Swifte of Eversham
Godwin Meade Pratt Swifte born circa 1806 took the defunct title Viscount Carlingford as his own.
Godwin married Maria Theresa Plankenstern, Baroness de Wetzlar of Austria at Paris in 1830 after
the birth of their son Ferdinando. They also married at the RC parish church of Loitsch in Austria
in 1833. He was generally known and called himself Lord Carlingford. Maria died in 30 Jan 1859
aged 48 and was buried in Vienna.
1 Ferdinando Swifte born circa 1830.
Godwin secondly married Jane Anne Hopkins on 18 Mar 1845 at Liverpool after an non legal
ceremony some years earlier. Godwin returned with his family from the continent in 1845 to take
up residence at Swiftesheath. Janes died at Lionsden, Castle Rickard in 1848 and was buried in the
family vault.
2 Julia Ianthe Swifte of born 4 Jun 1842 at 18 Charlemont Mall baptised at St Peter’s, Dublin.
She married Dr Thomas Austin O’Flaherty, an eminent London Physician in 1861 at
Marylebone.
1 Austin Ronald O’Flaherty born circa 1870.
3 Harold Godwin Mossom Swifte born circa 1844 died a bachelor from typhoid on 19 Jun 1888
at the Royal City of Dublin Hospital in Baggot Street late of 56 Waterloo Road. He was buried
at Mount Jerome.
4 Longueville Swifte born 9 May 1845 at Batesville, Upper Rathmines was baptised at St Peter’s
on 28 Apr 1847. He joined the RIC and died a pauper at the South Union workhouse in 1871.
5 George Godwin Barnham Swifte born 10 Feb 1847 at Rathmines went to Canada. He was with
the merchant services and married Louis Marguerite Reid, a widow on 20 Oct 1903 at St
Peter’s Church, Dublin. Louise was the daughter of Edward Bulkeley Swift and was his first
cousin. He took a action against his father’s estate in 1905, lost, appealed and lost again. He
died 8 Feb 1928 at 56 Waterloo Road and was buried close to his uncle Edward Swifte’s grave at
Mt Jerome. Louisa died 26 Oct 1929 and was buried with her husband. They had no issue.
In 1854, Godwin Swifte patented what he called "an aerial screw" or propeller which, according to a local
newspaper, "was the complete solution to the problem of aerial navigation. He designed this aerial
chariot which was built in the dining room of his house. He had to widen the doors so that it could be
moved outside. It had a boat-shaped carriage with one wheel in front and two behind; the silk-covered
wings were ‘a network of lengthened square shapes’. It was drawn by horse to Foulksrath Castle,
hoisted to the battlements and then it plummeted to the ground with the butler on board.
Godwin thirdly married Mary Jane Clarke on 4 Feb 1863 at Kilkenny and declared himself a widower.
Mary was the daughter of Robert Hare Clarke. Godwin died 4 Jul 1864.
6 Godwin Butler Meade Swifte born 24 Mar 1864 in Kilkenny was educated at St Columba's
College and Trinity College. He was declared the only legitimate son of Viscount, Carlingford
Godwin Meade Pratt Swift of Swift’s Heath, Co Kilkenny and his second wife Mary Jane Clarke.
His father died when he was just a few months old. He was a JP and DL and was high sheriff
of Kilkenny in 1892 and Carlow in 1902. In 1904 his father’s estate was contested by George
Godwin Barnham Swifte, a son from a previous marriage to Jane Anne Hopkins in
18 Mar 1845 at Liverpool. It was claimed that the children from this marriage were not
legitimate as this marriage was not legal as he already had a wife who was still living so it was
bigamous. (Maria Theresa, Baroness de Wetzlam of Austria did not die until 1859). An appeal
of 1912 was dismissed and Godwin Butler Meade Swifte remained the only legitimate heir of
his father.
Godwin married Elizabeth Natalie (Natalie) O’Brien at St Mary’s Donnybrook on 15 Jul 1909.
Natalie, seventeen years his junior, was the daughter of Jerome O’Brien, 28th Regiment and
Elizabeth Clarke of Bansha. She was the only niece of Lord Sir Peter O’Brien of Kilfenora, Chief
Justice of Ireland. Goodwin was also his nephew. Natalie was given away by her brother
Turlough. Godwin died at Kilkenny on 2 Dec 1923. Natalie bred and showed border terriers.
Natalie died at Eversham on 17 Aug 1949. The couple had no issue.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2022
Godwin Meade Pratt Swifte born circa 1806 took the defunct title Viscount Carlingford as his own.
Godwin married Maria Theresa Plankenstern, Baroness de Wetzlar of Austria at Paris in 1830 after
the birth of their son Ferdinando. They also married at the RC parish church of Loitsch in Austria
in 1833. He was generally known and called himself Lord Carlingford. Maria died in 30 Jan 1859
aged 48 and was buried in Vienna.
1 Ferdinando Swifte born circa 1830.
Godwin secondly married Jane Anne Hopkins on 18 Mar 1845 at Liverpool after an non legal
ceremony some years earlier. Godwin returned with his family from the continent in 1845 to take
up residence at Swiftesheath. Janes died at Lionsden, Castle Rickard in 1848 and was buried in the
family vault.
2 Julia Ianthe Swifte of born 4 Jun 1842 at 18 Charlemont Mall baptised at St Peter’s, Dublin.
She married Dr Thomas Austin O’Flaherty, an eminent London Physician in 1861 at
Marylebone.
1 Austin Ronald O’Flaherty born circa 1870.
3 Harold Godwin Mossom Swifte born circa 1844 died a bachelor from typhoid on 19 Jun 1888
at the Royal City of Dublin Hospital in Baggot Street late of 56 Waterloo Road. He was buried
at Mount Jerome.
4 Longueville Swifte born 9 May 1845 at Batesville, Upper Rathmines was baptised at St Peter’s
on 28 Apr 1847. He joined the RIC and died a pauper at the South Union workhouse in 1871.
5 George Godwin Barnham Swifte born 10 Feb 1847 at Rathmines went to Canada. He was with
the merchant services and married Louis Marguerite Reid, a widow on 20 Oct 1903 at St
Peter’s Church, Dublin. Louise was the daughter of Edward Bulkeley Swift and was his first
cousin. He took a action against his father’s estate in 1905, lost, appealed and lost again. He
died 8 Feb 1928 at 56 Waterloo Road and was buried close to his uncle Edward Swifte’s grave at
Mt Jerome. Louisa died 26 Oct 1929 and was buried with her husband. They had no issue.
In 1854, Godwin Swifte patented what he called "an aerial screw" or propeller which, according to a local
newspaper, "was the complete solution to the problem of aerial navigation. He designed this aerial
chariot which was built in the dining room of his house. He had to widen the doors so that it could be
moved outside. It had a boat-shaped carriage with one wheel in front and two behind; the silk-covered
wings were ‘a network of lengthened square shapes’. It was drawn by horse to Foulksrath Castle,
hoisted to the battlements and then it plummeted to the ground with the butler on board.
Godwin thirdly married Mary Jane Clarke on 4 Feb 1863 at Kilkenny and declared himself a widower.
Mary was the daughter of Robert Hare Clarke. Godwin died 4 Jul 1864.
6 Godwin Butler Meade Swifte born 24 Mar 1864 in Kilkenny was educated at St Columba's
College and Trinity College. He was declared the only legitimate son of Viscount, Carlingford
Godwin Meade Pratt Swift of Swift’s Heath, Co Kilkenny and his second wife Mary Jane Clarke.
His father died when he was just a few months old. He was a JP and DL and was high sheriff
of Kilkenny in 1892 and Carlow in 1902. In 1904 his father’s estate was contested by George
Godwin Barnham Swifte, a son from a previous marriage to Jane Anne Hopkins in
18 Mar 1845 at Liverpool. It was claimed that the children from this marriage were not
legitimate as this marriage was not legal as he already had a wife who was still living so it was
bigamous. (Maria Theresa, Baroness de Wetzlam of Austria did not die until 1859). An appeal
of 1912 was dismissed and Godwin Butler Meade Swifte remained the only legitimate heir of
his father.
Godwin married Elizabeth Natalie (Natalie) O’Brien at St Mary’s Donnybrook on 15 Jul 1909.
Natalie, seventeen years his junior, was the daughter of Jerome O’Brien, 28th Regiment and
Elizabeth Clarke of Bansha. She was the only niece of Lord Sir Peter O’Brien of Kilfenora, Chief
Justice of Ireland. Goodwin was also his nephew. Natalie was given away by her brother
Turlough. Godwin died at Kilkenny on 2 Dec 1923. Natalie bred and showed border terriers.
Natalie died at Eversham on 17 Aug 1949. The couple had no issue.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2022