The O'Carrolls are an ancient
family that can trace their roots in the early
history of Ireland. But in the 14th century, Teige
O'Carroll defeated the forces of King Richard II
which had invaded the Kingdom of Ely O'Carroll in
1395. The O'Carrolls had withstood the most
powerful of armies of the time and repelled them.
But by 1590 the O'Carrolls had lost most of their
power and by the Cromwellian confiscations, most
of their territory and so by 1690 the O'Carrolls
fought at the Battle of the Boyne in a desparate
bid to regain independence for Ireland.
This
site
includes information about the descendants of Col.Thomas
O'Carroll. He fought and died at the Battle of the Boyne
leaving two young sons. He was the brother of Charles
Carroll who emigrated to Maryland in 1688, the grandfather
of Charles Carroll of Carrollton who signed the American
Declaration of Independence. The orphaned boys were
removed from their hearth to families far away. One was to
become a farmer in Moira the other we know not where. This
boy prospered, married and had many children. By the end
of the eighteenth century some of his 10 grandchildren had
moved to Cork and in 1800 Edward, who had inherited the
homestead, sold up to a neighbour and emigrated to the USA
settling in East Liverpool, in what is now Ohio in 1801.
The family in Cork moved to England at the end of the
nineteenth century.
So,
if you would like to join me in following the family
fortunes that took family members to revolutionary France,
Brazil the emerging United States and the West Indies
please click on any of the headings to the left that takes
your fancy.
This is an
interesting site concerning the Irish chiefs which debunks
some modern attempts to claim chieftanship of so-called
"clans".Sean Murphy explains the Irish system of Septs
rather than clans and the Gaelic system of Tanistry. In
contrast to the English system of promogeniture, whereby
the eldest son succeeds, under the Irish Brehon Law system
the right to appoint a new Chief lay with the extended
kingroup or derbfine.
This is the "official" website of the
Clan Cian which includes Carrolls and O'Carrolls. You
can access a short clan history and articles about the
family. There is also the chance to buy clan
merchandize. Sean Murphy says of the claims made on this
site: O'Carroll maintains a website
at http://www.clancian-carroll.com/, which
presents his 'Clan' as a strange Irish-Scottish hybrid,
complete with its own tartan and participation in American
Highland gatherings.
This site provides extracts
fron Irish
Pedigrees; or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation by John
O'Hart
http://www.wordsvalley.org/node/33517
In
the Irish Brigade: A Tale of War in Flanders and Spain
By G.
A. Henty. This is a work of fiction concerning the
O'Carrolls.
King
James's Army List 1689 This is a web version of this
authoratative description of the members of King James's
army on the eve of the Battle of the Boyne. Written by
John d'Alton in 1855.
for overview of information on
this site.