Major Denis Bingham's son William birth information

[Bob Queensland]

Thanks guys
I'll have to reorganise my searching, I had been reaching into Castlebar, the village of Leitrim sounds quite promising.
I'll have to sit down and digest the timely information you have posted. Honestly, I'm a touch lost, The Tollet connection is one that I hadn't enviseaged at all.
Again Thanks, Bob

[CBGenealogy]

I've just read the entire 49 page thread because I am researching the Binghams for a client who descends from Louisa Bingham who married Villiers Bussy Fowler and is recorded in several newspaper articles as the third daughter of Major Bingham of Bingham's Castle. Louisa died in a shipwreck in Dorset in 1872 & various reports give her age as 72.

I wanted to note a few points. I've also looked at the Bingham memoirs online and Theresa Bingham-Daly's book. I'm a professional genealogist in Ireland.

There's obviously more than one Denis Bingham but only one known was Major (though no evidence he ever achieved that rank). A number of these posts and other sources on the internet seem to conflate multiple same-named men.

Burkes/Debretts etc give limited information on him and all only name one daughter called Anne who married her first cousin Robert Augustus Bingham in 1817. None of them name his wife nor say when he died or a DOB. Denis's parents were married in 1761 so it does seem likely he was born in that decade or early in the next. However, it would be surprising for him to live as late as 1842 in this time period. That's a long life for a military man who seems to get in lots of trouble. It also means that Louisa was born quite late in life for him.

I'm interested in the source of the information that shows Katherine Geraghty to be the mother of Anne and Louisa. I've seen on some Ancestry trees but they have no sources. I would expect Geraghty to be a Catholic surname in this time period and while mixed marriage did happen, certainly with younger sons, it is not terribly likely that Denis would have done so. Penal laws for Catholics still existed at this stage and it would not have been in his interests to associate with a Catholic woman.

Also, there is no place called Leitrim in Mayo. Leitrim is a separate county. See here: https://www.townlands.ie/search/?q=leitrim

Given the paucity of the records for the period, we're unlikely to find anything concrete to prove the mother, or where he is buried, but by far the most likely place was the churchyard where his father was buried, which was destroyed in the Civil War.

[CBGenealogy]

Just a note to add, I found the newspaper notice (Leitrim & Roscommon Gazette 19/3/1842) with Denis Bingham's death, so it seems he did live that late. Good for him!

[amac1210]

Earlier in the thread, Kathleenmary mentioned the following:

"Bridget Geraghty was born in Leitrim Village County Mayo. Perhaps Kitty was born here also.
There appears to be some family connection with the Tollett Family, who originally came up with Sir Arthur Shaen in the early 1700's. Rev John Tollett, as part of the protestant settlement was given lands in perpetuity.

Some family history (I am following this up) says that Bridget and Katherine were nieces of the Viscount of Mayo, Lord Francis Tollett of Moyrahan, and cousins of Lord William Tollett of Mayo 1780-1849."

That makes Katherine Geraghty the niece of Lord Francis Tollett. I don't know the exact source, but that wouldn't be impossible. Catholic and Protestant names aren't fixed in history. In any case, I thought the Tollett connection would be the next aspect to research thoroughly, then the specific details might reveal themselves. There might have been a village in Mayo named for Co. Leitrim - but it could be difficult to find. If it never existed, I suppose it would have to be Co. Leitrim, as you suggest? I've had trouble in the past trying to find townlands that no longer exist, in my research.

On the point about lifespan, it hasn't really changed, all that has changed is life expectancy. Rameses II (13th century BC) made it to 93 years, Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century AD) made it to 82. If you had the means, and the general hygiene that entailed, you'd have a good shot at the 80s-90s. It's just that more of us are making it to that ceiling today. I noted that Major Bingham died in a "shooting accident", so he may well have made it farther had he taken it a bit more easy!

[Bob Queensland]

Hi guys, as yet I have found no further proof of William's mother, ie Major Denis wife or mistress. The Geraghty and Kelly paths I have been unable to confirm.
The major made the rank of Captain prior to building Binghamstown and was known locally as the Major taking on the next rank in retirement as was practice at the time.
Thank you for the information on Louise as I had only her birth date, none of the three girls seemed to list a mother on their birth records, only a father as Denis.
Denis and William have numerous quotes in court and newspapers as being father and illegitament son but I fail to understand Denis not listing a mother for any of the children.
I have no location for Major Denis gravesite, as the castle was but a ruin of foundation stones by the time of his death, also have found no evidence of his dying by shooting incident in any Dublin or other gazette. Also note that his father Henry's grave at the castle seemed to have disappeared along with the gravestone and its unique alteration.
Again thank you all for the information collected, some has made its way to my exhaustive Bingham family spreadsheet.

[Kathleenmary]

Hi

I have confirmed that Bridget and Katherine Geraghty's mother was Ellen Tollett.

Ellen's father was Lord William Tollett, Earl of Mayo. Ellen's brother (and Bridget and Catherine's Uncle) was Lord Frances Tollett. Their cousin John Tollett esq of Belmullet. Nothing is known of their father (Geraghty) Ellen's husband, at least not in my family.

anyone know anything about the Tolletts?

[Bob Queensland]

Hi Kathleenmary,
Thanks for your update, I am keen to pursue Ellen's daughter Kitty as wife/mistress of Maj Denis and or mother of my William.
I am spending all of November in Tassie exploring and a little research may fill a few evenings, did you find any birth documentation on Kitty or Bridget?

[EBT]

Hi Bob, My name is Elizabeth and I have just read quite a bit of your 49 pages as I was looking for information on Doolough Lodge. I placed an offer on it last week and it was accepted. What a small world. Best regards on your quest E

[hanes teulu]

Looks as if this is going to run and run.

There's a paper with the British Museum published the Jan- Apr period, 1849 about a £50,000 fund for Irish distress. It relates to the failure by some to pay rates (defaulters).

"Two quotations from the defaulters lists, furnished by the poor law inspector for Ballina,, will prove the accuracy of our assertions.
1. "Denis Bingham, Esq, Bingham's Town, £__* 17s 6 1/2d. Independently of this amount, there is an execution against Mr Bingham's body for the former rates due by him". He is the largest landowner in the Barony; the only magistrate in it; and has never paid any rates at all. Law procedings have been going on against him since 1847, which hitherto have proved futile, and the expense of which the government must eventually pay.
2. "Mrs William Bingham, Belmullet, £41 8s. Mrs Bingham has hardly the means of supporting herself. Some tenants, who possess stock, have lately taken farms from her. The collector will distrain the lands as soon as he can legally do so".

* - figure illegible