Stephen Grant

We find now the first reference to a Stephen Grant. This was not a common Christian name in Ireland, but was one that was used regularly by the branch from which I was descended. I do not know what the connection was with this man. This chart can be constructed from Genealogical Office Ms 234 4 143, and other sources.

The first Stephen appears in Waterford in 1682, when his petition about the corner behind Mr Goodricks garden was referred for an aldermen's report. This is the first of a number of references to him in Waterford In 1683 he was given permission to build an oven close to the wall at the west end of his house near Lady's Gate, and he had a 21 year lease. By 1687 he was a solid enough citizen to be sworn a freeman of the city. But he seems to have fallen from favour by 1693 as the council books record his house and garden being given to John Flendall at £3 fine and 45s per year rent. In 1698 the council decided that he was a cordwainer, and should not be allowed to carry out the trade of a baker, as he had done before the bakers charter was passed in 1697.

This is the last reference to him in Waterford. He apparently moved to Cork after this altercation over his right to carry out his trade. From the above history his date of birth would be about 1655, so it would probably be his son, another Stephen, who married Elizabeth Wills in Cork in 1703 (which would put his birth about 1680). He must have made money at his trade of Victualler, as he paid £417 for the town and lands of Monyhasker, Lackmalooe, Muskerry in 1723. Further records show him owning 1475 acres in Muskerry at the time of his son Luke's marriage in 1733. He had further land dealings in 1738, and died in 1741.

His daughter Mary's marriage to Joseph Gubbins is covered by Burke's Landed Gentry . I suspect her name was Mary Anne Grant

His son Luke was admitted a freeman of Cork in 1732. In 1733 he married Hester Miller. The family were certainly Protestant by this time. He paid £2500 for land at North Rathleagh, Curraheen, W Drumreag in 1642. In 1754 he was one of the many Cork merchants who signed an address to the Duke of Dorset thanking him for his support of public credit during the recent crisis. And in 1765 Luke was one of the Grand City Jury proposing a resolution not to give servants any more tips for being entertained in their masters houses. Then there are further land deals dated 1745, 1748, 1760. He would appear to have been a rich merchant, educating his sons at Oxford and TCD. He died in Dublin in 1770, leaving a large will.

It is possible then to follow the next two generations as shown on the chart, but we lose track of the family about 1850. Like so many other families in Ireland they appear to have been forced to move as a result of the famine. The interest from my point of view is to find out if there is any connection with this Stephen, and to find out where the family came from before 1682.

Stephen Grant (born about 1655) of Waterford