Sir John Barnewall (Recorder of Dublin)

Sir John Barnewall (c.1635-c.1705) was an Irish landowner, barrister and judge, who held several judicial offices, including that of Recorder of Dublin 1687-9.^[1]

Background

He was born in County Meath, a member of the junior (Crickstown) branch of the prominent Barnewall family, which held the title Baron Trimlestown. His grandfather, Patrick Barnewall, was the first of the Barnewall Baronets; John was the second son of Sir Richard Barnewall, 2nd Baronet, and Julia, daughter of Sir Gerald Aylmer,1st Baronet of Donadea, County Kildare.

Career

He entered the Inner Temple in 1673 and the King's Inns in 1678. His practice as a barrister seems to have been lucrative, since while his father had suffered heavy losses during the English Civil War, and only recovered a fraction of his estates at the Restoration, John was able to purchase Ballybrittan Castle, near Edenderry, County Offaly.

Since the Barnewall family were staunch Roman Catholics, John was acceptable as a judge to the Catholic King James II. In 1687 he was knighted, and became Third Serjeant and Recorder of Dublin. In 1689 he became a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). After the downfall of James's cause at the Battle of the Boyne, John was removed from office,^[2] but his wealth and family connections protected him from any other reprisals by the new regime, which in any case was inclined to be conciliatory towards its former opponents if they would undertake to be of good behaviour.

Family and descendants

He married Thomasine Preston, daughter of Anthony Preston, 2nd Viscount Tara. Their only daughter and heiress Mary married in 1703 her cousin John Barnewall, 11th Baron Trimlestown.^[3] He died in 1746, she lived until 1771. They had ten children, including

• Robert Barnewall, 12th Baron Trimlestown (c.1704-1779)
• Anthony Barnewall (1721-1739), an army officer. He was said to be a young man of "great promise": he entered the Austrian service, and was killed, aged only eighteen, at the Battle of Grocka
• Richard, father of Nicholas, 14th Baron Trimlestown
• Margaret, who married James Butler, 8th Viscount Mountgarret
• Thomasine, who married Janico Preston, 10th Viscount Gormanston
• Bridget, who married Robert Martyn of Ballynahinch Castle.

References

1. Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol. 1 p. 365
2. Hart, A. R. History of the King's Serjeant-at-law in Ireland Dublin Four Courts Press 2000 p.162
3. Mosley, ed. Burke's Peerage 107th edition Delaware 2003 Vol. 2 p.1601

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