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The lists which
follow were copied from the Prendergast MSS. Vol. iv at the Kings Inns Library,
Dublin, by B. G, More D’Ferrall in 1970, and are published by kind permission of
the Committee of that library. The originals are among the Carte MSS. Vol. 44
(1660-70) in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, where the Prendergast transcript was
made. Thus we here present a copy of a copy, but we are satisfied that it is
accurate, since Prendergast was a careful worker and we have taken great pains
to reproduce his copy faithfully.
The names that
occur in these lists are those of the heads of families who lost their lands
through the Cromwellian Settlement and were not, for the most part, compensated
with grants in Connacht or Clare, nor restored by the Court of Claims which
functioned in 1663. In a few cases, where two or three members of a family are
mentioned, one of them is described as ‘past’. This means that the individual
has passed the Court of Claims for restoration. A very small number of the
ex-landowners on these lists were eventually restored to some of their former
lands as nominees, and it fell to Ormonde, as Lord Lieutenant, to make the
recommendations, For this purpose he needed not only the names of the persons
concerned but some briefing also on their conduct during the period of the war
of 1641-52 in Ireland, and more especially the early part of it, which was now
referred to officially as ‘the late horrid Rebellion’. This briefing was done by
means of capital letters placed above or after names on the lists with a key at
the beginning explaining what they stood for.
The genealogical
importance of these lists is obvious. In a number of cases they provide the name
of the son and heir of the pre-Cromwellian head of the family where this would
otherwise be unknown. Of those who ‘lived inoffensively’ during the Rebellion we
are sometimes told, or can infer, the reason for it, e.g. aged and bedridden’, a
minor, or ‘constantly distracted’.
The inclusion of a
name on these lists suggests that the person was living in 1664, but is not
proof. Some of those named are known to have died previously, and some are
actually marked as killed in the King’s service.
Where a father and
son, or other members of the same family, are mentioned together, it may be
accepted that the earlier generation was head of the family during the Rebellion
and is now dead, while the younger generation is the present (1664) claimant.
It could be a
reasonable genealogical aim of many Irish people to trace their descent from an
individual on the lists. Once this has been achieved, it is generally possible
to go back several more generations with much less difficulty through
inquisitions, faints, etceera. Although virtually all of these persons were
Catholic, because it was the ‘Irish Papists’ that were dispossessed by Cromwell,
it should be remembered that many of their descendants conformed later,
especially during the 18th century, so that today they are genealogically
important not only to Catholics but to many Irish Protestants also.
The number of entries for each province is as follows:
Leinster 538
Munster 704
Ulster
20
Connaught
368
Ulster had already
been “planted” in the reign of James I, so that there were no longer many native
proprietors to be dispossessed. Connaught had been left to some extent as a
refuge for papist landowners under Cromwell’s “to Hell or Connaught” policy.
Hence the greatest number of confiscations was in the other two provinces.
The meaning of the
figures which appear on the right hand side opposite to each name is not
explained. They do not denote the extent or valuation either of lands previously
forfeited or of the estates to which a few of these individuals were eventually
restored. It is possible that they are acreages to which they were recommended
to be restored immediately. We include them in the expectation that their
purpose will eventually be known. And they do indicate the relative importance
of these former landowners among themselves.The original is almost unpunctuated;
stops have been introduced here occasionally for the sake of clarity.
EDITOR.
‘Qualifications of Lists furnished to Ormond whence to select
Nominees’
A. Those who
eminently suffered by the Nuncio & his party for their good affections to His
Majesty’s Service.
B. Those that by
their early repentance redeemed their former failings by submitting to the
cessation in 43 to the peace in 46 to the cessation with the Earle of Inshiqun &
uppon all other occasions manifested their good affections to his Majesty’s
service.
C. Those who
constantly upon all occasions opposed the Nuncio & his party, labored to induce
the people to return to their former obedience to his Majesties Government &
signally endeavored to assert the peace of (18)46.
D. Those that from
the beginning lived inoffensively.
E. Those named in
H.M. Declaration & Act of Settlement as specially meriting on suffering.
G. Those that
continued with H.M. abroad or served under his ensigns beyond the seas.
H. Those that
submitted & constantly adhered to the peace of 48. I Those who since the
cessation in 43 lived quietly & inoffensively at home.
K. Those that were
killed in H.M. Service.
L. Those that were
of known good affections to H.M.’s service & dyed before the cessation in 43.
Note: For
Leinster an extra category (F) is given, for ‘infants, idiots or Madd men’, but
apparently is never used.
THE IRISH GENEALOGIST; Volume 4; Number 4; November 1971
PROVINCE OF LEINSTER
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