Henry Dumas (abt. 1700 - 1759)

Born about 1700 in Ireland

Descendants

Died 1759 at about age 59 in Cloghereen, Kerry, Ireland

Biography

Henry was a son of James Dumas of Dublin. ^[1] His father's record of death in 1707 states his estate passed to his son Nicholas and that his other children were minors, Peter, Henry, Sarah and Frances. Admin was granted on 4th Nov 1707.^[2]

What is known with certainty is that this Henry Dumas of Cloghereen, had an unmarried sister in Dublin Frances Dumas, and a brother Peter Dumas of Minorca. These relationships are confirmed by notations in their wills and also named in the Betham's Abstract which supports their father being James Dumas.

It seems a possibility Henry's wife was a "Craig" who had predeceased him. This is based on the fact that his grandson was named John Craig Dumas and was reported in several sources as related to the Craig family. ^{[3] [4]}

It is also quite possible that this James Dumas was a nephew, perhaps a son of one of Henry's brothers, Peter or Nicholas Dumas?

A deed of 1765 ^[5]refers to a mortgage held since 1730 between Henry Dumas and William Godfrey. This is probably William Godfrey. The deed in 1730 describes Henry as of Stonyford, Kerry. Henry refers to this Deed in his will. " I hereby declare that my will is that my beloved son James shall have five hundred and forty pounds due to me from Mr William Godfrey of Callonaferry for which I have a mortgage, which mortgage is to be given up to said James Dumas before my demise with all interest due thereon to this day".^[6]

Henry Dumas was listed on the Grand Jury of 1741.^[7]

In 1755 Henry entered into a deed together with his son Henry Dumas and with Edward Herbert of Muckross and Samuel Douse. ^[8] In 1787 Henry's son Henry entered into a deed which referred to this previous deed.^[9].

Henry's will was written in 1747, and proven in 1759.^{[10] [11]} Therefore his children would be born before 1747.

In Henry's will he refers to some Ironworks. Here is some discussion regarding these Ironworks: "Smith (1756) refers to an ironworks at Muckross and speaks of ore 'found at no great distance' to which a proportion of imported English ore was added during smelting. Not much is known of the Muckross ironworks. Weld (1807) describes the entry to the Muckross Peninsula as 'a decayed village, once the seat of an iron-manufactory'. The village, Cloghereen, was in the neighbourhood of the present Muckross post office. Remnants of a chimney and iron slag can still be seen. Fisher (1789) published a print of the 'Old Smelting-house at Derrycunahy', apparently another small furnace which has not been noticed in the literature and which Smith (1756) did not record. Iron manufacture by charcoal had come to an end generally by the 1760s, and, in most parts of the country, forty or fifty years earlier. McCracken (1971) shows that, after a century of export, more timber was imported to Ireland from 1720 onward than was exported."^[12]

Transcription of Will

I Henry Dumas of Cloghereen in the county of Kerry, giving thanks to Almighty God, having the perfect use of my Reason and Senses and calling to mind the uncertainty of my Stay on Earth/ am desirious to render in writing what I would have done after my death in Relation to my children and first I will and order that my debts and funeral expenses be paid. Secondly as I have done a great deal for my son Peter, I leave him with my blessing 100 pounds sterling which I desire my executors and executrix hereinafter named to pay him in full of any demands he might make out of my effects and freehold interests as my eldest son charging him to give due obedience to his Aunt my executrix and brotherly love to his sister and brothers.

Thirdly I give to my daughter Frances one pound sterling with one thousand pounds lately made over to her which were placed by me in the public funds in England to fulfill this sum of one thousand and one pound sterling.

Fourthly I will and bequeath to my son James Dumas the sum of one pound sterling with one hundred pounds. I intend speedily to pay him and the sum of four hundred pounds for which he has my cash note payable the first of June compleates the sum of five hundred and one pound sterling, but be it remembered that if my son James does not receive from me the different sums amounting to the said sum of of five hundred and one pound sterling before my death, It is my will and order that he shall be paid the said sum after my disease.

Fifthly having paid my son Henry Dumas two hundred and eighty pounds sterling I will and bequeath unto him two hundred and twenty pounds to be paid to him to compleat the five hundred pounds sterling and lastly I will and bequeath to my son John Dumas five hundred pounds sterling and if my executor and executrix shall judge it in the interest of my family to continue on The Iron works of Cloghereen, it is my will that my said son John should be employed therein if my executor and executrix shall judge him fit for said undertaking and that my said son John shall be paid at the rate of thirty pounds a year out of what said works shall produce as my share and do leave and appoint my dearly beloved sister M/S Frances Dumas and my beloved friend William Raymond of the City of Cork, merchant, executor for this my last will and testament and do hereby revoke and make void all other former wills heretofore made by me. If my effects shall be found to amount to more than these sums I have hereby bequeathed It is my Will and do order that such surplus shall be equally divided between my said children In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the 29th day of December one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven. Witnessed by John Dixon, Thomas Cole and Sam Raymond

Codicil

Whereas I have the twenty Ninth day of December one thousand and fifty seven published my last will and testament and whereas I am now willing to make a Codicil to the said will as an addition and part thereof. I hereby declare that my will is that my beloved son James shall have fiv hundred and forty pounds due to me from Mr William Godfrey of Callonaferry for which I have a mortgage, which mortgage is to be given up to said James Dumas before my disease with all interest due thereon to this day with sum of five hundred and forty pounds is what I intended for him in my said will to whereby I make an addition of forty pounds and whereas I have devised the residue of my goods and chattels of what kind soever not already devised now I declare I hereby bequeath to my two sons James and John equally betwixt them both and whereas I have appointed my beloved sister Frances Dumas and my friend William Raymond to be executor I now appoint my sons Peter and James Dumas as My executors to which I set my hand etc etc

Sources

1. ↑ Betham Abstract 290 57
2. ↑ Betham Abstract 290 57
3. ↑ See Memorial transcribed under Alexander George Dumas.
4. ↑ Will of Sir James Henry Craig - England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
5. ↑ Registry of Deeds, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-JSCP-4?i=47&cat=185720
6. ↑ England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
7. ↑ Kerry Evening Press 27 March 1897 p 3
8. ↑ Registry of Deeds, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSN1-264Z?cat=185720
9. ↑ Dublin Post, 28 Jul, 1787
10. ↑ England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
11. ↑ Bethams Abstract 88 289
12. ↑ Contemporary Accounts of the Killarney Woods 1580-1870, By W. A. Watts (1984) Trinity College, Dublin