Lady Desart of Rockfield, Kilmacud, Merrion Street and Desart, Co Kilkenny
Richard Thornhill married Sophia Badham
born circa 1715 1744 born circa 1720
Newry Cork
died 1747 died 2 Aug 1768
Dublin
Richard Thornhill born circa 1715 son of Edward Thornhill and Abbe Quaile of Castlekeevan.
He married Sophia Badham in 1744 at Newry, Co Down. Sophia was the daughter of
Brettridge Badham, MP and Sophia King of Rockfield, Co Cork. She was the granddaughter
of John King, 3rd Baron Kingston. Richard took his wife’s surname for his children and the
family became known as Badham-Thornhill. Richard of St Stephen’s Green, Dublin died
circa 1747.
1 Edward Badham-Thornhill born circa 1745 living at Marlborough Street Dublin by 1768
and had inherited the lands of Castle Kevin, the Bible’s farm near Mallow, Cork and
Rockfield. He married Mary Marsh in 1768. Mary was the daughter of Henry Marsh of
Moyally, King’s County and his wife Barbarra Gerard of Dublin. Edward died in 1798.
1 Mary Sophia Thornhill baptised at St Thomas’ on 18 Jul 1869.
2 Richard Edward Thornhill born 7 Jun 1770 at Marlborough baptised at St Thomas’
on 11 Jun 1870.
3 Henry Badham Thornhill Street baptised at St Thomas’ on 9 Jun 1871. He married
Catherine Odell on 6 Jul 1802 at Castletown Roche. Catherine was the daughter of
Thomas Odell and Sarah Westropp. They had at least eight children. Henry died
27 Nov 1821 at Castlekevin.
1 Edward Badham Thornhill married Elizabeth O'Neill Donovan on 18 Oct 1827,
in Dublin. Elizabeth was the daughter of Lawrence John Neil O’Donovan of
Mountjoy Square and Belmont, Galloping Green. He inherited 4211 acres
in Cork and Limerick which was put up for sale in 1851 through the
Incumbered Commission Court and sold for £43575.
2 Catherine Caroline Thornhill youngest daughter married William Henry
Maitland at St Luke’s Church in November 1838. William was the second son
of the late John Maitland of Dumfries.
4 Charlotte Thornhill baptised 24 May 1872 at St Thomas’.
5 Harriet Jane Badham Thornhill born May 1773 baptised on 22 Jun 1772 at St Thomas’.
6 Alicia Thornhill baptised at St Thomas’ on 30 Nov 1776.
7 Louisa Badham Thornhill born September 1778 at 31 Marlborough Street baptised
29 Sep 1778 at St Thomas’.
8 Juliet Thornhill baptised at St Thomas’ on 1 Dec 1779.
9 Son Badham Thornhill born November 1787 at 31 Marlborough Street.
2 Sophia Badham Thornhill married John Stratton in 1788.
3 Anne Thornhill died in February 1792.
4 James Badham Thornhill. Major James married Elizabeth. They lived at Thornhill Lawn, Co
Cork. He was town mayor of Limerick in 1774. James owned just under 2k acres of land in
Cork, including Thornhill and Julianstown. He died in May 1796 at Castle Connell and
Elizabeth died in Kinsale aged 91 on 26 Dec 1834.
1 Richard Badham Thornill eldest son was a lieutenant in HM 8th Regiment of Lagoons in
1796.
2 Sophia Thornhill eldest daughter married Samuel Godsell in 1788.
3 Annie Badham-Thornhill born circa 1770 married Richard Tonson-Rye of Rye Court in
1795. Anne died a widow at Kinsale in October 1836.
4 Caroline Thornhill mentioned in her father’s will.
5 Thomas Thornhill second son was a lieutenant in the 64th Regiment. He died at
Martinique, West Indies in 1794.
6 Robert King Thornhill second son a captain in the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1796.
7 George King Thornhill third son.
8 James Badham Thornhill, a minor in school in Portarlington in 1794. He was a major in
the 60th Royal Rifle Corps when he married Eliza Gordon at Trinity Church, Marylebone
in August 1836. Eliza was the widow of Lieut Gen John Gordon and the daughter of the
late Robert Morris, MP for Gloucester. James died on 21 Nov 1845 in Nice late of Regent’s
Park.
9 Bradham Thornhill fifth son died in 1813.
10 Elizabeth Thornhill mentioned in her father’s will.
Sophia was described as a most beautiful and accomplished lady with a 40k fortune when she
secondly married John Cuffe, Lord Baron Desart on 2 Sep 1752 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin.
John was the son of John Cuffe and his second wife Dorothea Gorges and had succeeded as
second Baron on the death of his father on 26 Jun 1749 at Dawson Street. They lived at Desart
Court in Co Kilkenny and they also had a house at Merrion Street, Dublin from 1756. John died
on 27 Nov 1767 at Desart aged 37 without male issue and Desart Court and the title passed to
his brother Otway Cuffe. Rockfield House and demesne were put up for lease in March 1768.
Sophia died on 2 Aug 1768 at Merrion Street, Dublin. After her death, her jewellery and plate
were discovered to be missing, also missing was a cow. Her house and furniture at Merrion
Square were put up for sale after her death, the sale included a number of carriages, her sedan
chair. Her numerous horses which were dun coloured with white manes and tails were put up
for sale along with the Rockfield, Kilmacud on 25 acres. She left 800l in charitable bequests but
by 1771 these had still not been distributed by the executors. One of her executors was Edward,
Earl of Kingstown.
1 Sophia Cuffe married Richard Cooke in June 1772. She was a widow by 1797.
2 Lucy Cuffe married William Weldon of Gravelmount, Co Meath on 28 May 1792 at
Pollorton. William was a captain in the Morgallion Cavalry. Lucy died a widow at Bayview
Co Wicklow on 24 Jan 1825 at Bayview Co Wicklow, the residence of her son in law Arthur
Judge.
1 Sophia Weldon married Arthur Judge on 5 Jul 1817 at St George’s Church, Dublin.
Sophia was the only child and heiress to her mother. Arthur was a captain in the 49th,
Princess Charlotte of Wales Regiment and the eldest son of Willliam Judge of Lara,
Co Westmeath. Sophia died 25 Jun 1836 at Bayview, Co Wicklow.
3 Catherine Cuffe married Sir Charles Burton, second Baronet of Pollacton, Co Carlow in August
1778. Catherine, as last surviving daughter, died a widow on 10 Oct 1827.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - April 2026
Return to Rockfield page
Richard Thornhill married Sophia Badham
born circa 1715 1744 born circa 1720
Newry Cork
died 1747 died 2 Aug 1768
Dublin
Richard Thornhill born circa 1715 son of Edward Thornhill and Abbe Quaile of Castlekeevan.
He married Sophia Badham in 1744 at Newry, Co Down. Sophia was the daughter of
Brettridge Badham, MP and Sophia King of Rockfield, Co Cork. She was the granddaughter
of John King, 3rd Baron Kingston. Richard took his wife’s surname for his children and the
family became known as Badham-Thornhill. Richard of St Stephen’s Green, Dublin died
circa 1747.
1 Edward Badham-Thornhill born circa 1745 living at Marlborough Street Dublin by 1768
and had inherited the lands of Castle Kevin, the Bible’s farm near Mallow, Cork and
Rockfield. He married Mary Marsh in 1768. Mary was the daughter of Henry Marsh of
Moyally, King’s County and his wife Barbarra Gerard of Dublin. Edward died in 1798.
1 Mary Sophia Thornhill baptised at St Thomas’ on 18 Jul 1869.
2 Richard Edward Thornhill born 7 Jun 1770 at Marlborough baptised at St Thomas’
on 11 Jun 1870.
3 Henry Badham Thornhill Street baptised at St Thomas’ on 9 Jun 1871. He married
Catherine Odell on 6 Jul 1802 at Castletown Roche. Catherine was the daughter of
Thomas Odell and Sarah Westropp. They had at least eight children. Henry died
27 Nov 1821 at Castlekevin.
1 Edward Badham Thornhill married Elizabeth O'Neill Donovan on 18 Oct 1827,
in Dublin. Elizabeth was the daughter of Lawrence John Neil O’Donovan of
Mountjoy Square and Belmont, Galloping Green. He inherited 4211 acres
in Cork and Limerick which was put up for sale in 1851 through the
Incumbered Commission Court and sold for £43575.
2 Catherine Caroline Thornhill youngest daughter married William Henry
Maitland at St Luke’s Church in November 1838. William was the second son
of the late John Maitland of Dumfries.
4 Charlotte Thornhill baptised 24 May 1872 at St Thomas’.
5 Harriet Jane Badham Thornhill born May 1773 baptised on 22 Jun 1772 at St Thomas’.
6 Alicia Thornhill baptised at St Thomas’ on 30 Nov 1776.
7 Louisa Badham Thornhill born September 1778 at 31 Marlborough Street baptised
29 Sep 1778 at St Thomas’.
8 Juliet Thornhill baptised at St Thomas’ on 1 Dec 1779.
9 Son Badham Thornhill born November 1787 at 31 Marlborough Street.
2 Sophia Badham Thornhill married John Stratton in 1788.
3 Anne Thornhill died in February 1792.
4 James Badham Thornhill. Major James married Elizabeth. They lived at Thornhill Lawn, Co
Cork. He was town mayor of Limerick in 1774. James owned just under 2k acres of land in
Cork, including Thornhill and Julianstown. He died in May 1796 at Castle Connell and
Elizabeth died in Kinsale aged 91 on 26 Dec 1834.
1 Richard Badham Thornill eldest son was a lieutenant in HM 8th Regiment of Lagoons in
1796.
2 Sophia Thornhill eldest daughter married Samuel Godsell in 1788.
3 Annie Badham-Thornhill born circa 1770 married Richard Tonson-Rye of Rye Court in
1795. Anne died a widow at Kinsale in October 1836.
4 Caroline Thornhill mentioned in her father’s will.
5 Thomas Thornhill second son was a lieutenant in the 64th Regiment. He died at
Martinique, West Indies in 1794.
6 Robert King Thornhill second son a captain in the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1796.
7 George King Thornhill third son.
8 James Badham Thornhill, a minor in school in Portarlington in 1794. He was a major in
the 60th Royal Rifle Corps when he married Eliza Gordon at Trinity Church, Marylebone
in August 1836. Eliza was the widow of Lieut Gen John Gordon and the daughter of the
late Robert Morris, MP for Gloucester. James died on 21 Nov 1845 in Nice late of Regent’s
Park.
9 Bradham Thornhill fifth son died in 1813.
10 Elizabeth Thornhill mentioned in her father’s will.
Sophia was described as a most beautiful and accomplished lady with a 40k fortune when she
secondly married John Cuffe, Lord Baron Desart on 2 Sep 1752 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin.
John was the son of John Cuffe and his second wife Dorothea Gorges and had succeeded as
second Baron on the death of his father on 26 Jun 1749 at Dawson Street. They lived at Desart
Court in Co Kilkenny and they also had a house at Merrion Street, Dublin from 1756. John died
on 27 Nov 1767 at Desart aged 37 without male issue and Desart Court and the title passed to
his brother Otway Cuffe. Rockfield House and demesne were put up for lease in March 1768.
Sophia died on 2 Aug 1768 at Merrion Street, Dublin. After her death, her jewellery and plate
were discovered to be missing, also missing was a cow. Her house and furniture at Merrion
Square were put up for sale after her death, the sale included a number of carriages, her sedan
chair. Her numerous horses which were dun coloured with white manes and tails were put up
for sale along with the Rockfield, Kilmacud on 25 acres. She left 800l in charitable bequests but
by 1771 these had still not been distributed by the executors. One of her executors was Edward,
Earl of Kingstown.
1 Sophia Cuffe married Richard Cooke in June 1772. She was a widow by 1797.
2 Lucy Cuffe married William Weldon of Gravelmount, Co Meath on 28 May 1792 at
Pollorton. William was a captain in the Morgallion Cavalry. Lucy died a widow at Bayview
Co Wicklow on 24 Jan 1825 at Bayview Co Wicklow, the residence of her son in law Arthur
Judge.
1 Sophia Weldon married Arthur Judge on 5 Jul 1817 at St George’s Church, Dublin.
Sophia was the only child and heiress to her mother. Arthur was a captain in the 49th,
Princess Charlotte of Wales Regiment and the eldest son of Willliam Judge of Lara,
Co Westmeath. Sophia died 25 Jun 1836 at Bayview, Co Wicklow.
3 Catherine Cuffe married Sir Charles Burton, second Baronet of Pollacton, Co Carlow in August
1778. Catherine, as last surviving daughter, died a widow on 10 Oct 1827.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - April 2026
Return to Rockfield page