Smyth

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JOHN GAYER:








Dorothea Smyth was in her early 40s at the time of her marriage and John was 41 year’s old. I have estimated Dorothea’s year of birth between 1758 and 1762 based on:

  • the year of her parent’s marriage (1742);
  • the dates of her sister’s marriages:
    • Mary Smyth married a Darby O’Grady in 1763. He was the fifth son of Standish O’Grady (It is interesting to note that the name Standish O’Grady was used in a later generation of the Bernard family);
    • Anne Smyth married George Maunsell in 1786.
    • The dates of birth and marriage of her brothers Carew and Thomas are not known.
  • Also a Memorial in the Registry of Deeds dated 1807 records that Dorothea Smyth in 1778 obtained judgements against John Prendergast Smyth (a cousin) and Thomas Smythe Esq., City of Limerick (also a cousin) for £200. If Dorothy was still a minor in 1778 that would have been stated therefore it can be presumed that Dorothea was an adult by 1778 (3); She also obtained a judgement in 1790 against Rt. Hon William Willoughby, Earl of Inniskillen and Lord Cole for £2,800 (the relationship is not known). Dorothea's aunt and grandmother were also called Dorothea Smyth but her aunt died in 1766 and her grandmother in 1711 so it is probable that this memorial refers to Dorothea (Smyth) Gayer.

Dorothea was the daughter of James Smyth and Juliana Carew Julianna Carew was probably born about 1720 She was married in 1742 in Cork. There is a record of their marriage in the Index to the Marriage License Bonds of the Diocese of Cork and Ross, Ireland 1623-1759. Juliana (Carew) Smyth died at Ballycahene, Limerick, 20th March 1762. 

James Smyth was the youngest son of Thomas Smyth the Bishop of Limerick. He was born in 1712 and died 23rd January 1766. The Smyth family can be traced back many generations which include intermarriage with the Burgh and Kingsmill families of Limerick.

smyth tree


The family of Smyth originated in Rossdale, co. York. There is a web site built by David Smyth which is well researched providing information on early generations of Smyths in England. A chart in the Historical Handbook of St. Patrick's Cathedral Dublin, by Rev. Alexander Leeper Appendix III, traces the Smyths back to Alfred the Great.

William Smyth born about 1610 to 1613 (Rossdale, Yorks)  married Ann Hewley (Daughter of Thomas and Ellen [Warde] Hewley of Wistow, Yorks). After the death of his wife (before 1630), William Smyth left Yorkshire (circa 1630) to settle in Ireland with his children. He died abt. 1651 in Dundrum, Co. Down, Ireland, leaving, at least:

  • John Smyth born 1627, called "the eldest son" although in some records the first son was James born 1626
  • Isabel Smyth born about 1628 in England
  • Margaret Smyth born about 1629 in England
  • Ralph Smyth, youngest son, born about 1630 in Ireland, died 1684. Married Alice Hawkesworth. Children:
    • William Smyth, bishop of Killala 1681 transferred to Raphoe in the same year, consecrated bishop of Kilmore, 1693, d.1699.
    • Thomas
  • William Smyth, born 1628 in England described as "William's successor" so it is probable that James and John did not survive to adulthood. William married Mary, daughter of Thomas Dowdhall, of Glasspistol, co. Louth, esq. and had issue by her (who d. 7 Sept. 1704) 2 sons:
    • Youngest son, James Smyth of Mountoun, co. Dublin.  He married Fransisca [Frances] Dowdall
      • Edward Smyth (1662-1720). Bishop of Down and Connor 1699-1720. Married his first cousin Elizabeth Smyth (daughter of William, Bishop of Killmore and Ardagh) in 1696. He died in 1720. Children:
        • Edward Smyth
        • Frances Smyth
        • Elizabeth Smyth (1705-1788) married 1726 to James Stopford. 
After his 1st wife's death he married Mary in 1710 (who died in Dublin in 1786), daughter of Clotworthy Skeffington, 3rd Viscount Massereene.  Children:
        • Skeffington Randall Smyth. Born about 1711
        • James Smyth born about 1712, married Mary Agar in 1742
    •  Eldest son Thomas Smyth, bishop of Limerick in 1695. Born at Dundrum in 1650 and educated at the Trinity College Dublin. He was consecrated 8 Dec 1865, and enthroned as Bishop of Limerick 30 April 1696; He was elected vice Chancellor of Trinity College in 1714; He was for some time rector of St. Martin’s in the Fields, London, and on account of his great piety and learning, was recommended by Tennyson, Archbishop of Canterbury to queen Mary, who promoted him to the see of Limerick; He died 4 May 1725, and was interred in the family vault of St. Minchin's church. The bishop married about 1696 to Dorothea Burgh, daughter of Ulysses Burgh, bishop of Ardagh, by Mary Kingsmill, daughter of William Kingsmill, esq., and by her (who d. 6th Aug. I711) had issue, ten sons and three daughters. 
      • Charles Smyth, born about 1698. Attended TCD in 1714 aged 16. Called to the Bar in 1725 he later represented the city of Limerick in Parliament for 45 years and was mayor of limerick in 1732. Died in 1784. He married Elizabeth Dickson-Haman nee Prendergast in 1729. (Elizabeth was the widow of Sir John Dickson-Haman who died in 1727/8).
        • Thomas Smyth Esq. born about 1729. Died 1785
        • William Smyth born about 1730
        • Charles Lennox Smyth, born about 1731died unmarried
        • John Prendergast Smyth, born about 1733, became the first Viscount Gort.
        • Juliana Smyth, born about 1735 married Thomas Vereker.
      • John Smyth, born about 1700. Became Rector of St Munchin’s, Limerick. Later Chancellor of the Diocese of Connor, d. 1781. Married Ann Hannah Drysdale in 1724 and had:
        • Charles Smyth,
        • Edward Smyth who married Agnes Higginson when she was 15 year's old. She was the daughter of William Higgginson and Jane Gayer
        • Susanna Smyth, married Benjamin Lee Children: Joseph, Anne (married Arthur Guiness 1793), Jane and Rebecca
        • William Smyth married Mary Grattan in 1755, daughter of William Grattan, a goldsmith of Dublin,
        • Amos George Smyth, and
        • others
      • Michael Smyth, born about 1702. Became a Capt. 1st Regiment of foot. 
      • Henry Smyth, born 1704. attended TCD in 1721/22 aged 17. Vicar, St Munchin's, Limerick 1731-2; Rector and Vicar, Rathronan (Limerick) 1731-6; Rector, Newcastle (Limerick) 1753-64; Archdeacon of Glendalough 1760-64; Preb. Donoughmore, St Patrick's Cathedral. 1763-4. Married., 8 Oct. 1738 to Diana, eldest daughter of the Rev. Stackpole Perry, and sister of Edmund, viscount Perry, and d. 1765.
      • Thomas Smyth, born about 1705 died in the Temple. 
      • George Smyth, born about  1706. Attended TCD in 1723 aged 17. Married Catherine Rawson (daughter of Philip and Martha Rawson of Limerick) in 1739. He was appointed a baron of the exchequer 1769, and was also recorder of Limerick, he died in 1772. Children: 3 sons and daughter Martha.
      • Arthur Smyth (born 1706/7), attended TD 1723 aged 16. Became Archbishop of Dublin, and primate of Ireland, consecrated bishop of Clonfert, 1752, bishop of Down and Connor 1705, bishop of Meath same year, archbishop of Dublin, 1766. He married Elizabeth Bonfoy. He died. 1771 aged 57, without issue, and was interred at St. Patrick's.
      • Edward Smyth, M.D., born 1709. Attended TCD 1728 aged 16 obtaining a BA. He became an eminent physician in Dublin who left a large legacy to the House of Industry in Limerick. Awarded a Fellowship from the College of Physicians of Ireland in 1738, becoming its President in 1747. Does not appear to have married. Died in 1778
      • James Smyth, born 1711, attended TCD in 1728 aged 16.  In the 1740s he lived in Altamira Co. Cork. He was mayor of Limerick in 1751,  Collector of Limerick in 1756/7.  He died 1776.  He married Juliana Carew of Castleboro, Co. Wexford in 1742 (born about 1712), daughter of Pete Carew of Cork. She died on the 20th April 1762. Children:
        • Mary Smyth 1746-1809. Married Darby O'Grady in 1763 in Limerick. Darby died in 1804. Children:
          • Standish O'Grady 1766-1848. 1790 married Catherine Waller. Upon retirement in 1831 became Viscount Guillamore of Cahir Guillamore and Baron O'Grady of Rockbarton.
          • Hayes O'Grady. Became an admiral and married Susan Finnucane. Children; Jane O'Grady and Standish Hayes O'Grady
          • James O'Grady. Married Mary Nash in 1794. He died in 1836
          • Thomas O'Grady. Married Eleanor Dring
          • Darby O'Grady
          • Carew Smyth O'Grady
          • Edward Smyth O'Grady. Married Mary Stammer in 1800. Died 1835
          • Harriet O'Grady. Married Francis Swayne Evans in 1812
        • Thomas Smyth, born about 1744-1750. Married in 1774 to Judith Ford (1). Thomas was Rector of Enniskilen. Resided in Molesworth St, Dublin from 1789. Children, all baptized in the Parish of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh: (Ref: Baptisms-Extracts of Parish register-Enniskillen) Baptismal dates:
          • James Smyth 1776
          • Letitia Smyth 1777
          • Carew Smyth, 1778 a lawyer admitted to the Middle Temple in 1799, who became the last Collector of Limerick. Married Caroline Knox in 1805.
          • Edward Smyth 1781
          • Thomas Smyth 1782
          • Juliana Smyth 1784
          • Mary Anne Smyth 1786
          • Arthur Smyth 1788
          • Dorothea Smyth 1791
        • William Smyth. Although I have no proof that William was the son of James he was a party to the pre-marriage agreement for Thomas Smyth to Judith Ford and is frequently mentioned in other deeds concerning Rev Thomas Smyth. I have therefore concluded that they were probably brothers.
        • Carew Smyth probably born about 1748-1750 (captain in the 16th Regiment, Limerick). He married Sophia Maria Irvine (daughter of William Mervyn Irvine and Sophia Lowther). He was appointed to Limerick Council in 1784. He died 1793 at Baldoyle, Co Dublin. 
          • James Lowther Smyth. In the marriage settlement for John Gayer to Dorothea Smyth (1801) there is reference to a son "James Lowther Smyth" as a  benificiary of his father's will. Later, in the same deed there is reference to "Thomas Lowther Smyth, a minor, deceased".  I believe that the clerk recording the deed may have used the name Thomas in error for James as there is no reference to a second son.  On the other hand I found one reference to James Lowther Smyth in the London Chronical for 1799, April 13 -16 (page 366) in which James of the 16th Regiment of Foot is acquited of "unofficerlike and ungentlemanlike conduct" against a fellow officer, Lieutenant Caleb Falconer Wood.  If this James Lowther Smyth is the son of Carew Smyth is it likley he was an officer in the 16th Regiment of Foot when he was a minor?  To be determined

JLS 1
JLS2
        • Charles Smyth. Born 1751. Named as a Freeman of Limerick and son of "The Collector Smyth" in Limerick in 1756 at the same time as Carew and Thomas were also so named.
        • Anne Smyth Born before 1762 and died before 1804. She married George Maunsell (Collector of Limerick. 4th son of Richard Maunsell of Limerick) April 1786. He  married secondly Francis FitzGerald McGrath after 1804.
        • Dorothea Smyth born before 1762, married John Gayer in 1801.
        • Martha Smyth  born before 1762, married in 1786 to Thomas Grady of Raheen, Limerick. Parties to the marriage settlement were Philip Smyth, Derby O'Grady, John Grady, Standish Grady [O'Grady], Thomas Smyth (her brother) Rector of Enniskillen. (2).

      • Mary Smyth the eldest daughter of Bishop Thomas and Dorothea Smyth, born between 1699 and 1710. She married 1st, Sir Nicholas Osborne, bart.; and 2ndly, col. John Ramsay. She died 9 Feb. 1762.
      • Dorothea Smyth.  Born about 1699.  Married twice: to William (or Lancelot) Sandes of Co Kerry in 1720 and then Francis Tucker (who died in 1730)  who was the son of Martin Tucker: Only child: Martin Tucker
      • Elizabeth Smyth. Born between 1698 and 1704. She died September 1704.


Freemen of Limerick; S Surnames; 1746-1836

This list shows that James "the Collector" Smyth had three sons, Thomas, Carew and Charles who were designated Freemen of the Cityof Limerick in1756.  Only Thomas and Carew are mentioned in other references to James Smyth.

Smyth, Charles, "son of Revd. John Smyth",6/3/1746

Smyth, Thomas, "son of Charles Smyth, Esqre",7/5/1747

Smyth,William, son of the Revd. John Smyth, 20/2/1747

Smyth, Samuel, "son of the Revd. Saml. Smyth, decd",20/2/1747

Smyth, John, Sheriff [crossed out],22/9/1740

Smyth, Furlong, Gentn. Newcastle,1/10/1750

Smyth, Nicholas, Gentn,25/9/1752

Smyth, Charles, son of Collector Smyth, 10/9/1756

Smyth, Thomas, son of Collector Smyth, 10/9/1756

Smyth, Carew, son of Collector Smyth, 10/9/1756

Smyth, John, son of John Smyth,10/9/1756

Smyth,William, son of John Smyth,10/9/1756

Smyth, James," son of John Smyth, burgess",10/9/1756

Smyth, Lenox Charles, Esqre,5/5/1762

Smyth,Thomas, "Esqre, son of the present recorder",5/5/1762

Smyth, Charles, "Esqre, son of the present recorder",5/5/1762

Smyth, George, "Esqre, son of the present recorder",5/5/1762

Smyth, Amos George ,son of the Revd. John Smyth,5/5/1762

Smyth, Edward, son of the Revd. John Smyth,5/5/1762

Smyth, John, "Esqre, Boltyboy, Co Wicklow",11/5.1762

Smyth, James, "late Surveyor, Port Limk.",11/5.1762

Smyth, John, "son of Furlong Smith, Newcastle",25/9/1765

Smyth, George, "son of Philip Smyth, Esqre",11/10/1779

Smyth, James," son of the Revd. Thos Smyth, rector of Enniskillen",30/6/1788

Smyth, Carew, "son of the Revd. Thos Smyth, rector of Enniskillen",30/6/1788

Smyth, Edward, "son of the Revd. Thos Smyth, rector of Enniskillen",30/6/1788

Smyth, Thomas, "son of the Revd. Thos Smyth, rector of Enniskillen",30/6/1788

Smyth, Finch Eyre,son of Alderman Philip Smyth,30/6/1788

Smyth,Philip,son of Alderman Philip Smyth,30/6/1788

Smyth,Charles, son of Alderman Philip Smyth,30/6/1788

Smyth, George, "son of the Revd. Thos Smyth, Archdeacon of Lismore",30/6/1788

Smyth, Thomas, "son of the Revd. Thos Smyth, Archdeacon of Lismore",30/6/1788

Smyth, John, "son of the Revd. Chas Smyth, Burgess",30/6/1788

Smyth, Chas, "Esqre, Castlepark",12/10/1789

Smyth, Charles, merchant,29/6/1807

Smyth, Daniel, "Lieut, L.C.M.",29/6/1807

Smyth, Nicholas, Gentn,10/10/1814

Smyth, Chas," son to Dr. Smyth, Molesworth Street, Dublin",6/8/1817

Smyth, Carew, "Esqre, Recorder", 14/2/1823

Smyth, Henry, "Silver smith, marriage",28/6/1830

Smyth, Eyre, "Esqre, late Lt Col 62d Regt",28/6/1830

Smyth, Charles, "Esqre, birth of Southhill",10/10/1835

History in Ireland

"The Smyths who, for some generations, took so leading a part in Limerick, were originally seated at Rossdale, in Yorkshire, but they settled in the reign of Queen Elizabeth at Dundrum, in Downshire, and afterwards in Lisburn, in Antrim. At an early date, they became connected with the Protestant episcopate, by the marriage of one of their family, Mary Smyth of Dundrum, with Henry Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh. This prelate, who died 1613, had, when Archdeacon of Dublin, taken the chief part in persuading Elizabeth to grant its charter to the University of Dublin, of which he was the first Fellow; and several members of his wife's family, adopting a University life, discovered in the College which he had helped to found, a road to the episcopal bench.

 Thomas Smyth, Bishop of Limerick, born at Dundrum in 1654, was connected with many of the old Irish families through his mother, one of the Dowdalls of Glasspistel, in Louth, a family then of great eminence in the Pale, but subsequently ruined by Cromwell's forfeitures. He was brought up at the University of Dublin, where his nephew, Edward Smyth, and his cousin, William Smyth, also received their education. All three obtained Fellowships there and all three held Irish Bishopricks in the same year, 1699.

 William, Bishop of Killala, and afterwards of Kilmore, was ancestor of the families of Gaybrook and Drumcree, and of the Smythes, of Barbavilla, Co. Westmeath. Edward was Dean of St. Patrick's, and afterwards Bishop of Down and Connor. He died in 1720, leaving two to keep them. Burgh, however, was fortunate enough to obtain the Bishopric of Ardagh; and his son-in-law Thomas Smith, afterwards Bishop of Limerick, the Deanery of Emly. Among other places visited on his march to the city, was Cahernorry, where William is said to have slept, and which was then, as it had been up to a recent period, in possession of the Cripps family.The Rev. Mr. Cripps obtained the grant of Cahernorry, not sons, of whom the elder was ancestor of the Smyths of Mount Henry, in the Queen's County, and the younger was father of the Right Honourable Sir Skeffington Smyth, M.P., created a Baronet in 1776, whose heir married the first Lord Dunsandale.

 Thomas Smyth, with whom we are chiefly concerned, was elected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1677; and for twelve years he enjoyed the studious calmness of a University life. But civil war breaking out, he fled to England in 1689, thus forfeiting his fellowship; and then became curate of St. Martin's in the Fields, an important parish in London, under the celebrated Doctor Tennison, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. Here he married Dorothea, daughter of Ulysses Burgh of Dromkeen, Dean of Emly, and like him a refugee from Ireland, both being partizans of the Prince of Orange. When the Dean of Emly was made Bishop of Ardagh in 1692, he obtained the King's permission for his son-in-law, Dr. Smyth, to succeed him in his Deanery: and on the see of Limerick becoming vacant three years later, Queen Mary, on the special recommendation of his old friend, Archbishop Tennison, obtained it for him; and Dr. Smyth was accordingly consecrated in Trinity College, 8 December, 1695.

 He was a man of great learning, and indefatigable in the performance of his duties; but his cold and haughty manners were ill-suited to preserve his favor at Court, after Queen Mary's death; so that in an age when translations were the rule, he was never removed to a wealthier preferment, the Vice Chancellorship of the University of Dublin being only an honorary appointment. He died on the 4th May, 1725, and was buried at St. Minchin's, leaving £.600 to the poor of Limerick, and settling the landed property on his two sons in succession."

 Limerick; Its History and Antiquities, Ecclesiastical, Civil, and Military from the Earliest Age. By Maurice Lenihan

References:
Registry of Deeds: Vol #, Page #, Memorial #
(1)   Memorial   306/380/203777  Image# 202
(2)   Memorial   396/505/262366   Image# 278

To find the Memorial go to Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland. Insert Volume# and Image #


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