Princes William and Harry's Clare connection

[smcarberry]

One thing leads to another, and finally I have run across what other people may have seen years ago, when the Princess Diana thing got so big. Looking into Cahircon led to a series of links establishing that the Spencer family has a Co. Cork line, and a member who married a Kelly of Clare. Diana's direct ancestor died at Cahircon (where the Fergus flows into the Shannon River) in 1862, apparently while in the residence of that ancestor's brother-in-law James Kelly.

There are a few books on the subject, but, for quick Internet viewing, follow the links back through the Burke Roche line (Baron Fermoy) to Margaret Honoria Curtain (the ancestor who died in Clare):
http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/royal/r04.html#I93

Pedigree chart (view entries across the top):
http://genes.saraband.com.au/pedigrees/ ... digree.pdf

Margaret Curtain died at Cahiracon, Kildysert, likely in a residence owned by her husband's brother-in-law, who also resided at Kilshannig, Cork, according to the Landed Estates site of NUI/Galway:
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/Lande ... sp?id=2694

The Landed Estates site states that East Clare is the origin of that brother-in-law James Kelly:
"In 1753 Michael Kelly married Christian daughter of John Roche of Limerick and Ballintlea, parish of Kilfintinan, barony of Bunratty Lower, county Clare. They had two sons John Peter Kelly of Ballintlea and Firgrove, parish of Drumline, barony of Bunratty Lower, who purchased the estates of the Ingoldsby Massy family in county Limerick in 1811 and Thomas Kelly of Shannonview, county Limerick, who died in 1869 leaving two daughters. John Peter's son James Michael Kelly of Rockstown Castle, county Limerick and Cahircon, county Clare was Member of Parliament for county Limerick 1844-1847 and married in 1834 Frances Maria only daughter of Edward Roche of Trabolgan, county Cork and sister of the 1st Baron Fermoy. She directed that all her grandchildren should adopt the surname Roche-Kelly..."
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/ ... sp?id=1917

For the relationships, also see:
http://dcodriscoll.pbworks.com/w/page/5 ... e_%28II%29

1.1.1.1.3 Edward Roche, of Trabolgan & Kildinan; b. 13 July 1771; d. 21 Mar 1855.
=(1805) Margaret Honoria Curtain; b. 1786; d. 21 Jan 1862; dau of William Curtain & Margaret Deasy.

1.1.1.1.3.1 Frances Maria Roche; d. 18 May 1875.
=(6 May 1834) James Michael Kelly, of Cahircon, co. Clare & Ballybricken Castle, co. Limerick; MP for Limerick


posted by Sharon Carberry

[pwaldron]

The Roche-Kelly family, in the person of the princes' third cousin twice removed, still live at Ballintlea. The Thomond Archaeological and Historical Society visited Ballintlea a year or so ago.

The Roche-Kelly double-barrelled surname originated with the marriage which you mentioned in 1834 of James Michael Kelly to Frances Maria Roche. The husband's paternal grandmother was née Christina Roche. Frances descended from the Roches of Trabolgan; Christina from the Roches of Granagh Castle and Rye Hill. These two Roche families appear to be unrelated.