Henry Colley

Henry Colley (1648–1719) was an Irish Member of Parliament.

**Early Life**

Henry Colley was born in 1648. He was the son of Dudley Colley, who served as a Member of Parliament for Philipstown, and his wife, Anne Warren. Anne Warren was the daughter of Henry Warren. Henry Colley's paternal grandparents were Sir Henry Colley and Anne Peyton. Anne Peyton was the daughter of Sir Christopher Peyton. The Colley family acquired substantial land holdings in County Wexford through Sir Henry Colley's estate.

**Education**

Henry Colley received his education at Trinity College Dublin.

**Political Career**

He served as a Member of Parliament for County Kildare from the year 1698 to 1699.

**Personal Life**

In 1705, Henry Colley erected a monument to his father, Dudley Colley. The inscription detailed that Henry was the son of Dudley Colley and married to Mary Ussher, with whom he had twelve children—six sons and six daughters. The monument specifically mentioned two of his sons, Henry and Richard, and six of his daughters as living at the time of the inscription. Mary Ussher was the only daughter of Sir William Ussher of Bridgefoot and Lady Ursula St. Barbe. Sir William Ussher served as a Member of Parliament for County Dublin, and Lady Ursula was the daughter of Captain George St. Barbe.

Henry Colley's children with Mary Ussher included:

- **Henry Colley (circa 1685–1723):** He married Lady Mary Hamilton, the daughter of James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn.

- **Richard Colley (circa 1690–1758):** He later adopted the surname Wellesley after inheriting estates from his cousin Garret Wesley (died 1728). Richard became Baron Mornington and took the Wellesley surname through his wife Elizabeth Sale (died 1738), the Wellesley heiress through her grandmother Catherine Wellesley Cusack (died 1598). Catherine was the daughter of Thomas Cusack, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and the granddaughter of Alison de Wellesley. Richard and Elizabeth were the parents of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington, who was the father of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington.

- **Anne Colley:** She married William Pole, a son of Periam Pole and Sarah Blount. Their son, William Pole, married Lady Sarah Moore, daughter of Edward Moore, 5th Earl of Drogheda. William Pole left his estate to his kinsman William Wellesley, 3rd Earl of Mornington, who adopted the surname Wellesley-Pole.

Henry Colley resided at Carbury Castle in County Kildare. He died in 1719. His will was drafted on 18 June 1719 and proved on 27 July 1719.

**References**

The information presented is based on various historical records and sources documenting the Colley family and Irish parliamentary history.