EDMUND DONELAN OF CLOGHAN, ROSCOMMON

(In the Line of Sir James by Anne Barry)

 

This Edmund Donelan [of Cloghan, Co. Roscommon] was the son of Sir James Donnellan by his first wife Anne Barry. He died 6 March 1694, Will dated 22 Feb 1694. Edmund was High Sheriff of Roscommon in 1664-’65 and 1679-’80 and High Sheriff Galway in 1666. This bloodline of the family was obviously still Protestant and loyal to the Crown.

Edmund was married twice, 1st to Hannah, daughter of Sir William Gilbert of Kilminchy, Queens County who died in 1666. She was the widow of Charles Ormsby. By her, Edmund had issue James Donellan of Cloghan and Gilbert Donellan of Streamstown, Co. Westmeath.

Edmund’s 2nd wife was Anne, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Coffy of Lynally, Co. Westmeath & Widow of James Reynolds of Loughscur, Co. Leitrim. By Anne, they had issue William Donellan, born 1675; Nehemiah Donellan, born 1677; and daughters Bridget, who married John Staunton; Susanna, unmarried, Will probated 6 November 1744; Jane, who married John Ussher; Anne, who married Percy Smyth; and Elizabeth, who married 1st the Rev. John Pomeroy, and 2nd. The Rev. Robert Carleton.

 

The following entry for Edmund Donelan, Esq. was found at the web address cited:

 

http://members.aol.com/manus/court3.htm

 

Lord Lieutenant General and eneral Governour of Ireland Essex.

 

Whereas information hath been given that many persons of the Popish Religion inhabiting within this Kingdom, have great froze of Arms now in their possession, and that of late they have generally taken the liberty to ride Armed byond what hath been formerly been accustomed by them, We for the better Ordering and Governing of His Majesties affairs here, and the preservation of the publique peace and security of His Majesties Subjects; have thought be hereby in His Majesties Name, and in pursuance of His Majesties Orders to declare publish and command, that no person or persons of popish Religion in the Kingdom, do hereafter presume to Ride with, carry, buy, use or keep in His or their House or Houses or elsewhere, any Muskets, Caliberts, Pistrol, or other Guns whatsoever, without License from Us the Lord lietenant or other Chief Governor or Governours of this Kingdom,

 

And we do hereby also straightly charge and require all persons of the Popish Religion in this Kingdom, who now have or at any time hereafter, shall happen to have any such Arms in their hands or possession, that within One Moneth after the date of this Proclamation, or within One Moneth after such Arms shall come to their hands, they shall upon pain of His Majesties High Displeasure, bring or cause to be brought all such Arms into one of His Majesties Stores of Ordnance and Munition in this Kingdom, or deliver the same to such persons in the several Counties of this Kingdom, as are by Us Authorized to receive the same. And for the better conveniency of such of His Majesties Subjects who are hereby required to bringin their said Arms, the several persons under-named, or any or either of them, are appointed by Us in the several Counties of this Kingdom, Respectively to receive such Arms as in pursuance of this Proclamation, shall be brought in or delivered up to them, who as well as the Clerks of His Majesties several Stores of Ordnance and Munition, are to give acknowledgements under their hands of their receipt of such Arms as shall be brought in to them, and also to mark the names of such persons upon the said Arms, and from time to time to give Us an exact account of what Arms they shall receive, and from what persons the same shall be sent or delivered to them, viz.

 

 

For the County and City of Dublin, Sir Thomas WORSOPP Knight and Richard FOSTER Esq;

For the County of Kildare, William HOY and Thomas CARR Esqs;

For the County of Meath, Stafford LIGHTBORN and Arthur MEREDITH Esqs.

For the County of Wicklow, William MATHEWS and Philip PAKENHAM Esqs.

For the County of Catherlough [Carlow], Henry SMITHWICK and Robert BROWN Esqs.

For the Kings County Sir George BLUNDELL Baronet, John WEAVER and Richard WARBURTON Esqs.

For the Queens County, Nathaniel MARKES and Benjamin BAKER Esqs.

For the County of Longford, Henry SANKEY and Nicholas DOWDALL Esqs.

For the County of Weastmeath, William MURRAY and James LEIGH Esqs.

For the County and City of Kilkenny, Joseph SUFFE and Bryan MANSER Esqs.

For the County of Lowth and City of Drogheda, Henry BELLINGHAM and Richard BALTON Esqs.

For the County of Clare, Giles VANDELURE, and Samuel BURTON Esqs.

For the County and City of Cork, Sir Richard KERLE, Redmond BARRY and Alexander PIGOT Esqs.

For the County and City of Waterford, Nicholas OSBORN and James MUTLOWE Esqs.

For the County of Kerry, John BLENNERHASSET Junior, Anthony RAYMOND and Frederick MULLINS Esqs.

For the County and City of Limerick, Sir George INGOLDESBY, Richard SOUTHWELL and Simon EATON Esqs.

For the County of Tipperary, Symon FYNCH and Peyton LEHUNT Esqs.

For the County of Gallway, Sir Oliver ST GEORGE and Sir Henry WADINGTON.

For the County of Mayo, Sir George BINGHAM and Sir Arthur GORE.

For the County of Sleigo, Robert MORGAN and Charles COLLIS Esqs.

For the County of Roscomon, James KING and Edmond DONELAN Esqs.

For the County of Leitrim, Sir William GORE and Henry CROFTON of Mohill Esqs.

For the Town and liberties of Gallway, Sir Francis GORE and James BULTEEL Esqs.

For the County of Down, Collonel Vere Essex CROMWELL, James LESLEY and William HILL Esqs.

For the County of Antrim and Town of Carrickferfugs, Francis STAFFORD, Arthur UPTON and William LESLEY Esqs.

For the County of Ardmagh, Major Sydney FOTHERBY, Arthur BROWNLOW and Thomas BALL Esqs.

For the County of Tyrone, the Lord Glenaully, Major Sidney FOTHERBY and Arthur NEWBURGH Esqs.

For the City and County of Londonderry, Collonel William CECILL, Dudley PHILIPS and Thomas DAWSON Esqs;

For the County of Donegall, Collonel William CECILL, William WARREN and William DUTTON Esqs;

For the County of Monaghan, William BARTON and Simon RICHARDSON Esqs.

For the County of Cavan, Sir Charles HAMILTON, Humphrey PERROT and Thomas GWILLIM Esqs.

For the County of Fermanagh, Sir Michael COLE and Cromwell WARD Esq;

 

And in case any persons who by this Proclamation are required to bring in and deliver up their said Arms, shall neglect or refust, to conform theselves and yield Obedience thereunto, We do hereby further declare, that We shall not only take a more strict and severe course for the seizing and securing their said Arms, but shall look upon all those so detaining the same, both and contemners of His Majesties authority and as persons designing the disturbance of the publique Peace of this Kingdom.

Given at His Majesties Castle of Dublin, the 8th day of November, 1673.

 

God save the King.

 

NOTES & SOURCES:

1.     Edmund Donnellan (1643-1694) - Will - February 22, 1693/94.

2.     Hannah Gilbert - Died October 10, 1666. Background - Widow of Charles Ormsby.

3.     Children of Edmund & Hannah:

James Donellan of Cloghan - married Hon. Anne Wentworth, 3rd daughter of Sir William Wentworth, Bart. Bet. 1707 - 1711, High Sheriff of Galway and then Roscommon. 1713, M. P. for Roscommon - unseated by petition. Will, June 29, 1738, Admon. Will. No recorded issue.

Gilbert Donellan of Streamstown - married Anne ?. Eight recorded children. See Gilbert of Streamstown biographical sketch.

4.     Children of Edmund & Anne Coffy:

William, born about 1675. Donnellan (Donellan), William, Pen. (Mr. Keogh), Mar 7,1691-92, aged 15 [ b. abt. 1676-77 ]; s. of Edmund, Generosous; b. Toboy, Co. Roscommon. Sch 1696. B. A. Vern 1696. M. A. Aest 1699. No recorded marriage or issue.

Nehemiah, born about 1677 in Toboy, Co. Roscommon. Donnellan (Donellan), Nehemiah, Pen. (Mr. Keogh), April 13, 1691-92, aged 15 [ b. abt 1676-77 ]; s. of Edmund, Generosous; b. Toboy, Co. Roscommon. B. A. Vern. 1696. Will - 1738. No recorded marriage or issue.

Bridget:

LDS Record: Bridget DONNELLAN (AFN: 18JM-77H) Sex:  F

Event(s): Birth: Abt 1669 Of, , Galway, Ireland      Father: Edward DONNELLAN

Marriage(s): Spouse: John STAUNTON (AFN: 18JM-6ZV)

Abt 1695 Of, , Galway, Ireland.

Susanna: Unmarried; Died 1744; Will - Susanna Donelan-Spinster of Dublin. Brother Nehemiah whose debts she wants to pay. Has a farm in Roscommon:-Lisnagabra. Her administrators: ?? Gunning and James Daly. Has nephew Nehemiah and nephew Staunton. 1744.

Jane:

Was born about 1681. She married James Ussher of Kilmeadon, Co. Waterford on July 05, 1701. LDS Record: Jane DONELLAN     Sex: F     Spouse:  James USSHER Marriage: Abt. 1700, Balli, They had issue 1. John Ussher, born about 1710; Arthur Ussher, Abt. 1715; and Beverley Ussher, Abt. 1725.

Anne:

MS 467 records her as married to Percy Smyth. No recorded data on issue.

Elizabeth:

Background: Harberton Papers - PRONI. Letters to Elizabeth Carleton (nee Donnellan) from her sons, Arthur (afterwards 1st Viscount Harberton) and John (afterwards General Pomeroy) are in PRONI. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE of NORTHERN IRELAND

The Harberton Papers (T/2954)

The Harberton papers comprise c.175 letters, 1675-1859 and papers of the Pomeroy family, Viscounts Harberton, but principally covering the period 1750-1832. In addition to the foregoing, the material includes: letters and papers of the Rev. Arthur Pomeroy of Deans Court, near Cork, Archdeacon and afterwards Dean of Cork, 1675-1708; letters and papers of Archdeacon John Pomeroy, son of Arthur Pomeroy, Dean of Cork, and of his wife Elizabeth, née Donellan, who remarried after his death Dean Robert Carleton, 1716-1732; letters to Mrs Elizabeth Carleton from her sons, Arthur (afterwards 1st Viscount Harberton) and John (afterwards General) Pomeroy, 1741-c.1744; letters to Arthur Pomeroy, afterwards 1st Viscount Harberton, 1747-1790; and letters to James Spencer of Rathangan, Co. Kildare, the Duke of Leinster's agent and the father-in-law of the Hon. and Rev. John Pomeroy, third son of the 1st Viscount Harberton, mainly from the 2nd Duke of Leinster about Co. Kildare estate and Grand Jury business, 1780-1785 and 1790-1798.

 

SUMMARY

It would appear from genealogical data uncovered to date that the only surviving male descendant of Sir James by Anne Barry is Gilbert Donnellan of Streamstown, Co. Westmeath. There is a suspicion, however, that not all is as it appears. Remember, this is the time of the Penal Laws in Ireland and Catholics were persecuted relentlessly. There are a number of Donnellan variants who are listed as either dying young or “having no issue” that may well be of Catholic persuasion and protected by the family. They certainly had enough lands to hide them in and “blood IS thicker than water”.

 

For more historical perspectives on this lineage, click on Donnellans in Tisrara, Roscommon.