John Willoughby

John Willoughby was the son of George Willoughby and Mary Unknown. Born in 1787, John resided in Killavany in the parish of Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. His wife may have been Sarah Willoughby, daughter of William Willoughby of Ballingarry, Co. Wexford. John was living and farming continually on 19 acres in Killaveny, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, as confirmed by the Coolattin Estate papers.

He was listed in the Tithe Applotment Book of 1825 and in 1827 ‘Residents of Land’ shows him (age 40) to be a tenant with a wife *age 39) with 5 boys and 3 girls, one son of whom (as below) I believe was my ancestor, Charles Willoughby. The 1839 listing again shows him with 6 boys and 1 girl – the extra boy being, presumably, John who was born circa 1833.

Children of John and Sarah (both Willoughbys by birth) were:

Charles Willoughby (b ca 1821) - married Sarah Langril

Thomas Willoughby - married Mary Bannister; he was residing with the Charles and Sarah Willoughby family in the 1851 Census of Ontario, Candada - indicating that he probably emigrated together with them.

John Willoughby (b. 1833) married Alicia Young

Son Willoughby

Son Willoughby

Daughter Willoughby

Daughter Willoughby

Daughter Willoughby


John Willoughby is listed as the father of Charles Willoughby (born ca 1821) at the latter's marriage to Sarah Langrill, daughter of William Langrill of Cappagh, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow, on 30 January, 1849. The marriage was in the Parish Church at Balinatone, Co. Wicklow (Church of Ireland). I had the privilege one Sunday in September of 2013, while visiting Ireland, of reading one of the New Testament 'lessons' of the day in the Sunday service of that church. The rafters that had echoed to the sounds of the exchange of marriage vows of Charles Willoughby and Sarah Langrill on that day long ago, heard my voice on this more recent day. -- A thrilling experience.


A John Willoughby, of Killavaney, Co. Wicklow married a Sarah Willoughby, daughter of William Willoughby, of Ballingarry, Co. Wexford, in 1811 at Christchurch, Gorey, Co. Wexford. (This may be the above John and Sarah, though it is as yet unproven). As per Gorey records, children of this John and Sarah include: John, b 1815; Susana b 1817 and Henry b 1822. The records indicate that the family lived at Ballingarry in the years of these christenings. This may, or may not 'fit' with this being my ancestor, John Willoughby' (above), son of George and Mary Willoughby.