Robert Molesworth, 1st viscount of Swords a well known, active baller (whig) in Swords Co. Dublin Ireland. He was part of the aristocracy and a bit of a lose cannon for the English state to deal with . His life has been well documented in books and letters like those between him and his acquaintance Johnathan Swift (Gulliver’s travels). But one single fact that is not documented about him is where he suddenly goes after dying. On an initial search I simply couldn’t find the answer. It appears unknown… an actual mystery.
This is a story about the search for the last resting place or Robert Molesworth – or simply Where’s Moly?
Robert died in 1725 at age 69 at Brackenstown Swords Co. Dublin (according to my references). I’ve searched for some public record of his actual burial place but I have yet to uncover a piece of paper that confirms his burial.
The recorded date of his death is 22nd May 1725, my goal is to find Moly by then.
If you can help then Please do contact me Thank you.
Why Molesworth?
On a
Research
wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Molesworth,_1st_Viscount_Molesworth
Molesworth, Robert (1656–1725),
1st Viscount Molesworth described as writer and politician, was born in Fishamble Street, Dublin, 7 September 1656.
Molesworth died at Brackdenstown on 22 May 1725 and was buried at Swords.
This timeline outlines the key events and achievements in the life of Robert Molesworth.
| Year | Age | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1656 | 0 | Born on 7 September in Fishamble Street, Dublin. |
| 1672 | 16 | Entered Trinity College Dublin as a fellow commoner. |
| 1675 | 19 | Graduated with a BA from Trinity College Dublin in February. |
| 1676 | 20 | Married Laetitia Coote, third daughter of Richard Coote, 1st Baron Coloony, in August. Their eldest child was born in February 1677. |
| 1680 | 24 | The family made their home at Brackdenstown, which remained Molesworth’s principal residence for life. |
| 1684 | 28 | Began a series of journeys in Italy, France, and the United Provinces. |
| 1688 | 32 | Went into exile in England. |
| 1689 | 33 | Appointed as envoy extraordinary to Denmark in May; negotiated for a Danish force to serve in Ireland. Appointed Treasurer to Queen Mary in March. |
| 1692 | 36 | Decided against participating in the Irish Parliament; focused on restoring his estates. |
| 1694 | 38 | Published his first book, An Account of Denmark as it was in the year 1692 anonymously in December. |
| 1695 | 39 | Elected to the English Parliament for the Cornish borough of Camelford and entered the Irish Parliament as a member for Dublin county. |
| 1697 | 41 | Appointed to the Irish Privy Council in August. |
| 1699 | 43 | Purchased an estate at Edlington, near Doncaster, in Yorkshire. |
| 1716 | 60 | Published the poems of his recently deceased daughter, Mary Monck; invited Alessandro Galilei to Ireland. Created Viscount Molesworth of Swords in July. |
| 1719 | 63 | Took his seat in the Dublin House of Lords in July. |
| 1720 | 64 | Took a lead in pursuing those responsible for the South Sea Bubble fraud. |
| 1721 | 65 | Elected rector of Glasgow University. |
| 1722 | 66 | Defeated in the election for the constituency of Westminster. |
| 1723 | 67 | Published Some considerations for the promoting of agriculture and employing the poor, one of the earliest agricultural publications to deal specifically with Ireland. |
| 1724 | 68 | Jonathan Swift paid tribute to him as an Irish patriot in A letter to the right honourable the Lord Viscount Molesworth. |
| 1725 | 69 | Died at Brackdenstown on 22 May; buried at Swords. |
LOCAL Archives 2nd visit
on Friday 30th August Visited the LOcal Archives talk to (Brian?) and another researcher.
At time looking for the graveyard info following richard manfers grave pic.
Copy info from email.
Brian thought he remembered an article in a newspaper before saying that the remains of moles worth were repatriated in England.
Have to follow up on that and rule in or out england. At the moment England is out, the working theory is that he was born in Dublin, his wife is burried in dublin. Most accounts say he is burried in swords so i’m erring on the side of swords.
after searching info I came across Some boots on the ground at his old estate (literally) the Donscater ramblers. Reach out below.
REACH OUT email:
https://www.facebook.com/doncasterramblers/posts/wadworththursday-31st-march-2022-snow-greeted-some-of-us-as-we-looked-out-of-the/986201372029762/
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/good-walk-and-a-great-tale-with-doncaster-ramblers-3029913
Dear David
I came across Doncaster ramblers while doing research on Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount (of Swords Co. Dublin Ireland) . One of your reports on a walk through Blow Hall Manor in the grounds of Edlington Wood mentioned his time in residence there so I though your group might be a good point of enquiry for my research.
I wonder if you or any of your group might have any local information you could share?
My quest is to find where exactly Robert Molesworth was laid to rest.
He had a residence in my town – Swords Co. Dublin Ireland. Much is written about Molesworth but one fact that I have been unable to unearth is where exactly his last resting place is. Most accounts say he is buried in Swords, but there are no specific records of that fact that I have unearthed. His last will apparently specifies that he be interred at Edlington but there does not appear to be information on that fact either. (at least on this side of the pond!)
I appreciate you taking the time to read. If any of your group has any information or references they would be willing to share, then I would appreciate any help they can give.
Kind regards
Kevin
Research:
| Father | Robert Molesworth, b. Abt 1616 d. 3 Sep 1656, in Ireland (Age ~ 40 years) | |
| Mother | Judith Bysse, of Brackentown d. Abt 1662 | |
Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth, lived in a property now known as Blow Hall Manor in Edlington Wood in the late 17th Century.
—————————-
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Molesworth-131
Son dies before him or close to his time…. Son dies at 46/47 in 1725 or 26 Father dies May 22nd 1725.
Clarify son passing date.
john Molesworth son.
John Molesworth, 2nd Viscount Molesworth of Swords (4 December 1679 – 17 or 18 February 1725/26).
FAMILY:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Molesworth,_1st_Viscount_Molesworth
https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera00inburk?view=theater#page/776/mode/2up
Brian local archives mentioned 14 Henrietta street as a moleswoth residence
Resources:
National lib:
Dublin Weekly Journal
https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000827805
Molesworth Papers
The Molesworth papers were dispersed following a sale in 1977, though a microfilm of the collection is held in the National Library of Ireland.
Brackenstown house
https://www.historyeye.ie/brackenstown-house-part-2
https://www.historyeye.ie/brackenstown-house-part-1
bio – mainly used for table
https://www.dib.ie/biography/molesworth-robert-a5861
Alessandro Galilei, whom Molesworth invited over to Ireland in 1716. Ref
The Molesworth circle
After his 1722 defeat, Molesworth concentrated his energies on Ireland. In his final years he established an intellectual circle at Brackdenstown, now largely rebuilt, and with gardens remodelled by Alessandro Galilei. The Molesworth circle, as it is known, embraced both members of the Church of Ireland and protestant dissenters, including the philosopher Francis Hutcheson (qv), the Arbuckle brothers, John and James (qv), Edward Synge (qv) the younger, and other figures associated with the Dublin Weekly Journal, many of whose writings paid tribute to Molesworth’s interest and encouragement.
Coat of arms
Note bell-like Vair pattern
Arms of Molesworth
Arms of Molesworth (Viscount Molseworth): Gules, an escutcheon vair within an orle of eight cross-crosslets or (Montague-Smith, P.W. (ed.), Debrett’s Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage, Kelly’s Directories Ltd, Kingston-upon-Thames, 1968, p.775) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Molesworth,_1st_Viscount_Molesworth#/media/File:Molesworth_Escutcheon.png
Nli
NLI Genealogy Advisory Service Room (mezzanine level, Main NLI Building 6-8 Kildare St.)
or sit at one of the PC’s in our reading room to consult various e-resources that we have access to.
Funeral Entries’
Stairs right family history
Dublin weekly journal
Your ticket number is 56873
Steven family room
yorkshire burials
First name(s) Robert Last name Molesworth Birth year - Death year 1725 Burial year 1725 Burial date 04 Sep 1725 Burial place Handsworth, St Mary Father's first name(s) Edward County Yorkshire (West Riding) Country England Archive Sheffield Archives & Local Studies Archive reference PR-158-1-1 Page 146 Record set Yorkshire Burials Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records Subcategory Parish Burials Collections from England, Great Britain
https://www.johngrenham.com/mail/research.php
https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/molesworth-robert-1656-1725
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D744590
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/our-churches/st-peters-church-edlington-south-yorkshire
https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/IMC-1954-RoD-1-1730-423
Breckdenstowne
Malesworth