O'Hart (No.1) family genealogy

Princes of Tara, and Chiefs in Sligo

Arms: Gu. a lion passant guardant or, in base a human heart argent. Crest: A dexter cubit arm holding a flaming sword all ppr. Motto: Fortiter et fideliter.

ART EANFHEAR, who (see p. 359) is No. 81 on the "Line of Heremon," and son of the Monarch Conn of the Hundred Battles, was the ancestor of this family:

81. Art [1] Eanfhear ("art:" Irish, a bear, a stone; noble, great, generous; hardness, cruelty. "Ean:" Irish, one; "fhear," "ar," the man; Gr. "Ar," The Man, or God of War): son of Conn of the Hundred Fights; a quo O'h-Airt, anglicised O'Hart.[2]

This Art, who was the 112th Monarch of Ireland, had three sisters—one of whom Sarad was the wife of Conaire Mac Mogha Laine, the 111th Monarch, by whom she had three sons called the "Three Cairbres," viz.—1. Cairbre (alias Eochaidh) Riada—a quo "Dalriada," in Ireland, and in Scotland; 2. Cairbre Bascaon; 3. Cairbre Musc, who was the ancestor of O'Falvey, lords of Corcaguiney, etc. Sabina (or Sadhbh), another sister, was the wife of MacNiadh [nia], half King of Munster (of the Sept of Lughaidh, son of Ithe), by whom she had a son named Maccon; and by her second husband Olioll Olum she had nine sons, seven whereof were slain by their half brother Maccon, in the famous battle of Magh Mucroimhe [3] [muccrove], in the county of Galway, where also the Monarch Art himself fell, siding with his brother-in-law Olioll Olum against the said Maccon, after a reign of thirty years, A.D. 195. This Art was married to Maedhbh, Leathdearg, the dau. of Conann Cualann; from this Queen, Rath Maedhbhe, near Tara, obtained its name.

82. Cormac Ulfhada:[4] son of Art Eanfhear; m. Eithne, dau. of Dunlang, King of Leinster; had three elder brothers—1. Artghen, 2. Boindia, 3. Bonnrigh. He had also six sons—1. Cairbre Lifeachar, 2. Muireadach, 3. Moghruith, 4. Ceallach, 5. Daire, 6. Aongus Fionn; Nos. 4 and 5 left no issue. King Cormac Mac Art was the 115th Monarch of Ireland; and was called "Ulfhada," because of his long beard. He was the wisest, most learned, and best of any of the Milesian race before him, that ruled the Kingdom. He ordained several good laws; wrote several learned treatises, among which his treatise on "Kingly Government," directed to his son Carbry Liffechar, is extant and extraordinary. He was very magnificent in his housekeeping and attendants, having always one thousand one hundred and fifty persons in his daily retinue constantly attending at his Great Hall at Tara;[5] which was three hundred feet long, thirty cubits high, and fifty cubits broad, with fourteen doors to it. His daily service of plate, flagons, drinking cups of gold, silver, and precious stone, at his table, ordinarily consisted of one hundred and fifty pieces, besides dishes, etc., which were all pure silver or gold. He ordained that ten choice persons should constantly attend him and his successors—Monarchs of Ireland, and never to be absent from him, viz.—1. A nobleman to be his companion; 2. A judge to deliver and explain the laws of the country in the King's presence upon all occasions; 3. An antiquary or historiographer to declare and preserve the genealogies, acts, and occurrences of the nobility and gentry from time to time as occasion required; 4. A Druid or Magician to offer sacrifice, and presage good or bad omens, as his learning, skill, or knowledge would enable him; 5. A poet to praise or dispraise every one according to his good or bad actions; 6. A physician to administer physic to the king and queen, and to the rest of the (royal) family; 7. A musician to compose music, and sing pleasant sonnets in the King's presence when thereunto disposed; and 8, 9, and 10, three Stewards to govern the King's House in all things appertaining thereunto. This custom was observed by all the succeeding Monarchs down to Brian Boromha [Boru], the 175th Monarch of Ireland, and the 60th down from Cormac, without any alteration only that since they received the Christian Faith they changed the Druid or Magician for a Prelate of the Church.

What is besides delivered from antiquity of this great Monarch is, that (which among the truly wise is more valuable than any worldly magnificence or secular glory whatsoever) he was to all mankind very just, and so upright in his actions, judgments, and laws, that God revealed unto him the light of His Faith seven years before his death; and from thenceforward he refused his Druids to worship their idol-gods,[6] and openly professed he would no more worship any but the true God of the Universe, the Immortal and Invisible King of Ages. Whereupon the Druids sought his destruction, which they soon after effected (God permitting it) by their adjurations and ministry of damned spirits choking him as he sat at dinner eating of salmon, some say by a bone of the fish sticking in his throat, A.D. 266, after he had reigned forty years. Of the six sons of Cormac Mac Art, no issue is recorded from any [of them], but from Cairbre-Lifeachar;[7] he had also ten daughters, but there is no account of any of them only two—namely, Grace (or Grania),[8] and Ailbh [alve], who were both successively the wives of the great champion and general of the Irish Militia, Fionn, the son of Cubhall [Coole]. The mother of Cormac MacArt was Eachtach, the dau. of Ulcheatagh.

Cormac was married to Eithne Ollamhdha, dau. of Dunlang, son of Eana Niadh; she was fostered by Buiciodh Brughach, in Leinster.

83. Cairbre-Lifeachar, the 117th Monarch of Ireland: son of King Cormac Mac Art; was so called from his having been nursed by the side of the Liffey, the river on which Dublin is built. His mother was Eithne, daughter of Dunlong, King of Leinster. He had three sons—1. Eochaidh Dubhlen; 2. Eocho; and 3. Fiacha Srabhteine, who was the 120th Monarch of Ireland, and the ancestor of O'Neill, Princes of Tyrone. Fiacha Srabhteine was so called, from his having been fostered at Dunsrabhteine, in Connaught; of which province he was King, before his elevation to the Monarchy.[9] After seventeen years' reign, the Monarch Cairbre Lifeachar was slain at the battle of Gabhra [Gaura], A.D. 284, by Simeon, the son of Ceirb, who came from the south of Leinster to this battle, fought by the Militia of Ireland, who were called the Fiana Erionn (or Fenians), and arising from a quarrel which happened between them; in which the Monarch taking part with one side against the other, lost his life.

84. Eochaidh Dubhlen: the eldest son of Cairbre Lifeachar; was so called from his having been nursed in Dublin ("Dubhlen:"[10] Irish, black stream, referring to the dark colour, in the city of Dublin, of the water of the river Liffey, which flows through that city). Eochaidh Dubhlen was married to Alechia, daughter of Updar, King of Alba, and by her had three sons, who were known as "The Three Collas,"[11] namely—1. Muireadach, or Colla da Chrioch (or Facrioch), meaning "Colla of the Two Countries" (Ireland and Alba); 2. Carioll, or Colla Uais (meaning "Colla the Noble"), who was the 121st Monarch of Ireland; 3. Colla Meann, or "Colla the Famous." From the Three Collas descended many noble families: Among those descended from Colla Uais are—Agnew, Alexander, Donelan, Flinn, Healy, Howard (of England), MacAllister, MacClean, MacDonald, lords of the Isles, and chiefs of Glencoe;[12] MacDonnell, of Antrim; MacDougald, MacDowell, MacEvoy, MacHale, MacRory, MacVeagh (the ancient MacUais), MacVeigh, MacSheehy, O'Brassil, Ouseley, Rogers, Saunders, Saunderson, Sheehy, Wesley, etc.

"The barony of Cremorne in Monaghan," writes Dr. Joyce, "preserves the name of the ancient district of Crioch-Mughdhorn or Cree-Mourne, i.e., the country (crioch) of the people called Mughdorna, who were descended and named from Mughdhorn (or Mourne), the son of Colla Meann."

And among others descended from Colla Meann was Luighne [Lugny], who was the ancestor of Spears; and who, by his wife Basaire of the Sept of the Decies of Munster, had a son called Fearbreach [farbra] ("farbreach:" Irish, the fine-looking man), who was bishop of Yovar, and who (according to the Four Masters) was fifteen feet in height!

The following are among the families of Ulster and Hy-Maine descended from Colla da Chrioch: Boylan, Carbery, Cassidy, Corrigan, Corry, Cosgrave, Davin, Davine, Devin, Devine, Devers, Divers, Donegan, Donnelly, Eagan, Enright, Fogarty (of Ulster), Garvey, Gilchreest, Goff, Gough, Hart, Harte, Hartt, Hartte, Higgins, Holland, Holligan, Hoolahan, Hort, Keenan, Kelly, Kennedy, Keogh, Lally, Lannin, Larkin, Laury, Lavan, Lalor, Lawlor, Leahy, Loftus, Loingsy (Lynch), Looney, MacArdle, MacBrock, MacCabe, MacCann, MacCoskar, MacCusker, MacDaniel, MacDonnell (of Clan-Kelly), MacEgan, MacGeough, MacGough, MacHugh, MacKenna (of Truagh, co. Monaghan), MacMahon (of Ulster), MacManus, MacNeny,[13] MacTague (anglicised Montague), MacTernan, MacTully, Madden, Magrath, Maguire, Malone, MacIvir, MacIvor, Meldon, Mitchell, Mooney, Muldoon, Mullally, Muregan, Naghten, Nawn, Neillan, Norton, O'Brassil, O'Callaghan (of Orgiall), O'Carroll of Oriel (or Louth), O'Connor of Orgiall, O'Duffy, O'Dwyer, O'Flanagan, O'Hanlon, O'Hanratty, O'Hart, O'Kelly, O'Loghan, O'Loghnan, O'Neny, Oulahan, Rogan, Ronan, Ronayne, Slevine, Tully, etc.

85. Colla da Chrioch: son of Eochaidh Dubhlen; had three sons—1. Rochadh; 2. Imchadh; 3. Fiachra Casan, a quo Oirthearaigh. This Fiachra was the ancestor of O'Mooney of Ulster; O'Brassil; St. Maineon (18th December), bishop, a quo "Kilmainham," near Dublin; O'Connor, etc. Colla da Chrioch was the founder of the Kingdom of Orgiall. The Clan Colla ruled over that Kingdom, and were styled "Kings of Orgiall," down to the twelfth century.

86. Rochadh: son of Colla da Chrioch.

87. Deach Dorn: his son.

88. Fiach (or Feig): his son; had a brother Labhradh, a quo Laury; and a brother Brian, a quo O'Brien of Arcaill.

89. Criomhthan Liath [14] ("criomhthan:" Irish, a fox): son of Fiach; a quo O'Criomhthainne, of Ulster, anglicised Griffin; was King of Orgiall, and, as the epithet Liath implies ("liath:" Irish, gray-haired), was an old man when St. Patrick came to Christianize Ireland. He had five sons—1. Eochaidh; 2. Fergus Ceannfada ("ceannfada:" Irish, long-headed, meaning learned), who is mentioned by some writers as "Fergus Cean," and a quo O'Ceannatta, anglicised Kennedy and Kinitty; 3. Luighaidh, a quo Leithrinn-Lughaidh; 4. Muireadach, who was the ancestor of MacBrock, now Brock; 5. Aodh (who was also called Eochaidh), the ancestor of Slevin. The Fergus Ceannfada here mentioned was one of the three antiquaries who assisted the Monarch Laeghaire; Corc, King of Munster; Daire, a Prince of Ulster; St. Patrick, St. Benignus, St. Carioch, etc., "to review, examine, and reduce into order all the monuments of antiquity, genealogies, chronicles, and records of the Kingdom."

90. Eochaidh [Eochy],[15]: King of Origall: the son of Criomhthan Liath. Had a brother Cearbhall ("cearbhall:" Irish, carnage), who was the ancestor of and a quo O'Carroll, Kings of Oriel (or county Louth), down to the twelfth century.

91. Cairbre an Daimh Airgid ("an:" Irish, the def. article; "daimh" [dav], a learned man or poet; and "airgid," wealth, money; Lat. "argentum;" Gr. "arg-uros"), King of Orgiall: his son; d. 513; "was so called from the many presents and gifts of silver and gold he usually bestowed and gave away to all sorts of people." He had many sons, viz.:—1. Daimhin, a quo Siol Daimhin; 2. Cormac, a quo the territory Ua Cormaic, and who was the ancestor of Maguire; 3. Nadsluagh, a quo Clann Nadsluaigh, and who was the ancestor of MacMahon, of Ulster; 4. Fearach; 5. Fiacha; 6. Longseach; 7. Brian; 8. Dobhron, etc.

92. Daimhin,[16] King of Orgiall: son of Cairbre an Daimh Airgid; d. A.D. 566. Had many sons. From Fearach his eighth son are descended Devers, Divers, Dwyer, Feehan, O'Leathain ("leathan:" Irish, broad), anglicised Lahin, Lehane, Lane, and Broad; Larkin, Malone, Orr, etc.; and Cumuscach, who was King of Uriel.

93. Tuathal Maolgharbh: son of Daimhin. Had two brothers—1. Lochlann, ancestor of O'Davin; 2. Clochar, from whom the present town of Clogher, in the county of Tyrone, takes its name. This Clochar ("clochar:" Irish, a college), was, himself, so called because of the college which he founded in that ancient town.

94. Tuatan: son of Tuathal Maolgharbh. Had two sons—1. Maolduin; 2. Baodan: from this Baodan the following families descended—Coscry, Cusker, MacCusker, and Cosgrave, Conan, Coonan, MacCoonan; Boylan, Cahil, Carbery, Corrigan, Donnelly, Gavan, etc.

95. Maolduin: son of Tuatan.

96. Tuathal: his son.

97. Ceallach: his son; a quo Clan Kelly, in the county Fermanagh, and from whom descended Kelly, of Ulster. Had five sons, from the fourth of whom, Murtagh, the following families descended—Dongan, Donnegan, Dunegan, Keenan, Morgan, Murrin, Rogan, etc.

98. Colga: son of Ceallach; a quo Colgan, of Ulster.

99. Donall: his son; a quo MacDomhnaill, of Clan Kelly. (See No. 102, infra).

100. Fionnachtach: his son. Had three sons—1. Art; 2. Congall; 3. Foghartach, from whom descended Cairn, Cairns, Flanagan, Donnellan, Kearns, etc.,—all of Ulster.

101. Art: the son of Fionnachtach: a quo, according to MacFirbis, O'h-Airt (see No. 81, supra); but a quo only MacArt, according to O'Ferrall's Linea Antiqua.

102. Donall: the son of Art; had a brother Lochlann, who was the ancestor of MacDomhnaill, of Clan Kelly, anglicised MacDonnell, MacDaniel, Daniel, and O'Donnell, of Fermanagh. (See No. 99 supra.)

103. Felim O'Hart: son of Donall; the first of the family who assumed this sirname. From the second century down to this period (the eleventh century), when sirnames were first introduced into Ireland, this family was known as Cin Airt, and Muintir Airt: signifying, respectively, the kindred and people of Art, who is No. 81 on this pedigree.

104. Maolruanaidh [Mulrooney]: son of Felim; some of whose descendants were called 'OMaoilruanaidh (anglicised Mulrooney, Rooney, Rowney), and were lords of Fermanagh.

105. Tomhas (or Thomas): his son.

106. Shane: his son; living A.D. 1172; was the last prince of Tara. At that period took place the English invasion of Ireland; when, as the name of Melaghlin, King of Meath, was not amongst the few signatures sent to Rome (Chartis subsignatis, oraditis, ad Romam transmissis), notifying Pope Adrian IV. of their assent to his transfer of their respective sovereignties to King Henry II., of England, that Monarch, by virtue of Adrian's Grant of Ireland to England, dispossessed Melaghlin of his Kingdom, and all his nobles of their patrimonies; and conferred on Hugh De Lacy the Kingdom of Meath:

No more to chiefs and ladies bright

The harp of Tara swells;

The chord alone that breaks at night

Its tale of ruin tells.

Thus Freedom now so seldom wakes,

The only throb she gives

Is when some heart indignant breaks,

To show that still she lives.

—MOORE.

It was then that, deprived of his patrimony [17] in that Kingdom, by King Henry II., this Shane first settled in Connaught, in the barony of Carbury (county Sligo), which then belonged to the Principality of Tirconnell, and which O'Malory (or O'Mulroy), the then Prince of Tirconnell, granted to the said Shane, as an inheritance for himself and his people. Some of Shane's descendants afterwards acquired landed property in the barony of Leyney, etc., in the co. Sligo, which they held down to the period of the Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland. (See Part IX. c. iv.; and sect. 12 of the paper No. 94, in the Appendix.) Thus dispossessed, by King Henry II., of their territories in Bregia (or East Meath) the O'Hart family settled—some of them in Leinster, some in Ulster, some in England, some in Scotland, some in France, some in Germany; and this the senior branch of the family, settled, as above stated, in that part of Connaught, now known as the county Sligo. At the time of the English Invasion of Ireland, the town of Kells, in the Principality of Tara, was called Ceanannas ("ceann:" Irish, a head; "ceannas:" authority, power); where, according to Dr. O'Brien, "a national council of the clergy of Ireland was held about the year 1152, in which Cardinal Papyron gave the first Pallia to the four Archbishops of Armagh, Cashel, Dublin, and Tuam."

107. Art: son of Shane; chief of his name.

108. Conchobhar: his son; chief of his name.

109. Tirloch: his son; chief of his name.

110. Giollachriosd: his son; chief of his name.

111. Brian: his son; chief of his name.

112. Teige: his son; chief of his name.

113. Amhailgadh [awly]: his son; chief of his name.

114. Teige: his son: chief of his name.

115. Melaghlin (or Malachi): his son; chief of his name.

116. Giollachriosd Caoch: his son; chief of his name; who, according to the "Betham Collection," in the office of Ulster King-of-Arms, had five sons—1. Aodh (or Hugh)[18] Mór; 2. Brian; 3. Teige; 4. William; 5. Rory. By MacFirbis only three of those sons are mentioned, namely—1. Aodh Mór, who built the Castle of "mBotuinn;" 2. Brian, who built the Castle of Ardtarmon;[19] 3. Teige Brughaid Coilte agus an Botuinn, who built the Castle of Grainsioch Tuaidh (or North Grange). These were the latest built castles of the family; for, in Magherow (commonly called "O'Hart's Country"), at Ardtarmon (more properly "Art-tarmon:" Art being the name a quo the sirname O'Hart, and tarmon being the Irish for "sanctuary" or "protection," and sometimes meaning "church lands"), and at Ballinfull, near Lisadill,[20] the beautiful seat of Sir Henry-William-Gore Booth, Bart., are to be seen the remains of the O'Hart older castles in the county Sligo. But it was in the beginning of the 17th century, that Aodh Mór O'Hart built, in the Tudor style, on the shore of Lough Gill, the Castle of mBotuin (corruptly anglicised "Newtown"), in the parish of Dromleas, barony of Dromoheare (now "Dromahair"[21]), and co. of Leitrim; that his brother Brian O'Hart built in the same Tudor style the castle at Ardtarmon; and that the younger brother Teige built the castle at North Grange. The remains of these once splendid castles at Ardtarmon and Newtown are in tolerable preservation; but it may here be remarked that the stone which was embedded in the front wall immediately over the entrance to the Newtown Castle has mysteriously been removed therefrom. On that stone perhaps were engraved the name and Arms of the person who built it, and the date of its erection: if so, it would help to explain why the said stone has been removed therefrom, and is said to have been buried in Mr. Wynne's garden, at Hazelwood, Sligo, and thence to Lisadill by the Gore Booth family, who were in the female line the lineal descendants of the Captain Robert Parke, who, according to the Civil Survey, was the recognized owner of Newtown in 1641, and who, it is conjectured by McParlan, was a probable (?) founder of that castle. But why the said stone was removed from its place over the Newtown Castle entrance, or by whose orders it was taken away, remains a mystery!

Our curiosity being thus aroused on the subject, on the occasion of our visit to the locality in August, 1886, we wrote to Mr. Roger Parke, J.P., of Dunally, Sligo, the present courteous and respected owner of Newtown Castle, requesting some information respecting that stone, etc. Mr. Parke replied as follows:

"Dunally, Sligo,

"15th November, 1886.

"Slemmata quid faciunt.[22]

"John O' Hart, Esq.

"SIR,—Yours of the 7th November, '86, to hand. In reference to Newtown, there are two castles there, as also a chapel in the which, as per tombstone therein, are deposited the remains of Robert and Maggy, children of Captain Robert Parke, and it is dated at 1677. McParlan says either Durroch O'Rorke or the Parke family were the founders. Perhaps O'Rorke built the older one, which is on a kind of peninusla in the lake (Lough Gill), and Robert Parke the other one. I have no MSS. or work bearing on these Castles' histories, but a small pamphlet published by Hardiman in Mullany's R.C. Magazine, being the diary of Sir Frederick Hamilton, of date 1642.

"Though a namesake and collaterly related to said Robert Parke, I am not his lineal descendant; the Gore Booths are. I purchased Newtown Castle and the townland called Culmore, otherwise Kelmore, otherwise Newtown, in 1871, Culmore, probably the proper name (the big way), as the formation of the lake on which the Newtown estates [23] stand would indicate.

"There is some mystery as to the removed stone that was over the newer Castle gate: some say it went to Hazelwood and was (buried) in the garden there; others reckon it was thence removed to Lisadill. I enquired from the deceased, Right Hon. John Wynne, whether he knew anything about it, but he told me he had never heard of such a stone. My deceased old Newtown herd, Francis Cunningham, said he heard there was on it "609" (probably "1609"), at which period I would infer said castle was built, from its Tudor architecture. As to the claim of the O'Harts building said castle, I never heard of it till you mentioned it, but possibly you may be right. They built, I believe, a castle near Lisadill, and people say they were once owners of this place, Dunally and its castle, the latter now no longer in being. It is certain, however, from the Annals of the Four Masters, that Kaffer O'Donnell owned Dunally Castle at one time, I believe in the reign of Henry the Seventh. I found in the Quit Rent Office in Dublin, that in 1636 Roger Parke (from whom I am descended) owned half the castle of Dunally. He and our family were probably connected with the Cavalier party, and the whole family probably followers of the great Earl of Strafford, to whose representative I now pay a Chiefry for the lands of Dunally. . . .

"I am well aware the O'Hart family were once a very powerful Clan here, and the name much disseminated through the county. Of course it is only a conjecture of mine, as I am not well up in Irish, MacFirbis might have meant Moteen [24] (a little moat), which would correspond with the older castle, which is nearly surrounded by water in Lough Gill. Newtown (in Irish "Ballynew") would correspond with the kind of settlement Parke made there. . . . Without wishing to offend you I repeat again: "Stemmata quid faciunt;" and most particularly in these democratic times.

"Yours faithfully,

"ROGER PARKE."

117. Aodh (or Hugh) Mór: eldest son of Giollachriosd; had two sons —1. Aodh Oge, and 2. William. This William was the father of Ir, who was father of Brian, the father of Giolladubh, the father of Rory, the father of Giolladubh and Connor, who where living in the latter part of the 18th century.

118. Aodh Oge: the son of Aodh Mór; living in 1616.

119. Felim: his son; had two sons—1. Donoch Gruama, 2. John. This John (who is mentioned by MacFirbis, but not in the Linea Antiqua), was the father of William Granna, whose family were called "Muintir-Brughaid-coilte." In this (Felim's) time some of the family estates in the barony of Carbery, co. Sligo, were held by Brian O'Hairt and Owen O'Hairtt, and some more of the family estates in the barony of "Leny," same county, were held by Katherine Hairtt—all "Papist Proprietors," whose estates [25] were confiscated under the Cromwellian Settlement. This Felim O'Hart was as a Catholic Proprietor, dispossessed of his estates by the Earl of Strafford, the Viceroy of Ireland, temp. Charles I. The only inheritance that remained to him (Felim) was his poor but proud birthright as "Hereditary Prince of Tara;" but, so intense at that time was the hatred which political and religious differences had created between the English and the Irish peoples, and so great the antipathy then existing in England towards everything Irish, it is not to be wondered at that his "birth-right" did not serve him; for, unhappily, those were sad times in Ireland.

120. Donoch Gruama [26] ("gruama:" Irish, sullen, morose), of Newtown Castle,[27] above mentioned: son of Phelim O'Hart; was dispossessed under the Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland, on the 3rd June, 1652. Up to that date, the said Donoch was the possessor of the Castle of Newtown, in the parish of Dromleas, barony of Dromaheare, and county of Leitrim; while the Civil Survey and in the Book of Survey and Distribution for the County of Leitrim, the name of Capt. Parke [28] is entered as the Proprietor of said Newtown, in 1641. Among the Troopers [29] who claimed as Soldiers under the Act of Settlement, appears the name "Parke;" and, according to the Genealogical MSS. in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, there was no Parke family in Ireland before the Viceroyalty of Stafford in Ireland.

Under date A.D. 1636, we first meet with the name "Parke" in Ireland: the name "Roger Parke" appears as tenant, under the Earl of Strafford, of half the Castle of Dunally; after Strafford had ruthlessly dispossessed almost all the Catholic Proprietors of Connaught, but especially those of the old Irish race in his time in Ireland. The Parke family, therefore, who were followers of Strafford, could not have been the founders of the Newtown Castle, which, according to the mysterious stone above mentioned, was built A.D. 1609, in the reign of James I.: just sixteen years before the reign of Charles I., under whom the Earl of Strafford was Viceroy of Ireland! And the O'Rorkes had no castle south of Dromahair. It is worthy of remark that, on the accession of King Charles II. (who, himself, had drunk deeply of the bitter cup of adversity, during the "Protectorate" of Cromwell), not even a portion of their estates was restored to any member of the O'Hart family.

121. Teige: son of Donoch Gruama O'Hart: had a younger brother named Calvagh.

122. Shane (2): his son; the last recognized chief of his name; married Mary, daughter of Manus Mór O'Laydon. To hide his poverty, this Shane migrated [30] from Magherow, in the county Sligo, to the neighbouring county Mayo; and there, in comparative retirement, far from home and kindred, settled near his wife's friends on a farm at Doonbreeda, which they procured for him on the Bourke (of Carrow keel) property, in Glen Nephin. He was buried in the O'Laydon burial-ground in Cill Muire (Kill Mary), now called "Kilmurray," in the parish of Crossmolina, barony of Tyrawley, and said county of Mayo; which cemetery since then became the burial-place of the members of this family resident about Crossmolina.

123. Shane (3), of Doonbreeda: only son of Shane (2); m. Mary, dau. of Michael Martin and his wife Catherine Berry, of Glenavne, near Doonbreeda; was buried in Cill-Muire. The issue of this marriage were two sons and one daughter:

I. Shane (or John) O'Hart, of Crossmolina, of whom presently.

II. Martin, of Glenhest, who was twice married: first to Catherine Moran, by whom he had four children:

1. John, m. to Mary, daughter of Thomas Regan, of Moygownagh; d. 12th Nov., 1886, leaving issue.

2. Mary, m. to James Kearney.

3. Michael, twice married but left no issue.

4. Anthony, m. to Judith MacGreevy, by whom he left five children—1. John, 2. Brian, 3. Michael, 4. Thomas, 5. Martin.

Martin, of Glenhest, was secondly m. to Bridget Boggin, by whom he had five children—1. Bridget; 2. Martin; 3. Nancy (m. to Martin McHale, by whom she had three children—1. Mary; 2. Bridget; 3. Thomas); 4. Patrick, of Youngstown, Ohio, living in 1877 (emigrated to America in. 1858); and 5. Thomas Hart, who emigrated to America in 1855, and living in 1880, near Courtland, Decalb county, Illinois, United States.

I. Mary Hart, m. to Thomas Cormack, by whom she had five children—Bridget, Martin, Mary, Catherine, and Rose.

1. Bridget, who was twice married: first, to Luke Forristal, by whom she had two children—Mary; and Bridget, m. to Frank Cormack. By her second marriage she had a son Brian MacGreevy.

2. Martin, m., and had six children—1. Thomas; 2. Mary, m. to Michael Coyne; 3. James; 4. Bridget; 5. Catherine; 6. Martin.

3. Mary, m. to Patrick MacManamnin, and had six children—1. Mary, m. to John Gannon; 2. Martin; 3. Felim; 4. Margaret, m. to John Commins; 5. Bridget; 6. Patrick.

4. Catherine, m. to — Cormack, had four children—1. Daniel; 2. Mary, m. to Luke Forristal; 3. Anne; 4. Rose.

5. And Rose Cormack, who was twice married: by her first marriage she had three children—1. John Moran; 2. Catherine Moran, m. in America to Bryan Mulroy; 3. Mary Moran, m. to Peter Cawley, of Curraghmore. The said Rose was secondly m. to Edward Mulroy, by whom she had two children—1. Celia, 2. Bridget.

124. Shane (or John), of Crossmolina: son of Shane (3); m. in 1800 Nora (who died in 1844), eldest dau. of Peter Kilroy and his wife Mary Geraghty, of Keenagh, in the old parish of Glenhest, but now attached to the parish of Crossmolina; d. in 1841; he and his wife were buried in the family grave in Cill Muire, above mentioned. The issue of this marriage were six sons and four daughters:

I. Michael; II. another Michael—both of whom died in infancy.

III. The Rev. Anthony, a Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Killala; d. 7th March, 1830.

IV. Patrick, m. in 1844, Bridget (d. in 1847), daughter of John Mannion, of Castlehill, near Crossmolina, by whom he had two children, who died in infancy. This Patrick died in 1849, in Carbondale, United States, America.

V. John, the writer of this Work, of whom presently, at No. 125 infra, on this Genealogy.

VI. Martin, who died in infancy.

I. Mary, who d. unm. in 1831.

II. Anne, who d. in 1840, m. to James Fox, of Crossmolina, by whom she had three children—1. Mary Fox, living in 1878, and m. to J. Sexton, of Rockford, Illinois, United States, America, and had issue; 2. Catherine, who d. young, and unm.; 3. Anthony, who d. in infancy.

III. Bridget, living in 1879, m. John Keane, of Cloonglasna, near Ballina (Tyrawley), by whom she had three sons and two daughters: 1. James; 2. Mary, d. unm.; 3. Francis; 4. Bridget; 5. Patrick—all four of whom were living in 1879 near Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States, America.

IV. Catherine, who d. in Liverpool in 1852, was m. to John Diver, of Crossmolina, by who she had two sons—1. Patrick, 2. John.

125. John O'Hart, of The School, Ringsend, Dublin: only surviving son of John, No. 124; b. in Dec., 1824, and living in 1887.

Of this John, The Dublin Journal of the 16th May, 1887, writes:

"John O'Hart, F.R.H.A.A.I., M.H.S., was born at Crossmolina, county of Mayo, in December, 1824. He received his early English education at the school conducted in his native town by Mr. Alexander M'Hugh; and at the age of ten years he was placed in the classical school presided over by Mr. John Corley—also situated in Crossmolina. The death of his brother (who was a priest of the diocese of Killala), and other domestic disappointments so affected the means of his parents that while yet a boy in years he was withdrawn from his classical studies and reduced to the alternative of entering the Constabulary Force. He was placed in the Depôt of Ballinrobe, then under the superintendence of Major Priestly, Provincial Inspector of Connaught. That officer apparently did not consider young O'Hart physically fitted for the rougher duties of his position; for, one day on parade he jocosely told the future genealogist that he "might hide behind a fishing rod," at the same time expressing his belief that he would be more congenially situated in a County Inspector's office. Accordingly, O'Hart was allocated to West Galway, and placed as an assistant clerk in the office of the County Inspector at Oughterard; and when his officer was removed to another county some months afterwards, O'Hart accompanied him. His youth, his efficiency, and a knowledge of the untoward destiny that had so rudely compelled him to abandon his studies, secured him the respect and sympathy of all his officers save one. After a year or two O'Hart retired from the force; and in 1845 entered the service of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland. In the autumn of that year he was admitted to the Board's Training Department, Marlborough-street. Here he attracted the favourable notice of Sir Alex. M'Donnell, then Resident Commissioner of National Education; the late Robert Sullivan, LL.D., then one of the Board's Professors; and Sir Patrick J. Keenan, P.C., K.C.M.G., C.B., &c., the present Resident Commissioner. In 1856 he was appointed to the Ringsend School as a Stepping-stone to promotion, under the patronage of the late Lord Herbert of Lea; for the appointments to Inspectorships were then made by patronage. When, however, in 1859, the National Education Department was, for examination purposes, placed in connection with the Civil Service Commissioners, and that, thereafter, Inspectorships could only be obtained by nomination and examination, the age clause frustrated Mr. O'Hart's eligibility for a nomination. From that time to the present he has devoted himself ardently to antiquarian and genealogical research. His greatest work is, "Irish Pedigrees: or, the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation." The first volume of this laborious and exhaustive work was published in 1875; the second in 1878; and the third (or latest edition) in 1881. He has also written "The Last Princes of Tara," "Irish Landed Gentry when Cromwell came," and was a contributor to Hibernia, a monthly magazine lately published in London. A fourth and enlarged edition of the "Irish Pedigrees" is, we have been informed, now passing through the press; and we need scarcely say that we wish it every success. . . . It is clearly the duty of Irishmen to support and encourage native literature. Here is a countryman of ours who has attained a high rank among contemporary archaeologists by perseverance in face of circumstances often adverse; and it were surely a disgrace and a stigma on cultured Irishmen if his works should fail to receive their well-won meed of recognition and reward."

He m. on the 25th May, 1845, in the Catholic Church of Crossmolina, above mentioned, Elizabeth (living in 1887), dau. of Patrick Burnett and his wife Margaret Bourke, of Enniscrone, co. Sligo. The issue of that marriage were three sons and seven daughters:

I. Patrick Andrew O'Hart, who is No. 126 on this pedigree.

II. John-Anthony, b. 3rd June, 1859; d. 4th Oct., 1861.

III. Francis-Joseph, born 11th March, 1865; d. 16 th Aug., 1866.

I. Fanny-Mary, m. Michael John Devine, of Kilkee, co. Clare, and has a family—(See the "Devin" pedigree, p. 405, ante.)

II. Mary-Elizabeth (d. 1st Jan., 1880), m. John Cunningham, of Dublin (see the "Cunningham" pedigree), and left one child, Bessie.

III. Margaret, who m. John Bourke, of Ringsend, Dublin, and has—1. John, 2. Bessie, both living in 1887.

IV. Eliza.

V. Annie.

VI. Louisa, m. in 1887, to Thomas Joseph Maguire.

VII. Hannah.

126. Patrick-Andrew O'Hart, Public Auditor and Accountant, 45 Dame-street, Dublin: son of John O'Hart,[31] the writer of this Work; b. 27th February, 1849, and living, unm., in 1887, when this Edition was published.

Notes

[1] Art: In Old High-German, the word "hart" (which is evidently derived from the Celtic art) means inexorable.

According to Keating's History of Ireland, the epithet Eanfhear applied to this Art means ''The Solitary;" because he was the only one of his father's sons that survived: his two brothers Conla Ruadh and Crionna, having been slain by their uncles, as above mentioned. His grief on account of that fact was so intense, that, in old writings, he is often called "Art, the Melancholy."

This Art's descendants gave Kings to Connaught, Meath, and Orgiall; Kings or Princes to Clanaboy, Tirconnell, and Tirowen; and with only two or three exceptions, Monarchs to Ireland, up to the Anglo-Norman Invasion. From this Art also descended the Kings of Scotland, from Fergus Mór Mac Earca, in the fifth century, down to the Stuarts: See No. 81 on "The Lineal Descent of the Royal Family of England," ante.

[2] O'Hart: As an illustration of the transitions which many of the ancient Irish sirnames underwent, it may be observed that, in the early ages, the "O'Hart" family was called Cin-Airt and Muintir-Airt, meaning respectively, the "kindred," and the "people, of the Monarch Art Ean Fhear" (or Art Enaar), the ancestor of the family; but after the introduction of sirnames in Ireland, the family name was at one time Ua-Airt, next Ua-Airt (using the aspirate before the name "Airt"), next Ua-Hairt, and lastly O'h-Airt, anglicised O'Hairt, O'Harthiee, etc.—(See the "Harte" pedigree, for other changes in the anglicised forms of this family name.)

[3] Magh Mucroimhe: See Note "Art Eanfhear," in page 59.

[4] Cormac Ulfhada: This Monarch was commonly known as "Cormac Mac Art;" he died at Cleitach, on the Boyne. Before his death he gave directions that, instead of at Brugh, a famous burial place of the Irish pre-Christian kings, he should be buried in Ross-na-Ri [Rosnaree] near Slane—both in the county of Meath; and that his face should be towards the East—through respect for the Saviour of the World, whom he knew to have been there born and crucified.

[5] Great Hall of Tara: In the ancient work called "The Book of Ballymote," stanzas, in Irish, occur, of which the following is a translation:

"Temor (Tara), the most beautiful of hills,

Under which Erin is warlike;

The chief city of Cormac, the son of Art,

Son of valiant Conn of the Hundred Battles.

"Cormac is worth excelled;

Was a warrior, poet, and sage;

A true Brehon; of the Fenian men

He was a good friend and companion.

"Cormac conquered in fifty battles,

And compiled the 'Psalter of Tara.'

In that Psalter is contained

The full substance of history.

"His great house of a thousand heroes,

With tribes it was delightful;

A fair bright fortress of fine men;

Three hundred feet was its measure.

"Its circuit was well arranged;

Nor was it narrow by a faulty construction;

Nor too small for separate apartments;

Six times five cubits was its height.

"Grand was the host which attended there,

And their weapons were glittering with gold;

There were three times fifty splendid apartments;

And each apartment held fifty persons.

"Three hundred cup bearers handed around

Three times fifty splendid goblets

To each of the numerous parties there:

Which cups were of gold or silver—all.

"Ornamented with pure and precious stones;

Thirty hundred were entertained

By the son of Art on each day.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"The household of the hosts let us enumerate;

Who were in the house of Temor of the tribes;

This is the exact enumeration—

Fifty above a thousand warriors.

"When Cormac resided at Temor,

His fame was heard by all the exalted;

And a king like the son of Art-Ean-Fhear,

There came not of the men of the world.

—CONNELLAN.

[6] Idol-Gods: A vivid tradition relating the circumstance of the burial of King Cormac Mac Art has been very beautifully versified by the late lamented Sir Samuel Ferguson, in his poem—"The Burial of King Cormac."

"Crom Cruach and his sub-gods twelve,"

Said Cormac, "are but craven treene;

The axe that made them, haft or helve,

Had worthier of our worship been;

"But He who made the tree to grow,

And hid in earth the iron stone,

And made the man with mind to know

The axe's use, is God alone."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"The Druids hear of this fearful speech, and are horrified!

"They loosed their curse against the King.

They cursed him in his flesh and bones,

And daily in their mystic ring

They turned the maledictive stones."

For the full poem of "The Burial of King Cormac," see The Story of Ireland (Dublin: A. M. Sullivan).

[7] Cairbre-Lifeachar: This Cairbre is the Monarch referred to in Note, page 9, as having composed the poem in relation to the Gaelic language—a stanza translated from which is there given.

[8] Grania: Grania m., first: Diarmuid (Fionn's Lieutenant), son of Donn, son of Duibhne, son of Fothadh, son of Fiacha Riadhe, son of Fiacha, son of Feidhlimidh; and had by him four sons—Donnchadh, Tollann, Ruchladh, and Ioruadh.

[9] Monarchy: Under the laws of "Tanistry," the Crown in Ireland and Scotland was hereditary in the Family, but not exclusively in Primogeniture.—(See the Paper "Election of Kings, Princes, and Chiefs," in the Appendix). On this subject Sir Water Scott, in his History of Scotland, observes:—

"The blood of the original founder of the family was held to flow in the veins of his successive representatives, and to perpetuate in each chief the right of supreme authority over the descendants of his own line; who formed his children and subjects, as he became by right of birth their sovereign, ruler, and lawgiver. With the family and blood of this chief of chiefs most of the inferior chieftains claimed a connection more or less remote. This supreme chiefdom or right of sovereignty, was hereditary, in so far as the person possessing it was chosen from the blood royal of the King deceased; but it was so far elective that any of his kinsmen might be chosen by the nation to succeed him; and, as the office of sovereign could not be exercised by a child, the choice generally fell upon a full-grown man, the brother or nephew of the deceased, instead of his son or grandson. This uncertainty of succession which prevailed in respect to the crown itself, proved a constant source of rebellion and bloodshed: the postponed heir, when he arose in years, was frequently desirous to attain his father's power; and many a murder was committed for the purpose of rendering straight an oblique line of succession, which such preference of an adult had thrown out of a direct course."

[10] Dubhlen: According to Connellan, the name "Dubhlen," is the root of Dubhlana, which has been corrupted Eblana—the name of the city of Dublin, as marked on Ptolemy's Map of Ireland. Another ancient name for the city of Dublin was Dromcollchoille, which signifies "the back of the hazel wood."

[11] The Three Collas: The descendants of the Three Collas were called "The Clan Colla." The word "Clan," writes the Rev. Dr. Todd, F.T.C.D., "signifies children or descendants. The tribe being descended from some common ancestor, the Chieftain, as the representative of that ancestor, was regarded as the common father of the Clan, and they as his children.

[12] Glencoe: For a poem on the "Massacre of Glencoe," see the Paper No. 89 in the Appendix.

The orders to the officers engaged in that Massacre of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, A.D. 1692, are still preserved; they are, according to the Inverness Highlander, as follows:—

"To Captain Robert Campbell.

"Thou art hereby commanded to seize the rebels, the Clan M'Donald of Glencoe, and slay every soul of them under three score years and ten. Thou shalt take special care that the Old Fox and sons do not make their escape. Begin thy work sharp at five o'clock to-morrow morning. I will endeavour to be forward with a strong force at that hour. If I am not there, delay not a moment, but begin at the hour specified. The foregoing is the King's special command. See that thou yield implicit obedience. If not, thou art considered unfaithful to thy trust, and unworthy of holding a commission in his service.—I am, ROBERT DUNCANSON.—Ballachaolish, 2nd mo., 1692."

The following is the letter of Colonel Hamilton to Major Duncanson:—

"Thou, and those of the Earl of Argyll's Regiment under thy command, must execute the Glencoe order. Be thou therefore prepared. See that every pass be made secure. Begin thy work at five o'clock to-morrow morning. I will endeavour, with my men, to be in position at that very hour. Thou shalt make secure every pass on the south side of the Glen, and have the ferry well guarded, lest the Old Fox or one of his whelps make their escape. Under the age of three score years and ten leave not a soul of them alive, nor give the nation trouble nor expense by making prisoners.—I am, James Hamilton.—Ballachaolish, 2nd mo., 1692."

[13] MacNeny. This family name in Irish is Mac-an-Eanaigh ("ean:" Irish, a bird; "eanach," a moor or marsh), and has been variously anglicised MacNeny, O'Nena, O'Neny, Bird, Bourd, Byrd, Byrde, Naun, and Nawn. And the Mac-an-Eanaigh family is quite distinct from the Mac-an-Eineaigh ("eineach:" Irish: affability), which has been anglicised MacAneny.—See Note "MacAneny," under No. 116 on the "O'Cahan" pedigree.

[14] Criomhthan Liath: This Crimthann Liath's descendants were very celebrated; some of them settled in Slane in the county of Meath. Of them Colgan says in his Trias Thaumaturga: "Est regiuncula Australia Orgielliae, nunc ad Baroniam Slanensem spectans, vulgo Crimthainne dicta."

[15] Eochy: "Soon after St. Patrick's arrival in Ireland," writes Dr. Joyce, "one of his principal converts was St. Donart, Bishop, son of Eochy, king of Ulster."

The Saint's name—a very significant one—was "Domhan-Gabh-Art" (domhan: Irish, the world, and gabh, I take), which means I take Art from the world (to serve his Heavenly Master). By contraction the name became "Domhang'hart," and ultimately "Domhanghart"—Anglicised "Donart."

St. Donart founded two churches—one at Maghera, on the northern side of the mountain called Slieve Donard, in Ulster; and the other, according to Colgan, A. SS. page 743, on the very summit of the mountain itself, far from all human habitation. The ruins of this little church existed down to a recent period on Slieve Donard, which takes its name from St. Donart; and the name of the mountain stands as a perpetual memorial of the saint, who is still held in extraordinary veneration by the people among the Mourne mountains.—JOYCE.

[16] Daimhin: From this Damhin "Devinish Island," in Lough Erne, near Enniskillen, in the county of Fermanagh, takes its name; and St. Damhin, a descendant of that prince of Fermanagh, was the founder of the Abbey of Devinish, which is situated on Devinish Island. In Irish it was called "Damhin-Inis," contracted to "Damhinis," and anglicised "Devinish," which means Damhin's (or Devin's) Island. Devinish Island was incorrectly anglicised the "Island of the Ox," on account of the Irish word "damh" [dov], an ox, being, in sound, so like the word "daimh" [dav], a learned man: hence the observation by Colgan, in reference to the name of that island, namely— "quod Latine sonat Bovis Insula." Some of the abbots of Devinish were also styled bishops, until, in the twelfth century, it was annexed to the see of Clogher.

The Clan "Damhin" were long represented by the Davins or Devins, and so late as the fourteenth century, by the family of Diver or Dwyer, as lords of Fermanagh. The Maguires, also of the same stock, next became princes of Fermanagh, which, after them was called "Maguire's Country."—FOUR MASTERS.

[17] Patrimony: In the "Topography" of O'Dugan (who died, A.D. 1372), the O'Harts, as Princes of Tara, rank next to Murcha, Meath's last King; and, according to Connellan's "Four Masters," the Princes of Tara were also styled "Princes of Magh Breagh;" Magh Breagh (latinized Bregia) signifying the "Magnificent Plain:" that vast plain extending between the rivers Liffey and the Boyne, from the city of Dublin to the town of Drogheda, thence to Kells in the county Meath, and containing the districts about Tara, Trim, Navan, Athboy, Dunboyne, Maynooth, Clane, Celbridge, Lucan, Leixlip, and all that part of the county Dublin north of the river Liffey. The "Magnificent Plain" here mentioned contains about half a million of acres of the finest land in Ireland; and, up to the English invasion, formed a portion of "O'Hart's Country," in the Kingdom of Meath. The other portion of the family patrimony in that Kingdom was in Teabhtha (latinized Teffia), now known as the county Westmeath; where some of the family remained.

[18] Hugh: According to the "Betham Collection," this Hugh's Brother, Brian, was the father of Donal, who was the father of Teige Ruadh [roe], the father of another Donal Glas; Teige was the father of Teige Caoch, who was the father of Connor, the father of Hugh; William was the father of Connor, who was the father of Brian; and Rory was the father of Neale, living in 1635.

[19] Ardtarmon: As showing the social status of this family in the county Sligo, before the unhappy advent of Cromwell to Ireland, one of them, Pheolyme [Phelim] O'Hart, of Ardtarmon, ranks next to the O'Connor Sligo, amongst the Signatories (in 1585) of the Indenture between Sir John Perrott and the Chieftains of Sligo, temp. Queen Elizabeth. According to O'Flaherty's West Connaught, by Hardiman, p. 341, the following persons were the parties to that Indenture:—"Right Honorable Sir John Perrott , Knight, Lord Deputy-General of Ireland for and on the behaulfe of the Queen's most excellent Majesty, of the one partye; and the reverend fathers in God John Bishop of Elphine—Owyn Bishop of Aconry—Owine electe Bishop of Killalae—Sir Donyll O'Connor of Sligo, Knight—Pheolyme O'Hart of Ardtarmon otherwise called O'Hart, chief of his name—Owen O'Connor of the Grawndge, gen.—Edmond O'Dowey (O'Dowda) of Killglasse, otherwise called O'Dowey, chief of his name—Hubert Albanaghe of Rathly, gen.—Breen McSwyne of Ardneglasse, gen.—Davy Dowdy of Castle-Connor, gen.—Cormocke O'Harey, (O'Hara of Cowlany, otherwise called O'Harey buy, chief of his name—Ferrall O'Harry of Ballinefennock otherwise called O'Harry reoghe, chief of his name—Breene O'Harry of Tulwy, gen.—Owene O'Harey of Cowlany, gen.—Ferrdorraghe McDonoghe of Gowleae, otherwise called McDonoughe Tyrreryll, chief of his name—Mellaghlyne McDonoghe of Ballyndowne, gen.—Melaghlyne McDonogh of Cowlwony, gen.—Morryshe McDonoghe of Clonemahyne, gen.—Cene McHughe of Bryckleawe, gen.—John Croftone of Ballymote, gen.—George Goodman of Taghtample, gen.—Manus Reoghe of Rathmollyne, gen.—Manus McTeig bwy of Lysconnowe, gen.—Alexander McSwine of Loughtnevynaghe, gen.—Urryell Garry of Moye, otherwise called O'Garry, chief of his name—Rory O'Garry of Kearowercoghe, gen.—and Manus M. Byrne Reogh of Levally, gen.—of the other partie."

[20] Lisadill: The Gore-Booth mansion at Lisadill was, we were informed, built principally with the stones taken from the Ballinfull and Ardtarmon old castles.

[21] Dromahair: Standing at the ruins of O'Rourke's Castle at Drumahair, and looking towards the town of Sligo, Lough Gill, with its charmingly wooded islands, presents to the eye of the spectator that enchanting view which inspired the immortal Moore when, in his Song of O'Ruarc, Prince of Brefni, he well describes it as—

" The valley lay smiling before me."

[22] Faciunt: In its entirety the passage, which is taken from JUVENAL, runs thus: Stemmata quid faciunt, quid prodest, Pontice longo sanguine censeri.

Translated: Of what avail are pedigrees, or to derive one's blood from a long train of lofty ancestors?

[23] Estates: Of the nineteen forfeited townlands returned in the Civil Survey as having been in Captain Robert Parke's possession in 1641, there is no Culmore mentioned; but No. 6 of those townlands was named Shraghmore, or "the big strand," which is adjacent to the castle of mBotuin, or Newtown. Strange to say that, while in 1641 Captain Parke is in the Civil Survey described as of "Newtown," Donoch O'Hart held that castle against the Cromwellian forces until June, 1652.—See No. 120, next on this genealogy.

[24] Moteen: The name of the castle which Aodh Mór O'Hart in the beginning of the 17th century built on the shore of Lough Gill, near Dromahair, was called not "Moteen," which means "a little moat," but mBotuin, which, as the name implies, means "The Castle of the Prey of Cattle" (botuin or botain: Irish, "a prey of cattle"), and which has, as above mentioned, been corruptly anglicised "Newtown," although there has been in that locality no such place as Ballynew, which would be the Irish for "Newtown."

[25] Estates: In his description of Connaught. A.D. 1614, Sir Oliver St. John states that "The O'Dowds, the MacDonoghs, the O'Hares, and the O'Harts retained the residue of the county Sligo, besides that which O'Connor Sligo held." For further information in connection with the Harts and O'Harts of the county Sligo, see O Flaherty's "West Conuaught," by Hardiman; Prendergast's "Cromwellian Settlement;" and Archdeacon O'Rorke's "Ballysadare and Kilvarnet, county Sligo."

[26] Gruama: In the Betham Genealogical Collections, the epithet applied to this Donoch is incorrectly written granna. But the epithet which is properly applied to him in other State Records is gruama, which in his case is a very significant one; for he naturally became sullen in manner, when he found that his patrimonial estates were unjustly and hopelessly confiscated. Crushed by the Cromwellian Settlement in Ireland, this Donoch had not left him, of his own, whereon to lay his head.

[27] Newtown Castle: The following Extract is taken from p. 332, Part VI. of Gilbert's History of Affairs in Ireland, respecting Donoch O'Hart, of Newtown Castle, on the shore of Lough Gill:

DONOGH O'HART.

"Articles of Agreement made and concluded by and between Donogh O'Hart, of the one parte, and Major Robert Ormesby, on the other parte, in behalfe of Sir Charles Coote, Knight and Baronett, Lord President of Connaght, for and concerning the surrender of the Castle or Holt of Newtowne, in the barony of Drumaheare (and county of Leitrim), unto the said Lord President or whome hee shall apoynt for the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, June 3d., 1652:

1. "The said Donnogh O'Hart doth conclude and agree to deliver up the said Holt of Newtowne with all the armes, ammunicion and necessaries of warr not hereafter excepted, unto the said Lord President or whome hee shall apoynt, at or by twelve of the clocke to-morrow without prejudice or embezilment. In consideracion whereof the said Major Ormesby doth conclude and agree that the said Donnogh O'Hart and those souldiers in that Holt shall have quarters for their lives, and shall have liberty to march away with their bagg and baggage, without impeachment, except arms and ammunition."

2. "The said Donnogh O'Hart (if hee desire the same) shall have a protection graunted to him and his men, to live in the State's Quarters, with his and their families, as to other protected persons.

3. "That the said Donnogh O'Hart shall have the full benefitt of the little corne that hee and those souldiers in pay in the said Holt sowed themselves, without rent, or contribucion for this yeare, and a howse assured them to keep their corne in, safe from any under the Parliament's comand.

4. "The said Donuogh O'Hart (if hee submit to protection) shall haue for this yeare the grazeing of twenty cowes free from contribucion.

5. "The said Donnogh O'Hart is to haue the small boat and cotts which hee hath on Newtowne Lough without any impeachement. Lastly: the said Donnogh O'Hart is to haue six musquiteers and six pikes allowed him and his men out of their armes, which they are to deliver up, with his owne sword (in case hee submitt to protection), for his necessary defence against Tories, which hee is to give security shall not bee employed against the State."

It may be here mentioned that the "Tories" of that period, who were more lately known as Rapparees, were bands of men, who, headed by some of the dispossessed gentlemen, retired to the wilds and mountains, and incessantly attacked the Cromwellian planters. The Calvagh O'Hart, who, as one of those Tories, joined the celebrated Rapparee Redmond O'Hanlon, is believed to have been a son of the aforesaid Donoch Gruama O'Hart.

[28] Parke: The letters "C. S." prefixed to Captain Parke's name, in the Book of Survey and Distribution, indicate that the said entry was taken from the Civil Survey, or that the said Parke was a Cromwellian Soldier; but, in either case the entry is misleading, for the Cromwellian soldiers were not disbanded, at soonest, before September, 1653, and up to that time they certainly had received no grants of Land in Ireland. Among the names of those who (see the Paper in the Appendix of our Irish Landed Gentry, headed "Soldiers of the Commonwealth, in Ireland") claimed as Soldiers, or in right of Soldiers, who served in Ireland in the Commonwealth period, is that of Captain Parke, who is there entered as claiming "in right of pre-emption;" but it is not mentioned from whom he "purchased" the townlands above stated to have been in his possession in 1641. Before the Books of Distribution were compiled (in 1666), Captain Parke could have purchased from the Cromwellian soldiers the townlands respectively assigned to them; and thus Parke's name could, in the List of Claims above mentioned, appear as claiming "in right of pre-emption."

[29] Troopers: According to Wood-Martin, the following are among the names of the Cromwellian Troopers who were disbanded in the county Sligo: Allan, Armstrong, Barber, Barclay, Benson, Black, Brown, Carter, Charlton, Cole, Davis, Dennison, Duke, Fleming, Gilbert, Gilmore, Glass, Grey, Hall, Henry, Hughes, Hunter, Irwin, Johnston, Lang, Little, McKim, Macklin, Mcllroy, Morrison, Nichols, Noble, Parke, Porter, Reynolds, Rogers, Smith, Trimbel, Wallis, White, Williams, Wilson, Winne. It will be seen that some of these names are of Irish origin.

[30] Migrated: After the Cromwellian Confiscations in Ireland some of this family migrated to America; and (see No. 15 in Note "Independence," page 76) JOHN HART, one of their descendants, was one of the Signatories to the "Declaration of American Independence," on the 4th July, 1776.

[31] O'Hart: The following are living representatives of the "O'Hart" family in the county Cork, in 1887:

Harte, Mrs. Mary, Scott's-square Hotel, Queenstown.

Hart, William, Harbour-row, Queenstown.

Hart, Henry, Aghabullogue, Cork.

Harte, W., South Main-street, Bandon.

Harte, John, Strand-road, Clonakilty.

Harte, Cornelius, Ballynacole, Dungourney, Midleton.

O'Hart, Jermiah, Farranalough, Newceston, Enniskean.

O'Hart, Stephen, do., do.

O'Hart, James, Derrygarbh, Bandon.

O'Hart, Stephen, do., do.

Hart, James, Ballinvriskig, Riverstown.

Hart, Thomas, Transtown. do.

Hart, Patrick, Kilruane, Rosscarbery.

Harte, Henry, Mountrivers, Rylane, Cork.

Harte, Daniel, Ballinvriskig, White Church.

Harte, Patrick, do., do.

Hart, Hannah, 7 Coburg-street, Cork.

Hart, J. S., 73 George's-street, Cork.

Harte, John, 9 Buxton-hill, Cork.

Harte, Mrs., 14 Patrick-street, Cork.

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