John Henry Blake
Encyclopedia
John Henry Blake was an Irish
land agent, who was murdered on 29 June 1882.
, County Galway
, and Maria Galway of Cork
. He was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway. He worked firstly as a bailiff
on the Blake estate at Furbo, but in the late 1830s moved to Kiltullagh, Athenry
, to act as his infant nephew's land agent. He lived at Rathville House, Raford, in the parish of Kiltullagh.
In later life, Blake was agent to Hubert de Burgh-Canning, 2nd Marquess of Clanricarde
. Clanricarde was commonly held to be the worst landlord in all Ireland
, and infamous for his evicting of tenents. However, he lived in London so it was easier to target Blake. Both he and his driver, Thady Ruane, were shot on the way to attend mass in Loughrea
. His wife, who was present, survived the incident. Despite several months of investigation and seven arrests on suspicion, no one stood trial for the murders.
The incident occurred during the height of the Land War
and was one of a long series of deaths and aggravations that occurred at this time in the county. It was especially shocking as it was the assassination of an agent of a peer of the realm.
He was survived by his wife Harriet (died 1917) and their sons Edmond (1876–1944) and Henry. He was buried in the family tomb at Furbo.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
land agent, who was murdered on 29 June 1882.
Biography
He was the third and youngest son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Blake of FurboFurbo
Furbo may refer to:*Furbo, Smedjebacken, a village and area in Dalarna, Sweden.*Furbo, County Galway, a village in Ireland....
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, and Maria Galway of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. He was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway. He worked firstly as a bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
on the Blake estate at Furbo, but in the late 1830s moved to Kiltullagh, Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
, to act as his infant nephew's land agent. He lived at Rathville House, Raford, in the parish of Kiltullagh.
In later life, Blake was agent to Hubert de Burgh-Canning, 2nd Marquess of Clanricarde
Hubert de Burgh-Canning, 2nd Marquess of Clanricarde
Hubert George de Burgh-Canning, 2nd Marquess of Clanricarde , was an Anglo-Irish ascendancy nobleman and politician....
. Clanricarde was commonly held to be the worst landlord in all Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and infamous for his evicting of tenents. However, he lived in London so it was easier to target Blake. Both he and his driver, Thady Ruane, were shot on the way to attend mass in Loughrea
Loughrea
Loughrea is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies north of a range of wooded hills, the Slieve Aughty Mountains.The town expanded in recent years as it increasingly becomes a commuter town for the city of Galway.- Name :...
. His wife, who was present, survived the incident. Despite several months of investigation and seven arrests on suspicion, no one stood trial for the murders.
The incident occurred during the height of the Land War
Land War
The Land War in Irish history was a period of agrarian agitation in rural Ireland in the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s. The agitation was led by the Irish National Land League and was dedicated to bettering the position of tenant farmers and ultimately to a redistribution of land to tenants from...
and was one of a long series of deaths and aggravations that occurred at this time in the county. It was especially shocking as it was the assassination of an agent of a peer of the realm.
He was survived by his wife Harriet (died 1917) and their sons Edmond (1876–1944) and Henry. He was buried in the family tomb at Furbo.
See also
- Martin O'HalloranMartin O'Halloran-Biography:Secretary of the Kiltullagh Branch of the Irish Land League. Bound over to keep the peace for having made a seditious speech at Craughwell in the course of which he threatened to disarm the police, called upon herds to leave their employment and claimed that that landlords were “were...
- Peter Dempsey (Kiltullagh)Peter Dempsey (Kiltullagh)Peter Dempsey was a tenant farmer who was murdered during the Irish Land War in 28 May, 1881. He was shot to death while walking to Mass with his two daughters across a field mass path....
- James Connors (Kiltullagh)James Connors (Kiltullagh)James Connors , Irish tenant, murdered May 1881.Connors was a tenant at Forgehill, Toolooban, on the estate of Denis St George Daly, 2nd Baron Dunsandle and Clanconal . The farm consisted of fourteen acres....