The Manor of Fentonagh (Castleleigh)

Plantation Origins and Development (1607–1631)

Map 17th Century depicting counties of Ireland

Plantation Origins and Development (1607–1631)

Introduction

The Manor of Fentonagh (Castleleigh) represents the earliest organised phase of estate formation in the Fintona district during the Plantation of Ulster. Established in the early seventeenth century under John Leigh, the estate formed the foundation of later developments under the Leigh baronets and, ultimately, the Eccles family.

The Leigh Family in Early Ulster

Between 1607 and 1610, three brothers:

John Leigh
Edmond Leigh
Daniel Leigh

arrived in Ulster under the patronage of Sir Henry Bagenal.

1607–1608

Captain Edmond Leigh was appointed Sheriff of Omagh in 1607
He died shortly afterwards in 1608

Following his death, the estate was consolidated under John and Daniel Leigh.

Early Land Claims and Disputes

The lands held by the Leigh family had originally belonged to the Abbey of Omey, but were not correctly identified during early plantation surveys (1608–1609). As a result, portions were mistakenly granted to other undertakers.

The Leighs petitioned the Crown, stating:

“Some parcels of their lands had, by the oversight of the King’s Surveyors, been included in the grants to undertakers… which they were willing to resign rather than disturb the said undertakers.”

This willingness to cooperate impressed the Crown, and Sir Arthur Chichester was instructed to regrant their lands on favourable terms.

The undertakers who had received portions included:

Sir John Davies
Sir Thomas Boyd
Mr. Clephane
George Hamilton
The Bishop of Derry

Petition of John and Daniel Leigh

A surviving memorandum in the Calendar of State Papers (James I) records several petitions submitted by the Leigh brothers concerning their position at Omagh.

These included requests:

To retain command of the fort of Omagh for life
For compensation for constructing the fort (estimated at £800)
For financial support due to the heavy cost of maintaining the fort
For additional lands in Tyrone in exchange for lands attached to the fort
For increased daily allowance (from 3s to 5s) due to:
- Housing travelling officials
- Hosting judges and commissioners
For provision of a porter and cannoneer

👉 These petitions highlight the strategic and financial importance of the Leigh position in early Plantation Ulster.

The Plantation Allotment of Fentonagh (1610)

The Manor of Fentonagh formed part of the wider Plantation settlement of the Precinct of Clogher in County Tyrone.

In 1610, the escheated lands of this district were divided among a number of undertakers under Crown direction.

Undertakers in the Precinct of Clogher

Sir Thomas Ridgeway — Portclare & Ballykeirgire (2,000 acres)
Thomas Roche of Essex — Ballmecowley & Balliranell (2,000 acres)
Francis Willoughby — Fentonagh (2,000 acres)
George Ridgeway — Ballimackell (1,000 acres)
William Parsons — Ballaclogh (1,000 acres)
William Orley — Dirribard & Killarie (2,000 acres)
Walter & Thomas Edney — Loughmaguiff (1,500 acres)
William Turvin — Moyenner (1,000 acres)

Official Direction (30 April 1610)

A directive issued to the Plantation Commissioners recorded:

“I have made choice of the persons above named… whom I think to be of sufficient ability to undertake the said several quantities of land… to be set out so as every of them may take his portion by lot or agreement…”

This formed part of the administrative process leading to the issuing of formal patents.

Acquisition of the Fentonagh Proportion

Although Fentonagh was initially associated with Francis Willoughby, it passed at an early stage into the hands of John Leigh.

Rev. George Hill records:

“John Leigh… appears to have bought the proportion of Fintona from Sir Francis Willoughby even before the latter had taken out a patent.”

Leigh’s background as an engineer and his prior experience in Ulster suggest that this acquisition was both strategic and informed.

Grant of the Manor of Fentonagh

1610 – Formal Grant

John Leigh was granted approximately 2,000 acres, erected into:

The Manor of Fentonagh (Castleleigh)
Precinct of Clogher, County Tyrone

Terms of the Grant

Rent: £10 13s 4d
Tenure: Common socage from Dublin Castle
Included:
- Numerous townlands (balliboes)
- 600 acres in demesne
- A court baron

The estate occupied the north-western portion of the barony of Clogher and formed a clearly defined plantation unit.

Development of the Plantation Settlement

By 1619 (Pynnar’s Survey)

A bawn of lime and stone with flankers
A substantial stone dwelling house
A village of eight houses
Approximately 41 British settler families

Many settlers held:

Houses
Garden plots
Common grazing

1622 Survey

Further improvements included:

Stone bawn (93 feet square, 12 feet high)
Three flankers
Gatehouse
Base court enclosed by rampart

👉 This represents one of the earliest fortified plantation settlements in the Fintona district.

Transfer to the Baronetcy Line

20 February 1631

Death of John Leigh
Estate passed to his brother:
Sir Daniel Leigh

6 August 1632

Regrant of Fentonagh lands confirmed by Letters Patent

(Source: Patent Rolls, Chancery, Ireland)

This marks the transition of Fentonagh into the Leigh Baronetcy estate.

Above names: Johannes Leigh’ and ‘CastleLeigh’

Above the names of some of the Balliboes are clear.

Position in Estate Development

Fentonagh represents the first stage in the evolution of the estate:

Fentonagh (Plantation phase) →
Leigh Baronetcy (1622–1635) →
Fragmentation (1635–1671) →
Eccles Acquisition (1671)

Historical Significance

The estate is significant as:

One of the earliest organised plantation manors in Tyrone
A well-documented example of early settlement and defence
The foundation of the later Ecclesville estate
A case study in land dispute, negotiation, and Crown policy

Appendix: The Fentonagh Land Grant (1610)

The grant to John Leigh included numerous townlands (balliboes), forming a proportion of approximately 2,000 acres.

These included:

Leggetiggill
Ballinemullan
Killelussie
Townagheitra
Shragduffgawra
Garowry
Ballineskelgie
Tooughgorrhan
Edentooderry
Lackaboy
Tiregrenan
Tonnoghonewe
Tatmoyle
Correceskan
Syonhugh
Tollenshee
Corbally
Drumhurke
Shraghmaske
Mullasilloge
Kilberry
Dromlaghan
Skegagowre
Derriaghna
Mullanedrymon
Ardtonny
Aghebrassill
Tatfadda
Aghownaghbane
Ravarran
Edenesoppe
Lissnegorduffe
Tatecrewe
Part of Gargrame
Corglasse

Sources

Gallachair, Parish of Donaghcavey

Calendar of State Papers, Ireland (James I)

Ulster Plantation Papers (Moody, 1938)

Hill, George – Plantation Papers

Betham’s Transcripts

Pynnar’s Survey (1619)

Treadwell, Survey of Armagh and Tyrone (1622)

PRONI Maps (T1652/17)

See Also: