The Conway Family

John Rooney

A Genealogical History of Irish Families

1895

Conway family crest

(Crest No. 195. Plate 10.)

THE Conway family is descended from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son Heremon. The founder of the family was Conla, son of Caolbhach, last King of Ulster of the race of Ir. The ancient name was Conway and means “A Bearer.” The possessions of the sept were located in the present Counties of Sligo and Longford.

General Conway, a distinguished man of this name, was born in Ireland in 1733. He entered the French army, where he attained the rank of colonel and the Order of Chevalier of St. Louis. He came to the United States at the outbreak of the Revolution, where he was made brigadier-general. He commanded his brigade with distinction at Brandywine and Germantown, and was soon after raised to the rank of major-general. His course in connection with the so-called Conway cabal, whose object was to substitute General Gates in the supreme command instead of Washington, rendered him unpopular, and he resigned and returned to France. In 1784 he was made marechal-de-camp and was appointed governor of all the French possessions in the East Indies. He was created a count shortly before the outbreak of the French Revolution.

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