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A database of information created by Colin O'Carroll of South Africa in September 1997.
In 1960 I was working in England and visited my Aunt Caroline in Bath, Somerset. She was 85 years old at the time and was very interested in our family. She had a book "Visitations of Ireland Vol. 2 1898" which she told me her father, and my grandfather, had researched and published. It was number 105 of only 250 copies that were printed privately by Frederick Arthur Crisp. I borrowed the book from Aunt Carry and copied the family tree from it. To make the family tree more complete and up to date I have added the names of family and descendants who were not included or born when the book was printed in 1898. I do not know what became of the book when Aunt Carry died in 1969. Enquiries made in 1997 as to the whereabouts of a copy of this book have drawn a blank as none of the relatives in England have a copy. I have not seen volume I and cannot therefore say what it contains.
In June 1996 Nan and I visited England and Ireland as part of an overseas holiday. We went to see John O'Carroll in Hove and he gave us a copy of Sotherby's advertisment for the sale of Emmel Castle that once belonged to the family. When we were in Ireland we went to see it.
We also went to see Brian O'Carroll in Redruth and he gave us copies of letters sent on 26 December 1882 and 16 May 1893 by Robt. W. Carroll of Cincinnati to J. H. Carroll of Cork. They refer to a number of relatives living in America. [Originals held by David O'Carroll, Leeds, UK]
These notes were made from the items mentioned, from books I was able to borrow from libraries in Johannesburg, or see in the Reference Libraries in Johannesburg and Durban. Some of the information was acquired from people I have spoken or written to. In particular David O'Carroll, in Leeds, who is my first cousin once removed and is very interested in family genealogy, sent copies of some of the old correspondence and very useful information on the family. Charles Carroll III, of Baltimore, kindly provided information on his family and copies of some pages from a book about Charles Carroll of Carrollton going back as far as the father of Charles Carroll (1660-1720).
This family generates a great deal of interest. It is far bigger than is at first expected. Some members rose to very prominent positions in the society they lived in and had considerable wealth. So far three main branches have emerged. From Thomas O'Carroll who was killed during the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 we can trace our descent. That is just over three hundred years. Edward Carroll who went to America in 1801 also descended from Thomas O'Carroll. The line from Charles b.1660 to Charles b.1991 is the longest. To establish the link between Charles b.1660 and Thomas b.(1650 would be something and to find connections between known family and other names which are recorded in these notes is another target. The Carrolls and O'Carrolls have spread from Ireland throughout the world like an octopus spreading its arms. As new information is received the pieces of the jigsaw fit together and the number of countries involved grows. This adds to the geographical interest. At present there are more than twelve countries mentioned in these notes and others are bound to emerge. In each case it is hoped that the link back to Ireland will be known and that a chain of O'Carrolls stretching across the world will be found.
Colin O'Carroll
September 1997
River Boyne-The Pale-Plantations-Drogheda-Battle of the Boyne-Population-St.Patrick
By the fourth century there were five leading Gaelic kingdoms in Ireland. They roughly correspond to the provinces of Ulster, Leinster, Munster, Connaught and the counties of Meath and Westmeath. Munster was the Eoganachta kingdom; Ulster the O'Niells; Leinster was ruled by the MacMurroghs; Connaught by the O'Connors; and Meath by the southern O'Niell family. There were about a hundred and fifty lesser kingdoms grouped in allegiance beneath them. From time to time the number of kingdoms changed with the fluctuating fortunes of the leading clans. In the ninth century two High Kingdoms dominated Ireland. In the north the O'Niells ruled from Tara, while in the south the Eoganachta ruled from Cashel. These two great Irish families struggled for the High Kingship of all Ireland. They fought each other in the battle of Ballaghmoon in 908 and the Eoganachta were defeated. Their priest-king Cormac was killed and the power of the Eoganacht never recovered. In 977 King Olaf of the Sandals defeated Domnall the O'Niell High King and extended the Viking kingdom of Dublin to the Shannon. By the end of the tenth century the Vikings in Ireland had accepted Christianity and Brian Boru had become the High King of Munster and the southern half of Ireland. Brian Boru, who is considered one of the greatest Irishmen who ever lived, regained Cashel, which once again became the seat of the kings of Munster. In 999 he completely defeated the Danes of Dublin and entered the city in triumph. In 1002 he was acknowledged the first absolute High King of all Ireland, finally ending the domination of the O'Niells. The Danes proved reluctant vassals and plotted a rebellion against Brian's rule. The two armies met in Dublin near Clontarf on Good Friday 23 April 1014. Eventually the Danes were driven back to the beach at Clontarf, where hundreds of them drowned, in an exceptionally high tide, before they could reach the safety of their ships.
The Boyne is a river in Ireland rising in the bog of Allen, near Carbury in County Kildare. It flows in a north-easterly direction past Trim, Navan and Slane to enter the Irish sea four miles below Drogheda. The river is seventy miles long and is known for its salmon fishing. It figures prominently in Irish history. The Bronze Age burial tumuli at Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth along the course of the river Boyne are of thehighest archaeological interest and importance. They predate the pyramids in Egypt. Slane is intimately associated with St. Patrick and with the introduction of Christianity to nearby Tara, the seat of the Irish kings.
[Encyclopaedia Britannica]
The word Pale has several different meanings one of which denotes a limit, boundary or restriction. It is a district within determined bounds, or subject to a particular jurisdiction. Beyond the Pale is an expression indicating something is barbaric, forbidden, improper, inadvisable, indecent, irregular, not done, out of line, unacceptable, unseemly, unspeakable, or unsuitable. In 1394 King Richard II of England went to Ireland and formally established the Pale to extend from Dundalk to the river Boyne and down the Barrow River to Waterford. This was the extent of English influence in Ireland at the time.
[The Oxford Guide to Family History - David Hey - 1993]
It was, ironically, the Catholic Queen Mary (1547-1558) who after a long border war to extend English law in Leix and Offaly adopted a policy of confiscation and plantation. These two areas were renamed King's and Queen's Counties and divided into a more fertile eastern area into which loyal families from the Pale and England were to be planted and a western area which was to be left to the Irish holding by common law or tenure. During the reign of James I (1603-1625) the principle attraction for the English emigrant was northern Ireland. The government actively encouraged settlement by providing land in those parts of west Ulster, which had been troublesome during the reign of Elizabeth. Earlier attempts to found plantations had failed, but this time the policy was successful.
[The Oxford Guide to Family History - David Hey - 1993] 15 September 1997
In 1607 the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell and nearly one hundred chiefs of the north left Ireland in what became known as the "Flight of the Earls". Although it cannot be proved, they were found guilty of treason. By legal process six counties were declared escheated and these lands divided between English who undertook to settle people on the land, servitors who were mainly Scots, and Irish who had to pay rents twice as large as the other undertakers. This was the swan song of the Gaelic tradition, as Ulster became the most British of all the provinces. In the years immediately following the plantation of Ulster, three other plantations, in North Wexford (1610-20), Longford and Ely O'Carroll (1615-20), Leitrim and the midland districts along the Shannon (1620), comprising nearly half a million acres of land, were taken in hand. Emmel Castle near Nenagh on the border of Tipperary County was confiscated by Cromwell but was returned to the O'Carroll family when the monarchy was restored in England. It is in the area previously known as Ely O'Carrroll. Emigration to Ireland was eventually on a larger scale than was sought by the original objectives. The counties of Antrim and Down, which lay outside the areas of the official scheme, each attracted more settlers than any of the other counties further west. Nor did the movement of Scottish and English families come to an end in 1641, when the Irish rebelled. The peak rates of immigration were probably not reached until the second half of the seventeenth century. By 1659 Scottish and English settlers accounted for 37 % of the 70800 householders in Ulster and half a century after the plantations were first established, the British and Irish were clearly segregated at township level. By 1665 Protestants owned just under four-fifths of the land but were only a third of the population and at the end of the first decade of the 18th century the total acreage for Irish Catholics was whittled down to 7% of the land total. The introduction of the English language and the Protestant religion, as well as new form of settlement and landholding, were important innovations of lasting consequence, but the cultural gap between the planter and the native Irish was not as great as is often supposed. The division deepened late.
[The Oxford Guide to Family History - David Hey - 1993 - p72-74]
A municipal borough and seaport on the southern border of County Louth, Ire., on the Boyne about 4 miles from its mouth in Drogheda Bay and 30 miles N by W from Dublin by road. Pop (1951) 16,779. Area 2.3 sq. miles Its earliest name was Inver-Colpa ("the port of Colpa"); Drogheda signifies "the bridge of the ford." Two towns grew up, one on either side of the river, which received separate incorporation in 1228 but were combined by charter in 1412. Drogheda was a stronghold of the Danes and later of the Anglo-Normans, and in 1157 a synod was convened there. In the reign of Edward III it was one of the four staple towns in Ireland with Dublin, Waterford and Kilkenny, and was granted the right of coining money. Several parliaments were held there including one in 1494 when Poyning's law was enacted. In the 1641 rebellion the town was besieged by Phelim O'Neill and was relieved, but in 1649 it fell to Oliver Cromwell and the inhabitants were massacred. After the battle of the Boyne in 1690 it surrendered without a struggle, though garrisoned by King James's army. It ceased to be a parliamentary borough in 1885 and a county of itself in 1898. The ancient fortifications of Drogheda have disappeared except for the gateway of St Lawrence, which remains almost perfect, and the ruins of the West or Butler gate. From the close of the 12th century to sometime after the Reformation the primates of Ireland lived in Drogheda. In the Dominican friary founded in 1224, of which the Magdalen tower remains, Richard II received the submission of the O'Neill, O'Donnell and other chieftains of Ulster and Leinster. Of the establishments of the Franciscans, Carmelites and Knights of St John nothing is left, but there are a tower and a pointed arch of the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary d'Urso founded in 1206. The bluecoat school was founded in 1727 but the present buildings date from 1870. At Mellifont, 6 miles W., are the ruins of a once famous Cistercian Abbey.
Industry includes linen and cotton mills, coachbuilding works, flour and sawmills, a brewery, one of the largest cement works in the British Isles and factories making vegetable oil products, clothing, boots, fertilizer and spark plugs. Drogheda is the headquarters of valuable Boyne salmon fishing. Agricultural produce and coal are traded by sea. [Encyclopaedia Britannica]
While on a bus tour to Newgrange in June 1996 the driver mentioned that during the siege of Droghede in 1649 one of the families involved were the O'Carrolls. The Irish were besieging the Royalists who occupied Drogheda.
The English Government made provision for an army for the invasion of Ireland and on March 30, 1649 Cromwell accepted the command of this army where the adventurers and the conquering army were to be paid in Irish land. On 15 August he landed at Dublin and on 3 September he appeared before Drogheda with 10.000 men. A week later he stormed the town and began a policy of indiscriminate massacre. He put to the sword the whole garrison and not a few civilians, including every priest on whom he could lay his hands, in all about 2800 persons. Ten counties were appropriated to soldiers and adventurers and later others were added. The chief effect of the Cromwellian plantation was to impose new English and puritan landlords on Ireland.
James II, a professed Catholic, succeeded Charles II as King of England in 1685. William, Prince of Orange and ruler of the Netherlands was a grandson of Charles I as well as James II's son-in-law. He was a Protestant and was invited by James' opponents to accept the British Crown. Civil war followed and after the Scots were defeated in June 1689 by William of Orange at the battle of Killiecrankie, Ireland remained James' only hope. James fled to France where Louis XIV agreed to help the deposed king who, in March 1689, landed at Kinsale where he was greeted as the lawful monarch. The English in Ireland were confronted by a revolt of three-fourths of the population, and by a more formidable presence of veteran regiments from France, as Louis XIV endeavoured to stir up a civil war in Ireland. He entertained hopes of a long drawn out struggle in Ireland which would occupy the attention and energies of William III while he attempted to make France all-powerful in Europe.
In June 1690, William III sailed from England to assume command of the army in Ireland. James II then fell back on Drogheda and assembled in the Oldbridge area south of the Boyne, 7000 French infantry, some regular Irish cavalry and untrained Irish infantry and dragoons - altogether about 21000 men. William followed closely on his heels and led the Dutch Blue Guards, two regiments of French Huguenots, some English, and contingents of Danish, Prussian, Finnish and Swiss mercenaries - altogether about 35000 men. On June 30, sixteen days after he landed, the two armies stood facing each other, three miles west of Drogheda, with only the River Boyne between them. The odds against James were very great but the advantage of position lay with him. To the experienced eye the determination of William to force a passage on the following morning seemed little short of folly. James could not make up his mind either to fight or retreat. Forced by William's impetuous attack to turn and defend himself, when he was actually on the point of retiring, he was unable to bring half his army into action before his adversary had crossed the Boyne at Rosnaree on the left and at Oldbridge towards the right. Taken by surprise, the Irish and their allies, especially the cavalry, fought with a determination that fully justified criticism of William's tactics. Fearing encirclement by William's cavalry James was among the earliest to quit the field and hastily fled to France where he died in 1701. The Irish army made good its retreat, through the pass of Duleek, and carried on the war for another year in Ireland until they capitulated on 13 October 1691.
In terms of the Treaty of Limerick seven thousand officers and men who would not take an oath of allegiance to England departed for France in what became known as the "Flight of the Wild Geese". By his victory William secured the fall of Drogheda and Dublin and the flight of James from Ireland. This victory is commemorated annually as Orange Day in Northern Ireland (12 July in the new calendar). Ironically the Battle of the Boyne fought on 1 July 1690, took place on Irish soil between William III King of England and James II King of Scotland. Dragoon A Dragoon was a kind of carbine so called from its `breathing fire' A mounted infantryman armed with a dragoon - now a name for certain regiments of cavalry
Francis Carroll was a Dragoon Commander at the Battle of the Boyne with the rank of Colonel. From the names of officers in Col. Francis' Regiment it is evident that the regiment was mainly recruited in King's Coumty, the original home of the O'Carrolls. After the Treaty of Limerick in 1691 he volunteered for service of France where he was a Colonel in the celebrated Irish Brigade. He was killed in the Battle of Marsaglia, in Italy, in 1693. James Carroll, was a Captain in Lord Dongan's Regiment of Dragoons.
Thomas Carroll was first Lieu. Col. under Col. Francis Carroll and was killed at the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690. Two of his sons were captured and transplanted to the north.
Terence Carroll was a Major in Col Francis' Regiment at the Battle of the Boyne. Undoubtedly other Carrolls and/or O'Carrolls were at the Battle of the Boyne and research may reveal who they were and what became of them. General & Field Officers in the army of King James Dragoons 6 Francis Carroll, Colonel Terence Carroll, 1st } Lt-Col. Fran. Boismoroll, 2nd } ----- Maj or [O'Hart Pedigrees - p509]
Population 1780 - 5 million 1821 - 6.8 million 1831 - 7.77 million 1842 - 8 million plus 1900 - half what it had been 50 years earlier.
[The Oxford Guide to Family History - David Hey - 1993 - p95]
1996 - 3.5 million in southern Ireland = about 3 million in Northern Ireland (mostly Protestants) Between 1841 and 1851 the population fell from 8,175,124 to 6,552,386 - over 20 percent. Total deaths from any cause were over 1.5 million. Every census from 1851 to 1961 showed a decline in Ireland's population as people left, married late or not at all. Famine Food shortages in 1817 and 1822 1845 affected the poor the most. Wheat, Barley and oats were produced but exported. "Bread is scarcely ever seen and an oven is unknown" wrote Charles Trevelyan, "There is scarcely a peasant woman in the west of Ireland whose culinary art exceeds the boiling of a potato." The potato dicease started in North America in 1844 and first appeared in Ireland in the autumn of 1845. In 1846 it appeared earlier and was of a much more sweeping and decisive kind. Between 1845 - 1849 people died of dicease and starvation. The official figure is 21770 but one million is a more realistic estimate. The worst years of the famine came after 1845
Not until January 1847 did the British Government realise that something had to be done. By August that year 3 million people (nearly half the population of Ireland) were being fed by public money - often organised by the Quakers. Epidemics The Black Death, which visited Ireland in 1348 and 1349, had resulted in the deaths of approximately one-third of the population, forcing the Norman-Irish and Irish even closer in the face of a common calamity. Dysentery, a killer dicease, was reported in Dublin in November 1846 and scurvy was everywhere. Typhus and relapsing fever spread from western Ireland to the well-fed towns of the east. In December 1848, Cholera reached Ireland from Europe and was at its height in mid-1849.
Emigration 1846 - 106,000 1847 - 215,000 of whom 3/4 went to America 1851 - 250,000 (3/4 went to America) The Irish had emigrated to England, Scotland, and Wales in large numbers long before the famine years of the 1840s. The 1841 census returns for England and Wales numbered 289,404 Irish born residents in England and Wales. Ten years later the totals had soared to 519,959. The peak was reached in 1861 when 601,634 were recorded. An estimated one million emigrated to America between 1841 and 1851 and in 1996 45 million Americans were of Irish descent Between 1845 and 1855 nearly 2 million people emigrated to America and Australia and another 750,000 to Britain. By 1900 over 4 million Irishmen had crossed the Atlantic and as many lived outside Ireland as lived in it. In the century up to 1930 one in two people born in Ireland made their homes elsewhere. In the 1950s an average of 60,000 people left the country every year. Sinn Fein In 1899 Arthur Griffith founded a newspaper which advocated a doctrine later known as Sinn Fein (Ourselves Alone) and in 1905 the Sinn Fein movement was organised as a political organisation.
In 432 Patrick was sent as bishop to Ireland. Patrick was a Briton, son of a decurion under the Roman government, and probably a native of Gwent, Monmouthshire. He was carried off as a captive in the reign of Naill and became a slave in northeastern Ulster. After six years he escaped. His birth may be dated in 385, his capture in 401, his escape in 407. His mission to Ireland succeeded rapidly. In 438 he was favourably received at the court of the high king, Loiguire, son of Naill. In 439 three bishops were sent to his assistance, Secundinus, Auxilius and Iserninus. Patrick chose for his own see Armagh beside the ancient Ulster capital. In a story of St Patrick's reform of Irish law one might see an influence transformed by tradition into an event. A druid foretold to Loiguire: "He shall free slaves, he shall raise up men of lowly kin." In the written laws , two centuries later, a slave class no longer exists. St Patrick's epistle condemns the enslavement of Christians. The earlier racial distinction between conquerors and conquered, between Piet and Celt, survive only in antiquarian tradition, and all became known by the common name Goidal (Gaels) or Fir Erenn (Men of Ireland).
[Encyclopaedia Britannica]
This surname is an anglicised form of the Gaelic O'Cearbhaill meaning "son of the champion warrior." Before the Anglo-Norman invasion, there were six distinct septs of O'Carroll. The two most important of which were O'Carroll of the area named Ely O'Carroll - partly Tipperary and partly Offaly, and O'Carroll of Oriel (Monaghan and Louth). The other smaller clans found in Leitrim and Kerry disappeared as distinct groups, not as individuals, before the end of the thirteenth century. O'Carroll of Oriel lost his status of chief as a result of the Anglo-Norman invasion and cease to appear in the Annals after 1193 although a number still remain in the territory.
There was a distinct O'Carroll sept whose chief was lord of a territory extending from Kilkenny city northwards to the boundary of the present county of Leix The O'Carrolls of Ely derived their name O'Cearbhaill from Cearbhal, Lord of Ely. He was one of the leaders of the victorious army, which in 1014 decisively defeated the Vikings in battle at Clontarf, and thus descend from King Oilioll Olum. They retained their Gaelic way of life and distinct independence until the sixteenth century and its activities are frequently recorded in the Annals. Before the advent of the powerful Norman Butlers they possessed a very extensive territory in Co. Tipperary, but they were later restricted to the district around Birr, Co. Offaly.
In a list of most numerous surnames in Ireland, Carroll takes twenty-second place with a population of about 16000 at the time Irish Families was written by E. MacLysaght. The majority are found in four counties stretching from Cork to Kilkenny. Roughly at the time when Catholicism was not acceptable in England and Cromwell was on the rampage in Ireland the prefixes O and Mac were widely discarded, and the simple form Carroll used. In 1893, two to three hundred years later, Dr. Douglas Hyde, a scholar poet, founded the Gaelic League to promote Irish culture. The founding of the Gaelic League was probably the stimulus that resulted in John Thomas Carroll assuming the name O'Carroll in 1894. This was at a time when resumption of the use of prefixes was part of the Gaelic resurgence. MacCarroll, an entirely distinct surname, is also often shorn of its prefix Mac and may lead to confusion in the case of the name Carroll. However, undoubtedly, the majority of the people called Carroll are, in fact, O'Carrolls. [Irish Families - E. Mac Lysaght] Ny: This is another form of the Irish Ni, a contraction for "inghean" (Latin "nata"), a daughter, which in Irish was prefixed to the sirnames of the daughters in a family; as Mac or "O" was prefixed to the sirnames of the sons, or male descendants.
[O'Hart Pedigrees - p246]
Carroll àCeaRéIL Carroll is a very ancient name which translated from the Irish, cearbhaill, means slaughter or, preferably, warlike champion. Maolsuthain, a clerical member of the family, was Brian Boru's official confessor and accompanied him everywhere. Previously this family had been kings of Munster. They were with the High King, Brian Boru, at the victorious battle of Clontarf in 1014. Maonuigh, who was slain in 1022, was the first of the family to assume the surname Carroll.
At one time there were six Carroll septs. The O'Carrolls of Ely lorded over thousands of acres of rich land in counties Tipperary and Offaly. (About seventeen miles north of Cloughjordan in County Tipperary, the hill of Knockshigowna is named after the fairy queen, Una, who was the legendary guardian spirit of the O Carrolls). Equally, the O Carrolls of Oriel had their vast acres in counties Louth and Monaghan. These two prominent families, as well as the lesser ones, were scattered with the arrival of the Norman Butlers towards the end of the twelfth century. Excepting Ulster, the O Carrolls, who possibly number 16,000, are to be found today in all the provinces, and especially in Munster.
[Irish Family Histories - Ida Grehan - p24]
"O'CARROLL, CARROLL; O Caerbhaill, is the usual Irish form of this genuine ancient native Irish `O' surname. It means, `descendent of Caerbhall' (Charles). There are several distinct families so named, of which the following are the best known: (i) of Eile, who derive their name and descend from Cearbhall, Lord of Eile, who fought at Clontarf. The head of this family was originally Lord of all Eile, which comprised the baroncies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt, in the present Offaly, and Ikerrin and Eliogarty, in Co. Tipperary, until the Anglo- Norman invasion: (ii) of Oriel, who were chiefs of Oriel until about the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion, when they disappear from history; (iii)of Loch Lein (the district about Killarney) anciently chiefs of the Eoghanacht (the race of `Eoghan Mor', son of `Oillioll Olum', King of Munster in the 3rd century), until dispossed by the O'Donoghue's; (iv)of Ossary, who are descended from Caerbhaill, a celebrated chieftain of Ossary at the middle of the 9th century; (v) of Tara, a branch of the southern Ui Neill; (vi)of Calry, in Sligo and Leitrim. Mac Cearbhaill, the Irish form of the name in some parts of Ulster and some parts of West Mayo and West Galway, is also a genuine Irish personal name; derivation as above. They were a celebrated family of musicians in Ulster. In 1594, the Ballym'Carroll, parcel of lands of Gillekeaghe M'Carroll, and of Ballymack-Carroll, lapsed to the crown. There was also a family of the name in Leix."
[Printed on the back of a Bookmark, produced by Classic Designs Ltd - see Coat of Arms] -------------
Carroll: Originally O Cearbhaill meaning "war-like champion" from the 3rd century King of Munster, Oilioll Olum. Found in Tipperary and Offaly counties.
[On the Ancestor Trail - Travel Bugs guide on IRELAND] -------------
O'Carroll Gaelic: à Cearbhaill COMMON VARIATIONS: MacCarroll, Mac Carvill, Carroll There are two distinct Carroll surnames, O'Carroll and MacCarroll, which taken together number about 16,000 in Ireland today. The great majority of these are in fact O'Carrolls. Before the Anglo-Norman invasion there were six distinct septs of O'Carroll, but by far the most important were the O'Carrolls of Ely O'Carroll (Tipparary and Offaly) and those of Oriel (Monaghan and Louth). The O'Carrolls of Ely O'Carroll derive their name from Cearbhal, Lord of Ely, who was one of the leaders of the army, which defeated the Danes at Clontarf in 1014. Their ancestry can be traced back to the 3rd century King of Munster, Oilioll Olum. Today most of the O'Carrolls in Ireland are found in Cos. Kilkenny, Louth and Offaly. There were two distinct MacCarroll septs, one in south Leinster and one in Ulster although in Ulster the Irish Mac Cearbhaill is now anglicized to Mac Carvill. This Ulster sept was situated at Ballymaccarroll and was particularly noted for their musicians. -------------
O'CARROLL
- The Anglicised form of the name which in Gaelic is à Cearbhaill. "An Irish friend once told me how to pronounce it properly - something like ookaroo," wrote David O'Carroll from Leeds on 6 March 1997.
Ua Cearbhaill is an early Irish form of the name found in The Annals of the Four Masters. This suggests O'Carroll is a correct translation in the Anglicised form. It is also evident from names recorded in the Irish Brigade of the French Army that both Carroll and O'Carroll were used by the Irish.
O'CARROLL - Lord of Ely O'Carroll
It is stated that a barony was granted in 1552 to Teige O'Carroll, as Baron of Ely O'Carroll but the patent or the record of the patent is nowhere to be found. [Dormant & Extinct Peerage - Burke]
O'Carroll is shown in some maps indicating a strong presence of people with this name in Kilkenny, Louth, Offaly and Tipperary. [Index Names in Maps]
The average lifespan, based on 117 males is 54.91yrs. The average lifespan, based on 65 females is 53.92yrs. Those known to have lived to be over 90 years old were: Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832) - 95 years - see OCFT 7 - THE AMERICAN CONNECTION James Carroll of Lisnawilly House (1831-1924) - 93 years - see OCFT 4 - THE O"CARROLL FAMILY of Louth Ester Carroll ne‚ Gilmore (1806-1902) - 96 years - see OCFT 4 - THE O"CARROLL FAMILY of Co. Louth Caroline Hitchcock ne‚ Carroll / O'Carroll (1875-1969) - 93 years - see OCFT 5 - THE O'CARROLL FAMILY in England The youngest male to marry was William Carroll (1858-1937) - married at age 21 years 7 months and 6 days [see OCFT 3 - THE O'CARROLL FAMILY of Co.Cavan] The youngest female to marry was Catherine Mary Carroll ne‚ McGivney - If she died at 40 she married at 15 years old. [m. 25 June 1883 d. 9 May 1908 aged 40 - Irish family Records - Burke] [see THE O'CARROLL FAMILY of Co. Louth] The next youngest to marry was Helen Edith O'Carroll ne‚ Turrell - married at age 18 years 8 months and 30 days. [see OCFT-6 THE O'CARROLL FAMILY in South Africa]
INTERMARRIAGES
With large families and limited transport, prior to the 20th Century, it is not surprising that there were marriages within the family. Here are some examples: (1) Sarah Carroll, b.( 1720 (dau of Edward Carroll, b.1712) == Richard Bell, her 1st cousin. [see OCFT-3 - Ely O'Carroll] (2) Daniel Carroll b.1730 == Elizabeth Carroll b.(1731 - a 2nd cousin - their g-fathers were brothers. [see OCFT-7-America] (3) John Thomas Carroll, b.1817, married Anne, b.1818, dau of John Hatton (4) Joseph Hatton Carroll, b.1820, married Caroline, b.1825, dau of John Hatton These two brothers married sisters, who were also their cousins. First cousins if their parents Mary Hatton and John Hatton were brother and sister. (5) Theodore Frederick Carroll, b.1850, married Laura b.1848, dau of Elizabeth Carroll. Their grandfathers were brothers, so they were 2nd cousins.
Birr Castle-Buolebrack Castle-Emmel Castle-Kinnity Castle-Leap Castle
It has been claimed that there were 25 castles guarding the O'Carroll land in Ely O'Carroll. The whereabouts of some of these castles has been established and it is hoped that the location on the others will be established soon.
Ely O'Carroll was an area of about 160 square miles, which had, for many centuries, been the preserve of the O'Carroll family. With the great bogs of centrel Ireland to the north, and the Slieve Bloom mountains to the southeast, it had considerable natural defences, and the O'Carroll had further strengthened it by a system of castles of which Birr was one. From this pocket principality they alternately made war and peace with the English crown, and conducted a vendetta with their neighbours, the Molloys from the bogs and the Ormonde Butlers from Tipperary. By the early 17th century the tribal system of Ely O'Carroll had disintegrated and the territory was in a state of chaos, with four different O'Carrolls disputing for the lordship. On the death of Sir Charles O'Carroll in 1619 the territory was declared (understandably, if on rather tenuous grounds) to have become crown property and a number of new English settlers were introduced, who it was hoped, might bring an element of stability into the disturbed area. In 1620, Laurence Parsons (who was joint Receiver-General of crown Lands with his brother) acquired 1000 acres of arable land and 227 of wood and bog in the territory of Ely O'Carroll. This acquisition centered on the town and castle of Birr.
[Extract from Country Life, Vol. CXXXVII No 3547 February 25, 1965]
Donough O'Carroll, of Buolebrack Castle, in Ely O'Carroll, is descent from John O'Carroll, chief of his name, who d_ (see Annals of the Four Masters, and Fun.) was transplanted by Cromwell (Connaught Certificate IV.60) and had a grant of the lands Bengh, in Co. Galway. [The Landed Gentry of Ireland - Burke]
In June 1996 we were given a copy of Sotherby's advertisment for the sale of Emmel Castle that once belonged to the family. Emmel Castle is near Nenagh on the border of Co. Tipperary and according to Sotherby's advertisment it was once one of 25 castles used by the O'Carroll clan to defend their lands. The castle keep was built c.1450 and the attached house was added in 1683 by "Long Anthony" O'Carroll who was nearly 7 feet tall. The castle stands on about 25 acres of good farm land in the centre of Ireland. From the battlements, 90 feet above ground, one can see the surrounding counties of Offaly, Limerick, Clare, and Galway. After being driven out by Cromwell's forces the castle was confiscated. It was returned to the family after the restoration of the monarchy in England. In the second half of the eighteenth century the O'Carroll's sold Emmel Castle to the Stoney family. [Sotherby's sale advertisment]
In 1641 O'Carroll's castle of Kinnity, in the barony of Ballybrit, King's County, was granted to Mr Winter, by whom it was held for Charles I. William Parsons, son of Lawrence, and nephew of Sir William, Lord Justice of Ireland, was constituted Governor of Ely O'Carroll, and Constable of Birr Castle, which he garrisoned with his followers. His father, Surveyor-General, obtained in 1620, from James I, a grant of the castle, fort, village and lands of Birr. This castle of Birr was besieged by the O'Carrolls in 1642; but Sir Charles Coote, father of the first Earl of Montrath, who came to its relief, obliged them to raise the siege. It was taken by General Preston in 1643, and held by him for the Confederate Catholics, until 1650, when it was taken for the Commonwealth, by Henry Ireton, Oliver Cromwell's son-in-law. [Pedigrees - John O'Hart] LEAP CASTLE There was continuous and savage slaughter among the O'Carrolls as they squabbled for power and territory. Leap Castle, near Coolderry in Offaly, was one of their principle fortresses. Kian O'Carroll, son of a Teigue, was killed when he laid siege to it while it was occupied by a rival branch of the family. Leap castle endured until the outbreak of the lamentable burnings of 1922. It remains a sinister ruin, abhorred by the locals, who say it's the most hideously haunted house in Ireland. [Irish Family Histories - Ida Grehan]
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Careful examination of the descriptions of Coats of Arms in this section will reveal some interesting differences. These differences may not always appear in drawings e.g. the Falcon and the Hawk are in heraldry indistinguishable and have a smooth head. They are represented as close unless otherwise blazoned. Differences which are material, such as red or yellow lions, the inclusion of a motif in the corner of the third quarter, the direction in which the sword points, or the motto, were used to distinguish one family from another.
(1) O'Carroll (Ely) Sable two lions rampant combatant or armed and A black shield with two gold lions standing langued gules supporting a sword point upwards as though in combat, claws and tongue red, proper pommel and hilt of the first supporting a sword pointing upwards in natural colour, pommel and hilt golden. This Coat of Arms, which has an empty scroll at the foot of the shield, with the name displayed beneath the scroll was seen in colour plate III in "Irish Families" by Edward MacLaysaght.
(2) The drawing of another Coat of Arms, Crest and Motto looks exactly like the one described in (1) above except that: - (a) The lions were drawn in an older style. (b) The crest is on a wreath of the colours. This is normal for all Coats of Arms.
(3) The name of the person entitled to this Coat of Arms is unknown. Arms - Argent, two lions rampant, combatant gules, Arms - A silver shield with two upright red lions supporting a sword, point downwards, facing each other as though in combat, with a sword, proper, pommel and hilt or. in natural colour with a gold pommel and hilt, pointing downwards between them. Crest - On the stump of a an oak tree sprouting, Crest - On the stump of a sprouting oak tree a rising a hawk rising all proper, belled or. hawk, all natural colour, with golden bells attached to its legs. Motto - In fide et in bello fortis. Motto - Strong in faith and in war.
Coote Alexander Carroll, Esq., of Ashford, co. Wicklow. Arms - Argent, two lions combatant gules, Arms - A silver shield with two red lions facing each supporting a sword erect in pale proper, other as though in combat, between them on a raised in dexter chief point, a cross flory sable. background a sword of natural colour pointing upwards, and with a black cross, with the limbs ending in fleur -de- lie, in the top left corner of the shield. Crest - On the stump of a tree, a falcon rising, Crest - On the stump of a tree, a rising falcon with bells belled proper, charged on the breast with attached to its legs, in natural colour and with a black a cross flory sable. cross ending in fleu-de lie on its breast. Motto - Flecti non frangi Motto - May be bent not broken. [THE GENERAL ARMORY by Burke - p172] This Coat of Arms includes a cross, which has a special significance as a religious emblem. Fairbairns Book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland - Vol 1 - P102, includes in the crest "sprouting, to the dexter" after tree.
Frederick John Chrysostom Joseph Locke O'Carroll Esq., Barrister-at-Law, J.P. Co. Dublin, of Athgoe Park, Hazlehatch, Co. Kildare. Arms - Quarterly, 1 and 4, argent, a sword erect in Arms - 1st quarter - on a silver shield a sword held pale proper, supported by two lions counter- upright, natural colouring, supported by two red lions rampant, gules. (for O'Carroll) standing on their hind-legs facing each other. 2. Per fesse azure and or, a pale counter 2nd quarter - six squares alternately blue and gold with charged, three falcons rising, two and one three rising falcons, two on the first and one on the of the second, each holding a fettelock in second row each holding a fetterlock - a padlock and the beak, sable. (for Locke) shackle - in its beak. 3. Chequy, or and azure, on a canton of the 3rd quarter - checkered in blue and gold with a gold second a saltire of the first. (for Warren) cross on a blue background in the top left corner. 4th quarter - The same as the 1st quarter. Crest - On a wreath of the colours, on the stump Crest - A naturally coloured falcon rising from the of an oak, a falcon rising all proper. stump of an oak tree that is resting on a wreath of the colours of the 1st quarter. Motto - In fide et in bello fortis. Motto - Strong in faith and in war.
(6) Kathleen Eily O'Carroll Arms - Quarterly 1 and 4: Arg., two lions rampant Arms - 1st quarter - On a silver shield two red lions (U.O.) combatant gu. supporting a sword erect ppr. in combatant stance support a upright sword naturally pomel and hilt or. (O'Carroll); coloured with gold pomel and hilt. 2: per fesse az., and or, a pale countercharged, 2nd Quarter - Six squares alternately blue and gold three falcons rising two and one of the second, with three rising falcons, two on the first and one on the each holding in the beak a fetterlock sa. second row each holding in the beak a fetterlock (Locke) (padlock and schakle). 3: chequy or and az. on a canton arg. a lion 3rd Quarter - checkered in blue and gold with a rampant rampant gu. (Warren). red lion in the top left corner on a silver background 4th Quarter - The same as the first. Crest - On a stump of an oak tree, sprouting, a falcon Crest - On the stump of a sprouting oak tree a naturally rising ppr. belled or. coloured falcon, with gold bells, is rising. Motto - In fide et in bello fortis. Motto - Strong in faith and in war. Residence - Ashurst, Kiltimon, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow. [The Landed Gentry of Ireland by Burke - p529]
The differences between the two Coats of Arms, which are significant, have been underlined in the plain language descriptions. Kathleen Eily O'Carroll, was the daughter of Frederick John Chrysostom Joseph Locke O'Carroll, named above.
NOTE: A daughter who inherits different Coats of Arms from her father and from her mother would use her father's arms in the 1st and 4th quarters and her mother's arms in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. A husband who did not inherit his own arms would use his wife's arms with her father's pronominal coat in the top left corner of the 3rd quarter. The falcons in the 2nd and 3rd quarters being the same as in the crest suggest that a mother and father were from the same family at one stage. These two descriptions suggest that an Irish person with a quartered Coat of Arms and a person with the Warren Coat of Arms married. The two Coats of Arms were then merged with the checkered 3rd quarter of the Coat of Arms for the Irish person being replaced with one containing the cross, or the lion to represent the Warren family. There is a French Coat of Arms for Warren which is identical to the Coat of Arms with a small lion in the third quarter. -
A description similar to items (5) and (6) above but with a cross of St. Andrew in place of the lion in the 3rd quarter is found in Fox-Davies' genealogy.
Some Coats of Arms exist with `Seatar Aboe' in a scroll above the crest. This Irish war cry is pronounced "shatar abu" meaning "Get out of the way" or "Make way"
(9) These are the arms of the son of Michael Carroll, merchant of Buenos Aires, b.1831; d.1895; m.1878, Alicia Emma, d. of John Galagher, surgeon R.N., of Lima, S. America: Edmond John Carroll, Lieut. (Ret.) R.G.A. b.1879; m.1905, Emily Lucy, d. of Edward H. Oyler, and had issue - Charles Edmond Carroll, b.1906, and Alice Frances Agatha. Res. 16 Campton Hill Gardens, Kensington. Clubs - Roehampton, Argentine Yacht. Arms - Azure, two lions rampant combatant or, Arms - On a blue shield below a silver band in the top chief argent two quatrefoils of the first. third, on which are two blue flowers, two gold lions stand facing each other as though in combat. Crest - On a wreath of the colours, a falcon close Crest - On a wreath of the colours, a falcon, in natural proper, belled or, standing upon the branch colour, with wings close to the body and gold bells of oak fructed, and holding in the beak an attached to its legs, stands on the branch of an oak acorn leaved and slipped proper. bearing fruit and holding in its beak an acorn with a stem and leaves attached, in natural colour. Motto - Fortis in fide. Motto - Strong in faith. [Armorial Familis A-H by Fox-Davies - p319]
(10) These are the arms of the sons of Rev. Frederick Carroll of Munduft, Ashrord, Co. Wicklow, and of Woodhouse, Halifax, Co. York. M.A. (Cantab.) b. 1827; d. 1899; m. 1851, Ellen Charlotte 4th d. of Henry Sankey, R.N., of Reston House, Kent and Green Park, Bath. Raymond John Hereward Wake Carroll b. 1867 and Alexander Ernest Carroll, Gentleman, b.1870, m. 1897, Margaret, third d. of Thomas Henderson; and had issue Beatrice Ellen Mary, res. 7 Appian Way, Leeson Park, Dublin. Arms - Per pale argent and gules, two lions Arms - On a shield of the colours divided vertically into combatant, countercharged, supporting a silver and red halves, two lions stand facing each other sword erect in pale proper. as though in combat, supporting a sword, in natural colour, pointing upwards between them. Crest - On a wreath of the colours, on the stump of a Crest - On a wreath of the colours, on the stump of a tree sprouting proper, a falcon rising per pale sprouting tree, in natural colour, a falcon rises up, argent and gules, belled and jessed or. divided vertically in silver and red halves with gold bells thronged to its legs. Motto - Flecti non frangi. Motto - May be bent not broken. [Armorial Families by Fox-Davies - p319] The motto is the same as for Coat of Arms No.4. The two people lived in the same county and may have been close relatives. Fairbairns Book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland - Vol 1- P102, includes in the cest "on the dexter side" after sprouting.
Grace Maureen Catherine Carroll Arms - Gu, two Lions combatant or, supporting a Arms - On a red shield two gold lions supporting an sword erect of the second upright gold sword. Crest - On the stump of a tree sprouting ppr a falcon Crest - On the stump of a sprouting tree a red falcon rising gu. rising. Motto - In fide et in bello forte Motto - Strong in faith and in war. Seats: Dundalk House, Dundalk, co. Louth Killineer House, Drogheda, co. Louth Moone Abbey, co. Kildare [Irish Family Records by Burke - p215] -------------
Each page of PLANCHES DE L'ARMORIAL GENERAL by Rietstap contains fifty-six small drawings of Coats of Arms. Each drawing is about one inch wide and one and a half inches high. The descriptions are in another book, which refers to the Institut Heraldique, Paris. Three of the Coats of Arms relate to the O'Carroll family. In the drawings Irl or New York appears below the name at the foot of the shield.
(12) O'CARILL - IRL O'CAROLL - IRELAND Blason: D'arg. … une ‚p‚e de gu., accost‚e de deux Arms: A silver shield with a sword supported by two lions du meme red lions confronting each other Crete: un tronc d'arbre, supp. un faucon ess., le tout Crest: On the trunk of a tree a falcon rising, all au nat. natural colour. Devise: In Fide et in Bello Fortes. Motto: Strong in faith and in war.
(13) O'CAROL - IRL O'CARROLL - IRELAND Blason: D'arg. … huit etoills rayonnantes degn., Arms: A silver shield with eight stars radiant composed 3, 3, et 2. un ‚cusson d'arg., ch. de trois 3, 3 and 2. The insignia silver charged in three pile de gu. wedge-shaped rows of red
(14) CARROLL de CARROLLTON - NEW YORK CARROLL of CARROLLTON - NEW YORK Blason: D'arg une ‚p‚e d'arg., garnie d'or, accost‚e Arms: On a silver shield, a silver sword, with de deux lions affr. de du. gold ornaments [supported by] two red lions confronting each other [rampant]
Joseph Robert Carroll, of Toledo, Ohio, U.S.America. Arms - Sable, bordure invected gules, two lions Arms - On a black shield, a red border, with small rampant combatant or, armed and langued convex lobes internally, two rampant gold lions, claws gules, supporting a sword, pointing and tongues red, supporting a sword, pointing upwards, upwards, proper, pommel and hilt or. natural colour, pommel and hilt golden. Crest - On the stump of an oak tree, sprouting, Crest - On a wreath of the colours, on the stump of a a falcon, wings displayed and inverted, sprouting oak tree, a falcon, with gold bells attached to all proper, belled or. |its legs, rising with wings spread and pointing down. Motto - In fide officioque fortis. Motto - Strong in faith and duty. An American of Irish descent Joseph Robert Carroll was granted a modern Irish Coat of Arms by the Chief Herald of Ireland.
Elizabeth Catherine Carroll-Irvin, second dau. and coh. of Rev. Theophilus de la Cour Carroll, late of Clareville Lodge, co. Mayo, by Catherine, younger dau. and coh. of Arthur Irvin of Willowbrook and Oakfield, co. Sligo; who assumed the name and arms of Irvin by Royal Licence, 31 May1892. Arms - On a lozenge, quarterly, 1 and 4, argent, a Arms - On a diamond, quartered, fesse gules, between three holly-leaves 1st and 4th quarters silver with the centre third proper (for Irvin) ; 2 and 3, argent, two red, with two holly leaves, in natural colour, in lions combatant gules, supporting a sword the top thord and one in the bottom third; proper, hilt and pommel or (for Carroll) 2nd and 3rd quarters silver with two red lions standing facing each other as though in combat, supporting a sword, in natural colour with a |gold hilt and pommel [Armorial Families A-H by Fox-Davies - p319] Normally unmarried daughters bear their paternal arms, including the quartering, and any mark of cadency the father may use. They bear the arms on lozenges (a diamond-shaped figure), without the use of crest or accessories.
A Plaque is produced by Irish Culture & Craftwork Ltd of the Coat of Arms with a black shield and two gold lions. The motto is shown as "In - Fide - et - in - Bello - Fortes". O'Carroll appears in a scroll above the crest. On the back are two labels. One shows their address as French Furze Grove, Kildare, Co. Kildare, Republic of Ireland, Telephone 045-21547. The other states "O'Carroll - O Cearbhaill. Several different septs were so called; those in Ely O'Carroll and Oriel are important; minor septs were in Kerry and Leitrim. Motto: Strong both in faith and war.
A Ceramic Disc, a Mug and a Key Ring, with only the shield on them in nearly the same style and colours as the plaque, are also sold in Ireland. The disc has O'Carroll in a scroll where the motto would normally be found, while the mug has O'Carroll and the key ring has Carroll below the shield without a scroll.
(19) A Bookmark with a Coat of Arms on it consisting of the black shield and two gold lions has O'Carroll in a scroll below the shield. It is produced by Classic Designs Ltd, and published by Unit 8, The Blarney, County Cork, Ireland. Printed on the back of it is: - "O'Carroll, Carroll; O Caerbhaill, is the usual Irish form of this genuine ancient native Irish `O' surname. It means, `descendent of Caerbhall' (Charles). There are several distinct families so named, of which the following are the best known: - (i) of Eile, who derive their name and descend from Cearbhall, lord of Eile, who fought at Clontarf. The head of this family was originally lord of all Eile, which comprised the baroncies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt, in the present Offaly, and Ikerrin and Eliogarty, in Co. Tipperary, until the Anglo- Norman invasion: (ii) of Oriel, who were chiefs of Oriel until about the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion, when they disappear from history; (iii) of Loch Lein (the district about Killarney) anciently chiefs of the Eoghanacht (the race of `Eoghan Mor', son of `Oillioll Olum', King of Munster in the 3rd century), until dispossessed by the O'Donoghue's; (iv) of Ossary, who are descended from Caerbhaill, a celebrated chieftain of Ossary at the middle of the 9th century; (v) of Tara, a branch of the southern Ui Neill; (vi) of Calry, in Sligo and Leitrim. Mac Cearbhaill, the Irish form of the name in some parts of Ulster and some parts of West Mayo and West Galway, is also a genuine Irish personal name; derivation as above. They were a celebrated family of musicians in Ulster. In 1594, the Ballym'Carroll, parcel of lands of Gillekeaghe M'Carroll, and of Ballymack-Carroll, lapsed to the crown. There was also a family of the name in Leix."
(20) About 1960, " The Star " newspaper in Johannesburg published a letter to the editor under a heading of "WOLFHOUNDS WERE MATCHED AGAINST LIONS IN ROME". The letter by Nord Modreeny was a reply to an earlier letter and included "The letters of ... on the tallest dog in the world are rather interesting, because, my crest on the helm of my armour, as shown on my coat of arms, is a Wolfhound and I am the only owner in the world of this battle crest, being a descendant of Ely O'Carroll, one of the 12 Kings of Ireland 700 B.C..." Arms: (drawing) Arms: A shield with the heads of three wolfhounds facing left, two in the first row and one in the second. Crest: (drawing) Crest: A wolfhound, standing proudly on the wreath of the colours above a helmet. Motto: Vincit qui patitur Motto: He conquers who possesses
INCOMPLETE
The descriptions of these Arms, Crests and Mottoes are not complete. Each item however differs in some aspect from the Coats of Arms shown above.
(21) Carrol, or Carroll. Arms - Ar. a cross crosslet sa. Arms - On a silver shield, a black cross with each | limb crossed. Crest - a bear's head sa. muzzled or, betw. two Crest - A black bear's head, with a gold muzzle, wings of the last. | between two golden wings. Motto - Not shown Motto - [THE GENERAL ARMORY by Burke - p172] Carrol, or Carroll, Eng., - a bear's head, sa., muzzled, or, between wings, of the last - This is an almost identical description of the crest and it indicates that the family was in England. [Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland by Fairbairn - Vol 1 - p98]
(22) Carroll Arms - Ermine a cross-crosslet - sable Arms - On a shield, having an ermine fur pattern of black spots on a white background, a black cross with each limb crossed. Crest - Not shown Crest - Motto - Not shown Motto - [A Treatise on Heraldry - British and Foreign by Woolword - p162]
(23) Henry Carroll of Ballynure, co. Wicklow Arms - Ar.two lions combatant gu. supporting a Arms - On a silver shield two combatant red lions sword of the first, hilted and pommelled or. support a silver sword with gold hilt and pommel. Crest - On the stump of an oak sprouting new Crest - On the stump of an oak tree sprouting new branches ppr. a hawk of the last, belled or. branches, naturally coloured, is a hawk in natural colour with gold bells. [attached to its legs] Motto - In fide et in bello forte. Motto - Strong in faith and in war. [THE GENERAL ARMORY by Burke - p172] Fairbairns Book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland - Vol 1 - P98 shows: Crest - On the stump of oak, sprouting, a hawk, ppr., belled, or. Motto - In fide et in bello fortes
(24) Sir James Carroll Arms - Sa. two lions ramp. combatant or, supporting Arms - On a black shield two rampant gold lions a sword ppr. pomell and hilt gold | in combatant stance, supporting a sword in natural colour with the pomell and hilt gold. Crest - Not shown. Crest - Motto - Not shown. Motto - Dublin. Fun.Ent. of Elizabeth Legge, d.17 Sept., 1613 wife of Sir James Carroll, Knt, Lord Mayor of Dublin. [THE GENERAL ARMORY by Burke - p172]
(25) Sir William O'Carroll Arms - Sa. two lions ramp. combatant or, armed Arms - On a black shield, two rampant gold lions and langued gu. supporting a sword, in combatant stance, with red claws and tongues, point upwards ppr. pommel and hilt gold supporting a sword , point upwards, in natural colour, with the pomell and hilt gold. Crest - Not shown. Crest - Motto - Not shown Motto - Lord of Ely, or the territory of Eile, extending over part of the King's co. and co. Tipperary; descended from EILE, seventh in descent from Cian, son of Oliol Ollum, King of Munster; Chief of his name, he was knighted at Limerick, 30 March, 1567, by Sir Henry Sydney, Lord Deputy of Ireland, His brother Teige O'Carroll, of Ely O'Carroll, Chief of his Sept, was styled by Sir Frances Ware, "Petty King of Ely" [THE GENERAL ARMORY by Burke - p745]
(26) Sir Moalroona O'Carroll Arms - Ar. two lions ramp. combatant gu. Arms - On a silver shield two rampant red lions in supporting a sword point upwards of the combatant pose supporting a red sword point upwards, last, pommel and hilt or. the pommel and hilt gold Crest - Not shown Crest - Motto - Not shown Motto - Lord of Ely O'Carroll; Chief of his name, he was knighted at Dublin by Sir George Cary, Lord Deputy, 25 July 1603. He was the son of Sir William O'Carroll ODHAR referred to in item 25. [THE GENERAL ARMORY - Burke - p745]
(27) O'Carroll of Carrollstown, Maryland, U.S. America Arms - Gu. two lions ramp. combatant ar. | Arms - On a black shield, two rampant silver lions supporting a sword point upwards ppr. in combatant pose, supporting a sword in natural colour, pommel and hilt or. point upwards, pomell and hilt gold. Crest - On the stump of an oak-tree sprouting, | Crest - On the stump of a sprouting oak-tree, a hawk rising all ppr. belled or. a hawk, with gold bells attached to its legs, is rising, | all in natural colour. Motto - Not shown Motto - Descended from Charles O'Carroll, [b.1660] Attorney-General for Maryland, where he got a grant of 60,000 acres, the son of Roger and the grandson of Sir Maolroona O'Carroll, knighted 1 March 1608. [correct date 25 July 1603] Mary, dau. and heir of Charles Carroll, of Carrollstown [Carrollton], one of those who signed the Declaration of American Independence, m. Richard Caton, Esq., Maryland, and had three daus. co-heirs: I. Mary Anne, m. First, Robert Paterson, Esq., and, secondly, 1835, Richard, Marquess Wellesly; II. Elizabeth, m.1836, George William, Lord Stafford; III. Louisa, m., first, 1817, Sir Felton Hervey Bathurst, Bart.; and, secondly, Francis Godolphin, seventh Duke of Leeds. This coat was exemplified by Betham, Ulster, 12 July 1826, to Mary Anne, Marchioness Wellesley. [THE GENERAL ARMORY by Burke - p745] Note: The 12 July is Orange Day in Northern Ireland, when they celebrate the victory at the Battle of the Boyne Mary Anne (Carroll) Wellesley was born a Catholic. Her ancestors came from King's County in Ireland. She may have adopted the Anglican faith when she married.
(28) O'Carroll of Maryland, U.S.America, Arms - Gu. two lions ramp. combatant ar. Arms - On a black shield, two rampant silver lions supporting a sword point upwards ppr. in combatant pose, supporting a sword in natural colour, pommel and hilt or. point upwards, pomell and hilt gold. Crest - On the stump of an oak-tree sprouting, Crest - On the stump of a sprouting oak-tree, a hawk rising all ppr. belled or. a hawk, with gold bells attached to its legs, is rising, all in natural colour. Motto - Not shown Motto - A branch of O'Carroll, of Ely O'Carroll, descended from Roney O'Carroll and James O'Carroll, nephews of Sir Daniel O'Carroll, Knt., of St Jago, in Spain, who emigrated to St Kitts, West Indies, temp. Queen Anne. [THE GENERAL ARMORY by Burke - p745] The arms and the crest are the same as in the preceding item but they seem to belong to two different families.
(29) O'Carroll of Ardagh, co. Galway Arms - Gu. two lions ramp. combatant ar. Arms - On a black shield, two rampant silver lions supporting a sword point upwards ppr. in combatant pose, supporting a sword in natural colour, pommel and hilt or. point upwards, pomell and hilt gold. Crest - On the stump of an oak tree sprouting new Crest - On the stump of an oak tree, sprouting new branches a hawk rising all ppr. belled or. branches, a hawk, with gold bells attached to its legs, is rising, all in natural colour. Motto - In fide et in bello forte. Motto - Strong if faith and in war. Also of Dunmore, in same co., and Avondale, Blackrock, co. Dublin; Descended from Redmond or Remy O'Carroll, Esq., of Ardagh, d.1755, brother of Sir Daniel O'Carroll, Knt., of St Jago, in Spain, now represented by Rev. John James O'Carroll of the Oratory, Brompton, London - Reg. Ulster's Office. [THE GENERAL ARMORY by Burke - p745] The arms are the same as in the previous item. The description of the crest is a little different. There seem to be at least three families involved.
(30) Carrol, or Carroll, Iri., Arms - Not shown. Arms - Crest - a tent gu. Crest - a red tent. Motto - Not shown Motto - A tent with broad red and white stripes is pictured in Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland by Fairbairn - Vol 1 - p98. -------------
(31) Carrol, Knt; of London, Arms - Not shown Arms - Crest - on a mount vert, a stag lodged regardant Crest - On a green hillock, a silver stag, at rest with arg. attired or. the head turned so as to look backwards over the shoulder, with gold antlers Motto - Semper eadem. Motto - Always in the same way. [Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland by Fairbairn - Vol 1 - p102]
(32) O'Carrill, Iri., Arms - Not shown Arms - Crest - (between two sprigs,) a falcon, rising, Crest - A falcon in natural colour with gold bells belled, ppr. attached to its legs, rising (between two sprigs) Motto - Not shown Motto - [Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland by Fairbairn - Vol 1 - p358] ---o0o---
My first a vehicle to view My next my first does often do And those together form a name Are now alas ! unknown to fame But when of Contarf's unsanguined plain Fair Ireland's triumph o'er the Dane When mighty Brian's valour high Led forth the Chiefs to victory Then was my war cry heard afar Where blazed the fiercest of the war And greatly to my aid they say was due the triumph of that day
Answer, Car - roll
N B
In the list of Chiefs Commanding the 2nd Column of the Irish we find O'Carroll Prince of Orgiell in Ulster ( Unguire, Prince of Fermanagh the two most illustrious Irishmen that gained the field that day see Morre's Ireland 1936 Aug 14 This is a copy of a memo received from my father in November 1898. This Mary Carroll was my Father's mother. John Thomas Carroll (1852-1941) added the note. Mary (Hatton) Carroll (1786-1870) was his grandmother. In 1898 John Thomas Carroll, my grandfather, was living in London and his father Joseph Hattton Carroll (1820-1905) was in Cork.
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The Genealogy of the Carroll family as related by my father Edward Carroll Esq of New Lisbon in the winter of AD 1843. My Grand Father Edward Carroll was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Moira Country Antrim Ireland. It is a tradition that we were originally Roman Catholick, & that the name was O'Carroll; that 2 boys captured by William King of Orange's men at the Battle of the Boyne (12 July 1690) were placed with or under the guardianship of Protestants as the law then was & made to abjure their religion; & also that their father who was a cavalry officer in the army of King James I was killed in the battle. Grandfather married a Friend Sarah Bell, and the family were all ready in her faith. His residence was in the lower line of the ???? of Massa, some one and a half miles East of Moira on the Lisburn road. He was a farmer and linen-draper. Our grandfather had ten children. 1st Thomas who died aged about 21 years; he appeared in the ministry at the age of 18 years; a very devout man. 2nd John Carroll who married a lady called Sarah Corfield they lived in the city of Cork and had 3 children. Joshua & Thomas, both of whom were in the firm of "Joshua & Thomas Carroll" leading merchants in the city of Cork from about 1817 when they succeeded to their father's nusiness (timber trade). In 1831 when Joshua died, Thomas surviving but one short year. 3rd Edward Carroll my father who lived in the homestead where my grandfather had been born & died continued in the same occupation until he came to America in 1798[correct date 21 May 1801] He married Elizabeth Murray daughter of Joseph Murray. Marjory Hogg was her mother's name. I think her grandmother's name was Hunter; they were all Scotch. 4th William Carroll who married a Friend Ellen Marrow they had three daughters: Sarah, Elizabeth married a Mr Webb, lived at Cork; Silvia[?] married James Sloane settled in Nova Scotia, now a widower no children. 5th Isaac Carroll married a lady ? Fisher, a Friend. They also lived in Cork. Had 3 sons Edward, James & Joseph & I think 2 or 3 daughters. 6th Elizabeth Carroll married Jared [?] Davies a Friend. He owned a large farm & had an impressive linen factory. Their children were _ 7th Isabella Carroll married Robert Williams; lived adjoining my father's farm. He was not a Friend occupation farming & linen draper; no children. 8th Deborah Carroll married William English a malt dealer between Lisburn & Moira. [They had 4 children] 9th Sarah Carroll married Richard Bell a Friend. They lived at Trummery on the verge of Ballinderry meeting. 10th Nancy Carroll ------------- On 21 May 1801 we landed in Philadelphia - my father and 8 children. In the year 1803 my brother John Carroll went to New Orleans trading thence to New York 7 from there to (S. Carolina) whence he was sent as consul to Leghorn by the US government. His property being threatened with confiscation he joined Napoleon's army as commissary officer; was at the taking of Moscow; & after the defeat of Napoleon he went to Brazil. He died in 1836, no children. My mother had 10 children. 1. Joseph married Elizabeth Ellis; had 10 children 2. John, above mentioned 3. Sally married Ja Whinnery a wealthy farmer. 4. Edward married Rachel Hambleton of Baltimore a Friend; had 3 children. 5. Marjory married Wm Whinnery James' brother; several children. 6. Deborah married Randolph, a descendant of the Indian_ 7. Eliza died at her mother's home, East Liverpool, Ohio in 1837. 8. Thomas married Anne Williams a Friend. Their children are Foster, Robert, Will & Laura. 9. Isaac died at 2 years of age. 10 Anne married Abel Thomas. Grandfather - Edward Carroll died at our home East Liverpool, Ohio I think in February 1831 aged 81years.
The long letter from which I have made the above extract was lent me by Robert Wm Carroll of Cincinnati, Ohio, Barrister -at-law, son of Thomas eighth son of Edward in his letter to me of 17 May 1893. This family history of the Carroll pedigree is to me a most interesting record. It coincides with the account of Colonel O'Carroll's death at the battle of the Boyne in O'Harte's Irish Pedigrees: 2 vols 30/- published, Dublin 1890 or so. Joseph Hatton Carroll 9 July 1898
My dear Father I have yours of 17th & am much obliged for your having subscribed for me to theCork Archaeological Journal, but I had subscribed myself a fortnight ago. Will they return you your subscription? When I subscribed they sent me the Janury & Feby numbers, & I was surprised to get two more numbers a few days ago. I fancied there was some error in the first two, but your having subscribed for me explains it. Shall I return these duplicate copies to you? I did not get a "Cork Remembrancer, nor any Cork book amongst those of Uncle Jos's I don't remember having seen such a book. I think I would remember it if I had. Carroll pedigree Beyond what O'Hart gives & Jon told me I know nothing of our Ancestors. I never heard of the Haughtons of Baryford. Were they relatives of the Haughtons of Cork? I don't know that the Watsons are connected with us except through Mrs Watson (Lily Lawe) Regarding our Arms, Crest & Motto I have tried to ascertain which is right & have come to the conclusion that if we are descended as OHart mentions in his latest edition our Arms are as he states "Arg. two lions ramp comb gules &c" The crest & motto I believe to be as on the Serviette rings I sent you at Christmas but though Keatinge in his history gives the Hawk or Falcon, as rising, and other books do likewise, I found two or more cases where it only said "A hawk" without saying whether rising or close. Fairbairon (Standard Book of Crests) gives several Carroll & O'Carroll crests & though he in all cases where there is a Hawk as crest, mentions it as rising, his engraving of the O'Carroll Crest has the wings open & the Carroll the wings closed, which latter is wrong if the description is "rising" Your Book Plate gave the colour of the Shield, "Sable.2 lions or" I have only found two instances of these tinctures. Sir William O'Carroll (known as William Obay O'Carroll) Chief of Faly from 1558 to 1581, who bore these tinctures and also Elizabeth Legge who died 17 Sep 1613, wife of Sir James Carroll Knt, Lord Mayor of Dublin. If we are descended from Sir Wm. O'Carroll the "Sable & or" would be right. Can you give me any information on this. Is Mr Tyrrell connected with the Carrolls? I shall be glad of any information. I always thought Col Thomas Carroll was killed at the Boyne. Shall look up this. If I could get a situation for Whitehead son I would do so, but I don't know anyone who wants a clark & the number of applications is great. With love to you all Ever your affect.son John OHart is the best book I know. Shall give L Ducrot any information, but have only what I now write. (added above My dear Father- at an angle) Uncle Jos was Joshua Carroll (1823-1885). It appears some of his books were sent shortly before this letter was written.
Extract from an account by Robt. W. Carroll to Jos. Hatton Carroll dated May 16th 1893
Dr John Carroll Whinnery, my first cousin, wrote me in 1879, of our grandparents, with whom he spent a good deal of time in his boyhood, as follows: They were both, in a sense, marked characters, Grandfather was of a sanguine temperament, very good natured and never tired of a joke; had a fine set of teeth, having only lost one at his death. He was well formed and had even features; and sat on the first facing seat in Quaker meeting. Grandmother sat at the head of the meeting and was very intelligent and was influential in the church and neighbourhood. She was of slender form, predominance of nervous temperament, with long features, but very good. My father, Thomas Carroll, was about 5 feet 11 inches tall, rather slender and a little stooped, but he was a strong vigorous man who understood great hardships. His face was on the Roman order, with prominent nose, dark grey eyes, and a grave expression. His hair was black, his complexion dark but clear, his hands shapely. He was very industrious, an insatiable reader; and was especially ambitious in his profession, keeping abreast of the times, but slow to accept new fangled notions. Whilst his face was grave in repose, it lightened up wonderfully in conversation, and his smile was very severe and attractive. He was very fond of a joke, and at times good manneredly sarcastic. His heart was hind and tender, whilst his hospitality was unbounded. I incline to think he pretty well continued the characteristics of both parents. Robt. W. Carroll. Lydia Ann Waggner, daughter of Bayless Randolph and Deborah Carroll and granddaughter of Edward and Elizabeth Carroll wrote in 1886 as follows: Aunt Sarah (Whinnery) was the only relative old enough to remember much about the family history at the time they left Ireland, except Uncles Edward and Joseph. Aunt Sarah was very reticent about the family history, confided to me as a secret the facts: that the Carroll family were O'Carrolls and had been Catholics; that Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a cousin of Grandfather's; that we were descended from a race of kings, and that the family used to have a coat of arms. She did not remember the motto or device on the armour and didn't seem to regard it as particularly creditable to the family.
She thought she was thoroughly democratic, yet she was the haughtiest woman I think I ever saw. I think she would have wilted Queen Victoria. She hadn't the faintest idea that any other family was equal to hers, and none of her children married to suit her. I have always heard grandfather spoken of as a very affable gentle and kind man, and grandmother as a woman possessing a little acid in her make up and a decided will of her own. She was quite wrapped up in her sons, with the unexpressed conviction that girls either did not amount to much or else were quite competent to take care of themselves. This talk of Aunt Sarah about the family should be considered in light of the facts, that she was a very strict Quaker and that protestants at that time, in her region, looked upon Catholics with feelings akin to horror. Her Quakerism would lead her to speak of coats of arms, with some hesitation, as mere vanities, and the fact that her not remote ancestors were catholic as something at least nor creditable. The circumstances surrounding the family absolutely forbid the idea that the "tradition" was not a tradition but a fabrication. The simplicity of their lives and the almost certainty that they had no historical knowledge of the O'Carrolls of Kings County, leads me to think that the tradition was genuine and ought to be relied on. The statement that grandfather was a cousin of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, corresponds exactly with the statement of Mrs Ellen Forsyth, daughter of Thos (John or Joshua?) Dobbin and Elizabeth Carroll (of whom you [J H Carroll] had some account from Mr Leonard Dobbin [of Dobbin, Ogilvie & Co, Hibernia Buildings, King Street, Cork - letter dated 1 June 1881]) and granddaughter of Clotworthy (or Clatworthy) Carroll. In my young days I knew Mrs Forsyth's Quaker mother the latter then nearly 90 years of age, and the mother talked incessantly about the Carrolls of Ireland, but I paid little attention. She was really a connecting link, but young fellows are apt to be bored with incidents about their ancestors, so I asked no questions, made no notes and remember but little. But some ten years ago I wrote to Mrs Forsyth, then at Chicago, when she was about 83 years of age. She said her father moved to this country when he was eleven years old, and that it was "understood" that my grandfather Edward Carroll was a cousin of Bishop Carroll of Baltimore. Bishop Carroll, afterwards Archbishop, was a first cousin of Charles Carroll, they being grandsons of the original Daniel Carroll, who came to Maryland. If there was a cousinship between Edward and Charles Carroll, it could not have been nearer than 2nd, but probably was 2nd or 3rd. Edward Carroll was ten years younger than Charles, and probably one remove further from the common ancestor. Robt. W. Carroll