muckamore (Antrim), but died without issue, 11 September 1916; will proved 21 November 1916 (estate £7,711);
(5) Gertrude Madeline Anketell (1847-1915), born 20 May 1847; married, 1 July 1873, Anketell Moutray (d. 1927) of Favour Royal, Aughnacloy (Tyrone) and had issue; died 21 August 1915; administration of goods granted 27 November 1915 (estate £173);
(6) Bertha Grace Pheobe Anketell (1849-98), born 25 February 1849; died unmarried, 10 January 1898; will proved 6 August 1900 (estate £2,739);
(7) Oliver Frederick Anketell (1850-72), born 27 February 1850; died unmarried, 10 February 1872; administration of goods granted 5 March 1872 (estate under £1,000);
(8) William Ancketill (1851-1931) (q.v.);
(9) Octavia Mary Anketell (1852-1928), born 5 June 1852; married, 19 February 1879, Frederic Augustus Morse-Boycott (d. 1926) of Sennowe Park (Norfolk), son of John Hall Morse-Boycott of Sennowe Park and had issue; died 1 April 1928; will proved 7 June 1928 (estate £225);
(10) Augusta Anketell (1854-1908), born 12 March 1854; died unmarried, 8 May 1908; will proved 17 February 1909 (estate £3,836);
(11) Henry Ancketill (1855-1930) (q.v.);
(12) Robert Waring Maxwell Anketell (1856-68), born 29 November 1856; died young, 15 May 1868.
He inherited the Ancketill's Grove estate from his father in 1851. At his death it passed in turn to his eldest son Matthew (d. 1872) and third son William.
He died 8 May 1870. His widow died 28 February 1887; her will was proved 19 May 1887 (estate in England £7,431).
Ancketell, William (1851-1931), of Ancketill's Grove. Third son of Matthew John Anketell (1812-70) and his wife Catherine Frances Anne, daughter of David Ker of Portavo and Montalto (Down), born 16 March 1851. Lieutenant in Royal Tyrone Fusiliers; a prominent freemason and a violinist. He married, 15 July 1875, Jean Laing (1852-1929), only daughter and co-heiress of Robert Falkner of Broughton Park (Lancs) and had issue:
(1) Olive Maud Stannus Ancketell (1876-1909), born 29 October 1876; married 1st, 24 October 1901 (div.), Lt. Reginald George Petre Wymer, son of Capt. Reginald Augustus Wymer and had issue a daughter; married 2nd, 1 November 1907, Michael Linning Henry Melville, son of His Honour Robert Melville of Hartfield Grove (Sussex) and had issue a daughter; died 6 March 1909; her will was proved 26 June 1909 (estate £255).
He inherited the Ancketill's Grove estate from his elder brother in 1872, but mortgaged much of the land in the 1880s and sold the house c.1890. He and his wife lived latterly at Killyfaddy and Clatford House, Epsom (Surrey).
He died 3 July 1931; his will was proved 21 November 1931 (estate £3,157). His wife died 9 November 1929; her will was proved 9 December 1929 (estate £96).
Ancketell, Henry (1855-1930). Fourth son of Matthew John Anketell (1812-70) and his wife Catherine Frances Anne, daughter of David Ker of Portavo and Montalto (Down),
born 4 May 1855. Educated at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; served in Royal Navy, 1868-75; then studied for the church but joined the Irish Land League; emigrated to USA and was a journalist on New York Standard, 1884-96; emigrated to South Africa, 1896; Member of Legislative Assembly of Natal, 1901-07, and (with Gandhi) promoted the cause of indentured Indian labour in Africa; poet and lecturer; married, 7 December 1900, Oona (d. 1955), daughter of Joseph Reeson of Durban, Natal (South Africa), artist and founder of the Women's Suffrage Movement in South Africa, and had issue:
(1) Matthew David Ancketell (b. 1907), born 27 December 1907; educated at South African Collegiate School, Cape Town; served in WW2 with South African Coastal Defence Force; manager of Life Assurance Co. in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, 1924-63; hon. Treasurer of South African Red Cross, 1945-70; Chairman of Sheltered Employment Factory, 1946-70; hon. Treasurer of South African Council of Churches, Port Elizabeth, 1958-70; Fellow of Institute of Commence and Administration of South Africa; married 1st, 30 May 1933 (div. 1957), Brenda, daughter of Capt. George Calcutt of Glasgow and Melbourne (Australia) and had issue one son and one daughter; married 2nd, 12 December 1958, Anne Bell, daughter of Patrick Arnot Anderson of Port Elizabeth (South Africa) and formerly of Coupar Angus (Perths);
(2) Henry George Ancketell (1911-81) of Croydon (Surrey), born 5 January 1911; educated at South African Collegiate School, Cape Town; after a varied career in the theatre, films, insurance and the motor trade, he served in WW2 and was later a practitioner in metaphysics and spiritual healing; married 1st, November 1936 (div. 1944), Doreen Gunstone (d. 1971), author (as Dorothy Burnham), and had issue one son; married 2nd, 16 September 1944 (div. 1960), Barbara Mary, daughter of John Edwin Andrews of Manor House Farm, Foxton (Leics) and had issue one son and two daughters; died 1981.
He died 22 June 1930. His widow died 8 May 1955.
Ancketill, William Robert (1820-89) of Quintin Castle, Portaferry (Down). Younger son of William Anketell (1790-1851) and his wife Sarah, daughter of Lt-Col. John Charles Frederick Waring Maxwell MP, born 31 March 1820. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (admitted 1838). JP for Monaghan and Capt. in Monaghan militia; author of novels of Irish life. John Edward Jones exhibited a bust of him at the Royal Academy in 1852. He married, 8 October 1844, Madelina Selina (d. 1878), daughter of David Ker MP of Portavo, Donaghadee and Montalto (Down), and had issue:
(1) Edith Matilda Ancketill (1845-1928), born 5 November 1845; married 1st, 8 August 1871, Thomas John Knox (d. 1875), second son of Most Rev. Robert Knox DD, Archbishop of Armagh and had issue a daughter; married 2nd, 20 February 1880, Capt. John Lewis Vaughan Henry, 2nd Dragoon Guards, eldest son of Mitchell Henry of Kylemore Castle (Galway) and had further issue; died 9 July 1928;
(2) Constance Ancketill (1847-1914), born 10 October 1847; died unmarried, 11 June 1914; administration granted 25 September 1914 (estate £1,668);
(3) Ada Ancketill (1850-1937), born 27 February 1850; died unmarried, 22 January 1937; will proved 24 May 1937 (estate £2,945);
(4) Amyatt William Ancketill (1853-1915), born 1 August 1853; Lieutenant in 83rd Foot; died unmarried, 20 August 1915; will proved, 3 December 1915 (estate £742)
(5) David Fitz Ameline Robert Ancketill (1855-85), born 27 May 1855; served in Army as Lieutenant in 1st Royal Scots and took part in Afghan War of 1880 and Egyptian War of 1882; later served in 3rd Belooch Regiment of Native Infantry in India and died unmarried at Karachi, 26 August 1885;
(6) Celia Selina Ancketill (1857-83), born 2 September 1857; died unmarried, 18 October 1883;
(7) William Frederick Ancketill (b. & d. 1858), born 28 February and died 14 December 1858.
He leased Quintin Castle from the Ker family.
He died in London, 9 March 1889. His wife died on 8 April 1878.
Sources
Burke's Irish Family Records, 1976, pp. 18-20; M. Bence-Jones, Country Houses of Ireland, 1988; E.P. Shirley, History of the County of Monaghan, 1879
Location of archives
No significant archive is known to survive.
Coat of arms
Argent, a saltire raguly vert.
Revision and acknowledgements
This account was first published 8 June 2014 and was updated 16 June 2014, 13 May and 7 July 2019 and 24 February 2021. I am grateful to Patrick MacCionnaith for corrections.
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