Thomas Acton

The Acton Family history in County Wicklow dates back to the Cromwell period. Thomas Acton I leased Bog Hall, Ballygannonbeg from Walter Byrne during the early seventeenth century. By the 1690’s he leased Kilmacurragh from the Parson family. Thomas married Elinor Kempston and had a son, William and three daughters. Thomas was one of the first landowners in Ireland to plant trees on a grand scale. He was succeeded by his son, William who became a barrister and rose to become Keeper of the Writs of the Court of Common Pleas. On 04 March 1736 he married Jane Parsons, second daughter of William Parsons, of Birr Castle. William and Jane had two sons and three daughters. The second son Thomas was the successor to Kilmacurragh.

The Acton Collection

Dating from 1643 to 1965, this extensive collection was created over many generations of the Acton Family. It was maintained by the family up to its transfer to the National Archives of Ireland to be held in trust for Wicklow County Council Archives and is now available for researchers to view at the Wicklow County Archives.

The collection contains many important papers, from original deeds to correspondence between the landlord, his agent and the tenants of his estate. The collection has been catalogued chronologically by legal papers and correspondence to tenant and estate matters and accounts and finally, to personal and general correspondence of the Acton family. 

Please see the attached catalogue for a detailed descriptive list of the collection: