The Lawless family - Barons Cloncurry
Robert Lawless married Mary Hadsor (dau of Dominick Hadsor) on 14 May 1731. Mary died on 23
June 1741. Robert died in 1779.
Robert and Mary had two children:
1 Nicholas Lawless was born in 1733. He married Margaret Browne (born 27 August
1745) on 13.10.1761 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin. She was the only child of Valentine
Browne, brewer of Mount Brown. Her mother had died in 1750. Having lived in France where
their two oldest children were born, Nicholas and Margaret returned to Dublin in October
1767 where they first lived at Merrion Square. They later purchased Mornington House on
Merrion Street (former residence of the Wellesley family). In 1773 Nicholas renounced his
Roman Catholic religion and embraced the established religion. Shortly thereafter he
acquired landed properties, including Lyons in County Kildare which became the family seat
although Nicholas himself never lived there. Circa 1774 Nicholas built his marine villa
‘Maretimo’ at Blackrock in County Dublin. Having converted to the Established Church,
Nicholas played an active role in the Monkstown Parish Church.
Nicholas became Sir Nicholas Lawless of Abingdon with a baronetcy in 1776, he was raised
to the Irish peerage in 1789, becoming the 1st Baron Cloncurry. He was never raised to the
British peerage.
Margaret Cloncurry died 10.02.1795 and Lord Cloncurry died 29.08.1799 Maretimo. They
were buried at Crumlin but some sources suggest that, by order of a Consistorial Court, they
were later removed to the family vault at Lyons.
Nicholas and Margaret had eight children, of whom four survived to adulthood.
1.1 Mary Catherine Lawless was born circa Aug 1766 in France. She married Thomas
‘Jerusalem’ Whaley on 11.01.1800 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin. Thomas died on
02.11.1800 aged 34 years at Knutsford and is buried at Knutsford Churchyard. He
left two children from a former marriage in Mary’s care. Mary died on 18.10.1830.
1.2 Valentina Alicia Lawless was born on 12.09.1767 at Castle Galleville, France. She
married Sir Francis Nathaniel Pierpoint Burton (born circa 1766, son of Francis
Conyngham and Elizabeth Clements) on 10.06.1801 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin.
His father had changed his name in 1781 to Conyngham. Francis was Lieutenant
Governor of Quebec. He died 20.01.1832 aged 66 years at his residence in
Pulteney Street, Bath and Valentina died 04.02.1844 at her residence at Clifden
House in County Clare.
1.3 Charlotte Louisa Lawless was born on 21.01.1769 in Dublin. She married Edward
Wadding-Plunkett 14th Baron of Dunsany (son of Randall Plunkett) in Rome on
20.06.1803. She was the grandmother of Sir Horace Plunkett. Charlotte died on
10.06.1818 in Pisa. Edward married Eliza Kinnaird (daughter of George Kinnaird
and Elizabeth Ransom) on 26.03.1822 at Edinburgh. He died on 11.12.1848 at his
residence in Somersetshire.
1.4 Robert Lawless was born in 1771 and baptised on 14 March 1772 in Dublin. He
died young, after Valentine’s birth in 1773 but presumably before father’s death
in 1799 since he was not in father’s will and Valentine, his younger brother, inherited
the title.
1.5 Valentine Browne Lawless was the 2nd Baron Cloncurry in the Irish peerage and
the 1st Baron Cloncurry in the British peerage. He was born (a second son) in 1773
at Merrion Square, and baptised on 19.08.1773 in St Peter’s Church in Dublin. He
graduated in arts from Trinity College in 1791 and then spent two years in
Switzerland. Valentine was imprisoned (for 6 weeks) after the 1798 rising and again
May 1799-Mar 1801). He succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1799.
Valentine’s fiancée Mary Ryal and his Browne grandfather both died while he was in
prison. Following his release from prison he embarked on a ‘grand tour’ with his
sisters Mary and Charlotte. He married (1) Elizabeth Georgiana Morgan daughter of
Lt Gen Charles Morgan on 16.04.1803 in Rome. In 1807 Valentine sued Sir John
Piers for seducing his wife (criminal conversation) and was awarded £20,000 in
damages. They were divorced by Act of Parliament on 26.04.1811. After his divorce
Valentine married (2) Emily Douglas daughter of Archibald Douglas and Mary
Crosbie and widow of Hon Joseph Leeson on 30.06.1811 at Carnallwey, Kildare.
Valentine was raised to the British peerage in September 1831. In 1842 he decided
to live permanently at Maretimo, leaving Lyons to his son Edward. Valentine died
at Maretimo on 28.10.1853. His funeral took place on 01.11.1853 and he was buried
in the family vault at Lyons. Emily died on 15.06.1841 in London.
Valentine had two children by Elizabeth Morgan and five by Emily Douglas:
1.5.1 Hon Mary Margaret Lawless married John Michael Henry Fock,
Baron de Robeck on 30.09.1820 at Lyons, Kildare and had 5
children. They were divorced in December 1827 and Mary then
married the Right Hon Lord Sussex Lenox on 03.04.1828 at the
Chapel of the British Embassy at Paris.
1.5.2. Hon Valentine Anne Lawless, the eldest son, was born on 07.04.1805 in
Rome. He died unmarried on 24.01.1825 at the house of Baron de Robeck
in Dublin and is buried at Lyons.
1.5.3 Emily Lawless was born circa 1812, died on 29.03.1825 aged 13 years at
Chudleigh in Devonshire.
1.5.4 Valentina Maria 26 Aug 1815. She is not mentioned in her father’s Will,
thereby confirming her early death.
1.5.5 Hon Edward Lawless was born 13.10.1816 and became 3rd
Baron Cloncurry (I) and 2nd Lord Baron Cloncurry (B) on the death of his
father Valentine Browne Lawless in 1853. Edward married Elizabeth Kirwan
(who was born on 28.03.1812, daughter of John Kirwan of Castle Hacket,
Galway) on 17.09.1839 at Lyons. Edward died 03.04.1869 following a fall
from an upstairs window at Lyons Castle while of unsound mind. A copy of
his Will is lodged with the National Archives. Elizabeth died 08.05.1895 at
Maretimo. Her Will was proved in February 1896 and she left effects of
£854.15.6.
Edward and Elizabeth had 11 children:
1.5.5.1 Valentine Frederick Lawless was born 03.11.1840
at Lyons and became 4th Baron Cloncurry (I) and
3rd Baron Cloncurry (B) in 1869. He married Hon
Laura Sophia Priscilla Winn (eldest daughter of
Rowland Winn, 1st Baron St Oswald) on 23.01.1883
at the Church of St Olave, Nostell Priory, Wakefield.
Laura died 29.10.1891 at Grovenor Gardens,
London, leaving effects of £572.11.5. Valentine was
a staunch Unionist. He was not an especially kind
landlord and was often at odds with the Land
League. He bitterly resented the compulsory
purchase of some of his lands made by the Land
Commission in 1926. He died on 12.02.1928 at his
Lyons residence. The National Archives has a copy
of his Will. He left effects of £43,542.17.7
Valentine and Laura had two children:
1.5.5.1.1 Mary Hermione Lawless was born
3.05.1886 in London and died
(unmarried) 20.11.1922 at 79 Upper
Leeson Street. She is buried at Lyons.
1.5.5.1.2 Kathleen Emily Marie Lawless was
born 28.03.1888 in London and
died in 1957 at Lyons. She
inherited the Cloncurry property
(not the title) on the death of her
uncle Frederick the 5th Baron – see
below. When Kathleen died
(unmarried) the Lyons property
passed to G. Mark V Winn who
sold it to UCD in 1962.
1.5.5.2 Col Edward Lawless was born 13.09.1841 at Upper
Mount Street of the 3rd Battalion Royal Dublin
Fusiliers married Mary Elizabeth Burton daughter of
Rev Benjamin Burton of Burton Hall on 16.06.1880
at Painstown Church. Edward died 24.04.1921 at
Bryanstown and Mary died 06.07.1924 aged 68
years at Hale, Farnham. They were both buried at
Lyons.
1.5.5.3 John Henry Lawless was born in January 1843 and
baptised at Lyons on 30.4.1843. He died on
28.04.1846 of scarlatina and was buried at Lyons.
1.5.5.4 Cecil Lawless was baptised at Lyons on 9 August
1844 and buried there 11 days later on 22 August.
1.5.5.5 Emily Lawless was born 17.06.1845 and baptised at
Lyons on 21 December 1845. A distinguished
author, she died unmarried on 19.10.1913 at her
residence Hazelhatch in Gomshall, Surrey which
she shared with Lady Sarah Spencer. Her effects
amounted to £7,500.
1.5.5.6 Frederick Lawless born 20.04.1847 at Lyons and
baptised there on 5 March 1848. He became 5th
Baron Cloncurry (I) and 4th Baron Cloncurry (B),
aged 81, when his brother Valentine Frederick died
without a son to succeed to the title. Frederick died
(unmarried) on 18.06.1929 at Maretimo and was
buried Lyons. The Cloncurry title died with him. He
left effects of £20,191.19.7. A copy of his will is
lodged at the National Archives. It makes interesting
reading for the bequests he left to charities and to
institutions of the arts.
1.5.5.7 Walter Lawless was born 04.11.1848 at Nassau
Street. He died an infant on 19.04.1849 at Lyons
where he was buried.
1.5.5.8 Elizabeth Lawless was born on 30 Dec 1849 and
baptised 31 March 1850 at Lyons. She died in July
1929 and was buried at Lyons. A copy of her Will is
lodged at the National Archives.
1.5.5.9 Rose Lawless was born 17 Jan 1851and died by
drowning on 09.11.1891 while visiting her brother at
Lyons where she is buried. She left effects of
£5,361.00
1.5.5.10 Mary Lawless was baptised on 11 September 1853
at Lyons. She married William Blacker of Castle
Martin (son of Thomas Blacker) in Lyons on
28.04.1877. Mary died on 21.06.1885 at Charleville
the residence of Lord Monck in Enniskerry from an
accidental overdose of laudanum. William died
21.11.1907 at Weston, Straffan from a hunting
accident. She left effects of £444.19.1
1.5.5.11 Major Denis Lawless of the Rifle Brigade was born
17.07.1854 at Lyons. He died 05.10.1900 at
Maretimo and was brought to Lyons for burial. He
left effects of some £11,000.
1.5.6 Frederick William was born 21 Jan 1819 and baptised at Lyons on 21 June
of the same year. He died aged 5 years on 31 May 1834 and is buried at
Lyons.
1.5.7 Hon Cecil John Lawless (John Cecil in some records) was born
01.08.1820 and baptised at Lyons on 7 October the same year. He
married Frances Georgina Digby Townsend daughter of Jonas Morris
Townsend and Jane Digby on 07.02.1848 at St Peter’s Church in Dublin.
Cecil died shortly after his father’s funeral on 05.11.1853. He was buried at
Lyons on 8 Nov 1853.
1.6 Margaret was baptised at St Peter’s on 18 April 1775. Parents are listed as
Nicholas and Margaret Lawless, ie not Sir Nicholas because he was not yet
titled. Date of her death is so far unknown.
1.7 Margaret was baptised at St Peter’s on 15 March 1777. Her parents are
named as Sir Nicholas and Margaret Lawless. Presumably the older Margaret had
died between April 1775 and March 1777. She is not mentioned in father’s Will.
1.8 Nicholas Lawless was baptised at St Peter’s on 19 Aug 1778 as the son of Sir
Nicholas and Margaret Lawless. Nicholas is mentioned in his father’s Will by which
he was to receive an annuity of £500. The date of his death is uncertain. Debrett
records it as 1803 but a 1799 letter written by his sister Charlotte describes
Valentine as a ‘dear and only brother’.
2. Mary Elizabeth Lawless was born on 13 Oct 1734. She married Patrick Lawless on 30
September 1752.
2.1 Their daughter Margaret married John Scott, 1st Lord Clonmell.
© Bríd Nolan & Ross Nolan - June 2018
Robert Lawless married Mary Hadsor (dau of Dominick Hadsor) on 14 May 1731. Mary died on 23
June 1741. Robert died in 1779.
Robert and Mary had two children:
1 Nicholas Lawless was born in 1733. He married Margaret Browne (born 27 August
1745) on 13.10.1761 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin. She was the only child of Valentine
Browne, brewer of Mount Brown. Her mother had died in 1750. Having lived in France where
their two oldest children were born, Nicholas and Margaret returned to Dublin in October
1767 where they first lived at Merrion Square. They later purchased Mornington House on
Merrion Street (former residence of the Wellesley family). In 1773 Nicholas renounced his
Roman Catholic religion and embraced the established religion. Shortly thereafter he
acquired landed properties, including Lyons in County Kildare which became the family seat
although Nicholas himself never lived there. Circa 1774 Nicholas built his marine villa
‘Maretimo’ at Blackrock in County Dublin. Having converted to the Established Church,
Nicholas played an active role in the Monkstown Parish Church.
Nicholas became Sir Nicholas Lawless of Abingdon with a baronetcy in 1776, he was raised
to the Irish peerage in 1789, becoming the 1st Baron Cloncurry. He was never raised to the
British peerage.
Margaret Cloncurry died 10.02.1795 and Lord Cloncurry died 29.08.1799 Maretimo. They
were buried at Crumlin but some sources suggest that, by order of a Consistorial Court, they
were later removed to the family vault at Lyons.
Nicholas and Margaret had eight children, of whom four survived to adulthood.
1.1 Mary Catherine Lawless was born circa Aug 1766 in France. She married Thomas
‘Jerusalem’ Whaley on 11.01.1800 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin. Thomas died on
02.11.1800 aged 34 years at Knutsford and is buried at Knutsford Churchyard. He
left two children from a former marriage in Mary’s care. Mary died on 18.10.1830.
1.2 Valentina Alicia Lawless was born on 12.09.1767 at Castle Galleville, France. She
married Sir Francis Nathaniel Pierpoint Burton (born circa 1766, son of Francis
Conyngham and Elizabeth Clements) on 10.06.1801 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin.
His father had changed his name in 1781 to Conyngham. Francis was Lieutenant
Governor of Quebec. He died 20.01.1832 aged 66 years at his residence in
Pulteney Street, Bath and Valentina died 04.02.1844 at her residence at Clifden
House in County Clare.
1.3 Charlotte Louisa Lawless was born on 21.01.1769 in Dublin. She married Edward
Wadding-Plunkett 14th Baron of Dunsany (son of Randall Plunkett) in Rome on
20.06.1803. She was the grandmother of Sir Horace Plunkett. Charlotte died on
10.06.1818 in Pisa. Edward married Eliza Kinnaird (daughter of George Kinnaird
and Elizabeth Ransom) on 26.03.1822 at Edinburgh. He died on 11.12.1848 at his
residence in Somersetshire.
1.4 Robert Lawless was born in 1771 and baptised on 14 March 1772 in Dublin. He
died young, after Valentine’s birth in 1773 but presumably before father’s death
in 1799 since he was not in father’s will and Valentine, his younger brother, inherited
the title.
1.5 Valentine Browne Lawless was the 2nd Baron Cloncurry in the Irish peerage and
the 1st Baron Cloncurry in the British peerage. He was born (a second son) in 1773
at Merrion Square, and baptised on 19.08.1773 in St Peter’s Church in Dublin. He
graduated in arts from Trinity College in 1791 and then spent two years in
Switzerland. Valentine was imprisoned (for 6 weeks) after the 1798 rising and again
May 1799-Mar 1801). He succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1799.
Valentine’s fiancée Mary Ryal and his Browne grandfather both died while he was in
prison. Following his release from prison he embarked on a ‘grand tour’ with his
sisters Mary and Charlotte. He married (1) Elizabeth Georgiana Morgan daughter of
Lt Gen Charles Morgan on 16.04.1803 in Rome. In 1807 Valentine sued Sir John
Piers for seducing his wife (criminal conversation) and was awarded £20,000 in
damages. They were divorced by Act of Parliament on 26.04.1811. After his divorce
Valentine married (2) Emily Douglas daughter of Archibald Douglas and Mary
Crosbie and widow of Hon Joseph Leeson on 30.06.1811 at Carnallwey, Kildare.
Valentine was raised to the British peerage in September 1831. In 1842 he decided
to live permanently at Maretimo, leaving Lyons to his son Edward. Valentine died
at Maretimo on 28.10.1853. His funeral took place on 01.11.1853 and he was buried
in the family vault at Lyons. Emily died on 15.06.1841 in London.
Valentine had two children by Elizabeth Morgan and five by Emily Douglas:
1.5.1 Hon Mary Margaret Lawless married John Michael Henry Fock,
Baron de Robeck on 30.09.1820 at Lyons, Kildare and had 5
children. They were divorced in December 1827 and Mary then
married the Right Hon Lord Sussex Lenox on 03.04.1828 at the
Chapel of the British Embassy at Paris.
1.5.2. Hon Valentine Anne Lawless, the eldest son, was born on 07.04.1805 in
Rome. He died unmarried on 24.01.1825 at the house of Baron de Robeck
in Dublin and is buried at Lyons.
1.5.3 Emily Lawless was born circa 1812, died on 29.03.1825 aged 13 years at
Chudleigh in Devonshire.
1.5.4 Valentina Maria 26 Aug 1815. She is not mentioned in her father’s Will,
thereby confirming her early death.
1.5.5 Hon Edward Lawless was born 13.10.1816 and became 3rd
Baron Cloncurry (I) and 2nd Lord Baron Cloncurry (B) on the death of his
father Valentine Browne Lawless in 1853. Edward married Elizabeth Kirwan
(who was born on 28.03.1812, daughter of John Kirwan of Castle Hacket,
Galway) on 17.09.1839 at Lyons. Edward died 03.04.1869 following a fall
from an upstairs window at Lyons Castle while of unsound mind. A copy of
his Will is lodged with the National Archives. Elizabeth died 08.05.1895 at
Maretimo. Her Will was proved in February 1896 and she left effects of
£854.15.6.
Edward and Elizabeth had 11 children:
1.5.5.1 Valentine Frederick Lawless was born 03.11.1840
at Lyons and became 4th Baron Cloncurry (I) and
3rd Baron Cloncurry (B) in 1869. He married Hon
Laura Sophia Priscilla Winn (eldest daughter of
Rowland Winn, 1st Baron St Oswald) on 23.01.1883
at the Church of St Olave, Nostell Priory, Wakefield.
Laura died 29.10.1891 at Grovenor Gardens,
London, leaving effects of £572.11.5. Valentine was
a staunch Unionist. He was not an especially kind
landlord and was often at odds with the Land
League. He bitterly resented the compulsory
purchase of some of his lands made by the Land
Commission in 1926. He died on 12.02.1928 at his
Lyons residence. The National Archives has a copy
of his Will. He left effects of £43,542.17.7
Valentine and Laura had two children:
1.5.5.1.1 Mary Hermione Lawless was born
3.05.1886 in London and died
(unmarried) 20.11.1922 at 79 Upper
Leeson Street. She is buried at Lyons.
1.5.5.1.2 Kathleen Emily Marie Lawless was
born 28.03.1888 in London and
died in 1957 at Lyons. She
inherited the Cloncurry property
(not the title) on the death of her
uncle Frederick the 5th Baron – see
below. When Kathleen died
(unmarried) the Lyons property
passed to G. Mark V Winn who
sold it to UCD in 1962.
1.5.5.2 Col Edward Lawless was born 13.09.1841 at Upper
Mount Street of the 3rd Battalion Royal Dublin
Fusiliers married Mary Elizabeth Burton daughter of
Rev Benjamin Burton of Burton Hall on 16.06.1880
at Painstown Church. Edward died 24.04.1921 at
Bryanstown and Mary died 06.07.1924 aged 68
years at Hale, Farnham. They were both buried at
Lyons.
1.5.5.3 John Henry Lawless was born in January 1843 and
baptised at Lyons on 30.4.1843. He died on
28.04.1846 of scarlatina and was buried at Lyons.
1.5.5.4 Cecil Lawless was baptised at Lyons on 9 August
1844 and buried there 11 days later on 22 August.
1.5.5.5 Emily Lawless was born 17.06.1845 and baptised at
Lyons on 21 December 1845. A distinguished
author, she died unmarried on 19.10.1913 at her
residence Hazelhatch in Gomshall, Surrey which
she shared with Lady Sarah Spencer. Her effects
amounted to £7,500.
1.5.5.6 Frederick Lawless born 20.04.1847 at Lyons and
baptised there on 5 March 1848. He became 5th
Baron Cloncurry (I) and 4th Baron Cloncurry (B),
aged 81, when his brother Valentine Frederick died
without a son to succeed to the title. Frederick died
(unmarried) on 18.06.1929 at Maretimo and was
buried Lyons. The Cloncurry title died with him. He
left effects of £20,191.19.7. A copy of his will is
lodged at the National Archives. It makes interesting
reading for the bequests he left to charities and to
institutions of the arts.
1.5.5.7 Walter Lawless was born 04.11.1848 at Nassau
Street. He died an infant on 19.04.1849 at Lyons
where he was buried.
1.5.5.8 Elizabeth Lawless was born on 30 Dec 1849 and
baptised 31 March 1850 at Lyons. She died in July
1929 and was buried at Lyons. A copy of her Will is
lodged at the National Archives.
1.5.5.9 Rose Lawless was born 17 Jan 1851and died by
drowning on 09.11.1891 while visiting her brother at
Lyons where she is buried. She left effects of
£5,361.00
1.5.5.10 Mary Lawless was baptised on 11 September 1853
at Lyons. She married William Blacker of Castle
Martin (son of Thomas Blacker) in Lyons on
28.04.1877. Mary died on 21.06.1885 at Charleville
the residence of Lord Monck in Enniskerry from an
accidental overdose of laudanum. William died
21.11.1907 at Weston, Straffan from a hunting
accident. She left effects of £444.19.1
1.5.5.11 Major Denis Lawless of the Rifle Brigade was born
17.07.1854 at Lyons. He died 05.10.1900 at
Maretimo and was brought to Lyons for burial. He
left effects of some £11,000.
1.5.6 Frederick William was born 21 Jan 1819 and baptised at Lyons on 21 June
of the same year. He died aged 5 years on 31 May 1834 and is buried at
Lyons.
1.5.7 Hon Cecil John Lawless (John Cecil in some records) was born
01.08.1820 and baptised at Lyons on 7 October the same year. He
married Frances Georgina Digby Townsend daughter of Jonas Morris
Townsend and Jane Digby on 07.02.1848 at St Peter’s Church in Dublin.
Cecil died shortly after his father’s funeral on 05.11.1853. He was buried at
Lyons on 8 Nov 1853.
1.6 Margaret was baptised at St Peter’s on 18 April 1775. Parents are listed as
Nicholas and Margaret Lawless, ie not Sir Nicholas because he was not yet
titled. Date of her death is so far unknown.
1.7 Margaret was baptised at St Peter’s on 15 March 1777. Her parents are
named as Sir Nicholas and Margaret Lawless. Presumably the older Margaret had
died between April 1775 and March 1777. She is not mentioned in father’s Will.
1.8 Nicholas Lawless was baptised at St Peter’s on 19 Aug 1778 as the son of Sir
Nicholas and Margaret Lawless. Nicholas is mentioned in his father’s Will by which
he was to receive an annuity of £500. The date of his death is uncertain. Debrett
records it as 1803 but a 1799 letter written by his sister Charlotte describes
Valentine as a ‘dear and only brother’.
2. Mary Elizabeth Lawless was born on 13 Oct 1734. She married Patrick Lawless on 30
September 1752.
2.1 Their daughter Margaret married John Scott, 1st Lord Clonmell.
© Bríd Nolan & Ross Nolan - June 2018