The Lighton Family of Merville
Sir Thomas Lighton, Baronet and Banker who died lately in Dublin, was one of the instances
“that honesty is the best policy”. He has been, very early in, an humble trader in the town of
Strabane, in the North of Ireland; and proving unsuccessful, he went in search of better
fortune to the East Indies, as a soldier in the Hon East India Company’s service. He was a
man of talent and strong mind and rendered himself extremely useful by having, in a very
short time, acquired a complete knowledge of the Oriental languages. It was his good fortune
to be confined in the same prison with the late General Mathews, who, previous to his
unfortunate catastrophe, entrusted to Sir Thomas, the Mr Lighton’s care, jewel and property
to immense amount, to be delivered to his family, if he should effect an escape; and to insure
his zeal and punctuality, gave himself a considerable sum as a present. He was employed as
an interpreter sometime after, and took advantage of the first opportunity that offered to
escape. After assuming various disguises, and encountering many perilous adventures, he
arrived in London, and waiting on Mrs, Mathews, delivered her husband’s last letter and the
treasure to her; who rewarded him, it is said, with twenty thousand pounds. He immediately
wrote to Ireland to enquire for a beloved wife and child whom he had left behind him, and sent
a sum of money to discharge his debts. His wife whom he had left young, handsome, and
unprotected, he found had, by the most respectable industry, supported herself and her
daughter, who was then a very fine girl of ten years of age, and given her an education superior
to her humble means. A very handsome house was taken at Stephen’s-green, Dublin. The seat
belonging to the late Lord Chief Baron Foster, father of the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer,
near Dublin; was purchased for him, and new carriages built.--
But he was not happy in an inactive life, and embarked a great part of his fortune in a banking
house, which had been very successful. Lady Lighton, whose mild and amiable manners
endeared her to all ranks, died some time since and left him a numerous family. To supply this
loss a lady of the most exemplary character was engaged on the most liberal terms, to
superintend their education. Sir Thos. Lighton was a good natured and benevolent man.
Belf. N.L.
Hibernian Journal; or, Chronicle of Liberty 25 May 1805.
In the fortress of Onore, 300 miles south of Bombay and under the domain of Hydar Aly
were found sums of money to an unknown amount, besides jewels and diamonds. A
considerable part of this appears to be secured as private plunder by General Matthews.
(Extract from a letter of an officer involved in this battle). General Matthews was killed in
November 1783.
John Lighton of Rosberryhill, Tyrone married Elizabeth Walker, daughter of John Walker
of Tisdern, (Tikieran) Tyrone.
1 James Lighton
2 Thomas Lighton married Anne Pollock, daughter of William Pollock of Strabane on
11 Dec 1777. He was High Sheriff of Dublin in 1790 and was created baronet of
Merville in 1791. He was MP for Tuam from 1790 to 1797 and MP for Carlingford
for 1798 to 1800. He was a partner in the banking house of Lighton, Needham
and Shaw which merged with Bank of Ireland in 1836. He was also a share holder
of Sun Insurance Company of Dublin. He was a church warden at Taney and the
owner of 21, 22 & 23 St Stephen's Green (Beau Walk). Anne died in 1804 and
Thomas died 27 April 1805 at Merville. The house and contents were put up for
sale in 1811.
1 Thomas Lighton born 19 May 1787 married Sylvia Brandon. He became the
2nd Baronet on the death of his father. He died 11 May 1816 and was
buried in Taney Graveyard.
1 Thomas Lighton became the 3rd Baronet and died 20 Apr 1817.
2 James Lighton died 1806 and was buried at Taney.
3 John Lighton took Holy orders and was given the living as Rector of
Donaghmore, Co Donegal. He married Mary Hamilton Pemberton daughter
of Christopher Pemberton, MD. He became 4th Baronet on the death of his
nephew in 1817. Mary died in July 1826 having become 'enflamed after
eating peas' aged 28 at Donoughmore, Galway.
1 John Hamilton Lighton born 26 May 1818 became the 5th Bart on
the death of his father. John died 9 Apr 1844.
2 Christopher Robert Lighton born 28 May 1819 took Holy orders and
was Vicar of Ellastone. He married Mary Anne Elizabeth, only
daughter of the Rev Digby Joseph Stopford Ram of Brookville, Cork
at Beverly Minister in Yorkshire on 2 Jun 1843. He became 6th Bart
on the death of his brother in 1844. Christopher died 28 May 1875.
1 Daughter born 8 Nov 1844 at Wellington Villa, Clifton.
2 Daughter born 21 Aug 1846 at Caledonia Place, Clifton, Bristol.
3 Andrew Lighton born 26 Dec 1822 and died 13 Nov 1904 aged 81 at
Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Square, London.
4 Henry Chester Lighton fl 1817.
5 Elizabeth Lighton married Sir Samuel Hayes of Drumboe Castle in 1803.
1 Ann Hayes
2 Sir Edmund Samuel Hayes
6 Anne Lighton second daughter was baptised at Taney. She married Charles
Rea of Fort Royal Co Donegal at Rathmullen in March 1832.
7 Charlotte Lighton, third daughter married the Rev John Sweeney, Rector of
Clenish, Fermanagh at Stranolar Church in November 1821.
8 Mary Lighton died November 1794 and was buried at Taney.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – August 2016
Sir Thomas Lighton, Baronet and Banker who died lately in Dublin, was one of the instances
“that honesty is the best policy”. He has been, very early in, an humble trader in the town of
Strabane, in the North of Ireland; and proving unsuccessful, he went in search of better
fortune to the East Indies, as a soldier in the Hon East India Company’s service. He was a
man of talent and strong mind and rendered himself extremely useful by having, in a very
short time, acquired a complete knowledge of the Oriental languages. It was his good fortune
to be confined in the same prison with the late General Mathews, who, previous to his
unfortunate catastrophe, entrusted to Sir Thomas, the Mr Lighton’s care, jewel and property
to immense amount, to be delivered to his family, if he should effect an escape; and to insure
his zeal and punctuality, gave himself a considerable sum as a present. He was employed as
an interpreter sometime after, and took advantage of the first opportunity that offered to
escape. After assuming various disguises, and encountering many perilous adventures, he
arrived in London, and waiting on Mrs, Mathews, delivered her husband’s last letter and the
treasure to her; who rewarded him, it is said, with twenty thousand pounds. He immediately
wrote to Ireland to enquire for a beloved wife and child whom he had left behind him, and sent
a sum of money to discharge his debts. His wife whom he had left young, handsome, and
unprotected, he found had, by the most respectable industry, supported herself and her
daughter, who was then a very fine girl of ten years of age, and given her an education superior
to her humble means. A very handsome house was taken at Stephen’s-green, Dublin. The seat
belonging to the late Lord Chief Baron Foster, father of the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer,
near Dublin; was purchased for him, and new carriages built.--
But he was not happy in an inactive life, and embarked a great part of his fortune in a banking
house, which had been very successful. Lady Lighton, whose mild and amiable manners
endeared her to all ranks, died some time since and left him a numerous family. To supply this
loss a lady of the most exemplary character was engaged on the most liberal terms, to
superintend their education. Sir Thos. Lighton was a good natured and benevolent man.
Belf. N.L.
Hibernian Journal; or, Chronicle of Liberty 25 May 1805.
In the fortress of Onore, 300 miles south of Bombay and under the domain of Hydar Aly
were found sums of money to an unknown amount, besides jewels and diamonds. A
considerable part of this appears to be secured as private plunder by General Matthews.
(Extract from a letter of an officer involved in this battle). General Matthews was killed in
November 1783.
John Lighton of Rosberryhill, Tyrone married Elizabeth Walker, daughter of John Walker
of Tisdern, (Tikieran) Tyrone.
1 James Lighton
2 Thomas Lighton married Anne Pollock, daughter of William Pollock of Strabane on
11 Dec 1777. He was High Sheriff of Dublin in 1790 and was created baronet of
Merville in 1791. He was MP for Tuam from 1790 to 1797 and MP for Carlingford
for 1798 to 1800. He was a partner in the banking house of Lighton, Needham
and Shaw which merged with Bank of Ireland in 1836. He was also a share holder
of Sun Insurance Company of Dublin. He was a church warden at Taney and the
owner of 21, 22 & 23 St Stephen's Green (Beau Walk). Anne died in 1804 and
Thomas died 27 April 1805 at Merville. The house and contents were put up for
sale in 1811.
1 Thomas Lighton born 19 May 1787 married Sylvia Brandon. He became the
2nd Baronet on the death of his father. He died 11 May 1816 and was
buried in Taney Graveyard.
1 Thomas Lighton became the 3rd Baronet and died 20 Apr 1817.
2 James Lighton died 1806 and was buried at Taney.
3 John Lighton took Holy orders and was given the living as Rector of
Donaghmore, Co Donegal. He married Mary Hamilton Pemberton daughter
of Christopher Pemberton, MD. He became 4th Baronet on the death of his
nephew in 1817. Mary died in July 1826 having become 'enflamed after
eating peas' aged 28 at Donoughmore, Galway.
1 John Hamilton Lighton born 26 May 1818 became the 5th Bart on
the death of his father. John died 9 Apr 1844.
2 Christopher Robert Lighton born 28 May 1819 took Holy orders and
was Vicar of Ellastone. He married Mary Anne Elizabeth, only
daughter of the Rev Digby Joseph Stopford Ram of Brookville, Cork
at Beverly Minister in Yorkshire on 2 Jun 1843. He became 6th Bart
on the death of his brother in 1844. Christopher died 28 May 1875.
1 Daughter born 8 Nov 1844 at Wellington Villa, Clifton.
2 Daughter born 21 Aug 1846 at Caledonia Place, Clifton, Bristol.
3 Andrew Lighton born 26 Dec 1822 and died 13 Nov 1904 aged 81 at
Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Square, London.
4 Henry Chester Lighton fl 1817.
5 Elizabeth Lighton married Sir Samuel Hayes of Drumboe Castle in 1803.
1 Ann Hayes
2 Sir Edmund Samuel Hayes
6 Anne Lighton second daughter was baptised at Taney. She married Charles
Rea of Fort Royal Co Donegal at Rathmullen in March 1832.
7 Charlotte Lighton, third daughter married the Rev John Sweeney, Rector of
Clenish, Fermanagh at Stranolar Church in November 1821.
8 Mary Lighton died November 1794 and was buried at Taney.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – August 2016