More O’Mores

From geneology.com

There is a two volume set of books titled, History of the Queens County, written by V. Rev. John Canon O’Hanlon and Rev. Edward O’Leary, Volume one was published in 1907 and Volume two in 1914 in Dublin, Ireland by Sealy, Bryers & Walker.

Appendix I to Volume two was copied from Notes on the O’Mores as they were published in the Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society, Volume VI and were written by Lord Walter Fitzgerald.This appendix includes a listing of the Chiefs of Leix from 1016 to 1600 A.D., The Submission of Rory Caoch O’More in 1542, The O’Mores of Ballina, County Kildare and The Rock of Dunamase, as well as other articles on the O’Mores of Raheenda, Queens County, Ireland.

The listing of the Chiefs of Leix is: Note:mac = son of

Year:       Chief:
1016       Gahan O’More, (?) lord of Leix, slain.
1017       Cearnach O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1026       Aimergin mac Kenny mac Cearnach O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1041       Faelan mac Aimergin O’More, lord of Leix, blinded; died in 1069.
1042       Cucogry O’More, lord of Leix, living.
1063       Lisagh mac Faelan O’More, lord of Leix, slain
1069       Macraith O’More, (?) lord of Leix, slain.
1091       Kenny O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1097       Aimergin O’More, lord of Leix died.
1098       The son of Gahan O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1149       Lisagh mac Aimergin mac Faelan O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1153       Neill O’More, lord of Leix, blinded.
1158       Macraith O’More, lord of Leix, living.
1183       Cucogry mac Lisagh O’More, lord of Leix, living.
1196       Donnell O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
[It is a remarkable fact the “The Irish Annals” make no mention of an
O’More, Chief of his name, during the thirteenth century]

1319       Shane mac Donough O’More, (?) lord of Leix, slain.
1342       Lisagh O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1348       Connell O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1354       Rory mac Connell O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1368       Lisagh mac David O’More, (?) lord of Leix, died.
1370       Murtough O’More, (?) lord of Leix, slain.
1394       Donnell O’More, lord of Leix, living.
1398       Melaghlin O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1404       Gillpatrick O’More, lord of Leix, living.
1464       Kedagh O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1467       Donnell O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1477       The son of Owny O’More, (?) lord of Leix, slain.
1493       Connell mac David O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1493       Neill mac Donnell O’More inaugurated lord of Leix.
1502       Melaghlin mac Owny mac Gillpatrick O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1523       Kedagh mac Lisagh O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1537       Connell mac Melaghlin mac Owny O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1538       Peirce mac Melaghlin mac Owny O’More, lord of Leix, (?) died.
1542       Kedagh roe mac Connell mac Melaghlin O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1545       Rory coach mac Connel mac Melaghlin O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1548       Gillpatrick mac Connell mac Melaghlin O’More, lord of Leix, died.
1557       Connell og mac Connell mac Melaghlin O’More, lord of Leix, hanged.
1578       Rory og mac Rory coach mac Connell O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1584       (circa).James mac Kedagh O’More, alias Meaghe, lord of Leix, died.
1600       Owny mac Rory og mac Rory coach O’More, lord of Leix, slain.
1600       Owny mac Shane O’More, appointed lord of Leix.”

The submission of Rory Caoch O’More reads:

“Indenture, Dated 13th May, 34 Henry VIII.[“Carew Mauscripts,” 1515-74]

Rory O’More of Lex, brother as he asserts to Kedagh (Roo) O’More, lately deceased, now admitted to the Captainship of the same country by the consent and election of all the noblemen and inhabitants of the country, appeared before us the Deputy Council, and submitted himself to the King.He promises that: –
(1.) He will be faithful and liege subject; and he and the other gentlemen of his country will receive their lands from his Highness.(2.) He will reject the Roman Pontiff’s usurped primacy.(3.) He will deliver Kedagh mac Piers mac Melaghlin O’More as his hostage to the Deputy into the hands of Thomas Eustace, Viscount of Baltinglass, for the observance of his agreements and promises, and for the restitution of all damages done to the subjects of the King, during the time of Kedagh O’More’s government.(4.) He will have 72 kerne, horseboys being computed in that number, for the rule of the said country of Leix; and will maintain no other kerne there.(5.) He will rise up with the Lord Deputy in every great journey, called “Hostings.”For any sudden journey of two days and nights he will find 24 horsemen and all his aforesaid kerne; and in every great hosting 8 horsemen and 20 kerne.(6.) Donnamase with the demesne lands, Tymooge and othe lands of the late Earl of Kildare in Leix, shall be restored to the King.The demesnes of Donnamase shall be surveyed and their extent declared by indifferent men (as jurors on the Inquisition), and the lands and rents of the said Earl of Kildare by Thomas Wolf senior; and both those lands, and the possessions of (the Nunnery of) Grayne (Graney, Co. Kildare), of the Monasteries of Saint Mary of Dublin, of Connall (Co. Kildare), and of other religious Houses, with the lands of Kyllberry (Co. Kildare), are at the disposition of the tenants and farmers of the King.(7.) When the Lord Deputy requires any Scots (Galloglasses), to be imposed the Counties of Kildare, Kilkenny or Tipperary, the Leix shall support 60 Scots, and shall be exempt from all subsidies for that year.(8.) The King shall have 20 marks yearly as a subsidy.(9.) The Lord Deputy and Council shall have 100 Cows for his (Rory’s) nomination and admission to the Captaincy of the aforesaid Country.(10.) He shall have the goods of his brother Kedagh, by paying Kedagh’s debts, and the profit and produce of all his possessions, saving Kedagh’s wife’s portion, until he be recompensed for the debts which he sahall ratify the same; otherwise not.”

This was Rory Caoch O’More son of Connel O’More son of Melaghlin O’More.Doonamasse is the Castle Dunamase.

The Rock of Dunamase partially reads:

“Dunamase from prehistoric times was the stronghold and chief residence of the rulers of Leix.About the time of the Christian era there flourished in Ulster a leader of the Red BranchKnights, called Conall Cearnach.the Knights under him waged war against the men of Leinster to enforce the payment of the Burumean tribute.They defeated the Leinstermen at the battle of Ros-naRigh (Rosnaree), and settled Leix, which they divided into seven tribe lands.This Celtic heptarchy was subject to the jurisdiction of an arch-king, claiming descent from Canall Cearnach, and called the O’More, with his chief residence at Dunamase.”Dunamase changed hands several times and “In 1342 Lysaght O’more, of Dunamase was killed by his servant. . . . Two years after his death the O’mores were dipossessed of Dunamase by De Mortimer.”. . . The O’mores controlled it around 1538 and 1542 . . .“In 1642 the Confederate Catholics were in Possession of Dunamase; . . .”

The Genealogies contained in the Appendix are titled “The O’Mores of Ballina, County Kildare and The O’Mores of Cremorgan and Raheenduff, Queens County.Most references claim that Rory O’More (1641) was from Ballyna or Ballina, Kildare County.I have reproduced that genealogy as follows:

“The O’Mores of Ballina are descended from Callough, the youngest son of Rory caoch O’More, Chief of Leix, who was slain in 1545.

Callough O’more was granted Ballina in 1574.He died on the 27th March, 1618.By his wife Margaret daughter of Walter Scurlough, of Frayne, in the County Meath, he had two sons and two daughters, viz.:-

I.Col. Rory (oe Roger) O’More of Ballina, the famous Confederate leader of 1641.He died on the 16th February, 1655, leaving issue by his wife Jane, daughter of Sir Patrick Barnewall, Kt. of Turvey, two sons and four daughters, viz.:-

1. Col. Charles O’more, of Ballina killed at the Battle of Aughrim, Co. Galway, 12th July, 1691.He had no issue by his wife Margaret, daughter of Thomas FitzMaurice, 18th Lord Kerry and Lixnaw.He was succeeded at Ballina by his first cousin Anthony, son of his uncle, Col. Lewis O’More.

2. Connell O’more, died without issue, 20th November, 1653.

3. Anne, married Partrick Sarsfield, of Tullly, Co. Kildare, and was the mother of the famous Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucan.

4. Elenor, married first Brian O’Kelly, of Cadamstown, County Kildare; and secondly Donnell mac Murrough Kavanaugh.

5. Mary, married Col. Trilough mac Henry O’Neill.

6. Elizabeth, married Christopher Beeling, of Killashee, County Kildare.

II.Col. Lewis (or Lisagh) O’More, of whom presently.

I.Margaret, married Thomas Plunkett, of Clonbreny, Co. Meath.

II.A daughter who married a FitzGerald of Ballagh, Co. Westmeath.

Col. Lewis O’more, of the Confederate Catholic Army, second son of Callough O’More, married Mary, daughter of Philip mac Hugh O’Reilly, by whom he had a son:-

Anthony O’More, of Ballina, first cousin and heir to Col. Rory O’More.By his wife Anne, daughter of Alexander Hope, of Mullingar, he had two sons and two dauhgters, viz:-
A. Lewis O’More of Ballina, of whom presently.

B. Roger O’More, who died in 1747; he married Elinor, daughter of William Wright, and had issue

a. General Anthony O’More, of the Spanish Army.

b. Anne, married to Robert Daly, of Caulfield.

c. Mary, married Pacington Edgeworth, of Longwood.

C.. Mary, married Captain Conor O’Reilly.

D.. Catherine, the mother of General Manus O’Donnell, in the Austrian Service in 1772.

Lewis O’More, of Ballina, eldest son of Anthony O’More, died on the 13th February, 1737, aged 63.By his wife Alicia, daughter of Con O’Neill, he had issue, a son and a daughter, viz:-

1. James O’More, of Ballina, of whom presently.

James O’More, of Ballina, son and heir of Lewis O’More, died on the 19th November, 1779 aged 77.By his wife Mary, daughter of Ambrose O’Madden, of Derryhoran, county Galway, he had an only daughter:-

Letitia, of Ballina, who married Rochard O’Ferrall.Her death took place in 1778, and her husband’s in 1790.From this couple are descended the More-O’Ferralls, now in Balina, who thus claim a direct descent from the anciet Chiefs of Leix.”

Upon finding this genealogy I had hoped it would answer the question of James Moore’s parentage.James Moore, Governor of the Carolina’s is said to be descended from Rory O’More of 1641.This genealogy does not answer that question.It is not certain that all the children of Callough O’More are listed or only those of Ballina?This is however the most complete genealogy I have seen to date on his family.It does however establish the line of descent as Melaghlin O’More and then his son Connel O’More and then his son Rory caoch O’Moore and then his son Collaugh O’More and then his son Col. Rory O’More (1641).Melaghlin O’More died in year 1398.

From another work the line goes back to a Gaeithini Mordha “First King of Leix”.Actually First Chief would be more accurate.This chart goes from Gaeithini to his son Cenneth to his son Faolan to his son Amergin to his son Lioseach to his son Donall to his son Conor Cucoigcriche to his son Lioseach to his son Donall O’More to his son Daniel Oge O’More to his son Lioseach O’More, “Last King of Leix”.After Lioseach who’s son was Niall O’More and his son was Lioseach O’More and his son was Owney O’More 1400 A.D and then to his son Melaghiln O’More and then his son Connel O’More and then his son Rory caoch O’Moore and then his son Collaugh O’More and then his son Col. Rory O’More (1641).