Pepper, Simon (1668-1701)

Balrath Bury, County Meath 

by jenjunebug

Balrath Bury, County Meath 

Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.

p. 30. “Nicholson/IFR) Originally a two storey pedimented C18 house of seven bays with curved bow at either end of the front. Subsequently enlarged by the addition of three bays to the right of the front, and seven bays with another pediment as well as two more bays to the left, so that the front extended for a total of 19 bays, plus two bows. After suffering damage when used as a barracks 1939-42, the house was reduced in size 1942 to the original block, which at the same time was rebuilt in an American Colonial style. The front kept its pediment, but lost its bows, and a colonnaded veranda was built along the full length of the ground floor. A pillared loggia was made under the pediement, and a porte-cochere was added to the end of the house, which is the entrance front; the columns for this and the veranda having been brought from Rosmead. The present arrangement of the interior, and the proportions of the rooms, dates from this rebuilding; the principal rooms being on either side of a large hall with a bifurcating staircase. Long Georgian stable range, with pediment.” 

Record of Protected Structures 

Baltrath-Bury, Balrath Demesne.  

Detached 9 bay, 2 storey colonial revival villa, c. 1930, originally built in 1671 for the Nicholson Family. Incl of Stable yards and Gate lodges

https://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2013/05/balrath-bury-house.html 

THE NICHOLSONS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MEATH, WITH 7,693 ACRES

This family came originally from Yorkshire.

GILBERT NICHOLSON, of Bare and Poulton, Lyndall, in Lonsdale, and of Baton and Easterton, Westmorland, married Grace, daughter and co-heir of Gyles Curwen, of Poulton Hall, and had issue,

FRANCIS, dvp leaving a son, HUMPHRY;
Giles;
Grace.

Mr Nicholson died in 1605, and was succeeded by his grandson,

HUMPHRY NICHOLSON, who was father of

GILBERT NICHOLSON (1620-1709), formerly of Poulton, Lancashire, and of the city of Dublin, Lieutenant in the royal army before 1649, and one of the Forty-nine Officers, whose arrears of pay were paid up after the Restoration, “for service done by them to His Majesty, or to his royal father, as commissioners in the wars of Ireland, before the 5th day of June, 1649.” 

By the Act of Settlement Mr Nicholson received grants of land in County Monaghan, which he sold, and bought Balrath Bury in 1669.

He afterwards resided in Dublin.

Mr Nicholson and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Worsopp, Knight, are buried in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and on their tombstone appear the arms and crest still used by the family.

The issue of the marriage were,

Christopher;
THOMAS, of whom presently;
John.

The second, but eldest surviving son,

THOMAS NICHOLSON, of Balrath Bury, born in 1662, inherited Balrath Bury in 1709.

In 1692, he was a commissioner for County Meath, during the reign of WILLIAM & MARY, and High Sheriff, 1704.

Mr Nicholson married firstly, in 1691, Mary, daughter of John Beauchamp, and had, with other issue, a daughter, Anne, whose daughter, Margaret, was second wife of Sir Richard Steele Bt, of Hampstead.

He wedded secondly, in 1700, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Wood, of Garclony, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER, his heir;
John;
Thomas;
Gilbert.

Mr Nicholson espoused thirdly, Rose, widow of Simeon Pepper, of Ballygarth, by whom he had no issue.

The eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER NICHOLSON, of Balrath Bury, High Sheriff of County Meath, 1735, espoused firstly, in 1723, Elinor, only daughter of Simeon Pepper, of Ballygarth, by Rose his wife, daughter of the Hon Oliver Lambart, of Plainstown, and granddaughter of Charles, 1st Earl of Cavan, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Thomas;
George;
Christopher;
Hampden;
Rose; Christian; Emilia.

He wedded secondly, in 1751, Mary, daughter of Oliver Lambart, of Plainstown, by whom he had no issue.

His eldest son,

JOHN NICHOLSON (1724-82), of Balrath Bury, Captain, Coldstream Guards, wedded, in 1766, Anna Maria, daughter of Sir Samuel Armytage Bt, of Kirklees, Yorkshire, widow of Thomas Carter, of Shaen, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER ARMYTAGE, his heir;
John.

He was succeeded by his elder son,

CHRISTOPHER ARMYTAGE NICHOLSON JP DL (1768-1849), of Balrath Bury, High Sheriff of County Meath, 1791, who married firstly, in 1796, Catharine, daughter of the Most Rev William Newcombe, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, by Anna Maria his wife, daughter and co-heir of Edward Smyth, of Callow Hill, County Fermanagh, second son of the Ven. James Smyth, Archdeacon of Meath, and had issue,

JOHN ARMYTAGE, his heir;
Christopher Hampden;
William (Rev);
Gilbert Thomas, JP;
Anna Maria.

He wedded secondly, in 1826, Anna, daughter of George Lenox-Conyngham, of Springhill, County Londonderry, by Olivia his wife, daughter of William Irvine, of Castle Irvine, County Fermanagh, and had issue,

Armytage Lenox;
Olivia; Sophia Elizabeth.

Mr Nicholson was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN ARMYTAGE NICHOLSON JP DL (1798-1872), of Balrath Bury, High Sheriff of County Meath, 1827, who married, in 1824, Elizabeth Rebecca, daughter of the Rt Rev and Rt Hon Nathaniel Alexander, Lord Bishop of Meath (nephew of James, 1st Earl of Caledon), by Anne his wife, daughter and heir of the Rt Hon Sir Richard Jackson, of Forkhill, by Anne his wife, sister of John, 1st Viscount O’Neill, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER ARMYTAGE, his heir;
Nathaniel Alexander;
John Hampden (Rev);
William Newcome;
Gilbert de Poulton;
Katharine; Anne.

Mr Nicholson was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER ARMYTAGE NICHOLSON JP DL (1825-87), of Balrath Bury, High Sheriff of County Meath, 1856, who espoused, in 1858, Frances Augusta, eldest daughter of the Hon Augustus Henry MacDonald Moreton, and had issue,

GILBERT MORETON, died unmarried;
JOHN HAMPDEN, succeeded his brother;
Mary Jane; Elizabeth Katharine; Emilia Olivia.

The only surviving son,

JOHN HAMPDEN NICHOLSON JP (1871-1935), of Balrath Bury, High Sheriff of County Meath, 1895, married, in 1894, Florence Isabel, third daughter of Thomas Rothwell, of Rockfield, Kells, and had issue,

CHRISTOPHER HAMPDEN;
John Armytage;
Joyce Frances.

His elder son,

CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER HAMPDEN NICHOLSON (1903-), of Balrath Bury, married, in 1928, Stephanie Adelaide Edwards, and had issue,

JOHN WARREN, his heir;
Virginia Rose.

His only son,

JOHN WARREN NICHOLSON, born in 1931, inherited Balrath House in the 1960s.

BALRATH BURY HOUSE, near Kells, County Meath, is a two-storey, pedimented, 18th century house.

It has seven bays with a curved bow at either end of the front.

Three more bays were added to the right; and seven more bays with another pediment plus two further bays to the left side.

Today, the front extends to nineteen bays and two bows.

The mansion suffered damage during the 2nd World War, having been used by the army.

It was subsequently reduced in size, in 1942, to the original block.

Balrath Bury is now in the American-Colonial style.

The principal rooms are on either side of a large hall, with a bifurcating staircase.

There is a long, Georgian, pedimented stable block.

It is thought that the most recent owners have been Frank and Carol Mallon.

First published in June, 2013.

https://meathhistoryhub.ie/houses-a-d/

Balrathbury house is located to the west of Kells. A two storey house, over basement, was constructed about 1709 and this was replaced by a colonial style house in the 1830s. The seat of the Nicholson family the house was described in 1835 as a handsome residence, pleasantly situated in an extensive and well wooded demesne with a park well stocked with deer. Bence-Jones said that the house suffered damage when it was used as a barracks 1939-42. This house was demolished about 1948 and a new smaller house in American Colonial style was erected. The stableyard is the only surviving building from the Georgian period. 

The Nicholsons came to Ireland from Yorkshire. Gilbert Nicholson of Dublin remained loyal to the king during the Cromwellian period and was rewarded with lands in Monaghan. Selling the lands in Monaghan he bought Balrathbury in 1699. His second son, Thomas, settled at Balrathbury in 1709, after his father’s death. Thomas served as High Sheriff of County Meath in 1704. His eldest son, Christopher succeeded him at Balrathburry. Christopher served as High Sheriff of Meath in 1735. Dying in 1775 he was succeeded by his eldest son John. Born in 1724 John was a captain in the Coldstream Guards. In 1766 John married Anna Maria, daughter of Sir Samuel Armytage, 1st  Baron of Kirklees, Yorkshire and widow of Thomas Carter. Their son, Christopher Armytage, was born in 1768. High Sheriff of Meath in 1791 he married Catherine Newcome, daughter of William Newcome, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland. Their eldest son, John Armytage succeeded at Balrathburry. John was born in 1798 and was High Sheriff of Meath in 1827. In 1824 John married Elizabeth Rebecca, daughter of Nathaniel Alexander, Bishop of Meath. John died in 1872 and was succeeded by his son, Christopher Armytage Nicholson. Christopher was born in 1825 and served as High Sheriff of Meath in 1856. In 1858 Christopher married Frances Augusta Moreton. In October 1869 there was an attempt to murder Mr. Nicholson on his way home from the railway station in Kells. This is was part of the land dispute. In 1876 Christopher Armytage Nicholson of Balrath Burry, held 7,693 acres in County Meath. 

Their son, Gilbert, succeeded in 1887 following the death of his father. Gilbert died unmarried in 1898 and was succeeded by his brother, John Hampden Nicholson.  John served as High Sheriff of Meath in 1895 and married Florence Rothwell of nearby Rockfield. John H. Nicholson died in 1935 at his residence Balrath Burry. At one stage he held nearly 8000 acres in the Kells area but had only about 1000 acres remaining at his death as it had been disposed of to the Land Commission. 

John Nicholson inherited Balrath House, Balrathbury in the 1960s. John became involved in breeding deer and became national chairman of the Irish Deer Society. The John Nicholson trophy is presented by the Irish Deer Society each year for meritorious service in the welfare, conservation and protection of deer in Ireland whether the deer are wild, feral or park 

Ballygarth Castle, Julianstown, Co Meath

by jenjunebug

Ballygarth Castle, Julianstown, Co Meath 

Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.

p. 22. “(Pepper/LGI1912) A tall tower-house with a two storey three bay castellated wing added to it. The old tower has C18 or early C19 battlements and a tripartite Gothic doorway.” 

Not in National Inventory 

Record of Protected Structures 

Ballygarth Castle, townland: Ballygarth, town: Julianstown 

Medieval Tower House of three storeys, adjoining an early 

19thC entrance tower and three-bay Georgian block of 1782 

http://www.patrickcomerford.com/search/label/castles?updated-max=2017-03-10T11:30:00Z&max-results=20&start=79&by-date=false

Outside, in the late afternoon, the bare branches of the winter trees gave us clear views of the ruins of Ballygarth Castle on the eastern edges of Julianstown. The ruins stand on the banks of the River Nanny and the castle is first mentioned in 1372. 
 
Ballygarth Castle was built over a number of separate building phases. The original three-storey tower house has been enlarged over the years, with a line of crenellations and Gothic details added to the windows. 
 
The castle was part of the Netterville family estate until the 1641 Rebellion, when it was forfeited to the Crown and the Netterville family moved to Dowth. One of the earliest mentions of Julianstown is at the Battle of Julianstown in 1641, which took place near the bridge. 
 
On the eve of Oliver Cromwell’s attack on Drogheda in 1649, his Parliamentarian army camped on the lawns of Ballygarth Castle. 
 
With the restoration of Charles II in 1660, Ballygarth Castle and the surrounding estate became the property of the Pepper family from Ardee, Co Louth. 
 
The Pepper family supported James II during the Williamite rebellion, and Ballygarth Castle and estate was confiscated once again after the Battle of the Boyne. But this was a temporary setback and the Pepper family managed regained ownership. 
 
The legend of ‘the White Horse of the Peppers’ has been perpetuated in story and later in a play by Samuel Lover, which tells how the confiscated castle and lands were recovered largely through the saga of a white horse belonging to Ballygarth Castle. A white horse was always kept on the estate as a symbol of the family’s gratitude. 
 
For generations, Julianstown was the seat of the Moore family who lived in Julianstown House. The land on which the present village sits was leased to Francis and Mary Thornburgh (née Moore) in 1763 by William Moore. 
 
The land was further subleased to Colonel Charles Pepper of Ballygarth Castle in 1801. In 1856, the Pepper family made this lease perpetual under the legislation of the day and around 1889 the Pepper family built the cottages that can be seen in the village today. 
 
These Swiss Cottages on Main Street form a series of six attractive cottages said to be based on a design that Major Charles Pepper saw in Switzerland. Major Pepper also built cottages in neighbouring Stamullen. 
 
Ballygarth estate is reputed to be the last place in Ireland where oxen were used for ploughing up to 1907. An ox-collar or harness, made by Thomas Oonan of Julianstown, is preserved in the National Museum of Ireland. 
 
Ballygarth Castle remained in the hands of the Pepper family until Colonel Charles Pepper died in 1927. 

https://meathhistoryhub.ie/houses-a-d/

Ballygarth Castle is located on the south bank of the Nanny River near Julianstown. Ballygarth castle first appears in records in 1372. This tower house was added to with a Georgian block in 1782. It was further enlarged in the nineteenth century. Part of the castle was damaged on the night of the Big Wind in 1839.  In 1867 architect William Louch drew up plans for alterations and additions to Ballygarth for Thomas Pepper. In 1889 architect Robert John Stirling drew up plans for alterations and additions including a new billiard room with neo-classical decoration for Major Charles Pepper. The grounds slope down to the river. Nearby is a limekiln and a dovecote. 

In medieval times Ballygarth was the property of the Netterville family. The lands were granted to Captain George Pepper after the Cromwellian confiscation. The Peppers were confirmed in their estates by Charles II. 

The Peppers sided with James II at the Battle of the Boyne and their lands were confiscated. George Pepper’s lands at Ballygarth were confiscated after the battle of the Boyne and an English officer arrived in Ireland to take over the estate.  George’s foster brother Rory came up with a plan to secure the lands. Acting as a guide for the English officer he took him on a long circuitous route. Rory made the officer’s horse throw a shoe and then took him five miles to Duleek to the blacksmith. The shoeing took a long time and the officer took a room in the inn for the night. The following morning his guide had disappeared. The blacksmith’s son took on the role and he too took the officer all over the country. As night was beginning to fall they saw a light in the distance and decided to take shelter for the night. As the officer stabled his horse he saw a fine white horse in the stable. He was welcomed to the castle by George Pepper, the officer had arrived at Ballygarth without knowing it. He was well entertained but got no more information on the whereabouts of Ballygarth Castle. In the morning the officer decided to give up his quest and told his host that he would trade the title deeds for Ballygarth for the fine horse in the stable. The deal was done  and ever after a white horse was maintained at Ballygarth. This story is also sometimes set in Cromwellian times. The poet, Thomas Moore, immortalised the story in “The White Horse of the Peppers.” This drama was a mid-nineteenth century success which was witnessed by Queen Victoria herself. A headless white horse is said to canter in the fields of Ballygarth at the stroke of midnight. 

George was succeeded by his eldest son, Simon who married Rose Lambert. Their son, George, may be the character in the story.  George was High Sheriff of Meath in 1724 and he married Anne Taylour, daughter of the first baron of Headfort. Their son, Thomas Pepper of Ballygarth was MP for Kells for 1761-76. His cousin, Lord Bective, provided him with the seat.  

In 1772 Thomas Pepper married his cousin, Henrietta Long, and they had four daughters and eight sons, many of whom pursued careers in the military and in the East India Company. In 1885 a grandson of Thomas Pepper, Lieutenant William Lowry was killed in action in Canada during the Riel rebellion. 

Thomas Pepper’s son, also Thomas, represented Kells and voted in favour of the act of Union in 1800.  His brother George succeeded. 

Their brother, Lieutenant Col. Charles Hampden Pepper, commanded the 27th regiment for sixteen years and served in Italy under Sir John Stuart. In the Peninsula War he served under Wellington of whom he was a great admirer. He assembled a fine collection of Wellingtonia which was kept in one room of the castle. 

In the 1830s Ballygarth Castle, the seat of Lieut.-Col. T. Pepper, was picturesquely situated on the banks of the Nanny water; the demesne, which was well wooded, comprised 486 statute acres, and contains the ruins of the ancient parish church. 

George was succeeded by his nephew, Thomas St. George Pepper, son of Charles Hampden Pepper. In 1876 Thomas St. George Pepper of Ballygarth Castle held 1,884 acres in County Meath. He died unmarried in 1884 and was succeeded by his brother, Charles. 

Charles Pepper of Ballygarth Castle was Colonel of the Royal Meath Regiment and Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of Meath from 1895 to 1927. Colonel Pepper supported the church at Julianstown including providing funds for a steeple. Charles Pepper was responsible for the charming estate houses at Julianstown which were erected around 1897. Ballygarth was one of the last places where oxen were used to pull a plough, they were used at Ballygarth up until 1907.  Colonel Charles Peppard died in 1927. In later years he lived at Laytown. Miss Wintle-Pepper lived at Ballygarth until her death in 1979. The castle was purchased by the Delaney’s who had farmed the home-farm attached to the castle for years.