Prior family of Mount Dillon
Thomas Prior married Alicia Maria Wray
born circa 1766
Tipperary
died 16 Sep 1843 died 11 Nov 1859
Mount Prospect, Milltown Mount Rivers, Co Tipperary
Thomas born circa 1765 son of John Prior of Priors Lodge, Crossogue, Co Tipperary. He
graduated Trinity and was later a lecturer and Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. He married
Alicia Mary Wray prior to 1813 but may have been married previously. He became a Doctor
of Divinity in 1805, and was Vice-Provost of Trinity in 1832/3 and from 1840 to 1843. He lived
at Mount Dillon from 1836 until 1839. He died at his residence, Mount Prospect, near Milltown
on 16 Sep 1843. And was buried at Trinity. By a clause in his will, Prior’s Lodge was to be sold
on his death. It was purchased for 3540L by Haliday Bruce on behalf of his client Rev John
Prior. Alicia died 11 Nov 1859 at Mount Rivers, the home of her son in law.
1 John Prior eldest son born circa 1803. He took holy orders was ordained and appointed
curate of Taney in 1828. He was living at Mount Dillon and married Sophia Odell on
1 Jun 1833 at St Peter’s Church. Sophia was the youngest daughter of the late John Odell
of Carriglea, Co Waterford and the granddaughter of the late Dr Young, Bishop of
Clonfert. Sophia died 30 Jun 1834 at Fitzwilliam Square. John was in Pisa in 1835 for
health reasons and tendered his resignation.
He secondly married Sarah Butler-Clarke-Southwell-Wandesforde on 19 Sep 1836 at
Castle Comber church. Sarah was the daughter of the Rt Hon Charles Harward Butler-
Clarke-Southwell-Wandesford and Lady Sarah Butler. He was rector of Kilcormac, Cork
and in 1853 was appointed rector of Kirklington, Yorkshire. In the mid 1800s the Priors
held a small estate at Crossoge and Lisnasella, parish of Ballycahill, near Thurles, Co
Tipperary. John died on 21 Dec 1867 at the rectory, Kirklington. In 1881 Sarah
succeeded to the Castlecomer and Kirklington estates of the Wandesforde family on the
death of her nephew Charles (son of her brother Walter). He left 64k in personal estate
and Sarah took the name Wandesforde by Royal licence. Her only surviving brother
Henry died in 1885 leaving 69k in personal estate. He had not inherited as he had been
adjudged a lunatic in 1855. Sarah died on 21 Dec 1892 at Castle Comber aged 78 and
left 70k in personal estate. Her estate was left to her old surviving grandson.
1 Charles Prior eldest son born circa 1836 lived at Crossogue House, Co Tipperary
and married Dorothea (Dora) Phillips in March 1866 at Holy Cross Church. Dora
was the eldest daughter of Rev Richard Philips of Gaile House, Cashel. Charles died
7 Jan 1875 and Dora died in 1936 at Colwyn Bay.
1 Son and heir Prior born 18 May 1868 at Crossogue House.
2 Richard H Prior born at Crossogue House born 15 Sep 1870 at Crossogue
House inherited the Wandesforde estate from his grandmother and assumed
the name Wandesfordes. He served during WW1 as a captain in the Royal
Artillery Regiment. He reopened the Wandesforde mines at Castlecomber and
died in 1956.
2 Sarah Prior born circa 1838 died 5 Oct 1863.
3 Alicia Maria Prior born about 1840 died 24 Oct 1843 at Paris.
4 Henry Wallis Prior second son born circa 1842 graduated Cambridge. He married
Mary Anna Collis on 4 Jun 1878 at Monkstown Church. Mary Anna was the widow
of Robert H Collis of Millbrooke and the daughter of the late Richard Phillips of
Mount Rivers, Co Tipperary. Mary Anna died in 1910 and Henry Prior-Wandesforde
died July 1931 at Kirklington Hall.
5 Sophia Elizabeth Prior. As only surviving daughter she married Henry Frederick
Winchilsea Ely on 5 Jul 1864 at Kirklington. Henry was the son of Thomas Ely of
Elysium, Co Tipperary. Thomas Phillips of Mount Rivers acted as stand in to the
best man.
2 Hugh Edward Prior born circa 1806 in Dublin graduated Trinity and took Holy orders. He
was curate of Wicklow and married Meriel Neville Miles on 20 Sep 1833 at St Peter’s Church,
Dublin. Meriel was the third daughter and co heiress of the late Rev George Miles of
Summer Hill, Co Tipperary. He was later rector at Lucan in 1836 and Clonmel in 1850. He
died 1 Sep 1856 at Kingstown. Meriel died 5 Mar 1890 aged 86 at 79 Upper Leeson Street.
1 Mary Jane Prior eldest daughter born July 1835 in Co Wicklow. She died unmarried on
5 Aug 1913 at 79 Upper Leeson Street and left 7k in personal estate.
2 Alice Prior second surviving daughter marred Charles Monck Wilson on 25 Oct 1860
at St Anne’s Church, Dublin. Charles was of Cahirconlish House, Co Limerick.
3 Meriel Prior youngest daughter born circa 1839 died at Baggot Street on 13 Oct 1856.
3 Mary Susanna Prior only daughter born circa 1809 of Riversdale, Dundrum married
Richard Edward Phillips on 26 Oct 1840 at Taney. Richard was the only son of
Richard and Frances Phillips, of Mount Rivers, Co Tipperary. Richard died 29 Jan 1863
and Mary moved to Brussels. Mary died a widow on 16 Feb 1894 at 2 Leeson Park.
Her executor was Wyndham Gabbett.
1 Richard Edward Phillips born October 1841 at Mount Rivers died 24 May 1850.
2 Thomas Frederick Skeffington Phillips born 7 Feb 1844 at Mount Rivers. Thomas
died a bachelor on 4 Dec 1867.
3 Frances Susanna (Fannie) Phillips second daughter born 13 Mar 1851 at Mount Rover.
She married Windham Gabbett at St John’s, Newport on 30 Apr 1867. She was
given away by her brother Thomas. They lived at Mount Rivers and had at least
three children. She was a keen horsewoman and rode with the Limerick hunt.
Frances died in December and was buried beside her father at Newport graveyard.
4 Mary Anna Phillips third daughter born 5 Jul 1852 at Mount Rivers married Robert H
Collis of Millbrook, Co Tipperary on 27 Sep 1871 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin. Mary
Anna secondly married Henry Wallace Prior on 4 Jun 1878 at Monkstown Church.
Mary Anna Prior Wandesforde died 7 Nov 1910 at The Grange, Worcester.
4 Robert Young Prior born circa 1811 died circa 1823.
5 Thomas Young Prior third and youngest son born circa 1813 in Dublin. He graduated
Trinity and was a barrister at law of the Middle Temple. He married Jane Matilda Russell
on 28 Jun 1843 at Leamington, Warwickshire. Jane was the only surviving daughter of
the late Rev Robert Russell of Ashbrook, Co Fermanagh. Jane died on 30 Oct 1866 at
Ballinakill, Clifton, Co Galway.
1 Thomas Prior born 15 Jan 1845 at Connaught Terrace, Hyde Park.
Thomas secondly married Horatia Louisa Webb on 20 Nov 1867 at St Thomas’ church, Dublin.
Horatia was the youngest daughter of the late Rev Hugh George Webb. In the 1870s Thomas
owned 1,084 acres in county Galway. Thomas died 1 Dec 1879 at Ballinakill, Co Galway.
2 Eva Prior only daughter born 27 Nov 1870 at Ross, Clifton died 11 Mar 1881 at Ballinakill.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2025
Return to Mount Dillon page
Thomas Prior married Alicia Maria Wray
born circa 1766
Tipperary
died 16 Sep 1843 died 11 Nov 1859
Mount Prospect, Milltown Mount Rivers, Co Tipperary
Thomas born circa 1765 son of John Prior of Priors Lodge, Crossogue, Co Tipperary. He
graduated Trinity and was later a lecturer and Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. He married
Alicia Mary Wray prior to 1813 but may have been married previously. He became a Doctor
of Divinity in 1805, and was Vice-Provost of Trinity in 1832/3 and from 1840 to 1843. He lived
at Mount Dillon from 1836 until 1839. He died at his residence, Mount Prospect, near Milltown
on 16 Sep 1843. And was buried at Trinity. By a clause in his will, Prior’s Lodge was to be sold
on his death. It was purchased for 3540L by Haliday Bruce on behalf of his client Rev John
Prior. Alicia died 11 Nov 1859 at Mount Rivers, the home of her son in law.
1 John Prior eldest son born circa 1803. He took holy orders was ordained and appointed
curate of Taney in 1828. He was living at Mount Dillon and married Sophia Odell on
1 Jun 1833 at St Peter’s Church. Sophia was the youngest daughter of the late John Odell
of Carriglea, Co Waterford and the granddaughter of the late Dr Young, Bishop of
Clonfert. Sophia died 30 Jun 1834 at Fitzwilliam Square. John was in Pisa in 1835 for
health reasons and tendered his resignation.
He secondly married Sarah Butler-Clarke-Southwell-Wandesforde on 19 Sep 1836 at
Castle Comber church. Sarah was the daughter of the Rt Hon Charles Harward Butler-
Clarke-Southwell-Wandesford and Lady Sarah Butler. He was rector of Kilcormac, Cork
and in 1853 was appointed rector of Kirklington, Yorkshire. In the mid 1800s the Priors
held a small estate at Crossoge and Lisnasella, parish of Ballycahill, near Thurles, Co
Tipperary. John died on 21 Dec 1867 at the rectory, Kirklington. In 1881 Sarah
succeeded to the Castlecomer and Kirklington estates of the Wandesforde family on the
death of her nephew Charles (son of her brother Walter). He left 64k in personal estate
and Sarah took the name Wandesforde by Royal licence. Her only surviving brother
Henry died in 1885 leaving 69k in personal estate. He had not inherited as he had been
adjudged a lunatic in 1855. Sarah died on 21 Dec 1892 at Castle Comber aged 78 and
left 70k in personal estate. Her estate was left to her old surviving grandson.
1 Charles Prior eldest son born circa 1836 lived at Crossogue House, Co Tipperary
and married Dorothea (Dora) Phillips in March 1866 at Holy Cross Church. Dora
was the eldest daughter of Rev Richard Philips of Gaile House, Cashel. Charles died
7 Jan 1875 and Dora died in 1936 at Colwyn Bay.
1 Son and heir Prior born 18 May 1868 at Crossogue House.
2 Richard H Prior born at Crossogue House born 15 Sep 1870 at Crossogue
House inherited the Wandesforde estate from his grandmother and assumed
the name Wandesfordes. He served during WW1 as a captain in the Royal
Artillery Regiment. He reopened the Wandesforde mines at Castlecomber and
died in 1956.
2 Sarah Prior born circa 1838 died 5 Oct 1863.
3 Alicia Maria Prior born about 1840 died 24 Oct 1843 at Paris.
4 Henry Wallis Prior second son born circa 1842 graduated Cambridge. He married
Mary Anna Collis on 4 Jun 1878 at Monkstown Church. Mary Anna was the widow
of Robert H Collis of Millbrooke and the daughter of the late Richard Phillips of
Mount Rivers, Co Tipperary. Mary Anna died in 1910 and Henry Prior-Wandesforde
died July 1931 at Kirklington Hall.
5 Sophia Elizabeth Prior. As only surviving daughter she married Henry Frederick
Winchilsea Ely on 5 Jul 1864 at Kirklington. Henry was the son of Thomas Ely of
Elysium, Co Tipperary. Thomas Phillips of Mount Rivers acted as stand in to the
best man.
2 Hugh Edward Prior born circa 1806 in Dublin graduated Trinity and took Holy orders. He
was curate of Wicklow and married Meriel Neville Miles on 20 Sep 1833 at St Peter’s Church,
Dublin. Meriel was the third daughter and co heiress of the late Rev George Miles of
Summer Hill, Co Tipperary. He was later rector at Lucan in 1836 and Clonmel in 1850. He
died 1 Sep 1856 at Kingstown. Meriel died 5 Mar 1890 aged 86 at 79 Upper Leeson Street.
1 Mary Jane Prior eldest daughter born July 1835 in Co Wicklow. She died unmarried on
5 Aug 1913 at 79 Upper Leeson Street and left 7k in personal estate.
2 Alice Prior second surviving daughter marred Charles Monck Wilson on 25 Oct 1860
at St Anne’s Church, Dublin. Charles was of Cahirconlish House, Co Limerick.
3 Meriel Prior youngest daughter born circa 1839 died at Baggot Street on 13 Oct 1856.
3 Mary Susanna Prior only daughter born circa 1809 of Riversdale, Dundrum married
Richard Edward Phillips on 26 Oct 1840 at Taney. Richard was the only son of
Richard and Frances Phillips, of Mount Rivers, Co Tipperary. Richard died 29 Jan 1863
and Mary moved to Brussels. Mary died a widow on 16 Feb 1894 at 2 Leeson Park.
Her executor was Wyndham Gabbett.
1 Richard Edward Phillips born October 1841 at Mount Rivers died 24 May 1850.
2 Thomas Frederick Skeffington Phillips born 7 Feb 1844 at Mount Rivers. Thomas
died a bachelor on 4 Dec 1867.
3 Frances Susanna (Fannie) Phillips second daughter born 13 Mar 1851 at Mount Rover.
She married Windham Gabbett at St John’s, Newport on 30 Apr 1867. She was
given away by her brother Thomas. They lived at Mount Rivers and had at least
three children. She was a keen horsewoman and rode with the Limerick hunt.
Frances died in December and was buried beside her father at Newport graveyard.
4 Mary Anna Phillips third daughter born 5 Jul 1852 at Mount Rivers married Robert H
Collis of Millbrook, Co Tipperary on 27 Sep 1871 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin. Mary
Anna secondly married Henry Wallace Prior on 4 Jun 1878 at Monkstown Church.
Mary Anna Prior Wandesforde died 7 Nov 1910 at The Grange, Worcester.
4 Robert Young Prior born circa 1811 died circa 1823.
5 Thomas Young Prior third and youngest son born circa 1813 in Dublin. He graduated
Trinity and was a barrister at law of the Middle Temple. He married Jane Matilda Russell
on 28 Jun 1843 at Leamington, Warwickshire. Jane was the only surviving daughter of
the late Rev Robert Russell of Ashbrook, Co Fermanagh. Jane died on 30 Oct 1866 at
Ballinakill, Clifton, Co Galway.
1 Thomas Prior born 15 Jan 1845 at Connaught Terrace, Hyde Park.
Thomas secondly married Horatia Louisa Webb on 20 Nov 1867 at St Thomas’ church, Dublin.
Horatia was the youngest daughter of the late Rev Hugh George Webb. In the 1870s Thomas
owned 1,084 acres in county Galway. Thomas died 1 Dec 1879 at Ballinakill, Co Galway.
2 Eva Prior only daughter born 27 Nov 1870 at Ross, Clifton died 11 Mar 1881 at Ballinakill.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2025
Return to Mount Dillon page