1. THOMAS11 HERBERT (MATTHEW10, EDWARD9, WATKIN8, WILLIAM7, RICHARD6, WILLIAM5AP THOMAS, THOMASAP4GWILLYM, GWILYMAP3JENKIN, JENKINAP2ADAM, ADAMAP1HERBERT) was born ABT 1625 in Crickhowell, Brecon, Wales, and died 1673 in Killarney, Ireland bur. Tralee. He married MARY KENNY ABT 1659, daughter of EDWARD KENNY. She was born ABT 1635 in Cullen, Co Cork, and died 1726 in Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland bur. Tralee.
Notes for THOMAS HERBERT:
Thomas Herbert went to Ireland as Edward Herbert Lord Chirbury's agent in early 1655 after receiving various military and parliamentary permissions to replant the estate and after getting guarantees from the local Irish of his safety. He seems to have spent his first year rounding up the tenants who had fled to the surrounding counties. He also imported many new settlers and stock from his native Wales. Lord Chirbury granted Thomas an estate of his own, Kilcow, just south of Castleisland.
Within one or two years, letters indicate the mistrust that Chirbury had for his agent. Edward Herbert constantly prodded Thomas to send rent money back to him, accused him of charging tenants agency fees, complained about Thomas' expenses and wrote to others of his displeasure. Although Edward was assured by many high officials in Dublin that Thomas was doing as well as could be expected in such a war torn, poor country, Edward berated him in his letters and replaced him after 3 years.
In 1659, Thomas Herbert was appointed High Sheriff of County Kerry, an appointment he didn't seem to relish. He also married Mary Kenney in that same year. Lord Chirbury could not have been too upset with Thomas, as he agreed to be godfather to Thomas and Mary Herbert's first child, a son named Edward, born in 1660.
After a series of other agents who proved to be dishonest and incompetent, Edward rehired Thomas Herbert as his agent. The agent's job was becoming more challenging - there were many law suits pending involving the Castleisland property concerning evictions, tenants, leases and boundaries. There was even some question as to the Chirbury's legal claim ownership of some of the land. Thomas Herbert was successful in finalizing the title to much of Chirbury's estates in Ireland, and there is some indication that he was able to acquire additional land for Chirbury due to legal technicalities.
Letters published in Herbert Correspondence as well as other documents give some evidence to the relationship between Lord Chirbury and his agent Thomas Herbert. Lord Chirbury's letters to Thomas and to others show an attitude that ranged from total trust and admiration to mistrust and disdain.
The mistrust seems to have stemmed from Chirbury's lack of knowledge of Irish economics. His motivation was primarily to generate as much income from his property, and he became very annoyed and hostile when Thomas could not collect his rents in full and pay them on time. Chirbury accused him constantly of wasting far too much money, not realizing the much higher costs living in Ireland and the erratic income that was collected from the tenants. Thomas Herbert's letters to Chirbury often included long descriptions of the estate matters in Ireland, but they also attempted to explain the situation in Ireland and defend himself of his lord's many accusations. It is also evident from the letters that Edward depended on Thomas' advice about his Irish affairs, and took his advice the larger part of the time. The Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir Thomas Herbert, (another kinsman of Edward, Lord Chirbury), always defended Thomas and tried to reassure Edward of his agent's honesty and sincerity.
In 1672, Edward Herbert decided to make an extended visit to Ireland to oversee his Irish interests. His Castleisland house was not ready in time for his arrival, and it appears that he stayed with Thomas while the house was being completed. The last letter written by Thomas to Lord Chirbury in 1673 was a response to some legal land matters posed in a letter from Lord Chirbury. Thomas gave him technical advice, and his closing comment mentions that he was afflicted by the 'contrye disease' and was so weak he could barely write. Thomas died in 1673, leaving his widow Mary with three sons -
Edward aged 13, John aged 8, and Arthur aged 3.
Mary Kenney Herbert seems to have lived with her brother, Edward Kenney, jr. who was appointed Thomas Herbert's replacement. Kenney wrote to Lord Chirbury on one occasion that his sister Mary Herbert had many suitors, but out her 'love for her children' , had not remarried. She did
however, remarry after 5 years to Captain Thomas Meade and remained in County Kerry.
Thomas and Mary's first child, Edward Herbert, was educated in England under the sponsorship of Edward, Lord Chirbury, his godfather. Planning to enter a law career, Edward was to attend Oxford with Lord Chirbury's nephew, Francis Herbert. Just 2 weeks before he was to begin his education, in 1678, Lord Chirbury died, and the young Edward lost his chance at his Oxford education. He did however attend Trinity College and settled in the Killarney area near his mother. In a letter written in 1682, Mary asked Lord Chirbury to recommend her second child, John, as a King's scholar, but he refused. John enrolled in Trinity College, Dublin, but died shortly afterward. The youngest son, Arthur, eventually obtained the Currans estate, half way between Castleisland and Killarney.
Mary Kenney Herbert Meade lived a long life. In her will probated in 1726, she mentions her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. The most touching part of her will mentions her 1st husband Thomas Herbert, who had been dead nearly 50 years. She asks to be buried next to her
beloved Thomas, in the Church at Castleisland.
Edward Herbert, the oldest son of Thomas Herbert and Mary Kenny, inherited the Kilcow estate. Edward Herbert's son, Thomas acquired the Muckross estate in 1770. Muckross House and Gardens are now part of the Irish National Trust and are open to the public. Thomas Herbert's other
surviving son, Arthur, inherited the Curran estate.
Children of THOMAS HERBERT and MARY KENNY are:
