Carleton of Willow Park
Francis Carleton married Rebecca Lawton
born circa 1713 circa 1734
died 27 Jul 1791 died February 1797
Cork Cork
Francis Carleton born circa 1713 married Rebecca Lawton circa 1734. Rebecca was the
daughter of Hugh Lawton of Castle Jane and Lake Marsh, Co Cork. He was an alderman
and was bankrupt in 1774 and was still paying off his creditors by way of dividends in
1783. He became Mayor of Cork in 1780. He died at Parliament Bridge, Cork in July
1791. Rebecca died in February 1797 in Cork.
1 Hugh Carleton eldest son born 11 Sep 1739 in Cork was educated at Kilkenny
College. Hugh graduated Trinity in 1755 and entered Middle Temple in 1758.
He was called to the Irish Bar in 1764, becoming King's Counsel in 1768. He
married Elizabeth Mercer on 2 Aug 1766 at Brennanstown, Co Dublin.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Major Richard Mercer and Elizabeth Godbey.
He was appointed Recorder of Cork in 1769, Third Serjeant in 1776 and Second
Serjeant in 1777. He became Solicitor General for Ireland in 1779 and was
Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas from 1787 to 1800. He was referred to
as ‘The Plaintive’ due to his mournful face and manner. They had a house on
Stephen’s Green (now Loretto College). He was friend of John Scott, 1st Earl of
Clonmell but later in life had a falling out. Elizabeth died circa May 1794 and
Hugh put the contents of Willow Park up for sale. The house was for sale in
December 1795. He was created Baron Carleton of Anner (1789) and Viscount
Carleton of Clare, Co Tipperary (1797). It was thought that he dragooned the
Marquis of Cornwallis into giving him a Peerage.
Hugh secondly married Mary Buckley Mathew of Dorset, daughter of Abednego
Mathew and his wife Jennett Buckley on 15 July 1795 at Uxbridge, England. Her
mother’s family were wealthy slaveowners in Saint Kitts. He was the judge in
the Sheares Brothers trial on 12 July 1798 when the rebellion was at its height,
and they were hanged, drawn and quartered on the 14 July. He was much
criticised for taking the case as he knew the brothers and their father had been
close friend. It was even suggested that he was guardian to the two brothers,
but their guardian was actually the Richard Boyle, Earl of Shannon, Baron
Carleton. Their lawyer was John Philpot Curran who, with Sir Jonah Barrington,
obtained a stay of execution in the hope that Henry would recant on his
judgement, but by then the brothers were already dead. Hugh retired in 1802
due to declining health although again it is thought that he coerced the Marquis
of Cornwallis, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to allow him to retire and given
his support of The Union it may have suited them. Mary died in 13 Mar 1810 at
St George’s Street, Hanover Square and was buried at Hawstead Church near
Bury. Hugh died 25 Feb 1826, George Street, Hanover Square and left 50K in
personal estate and was buried with his second wife. He left various annuities to
family members, also to his housekeepers and his porter. He left an annuity of
100 guineas to his secretary, the widow Lucy Field with the proviso that if she
were to marry again this annuity was to be independent of her husband. Neither
marriage left any issue and the title became extinct.
2 Grace Carleton married Sampson Jervois in Mallow in October 1773.
3 Isabella Carleton died circa 14 Mar 1774.
4 Rebecca Carleton married Hugh Millerd, junior at Carrigaline Church on
12 Sep 1770. Rebecca died in June 1804. No issue found.
5 Francis Carleton born circa 1741 married Dorcas Hall in 1798 (ML). Francis died
22 Dec 1828 at Green Park, Rostrevor, Co Down.
6 Daughter Carleton died in August 1768 at Bath.
7 John Carleton born circa 1742 married Elizabeth Hodgson in August 1776. He
was a registrar on the Leinster circuit and they lived at Ship Street, Dublin. He
died in February 1781. Elizabeth died at Ship Street in September 1787.
1 Dorothea Carleton married Edward Hoare Reeves in November 1799.
2 Francis Carleton born on 6 Aug 1780 succeeded to his uncle Hugh’s estate.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - June 2023
Francis Carleton married Rebecca Lawton
born circa 1713 circa 1734
died 27 Jul 1791 died February 1797
Cork Cork
Francis Carleton born circa 1713 married Rebecca Lawton circa 1734. Rebecca was the
daughter of Hugh Lawton of Castle Jane and Lake Marsh, Co Cork. He was an alderman
and was bankrupt in 1774 and was still paying off his creditors by way of dividends in
1783. He became Mayor of Cork in 1780. He died at Parliament Bridge, Cork in July
1791. Rebecca died in February 1797 in Cork.
1 Hugh Carleton eldest son born 11 Sep 1739 in Cork was educated at Kilkenny
College. Hugh graduated Trinity in 1755 and entered Middle Temple in 1758.
He was called to the Irish Bar in 1764, becoming King's Counsel in 1768. He
married Elizabeth Mercer on 2 Aug 1766 at Brennanstown, Co Dublin.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Major Richard Mercer and Elizabeth Godbey.
He was appointed Recorder of Cork in 1769, Third Serjeant in 1776 and Second
Serjeant in 1777. He became Solicitor General for Ireland in 1779 and was
Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas from 1787 to 1800. He was referred to
as ‘The Plaintive’ due to his mournful face and manner. They had a house on
Stephen’s Green (now Loretto College). He was friend of John Scott, 1st Earl of
Clonmell but later in life had a falling out. Elizabeth died circa May 1794 and
Hugh put the contents of Willow Park up for sale. The house was for sale in
December 1795. He was created Baron Carleton of Anner (1789) and Viscount
Carleton of Clare, Co Tipperary (1797). It was thought that he dragooned the
Marquis of Cornwallis into giving him a Peerage.
Hugh secondly married Mary Buckley Mathew of Dorset, daughter of Abednego
Mathew and his wife Jennett Buckley on 15 July 1795 at Uxbridge, England. Her
mother’s family were wealthy slaveowners in Saint Kitts. He was the judge in
the Sheares Brothers trial on 12 July 1798 when the rebellion was at its height,
and they were hanged, drawn and quartered on the 14 July. He was much
criticised for taking the case as he knew the brothers and their father had been
close friend. It was even suggested that he was guardian to the two brothers,
but their guardian was actually the Richard Boyle, Earl of Shannon, Baron
Carleton. Their lawyer was John Philpot Curran who, with Sir Jonah Barrington,
obtained a stay of execution in the hope that Henry would recant on his
judgement, but by then the brothers were already dead. Hugh retired in 1802
due to declining health although again it is thought that he coerced the Marquis
of Cornwallis, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to allow him to retire and given
his support of The Union it may have suited them. Mary died in 13 Mar 1810 at
St George’s Street, Hanover Square and was buried at Hawstead Church near
Bury. Hugh died 25 Feb 1826, George Street, Hanover Square and left 50K in
personal estate and was buried with his second wife. He left various annuities to
family members, also to his housekeepers and his porter. He left an annuity of
100 guineas to his secretary, the widow Lucy Field with the proviso that if she
were to marry again this annuity was to be independent of her husband. Neither
marriage left any issue and the title became extinct.
2 Grace Carleton married Sampson Jervois in Mallow in October 1773.
3 Isabella Carleton died circa 14 Mar 1774.
4 Rebecca Carleton married Hugh Millerd, junior at Carrigaline Church on
12 Sep 1770. Rebecca died in June 1804. No issue found.
5 Francis Carleton born circa 1741 married Dorcas Hall in 1798 (ML). Francis died
22 Dec 1828 at Green Park, Rostrevor, Co Down.
6 Daughter Carleton died in August 1768 at Bath.
7 John Carleton born circa 1742 married Elizabeth Hodgson in August 1776. He
was a registrar on the Leinster circuit and they lived at Ship Street, Dublin. He
died in February 1781. Elizabeth died at Ship Street in September 1787.
1 Dorothea Carleton married Edward Hoare Reeves in November 1799.
2 Francis Carleton born on 6 Aug 1780 succeeded to his uncle Hugh’s estate.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - June 2023