16th Century Ireland and the Tudor Fiants
A study of the Tudor Fiants would help to establish the distribution of
persons with the Grannell surname and their locations in 16th and
early 17th century Ireland.
The period under examination is one that saw the collapse of Gaelic
culture in Ireland. The Tudor Fiants represent one of the first attempts by the
English Administration to document this cultural and political change.
At one level the Fiants are best understood as a virtual ‘Who’s, who’ of
16th century Ireland. Over, an estimated, 120,000 Irish names are
mentioned, together with thousands of place names. Entries in the Fiants are
usually mirrored in the Calendar of Patent Rolls for the same period. However,
lists of names are more extensive in the Fiants. For this reason, I choose to
use the Fiants, and extracted from them all the MacRannell and MacGrannell
entries.
Fiants were warrants directed to the Irish Chancery, for the issue of
letters patent under the Great Seal. The term is derived from the first word,
in the Latin phrase, ‘Fiant Litterae Patentes’, Let letters patent be made.
Letters patent cover a wide variety of matters, leases and grants of lands,
either from the crown itself or following upon a surrender by the original
proprietor, appointments to offices, church benefices, Irish Chieftaincies,
commissions (administrative and judicial) and pardons.
As the subject of this study is the Gaelic Lordship of Muinter Eolais
and the Mag Raghnaill clan the majority of the relevant faints are pardons of
one form or another. Most Fiants of pardons required those pardoned to appear
and give surety for good conduct at the next sessions in their native county
or before Provincial Courts.
The pardons can be used as a guide to mobility and migration.
Individuals can be traced as they moved between different townlands within the
joint-linage land-holding system, or as they moved between different areas.
Some of the names listed have double or treble patronymics giving up to
four generations of descent in the name. The great majority of the labouring
classes must have only occasionally figured. Pardons to Irish chiefs, included
local followers and outsiders who attached themselves, to the group are common.
The variety of English spellings should not come as a surprise.
Absolutely uniform spelling are a modern convention to most European languages
e.g. despite his great learning and literary accomplishments William
Shakespeare (1564-1616) spelled his name in a variety of ways. 83 variants of
his name have been attested in English source material.[1]
What follows is a list of
M’Rannell, M’Grannell, McGranill or any other variant of the spelling,
mentioned in the Fiants. The vast majority of the Fiants in general are from
the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The Fiants cover the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward
VI, Philip and Mary and Elizabeth I.
Not all of these Fiants are copied here in their entirety; some Fiants
contain hundreds of names. I have though recorded the names of all M‘Rannells
mentioned and any other persons I considered to be significant to this history.
Also, when mentioned in the Fiants I have recorded the relevant place names.
Names in brackets are my additions.
What these records
indicate is that MacGrannells were politically and militarily active up to and
after the Battle of Kinsale in 1601. Hostilities officially ceased in 1603.
This period was followed by various plantation schemes including the settlement
of Co. Leitrim and Co. Wexford.
In 1611, a scheme for the plantation of Co. Wexford was carried out by
British undertakers, ‘when the Kings title to the lands of the Kinselaghs and
O’Morrows was established’.
From other sources, a Grannel presence in Co. Wexford can be established
in the 16th century. This would lead me to believe that the family was already established in
the county prior to the plantation of James I.
By 1590 the English were actively routing the Irish clans. Ultimately
leading to the Flight of the Earls and the collapse of the Gealic order. This
was followed by the rebellion in 1641, which lead to the Cromwellian and later
Williamite Settlements. Changing forever the face of Gaelic Ireland.
In the main the Grannells were on the losing side in all these
conflicts. However the then Protestant, Reynolds of Lough Scur, remained
powerful and influential in Ireland and Co. Leitrim, and managed to retain
their inheritance.
This study of the Fiants covers the period 1540 –1603, when the
relations between the English crown and the Gaelic Lords broke down resulting
in a disastrous conflict. The crown spent £2,000,000 and thousands of lives
where lost. The outcome was to establish English sovereignty throughout
Ireland. The period culminated in a general insurrection in Ireland known to
British historians as Tyrone’s Rebellion and to their Irish counterparts as the
Nine Years War (1594-1603).
The listing of Grannells mentioned in the Tudor Fiants broadly covers
this period of Irish history. What follows I hope will help in explaining the
background to these Fiants and bring to life some of the events, places and persons mentioned.
I have also included some of the
other records were the surname is mentioned. These sources include, the various
Irish Annals, Calendar of Patent Rolls, Calendar of State Papers, Carew Mss.
etc
Comments in brackets are my own additions. The Fiant number, in
brackets, follows the year the patent was registered.
1541(187) - Pardon to Thady
M’Raynylde alias M’Raynylde, Chaplin, upon surrendering his bulls of
appointment to the bishopric of Kildare.
1541(276) - Pardon to Thady M’Raynylde, alias Reynolde
1531- Grant of English liberty to Charles Reynolds otherwise Magranyll,
bachelor of laws that he may be free of all Irish service, use and enjoy the
English laws, and aquire lands and possessions.[2]
1535 – M’Rannell, Archdeacon of Kells, in Kilkenny was deputed by Silken
Thomas, son of Garald Oge, Earl of Kildare and Lord Justice of Ireland, to seek
from Pope Urban VIII, and from Charles V, Emperor of Germany, aid in arms, men
and money for the expulsion of the English out of Ireland.[3]
1541 – Thady MacRannell of Leitrim was consecrated Bishop of Kildare, 15th
November.[4]
Between 1532 and 1534 it had become apparent that the Earl of Kildare
had lost control of the situation in Ireland. Kildare was summoned to London to
explain the disorder. In Feburary 1534 the Earl of Kildare left for England,
his son Thomas Lord Offaly, was appointed his deputy. Four months later and
Lord Offaly (Silken Thomas) was in open rebellion against the crown. His father
dies in the Tower of London on the 2nd September 1534 and in the
same month Silken Thomas besieges Dublin.
Substantial rumors were circulating in the summer of 1534 that the
imperial army of sent by Charles V at the instigation of the Earl of Desmond
would assist the Fitzgeralds in the opposition to the King. On June the 14th 1535 Silken
Thomas’s envoy arrives in Spain with an appeal to the emperor. But the dispatch
in 1834 of an ecclesiastical agent to the papacy to secure crusader rights for
the Irish movement against Henry VIII involved Silken Thomas in the
international papal plans against the king.
The revolt was a disaster and on Feb 3rd. 1837 Silken Thomas
and his 5 uncles were all executed at Tyburn, London.
Thomas MacGrannell, the first to change his name to Reynolds, was
married to ‘Amelia daughter of Sir Oliver Welshe of Moyvalley in the Co. of
Kildare, Knight, by his wife the Earl of Kildare’s daughter, by whome he had
issue’.[5]
1549(354) – Pardon to
Luke O’Tole, alias Feaghe O’Tole, of Castlekevin (Co. Wicklow),
Morgan O’Tole, of the same, gent.,
Felan M’Morgho moite, of Teskyn and,
Kerlous M’Ranyll, of Castlekevin, Kerns,
Dermot m’Cahir m’Emon moite, of the same, horseman,
Hugh m’Arte M’Donaghe, of Fercallen, kern,
Robert Roche, of Dengyn, (Phillipstown, Co. Offaly), yeoman,
David, son of Thomas Marra, of Sliewmarge (Queens Co.) and
Conner Moran, of the same, Chaplins,
John Fitz Roger, of Oremore, gent.,
Nicholas Fitz Roger, of the same, yeoman,
Philip Kynnelane of Culmolene, footman,
Especially for the slaying of Richard Rely by the said Robert 10 July iii.[6]
Henry VIII dies on the 28th January 1547 and is succeeded by
his son Edward VI. In the summer of the same year the O’Mores and the O’Connors
ravaged Kildare. The Elizabethan military commander Captain Edward Bellingham
was appointed Lord Deputy in1548. His general aggressiveness so outraged the
midland Irish that even a rival of Brian O’Conners, Lord of Offaly. Like his
brother Cahir and his traditional enemy, Gillapatrick O’More, Lord of Leix,
combined with him to stage an unsuccessful rebellion. After a devastating
campaign the Lord Deputy captured O’Conners fort at Daingean and reconstructed
it as an outlying garrison point for the Pale.
Bellingham’s appointment signified the determination of the crown to
speed up the process of confiscation by conquest. Bellingham was the first Lord
Deputy in over two hundred years to extend the Pale. The Lords-in-rebellion were
proclaimed traitors and their lands confiscated.
In 1556, instructions were given to the Lord Deputy for the plantation
of Leix and Offaly. Fresh outbursts of rebellion and resistance on the part of
the original occupiers of the land took place. The return of Brian O’Conner and
Gerald, Earl of Kildare on free pardon from Queen Mary added fuel to the
resistance. These were the initial stages in of what developed in the reigns of
Philip and Mary into the statutory establishment of King’s County and Queen’s
County, replacing the hitherto independent lordships of Offaly and Leix.
The plantation of Leix and Offaly remained for over forty years a
problem to the administration in Dublin and the English monarchy. Queen
Elizabeth instructed her deputy Henry Sidney to pacify the native inhabitants
of Leix and Offaly by a general pardon after one of their uprisings in 1565.
1555(89) - Grant of English Liberty to Gerald Reynald otherwise Magranill
Queen Mary was a Catholic as was as much a believer in coercion and
force as her brother Edward the Protestant. Mary died on the 17th
November 1558.
1563(574) - Pardon to Melaghlan M’Granell of Ophaly.
1581(3753) - Pardon to Robert Nugent of Carrick (Roscommon),
Donagh M’Granill of Carrick, Kern.
1582(3886) - Pardon to Walter Fitz Walter Nugent,
On Og M’Granill of Ballehoulmyll
1585(4785) - Pardon to
Rorie O’Moran of Drumkyren,
Teig M’Granill of Dromgyllie,
Hugh Oge M’Granell of Inshelube,
Teig M’Granill of Drumdaraghe,
Teig M’Granill of Gortnity,
Ferdorcha M’Granill of Loghakerge,
Rory M’Granill of Insemore,
Coner M’Granill of Carrig
1585(4766) - Pardon to Brain O’Rwirk, of Dromoher, Co, Leitrim,
Kalle M’Granill of Incemorren,
Ferdoraghe M’Granill of Baghnekargy,
Rowry M’Granill of Incemorren,
Melaughlen M’Granil of Dromhirn,
Morogh M’Granill of Garrynytarpen,
Hugh Oge M’Granill of Incelonby,
Knockhoure M’Granil,
Rorye M’Granill,
Donnoghe M’Granill of same,
One M’Granill of Loughscurry,
Tirlagh M’Granill of same,
Tirlagh Mirighe M’Granil of Loughnekenway,
Tirlagh M’Granide of Dromorade,
Gerald M’Granide of same,
Farrall M’Granill of Coulkalky,
Diermod M’Granill of Incerowskie,
Ie [ ] m’Ferdoroughe M’Granill Castleramy,
Melaghlin Mottery M’Granill of same,
Rosse M’Granill of Moyhill,
Cahill M’Granill of same.
1585(4793) - Pardon to Owen M’Innereny of Kiltacorke,
Eyere M,Granyll of Dolough, gent,
Tirlagh Mergagle M’Granell of Loughconvy,
Teige M’Granell of Edynemore,
Rory M’Granell of Dolough,
Geoffry M’Granell of Lessemockagan
1585(4794) - Pardon to Kaelle M’Dermott M’Grannell of Dromard,
Brian M’Grannell of Torneghmore,
Hugh M’Grannell of same,
Shane M’Grannell of Arde,
Moroughe M’Grannell of Drom Arde maglall,
Tirelaghe M’Grannell of same,
Ieere M’Grannell of Clonkaghyre,
Ferdorough M’Grannell,
Wm M’Grannell of same,
Ferrall M’Grannell M’Dermott of Dromarde,
Wm M’Grannell of Roske,
Donal M’Grannell of same.
1585(4797) - Pardon to Donagh O’Rowrke of Dromahier, Co. Letrym,
Donagh M’Cahill M’Grannell,
Howay M’Bryen boy M’Grannell,
Donell Roe M’Edm. M’Grannell, gent,
Gerot M’Guilleduff M’Grannell, of same,
Tirelough M’Edm. M’Grannell of Clonfyr, gent.
1585(4835) - Pardon to Robert Nugent of Gilleslan, Sheriff of
Roscommon,
Gerald M’Granill of Dromod,
Tirogh M’Granill,
Donill M’Granill,
Fercall og M’Granill,
Brian M’Cahill M’Granill,
Melaughlin M’Cahill M’Granill of same,
Teige Ballagh M’Granill of Laggan, kern.
1586(4800) - Pardon to Kedagh M’Edm. Boy M’Loughlin,
Brian M’Granill of Dromhirde,
Donagh M’Granill of Moyhell,
Cone M’Granill of Gortnelege,
Conner M’Granill of same,
Tirlagh M’Granill of Gorterna.
1586(4897) - Pardon to Eanes m’Alexander carragh M’Ranell
(Antrim)
1587(5138) - Pardon to Thomas Mostien of Ballehowgher Co.
Roscommon,
Melaghlen M’Granell of Lowged (Co. Leitrim),
Hubbert M’Granell of Lowged, gent
1590( ) - Pardon to,
Rory Oge M’Rannell of Kloegre,
Mollynary M’Ranell of same.
(Leitrim)
1590(5441) - Pardon to,
Tiragh M’Ranell of Dromarde,
Geraly and One M’Ranell of same,
Donald M’Ranell of Cloncatrie,
Melaghlin, Brian, Farrill and Thady M’Ranell of same,
Conner M’Ranell of Conclawe,
Owen and Melagh One M’Ranell of same,
Gillegrame and Byran M’Ranell of Correkeayne,
Wm. M’Ranell of Tomiske,
Mrlaghlin and Iree M’Ranell of Rine,
Dermond M’Ranell of Incerosk,
Melaghlin, Connor and Edm. M’Ranell of same,
Morraghe m’Phellame M’Ranell of Drombradda,
Cahill M’Ranell Iistedam,
Byran and James M’Ranell of same,
Gerald M’Ranell of Loghea,
Owen M’Ranell of same,
Byran M’Ranell of Ballegortologe,
(Co. Leitrim)
1590(5442) - Pardon to,
Cahill M’Ranell of Inchmory,
Edm. M’Ranell of same,
Ferdorogh and Conner M’Ranell of Carrig,
Teig M’Ranell of Dromdarragh,
Hugh Og M’Ranell of same,
Morogh M’Ranell of Clongowen,
Hubert M’Ranell of Dramdarragh,
Melaghlin M’Ranell of Mucklechan,
Teig M’Ranell of Goulenbun,
Wm. M’Ranell of same,
Irre M’Ranell of Taese,
Malaghan M’Ranell of Leatrym,
Edm. M’Ranell of Gorttawne,
Fargananym M’Ranell of Carrig,
Tirlough M’Ranell of Clonshe,
Mulrony M’Ranell of Barnagh,
Conner M’Ranell of same,
Gerald M’Ranell of Bonronan,
Cahill M’Ranell of Clondagagh,
Malaghlen M’Ranell of same,
Donagh M’Ranell of Stokerry,
Rory M’Ranell of Cornegraunge,
Morogh M’Ranell of same,
Katherine Ny Rannell of Stutery,
Pharral and James M’Ranell of Dogh carrick,
Owin M’Ranell of Carrick ne mahon,
John Boye M’Ranell of Dirinhooe,
Tirelogh M’Ranell of Tancorrick,
Edmund and Brian M’Ranell of Dirrintowne,
Cahill M’Ranell of Cornekerrogh,
Conn M’Ranell of Aghcromen,
Manus M’Ranell of Carricknelawen,
Conner M’Ranell of Aghclogher,
Manus M’Ranell of same,
Morrish M’Ranell of Dromhirne,
Cormack M’Ranell of Stuckery,
Irey M’Donell M’Ranell of Dologh,
Tirrelogh M’Ranell Loghconwaye,
Teig M’Ranell of Edenmore,
Rory and Owen M’Ranell of Dologh,
Owen M’Ranell of Loghcor,
Tirlagh M’Ranell of Clonly,
Owin M’Ranell of Cloone,
John M’Ranell of Annaghkyn,
Conner and Gormell M’Ranell of same,
Jeffry M’Ranell of Lismakagen,
Cormock M’Ranell of Loghcolldafeagh,
Edm. M’Ranell of same,
Farrill M’Ranell of same,
Edm. M’Ranell of Nathrum,
Dermond M’Ranell of Liskuleroan,
Cahill M’Ranell of Stukery,
Wm. and Gerrot M’Ranell of Clonshellagh,
Tirelagh M’Ranell Loughcoldefeagh,
Cahill M’Ranell of Clogher,
Phelam M’Ranell of Nathrum,
(Co. Leitrim)
1590(5456) - Pardon to,
Donal oge m’Donnell M’Ranell of Cartie (Cork),
Patr. Martell of Kinsall, Co. Cork.
1590(5497) - Pardon to,
Dermot M’Granye of Roskna,
Teig M’Grannell.
1592(5740) - Pardon to Tiernan O’Rwoirk of Dromaheir (Co.
Leitrim),
Cahill M’Diermod M’Granill of Rousky,
Brian and Shane M’Granill of Tonnaghmore,
Yre M’Granill of Gortellowre,
Donal oge M’Granill of Dromardie,
Tirlagh M’Granill of Gortenowre,
Ferooragh m’Phelim M’Granill of Gortnelowre,
Edm. M’Granill of Dromard,
Morogh M’Granill of Eskerigh,
1593(5823) - Pardon to Rorie M’Granell (Co. Monaghan?)
1597(6136) - Pardon to Margaret Toben, of Mothell, Co.
Waterford, widow,
Edm. M’Granill of Cowlfin, Kern.
1597(6190) - Pardon to Edm. M’Shane oge O’Byrne,
Donagh boye M’Ranell,
(no placenames mention in this Fiant, warrant was granted in Dublin, 14th
December 1597. Quite a few names in this list, mostly O’Byrne, O’Toole and MacShane,
men and women)
1600(6477) - Pardon to,
James M’Morris M’Ranell of Balle Iwor, (Cork?)
1601(6484) - Pardon to Richard Butler, Esq., son and heir of
Lord Mountgarrett,
Nicholas Kenny of Seskin, husb.,
Rob. Shortall Fitz Patrick,
Garrelt M’Grannell of same, horseboy,
Walter Furlong of Ballibergyn (Co. Wexford?),
James Hoare of Ballibergh (Co. Wexford?),
Thomas Walshe of Hoaretown (Kilkenny, or Horetown Co. Wexford
1601(6495)- Pardon to James Butler, esq., jun., brother of Lord
Baron of Cahir,
Connagher M’Granell
1601(6500) - Pardon to Rich. M’Edm. O’ Dempsie, gent,
Brian M’Granell, shot, in Kings county.
1601(6515) - Pardon to,
Donagh m’Deirmodie M’Ranell Mantagh,
Teige M’Ranell Mantagh,
Ellen Ny Ranell Marhelly,
Dermot M’Ranell M’Donell of Balincolla (Cork),
Morierlagh M’Ranell O’Donavan of Gortneskryne,
Donell M’Ranell O’Reigan,
Conogher M’Donell M’Ranell of Ballincolla,
Conagher M’Ranell of Drishan,
(lots of Ny’s in this Fiant)
1601(6521) - Pardon to Thomas Butler, Shanballeduffe, gent,
Conogher M’Granell of the Freehan (Co. Tipp.?)
1601(6533) - Pardon to,
Wm. and Charles M’Ranell of
Caslteton, Westmeath,
(quite a lot of O’Farralls in this Fiant)
1601(6540) - Pardon to,
Teig M’Donnell M’Ranell of Iniskine (Cork?)
1601(6550) - Pardon to Donagh Oge O’Bronie of Moidrome,
Westmeath, gent,
Mellaghlin M’Granell, yeoman, Abbeyskooter, Co. Longford
1601(6574) - Pardon to Edm. Malone of Killgaran, gent,
Kedagh m’Kahill M’Granill of Muinterolus, shot.
1601(6577) - Pardon to Phelim M’Feagh M’Hugh O’Birne of
Ballinecor, Co. Dublin, gent,
Farrell M’Ranell (Wexford or Wicklow?),
Fergenanim M’Vadocke of Balliver (Wex?),
Walter Furlong of same,
Moragh Reogh M’Vadocke of Coroe (Wicklow),
(Ballenacorrie or today Ballinacor is in Co. Wicklow. There are hundreds
of names in this Fiant, mostly O’Byrnes)
1602(6714) - Pardon to Owyn O’Hagane, chief of his name, gent,
Gorhy M’Ranell, submission made in Co. Tyrone
These Fiants can roughly be divided into two
separate sections, 1585-92 and 1597-1602.
What follows is not a detailed description of
each individual fiant but a brief history of the period in question.
1585-92
O’Rourke’s lordship of West Breifne had been
shired as county Leitrim by Perrot. In the 1580’s, O’Rourke enjoyed a
semi-independent position of a ill-defined nature. In June 1585, he surrendered
his lands whilst attending parliament in Dublin but no regrant of his lordship
was ever made. Later that year, Leitrim was included in the Composition Book of
Connaught. However it is clear that shire government was never effective in
Leitrim and that its composition rents were paid only intermittently. .
O’Rourke’s autonomy endured until the spring of 1590 when his lordship was invaded
and occupied.
In February 1591, O’Rourke arrived in Scotland,
ostensibly seeking the protection of James VI, but with the actual object of
recruiting mercenaries. A request from Queen Elizabeth secured Sir Brian’s
arrest and delivery into England. This was achieved in April 1591 and the
captive was brought to London where he was placed in the Tower.
In November 1591, O’Rourke was tried for treason
in Westminster Hall, on charges of denying the queen’s sovereignty, assisting
the survivors of the Spanish Armada and attacking his neighbours. After
refusing to stand trial. O’Rourke was convicted solely on the charges contained
in his indictment. He was hanged at Tyburn.[7]
Sir Brian had refused to make the customary
kneeling submission before the council. He said that he refused, as he had
always thought that a great distance separated the queen and her counselors
‘from God and the Saints, whose image alone’ he was accustomed to venerate.
A good number of MacGrannells are referred to in
this section of the fiants. The great majority of those mentioned were from Co.
Leitrim.
1597-1602
In this section the action moves from Connaught
to Leinster and Munster. Whereas the list of person in the previous section
generally referred to same location, those in this section are a mixed bunch.
What is particularly interesting is the
mentioning of the surnames of Furlong and M’Vadocke along with that of
MacGrannell.
The Anglo-Norman Furlongs settled in Co. Wexford
at the end of the 13th century and the name occurs as one of the
most numerous in the five baronies of that county in the ‘census’ of 1659. In
Griffiths Valuation, 1853, 523 households with the surname Furlong are
recorded. The total for the whole country was 638 households.
M’Vadocke, Waddock or Mac Mhadóc was a branch of
the MacMurroghs, whose was anciently known as MacVadogs country, in Co.
Wexford. Elizabethan Fiant 6517, is a pardon to ‘Donell Spaynagh alias
Kavanaghe’ and amongst others a whole bunch of Waddocks.
In 1603 a record was made of an agreement,
between ‘Sir Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy and Theobald MacMorishe MacVadicke of
Ballenecoill in the country of Kinsele, Co. Wexford.[8]
A 1596 description of the county of Wexford,
states that, ‘in the Duffry dwell Sir Henry Wallop of Iniscorth’ and ‘Piers
Butler, the Viscount Mountgarret.[9]
A letter to Lord Burgh from the Lord Deputy and
Council on the State of Ireland in 1597, reads as follows;
By the late cutting off of the ancient traitor
Feaghe McHughe, Leinster ‘will grow to better terms of settling and conformity’
but many of his followers remain, such as the O’Moores, who infest the Queen’s
county, and with some of the O’Conners, they also vex the King’s county. There
are also some of the Butlers (though James the chief man of action, be cut off)
and raging up and down the borders of
Kilkenny and Carlowe, having of their adherency some of the Connaughts; and
there are also sundry of the O’Tooles and O’Byrnes, and especially two sons of Feagh McHughe and Feaghe uncle,
being all traitors with Feaghe they hold the same course they did in his time,
though they make show, as we are advertised, that they will be glad to come in
to make their personal submissions and deliver pledges, further loyalties, a matter
which we leave to the consideration of the Lord Burghe, with the further advice
of the council. Sundry persons in this province do not openly declare
themselves, but are suspicious and doubtful. They should be assured by good
pledges or other security.[10]
In 1599, the following record was made;
Whereas the traitor
Donell Spaniolde being now in action of rebellion with 300 or 400 of his
followers in the county of Wexford and greatly annoying those parts, being (of
all the realm) first planted with English, and living in obedience to her
Majesty law,did of late offer to the Lord Lieutenant (Earl of Essex) to come in, and to have his cause there heard
touching the title of land, because the title he pretendeth concerneth some of
that band, the seneschal of Wexford and many others.[11]
I intend to further
analysis these Fiants in a future article, especially Fiants 6484 and 6577.
Conclusion
From this look at
the various Tudor Fiants we see that the MacGrannells can be found in the
following counties;
Leitrim, Longford,
Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford, Offaly, Laois, Roscommon, Antrim, Cork, Monaghan,
Kilkenny, Waterford, Tipperary, Meath,
Tyrone and Westmeath.
Although this at
first sight seems to be a wider distribution to that found in Griffiths
Valuation of Ireland in the nineteenth century. It must be remembered that that
majority of Grannells at that time were by then called Reynolds, particularly
in Co’s. Leitrim and Longford.
[1] O’Canann, Tomás G, Studia
Hibernica, No 27,1993, Aspets of an Early Irish Surname: Ua Canannáin, NLI Ir
8916205 s 7
[2] Henry VIII PR 22-23, membrane 1,
1531-1532, Oct 9 23°
[3] AFM
[4] AFM
[5] Linea Antiqua, Reynolds of Lough
Scur, 120
[6] Fiant, Edward VI, 354
[7] Morgan, Hiram, Tyrones Rebellion,
1993, p 70.
[8] FE, 1603, 6790
[9] Carew Mss, 1596, IV
[10] Carew Mss 1597 April – 268 – State
of Ireland, Leinster
[11] Carew Mss, 1599, Errors to be
reformed in the government of Ireland