A New Family Beginning

 

John , Earl of Ormond

A portrait of John Butler of Garryricken, husband of Anne Wandesford, Earl of Ormond

John , Earl of Ormond

John , Earl of Ormond

A portrait of John Butler of Garryricken, husband of Anne Wandesford, Earl of Ormond

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Hon. Charles Harward Butler Clark Southwell Wandesforde

Portrait of Honourable Charles Harward Butler Clarke Southwell Wandesforde

Hon. Charles Harward Butler Clark Southwell Wandesforde

Hon. Charles Harward Butler Clark Southwell Wandesforde

Portrait of Honourable Charles Harward Butler Clarke Southwell Wandesforde

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The Lady Anne Wandesford succeeded her father in 1784. By coincidence the senior line of the Butlers, the pre-eminent Kilkenny family of Ormonde, also had become extinct on the death without issue of the Second Duke of Ormonde's brother. The Butler line now passed to the junior line of John Butler of Garryricken. John Butler was a Roman Catholic, but upon conforming to the established faith, he assumed the Butler titles and lands. Anne Wandesford married at John at age 15 and became Countess of Ormond. Anne had four sons, two of whom lived. James, the eldest, became the 129th Earl and Marquess of Ormond.

Under royal licence the Honourable Charles-Harward Butler succeeded the old Wandesford estates of Castlecomer and Kirklington. In 1830, under another royal licence, he assumed the surnames Southwell and Wandesforde. He was survived by a daughter, Sarah. Her son Charles Butler-Clarke-Southwell-Wandesforde succeeded him and became High Sheriff for County Kilkenny. He died in 188,1 aged only 29. Sarah Prior now became heir to the Wandesforde estate. In 1836 she married the Rev. Thomas Prior. By Royal Licence she assumed the surname and arms of the Wandesfordes in addition to her own. She died in 1892 in Castlecomer house, having survived her three children that had lived into adulthood.

Richard Henry Prior-Wandesforde was the grandson of Sarah Prior. By Royal Licence he assumed the surname and arms of Wandesforde for himself and his descendants. He assumed the titles in 1892.