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The names Andrew and George alternate through the generations of first born sons in the family. Perhaps George Knox, born around 1660, had an uneventful life, but his son Andrew – grandfather of the first owner of Rathmullan House - was caught up in one of the most sensational events of the next century. The tale of ‘Half-Hanged MacNaghten’ is still dusted down regularly today, and was recently the subject of a book. |
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Andrew, a long-serving MP for Donegal, married Honoria Tomkins and they lived in the Priory in Rathmullan before moving to Derry around the mid-1700s when she inherited Prehen House. Andrew gave hospitality at Prehen to an old friend down on his luck, the celebrated gambler and bon viveur John MacNaghten. However, the relationship turned sour when MacNaghten wanted Andrew’s young daughter Mary-Anne to be his wife. After various twists and turns, the entire affair ended in tragedy in 1761 when MacNaghten ambushed the Knox family carriage on its way to Dublin, and Mary-Anne was killed. |
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MacNaghten was sentenced to death, despite having considerable public sympathy, but at the gallows in Strabane the rope broke three times. This entitled him to escape execution, but he said he didn’t want to be known as ‘Half-Hanged McNaghten’ and died at the fourth attempt. Of course, ‘Half-Hanged MacNaghten’ is what he’s been called ever since.
The impact of all this on the Knox family can only be imagined. Andrew Knox died in 1774. His death is commemorated in the oldest tablet in the church in Rathmullan. The tablet also mentions the tragic loss of his only daughter Mary-Anne – ‘Mariana filia obiit November 1761’. |
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Andrew and Honoria also had a son, George, who took over as landlord at Prehen House. He married Jane Mahon, a member of another significant family in the Irish gentry, the Pakenham Mahon’s of the remarkable Strokestown Park House in County Roscommon. She was a sister of Lord Hartland.
It was Andrew and Jane’s son Andrew, nephew of the ill-fated Mary-Anne, who built Rathmullan House (perhaps it was to have an escape from the ghost of MacNaghten, which was naturally said to haunt Prehen House). |
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Andrew and his wife Mary must have planned Rathmullan House as an ideal spot for their family holidays, but no doubt used it also as a base for entertaining during the summer months. They were part of that intricate mix of relations and connections which made up the landlord class in Ireland. Mary herself was one of the well-to-do McCauslands from Daisy Hill, near Limavady.
Andrew played a prominent part in public life in Donegal, serving as MP and as a lieutenant-colonel in the Donegal Militia.
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