Dr. Walter Skelton.
Dr. Walter Skelton was born in 1664.1 A native of Leix,
he was educated in France and ordained at Kilkenny in 1688
by Dr. James Phelan, Bishop of Ossory. In 1704 he was
registered as Parish Priest of St. Peter's, Dublin, residing
at Bridge Street, and having as his sureties Laurence
Eustace, Brewer, High St., £50: and Patrick Dooling, Tailor,
Fishamble St. £50. By 1709 he had apparently resigned this
position; he was in that year senior curate in the Parish of
St. Andrew's. At the same time he was also vicar-general of
Leighlin Diocese.
His name is found among the signatures of a petition to
the Holy See from the clergy of the diocese of Dublin, 16
Sept., 1729: Gualterus Skehon, Vicarius Generalis.
Leighlinensis, et assistens in parochia Sancti Andreae,
Dublinensis.
While assistant priest of St. Andrew's Dr. Skelton
conducted a private Academy for the sons of the Catholic
gentry, then sorely oppressed by the infamous Penal Code.
Among his students was the celebrated Irish antiquary,
Charles O'Conor of Belangare. In his memoirs, the latter
writes affectionately of his master. According to O'Connor,
Dr. Skelton was a man of many parts: a classical scholar,
astronomer, man of science, mathematician, and master of the
French language and literature.
Dr. Skelton died 31 October, 1737, and was buried in the
tomb of his ancestors at Sleibhte. (Slaty) in the Parish of
Killeshin.
Over that tomb in his lifetime he had erected the
following epitaph:
"Hie jacent exuviae Edwardi Skelton, necnon
Brigidae Fitzsimons, item Patricii et Nicholai Skelton,
ad spem beatae resurrectionis in manu Domini depositae
in hac quondam majorum suorum terra, vivi exulabant,
morlii quiescunt, qui avitam Deo religionem, gratam
patriae charitatem, fidum Principi obscquiurn, debitam
omnibus justitiam, semper, servare studuerant. In eis
precare in Domino requiem et vitam aeternam. Aug. 2,
1700."
The "princeps" to whom Dr. Skelton rendered "obsequium"
was probably the Stuart of the time living possibly in Rome.
The last testament of Dr. Walter Skelton was formerly
preserved at the Record Office, Dublin. In it he bequeathed
to the community at Nantes, in France, the sum of ten
guineas.
Notes 1. Collections III. 263-4
Source: 'The Parish of KILLESHIN, Graiguecullen'.
1972. by P. MacSuibhne.