Estate: Crofton (Mote Park)

Associated Families

• Crofton (Sligo)
• Somerville (Mount Nugent)
• Crofton (Mote Park)
• O'Conor (Toomona)

Description

The senior branch of the Crofton family settled at Ballymurray, county Roscommon in the 16th century. In the 17th century they resided at Mote Castle and in 1661 Edward Crofton was created a baronet. Other branches of the family settled at Lissadurn, county Roscommon, Temple House, county Sligo and Mohill, county Leitrim. In August 1677 Gerald Dillon of Feamore was granted land in the barony of Athlone in trust for Sir Edward Crofton and his heirs. Dillon was married to the mother of Sir Edward Crofton. The Westport Estate Papers contain documents relating to the Croftons and Gerald Dillon in the late 17th century. In the mid 19th century the Croftons owned lands in the barony of Athlone in the parishes of Killinvoy and Kilmeane and in the parishes of Kilteevan and Roscommon, barony of Ballintober South, Aughrim and Ogulla, barony of Roscommon. Admiral George Alfred Crofton, 3rd son of Sir Edward Crofton, held land in the parish of Kilteevan, barony of Ballintober South, county Roscommon in the 1850s. In the 1870s the Crofton estate was comprised of 10,509 acres in county Roscommon.

Houses

House Name / Description	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Mote Park (H354) The home of the Crofton family from the 17th century, valued at £140 in 1906. ''Saunders Newsletter'' dated 17 May 1865 refers to a fire at Mote Park which badly burnt the house. The house was demolished in the 1960s. Roscommon Golf Club occupies part of the original Mote Park demesne.	Mote Demesne	Kilmeane	Roscommon	Mote 89	Athlone	Roscommon	Lat/Lon: 53.60054 -8.15560 OSI Ref: M897 612 Discovery map #40. OS Sheet #42.
Ballymurray House (H1159) The Crofton family are originally recorded as 'of Ballymurray'. Ballymurray is the next townland east of Mote Demesne. A house at Ballymurray was occupied by Captain E. W. Kelly in 1837 and by Edmund Kelly in the 1850s, who held the house, valued at £9, from the representatives of James Daly. William Curtis was residing in Ballymurray in the 1870s. The property is labelled "Balymurray House" on the 25-inch Ordnance Survey map of the 1890s. It is no longer extant.	Ballymurray	Kilmeane	Roscommon	Mote 89	Athlone	Roscommon	Lat/Lon: 53.59518 -8.12537 OSI Ref: M917606 Discovery map #40. OS Sheet #42.
Lissadorn (H1385) Lissadorn was a Crofton home from the mid 17th century. It became a Lloyd home in the 18th century following the marriage of Catherine Crofton and John Yeadon Lloyd in 1786. By 1814 Joseph Healy was living at Lisadurn. Burke's ''Landed Gentry of Ireland'' (1904) records the second son of Walter Balfe of Heathfield as John Balfe of Lissadorn. J. Balfe was residing at Lissadorn in 1837. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, Bernard Balfe held Lissadorn, valued at £20, from Viscount Lorton. It is no longer extant. On the first Ordnance Survey map (1838) the demesne included a smaller house named Ryefield.	Lissadorn	Aughrim	Carrick on Shannon	Creeve 48	Roscommon	Roscommon	Lat/Lon: 53.86648 -8.17635 OSI Ref: M884 908 Discovery map #33. OS Sheet #16.
Toomona (H1416) The home of Michael Connor, a gentleman in 1749, just outside Tulsk. The residence of Michael's grandson Peter O'Connor in 1814 and 1837. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Toomona was valued at £10 and was occupied by Maria French who held it from Lord Crofton. Later occupants included Colonel Lynham, Matt Flanagan, the Murphy and Fallon families. Accidently burnt in the 1970s.	Toomona	Ogulla	Strokestown	Ogulla 97	Roscommon	Roscommon	Lat/Lon: 53.76922 -8.28970 OSI Ref: M809 800 Discovery map #33. OS Sheet #28.

Archival sources

• Irish Architectural Archive: Mote Park photos. 013/060
• National Archives of Ireland: Rentals, c.1850 and maps c.1833-40, of Crofton estates, counties Roscommon and Sligo. M.937x-940x, 941x.
• National Archives of Ireland: Papers relating to Land Commission's dealings with Crofton estates in Roscommon, 1907-1909. M. 3740 (1-8).
• National Archives of Ireland: Mortgage of lands in the Cos Sligo & Dublin, Sir Edward Crofton of Mote to Hamilton Gorges, 12 Mar 1738. Small Accs. Index 61, D.6333
• National Archives of Ireland: Deeds, rentals, correspondence & accounts re the Crofton, Irwin, Dodwell & Gethin families & property in Cos Sligo & Roscommon, 1615-1828. Small Accs. Index 71
• National Library of Ireland: Westport Estate Papers, Collection List 78
• National Library of Ireland: Manuscript maps of Lord Crofton's estate in county Roscommon, 1724-c.1850. 21 F 23 (1-16)
• National Library of Ireland: Survey of Lord Crofton's Roscommon estate, 1782 and a rental, 1844-45. MSS.5904.
• National Library of Ireland: Crofton papers: rental and legal documents relating to Lord Crofton's estates in counties Roscommon and Sligo, 18th and early 19th centuries. MSS 8826-8827.
• National Library of Ireland: Nine farm stock account books from Lord Crofton's estate, 1837-1893. MSS. 4056-4064.
• National Library of Ireland: Two account books of Lord Crofton's estate, 1841-53 and 1866-67, MSS.4054-4055.
• National Library of Ireland: Rentals of Lord Crofton's estate in county Roscommon, 1852 and 1855 together with expenditure accounts. MSS.5632-5633.
• National Library of Ireland: Maps of Lord Crofton's estate in baronies of Athlone & Ballintober South with documents relating to Landed Property Improvement, 1853-73. 21 F 1.
• National Library of Ireland: Six rentals & accounts of Lord Crofton's county Roscommon estates compiled by his agent, Joseph A. Holmes, 1862-68. MSS. 4074-4079.
• National Library of Ireland: Twenty two rentals & accounts of Lord Crofton's Roscommon estates compiled by agents Joseph Holmes & W.D. Talbot-Crosbie, 1868-1892. MSS.4081-4100.
• National Library of Ireland: Farm account book of a Crofton property, county Roscommon, 1871-75. Mss. 3499.
• National Library of Ireland: Rentals & statements of expenditure on Lord Crofton's Roscommon estates by agent J. Holmes, 1878. MSS. 3918.
• National Library of Ireland: Rentals & accounts of Lord Crofton's Roscommon estates compiled by W.D. Talbot Crosbie, 1892-1895. MSS. 4101-4102.
• National Library of Ireland: Diaries of Lady Georgiana Crofton, 1835-1875. MSS 4066-4072
• National Library of Ireland: Catalogue of the library at Mote Park. MS 4065
• National Library of Ireland: Crofton of Mote Park Papers, MSS 4054-4102 [as detailed above]
• National Library of Ireland: Clonbrock Papers: Volume of 35 maps of estate of Edward Crofton by Charles Frizell, Nov 1777 and rentroll for estates, May 1778. MS 19, 672
• National Library of Ireland: Clonbrock Papers: Photograph Album, includes photograph of a group with a jaunting car at Mote, c 1864. MS 19,676
• National Library of Ireland: 144 deeds re property in Co Roscommon of the Crofton family of Mote, 1684-19th century. D 10,911-11,054
• National Library of Ireland: Crofton Papers: mainly correspondence re estates in Cos Sligo & Roscommon and to railways, c 1693-1867. MS 8828
• National Library of Ireland: Pedigree of Crofton of Ballymurry, Cambo Castle, Mote, Lisdorne, Toomona, Clonsilla, Castle Ruby, Co Roscommon & Templehouse, Longford House & Mointogh, Co Sligo, 1540-1937. GO MS 182: 395-402 & 429-440
• National Library of Ireland: Pedigree of Crofton of Mote, Co Roscommon, barts, c 1700- c 1745. GO MS 170: 117-118
• National Library of Ireland: Copy of patent of baronetcy of Crofton of Mote, Co Roscommon, 1661. GO MS 113: 285-295
• National Library of Ireland: Wills of members of the Crofton family of Mote, 18th century. D 20,003-20,007
• National Library of Ireland: Farm account books of estate of Crofton of Mote, 1866-1875. MSS 3043-3046
• National Library of Ireland: Rent roll of estate of Edward Crofton, May 1778. MS 19,672
• National Library of Ireland: Correspondence from Stephen Mitchell, agent, 1725 & family correspondence 1836-1896. MS 8335
• Roscommon County Library: Crofton Papers, mainly comprised of rentals 1813-1886, some deeds and account books.

Contemporary printed sources

Many of these resources are now available online. For a list with Web links please see the Online Printed Sources Links

• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Roscommon Union, 48
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Strokestown Union, 142 (Toomona)
• BATEMAN, John. The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.112
• HUSSEY DE BURGH, U. H. The Landowners of Ireland. An alphabetical list of the owners of estates of 500 acres or £500 valuation and upwards in Ireland. Dublin: Hodges, Foster and Figgis, 1878. [available online at www.askaboutireland.ie] : 107
• LEET, Ambrose. A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 289 (Moat Park)
• LEGG, Marie Louise (ed). Census of Elphin 1749. Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission, 2004: 36 (Lisdorn), 190 (Mote & Ballymurray)
• LEWIS, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol II, 176 (Mote & Ballymurray) & 526 (Mote)
• ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Roscommon: II, 334
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion..., HC 1906, c, 177: 385 (Mote Demesne)
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. 15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland, 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix I, Grants under Acts of Settlement: 244 (Gerald Dillon)
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland. HC 1876, LXXX: 315
• SLATER, Isaac. Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats. (Manchester: 1894) : xxx, 68 (Mote Park)
• TAYLOR, George & SKINNER, Andrew. Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783. Facsimile of 2nd edition. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1969: 242 (Mote)
• WILSON, William. The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 126 (Moat)

Modern printed sources

• Weekly Irish Times: 29 Oct 1938 Mote Park
• BENCE-JONES, Mark. A Guide to Irish Country Houses. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 211-212
• CONNOLLY, Paul. The landed estates of county Roscommon. Roscommon: [the auhor], 2018. : pp.125-143.
• CROFTON, Francis. The story of Mote. [np]: [np], 1895: All
• CROFTON, H. T. Crofton memoirs . York : the author, 1911: All
• FARRELL, R, O'CONOR, K.& POTTER, M.(eds). Roscommon History and Society. Dublin: Geography Publications, 2018. : Fitzpatrick, Orla. Kilronan Castle and Mote Park: the decline of two Roscommon Big Houses. pp.301-325.
• FINERTY, Mary. The Roscommon Estates of the Lords Crofton 1845-’95. Thesis presented in part completion of the B’Ed Degree 1985-1986, Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort Park, Blackrock (copy in Roscommon County Library): All
• GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds). Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 127-128 (Mote Park)
• MOSLEY, Charles (ed). Burke's Peerage and Baronetage. Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999: I, 717-719
• MULLIGAN, Kevin. Vain transitory splendours: the Irish country house and the art of John Nankivell. Dublin: Irish Georgian Society, 2018. : The Lion gate, Mote Park, pp.122-123.
• NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Reports on Private Collections: Report on Crofton, McDonogh, Plunkett, St George, Talbot and Lloyd Collection. No. 315
• O'HART, John. The Irish and Anglo-Irish Landed Gentry when Cromwell came to Ireland. Dublin: M.H.Gill & Son, 1884: 52-53 (Crofton of Lisdurn)