Lowensteyn Family

"Jamesbrook Hall, Ballinacurra, was built by the Cork business family of Gould towards the end of the 17th century, possibly between 1685 and 1688, the three short years of the reign of King James II, hence the name. Michael Gould died there in 1722, James in 1784, and yet another Michael in 1787. By the marriage in 1775 of Frances Goold and Wallis Adams of Kilbree the property came to their son, Michael Gould-Adams, who married in 1800 Martha, the daughter of Simon White of Bantry House and sister of the first Earl of Bantry. He is Michael Gould who registered the planting of 27,620 trees at Jamesbrook between the years 1807 and 1811. Their eldest son, Richard of the monument, succeeded. He married in 1852 Mary Sarah, daughter of Sir Wm. Wrixon Becher, Bart., of Ballygiblin, by whom he had 7 sons one of whom became a rector, another settled at Corbally in Glanmire and the remaining five joining the army, among them Sir Hamilton J. Gould-Adams who was High Commissioner of Cyprus from 1911 to 1914 and Governor of Queensland from 1914 to 1920. The eldest son Major W. R. Gould-Adams, formerly of the first Dragoon Guards, succeeded to Jamesbrook. He died unmarried on May 13, 1931 thus bringing to an end 250 years of unbroken possession by the same family. In 1998 200,000 pounds was being asked for the house and 5 1/2 acres of land. [Oh to have been able to buy it and bring it back into the family!! ] The Adams family was descended from Edward Adams of Doneraile who was born in London in 1630 and had a grant of 2,038 acres in Co. Cork from Charles II. Through his son, Roger of Shandrum, the descent continued to Wallis Adams (1749-1818) of Kilbree, Castlemartyr, who married Frances Goold of Jamesbrook. The Jamesbrook estate extended to 234 acres and was held from the Marquis of Thomond. Kilbree was held by Samuel Wallis Adams when he was planting 40,700 trees on the estate between the years 1807 and 1818 although his neighbour at Kilbree, Thomas Richard Going, planted a huge number of 117,800 between 1807 and 1811. Mary Sarah Goold-Adams left a personal estate of 1,163 pounds. Probate was granted to her son Arthur. Richard left a personal estate of 4,000 pounds which was proved by oaths of Colonel Michael Good-Adams and Robert Hedges E. Goold-Adams, both of East Ferry House, Ballinaurra, two of the executors."

Michael Goold, Esq. who built Jamesbrook Hall, and who married Alice Ronderlet, the daughter of Robert Ronderlet, a French Huguenot refugee, was my 7th great grandfather. Their daughter Mary Goold married Walter Gould and it was through this line that the Adams' came into possession of Jamesbrook. I descend through Michael and Alice Ronderlet's other daughter Ellen Goold who married the Reverend Barton Parkinson.