The Blake-Forster family is a historically significant Anglo-Irish family primarily associated with County Galway and County Clare in Ireland. Their lineage intertwines with prominent Irish families through marriage and land ownership, reflecting their status as part of the landed gentry. Below is a concise overview based on available historical records:

Origins and Surname

• Forster Surname: The Forster name is of northern English origin, meaning “forester” (one who worked in or managed a forest). It may also be an anglicization of the German surname Förster, with some families in southern Germany and East Prussia bearing the name independently. The Blake-Forster branch in Ireland adopted the “Blake” prefix through marriage with the Blake family, a prominent Galway family.
• Blake Connection: The Blake family, one of the “Tribes of Galway,” were influential merchants and landowners. The Blake-Forster name emerged when Francis Forster (1740–1788) married Anstace Blake, daughter of Sir Ulick Blake, 8th Baronet, integrating the Blake name into the Forster lineage.

Key Figures and Contributions

1. Francis Blake-Forster (1817–1881):
   • Born in Galway to Francis James Blake-Forster and Rose ffrench, daughter of Lord ffrench.
   • Married Mary Josephine Comerford (1827–1862) in 1846, connecting the family to another notable Galway and Clare family.
   • Designed and lived in Forster House (now Forster Street House) in Galway, a significant family residence overlooking Lough Atalia.
   • Father of Charles French Blake-Forster and Francis O’Donnellan Blake-Forster.
   • Died in Galway in 1881 and was buried in Saint James’s Church churchyard, Galway.
2. Charles French Blake-Forster (1851–1874):
   • Eldest son of Francis Blake-Forster and Mary Josephine Comerford, born at Forster Street House, Galway.
   • A writer and historian with a deep interest in Galway’s history, he published The Irish Chieftains, or, A Struggle for the Crown (1872), a historical novel about events in 1689, and contributed articles to the Galway Vindicator and Galway Express (1869–1871).
   • Served as a town councillor, member of the Board of Guardians, and High Sheriff of Galway Town in 1874, presiding over three parliamentary elections.
   • Died at age 23 in 1874 and was buried in the family vault at Bushypark, Galway. A blue plaque commemorates him at Forster House.
3. Francis O’Donnellan Blake-Forster (1853–1912):
   • Younger son of Francis and Mary Josephine, buried in the Comerford mausoleum at Bishop’s Quarters Cemetery, Ballyvaughan, County Clare.
   • His name reflects the family’s connection to the O’Donnellan lineage, another prominent Irish family.
4. Alfred Blake Blake-Forster (1867/1872–?):
   • Born in Cheltenham, England, to Henry White Blake-Forster and Mary Anna Clarke.
   • Emigrated to Canada between 1881 and 1891, joined the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) around 1893, and served in the Yukon Field Force (1898–1900) and South Africa (1902).
   • Promoted to Major, served in World War I with the Third (Toronto) Battalion, and was wounded in 1915. Later worked as an instructor in Canada.
   • Had two daughters, Cecilia Mary and Elizabeth Anne, both of whom served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service during World War II; Cecilia was lost at sea in 1941.

Landed Estates and Residences

• Forster House, Galway: Built by Francis Blake-Forster, this residence on Forster Street was home to multiple generations of the family. It was also associated with the Comerford family through marriage. The house is notable for its cast-iron gates and its proximity to Lough Atalia.
• Other Properties: The family held estates such as Ballykeel House in Kilfenora, County Clare, and were linked to properties like Ashfield and Knockmoy Abbey in Galway, as well as Inchovey Castle in Clare.

Family Connections

• Comerford Family: The marriage of Francis Blake-Forster to Mary Josephine Comerford tied the family to the Comerfords, a merchant and landowning family in Galway and Clare. Mary Josephine’s sister, Henrietta Emily, also lived at Forster House and contributed to family lore passed to Charles French Blake-Forster.
• ffrench and O’Donnellan Families: Through Rose ffrench, the Blake-Forsters were linked to the ffrench family, and the O’Donnellan name appears in Francis O’Donnellan Blake-Forster, indicating further intermarriage.
• Historical Claims: Family narratives, as recorded in the Galway Vindicator (1866) and by Charles French Blake-Forster, trace the Forsters back to Sir Richard Forster, knighted by William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings (1066). While some sources dispute the exact lineage (e.g., Baldwin V vs. Baldwin IV), the family claimed descent from Northumberland chieftains allied with prominent northern English families.

Cultural and Historical Significance

• The Blake-Forsters were part of Galway’s Anglo-Irish elite, involved in local governance, military service, and historical scholarship.
• Charles French Blake-Forster’s writings preserved Galway’s history and myths, though some accounts, particularly about the Comerford family, are considered embellished.
• The family’s connections to the Irish nationalist movement are notable, with Marcella Blake-Forster marrying Michael Comyn, a Sinn Féin candidate defeated by Eamon de Valera in 1919.

Modern Context

• The Blake-Forster name persists in historical records and genealogical research, with no significant modern public figures directly tied to the family in the provided sources.
• Forster House remains a landmark in Galway, and the family’s legacy is preserved in local history and archives like those of the University of Galway’s Landed Estates database.

Notes

• Genealogical details should be cross-verified, as family narratives (e.g., descent from William the Conqueror) may include romanticized elements.
• For further research, sources like Ancestry.com, the University of Galway’s Landed Estates database, or John Grenham’s Irish genealogy records may provide additional household and estate details.

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