In 1671, Richard Musgrave, yeoman from Woortly, parish of Leeds, County of York, England granted his lands in Woortly to his son Richard (PP/CHLY/1) and his son Richard sold this land to Richard Fountain, embroiderer, City of London in 1709 and moved to Lismore, County Waterford. He lived first at Lismore Castle, then in Cappoquin, parish of Lismore and Mocollop before settling in Salterbridge, parish of Lismore and Mocollop, County Waterford. Richard had two sons Richard and Christopher both of whom predeceased him and two daughters, Jennet and Susanna. Jennet Musgrave married Anthony Chearnley (PP/CHLY/13). They had seven children, Elizabeth, Richard, Anthony, Mary, John, Joseph and Samuel. Anthony Chearnley was a noted artist and engraver. His drawings were used to illustrate Charles Smith’s History of Waterford, 1746 and he is mentioned in the Dictionary of Irish Artists, Strickland.
Following the deaths of his two sons, Richard Musgrave left his estate in Salterbridge to his grandson Richard Chearnley. Richard Chearnley died in 1791 before marrying and his estate was inherited by his eldest brother Anthony Chearnley who had already inherited his father Athony Chearnley’s estates in County Tipperary. The collection largely relates to Anthony Chearnley who lived mainly in Salterbridge, County Waterford. Anthony Chearnley served as High Sheriff to the County of Waterford in 1809 (PP/CHLY/32). On the death of Anthony Chearnley in 1842 the estate was inherited by his eldest son Richard. Richard Chearnley married Mary Cotton in 1844 (PP/CHLY/46). On his death the estate was inherited by Captain William Chearnley, Kilbree, County Waterford. Captain William Chearnley spent time c.1850 in Nova Scotia, Canada. He died in 1863 and the estate was then inherited by Major Henry Philip Chearnley and from him to his son Henry John Chearnley.
Archival History ↴
The records for this Descriptive List were found among the papers of the Earls of Ross, Birr Castle, County Offaly by Anthony Malcolmson of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. They were deposited first with Waterford County Library and transferred to Waterford County Archive on its establishment in 1998. There is no indiation of any relationship between the Chearnley family and Earls of Ross and no explanation for how the collection came to reside among the papers of the Earls of Ross.
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Donation
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: Musgrave and Chearnley Families ↴
Papers relating to the landed estates of the Musgrave and Chearnley families, County Waterford. The collection contains leases for the estate mainly relating to the townlands of Salterbridge, Mountain Castle, Modelligo; Bewly; Killeagh; Knockaunbrandaun; Springfield; Kilbryen; Dungarvan; Killoseragh; Kilbree; Fadduaga; Glountain; Lackendarra; Vicarstown; Garranes; Ballymacarbry; Kilconey; Ballygarron; Geenane; Millstreet; Dyrick all County Waterford but also including lands in the Commons of Clonmel, County Tipperary. The collection contains records of a court case brought by Anthony Chearnley against Richard Power regarding commonage rights in Mountain Castle, Modelligo, parish of Lismore and Mocollop, County Waterford (PP/CHLY/157, 160, 167, 352-355). Also includes legal opinion regarding the hunting rights of Anthony Chearnley in 1826 (PP/CHLY/34). There is also legal opinion of 1788 with regard to the legal right of Susanna English nee Musgrave to an annuity of £100 granted by her father Richard English in her marriage settlement and in his will. States that as her husband is her “paymaster” he cannot be forced to pay her this annuity (PP/CHLY/245). Records the civil unrest in Upper Vicarstown, parish of Modeligo, County Waterford in 1808 in a bond of good behaviour with James and Thomas Hasset, farmers (PP/CHLY/325).
Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention
Arrangement ↴
The collection has been arranged in three sections.
A: relating to the Musgrave and Chearnley family
B: relating to the finances of members of the Musgrave and Chearnley families
C: relating to lands and tenants on the lands. This has been arranged in order of the extent of the interests of the Musgrave and Chearnley families with the main estates of the families appearing first followed by those in which they had a minor interest.
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
Full Access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Permission from archivist required.
Creation Dates
1671-1915
Extent Medium
355 items
Material Language Script
English
Characteristics Tech Req
Some difficulty may be experienced in reading early deeds and leases. Contact archivist for assistance.
Some documents have been digitised on www.waterfordcoco.ie and on www.learnaboutarchives.ie
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
Joanne Rothwell
Rules/Conventions
IGAD: Irish Guidelines for Archival Description. Dublin: Society of Archivists, Ireland, 2009.
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997.
