Edward Falconer LITTON ¹

  General Notes:

From http://gatecottages.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/ardavilling-gate-cottage/

Edward Falconer Litton (1827-1890)

Edward also had a Dublin address at 67 Merrion Square. He was educated at TCD were he studied law. He was called to the bar in 1847 and made a QC in 1874. He served in Cork and Wicklow circuit.

Also elected Liberal MP of Tyrone in 1880/1 Judge of the Supreme Court in 1890.

Judge Edward Falconer Litton

He was described as having a cool, clear and calculating head an able and good Judge that could discern truth from falsehood. He was patient and courteous to everyone.

Edward was married four times:

in 1851 to Bridget Tuthill from whom he had 6 children
in 1861 to Elizabeth Clark – 6 children
Londoner Mary-Lee- 1 son
Adelaide Trottter of Galway- 1 daughter.

It is said that the Judge contemplated his cases while walking up and down this lane of trees .

Judge Litton took upon himself the task of improving the water supply which his uncle had given the town some years before.The earlier supply of water was welcome but proved to be impure. Judge Litton set out to alter this. He set up a reservoir on his property at Ardavilling and piped it to the square of the town of Cloyne were a public fountain was erected for all to use. It was presented to the town in April 1879. Vast amounts of people gathered in the square (including many local VIP's) Mr Litton quoted a rhyming couplet-his wish for the fountain was "pure and pellucid may its waters flow, neither rapidly swift nor obstinately slow".

Unfortunately the fountain has ceased to flow from 1912 when Cloyne's water supply was updated.

Fountain in Cloyne

Inscription on the limestone fountain: "This fountain has been erected by E.F. Litton, Esq. in memory of his uncle John Litton, esq. of Ardavilling who in remembrance of his wife VESCINA LITTON conferred upon the inhabitants of Cloyne, the blessing of a pure water supply 1879?

Judge Edward Litton

It was the Judges custom to enjoy a holiday break at the Ardavilling house and it was in the course of one such, and as a result of being engaged in supervising alterations on the house that he caught a chill that developed in pneumonia.

Funeral customs of the time:

A wreath of laurel, yew or boxwood was tied with black ribbon and hung on the front door.

Curtains will be drawn and clocks stopped at the time of death. Mirrors were covered with veiling to prevent the deceased spirit from getting trapped in the looking-glass.

A body was "watched" over for 3 to 4 days to allow relatives to come from far. Family photos were turned face down to prevent them being possessed by the spirit of the dead.

The Judges wish was to be buried in Cloyne although the rest of his family was buried in Mt. Jerome cemetery in Dublin.

The day of the funeral was wet and sleety but it did not stop it from being the biggest concentration of rich and poor in the town of Cloyne.

The coffin was made of massive oak prepared by Mr Smyth, was borne in a hearse of John Moore of Midleton from Ardavilling House to the Cathedral in Cloyne. All premises were closed and blinds were drown.

The service was held by the Dean of Cloyne.

Gravestone inscription

Gravestone inscription :

"through the Grave and Gate of death we pass to our Glorious Resurrection, Sacred to the Memory of Edward Falconer Litton of Ardavilling, Cloyne. Land Commissioner and Judge of the Supreme Court. Who departed his life on the 27th Nov 1890 aged 62?

Edward married Bridget Elizabeth TUTHILL, daughter of Christopher TUTHILL and Grace REEVES, on 3 Jul 1851 in St Peter's, Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. (Bridget Elizabeth TUTHILL was born on 19 Feb 1833 in Upper Mount, Dublin, Ireland, christened on 22 Sep 1833 in St Peter's, Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, died on 27 Dec 1859 in Dublin, Dublin, Ireland and was buried on 30 Dec 1859 in Mount Jerome, Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.)

Edward next married Eliza Parker CLARK in 1861.