FORBES Family
Forbes - Forever Changing Longford
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Background on Forbes family
Arthur Forbes first shows up as a Captain in Co. Cavan during the initial planting, around 1615. In 1619 he marries Jane Lauder, widow of Claud Hamilton, who was a plantation undertaker in Tullyhunco Barony, Co. Cavan. Lands are held in trust for Hamilton's son Francis.
Arthur Forbes Sr. received his grant for a plantation in parts of Co. Longford and Co. Leitrim (exact wording below) around 1623. The Grant referred to several different areas within Co. Longford, but Parish Clongish in the northwest was especially important. He is created a barronet in 1626, and dies in a duel in 1632 in Hamburg, where he was leading a regiment which had been in the service of Sweden.
The land was confirmed by Charles I in 1637 to his son, Sir Arthur Forbes. In 1641 Castle Forbes came under siege, with Lady Jane Lauder in residence. Her son attempted to relieve her, but was unsuccessful. Eventually the garrison and Lady Jane were allowed to leave for Scotland. The son, Sir Arthur Forbes Jr., fought under Montrose there. After two years in prison in Edinburgh Castle he was released, and in 1651 joined another Scottish military group fighting on behalf of the new king in exile, James II. After this collapsed, he left Scotland for his Irish estates in Castle Forbes and area.
He was judged never to have been in rebellion in Ireland, so was allowed to retain his estates there.
Download a FOUR GENERATION REPORT on the family of the original Arthur Forbes
Sir Arthur Forbes (Jr.) returns to Ireland in 1655.
In 1661 the family were grant additional lands in Mullingar and parts of Longford, and he was appointed one of the Claims Commissioners. He was later appointed Marshall in the British Army in Ireland, and was one of the Lords Justices 1671 and 1673.
He was created "Baron Clanehugh" 1675. He laid claim to lands in Dublin in 1676 and built a manor in Co. Leitrim in 1676. In 1684 he was titled "Earl of Granard", and that year raised the 18th Royal Irish Regt. He died in 1696.
Sir Arthur Forbes (3rd Baronnet, 2nd Earl) succeeded him at age 40. He remained loyal to Charles II on principle, and for this was deprived of the command of his regiment, the 18th Royal Irish Regt. and imprisoned in the Tower of London on at least two occasions during periods of instability. He retired to Dublin eventually, and died in 1734.
Sir George Forbes was called to the House of Lords in 1717, long before his father died. He went by the name of Lord Forbes, was an eminent admiral, and and Ambassador to the Court of Muscovy. Just as important, he was a far better businessman than his father, and restored financial stability to the Longford estates after an extended period of mismanagement there by his father and an unreliable manager.
Sources:
George Hill's Plantation of Ulster
Burke's Peerage
Memoirs of the Earls of Granard
Grant to Forbes in Co. Longford - 1623
VIII - 12. - Grant to Arthur, James and Robert Forbes, natives of Scotland, to be free denizens, and to have all the benefits, franchises, and privileges of the kingdom of Ireland with a grant to
Arthur Forbes - LEITRIM co. The town and lands of Aghanohunsine 24 a. pasture and 60 a. bog and wood; Mogher, 12 a. pasture and 30 a. bog and wood; Greaghtrohane 12 a. pasture and 60 a. bog and wood; Clounicbegg 24 a. pasture and 60 a. bog and wood; Aleeduffe 12 a. pasture and 30 a. bog and wood; Clonemorris, Killinebrick, Aghowlebane, Dengen, and Knockegawer, 152 a. pasture and 110 a. bog and wood; Clonciagh 4 a, barony of Mohill; rent for the 500 a pasture £8 6 sh. 8 d. Ir., and for the 670 a. bog and wood 6 sh 9 1/2 d.- LONGFORD co. The town and lands of Clongise, 120 a. pasture and 298 a. bog and wood; Ballinibrien [Brianstown], Quinerin, Lisse [Lismoy], and Canrenallin 393 a. pasture and 299 a. bog and wood; Tooreboy [Tremboy?], Lisnegard [Lissagernal?], Corre [Corry], and Dronineshee 42 a. pasture and 31 a. bog and wood; and also 65 a. pasture and 40 a. bog and wood in the lands of Lishbrack and Corvalane, excepting 20 a. pasture adjacent to the church of Clongise, barony of Longford; rent for the 600 a. pasture £7 10 sh. Eng. and for 660 a. bog and wood 13sh 11p..
James Forbes - LONGFORD co. The town and lands of Sorn, 126 a. pasture and 380 a. bog and wood; Derryluluan, 74 a. pasture and 37 a. bog and wood, barony of Longford; rent for the 200 a. pasture 2 sh 10d Eng. and for the 417 a. bog and wood 8 sh. 8 1/2d.
Robert Forbes - LONGFORD co. The town and lands of Dromeelie [Drumlish], 83 a.; Corgarow [Corragarrow], 29 a. pasture and 22 a. bog and wood; Ewkyneowire, 44 a. pasture and 118 a. bog; more in the same 13 a., and also 31 a. pasture and 17 a. bog and wood in the lands of Breaghwy adjoining Ewkyneontra, barony of Granard; rent for the 200 a. pasture £2 10 sh. Eng., and for the 147 a. bog and wood 3 sh 3 1/2d.
- All the lands in the county of Longford created the manor of Castleforbes, with courts-leet and view of frank-pledge, and courts-baron; power to create seneschals and other officers, with jurisdiction in all actions for debt, covenant and trespass where the damages do not exceed 40 sh. Ir.: to enjoy all waifs and strays; to have free warren and chase, with all tithes great and small; excepting all ancient glebes, rectories and vicarages. To hold a Thursday market an Clongise, and one fair on the feast of St. Bartholomew the apostle (24 August) and the day after, for ever, with a court of pie-powder and the usual tolls and customs; rent 10 sh. Eng.
- To hold in free and common soccage; subject to the conditions, provisions, limitations and agreements, as undertakers of the plantation of Longford and Leitrim
- 1 April, 20th [20th year of reign of James I - 1623]
in Patent Rolls of James I (Vol. 9) p. 540, 541
note: square brackets indicate likely modern townland name