Sir Walter Synnot
Encyclopedia
Sir Walter Synnot son of Richard Synnot, settled in the parish of Ballymoyer
, County Armagh
in 1778 and leased eight townlands from the See of Armagh. The family had originally been large landowners in the County of Wexford, but their lands were taken from them by Cromwell
, after Colonel David Synnot
resisted Cromwell's troops at the Sack of Wexford
. The family was involved not only in the linen trade but also owned lead mines in the vicinity.
According to Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837): "The lands were heathy and barren previously to 1778, when Sir Walter Synnot erected a house and became a resident landlord; scarcely a tree or shrub was to be seen, and the agricultural implements were of the rudest kind. He constructed good roads in the vicinity, planted forest trees to a considerable extent, and by his example and liberal encouragement of every improvement both as to their habitations and system of agriculture, affected a great change in the habits of the peasantry, and in the appearance of the country, which is now in an excellent state of cultivation, yielding abundant produce; the cultivation of green crops has been introduced, and is practised with success."
The house was described in the Parliamentary Gazetter of 1844 as follows: ‘The mansion built by Sir Walter Synnot and the demesne attached to it is laid out and planted in a tasteful style. Three mountain streams after debouching from the glens of their upper course, unite in the lawn and form a scene both beautiful and romantic.’
Synnot was appointed High Sheriff of Armagh
in 1783. He married Jane Seton (a descendant of John Seton, 1st Baron Parbroath
and a relative of the American Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
and her grandson Monsignor Robert Seton
). They had three children, Marcus, Walter and Maria (who died aged 18). These children are featured in the painting by Joseph Wright of Derby
, which was formerly at Ballymoyer but is now in the possession of the National Gallery of Victoria
. An etching was made in 1782.
The second son, Captain Walter Synnot, became a colonist in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania
) with his children, including Monckton Synnot
and the family were prominent pastoralists in the Colony of Victoria.
After the death of Jane Seton, Synnot married Ann Elizabeth (née Martin) and had three more children, including Richard Walter Synnot, a barrister, whose children were the subjects of the portrait by George Richmond
. Synnot lived with his new wife and family in Italy for some years and died in Rome in 1821, where he was buried in the same tomb as his daughter Elizabeth (from second wife). His wife's sister Selina Martin wrote Three Years In Italy which covers this period.
By 1838 the Synnot family had bought the eight townlands and continued to improve the estate. By the latter part of the 1870s they owned 7321 acres (29.6 km²). In 1901 the demesne had passed through marriage to the Hart-Synnot family who presented it to the National Trust in 1937.
Ballymoyer
, the house and estate, is a National Trust
property open to the public.
Descendants of Synnot included Brigadier-General Arthur Henry Seton Hart-Synnot
, Sir Walter Synnot Manifold
MP and the Australian Admiral
Sir Anthony Synnot
.
Ballymoyer
Ballymoyer is a parish in the barony of Upper Fews, County of Armagh and province of Ulster, three miles north east of Newtownhamilton, and the seat of Sir Walter Synnot , Bart....
, County Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
in 1778 and leased eight townlands from the See of Armagh. The family had originally been large landowners in the County of Wexford, but their lands were taken from them by Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, after Colonel David Synnot
David Synnot
Colonel David Synnot was Governor of Wexford during the Sack of Wexford by Cromwell. Synnot was negotiating the surrender of the town when troops from the New Model Army broke in and sacked the town, during which Synnot was hanged....
resisted Cromwell's troops at the Sack of Wexford
Sack of Wexford
The Sack of Wexford took place in October 1649, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, when the New Model Army under Oliver Cromwell took Wexford town in south-eastern Ireland. The English Parliamentarian troops broke into the town while the commander of the garrison was trying to negotiate a...
. The family was involved not only in the linen trade but also owned lead mines in the vicinity.
According to Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837): "The lands were heathy and barren previously to 1778, when Sir Walter Synnot erected a house and became a resident landlord; scarcely a tree or shrub was to be seen, and the agricultural implements were of the rudest kind. He constructed good roads in the vicinity, planted forest trees to a considerable extent, and by his example and liberal encouragement of every improvement both as to their habitations and system of agriculture, affected a great change in the habits of the peasantry, and in the appearance of the country, which is now in an excellent state of cultivation, yielding abundant produce; the cultivation of green crops has been introduced, and is practised with success."
The house was described in the Parliamentary Gazetter of 1844 as follows: ‘The mansion built by Sir Walter Synnot and the demesne attached to it is laid out and planted in a tasteful style. Three mountain streams after debouching from the glens of their upper course, unite in the lawn and form a scene both beautiful and romantic.’
Synnot was appointed High Sheriff of Armagh
High Sheriff of Armagh
The High Sheriff of Armagh is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Armagh. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258...
in 1783. He married Jane Seton (a descendant of John Seton, 1st Baron Parbroath
John Seton, 1st Baron Parbroath
Sir John de Seton , 1st Baron of Parbroath. His father bestowed on him Elizabeth Ramsay, the Heiress of Parbroath, which gift of an heiress was provided by King David II of the House of Bruce....
and a relative of the American Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Elizabeth Ann Seton
Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church . She established Catholic communities in Emmitsburg, Maryland....
and her grandson Monsignor Robert Seton
Robert Seton
Robert Seton a descendant of the New York "aristocratic" Seton and Bayley families, Seton was a monsignor in the Roman Catholic Church and titular archbishop of Heliopolis.-Biography:...
). They had three children, Marcus, Walter and Maria (who died aged 18). These children are featured in the painting by Joseph Wright of Derby
Joseph Wright of Derby
Joseph Wright , styled Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He has been acclaimed as "the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution"....
, which was formerly at Ballymoyer but is now in the possession of the National Gallery of Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
. An etching was made in 1782.
The second son, Captain Walter Synnot, became a colonist in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
) with his children, including Monckton Synnot
Monckton Synnot
Monckton Synnot was a prominent squatter in Victoria, Australia, the sixth son of Captain Walter Synnot and his second wife Elizabeth, née Houston, and the grandson of Sir Walter Synnot, of Ballymoyer, County Armagh....
and the family were prominent pastoralists in the Colony of Victoria.
After the death of Jane Seton, Synnot married Ann Elizabeth (née Martin) and had three more children, including Richard Walter Synnot, a barrister, whose children were the subjects of the portrait by George Richmond
George Richmond
For the 21st century educator see George H. RichmondGeorge Richmond was an English painter.George Richmond was the father of the painter William Blake Richmond as well as the grandfather of the naval historian, Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond.A keen follower of cricket, Richmond was noted in one...
. Synnot lived with his new wife and family in Italy for some years and died in Rome in 1821, where he was buried in the same tomb as his daughter Elizabeth (from second wife). His wife's sister Selina Martin wrote Three Years In Italy which covers this period.
By 1838 the Synnot family had bought the eight townlands and continued to improve the estate. By the latter part of the 1870s they owned 7321 acres (29.6 km²). In 1901 the demesne had passed through marriage to the Hart-Synnot family who presented it to the National Trust in 1937.
Ballymoyer
Ballymoyer
Ballymoyer is a parish in the barony of Upper Fews, County of Armagh and province of Ulster, three miles north east of Newtownhamilton, and the seat of Sir Walter Synnot , Bart....
, the house and estate, is a National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
property open to the public.
Descendants of Synnot included Brigadier-General Arthur Henry Seton Hart-Synnot
Arthur Henry Seton Hart-Synnot
Arthur Henry Seton Hart-Synnot CMG, DSO and Bar was a British Army general. He was educated at Clifton College and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst....
, Sir Walter Synnot Manifold
Sir Walter Synnot Manifold
Sir Walter Synnot Manifold was an Australian grazier and politician.Born in Melbourne, Manifold was the son of Thomas Manifold, the pioneer grazier in the Western District, and a descendant of Sir Walter Synnot....
MP and the Australian Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir Anthony Synnot
Anthony Synnot
Admiral Sir Anthony Monckton Synnot KBE, AO was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy, who between 1979 and 1982 served as Chief of the Defence Force Staff.-Early life:...
.