This page is a work in progress and is being developed to provide an overview in tracing a Heaphy family of Waterford, and following their move westward towards Limerick/Cork throughout the 17th/18th century. It includes John Heaphy, Lieutenant in King James Jacobite army in 1689, who was later pardoned in 1693.  Research is ongoing and sources are recorded where possible.

Waterford Origin

Let us jump into a time in history, of Queen Elizabeth I and of Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 - 1618), who took part in the suppression of the rebellion in the colonisation of Ireland. Raleigh was rewarded handsomely and spent some time in Castle Matrix, Rathkeale in Limerick, which would be passed to Edmund Southwell and Catherine Herbert. Edmund was also known as "Southwell of Castle Matrix" and is the father of Sir Thomas Southwell (D.1680) his 5th and only surviving son, who played a large part in the Palatine movement to Ireland in the early 16th century. Raleigh would go on to become a landlord and mayor of the town of Youghal, Cork.

An associate and friend of Raleigh was Edmund Spencer (1552 – 1599), the English Poet, who also made his journey to Ireland, acquiring lands in Munster, with his main estate being at Kilcolman, near Doneraile, in North Cork. Edmund spent time with Raleigh at Castle Matrix, Limerick, and it was here he composed his poem “The Faerie Queene” which celebrated Queen Elizabeth I. Edmund Spencer also took property overlooking the Blackwater in North Cork.

It was a new era in Ireland, with many new comers arriving and pushing out the old Irish families. This was added to by the “1647 members” who arrived in Ireland, supporters of the crown. These newcomers were granted titles, eventually establishing themselves as the aristocratic classes. Many saw great opportunities for exploration in Ireland and a chance to gain wealth and status. Such families were; Boyle, Tynte, Tottenham, Neville, Drew, and Atkin. Sir Richard Boyle or otherwise known as the “Great Earl of Cork” or the Tynte family, originally from Somerset, England had a stronghold in the town of Youghal.

Genealogy has mostly recorded these families and their descendants, along with a select number of old Irish/Norman royal families, like Butler, O’Brien, O’Callaghan, and Fitzgerald. Therefore, a huge number of Irish families who lost their entitlements or place in society were forgotten about. Some Irish families managed to maintain their status by hovering to the edges of this new aristocratic society. Heaphy of Lismore, Waterford, is one such family, and this is an attempt to construct their very fragmented history.

Edmund Spencer lost his first wife by 1594 and he married secondly to Elizabeth Boyle (1576 - 1622), a relation to Sir Richard Boyle (1566 - 1643), 1st Earl of Cork, or known as "The Great Earl." Edmund and Elizabeth and had a son named Peregrine Spencer (1596 - 1640), who would marry Dorothy Tynte, daughter of Sir Robert Tynte (1571 - 1645) with his first wife, who is unknown. Robert Tynte married secondly to same Elizabeth Boyle (1576 - 1622), Edmund Spencer's widow, and had three further children, one of whom, named Margaret Tynte (b.1613), married John Tottenham (b. 1609). John who married Margaret Tynte, along with his cousin Barnabas Tottenham (1601 – 1632) were the first of the Tottenham family to arrive in Ireland.

It was Barnabas Hancock (b.1601), son of Beatrice Tottenham of Barrington, Cambridge, and John Hancock, who first moved to Ireland, acquiring the estate of Ballyduff, Lismore, Co. Waterford (Ref: Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland). Barnabas adopted the name of Tottenham and married Martha (otherwise King of Cork) Harman (widow) in 1630. Barnabas died on the 16 July 1632.

John Tottenham, son of John Tottenham (brother of Beatrice Tottenham, mother of Barnabas) and Agnes Mustell, settled in Youghal, Cork, and was baptised 14 June 1609, and is the 1st cousin of Barnabas Hancock Tottenham. John Tottenham married Margaret Tynte, in 1632, the daughter of Sir Robert Tynte (1571 - 1645), Knight of Ballycrenan, Cork and had two sons:  John and Edward Tottenham.

John Tottenham (1633 – 1700), the eldest son, married firstly to Catherine Atkin (1619 – 1661), daughter of John Atkin (1588 – 1642) and Jane Rugge (1592 – 1675), both of Polmore, Cork, however originally from Somerset, England.

John Tottenham and Catherine Atkin had three sons, before the death of Catherine. John married secondly to Anne Clarke (1635 - 1717), daughter of John Clarke, of England, and she arrived in Ireland on the 02.03.1658. John Tottenham and Anne Clarke had three children, with none surviving to adulthood. Only one child survived from the two marriages and that was Edward Tottenham (1659 – 1711), son of Catherine Atkin. John Tottenham established himself at Tottenham Green, an estate he purchased in Co. Wexford. Edward was his only son and heir and Edward’s son, Charles Tottenham (1716 – 1795) would go on to inherit Loftus Hall, Wexford, through the marriage with Ann Loftus. In Edward Tottenham’s will of 1712, he is referenced as the cousin of John Heaphy, son of Daniel Heaphy.

"Tottenham, Edward of Tottenham Greene alias Ballyboscane Co. Wexford, Esq - dated 3 - Dec - 1712. 20th Feb 1712. Wife, Jane - Son, Charles - Cousin, John Heaphy, son of Daniel Heaphy"

An early marriage connection in the mid to late 1600s, between Heaphy and Atkin or Tynte family, puts John Heaphy, son of Daniel Heaphy as a cousin of Edward Tottenham, the only heir of John Tottenham and Catherine Atkin. Since there were no further Tottenham family members to have existed in Ireland up to this point, the relationship of cousin to Heaphy, must come about from the marriages, therefore, Tynte or Atkin. See more on the Atkin-Tottenham-Tynte families. 

Moving to Lismore, Waterford, Sir Walter Raleigh owned Lismore Castle before it was sold to Sir Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, relation of Elizabeth Boyle who married Edmund Spencer and Sir Robert Tynte. Heaphy, from records, is also associated with Lismore in Waterford, in the same area that Barnabas Tottenham purchased his estate at Ballyduff, Lismore, on his first arrival to Ireland. Heaphy, from history surname research, has found that the name arrived on English shores at the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the family lived at Lancashire, having been granted lands by the Duke William of Normandy. Later records have found Heaphy in Ireland, associated to the Waterford area. 

One of the earliest records of the name, spelt, "O Heafegh", is taken from the Fiants Elizabeth, Ref 6475, Warrants to the Court of Chancery for grants under the great seal, dated 1601.  It refers to a pardon given to a Derbie or Derby O'Heafegh, of Cowlisill, Waterford. The place name of Cowlisill is not easily recognised today, perhaps, changed from the time of Queen Elizabeth. However, there is a reference to Cowlisill Castle (Ref: Irish Manuscripts), with description as follows, which mentions the family of Power, much associated with this area: 

Walter Laund, lord of Cowlysyll, by leave of Robert Launde his son and heir, grants to Richard Butler, son of John son of Edmund, and his heirs and assigns his castle of Cowlysyll with free entry and egress to the same, for which castle Richard has given Walter a milch-cow with her calf, viz., ' incalf cowe ' and a mark silver of current money. April 26, 1524. (2) The above Walter grants to Ellen Power, formerly wife of Anselm Grace, his castle of Cowlisill with free entry and egress, to her and her heirs freely and quietly for ever, on conditiop however that if said Walter or his heirs pay 4os - of good and usual money they shall recover the castle. 

In the census of Ireland of 1659, (Pg. 340) there is reference to O'Heefie in the Barony of Cosmore and Cosbride, Waterford, with a total number of 12 members. The following settlements are associated with the barony: Lismore, Cappoquin, Knockanore, Ballyduff and Tallow. Throughout the 1600s, many family names lost their Irish spellings and, therefore anglicising the name to "Heaphy" or "Heafy". 

The early marriage connection in the mid to late 1600s, between Heaphy and Atkin or Tynte family, gives us the names of John Heaphy, son of Daniel Heaphy. Daniel Heaphy is recorded in the Subsidy roll of Lismore Parish, County Waterford in 1662. Subsidy rolls listed the nobility, clergy and laity, who paid a grant in aid of the crown. 

Records from 1689, Waterford, show that the Heaphy family, were supporters of Catholic King James II, and his attempt to protect his throne from William, on the side of the protestants. In 1689 King James arrived in Ireland and summoned parliament.  The main work of the parliament, was to outlaw and confiscate the property of all protestants who were said to have supported William.  Nearly 2,500 were outlawed, amongst the following with Waterford addresses: 

Charles Boyle (son of Lord Clifford), Richard Boyle, Viscount Dungarven (alias Lord Clifford), Col. Edward Villiers Fitzgerald, John Napper, John Spencer, Charles Talbot (Earl of Waterford), William Gibbs, Lewis Alcock, Walter Atkins, John Nettles, Joseph Osborne, George Power, Richard Reeves, John Power (Lord Decies). 

In 1689, recorded under the Regiments of Infantry (Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical of King James’s Irish Army), it records Lieutenant John Heaphy of Waterford. This is very possibly the same John Heaphy, cousin of Edward Tottenham and son of Daniel Heaphy. As history has written, the Jacobite army of King James, were harshly defeated and following there were little options available for the Catholics or supporters of James – either stay to face the consequences or flee to France to join the catholic armies of Europe. This became known as the “The Flight of the Wild Geese” in Irish history.

Following the signing of the Limerick Treaty, the courts of William set about attaining the leading Jacobites.  Fifty Waterford Jacobites were outlawed and their lands declared forfeit (Old Waterford Society, 1978), with John Heaphy being one of these.  However, following the full effect of the Limerick Treaty, it was modified and found that those Jacobites who were still in arms or who were under their protection should be pardoned, if they did not follow Sarsfield to France. For Lieutenant John Heaphy, he did not need to flee to Europe, as in 1693, (Old Waterford Society, 1978), John Heaphy of Clanbegin, was one of those Waterford men to receive a pardon. Included in those to receive pardons were: 

Thomas Fitzgerald of Woodhouse, Col. John Hore of Shandon, Major John Power of Clashmore, Nicholas Power of Cloncloney, Major James Roche, John Heaphy of Clanbegin, Edmund Morris of Waterford, Capt. Pierce Power of Knockalagher, Thomas Power of Waterford, Jeffrey Power of Feddans, Capt. Garrett Gough of Inniskeale. 

This would allow Heaphy to maintain status, possessions, and entitlements along with enjoying the privileges that came with it. During the Jacobite and Williamite wars, the Power family, the main family of Waterford at the time were heavily involved, with the family split on either side, as can be seen from the names above. Included in the men to be pardoned was Major John Power, who was attained in 1688 before being pardoned. He was the only male distant cousin to the James Power, the 3rd Earl of Tyrone, however, John Power received none of the titles following James's death in 1704 and it was his niece, daughter of James, the Lady Catherine Power (Dowager Countess of Tyrone), who married Sir Marcus Beresford in 1717, who retained the Power property, with Marcus Beresford becoming the first Marquis of Waterford. It is unknown if this Marcus Beresford is related to John Beresford, who married Mary Atkin, sister of Catherine Atkin, who married John Tottenham in 1632. 

This is very likely the time when John Heaphy of Waterford was pardoned, that he moved to Limerick. Other such families like the Drews, of Ballyduff (Barry Drew of Ballyduff, and Drewscourt, Limerick) made the move around the same time period as Heaphy. 

It can be seen from early court of chancery/bills of exchequer records that John Heaphy interacted with the families that arrived during and after the reign of Queen Elizabeth: 

• Drews: Francis Drew was resident of Drewscourt, Limerick at the beginning of the 18th century. 

• Nettles : John Nettles who settled in Waterford in the 17th century (Landedestates.ie). 

• Congreve: Ambrose Congreve would become Mayor of Waterford in 1736 and later MP.  

The following example is from the Court of Chancery/Bills of Exchequer: 

1702 - Hugh Brady, Thomas Heffernan, Timothy Fogerty, Anthony Irby and his wife, Elizabeth, John Heaphy and Congreve, def against Hassard Powell Esq.

This entry relates to Limerick.  Anthony Irby was a rector at Duntrileague, lands of the Massey family.  Anthony was married to Elizabeth Massey.  The case of Hassard Powell, relates to disagreement with his guardian, his uncle, and his sisters Mary Powell married Hugh Brady and Mable married George Robinson.  John Congreve was married to Rebecca Jones, whose mother/sister, Jane Jones, possible had some connection with Powell - John & Rebecca Congreve would go on to establish the Congreve family of Waterford. There is another court record in 1733 where Hugh Massey and George Purdon Esq, are executors for Elizabeth Irby, and it is def. by Elizabeth Powell, Daniel Heaphy & Edward Purdon, Edward Moore Ryves & Elizabeth Powell Ryves, his wife and administrator of Hassard Powell, deceased and William Bourke. 

Note: Irby - Alice Irby, daughter of Rev. Anthony Irby, married John Parker, of Dunkipp, Limerick. John is the son of John & Abigail Parker of Dunkipp, Limerick, who had the following children: John Parker, Thomas Parker, Edward Parker, Nicholas Parker and George Parker.  John, who married Alice Irby, had a son, Anthony Parker (High Sheriff of Limerick, 1740), who married Amy Massey and had a dughter, Alice Parker, born 1748, Limerick.

Elizabeth Irby, sister to Anthony, married John Brady in 1696, Cashel & Emly. Anthony Irby, died 08 November 1716, Clonmore, Limerick and his wife, Elizabeth Massey Irby died in 1716, "Coolegon", Clare. 

For both entries, all members have a connection, with the exception of John and Daniel Heaphy and their connection is currently unknown to the others. Were they related, clerks, agents, stewards or arbitrators? The John and Daniel Heaphy (Daniel married Rachel Blennerhassett in 1715) mentioned post 1712, are likely the sons of John Heaphy of Waterford, son of Daniel, cousin to Edward Tottenham, pardoned, moved to Limerick and died in 1712.  In 1712, from the Cashel & Emly Wills 1618 – 1800, from district registry of Waterford, there is the will for John Heaphy, of Knocklary, Co. Limerick. Unfortunately, this will is no longer in existence. 

Another court record reveals: 

1704/1705 - John Heaphy Pet against John Nettles, Henry Wallis, Richard Downing, Boyle Andrews, John Jackson, Robert Nettles and Francis Drew.

In the second example, many of the defendants were connected through marriages. John Nettles, born 1615, (D.1680, Waterford) Herefordshire, England, married Mary Greatstakes with children, John Nettles (his heir), Robert, Ruth, who married Barry Drew (Their son Francis – Drewscourt), Mary, who married Patrick Christian, Penelope who married Henry Wallis, of Drishane, Cork and Elizabeth, who married Col Richard Croker of Waterford. The Nettles had marriage connections to the Gibbs, Evans, Ryves, and Bowerman. John Nettles, the son (Major), born 1659, Tourin, Waterford, married Ellen Evans and Ruth Evans. Died 1715, Nettleville, Cork. John had a son and daughter, John Nettles and Mary Nettles. Robert Nettles, b. 1659, married Elizabeth Jackson and Caroletta Churchill. Died 1712, Nettleville, Cork. 

The next reference is the marriage between Daniel Heaphy (1689 - Abt. 1765), of Co Limerick, who married Rachel Blennerhassett (1696 - Abt. 1765) of the Blennerhassett family in 1715, Limerick. Rachel was the daughter of Gerald Blennerhassett Esq (son of Captain Arthur Blennerhassett, Loughgur, Limerick 1625 - 1695 and Mary Fitzgerald 1625-30 - 1695, dau. of Ven. Gerald Fitzgerald, Archdeacon of Emly) and Christina Bailey (Bayley). On Daniel’s marriage in 1715 to Rachel Blennerhassett, he married protestant and is recorded as being from Co. Limerick, possibly at Knocklarly, from the Will of John, his father, and somehow connected to the Massy family of Duntrileague.

This Daniel Heaphy, as stated is likely the son of the John Heaphy (D.1712, from Waterford), and grandson of Daniel Heaphy recorded in the subsidy rolls of 1662.  This family of Daniel and Rachel were prominent with four of their sons, volunteering to Germany where they assisted in rescuing King George II at the battle of Dettingen in 1743 (Limerick Leader 1952). The brothers had joined the Ligonier's Troop of Horse, at that time a dashing regiment in Europe. Daniel and Rachel had nine children recorded up to 1733 and they name one of their sons, Tottenham Heaphy (b. circa 1720 - 1801), probably named after Edward Tottenham, who had mentioned Tottenham's grandfather in his will of 1712.  Tottenham Heaphy, an actor, and playhouse manager (Dublin, Cork and Limerick), who opened the first theatre in 1770, Limerick city.  Tottenham Heaphy's daughter, Mary Heaphy (1757 - 1813), a celebrated actress in Dublin and London, married the prolific playwright, John O’Keeffe. Tottenham's son, Gerald Heaphy, was a Lieutenant in the 32nd regiment on foot. The eldest son of Daniel and Rachel was John Heaphy, who married Lucy Blennerhassett, (his 3rd cousin) of Castle Conway, Kerry, daughter of Henry Blennerhassett (1693 - 1728) and Dorcas (Alice) Crumpe. John and Lucy's grand-daughter, Lucinda Heaphy (1778 - 1848), daughter of John Heaphy (1740 - 1820), married, Hamilton White, brother of Richard White, first Earl of Bantry, son of Simon White (1739 - 1776) and Frances Jane Hedges Eyre (1748 - 1816) of Macroom Castle. Both Daniel and his son, John Heaphy are recorded in the “Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain & Ireland" and in the "History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland”. Lucinda Heaphy White is recorded in the "Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland" and "New Extinct Peerage 1884 - 1971" a peerage survey of Britain, Scotland and Ireland and the royal families of Europe. 

The other son of John Heaphy (D.1712) and brother to Daniel, is John Heaphy, who possibly married (although still not confirmed, 2025), to the sister to Robert Horan (d. 1770) of Newcastle West, Limerick and Dublin, or married to the sister of Robert's wife, who was Caroline Prestidge. There is a daughter referenced from the marriage as Margaret Heaphy (1741 - 1834) niece of Robert Horan Esq., Newcastle, Limerick. Margaret Heaphy married Rev. Simon Holland (1733 – 1822) son of Simon Holland Esq, grandson of Zacharias Holland, merchant, Limerick and grandnephew of Hezekiah Holland, alderman of Limerick City (City Sheriff - 1699. Limerick Mayor - 1713). 

John Heaphy converted to protestant in 1742 (Cashel & Emly) and his second marriage is to Margaret O’Brien (b. Abt.1708) in 1742. Margaret, the daughter of Brien O'Brien Esq, of Limerick, who was the brother of Cornelius O'Brien Esq, of Clonfadda, Killaloe (both related to the Earl of Thomand). Margaret had been married previously to Thomas McNemara (D.1740). 

It is unknown what other children John Heaphy had, however there is a marriage of a Thomas Heaphy, born about 1730, and Elicia (Alice) Holyday (Holliday), in around 1755. No record of the marriage in Limerick has been found, however they were there for the birth of their children, with Martin Heaphy, baptised on 14 May 1766 (St. Munchin's RC Church Records). Thomas and Elicia’s possible son, Thomas Heaphy, married Elizabeth Barrington in 1778, Limerick (St. Munchin’s RC Church Records) with Elizabeth being a relation to Joseph Barrington, the 1st Baronet Barrington (His son, Sir Matthew Barrington of Glenstall Abbey), founder with his sons of Barrington Hospital, Limerick. 

There were strong marriage connections between the Holland, White, Holliday and Heaphy families. 

A record in 1817, reveals the death announcement for John Heaphy, Limerick Evening Post, Thurs, 4 Dec 1817:

"Heaphy, John, died at Mahoonagh, in the 95th year of his age, Mr John Heaphy, one of the best Arithmeticians of the age"

Is this John, born circa 1722, a possible son of John Heaphy, who married Miss Horan or Miss Prestidge? 

Research continues. 

Line 1

Derby Heaphy 

(C.1575. Ref: Elizabeth Fiants, 1601)

Line 2

Heaphy 

(C.1610)

Line 3

Daniel Heaphy 

(C.1630. Ref: Subsidy Rolls, 1662)

Line 4

John Heaphy 

(C.1660. Ref: Regiments of Infantry, 1689. Pardons, 1693)

Line 5

Daniel Heaphy (B.1689. M. Rachel Blennerhassett) & John Heaphy (C.1695. M. Miss Horan or Prestidge & Margaret O'Brien)

Line 6

John Heaphy, Blennerhassett Heaphy, Gerald Heaphy, Robert Heaphy, Tottenham Heaphy, Arthur Heaphy, Mary Heaphy, Annabella Heaphy, Christina Heaphy & Margaret Heaphy (Holland)

Line 7

John Heaphy, Conway Heaphy, Mary Heaphy (O'Keeffe), Gerald Blennerhassett Heaphy, Rachel Heaphy (Alley) & Eliza Holland (O'Callaghan) 

Line 8

Dr. Heaphy, Lucinda Heaphy (White), Mary Ann Conway Heaphy (Keating), Conway Heaphy, John Tottenham O'Keeffe, Adelaide O'Keeffe, Gerald O'Keeffe, Tottenham Alley, Arabella Sarah Alley, Rachel Alley (Dawson), Anne Alley, William Henry Alley, Emelia Alley, Catherine Alley, Frederick Augustus Alley & Simon Cornelius O'Callaghan

Line 9

Blennerhassett Heaphy?, John Heaphy?, Richard White, John Hamilton White, John Keating & George William Alley 

For more detailed genealogies on Daniel and John Heaphy please see:

Heaphy of Limerick & Kerry