Dudley Persse

Dudley Persse (1625-99) was an Anglo-Irish landlord.

Dudley Persse was a son of the Rev. Robert Persse, thought to have originated in Northumberland but who settled in Ireland in the late 16th century. He died in 1612, and was buried at Bodenstown, County Kildare. One of his three sons, Henry of Clane, married Elizabeth (surname unknown) and was dead by 1673, having issue Sybil and Dudley.

Dudley Persse received Holy Orders and purchased the estate of Spring Garden in County Galway where he lived till he purchased Roxborough in the same county, between Loughrea and Gort. He married Sarah, daughter of John Crofton of Lisnadurn, County Roscommon and had issue:

• - Henry
• - William of Spring Garden
• - Catherine, married Major Hugh Galbraith of Capard
• - Alice, married Captain William Colles of Sligo
• - ?, married a Mr. Nethercott
• - ?, married Mr. Ormsby of Tubbervaddy
• - ?, married Mr. Hickman of County Clare
• - Sarah, married John Blakeney of Castle Blakeney

Persse founded a dynasty that was to dominate society in Galway and Connacht into the early 20th century. The family were prolific, members including:

• William Persse, Irish Volunteer, c. 1728 - 1802.
• Henry Stratford Persse, writer, died 1833
• Sarah Persse, Suffragist, fl. 1899
• Augusta, Lady Gregory, author and dramatist, 1852–1932

References

• The Landed Gentry of Ireland, Sir Bernard Burke (4th edition), London, 1958
• De Burgh Fitzpatrick Persse (1840–1921) and His Family:An Essay in Anglo-Irish and Australian History, Michael D. de Burgh Persse, Corico, Victoria, N.p., 1971 and 1972
• Castles and Demesnes: Gleanings from Kilconieran and Clostoken, ed. Fr. Cathal Stanley, 2000
• The Fields of Athenry: a Journey Through Irish History, James Charles Roy, 2001. ISBN 0813338603