My great x 3 grandmother Catherine Annesley from Castle Wellan Kilmeggan, County Down married Neal  O'Donel (O'Donnell) Baronet, of Newport County Mayo Ireland and so created the  Annesley O'Donnell  family from whom I descend.

The ancient family of Annesley were major landowners in County Down with 24,221 acres as part of  the  English landowner settlements in Ireland and system of forfeiture and regrant.  The Annesley surname began in a small villageacalled Notts to become  in Nottinghamshire UK and was named for a Celtic Chieftain named Anna who owned a meadow or lea thus "Anna's lea."  The name eventually became  Annesley in the anglocised version. Other versions are Ainslie, Anslie etc and other combinations.

A fine English Manor House called Annesley Hall was built and served as the seat for the Annesley  family from about 1068 until 1442.   see pic

The Annesley dynasty started with Richard Fitzhubert coming to UK from Normandy  with William the Conqueror and fought in Battle of Hastings for which he was rewarded with land called "Anna's Lea" or field, in the village of Notts,  owned by a Celtic Chieftain. 1068 Property recorded in Domesday Book.   To become County of Nottingham when Richard took the title of de Annesley..  (Ainslie)  

600 years of increase and power with lands that increased into Ireland where they became a great House of that country.    Descendants include John Wesley, George Bush and  also HRH Charles. 

CASTLEWELLAN COUNTY DOWN IRELAND
Castle Wellan in County Down built for Earl Annesley with locally acquired granite. It is worth  about 3 million Australian dollars today.  The famous arboretum now a National treasure,  began in  the 1850's in the walled garden  was transformed into a pleasure ground with terracing, flights of  steps and pools with dolphin supported basins.  Much exotic planting was undertaken and increased  in 1874 by the 5th Earl Annesley.  He devoted himself to adding conservatories, a Moorish tower on  an elevated spot to enjoy the view of the mountains.   There were over 3000 different species of  rare plants from all over the world thriving in the hospitable climate. 

William Annesley 1709-1770
 was 6th son of Francis Annesley of Thorganby.  Having a passion for building and gardening he purchased Castlewellan Estate in 1741 , having been an honest and successful barrister in Dublin. MP for Cork in Irish Parliament.  Making a good marriage he had flourished.  He retired as a Baron and became 1st Viscount Glerawley.
 
. FRANCIS CHARLES ANNESLEY  1740-1782 2ND Viscount Glerawley 
1772 he purchased Mount Panther but remained childless from his marriage.  1789 he became 1st Earl Annesley.
He entered a bigamist married with Sophia Conor, wife of his brother Richard's gardener.  He had arranged a remainder for him to be the heir.   He had several illegitimate children by his mistresses.  Upon his demise Sophia had made claim on his estate but to no avail and settled for an annuity...The marriage not deemed legal she had no legal rights.  Today she would be a de facto wife and would have succeeded in her claim, perhaps.  

RICHARD Beresford ANNESLEY 2ND EARL 3rd VISCOUNT GLERAWLEY, 3rd BARON
MY 5 X GREAT GRANDFATHER
Richard had added a summer house at Castlewellan.  The original Gothic Temple is gone along with the original house.     Married the heiress Anne LAMBERT by whom  he had several children including my 4 x GREAT GRANDMOTHER CATHERINE O'DONNELL NEE ANNESLEY who married Baronet NEAL O'DONNELL OF NEWPORT COUNTY MAYO.. 

In 1852 a new house was built in the Scottish Baronial style by William Burns for 4th Earl William Annesley. 
Long after our great grandparents were living there...


The family like the O'DONNELLs tended to live mainly in Dublin where business was conducted.  Barristers and MPs of Parliament and other duties.  





see Dill Gamble O'Donnell website for further information.

"KIDNAPPED"
 I have discovered that Jemmy (James) Annesley  whose life story was the basis of the Robert Louis Stevenson "Kidnapped"  Other publications more or less loosely based on the myth was the son of   my great x 6  uncle Altham Annesley. His brother Richard Annesley was my direct great x 6  grandfather.

It has transpired through research that indeed it was based on a true story  rather than the  fiction that it had long thought to be. "Birthright" by A Roger Ekirch traces the real story and  subsequent court proceedings for Jemmy Annesley to grab back his rightful title but due to his  untimely demise, never  took full advantage of.  A long protracted legal battle left him and his  adversary, his scurrilous Uncle Dick, both depleted financially. Jemmy died of a lung disease just  after his marriage and never did take his rightful title.   Truth is stranger than fiction!!

PIERREPONT FAMILY

LE POER (POWER)
 The Power family came to Ireland with Henry 2nd and the Anglo Norman invasion. 8 years later  extensive lands were granted to Robert Le Poer, joint governor of Ireland with Hugh de Lacy.

MANNOURS (MANVERS)

This website is as true and correct as within my powers to be so. Always updating and editing....

seahorse19@hotmail.com
 Christine Denshire Challis 2016