A Deadly Duel that Haunted Him the Rest of His Life

Robert Edgeworth, a member of the prominent Longford family and MP for St Johnstown (1713–1727), was described as follows:

‘He had no notion of good breeding, was outrageously rude and abusive to persons he disliked, had a strange disposition to fighting and quarrelling and was quite void of fear of any man living; but was most childishly fearful of apparitions and goblins especially after he had killed Mr Atkinson in a duel in Clontarf Wood, after which time he could never lie without a lighted candle in his room and a servant either in his chamber or within his call … He hated many people, loved nobody, nor nobody loved him.’

Origins: Edgeworth Family in Ireland

From England to Ireland 1582, settled in County Longford in the 1590s.

Bishop of Down and Conor 1593. Acquired a fortune.

Officials and soldiers in the first half of the 17th century. Sheriff 1646. First {MP 1646 for County Longford}.

1. Sir John Edgeworth – {St. Johnstown 1661-66 1692-93 1695-99}
2. Francis Edgeworth – {Longford 1703-09}
3. Ambrose Edgeworth – {St. Johnstown 1703-11}
4. Henry Edgeworth – {Mullingar 1703-13 County Longford 1713-14 St. Johnstown 1715-20}
5. Robert Edgeworth – {St. Johnstown 1713-27}
6. Henry Edgeworth – {St. Johnstown 1721-51}
7. Richard Edgeworth – {Longford 1737-60}
8. Richard Edgeworth – {St. Johnstown 1798-1800}

Seats:

• Edgeworthstown House, Longford (old house, purch. 1670, rebuilt c. 1725, add. c. 1782-1812, sold 1935, institution);
• Lissard House (Firmount House)
• Longford (acq. before 1736, sold by 1780, demolished c. 1860); Cranallagh Castle, Longford (acq. first half 17th c.)
• Estates: Bateman 3255 (I) 2536 and 1659 (I) 1264. Worth £500 pa in 1713.