A portrait of James Dennis, Lord Tracton of Tracton Abbey, Co Cork, Chief Baron of the Exchequer (Fonsie Mealy’s Auction 2019)
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St Finbarrr's Cork
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Dennis family of Temple Hill Lord Tracton
James Dennis married Elizabeth Pigott
born circa 1721 1749 Cork
died 15 Jun 1782 died February 1787
James Dennis born circa 1721 was the son of John Dennis, a timber merchant of Kinsale, Co Cork, and
Anne Bullen. James was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and admitted to the King’s Inn. James
married Elizabeth Pigott in 1749 at Cork. Elizabeth was the daughter of Emanuel Pigott of Chetwynd
House, Co Cork who was involved with establishing workhouses and the rebuilding Cork Cathedral.
James was appointed King’s Council in 1756 and his town house was at Darby Square, off Werburgh
Street, and later, Tracton House on the corner of Stephen’s Green and Merrion Row. He was MP for
Rathcormick from 1761 to 1768 and for Youghal from 1768 to 1777. He also served as Serjeant-at-law
and as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1775. He was raised to the peerage on 23 Dec 1780 by
letters patent as Baron Tracton of Tracton Abbey. He died 15 Jun 1782 at St Stephen’s Green and was
buried at the Pigott family burial ground in St Finbarr’s, Cork.
There was no issue and the baronetcy became extinct. He left his estates to his two nephews, who in
accordance with the terms of his will, took the arms and surname 'Dennis' and paid an annual jointure
of £1,800 to Lady Tracton. His nephews were the sons of Thomas Swift and Frances Dennis. John
Swift was left the estates of Tracton Abbey and Temple Hill and Rev Meade Swift was the left the estates
in County Kerry. Tracton House was left for Elizabeth’s use during her lifetime.
Lady Tractor arranged for a memorial to be installed in St Nicholas’ Church in Cork. The white marble
memorial depicted the widow trying to prevent death approaching the couch of her expiring husband
and cost 1500L. This was removed to St Finbarr’s Cathedral in 1835.
Rt Hon Lady Dowager Elizabeth married Henry Coulson on 9 Aug 1792. The marriage licence bond was
30K. Henry was Master of Chancery and they continued to live at Tracton House which had a superb
stuccoed drawing room known as the Apollo Room, (later dis-assembled, re-assembled and installed in
the National Museum and then put into storage). The ceiling of the Apollo Room was the only survivor
and was re-erected in the state apartments in Dublin Castle in the 1960’s. Elizabeth died at Prince's
Street in February 1787. Henry died at Douglas, Isle of Man in November 1819 aged 76.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2022
James Dennis married Elizabeth Pigott
born circa 1721 1749 Cork
died 15 Jun 1782 died February 1787
James Dennis born circa 1721 was the son of John Dennis, a timber merchant of Kinsale, Co Cork, and
Anne Bullen. James was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and admitted to the King’s Inn. James
married Elizabeth Pigott in 1749 at Cork. Elizabeth was the daughter of Emanuel Pigott of Chetwynd
House, Co Cork who was involved with establishing workhouses and the rebuilding Cork Cathedral.
James was appointed King’s Council in 1756 and his town house was at Darby Square, off Werburgh
Street, and later, Tracton House on the corner of Stephen’s Green and Merrion Row. He was MP for
Rathcormick from 1761 to 1768 and for Youghal from 1768 to 1777. He also served as Serjeant-at-law
and as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1775. He was raised to the peerage on 23 Dec 1780 by
letters patent as Baron Tracton of Tracton Abbey. He died 15 Jun 1782 at St Stephen’s Green and was
buried at the Pigott family burial ground in St Finbarr’s, Cork.
There was no issue and the baronetcy became extinct. He left his estates to his two nephews, who in
accordance with the terms of his will, took the arms and surname 'Dennis' and paid an annual jointure
of £1,800 to Lady Tracton. His nephews were the sons of Thomas Swift and Frances Dennis. John
Swift was left the estates of Tracton Abbey and Temple Hill and Rev Meade Swift was the left the estates
in County Kerry. Tracton House was left for Elizabeth’s use during her lifetime.
Lady Tractor arranged for a memorial to be installed in St Nicholas’ Church in Cork. The white marble
memorial depicted the widow trying to prevent death approaching the couch of her expiring husband
and cost 1500L. This was removed to St Finbarr’s Cathedral in 1835.
Rt Hon Lady Dowager Elizabeth married Henry Coulson on 9 Aug 1792. The marriage licence bond was
30K. Henry was Master of Chancery and they continued to live at Tracton House which had a superb
stuccoed drawing room known as the Apollo Room, (later dis-assembled, re-assembled and installed in
the National Museum and then put into storage). The ceiling of the Apollo Room was the only survivor
and was re-erected in the state apartments in Dublin Castle in the 1960’s. Elizabeth died at Prince's
Street in February 1787. Henry died at Douglas, Isle of Man in November 1819 aged 76.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2022