THE RUTTLEDGE FAMILIES OF CO. MAYO Page 451

It would be impossible now-a-days to make out with any accuracy the acreage owned by Peter Ruttledge of Cornfield/Carrowkillen and afterwards by his elder son, Thomas of Bloomfield, but some idea may be had from the subsequent sales in the Landed Estates Courts.

Robert Ruttledge of Bloomfield ...................................................15.482 acres. 240

George Ruttledge of Togher (see C above) ................................... 5.777 acres. 241

D. W. Ruttledge of Barbersfort .................................................…. 6.388 acres. 242

TOTAL 27.647 acres.

Taking this as a basis and allowing for what must have been lost through litigation, and in George's case also through mismanagement, it seems reasonable to assume that, at their peak. the Ruttledge lands were in excess of 30.000 acres and possibly nearer to 40.000. Such an area was not extraordinarily large for Co. Mayo judging by the figures given by Wakefield in 1812 127 and by U. H. Hussey de Burgh in 1878. It is from the latter source that D. W. Ruttledge's acreage has been obtained.

Before concluding this history a few words should be said about the genealogies upon which it is based. By far the earliest is Genealogy No. 1 dated 'around 1750'. But its reference to the sons of Andrew Ruttledge and Olivia Ffalkner as 'children' suggests an earlier date - more like 1715. At that time however, the surname was spelled with only one `t' and Andrew was too young to have been 'of Poldryan.' So what has come down to us. seems to be a copy of an earlier document - the copy using the more up-to-date spelling of the surname and identifying Andrew as of Poldryan. The genealogy names over forty people, more than half of whom can be identified from evidence of the time which still exists.

In dealing with Peter. the younger son of Richard Rutledge (the original ancestor} the genealogy records that Peter's only son, Richard died a young man, and because of this, Peter 'sold his estates in the Countys of Clare and Galway and lent the purchase money to Coln. Browne who gave him Ballyhear Ballaburk.' Most fortunately the original mortgage dated 20 April 1668 from Sir Theobald Burke, 4th Viscount Mayo (d. 1676) to Peter Rutledge concerning Ballaburk and other lands, is sti11 preserved in the Sligo papers at Westport House. Co. Mayo. 243 Col. John Browne became connected with the affair some time afterwards when, it is alleged, Lord Mayo fraudulently mortgaged the same lands to him without disclosing Peter Rutledge's prior mortgage. As a consequence, Col. Browne, and not Lord Mayo, had to repay the debt to Peter Rutledge (or his heirs). The same thing happened in many similar cases between Lord Mayo and Col. Browne. Col. Browne's claim against Lord Mayo is contained in a rare printed pamphlet entitled The answer of Col. John Browne to a printed paper, intitul'd A short state of Lord Mayo's case. (no date, 1704-10?)

. . . the said Lord Theobald (Viscount Mayo) being much indebted to the lady Dowager Mayo his mother-in-law, (?) 224 to Alderman John Bence, . . . Thomas Yeeden. . . . Peter Rutlidge and several others, in several sums of money amounting to 8000 sterl and upwards; the same then stood a charge on the said estate either by mortgage , judgment or statute staple, and so continued till the said John Browne afterwards satisfied the same. tho' he knew nothing of most of the said incumbrances at the time of his purchase. (p. 1) 245

240. PROI. LEC. Vol. 63, item 46 & vol. 74. item 69.

241. ibid. Vol. 7, item 21, vol. 11. item 66 & vol. 8, item 32.

242. U. N. Hussey de Burgh. The Landowners of Ireland. Dublin, 1878.

243. Analecia Hibernica. 33, 1986. p. 43.

244. Probably refers to John Browne's mother-in-law.

245. I have not seen the Sligo deed or Col. Browne's printed paper and am indebted to Sean Murphy for the above details. The Sligo papers contain over 14.000 items. few of which have been recorded - among them are possibly more Rutledge papers. Col. John Browne ( 1638 - c. 1711 ) the second son of Sir John Browne of the Neale. married Maud, daughter of Sir Theobold Burke, 3rd Viscount Mayo who was executed in 1652. Despite many years of searching. this is the first time that Peter Rutledge's ,..... " . ,/////missing text????/ record other than Genealogy No. 1