Thanks for the add of information. It is so interesting and gives a bit of background.
References
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Ballynegall House | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
Place of migration
Stayed in Ireland
James W. Middleton Berry Esq. of Ballynagall was originally from Middleton, Co. Westmeath. He was the son of John Middleton Berry of Middleton Park House, Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath (Lewis 1837) and is descended from Berry of Berrynarbor.
In 1846, through the will of James Gibbons Esq. (who died without issue), Berry inherited the handsome Grecian mansion of Ballynagall (which had long been the seat of the Gibbons family) and applied to take on the Arms of Gibbons, which was confirmed in 1848:
... Whereas application has been made to me by James William Middleton Berry of Ballynegall in the County of Westmeath Esquire setting forth, that he is descended from a family long seated in the said County and has used and borne certain Armorial bearings which appear to be the same borne by the family of Bury or Berry of Devonshire from which family the tradition is that his family is descended and he has prayed me to exemplify and confirm the said Arms with due difference; and further he has represented that James Gibbons late of Ballynegall aforesaid Esqre having no children by his last will and testament left his said estate of Ballynegall to the said James William Middleton Berry who out of affectionate regard to the said late James Gibbons is desirous of bearing the Arms of Gibbons with his own in such manner as may be consistent with the laws of Arms and has prayed me accordingly to exemplify register and confirm the same to him the said James William Middleton Berry and his descendants Know Ye therefore that I the said Ulster King of Arms by the power to me Given by Her Majesty’s Royal Letters Patent ... affixed hereto my Official Seal this twelfth day of January in the eleventh year of the reign of Our Sovereign Lady Victoria ... in the year of our Lord 1848. [NLI: Register of Arms, GO Ms Volume 107 folios 376-7]
In 1848, at the age of 36, he held the office of High Sherriff of Co. Westmeath.
In 1851, he married Caroline Augusta Smith (d.1896), daughter of the Right Hon. TBC Smith, Master of the Rolls in Ireland.
In 1855, he appears as a landlord in Griffith's Valuation under "Jas. William M. Berry" and "James W. M. Berry".
He died suddenly at a hunt in December 1855 and was interred at the family vault nearby at Ballynagall Church of Ireland. Berry's sudden death at the end of 1855, led to the quick sale of his hunting horses in January 1856, and his widow auctioned all carriages, horses, stock, crops and farm implements at Ballynagall in April 1856.
Ownership of Ballynagall then transferred to his in-laws, the Smyth Family.
[Research by Rua Mac Diarmada]
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1812 | |
| Date of Death | 26th Dec 1855 | |
Comments
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Noeline Hewitt
Thursday 6th December 2018 06:36PM -
Is there anything still remaining of Ballynagall Homestead/Estate.
We are coming to Ireland in September from New Zealand and would love to see where my ancestors lived and worked and even the church.
What road is it on? We will have a car so will be able to go country.
Noeline Hewitt
Friday 31st May 2019 08:23AM -
Ballynegall Demesne is still very much intact and the walls and entrance gates are in excellent condition. (Google Street View: Main Entrance / West Gate Lodge Entrance) Ballynegall House is now derelict.
Also here is the link to your ancestral Dagg farmhouse mapped here on Google Streetview.
Rua, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘︎
Friday 31st May 2019 11:52AM -
Thank you so much for the info. Looks pretty easy to find. Have checked it out on Google maps.
Is there anything in the area worth looking out for visitors to the area?
Noeline Hewitt
Monday 3rd June 2019 07:23AM -
Just a follow up on my previus communication last year.
On our few days in Westmeath we were able to locate the Ballynagall Demesne, Ballynagall House and Portnashangan Parish although being used now as an office, previously Belfry Restaurant. While at the Parish the owner was there and after introductions she showed us through the building of course it has changed alot from being a restaurant but the windows were still the same, it was so nice to go in and give Sarah our connection with it. Ballynagall House is still there although almost completely covered in growth but could still identify it from pictures I had seen of it online. We wandered through the gates hoping to find the owner for a chat but he was out on the farm as told by a tradey doing some electrical repairs.
We also got to see the Dagg farmhouse which was a little more difficult to find but thanks to the many locals that were able to direct us to it. Although derelict it was still special to be there and see where my GG Grandparents had lived all those years ago and the surrounding land that they owned.
So thanks Ireland Reaching Out for the information you gave me prior to our big OE, it was a special visit and my only regret is I wished we could have stayed longer to investigate more.
I will be back!!
Noeline Hewitt
Monday 27th April 2020 02:35AM -
That's amazing Noeline!
Delighted you could find so many of the spots you wanted to see.
Did you take lots of snaps? If so, we'd love if you added the Dagg Farmhouse, Ballynegall Demesne etc to our Buildings chronicles for Portnashangan. That way others with connected to the same building can reconnect in with your post.
Rua, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘︎
Thursday 18th June 2020 03:25AM
