Tuesday 18 October 2022

Kennedy of Cultra

This branch of the noble house of AILSA left Ayrshire in 1668, and settled in County Down, at Cultra, where they remained.

DR HUGH KENNEDY (c1628-c1685), of Ballycultra, County Down, married Mary, daughter of Arthur Upton.

Dr Kennedy, a distinguished medical practitioner in Belfast during the 17th century, was physician to the 1st Earl of Donegall, who bequeathed him "£50 sterling a year (about £10,500 today) for four years, to commence within a year of my death".

The youngest son,

JOHN KENNEDY, who purchased the estate of Cultra from the Earl of Clanbrassil in 1671.

Mr Kennedy wedded Martha, daughter of William Stewart, of Ballylawn, County Donegal, and aunt of Robert, 1st Earl of Londonderry, and was father of

HUGH KENNEDY (1711-63), of Cultra, who espoused, in 1741, Mabel, daughter of John Curtis, of Dublin, and  had issue,
JOHN, of whom presently;
Mary, m, 1774, J Crawford, of Crawfordsburn.
Hugh Kennedy (Image: Ulster Folk Museum)

Mr Kennedy was succeeded by his son, 

JOHN KENNEDY JP (1746-1801), of Cultra, High Sheriff of County Down, 1769, who wedded Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev Henry Cole (brother of 1st Lord Mount Florence) by Mary his wife, daughter of Sir Arthur Brooke Bt, and had issue,
HUGH, his heir;
Henry, died in India;
John, of Dunbrody;
Arthur, Lieutenant-Colonel;
Longford, East India Company;
William, Deputy Military Auditor-General of Bengal;
Alexander, Captain RN;
Charles Pratt, Political Agent at Simla;
Thomas;
Robert, Colonial Secretary of Bermuda;
Selina; another daughter.
John Kennedy (Image: Ulster Folk Museum)

Mr Kennedy, who, after the death of the 8th Earl of Cassilis, was a claimant for the title, was succeeded by his eldest son,

HUGH KENNEDY JP (1775-1852), of Cultra, High Sheriff of County Down, 1802, who married firstly, in 1800, Grace Dorothea, only child of Thomas Hughes, and granddaughter of Sir Edward Newenham MP, and had issue,
John Hughes, died 1839;
ROBERT STEWART, of whom presently;
Thomas Henry, d 1864;
Arthur Edward (Sir), GCMG CB;
William Hugh, Captain RN;
George Augustus;
Elizabeth Selina; Frances Matilda; Grace; Emily Jane; Dorothea.
Mr Kennedy wedded secondly, in 1824, Sophia, daughter of William Low, by Sophia his wife, daughter of Richard, 4th Viscount Boyne, and had further issue,
Frederick;
Hugh;
Sophia Jane; Georgina; Edith; Florence; Augusta.
He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

ROBERT STEWART KENNEDY (1807-54), of Cultra, who espoused, in 1849, Anne Catherine, only daughter of Michael Edward Ward, of Bangor Castle, County Down, by his wife, the Lady Matilda Stewart, daughter of Robert, 1st Marquess of Londonderry, and had issue,
ROBERT JOHN, his heir;
Edward Henry (1854-57);
Grace Emily (1850-1938), died unmarried.
Mr Kennedy was succeeded by his elder son and heir,

SIR ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY KCMG JP DL, of Cultra (1851-1936), who married, in 1883, Bertha Jane Ward, daughter of Henry William, 5th Viscount Bangor, and had issue,
Mary Grace Enid, b 1884;
Bertha Catherine Maud, b 1885;
Matilda Kathleen, b 1888;
Lucy Emily Harriette, 1893-1969.
Cultra Manor

First published in July, 2014.

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