McClintock of Seskinore

The Eccles Family of Ecclesville, Fintona and Fermanagh

The Eccles family of Ecclesville, Fintona, County Tyrone, emerged as one of the principal landed families of the district during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Descended from the Eccles family of Kildonan, County Ayr, the family established extensive estates in Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh following the Restoration period.

Over successive generations, the family became closely associated with Ecclesville House and the village of Fintona, producing High Sheriffs, magistrates, and substantial landowners. Through marriage, the Eccles family became connected with numerous other prominent landed families, including the Lowrys, Dicksons, Brownes of Aughentaine, Delmeges, Stoneys, McClintocks, and Browne-Leckys.

The Ecclesville inheritance later became closely intertwined with the history of Seskinore through the marriage of Amy Henrietta Frances Eccles to Colonel John Knox McClintock of Seskinore.

Origins of the Eccles Family

John Eccles of Kildonan

JOHN ECCLES, of Kildonan, County Ayr, living in 1618; married Janet Cathcart, of the Carleton family, and had two sons:

  • JOHN ECCLES, of Kildonan, a devoted Royalist, who continued the senior Scottish line.
  • GILBERT ECCLES, founder of the Irish branch.

Gilbert Eccles of Shannock

GILBERT ECCLES, of Shannock, County Fermanagh; born 1602.

He settled in Ireland during the reign of Charles II and acquired extensive estates in Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh.

He served as:

  • High Sheriff of County Fermanagh (1665)
  • High Sheriff of County Tyrone (1673)

He died 26 July 1694, leaving issue:

  1. Daniel Eccles, of Shannock; High Sheriff 1675; married Sarah Moore of Tullavin, County Cavan.
  2. CHARLES ECCLES, of whom presently.
  3. Joseph Eccles, of Rathmoran; High Sheriff 1712.

Charles Eccles of Fintona

CHARLES ECCLES, of Fintona, County Tyrone.

By the will of his brother Joseph Eccles of Rathmoran, dated 3 August 1709 and proved 17 September 1723, he inherited the Fermanagh estates.

He served as:

  • High Sheriff of County Tyrone (1694)
  • Justice of the Peace under Queen Anne and George I.

He died intestate; administration granted 7 November 1726 to his son:

Daniel Eccles of Fintona

DANIEL ECCLES, of Fintona; born 1692.

High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1720.

Married in 1718:
MARY LOWRY, daughter of Thomas Lowry of Ahenis.

Died 1750.

Issue:

  1. CHARLES ECCLES, heir.
  2. Robert Eccles, inherited the Fermanagh estates.
  3. James Lowry Eccles.
  4. Mervyn Eccles, dsp.
  5. Anne Eccles.
  6. Frances Eccles; married John Dickson of Ballyshannon.
  7. Mary Eccles.
  8. Elizabeth Eccles.
  9. Margaret Eccles.
  10. Isabella Eccles.

Charles Eccles of Ecclesville

CHARLES ECCLES, of Ecclesville, Fintona.

High Sheriff of County Tyrone.

Married:
REBECCA ANNE STEWART, of Bailieborough Castle.

Issue:

  1. DANIEL ECCLES, heir.
  2. John Eccles, dsp.
  3. Rev. Charles Eccles, drowned at Bath.

He died 30 December 1763.

Daniel Eccles of Ecclesville

DANIEL ECCLES, of Ecclesville; born 1746.

High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1772.

Married 28 February 1773:
ANNE DICKSON, daughter of John Dickson of Ballyshannon.

Issue:

  1. Charles Eccles; High Sheriff 1802; d.v.p.s.p. 1807.
  2. JOHN DICKSON ECCLES, heir.
  3. Gilbert William Eccles; dsp.
  4. Daniel Eccles (1787–1869).
  5. Thomas Eccles; dsp.
  6. James Eccles.
  7. Frances Eccles; married Charles Lucas.
  8. Anna Rebecca Eccles.
  9. Mary Eccles; married Rev. James Lowry Dickson.
  10. Elizabeth Letitia Sarah Eccles; married William Newcombe.
  11. Hester Eccles; married William Dickson.

Daniel Eccles died 31 July 1808.

John Dickson Eccles of Ecclesville

JOHN DICKSON ECCLES, of Ecclesville; born 22 September 1783.

Justice of the Peace.

Married 30 October 1810:
JEMIMA DICKSON, daughter of Thomas Dickson of Woodville.

Issue:

  1. Daniel Eccles; dsp.
  2. CHARLES ECCLES, heir.
  3. Thomas Dickson Eccles; dsp.
  4. John Eccles; dsp.
  5. James William Eccles; dsp.
  6. Rev. Robert Gilbert Eccles, Rector of Kilbrogan.
  7. Hester Catharine Eccles.
  8. Anna Jemima Eccles.
  9. Eliza Frances Wilhelmina Eccles; married Rev. Benjamin Newcombe.

He died 12 October 1830.

Charles Eccles of Ecclesville

CHARLES ECCLES, of Ecclesville; born 9 April 1813.

Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant.

High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1835.

Married 9 April 1840:
ISABELLA BLAKE, daughter of Edward Blake of Castle Grove, County Galway.

Issue:

  1. JOHN STUART ECCLES, heir.
  2. Captain Charles Edward Eccles; married Mathilda Theodosia Browne of Aughentaine.
  3. Robert Gilbert Eccles; died young.
  4. Annie Henrietta Eccles; married Connolly William Browne-Lecky.
  5. Gertrude Marian Eccles; died in infancy.
  6. Constance Isabella Eccles; married Captain James Vesey Lendrum.

He died 4 November 1869.

Annie Henrietta Eccles and the Browne-Lecky Connection

ANNIE HENRIETTA ECCLES
Born 25 January 1849.

Married:
CONNOLLY WILLIAM BROWNE-LECKY, third son of Thomas Richardson Browne of Aughentaine Castle.

Issue:

Raymond Saville Connolly de Montmorency Lecky Browne-Lecky

Born 17 May 1881.
Died 11 November 1961, dsp.

Final owner of Ecclesville House.

Isabella Caroline Annie Browne-Lecky

Born 21 September 1879.

Married in 1910:
CAPTAIN CHARLES ERNEST WILLIAM BLAND, of Colsterworth House.

Issue included:

  • Patricia Ernest de Montmorency Bland.

John Stewart (or Stuart) Eccles of Ecclesville

JOHN STEWART ECCLES, of Ecclesville; born 6 October 1847.

Deputy Lieutenant.

Married 23 May 1871:
FRANCES CAROLINE BROWNE, daughter of Thomas Richardson Browne of Aughentaine Castle.

He died 1886.

Issue:

Charles Raymond Eccles

Born 22 August 1872; died 4 September 1872.

Amy Henrietta Frances Eccles

AMY HENRIETTA FRANCES ECCLES
Born 22 April 1874 – died 4 April 1942.

Held the Ecclesville estate as life tenant and beneficial heir under the will of her father, John Stewart Eccles.

Married in 1893:
COLONEL JOHN KNOX McCLINTOCK, of Seskinore.

Issue:

Amelia (“Leila”) Isobel Eccles McClintock

Born 21 July 1898 – died 30 January 1937.

Married:

  1. Cecil Rhodes Field (divorced)
  2. Captain Wilfred Heyman Joynson-Wreford (1896–1940)

Issue:

Penelope (“Xenia”) Joynson-Wreford

Born 3 August 1935.

The final direct descendant associated with the Seskinore line.

Rose Isabella de Montmorency Eccles

ROSE ISABELLA DE MONTMORENCY ECCLES
Born 5 January 1876.

Married 19 December 1906:
CAPTAIN CARFRAE HAMILTON DELMEGE, 21st Lancers.

Issue:

Anthony Charles Stuart Delmege

Heir to the Ecclesville estate under the entail established by John Stewart Eccles.

James Christopher Delmege

Born 1912.

Sheelagh Edith Delmege

Born 10 February 1914.

Married:

  1. John William Wilder
  2. Richard James Kay Fenton, of Dutton Manor and Clegg Hall.

Died 28 April 2005.

Annie Theodosia Hester Eccles (“Dosie”)

ANNIE THEODOSIA HESTER ECCLES
Born 8 February 1878.

Married January 1900:
CAPTAIN LEIGH SADLEIR STONEY, JP, Royal Irish Fusiliers.

Issue:

Rose Kathleen Rachel Stoney

Born 10 October 1900.

Married:
WILLIAM FRANK SUGDEN, of Manchester.

Issue:

  • Theodore William Stuart Sugden, dsp.
  • Francis Sugden, dsp.

Ecclesville and Seskinore

Through the marriage of Amy Eccles and John Knox McClintock in 1893, the histories of Ecclesville and Seskinore became closely connected.

Although the estates remained legally distinct due to the entail governing Ecclesville, the marriage linked two of the most important landed families in County Tyrone.

This connection later shaped:

  • the inheritance of Ecclesville,
  • the later Browne-Lecky succession,
  • and the final Joynson-Wreford association with Seskinore.

Related Articles

  • Ecclesville House, Fintona
  • Amy Henrietta Frances Eccles
  • John Knox McClintock & Amy Eccles
  • Raymond Browne-Lecky
  • The Browne-Lecky Family of Aughentaine
  • The Delmege Family and Ecclesville
  • The Decline and End of the Seskinore Estate
  • Xenia and the Rediscovery of Seskinore

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