Robert Tennant (b1750c).....................................Updated 14/8/08

D.O.B. calc as 1740 earliest because in 1817 he was planning to emigrate which is unlikely if he was older than 77. His son Thomas was born in 1774, at which point Robert was unlikely to be younger than 15, giving a DOB of 1759 latest. Circa 1750 seems most likely. His brothers were born 1748 and 1755

Robert is listed along with his brother Thomas and Pierce Tennant in the applications for emigration to Canada (see C2L). But in 1820 Thomas went to Canada without them. The book C2L suggests that Pierce is Robert's son, perhaps because of this. Apart from this link there is no proof other than the use of the first name "Pierce" plus the dates and locations being indicative. Pierce is not listed in C2L among the Baptism Register information but this is a copy from the lost register which may itself have been incomplete. Pierce was born in 1783 by which time Richard the other son of Judith was already dead so he is not the father. The various locations given on certificates and Registrations etc of Ballinastraw, Aghade and Ballintemple are all adjacent. Pierce was definitly a relative of Robert and most probably his son.

There were several births between 1816 and 1826 to a Robert and his wife Elizabeth but although Robert(b1750c) may have had a second wife, by 1826 he would have been at least 70 if not 96. There was a Robert Tennant owning land at Ballynoe according to Griffiths c1852, too late for the Robert of this page. If Robert had another son who is not listed here but had been called Robert as per tradition, then in 1816 that Robert would have been approx 45 and a more likely candidate for the role of Elizabeth's husband and Griffiths's landowner.

The LDS website lists a Robert Tennant born 1774 in Ireland, no other info. It should be noted that dates of birth may often be more correctly defined as dates of baptism and be some time after birth.

Additional Information:

Terry Lipscomb tells me that in the Pierce Butler letterbooks at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, there is a letter from Pierce Butler dated from Philidelphia, July 29th 1799, around the time of the 1798 rebellion in Ireland. It is addressed to his sister Frances Butler in Dublin. One sentence reads:- "The very oppresive act you mention from the agent of Sir Richd to Robt Tennant, is so much in unison with the conduct of too many of the landlords in Ireland, that it may afford to your mind, one cause for the present disturbances." Pierce is refering to a nephew that he particularly disliked, Sir Richard Butler the 7th Bnt and member of Parliament for Carlow.

Parents:Thomas Tennant & Judith Butler

Spouse:Sarah (died 4th Nov 1800 -source C2L,Register item 18)