Another Hungerford Letter: the Nohoval Inheritance

Editor: This article was originally printed in HAFS Journal Vol 6 No 3 (May 2002). It’s contents have some relevance to our recent analysis of Emanuel Hungerford’s ancestors, which includes the Daunts.

The following letter is in the possession of Patricia Whitney of Co Cork, Ireland, who was recently kind enough to allow our Member, Kathleen Tomkins, to visit and copy some of her family records. Like other letters printed in recent journals, this document shows the surprising extent to which members of the large Hungerford family were aware of each other.

More information on the Whitney family will be forthcoming in later issues of the Journal, but this letter is printed separately as it is of particular interest to the Australian Hungerfords as it sheds some light on the property Nohoval. Captain Emanuel Hungerford’s descendants have long maintained it was from this place that the family emigrated to Australia, and many of the family have given the name ‘Nohoval’ to their children and houses. We hope that Kathleen will continue to turn up more such wonderful information on our forebears!

Farside Villa
Rostellan
Midleton
May 2nd 1906

My dear Willie

I received your letter in due course. I fear I cannot give you the information you require, as I have no papers in connection with the Nohoval or Skibbereen property, which belonged to Hungerford, your grandfather. Neither do I know anything about Rachel Daunt you mention. It was not through those people that my father inherited his portion of the property, but from his uncle George Daunt. The Hungerfords which owned Nohoval, were what were known as The Burrin Hungerfords one of whom was your Grandfather. He and old Susan Beamish were brother and sister, that is how you came to be related to the Beamishes. Your grandfather owned portion of Nohoval & Emanuel Hungerford the other part. which Dr. Sealy now holds. I should say the case would depend on the wording of your Mother’s marriage settlement as to whether she had power to give the right of disposal to her children, or whether this lady Rachel Daunt you spoke had power to give her that right. I believe (as in the case of Henry) she
had absolute control and influence over her husband W.F. Daunt and could get him to do anything she wished. I know my father got none of property belonging W.F. Daunt as my Grandfather and the old Lady had difference, the result of which was my father, although her grandson got left out and what she could leave went to your Mother her grand-Daughter. As I dare say you know your Grandmother married two Hungerfords, your grandfather and mine. That is how the mix up comes in. I am very sorry I cannot give you more information, I would do so gladly if I had it, but as I told you, I know nothing about your side of the matter. I hope you will succeed with your case, as I think it very hard to have the property belonging to your Mother going to the Beamishes. Good Luck, kindest regards from all to you & yours

I remain
Yours Sincerely
T W Hungerford

W.S. Whitney Esq
Nohoval

People mentioned in the text:

Beamish, Susan (Hungerford) — ‘Old Susan Beamish’ was born Susan Becher Hungerford in 1809, daughter of Richard Hungerford who married his first cousin Jane Hungerford, and thereby granddaughter of both Thomas Hungerford (d 1790) of the Island and his brother John Hungerford (d 1802) of Burren. Her uncle Emanuel and brother Becher emigrated to Australia. In 1829 she married Richard Beamish and had 14 children. She died in 1903 in her early 90s. Her daughter Jane Hungerford Beamish married her distant cousin Henry Hungerford Whitney (1825-1906), eldest son of William Whitney and Anne Daunt Hungerford.

‘Burrin Hungerfords’ — The family of John Hungerford (d 1802) who married in 1777 Anne Daunt (d 1805) were known as the Hungerfords of Burren, to distinguish them from the family of John’s elder brother Thomas who inherited the Island. John and Anne had six sons: Richard, Thomas, Henry, John, Becher and Emanuel.

Daunt, George — Great-uncle of Thomas William Hungerford, author of the letter. He was presumably a brother of Joanna Knolles (nee Daunt) Hungerford and appears to have left the Daunt family estates at Willow Hill, Carrigaline to his sister’s only son Thomas William Hungerford (1815-1882).

Daunt, Rachel (nee Knolles) — This woman was the daughter of Thomas Knolles (1719-1770) and Joanna Callaghan, and granddaughter of Thomas Knolles (1693-1756) and Catherine Hungerford, daughter of Richard Hungerford (d 1729) of the Island. She was married to William Fuller Daunt (see below) and was mother of Joanna Knolles (nee Daunt) Hungerford (see below). Clearly she was a force to be reckoned with!

Daunt, William Fuller — This man was the son of Samuel Daunt and Elizabeth Fuller, and descended from the Daunts of Owlpen, Gloucestershire. He married Rachel Knolles (see above) and was father of Joanna Knolles (nee Daunt) Hungerford (see below). He lived at Willow Hill, near Carrigaline.

Hungerford, Emanuel — The Emanuel Hungerford mentioned in the text is surely Captain Emanuel Hungerford (1785-1872) who emigrated to New South Wales in 1828. He was the uncle of Anne Daunt (nee Hungerford) Whitney through the marriage of his brother Henry (d 1808) to Joanna Knolles Daunt.

Hungerford, TW (author of letter) — Thomas William Hungerford (1850-1928) was son of Thomas William Hungerford (1815-1875) of Willow Hill, Carrigaline, Cork, by his wife Letitia O’Hea (c 1853); grandson of Thomas Hungerford (d 1849) of Bromley, Cork, by his wife Joanna Knolles Daunt (d 1817); and great-grandson of Thomas Hungerford (d 1790) of the senior line of the Island Hungerfords. He married Margaret O’Sullivan in 1881, and had one daughter Letitia (1882-1971).

Sealy, Dr — This would refer to a member of the Sealy family, who were doubly connected to the Hungerfords. In 1794 Robert Sealy (d 1826) married as his second wife Anne Hungerford, sister of Captain Emanuel Hungerford and aunt of Anne Daunt (nee Hungerford) Whitney. Their second son Winthrop Baldwin Sealy (1806-1887) married in 1836 Susan Jane Hungerford, daughter of Richard Hungerford (?1775-1833) and Frances Eyre Becher, of the senior line of the Island Hungerfords. Many of Captain Emanuel’s descendants carry the forename ‘Sealy’.

Whitney, Anne Daunt (Hungerford) (1807-1861) — She was the only child and heir of Henry Hungerford (d 1808), son of John Hungerford and Ann Daunt, by his wife Joanna Knolles Daunt (d 1817). She was raised in the guardianship of her grandmother Rachel (nee Knolles) Daunt (see above). At her marriage in 1824 to William Whitney (1796-1889), she inherited freehold estates at Lisalongherry near Skibbereen, and at Rayness and Nohoval near Kinsale, Co Cork. The Whitneys had five children, and are buried in a family plot at Nohoval church.

Whitney, WS (recipient of letter) — William Studdy Whitney (1840-1919) was fifth child of William Whitney (1796-1889) and Anne Daunt Hungerford (1807-1861), and grandson of Henry Hungerford (d 1808) and Joanna Knolles Daunt (d 18I7). He was therefore great-nephew of Captain Emanuel Hungerford (1785-1872), and half-cousin of the letter’s author. He married Anne Hudson and had three children.