Genealogy of Patty Rose
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| Notes for Robert CLEMENTS | ||||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ROBERT3 CLEMENTS (Daniel2, Robert1), born in Ireland in 1664, died there, 29 Dec. 1722. He married in 1685 (marriage Articles dated, 12 Aug. 1685), Elizabeth Sandford, who died at Rathkenny, Co. Cavan in Jan. 1742, daughter of General Theophilus Sandford of Moyglare, near Maynooth, by Anne, daughter of Alderman Richard Tighe of Dublin. When James II came to Ireland in 1686, Robert Clements, accompanied by his wife and two eldest children, was among the refugees who fled to Chester, England. He was attainted by the Irish Parliament in 1689, but was restored by William III in 1691 or 1692. He represented the Borough of Newry in the Irish Parliament from 1715 to 1722. In 1694, he served as High Sheriff of Cavan; and he was one of the original Trustees of the Linen Manufacture in Ireland (deed of appointment dated 6 Oct. 1711). He was a Teller of the Irish Exchequer in the reign of Queen Anne, and is several times mentioned in Swift's Journal to Stella under the years 1710 to 1712. Several of his friends appear to have thought that there was a plot to get him out of office and they induced Stella to enlist Swift's influence on his behalf. Somewhat unwillingly, Swift spoke for him to the Vice-Treasurer, Lord Anglesea, in April, 1711. In the following year he writes to Stella that Clements is "mightily in Lord Anglesea's favour," and on 20 Dec. 1712, he writes again "Lord Anglesea thanked me for recommending Clements to him, he says he is twenty thousand pounds the better for knowing Clements." Ashfield, afterwards the home of the junior branch of the family, came into their possession in 1714, when Robert Clements took from Thomas Ashe of the City of Dublin, a lease of the Manor of Ashfield, with the right to hold a Manor Court, and "liberty of Houseboot, Plowboot, and Fireboot, and all other necessary Boots," at a rent of three hundred and two pounds per annum, payable half yearly at Strongbow's tomb in Christchurch, Dublin. With regard to this property we learn from the Ashe Manuscript, that, at the time of the Plantation Settlement of Ulster, in 1611, Sir Thomas Ashe was granted sixty-five hundred acres of the escheated lands in Cavan, near Cootehill. On this estate he erected an imposing manor house named Drumsill, but known in 1735 as Ashfield Hall, where his family often resided. The Ashe family obtained a partition of the parish of Killishendry, now called Kill, and established a separate parish with an endowment, which is called Ashfield after their name. The present house and the parish church are, however, both of later date. Robert Clements probably lived, while engaged in his official duties, at Abbotstown, near Castleknock, County Dublin. He obtained a lease of this place in 1708 from William Conolly, Esq., of Dublin, for the lives of his sons, Theophilus, Henry, and Nathaniel. The lease was sold in 1731, after the death of Theophilus, to William Rowley, Esq., of Dublin. Robert Clements died on the 29 Dec. 1722. He settled on his wife, a jointure of two hundred pounds a year, a very large sum at that day. After the death of her eldest son, Theophilus, in 1728, Mrs. Clements settled at Rathkenny, and she is said to have superintended the laying out of the present garden there. Abstract of Robert's will: "I, Robert Clements of the City of Dublin, Esq." Leaves to wife Elizabeth Clements, �200 per annum, a rent charge out of estates in Co. Cavan. Legacy of �800 to daughter, Lydia Clements; �100 to son, John Clements; �100 to son, Robert Clements; all of which are to be raised out of Testator's lands in Co. Cavan. To son, Henry Clements, lease of lands of Athronan, Co. Meath, Testator has from Mr. Ludlow, and also a lease Testator has from Mr. Justice Coote, in Co. Cavan. To son, Nathaniel, lease of Ralogh which Testator has from the late Lord Ranelagh, with another lease of Baterstowne, and part of Belreask Testator has from John Preston, Esq., and �25 per annum out of leases Testator has from Mr. Ashe and the See of Kilmore. Residue to son, Theophilus Clements. Exors.--Charles Campbell and Henry Sandford (sic). Dated August 1721. No witnesses. Son Theophilus testifies to truth of the above will, 25 Jan. 1722. Admin. to Theophilus, executors having renounced, 28 Jan. 1722 (Prerogative Wills: Dublin). Robert Clements was buried at Drung, which is near Rathkenny. A mural tablet erected to his memory, and since removed from the old to the new church at Drung, reads (translation): "Sacred to the Memory of Robert Clements, Esq., Guardian and Teller of our State Treasury; an Excellent Son, Husband, Father, Friend and Citizen; who by Act, by Speech, by Sword, by Faith, by Authority, at Home, Abroad, in Senate, in Every Place, Vindicated the Liberty of his Country. His Habits being formed after those of Primitive Simplicity, he was, both in his Life and in his Death, an Honour to his Religion. Among endless opportunities of increasing his fortune, he selected only those which were absolutely blameless, [affording] an example rather of despising wealth, than of desiring to hand down great riches to his descendants. He managed the Finances of the Country and the Affairs of his Friends with such Integrity that no Suspicion of Dishonesty in them, or of Fraud or Avarice could fall upon his Name. To injure no man, and to do good to the utmost of his power, he esteemed his greatest gain. In settling disputes he was a frequent and most felicitous Arbiter, as well as, in adjudicating upon them a most righteous judge, in that disregarding the persons of the litigants he looked only at the cause itself with a penetrating discernment. He preferred to be, rather than to appear, good, to be charitable without ostentation, and to give praise to others rather than to court it for himself. Each of these qualities singly often adorns other men, but in him they were happily united; Sobriety mingled with Good-fellowship, Justice tempered by Mercy, Firmness accompanied by Discretion, and Courage with Modesty; These Virtues being planted in a kindly nature, Bractise watered and Religion gave their Increase. This most excellent of Men departed from this Mortal Life, amongst mourning Friends, and in full hope of Immortality on the 29th day of December in the year 1722, in the 59th year of his age." Children: Elizabeth, Theophilus, John, Mary, Robert, Henry, Nathaniel, Lydia, and possibly Anne. [ref 88:879] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||||
| Notes for Elizabeth SANDFORD | ||||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - daughter of General Theophilus SANFORD and Anne TIGHE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||||
| Last Modified 3 Jan 2005 | Created 4 Jan 2005 |