Dennis Molony 1650-1726

Dennis MOLONY 1650-1728

Biographical Note

Born in County Clare, Ireland, son of James O'Molony, a member of a minor gentry family there. MA University of Paris 1683; admitted at Gray's Inn 1687. Banned from legal practice as a Roman Catholic, he settled in London and developed a career dispensing legal advice, and conveyancing. He lived in Gray's Inn 1689-1702, then at Lincoln's Inn where he was admitted in 1711.

Books

In his will, Molony bequeathed his commonplace book to his cousin's nephew, adding that if he studied law he could purchase his law books for £20 (this was apparently not followed up). Most of his estate was left to his nephew Daniel Macnamara, lieutenant in the French army. Molony's library was auctioned in London, beginning 11 March 1728. The sale catalogue lists 378 lots, including many law books, and a mixture of classics, theology, history, medicine and other topics. The catalogue is transcribed and edited in the Burgin/Chambers article, which includes an analysis of the contents, and more biographical information.

Sources

• Will of Denis Molony, The National Archives PROB 11/613/75.
• Alston, R. C., Inventory of dsle catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• Bergin, J. and Chambers, L., The library of Dennis Molony (1650-1726), an Irish catholic lawyer in London, Analecta Hibernica 41 (2009), 85-132.
• A catalogue of the library of Denis Molony esq; late of Gray's-Inn, London, 1728.