Sir John Barnewall (c.1635-c.1705) was an Irish landowner, barrister and judge, who held several judicial offices, including that of Recorder of Dublin 1687-9.
[1] He was born in County Meath, a member of the Crickstown branch of the prominent Barnewall family, which held the title Baron Trimlestown.
John was the second son of Sir Richard Barnewall, 2nd Baronet, and Julia, daughter of Sir Gerald Aylmer, 1st Baronet of Donadea, County Kildare and his wife Julia (or Juliana) Nugent, daughter of Christopher Nugent, 6th Baron Delvin.
His practice as a barrister seems to have been lucrative: while his father had suffered heavy losses during the English Civil War, and only recovered a fraction of his estates at the Restoration, John was wealthy enough to purchase Ballybrittan Castle, near Edenderry, County Offaly.
After the downfall of James's cause at the Battle of the Boyne, John was removed from office,[2] but his wealth and family connections apparently protected him from any other reprisals by the new regime, which was inclined to be conciliatory towards those of its former opponents who promised to keep the peace.