Carlton family genealogy

GARBHAN, brother of Cormac, who is No. 91 on the "O'Flanagan" (of Tuatha Ratha) pedigree, was the ancestor of O'Cathalain; anglicised Cahalan, Carlton [1] Carleton, [2] and Charleton.

91. Garbhan: son of Tuathal Maolgarbh.

92. Aodh (or Hugh): his son.

93. Suibhneach: his son.

94. Maoldun: his son.

95. Fergus Caoch: his son.

96. Conall: his son.

97. Cathal: his son.

98. Connach: his son.

99. Rathamhuil: his son.

100. Dunach: his son.

101. Cathalan ("cathal:" Irish valour), meaning "little Charles:" his son; a quo O'Cathalain.[3]

102. Dundeadhach: his son.

103. Eighnechan: his son.

104. Mulanach:[4] his son.

105. Ciardach: his son.

106. Maolfabhal: his son.

107. Maolruanaidh: his son.

108. Uaillgarbh O'Cathalain: his son.

Notes

[1] Carlton: This name has been modernized Gartlan, which, in its turn has become Garland and Gartland.

[2] Carleton: Of this family was the late William Carleton, an author distinguished for his just delineation of the character of the Irish peasantry. He was born on Shrove Tuesday, 1798, at Prillisk, near Clogher, county Tyrone. He was the youngest of fourteen children. His father, who was a small farmer, was a man of considerable intelligence, endowed with a surprising memory; his mother used to sing the old Irish songs with wonderful sweetness and pathos. "From the one," writes Webb, "he gleaned his inexhaustible store of legendary lore; from the other, that sympathy and innerness, which have thrown a magic spell round the creations of his brilliant and fruitful fancy." Carleton attended a hedge school, travelled as "a poor scholar," and fed his literary taste by reading all the books he could lay hands on. He was destined for the Catholic priesthood; but was prevented from entering it by his father's death, and by some conscientious difficulties that led, we are told, to his joining the late Established Church. He gained some classical knowledge at the school of Dr. Keenan, a parish priest in the diocese of Down; and became tutor in a farmer's family in Louth. A perusal of Gil Blas roused within him a desire of seeing more of the world; and throwing up his situation, he found himself in Dublin with only a few pence in his pocket. Without any definite plan, he sought everywhere for employment, even that of a bird-stuffer, of whose art he was obliged to confess complete ignorance. Driven to extremities, he contemplated enlisting, and addressed a Latin letter to the Colonel of a Regiment, who dissuaded him from his intention, and gave him assistance. Chance threw him in the way of the Rev. Caesar Otway, who, recognizing his abilities, perusaded him to try authorship. He contributed a tale, "The Lough Derg Pilgrimage," to the Christian Examiner. This was favourably received; and soon by his writings and tutorship he attained a respectable position, and married. When about thirty years of age, Carleton published a collected edition of his Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, which was by far the most brilliant of his works. Next followed his first novel, Fardorougha the Miser. The facility with which he wrote was exemplified in 1845, when, on the death of Thomas Davis, who was to have supplied James Duffy with a number for his series of monthly publications, Carleton, on six days' notice, filled the gap with Paddy-Go-Easy. In the Black Prophet, which was a tale of the Famine, he has portrayed the Irish female character with matchless strength and pathos. He enjoyed a Civil List pension of £200, and latterly lived at Woodville, Sandford, near Dublin, where he died on the 30th January, 1869, aged 70 years. He was buried at Mount Jerome. In his delineations of Irish peasant life he stands perhaps unrivalled.

[3] O'Cathalain: See the "Callan" pedigree.

[4] Mulanach: The root of this name is the Irish mulan, "a little hill," "a heap;" and a quo O'Mulanaigh, anglicised Mullany.

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