Maj William COLLIS of Kent Lodge Tralee IRL [32367]

   Cause of his death was murdered.

  General Notes:

Collis rose to the rank of Major in the army and was supposed to have been awarded a large pension for defending the Duke of Kent, son of George III during a mutiny in Malta. His house, Kent Lodge was named after the Duke. A Captain William Collis was serving with the 27th Foot in Malta c1802, he became a Major in 1808.

History along the Proposed Tralee-Fenit Greenway
To the west is Kent Lodge that was built onto an earlier building called O'Connell's Cottage. According to the author Valerie Bary, Rickard or Rickie O'Connell was possibly related to the 'Liberator' Daniel O'Connell through his wife Mary. The house was then purchased by Major William Collis, son of Edward Collis of Ballygarran House, Churchill, who had lost his arm in battle while defending the Duke of Kent, son of George III during a mutiny in Malta. On retiring from the army with a large pension he built a new house and named it after the duke. Major Collis was murdered at Kent Lodge in 1821 by a gang who heard that he kept a large amount of money in a desk. Apparently, he aggressively resisted the attack and also recognised his assailants as he called out their names. Two of his attackers later turned King's evidence and together with evidence from Mrs Collis three others were hanged while another escaped and enlisted abroad.
http://www.traleefenitgreenway.com/history/archaeology/

Ireland, Grand Lodge of Freemasons
William Collis
Event Date: 2 Oct 1848
Event Place: Tralee Co Kerry
Lodge Number: 66
Not proven to William [32367]

Here "Thursday night last, Major Collis was brutally murdered in his bed, by a gang of ruffians who broke into his house, at Tralee Spa" 28 November 1821 One report says he was aged.
Belfast Commercial Chronicle.

Major Collis, an aged and respectable man, near Tralee, in the county of Kerry, has been murdered by a gang of ruffians; but plunder appeared in this instance to have been the object, and the Major resisted them.
The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, Vol. VI, Page 2 (London, 1822)

The late William Collis was mentioned in the Will of his sister Catherine Collis proved 1855

Will mentions his sister Catherine.
His wife Ellen
Brothers Christopher, Edward, Samuel and Henry
Elizabeth, Thomas, William, Edward Morris children of his sister Nelly
John under 21 son of his brother Thomas.
Sister Ellen Hilliard and her children Elizabeth, Mary and John.
Cousin Barry Collins.
His Executors were Barry Collins, John Collis of Kinsale, brothers Samuel & Henry.

Image:
Kent Lodge Ballygarran Tralee: The Gateway, built c. 1800, comprising four limestone ashlar piers with pineapple finials, having wrought-iron double gates and double-curved quadrant walls. Walls raised in latter part of twentieth century.

  Other Records

1. William Collis: Will (part).
His Will is misfiled at the P.C.C. under William Collis of Kent Lodge Surrey.
Probate 27 Feb 1822
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D143915

William married Elinor SPOTSWOOD [32377] [MRIN: 11547] before 1817. (Elinor SPOTSWOOD [32377] died circa 1823 in Hillsborough Lodge Kerry IRL.)