Death of Sir Capel Molyneux, Bart, DL, recorded by the News Letter (1879)
During this week in 1879 the News Letter, “with sincere regrets”, announced the death of Sir Capel Molyneux, Bart, DL, who had died at his residence, Castle Dillon, “in the vicinity of Armagh city”.
He had been the seventh Baronet, the only surviving son of Sir George Molyneux and Emma, daughter of John Green, Esq. He had been born in l841 and had succeeded to the title and estates when his father died on January 25,1818, he had married on January, 15, 1863, to Mary Emily Frances, eldest daughter of Peter Fitzgerald, DL, Knight of Kerry, and he had left issue of one daughter, Julia Elizabeth Mary. Sir Capel's sister, Lady Emily Catherine, was married in 1802 to James Vance Cleland, Esq, late Captain 3rd Hussars.
The News Letter reported: “Sir Capel had been ailing for some time, but was able occasionally to take carriage exercise. On Thursday he became weaker, and was waited on by his esteemed agent, John G Winder, Esq, JP, who remained with him all Thursday night, and was present with the family when he breathed his last on the Friday morning, in his thirty-seventh year.”
The News Letter then provided further details of historical Molyneux family: “The family of Molyneux is of ancient origin, the junior branch deriving from Sir Thomas Molyneux, second son of Sir William Molyneux, of Sefton, a celebrated warrior under the Black Prince. Sir Thomas was born at Calais in 1531, and fell into the hands of the enemy on the capture of that place, but was ransomed for 500 crowns. He came to England in 1568 and in 1576 was sent to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he obtained extensive grants of lands and a lease of the exports and imports of Dublin for the annual rent of £183. He married Catherine, daughter of Ludovica Stabeort, Governor of Bruges, and was succeeded by his oldest son Daniel Molyneux, MP, who was appointed in 1586 Ulster King of Arms, and whoso celebrated collection of Irish family histories is among the MSS, of Trinity College, Dublin. He married Jane, daughter of William Usher, Clerk of the Privy Council; and his son Thomas, Governor of Wicklow, was killed by the rebels in 1642.”