Robert_Luttrell_Immigrant

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Robert Luttrell

Son of Luttrellstown

Immigrant to America?

Roman Numerals associated with each Simon (IV or V) Luttrell of Luttrellstown are for ease of identification here only

Robert Luttrell was the son of Simon (IV) Luttrell of Luttrellstown, County Dublin, Ireland, when he brought his wife, Ann Preston (daughter of Viscount Gormanston), to settle in Virginia in the late 17th century. They are said to have settled in Prince William or Westmoreland Counties. Robert and Ann had three sons; Richard; Fauquier County, Virginia; Thomas, died early in life; Simon, lived in Prince William and Westmoreland Counties, Virginia.

Those claims have been made in numerous articles and genealogies by American biographers and researchers since the late nineteenth century (. . .) However, no document has yet been found showing either Robert or Ann Luttrell immigrating to or living in America.

What we know from documents about Robert Luttrell. . .

Irish records do show a Robert Luttrell of Symonstown being an uncle to Col. Simon (V) Luttrell of Luttrellstown. This establishes him as the son of Simon Luttrell (IV) (b. 1600, d. abt 1650) and Mary Preston Luttrell (daughter of Jenico, Fifth Viscount Gormanston). In an apparent succession order of Simon (V) Luttrell, Robert Luttrell of Symonstown is the first listed

after Simon's (V) potential children and brothers. . .

" to Robert Luttrell of Symonstowne, co. Kildare, gent., Simon’s uncle. . ."

Calendar of Inquisitions Formerly In The Office Of The Chief Remembrancer of The Exchequer Prepared From

The MSS Of The Irish Record Commission by Margaret C. Griffith

1664 - Robert Luttrell, "Dame Mary" and Nicholas Preston (her brother) are defendants in a suit.

Ireland Court of Chancery Records, 1633 - 1851. Repertory Bill Books 1655 - 1667.

1664 - Robert and his brother who inherited Luttrellstown, Thomas Luttrell, are defendants in a suit

Ireland Court of Chancery Records, 1633 - 1851. Repertory Bill Books 1655 - 1667.

1668 - Robert Luttrell, Thomas Luttrell and Walter Graves are defendants in a suit by

Mary Luttrell, George Barnewall and others.

Ireland Court of Chancery Records, 1633 - 1851. Bill Books 1636 - 1676

1674 - Robert and Symon (V) Luttrell are defendants in a suit brought by Swift, Martin & Barnewall

Ireland Court of Chancery Records, 1633 - 1851. Repertory Bill Books 1636 - 1676

(This suit possibly related to estate of Thomas Luttrell of Luttrellstown (d.1673), Robert's brother and Simon's father) GEL

1691 - Col. Simon (V) Luttrell was attainted (condemned, outlawed, dispossessed of property and privilege), as were also his wife, and Thomas Luttrell described as of Luttrellstown, and Robert Luttrell of Simonstown, County of Kildare. (. . .)

(pg 193. "Illustrations, historical and genealogical, of King James's Irish army list, 1689" by John D'Alton)

1697 - Ann Luttrell "alias Preston" (maiden name) shown as a defendant on a suit in Ireland along with Henry Luttrell and others. Robert Luttrell is not named. (Is he deceased?)

Ireland, Court of Chancery Records, 1633-1851 Bill Books 1696-1709

There is a Simon Luttrell in America in 1699. Is he the son of Robert and Ann Preston Luttrell?

Pg 34. Westmoreland County, Virginia Order Book 1698-1705 Part One 1698-1699, Abstracted and compiled by John Frederick Dorman

1699 - At a Court held 26 April – Present: Wm. Peirce Gent., James Tayler Gent., Wm. Bridges Gent., Charles Ashton Gent;, justices. . . .Simon Lutherall servant to Wm. Thompson, Clerk, is adjudged eighteen yeares of age and ordered to serve according to law. Simon apparently is underage and requiring a guardian. Is this an indication that Simon's parents are deceased? Or, had they placed Simon in the care of a guardian after sending him to Virginia? Neither place of birth nor parents are known for this Simon.

For several succeeding generations, the names of Simon and Robert can be seen as descendants of this Simon, a naming tradition similar to the traditions of the Luttrellstown family.

Records documenting the marriage of Robert Luttrell and Ann Preston have not been found

but their relationship might be inferred by the 1664 and 1697 documents, seen above.

No records have been found naming their children.

No documents have been found showing their emigration from Ireland nor immigration to America.

The claim by American historians and genealogical researchers that Robert Luttrell was directly related to the owners of Luttrellstown has been documented. The claim that he was an immigrant to America has not. However, before discounting this long-held claim, it is necessary to understand the climate of the times in which this possible founder of a substantial branch of the American Luttrell family lived.

The seventeenth century in Ireland was marked with upheaval in politics and religion, which really were one and the same. It was also a century of upheaval for the Luttrells of Ireland, a family established in the country four centuries earlier as representatives of the English throne. Only a century prior, Chief Justice Sir Thomas Luttrell “was a typical example of a gentleman of the English Pale of his time” and at least outwardly, an adherent to the English church.* Within fifty years of his death however, by the beginning of the seventeenth century the Luttrells of Luttrellstown, and

their cousins, were like their neighbors, Irish and Papist.

Thomas Luttrell, owner of Luttrellstown (1597-1634) and grandson of the Chief Justice, “took a prominent part in public affairs as one of the leaders of the Roman Catholic party in the House of Commons”. “Troublesome times fell to the lot of his eldest son, Simon Luttrell (d. ca 1650), who succeeded him and who lived to see Ireland under the rule of the Parliament.”* After the uprising of the Irish Catholic gentry against English rule (Irish Rebellion of 1641), Robert Luttrell of Girstown, and Oliver Luttrell of Tankardstown, County of Meath.were attainted in 1642. A decade later Luttrellstown was seized by Cromwell’s Parliamentarians and its displaced owners resided in Dublin until the Restoration in 1663 when Luttrellstown was restored to Thomas Luttrell, heir of Simon (d. ca. 1650).

Simon (IV) Luttrell’s grandson, Simon (V) Luttrell, inherited Luttrellstown from his father Thomas in 1674. Col. Simon (V) Luttrell, a true Irish Catholic, was a follower of Charles II and was appointed by him as Governor of Dublin. Upon the defeat of the Irish army by the English Williamite army, Col. Simon (V) Luttrell, Thomas Luttrell (both described of Luttrellstown, County Dublin), Robert Luttrell (of Simonstown, County Kildare), and William Luttrell, Jr. of Dublin were outlawed (attainted) in 1691. Col. Henry Luttrell, younger brother of Col. Simon (V), was also outlawed for a time, but changed his allegiance to the Williamite side and was rewarded with the estates of his brother, Col. Simon (V) Luttrell, who left the country instead of vowing allegiance to the English (Protestant) rulers.

The climate of the times described in the above paragraphs regarding the chaos in Ireland may have persuaded many sons of noble houses to seek a better life elsewhere. The Irish historian, F. Elrington Ball, notes that though they didn’t inherit the prize possession from their father, the younger children, especially the males, often were endowed with significant wealth from the estate. It would be quite understandable why a younger son of a noble family, especially if he is in danger of losing freedom or his earthly possessions, would seek a more peaceful and profitable life for himself and his family in a “new world”. If he did so, he would probably be reticent about having it recorded in the records of the oppressive rulers he was escaping. He may even hesitate to acknowledge much of his background if his new home, although economically rewarding, was systematically intolerant to his religious beliefs.

_____________________________________________________________

*Much of the information above is from A History of the County Dublin, by Francis Elrington Ball, publ. 1902-20, 6 Volumes. Most "Luttrell" references are in Vol. 4, Ch. 1 - "Parish of Clonsilla"

Other resources include:

A Compendium of Irish Biography: Comprising Sketches of Distinguished Irishmen, and of Eminent. . . By Alfred Webb

http://books.google.com/books?id=YLQAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA297&dq=luttrell+limerick#PPA298,M1

http://archive.org/stream/illustrationshi00dalgoog/illustrationshi00dalgoog_djvu.txt

"Illustrations, historical and genealogical, of King James's Irish army list, 1689

By John D’Alton, esq., Barrister DUBLIN:. 1855

“Catholic Church in the Thirteen Colonies” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_the_Thirteen_Colonies#Virginia