Brett family genealogy

Of Coltrummer, County Meath

Arms: Gu. a bend betw. six martlets ar. Crest: A crane reguard, wings endorsed resting the dexter foot on a stone.

Walter Brett, of the City of Dublin, and of Coltrummer, Merivale, Knockmark, and Pilltown, in the county Meath, vested his lands in Peter Hussy and Walter Kennedy, by deed dated the 24th October, 1634. Dispossessed by the Cromwellian Government; he died 1647, and was interred in the Church-yard of Knockmark; Father of: John Brett.—On the 6th November, 1663, this John Brett, on behalf of himself and Cisily Brown, his wife, took proceedings in the Court of Claims for recovery of his father’s forfeited lands, wherein is set forth ‘ that his father, Walter Brett, was seized, long before the Rebellion of 1641, of the lands aforesaid, which he vested in Peter Hussy, and Walter Kennedy, as aforesaid—that his father was ousted by the usurping power for no other reason than that he was a Papist—that his father died in the year 1647—and that claimant never acted against the King or his Government.’ A decree of innocency was made on the 26th February, 1664, and claimant was subsequently restored to his lands. By his will, dated the 12th February, 685, be directs his mortal remains to be interred in St. Peter’s Churchyard, Knockmark, county Meath, and he demised his lands to the first, second, and third sons of John Brett, of Hainstown, in tail male; Uncle of:

Christopher Brett, of Coltrummer, Father of:

1. John Brett, born 1740; and 2. James Brett, born 1746. In 1760, John Brett, joined as cadet the Regiment of Hibernia, in the Spanish Service, in which he attained the rank of Captain of Grenadiers and Brevet-Colonel. He married in 1780, Catherine, daughter of Charles Brenan, of the City of Dublin, Esq. (marriage settlement, dated 18th December, 1780). He joined, as Lieutenant, the Irish Brigade of Volunteers, 1782. He died in Florida, 1800 (will proved in Dublin, 9th June, 1801), and left a daughter, Alicia, who married, in 1827, Joseph O’Meagher (marriage settlement, dated 1st October, 1827), and she died in 1867, leaving Joseph Casimir O’Meagher, of Mountjoy Square, Dublin; and Alice, who married, in 1866, Michael John O’Grady, Esq., of Pembroke Road.

2. In 1761, James Brett joined as cadet the Regiment of Hibernia. He served during the last war with Portugal, having been present at the affair at Argel, 20th July, 1775, in the last expedition to America, the defence of Oran during the last siege, the taking of Argeles and of Flumer. He was Commandant of the village of Ollines from the 4th to the 7th September, 1793, and it having been assaulted by the enemy on the 5th, 6th, and 7th, he had to abandon it through failure of ammunition; Commandant of Malbusguet from the 12th September to the 28th October; and on the night of the 18th December, 1793, in the evacuation and retreat from Toulon; at the attack of the heights of 28th April, 1794; the retreat of the 31st May, following, from Catalonia; at the recapture of the hermitage of Our Lady of Roble on the 5th June; in the action of the 13th August at Monte Muga, where he was severely wounded; and in the attack and retreat of the 20th November, 1794. In 1799, he became Colonel of the Regiment of Hibernia, and in 1817 he was appointed a Staff-Commander, and decorated with the Order of St. Hermonegildo. He married Dona Barbara Ofrey-y-Huet, daughter of Don Alonso Ofrey of Granada, Captain of Engineers in the Spanish Service, and of Dona Maria Angela Huet-y-Buentiemho, of Alicante, his wife, who was a dau. of Don Luis Huet, Field-Marshal of Spain, and of Dona Barbara Buentiemho, his wife. Col. Brett left an only son—known as:

3. Don Eduardo Brett-y-Ofrey. He was born in the City of Saragossa on the 24th May, 1790, and joined, in 1799, as cadet, his father’s Regiment. He took part in various actions during the War of Independence, 1808-11; and in the affair of Albalate he received a gun-shot wound in the chest. In 1824 he obtained leave to marry Dona Francisca Cepeda-y-Cepeda, a lineal descendant of Don Lorenzo Cepeda, the brother of Santa Teresa de Jesus. On the 17th June, 1828, Don Eduardo Brett-y-Ofrey got leave to retire from the Army, being then second Lieutenant of the Royal Body Guard, and Lieut.-Colonel of Infantry. In a general order dated, Villalba, 28th October, 1854, he is styled a Baron, Lieut.-Colonel (retired) of the Royal Body Guard, and Knight of the Royal and Military Orders of St. Hermenegildo and St. Fernando; and for services rendered in the rising of that year he was granted a full colonelcy.