My interest in the family of Charlton, of Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly, and formerly of Curraghtown, alias Mount Charlton, Co. Meath, was first aroused by a letter written by my great-great aunt, Miss Kitty Young, to my mother, Eva Exshaw, in 1898; it contained much inaccurate genealogical information, but was sufficiently close to the bone to enable me to draw up a limited pedigree of the Charltons, with the aid of Alumni Dublinensis and Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland.

Years later the O'Donoghue of the Glens put me in touch with Frederick Charlton who sent me all the information on the family of which he was possessed. About the same time a query in the Irish Genealogist caused me to write to Mr. Edward Gray, F.I.G.R,S., who had done a great deal of research on the Charltons, and who kindly sent me many of his papers and much information about Charlton's Charity.

Curiously enough, I discovered that the father of a friend of mine had been Secretary to the Charity; this was the late Major Claude Chaloner, His son gave me the original report on it, by the Lords Justices and Privy Council in Ireland, dated 28th June, 1895. Inspection of the Charlton tombstones and that of the late O'Donoghue of the Glens, at Clonmacnoise, yielded further information, and particulars of the careers of several clergymen in the family have been kindly supplied by the Librarian, Representative Church Body, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.

I cannot find that this family had Arms registered, but the crest as used was that of Charlton of Hesleyside. Frederick Charlton told me that they used Arms, but he could not recollect what they were. I remember the late Deputy Ulster King of Arms, Mr. T. U. Sadleir, showing me an armorial carriage panel of the Clonmacnois Charltons, which he then had at Dublin Castle. Charlton is an uncommon name in the South of Ireland, but not so Counties Tyrone and Antrim.

John Charlton, of Aghabane, Co. Cavan, whose will was proved on 24th May, 1678, m. Sidney Hamilton, of Castle Hamilton, alias Killeshandra, Co.Cavan. They had five sons : -

  1. William Charlton, of Aghabane, m.-? and had two sons:
    (a) Captain William Charlton of Curraghtown, alias Mount Charlton, Co. Meath, who m. Margaret (b. 1671) dau. of Thomas Armstrong, in 1701. He died 1736, intestate (admon that year to his widow, son and daughter). They had one son and one daughter:
    (i) Thomas Charlton, of Curraghtown, b. 1702 and .d. unm. 1792. In 1789 he conveyed the house and demesne lands of Curragh town to his kinsman John Charlton, officer in the 60th Foot (see below) for the lives of the said John, his wife Elizabeth and son James. This action became the origin of a number of lawsuits of which more later.
    (i) Elizabeth Charlton, only dau. of Capt. William m. in 1733 Theobald Wolfe, B.L., Freeman of Dublin, 1749 (see "Wolfe of Fornaghts," BLGI [Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland]).
    (b)John Charlton, of St. Johnstown, of whom later.

  2. Venerable Andrew Charlton, Archdeacon of Ardagh; ordained 9th November, 1673; Rector of Killinkere, Co. Cavan (Kilmore diocese) 1682-1700; Chancellor of Armagh 1696-1724 He had issue:-
    (a) Rev. Arthur Charlton, M.A., Chaplain to the Duchess of Ornionde. He was born at Mullagh, entered T.C.D. 13th June, 1700 aged 15, scholar 1702, M.A. 1707; collated Vicar of Killan and of Knockbride, Co. Cavan, 11th May, 1708. Held these livings till his death in 1756.
    (b) Rev John Charltoni, Vicar of Denn and of Kildrumfirton both in the diocese of Kilmore and county of Cavan. Born in Longford and educated in Armagh, he entered T.C.D. 5th April, 1705 aged 16, and died in 1752.
    (c) Rev. Francis Charlton, M.A., curate in Kilmore parish, Co. Armagh, from 25th Sept., 1719. Born in Co. Longford and educated in Armagh, he entered T.C.D', on 13th May, 1710 aged 15; scholar 1712, M.A. 1717, ordained priest at Armagh on 20th September, 1717.
    (a) Ann Charlton, m William FitzHerbert of Sherwick in 1703.

  3. Rev. Arthur Charlton, b. Co. Cavan; entered T.C.D. 4th February, 1683 (N.S.) aged 18; B.A. 1687.

  4. Rev. Francis Charlton.

  5. John Charlton.

Of the last two nothing is known.

John Charlton of St. Johnstown, Co. Longford, second son of William of Aghabane, entered T. C.D. 11th May, 1698, aged 18, married Catherine -; died intestate in 1721. He evidently served in the regular army or the militia, but no details are available. He had by Catherine 3 sons and a daughter :-

  1. Hugh Charlton of St. Johnstown, d.s.p. by 1732. Mentioned in deeds of 1722, 1725 and 1732.

  2. Andrew, a barrister (One of the attorneys of H.M. Court of Exchequer, in Dublin.), died 1756, leaving by his wife Elizabeth Madden of Co. Armagh, a son Richard Charlton, who married and left a son Andrew, living in 1800, and heir at law to his grandfather's first cousin, Thomas of Curraghtown who d. in 1792 (see above).
  3. Richard, born at Longford, entered T.C.D. 25th May, 1721 aged 16; B.A. 1726. He is described in the admission register as son of John "dux rnilitum'', i.e., army officer.

  1. Catherine.

John Charlton, an officer in 'the 60th of Foot (ensign in 1760, lieutenant in 1777) was son either of Andrew or of Richard above, and grandson of John of St. Johnstown. He served with Wolfe at Quebec and is said to have been one of those officers in whose arms Wolfe died.

As I have said above, John Charlton under his father's first cousin's will, (i.e. Thomas Charlton's will) had conveyed to him in 1789 the house and dernesne lands of Curraghtown for three lives with a clause for renewal, but the rents and profits from the Charlton estates, which included Moat Lease, near Edgeworthstown, were to go into a Charity-to be called Charlton's Charity-to provide the sum of £6 16s. 6d. as a marriage portion to any common day labourer's sons resident in the Counties Meath or Longford, who were members of the Established Church.

Old Thomas Charlton appointed his nephew, the Rt. Hon. Arthur Wolfe, H.M. Attorney General, as his sole Executor, to whom he left £200. He also left a small legacy to' his servant, John Horan.

By Act of Parliament 1800, 40 Geo. 111-the Estate was vested in Trustees, and I know no more of the Charity affairs until 1837. By then various changes of intention had crept in, e.g. Roman Catholics were enjoying the £6 16s. 6d. marriage portion. This moved Captain James Wolfe Charlton, son of Ensign John, to institute proceedings in the Irish Court of Chancery. After protracted litigation the Charity was again exclusively devoted to Protestants. However, by 1874 there were not enough applicants and the capital had accumulated.

Counsels' opinion was sought and for some reason Mr. Woodward of Leinster Chambers, 43 Dame Street, Dublin, wrote the following letter to the Rev. James Charlton, grandson of Ensign John:-

17th April, 1874.

My Dear James,
In the case of the information relating to the Charlton Charity, you are made a defendant as heir at law, Would it be in your power to file an answer on oath that you are the heir at law of Thomas Charlton?
I find in the Act of Parliament for vesting the Estates of Thomas Charlton in Trustees, 40 Geo, III, which would be 1800, that when Thomas Charlton died in 1792 his heir at law was Andrew Charlton. Your father and grandfather are two of the witnesses to the will in 1792.
Can you say if when Andrew Charlton died he left no son and that you are descended from John Charlton, uncle of the Testator?
I have written out the pedigree as gathered from the Act of Parliament on the back of this sheet.

Yours faithfully,
(signed) M. W. (?) WOODWARD.

PEDIGREE

    (a) Father of Thomas Charlton:

    (b) Thomas Charlton, Testator, died unmarried and without issue, December, 1792

    (a) John Charlton:

    (b) Andrew Charlton, eldest son, dead in 1800

    (c) Richard Charlton, eldest son, dead in 1800

    (d) Andrew Charlton, eldest son, alive in 1800

Unfortunately James's answer is missing.

On 28th June, 1895 under the Ed. Endowment Act of 1885 the marriage portion was to be equally divided between Protestants and Roman Catholics. The portion was raised to a minimum of £10 and a maximum of £15. Any monies left over were to be used "to advance in life" day labourers' children of the Counties of Meath and Longford and adjoining counties. Whether Charlton's Charity is still thus administered I know not.

To return to John Charlton, 60th Foot, he married Elizabeth (?Robinson) 1736-1808, and left one son and two daughters:-

  1. James Wolfe Charlton, J.P., of whom presently.
  1. ____? who m a Mr. Cannon and had one son and one daughter.
    The latter m. Col. Charlton O'Neil, 97th Regiment (whose portrait is in the possession of Dr. Blanche Weeks, T.C.D.). The O'Neils had three daus. of whom one (Florence) in. a cousin, Walter Charlton of Clonmacnoise House, Co. Offaly.
  2. Kitty, who in. Thomas Pellett, son of an officer in the Army. Their dau. Ann m. Dr. James Young, and from them descend a number of families, viz. Dawson, Exshaw, Weeks, Swan, Cassidy, MacMullen, Walsh, Shaw and Shaw-Wheeler.

James Wolfe Charlton, of Curraghtown, J.P., the only son, was living 1837 (a miniature of him is in my possession). He was a captain of the Royal Meath Militia. He in. in 1799 Barbara Herbert Bowden, dau, of Richard Bowden of D'unmanway, Co. Cork by his wife-who d. 1785-a daughter of Bastable Herbert of Brewestersfield, by his wife Barbara, dau, of Maurice FitzGerald, 18th Knight of Kerry. They had four sons :-

  1. Rev. James Wolfe Charlton, Vicar of Clonmacnoise. He entered T.C.D. on 22nd October 1827 aged 17; B.A. 1833; ordained priest at Limerick on 12th May, 1836; perpetual curate, Enniskeen 1836-43, vicar of Clonmacnoise 1843-51. He was twice married, had a son John who d. unmarried and, by his second wife, a dau. Edith who died in 1940.
  2. John Charlton, M.B., M.R.C.S., entered T.C.D. on 4th July, 1831, aged 19; sometime Assistant Surgeon to the Queen of Portugal's Royal British Regiment of Hussars.
  3. Bowden Charlton.
  4. William, of whom immediately.

William Charlton of Clonmacnoise House, Co. Offaly, the youngest son, m. Flora, dau. of Captain William Johnston of Clonmacnoise, and died 4th December, 1905 in his 86th year. His wife Flora died in her 89th year. They had issue :-

  1. William Johnston Charlton, of whom presently.
  2. George Deighton Charlton, a doctor in the Royal Navy; married, but no further particulars known. In 1878 he was a registered medical practitioner at Clonmacnoise.
  3. Henry A. Herbert Charlton, Lt.-Col. R.A.M.C. He died unmarried and is buried at Clonmacnoise. In 1878 he was a registered medical practitioner there. He later joined the A.M.S. and was serving in Bengal in 1891.
  1. Henrietta, eldest dau., born 11th April, 1848, died 3rd March, 1924.
    She m. William Marsh, 2nd Queen's Regt., of Springfield, Moate, Co. Westmeath and had issue. A tablet in the church at Moate gives her dates of birth and death and also those of her daughter Elizabeth (1853-1913) and sister Flora (see below).
  2. Flora Charlton, b. 17th May, 1855; d. 17th June, 1374.
  3. Anne Matilda Deighton Charlton, who m. Geoffrey Patrick O'Donoghue, The O'Donoghue of the Glens (d. 1935), and died 23rd July, 1927. Both are buried at Clonmacnoise. Their eldest son is the present O'Donoghue of the Glens. (See B.L.G.I. 1958 edn.)

William Johnston Charlton of Clonmacnoise House, Surgeon-General in the Army Medical Service, the eldest son, m. on 7th December, 1892, Ellen Violet (1865-1946), dau. of the Rev. Thomas Gray, Vice-Provost of T.C.D. (See B.L.G.I. 1958, "Gray of Cam Park") and d. 28th March, 1933 in his 85th year, having had issue:-

  1. Herbert Gray Charlton, d. unmarried.
  2. Frederick Johnston Charlton, b. 1894; served in Connaught Rangers and Wilde's Horse (the 57th). He m. Violet Maclntyre, dau. of the Rev. George Hodges, and had issue,
    Frederick G. Charlton, b. 1924; married and has issue. He served in) the Colonial Service in Malaya.

Reference: Ir.Geneal., iv, no 2 (Oct 1969),pp 117-121