INTRODUCTION
This narrative summarizes an ongoing effort to trace the history of the Naughton (originally Ua Neachtain or O'Neachtain) family line in Ireland: from its legendary origins in Normandy to its ancestral leadership position within Ulster Province and later within the Hy-Many (Ui-Maine) kingdom in Connaught Province, to its rule of the extensive plains of Maonmagh in County Galway until the Anglo-Norman conquest, to its forced movement to southern County Roscommon where it ruled the Faes or Fews (woodlands] between Ballinasloe and Athlone--historically known as "Naughton Country"--and to the later movement of Naughtons to other parts of Ireland and abroad. I hope you enjoy it. A special note of thanks goes to Michael Naughton of Aurora, Colorado, whose generous sharing of his own extensive research and collection of resource material on the Naughton line provided crucial information for this narrative. [NOTE: You will notice spelling variations as we quote various authors, not only of the surname Naughton--originally Ua Neachtain or O'Neachtain in Gaelic but also spelled Naghten, Naughtan, Naughten, Naughtin, Nocton, Nattan, McNaughton, Norton and other variations--but also of Hy-Many (spelled Ui-Maine, Hi-Maine, Hi-Many, etc.), Maonmagh (also spelled Maenmagh, Maonmaighe, Magh Maoin, Monivea, etc.) and other variations. I used what seemed to be the more commonly used spelling. Incidentally, Irish friends tell me that, contrary to the silent "gh" commonly heard in the United States, "Naughton" is pronounced with a guttural "g" or "c" in Ireland, similar to "Nacton." ] |
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The Arrival of the Laigin in Ireland
The Naughton family line in Ireland traces itself back some two thousand years to ancient settlers who arrived before the Gaels themselves, according to Thomas Cairney's Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland. Cairney tells us that the direct ancestors of the Naughtons belonged to the ancient Celtic Laigin or Dumnonii ethno-tribal group that moved from the western region of Normandy sometime during the first century B.C. as the Romans increased their pressure on Gaul. (Other sources claim that they may have crossed over as early as 300 B.C..) The Laigin settled first in southern Britain and then in Ireland, where they gave their name to the southeastern province of Leinster. Over time, the Laigin became overlords of the western province of Connaught (or Connacht), as well as of southeastern and central regions, later spreading to other parts.
Of the various family groupings of the Laigin, the ancestors of O'Neachtain were members of the royal elite, tracing descent from Cormac Ulfhada, High King of Ireland in the 3th Century--whose own line traces back through Heremon to Milesius, King of Spain--and Colla da Chrioch, grandson of Updar, King of Scotland. Colla da Chrioch (or Facrioch), meaning Colla of the Two Countries (Ireland and Scotland), was the first King of Ulster after its conquest in the 4th Century by him and his two brothers--known in Irish history as the Three Collas. He founded the Kingdom of Orghialla (or Oriel, Uriel), and his clan ruled over that kingdom--comprising the modern counties of Monaghan, Armagh, and part of Louth--down to the 12th Century. Many noble families of Ulster descended from this clan. For more on the Laigin and Three Collas, see Cairney's book online by CLICKING HERE.
Naughton Ancestors Move to Western Ireland
About 457 A.D., Colla de Chrioch's great-great-grandson and a direct ancestor of the Naughton line, Maine Mor (Maine the Great), decided to establish his own kingdom by seizing an extensive area in southwestern Connaught Province held by the pre-Celtic tribe of Firbolgs. Specifically, the region extended on the north to the River Shannon above Lough (Lake) Ree in County Roscommon, on the south into County Offaly, westward to Lough Graney in County Clare, back north to include all of eastern County Galway to the River Suck at Ballymoe and east across County Roscommon to the River Shannon. (Roughly represented on the map.)
The Irish historian John O'Dugan described the expanse of the kingdom in his "Topographical Poems":
"The great third of Connacht is that plain
Of Hi-Maine of great assemblies
Extending from the Shannon of fairy flood
To Cnoc Madha: it is no small kingdom."
The area and kingdom became known as Ui Maine or Hy-Many, meaning the land possessed by the descendants of Maine.
Maine Mor ruled his kingdom for some fifty years, and his eldest son, Bresal, ruled for another thirty years. Bresal's eldest son, Fiachra Finn, assumed the throne upon his father's death and ruled for 17 years. He was described in a 13th Century poem as "a tower in conflict and battle." Under normal conditions, his eldest son, Amlaibh--the direct ancestor of the O'Neachtains (Naughtons)--would have ascended to the throne of Hy-Many. But his father, Fiachra Finn, was murdered by Fiachra Finn's youngest brother, Maine Mall, and another brother, Conall, assumed the throne--and, over time, the ruling line within Hy-Many was established among the O'Kelly line of the family.
The O'Neachtain Territory of Maonmagh
Despite losing the kingship, the descendants of Amlaibh were recognized as the senior branch of Hy-Many, and they ruled extensive plains in southern Galway surrounding Loughrea, known as Maonmagh. That line was known as the Hy-Fiachrach Finn. According to a history of the O'Neachtain/O'Naghten family written in 1788 by Edmond O'Naghten, the ancestor of the original O'Neachtain built the town of Loughrea. As he described it, "they erected a noble palace and church, and fortified the place with several strong Castles and Walls, one of which Castles through which was one of the gates of the town and called Latimor Castle and Gate O'Naghten appropriated to his own use and defense, and had his Arms cut in stone over the gate, with an inscription of the time it was erected." The O'Neachtains reportedly also built Rae Roddy Castle, a stone fortress not far from Loughrea.
Because of their ranking status, John O'Donovan points out in his Tribes and Customs of the Hy-Many, the ancestors of the O'Neachtain were recognized as the hereditary door-keepers of the Kings of Connaught and as the chief commanders of the Cavalry of Hy-Many. O'Donovan also tells us that the High King of Ireland "gives a subsidy to the chiefs of Hy-Fiachrach Finn more than [or in preference to] the king of Hy-Many."
About 650 A.D., the Hi-Fiachrach Finn divided into two family groupings, later coming to be known as the O'Neachtains and the O'Mullallys, as surnames began to be used in the beginning of the 10th Century. O'Donovan makes it clear that the O'Mullallys were "next to O'Naghten in point of seniority of descent." Denis O'Mullally, in his History of the O'Mullally and Lally Clann, similarly recognizes the seniority of the O'Neachtains:
"...allow us to give honor where it is due...the O'Mullallys...are junior to the O'Neachtains but only to them alone in all Hi-Maine and all Connacht of those of Heremonian descent. All honor to the O'Neachtains."
John O'Dugan, the Irish historical poet of the 14th century, described the two families:
"The chiefs of Maonmagh the champions,
Whose estate is the fertile plain,
Two who defend that district
Are O'Naghten and O'Mulally;
Their warfare is heavy in battles;
The land is theirs as far as Ui Fiachra."
John O'Hart, in his Irish Pedigrees, lists descendants Fiachrach Finn (with some variations in spelling) as follows:
Connor Catha Brian O'Neachtain and the Battle of Clontarf
As commanders of the Cavalry of the Hy Maine, the O'Neachtains took part in the many battles against rivals for territory or control. The most important battle, by far, was the Battle of Clontarf, in which the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, fought rival Irish forces whose Viking allies sought to overthrow Boru and complete their conquest of Ireland. The Vikings gathered a sizable invasion force and set sail for Dublin.
Brian Boru, who gave his name to the O'Brien family, was famous in Irish history for becoming king of all Ireland--at least for a time--by defeating his main rival in the O'Neill clan who controlled northern Ireland and part of the south. An agreement between the two kings in 997 left Boru in charge of Connaught, southern Ireland and eastern Ireland, including Dublin. By 1011, after a series of battles, he was in effective control of all Ireland. But his opponents, joined by Viking forces, challenged Boru at Clontarf, on the coast just north of Dublin, on Good Friday, April 23, 1014.
Brian Boru gathered his own allied clans in Ireland, as well as friendly Viking settlers, to defend against the foreign force. Among those who responded were the Hy-Many forces gathered by the clan leader, O'Kelly. One of those who fought with Brian Boru's forces was Connor Catha Brian, the direct ancestor of the Naughton family.
The battle was fierce, with many killed on both sides. Among those dead were Brian Boru himself, the O'Kelly chieftain of Hy-Many and his son, and many others of Hy-Many. But Connor survived, and the forces of Brian Boru forced the Vikings to flee, ending forever their effort to conquer Ireland. Some historians claim that this particular battle prevented the Vikings from continuing their expansion across northern Europe and changed the course of European history.
Connor Catha Brian was famous both for having supported Brian Boru in the defense against the Vikings and for being the first to take on the family surname. He named his line after his own great-great-great-grandfather, 'Neachtain." From then on, the family line was known by the Galeic surname O'Neachtain, later modified to O'Naghten and Naughton.
The Meaning of "O'Neachtain"
We are told that the name "Neachtain" had several possible translations from ancient Gaelic: Edmond O'Naghten in writing his 1788 account of the family history, saw it as meaning "a brave or bold greatness of spirit." In his words:
John O'Hart, in Irish Pedigrees, gives a similar meaning: "a bold and daring spirit." However, Woulfe, in Irish Names and Surnames, translates it as meaning "bright," "pure," and that O'Neachtain meant "the descendant of the upright one"; and a third, given by John Rooney in A Genealogical History of Irish Families, claimed that it meant "neutral" or "fair"--"the descendant of the fair one."
After noting that Connor--Number 105 in descent in the Hy-Many pedigree--was the first
to assume the surname O'Neachtain, John O'Hart continued his listing of his descendants:
106. Amhailgadh (Awly), Connor's son The Anglo-Norman Invasion
It is not clear which of the O'Neachtains was ruling Maonmagh when the Anglo-Norman
invasion occurred in 1169. But it was a disastrous event that changed the course of Irish
history as well as that of the O'Neachtains. During the initial years of the Anglo-Norman
invasion, we are told that most local chieftains were able to retain their Galway properties,
since Connaught was not the initial area of focus of the Anglo-Normans. Also helping was
the fact that the Connaught chieftains recognized England's King Henry II under the 1175
Treaty of Windsor and agreed to pay tithes to him.
But King Henry had to reward English nobles who supported his invasion of Ireland, and
he did this by bestowing Irish baronies on them. This resulted in pushing many Irish
families off their traditional lands and forcing them into becoming tenants of English
gentry. Maonmagh was no exception.
We know that William de Burgh invaded Connaught, including Maonmagh, about 1200,
and that his son, Richard de Burgh, with English forces, passed through Maonmagh again
in 1235, committing "great plunder." The de Burgh (Burke) family came to be the leading
English conqueror and landowner of Connaught. Edmond O'Naghten tells us that
Loughrea, where the O'Neachtains lived, was assaulted by...
"Don Burgo...and though obstinately defended and with unparalleled bravery, yet the
garrison being reduced to the most miserable want of provisions was obliged to capitulate,
and...being obliged to give up everything they had in and about Loughrea to the Conqueror."
O'Naghten added that the O'Naghten Arms were "still remaining over Latimor gate until
within this last (17th) century." (See below for more on the O'Naghten Coat of Arms.)
Subsequently, Meyler Bermingham, son of the English Baron of Dudley, who had served as
third in command of the first expedition into Ireland led by Richard de Clare
"Strongbow," was rewarded by being made Lord Baron of Athenry, north of Loughrea
but which most likely included most if not all of Maonmagh. The Irish landowners were
simply dispossessed of their properties, but some were given the choice of remaining as
tenants of Lord Bermingham or leaving. We know, for example, that the O'Mullallys
moved to the area of Tuam and remained as tenants of Lord Bermingham at the Castle of
Tolendal. They stayed there until the late 1600s, when family members--also known by the
name Lally--moved to France and distinguished themselves in the French Army, ultimately
gaining the title of Count Lally de Tolendal.
The O'Neachtains chose to leave Maonmagh and seek another part of Hy-Many where they
could remain independent of the Anglo-Normans. They moved northeast to the region
between Ballinsaloe and Athlone, in County Roscommon--an extensive woodland that had
been traditionally under the control of Hy-Many.
The O'Neachtains in County Roscommon
The general corridor between
Ballinasloe and Athlone, between the
River Suck and the River Shannon, was
known as Na Feadha (woods) or the
Fews. The O'Neachtains became chief
of the Fews. Their land reportedly
centered on Moynure, Carrickynaghtan
and Creggane (Drum), near Athlone.
The O'Naughtons were not strangers to
that area. The Annals of the Kingdom of
Ireland (most commonly known as The
Annals of the Four Masters) tell of an
Uareirghe Ua Neachtain who was "one
of the noble sages" and "head of the
Culdees"--a religious order--at the
monastery of Clonmacnoise, which was
founded by St. Ciaran about 545 on the River Shannon south of Athlone. Clonmacnoise
thrived as a center of learning from the 7th to the 12th century, and many Irish kings were
buried there. That particular Ua Neachtain died in the year 1132. We also find references to
his grandson, Uaireirghe, son of Mulmora, who died on the 10th of March, 1200, as well as
to two William O'Nechtains in the Athlone area in 1237 and 1276. (To read The Annals of the Four Masters online, click Annals of The Four Masters)
"O'Neachtain, the most noble Chieftain from the line of the great Hugonius, the Monarch of all Ireland, built this temple and dedicated it to St. Mary in the year of Our Lord 550. He is
buried here under this temple and at last may his illustrious and most ancient family rest in
peace."
The photo to the right of Jim Naughton standing next to the inscription was taken by his wife, Kathy Naughton, on May 20, 2001, and is reproduced here with their permission.
John O'Donovan properly questions the correctness of the date 550, since "O'Neachtain"
was not used as a surname until the 10th Century--except for the original bearer of the name, "Neachtain,"
The land between Ballinasloe and
Athlone continues to be described as
"historic Naughton country." Local
maps still show Carrickynaghtan (shown
on map, just northeast of the
enlarged name) southwest of Athlone. A
history of the area tells us that the
O'Neachtain family lived in Lisdillure (to the right on the map),
near Drum, and that Carrickynaghton
was where the chieftain of the Naughton
Clan was installed. Irish Brehon Law
required that the clan's leader be elected
by the clan, rather than receive the title
automatically from his father. The
O'Neachtain clan chief was apparently
elected and installed at
Carrickynaghtan. A special platform
called a "Coronation Stone" was normally used in installing the chieftain. In fact,
"Carrickynaghtan"--originally "Carraig Ui Neachtain"-- means "the Naughton Rock or Stone." According to one history, the new chieftain would stand or place his foot on the ceremonial stone upon being elected to rule the clan. The local historian writes that it is not known what happened to the ceremonial stone of Carrickynaghtan.
Juan Tomás O'Naghten, who wrote an account of the O'Naghten line in the 1980s,
confirms that the chief of the O'Neachtains/O'Naghtens originally lived in the townland of
"Lissadulure" (Lisdillure--meaning "the Fort of the Foliage". Lisdillure continues to carry
that name.) Some also lived in Moynure. The head of the family later moved to the nearby
townland of Cluain Railzeac, or Clanrullagh (meaning "the meadow of the oaks").
One of the few remnants from that early time is St.
Brigid's Holy Well in Drum, beautifully restored by
the Drum Heritage Group in the early 1990s and
depicted on the left from a photograph in the Drum
Heritage Group's pamphlet. According to the 15th
Century Book of Lecan, St. Brigid (450-525) had the
children of Hy-Many brought to her various holy wells for baptism. This particular well was also
famous for many cures.
During the following centuries, the various O'Naghtens and their clan most likely
continued in their status as chief commanders of the Cavalry of Hy-Many and participated
in the many wars and battles that were fought by the King of Connacht and Hy-Many
against Anglo-Normans and rival Irish clans. A sense of the violent times can be seen in the
following listing of just some of the battles mentioned in various annals and histories of the
area, including The Annals of the Four Masters, John Hartman's History of Galway and
Dennis Patrick O'Mullally's History of O'Mullally and Lally Clann:
--In 1316, the King of Connacht (Felim O'Conor) and leaders of Hy-Many and others in the
region sought to drive the Normans under de Burgh and de Bermingham from Connacht
but were defeated, with O'Conor and Hy-Many chief Tiege O'Kelly and others slain in the
battle of Athenry. It was at this time that the King of England made de Bermingham
Baron of Athenry.
--Probably in the 1330s, the Chief of southern Hy-Many (Eoghan O'Madden--a family
related to the O'Kellys) defeated Burke (Lord Clanricarde) and seized Maonmagh for a
period of time.
--In 1343, Hy-Many was defeated by the Burkes and Berminghams, and 11 sons of Irish
chieftains were slain.
--Probably in the late 1370s, the Chief of Hy-Many (William Boy O'Kelly) recovered all of
his former land, including Maonmagh.
--In 1375 and again in 1377, the King of Connacht (Rory O'Conor) defeated the Chief of
Hy-Many, along with the Burkes.
--In 1385, the chieftains of Connacht invaded Hy-Many and burned the town of the son of
Edmond O'Kelly.
--In 1387, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, "Cathal O'Naghtan was slain by
O'Conor Roe."
--In 1391, Hy-Many was defeated by the reunited Burkes and Berminghams.
--In 1397, Hy-Many attacked O'Conor Don, the head of one of two rival O'Conor factions
claiming the kingship of Connacht. That same year--and possibly in the same battle--the
head of the O'Mullally clan was killed in battle against Sir Thomas Burke and Sir Walter
Bermingham.
--In 1419, Hy-Many Chief William O'Kelly organized allied chieftains to drive out
MacWilliam Burke, but the O'Kelly and many others were slain, as was MacWilliam
Burke Clanrickard
--In 1468 and again in 1469, the Galway Burkes and allies attacked the Mayo Burkes and
O'Kellys but were defeated.
Such conflict between Anglo-Normans and Irish--and among rival Irish--continued
through the 15th and early 16th Century. By then, the descendants of the Anglo-Normans
had become known as Anglo-Irish, since they had assumed much of the life style and
customs of the Irish. But they were the dominant power in Ireland, controlling much of the
land, as well as the local government, and their interests were often in conflict with those
of the English Crown. This led at times to the local Irish turning to the Crown for support
in their conflicts with the Anglo-Irish. For most of this time, however, the Crown was
preoccupied with wars against the French and conflict among rival contenders to power in
England and tended to leave Ireland in local Anglo-Irish hands. That was soon to change.
The English Conquest of Ireland
By the time of Henry VIII and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth, the English Monarchy was
determined to reassert its authority over Ireland--partly for fear that Irish Catholics would
side with France or Spain in their conflicts with England and perhaps serve as a base to
overthrow the English Throne. In 1541, Henry VIII declared Crown ownership of all lands
in Ireland to be regranted to loyal "Irish subjects." He also applied English law to Ireland
and required both the Anglo-Irish and the native Irish to be available for military service
for England. Anti-Catholic legislation was also imposed, and rebellious Irish had their
lands confiscated.
To ensure loyalty to England, the Crown also implemented a policy of "planting" English
settlers in Ireland. Thus began the long-lasting process of "plantations" in Ireland. Yet,
Ireland remained in a chaotic state during much of this time, and the English policy of
intensifying control in Ireland by imposing the Anglican religion, confiscating land and
transplanting Englishmen aroused the fierce resistance of both Anglo-Irish and native
Irish. Armed revolts became common. As a result, the local Irish landowners came under
increasing pressure both from the English authorities imposing control and from rival
Anglo-Irish landowners seeking to increase their own power and seize land by force. It was
in such an environment that we find Sean O'Naghten, the last Chief of the O'Naghten Clan. Sean (Shane) O'Naghten: The Last Chief of the O'Naghten Clan
In the latter part of the 16th Century, Sean O'Naghten was Chief of the O'Naghtens and
living in Moynure, in the parish of Drum. In the fall of 1575, Sean's holdings had come
under attack by the forces of the Burke family, who plundered his land. Apparently, this
was merely one of a number of attacks he had suffered from the Burkes and the O'Rourke
families. Other Hy-Many chiefs suffered similar attacks.
Timothy Cronin described it well in The Foundations of Landlordism in the Barony of
Athlone, "Caught between the Burkes and the English, the chiefs of Ui Maine were now
engaged in a struggle for survival." The Irish had to find ways to protect themselves from
attacks by Anglo-Irish, their own Irish rivals and the English Crown. As it turned out,
Sean O'Naghten proved fairly adept in protecting--and even enhancing--his position by
adopting a policy of at least outwardly accommodating the English authorities and using
powerful kinsmen to defend his position.
In dealing with the English, Sean O'Naghten apparently "anglicized" his name to John
Norton and actively sought to gain English protection for his properties and position
against the rival Burkes and O'Rourkes. His strategy clearly worked. On March 31, 1580,
he, along with various O'Kellys, was appointed "justice and commissioner in the province
of Connacht and Thomond, to take recognizances and do all things contained in the
Queen's instructions and to hear and determine all actions." Sean O'Naghten--under the
name John Norton--also held the lucrative and sought-after offices of Constable of the
Castle of Athlone and of "Warder for Connacht," both paying substantial salaries. (A
photograph of the restored Athlone Castle is shown below. The original can be found on
Liz's Postcards from Ireland Website. Cronin's book is available on microfilm at the
Longford/Westmeath Library, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, or through Mormon Church
Family History Centers on Microfilm #1279274.)
Cronin notes that John Norton was
greatly helped by being a kinsman of
Sir Edward Waterhouse, who was a
member of the English Privy Council
which had authority for most Irish
affairs, and who also held the
position of overseer of the River
Shannon, with two galleys, to impose
ordinances and fine offenders. As
Cronin points out, "while it might be
relatively easy to displace Sean
O'Naughton, it would be rather
more difficult to displace John Norton, who had the backing of his kinsman, Waterhouse."
(We have no further information on how Sean O'Naghten was related to Waterhouse,
although we did find a brother of Sir Edward Waterhouse, Charles, of "Baltra"--not
further identified--in Ireland, married to an Ursula Andrew and having a son, Edward
Waterhouse, in Ireland about 1565. And in a lease to "Edward Waterhous of Dublin esq." of the town and lands of Kilmacodrick and New grannge, dated August 17, 1582, a witness to the signing was "Dudley Norton," not further identified.)
O'Naghten's position did not prevent the O'Rourkes from continued attacks on his
properties, however. And it appears that the local English authorities also felt the pressure
of attacks from the Anglo-Irish who were seeking to protect their own power against
English plans. The local English authorities thus encouraged "loyal" Irish subjects in their
opposition to Anglo-Irish. In July, 1581, the local English representative, Nicholas Malby,
sent "John Norton" to London with a letter of introduction to describe the attacks that
O'Rourke had made on his properties the previous November.
In line with his strategy, Sean O'Naghten, along with the O'Kellys and other local
Hy-Many chieftains, reached an agreement with Queen Elizabeth on August 6, 1585. In it,
in exchange for retaining their landholdings and positions of power, O'Naghten and other
Hy-Many chiefs agreed that they shall "behave themselves like good subjects,...put no
ymposition or charge upon the inhabyters of the lands, and shall bring uppe their children
after the English fashions, and in the use of the Englishe tounge." In essence, they became
English subjects, joined the Anglican church--at least outwardly--and agreed to abolish
their traditional Irish clan system. As a result, Sean O'Naghten became the last "the
O'Naghten." His successors remained heads of the O'Naghten family but without the title
of being the official chief of the O'Naghten clan.
It had become fairly common practice among the Irish landed class to have key members of
families attest loyalty to the Crown as a means of protecting the landholdings and interests
of the particular family. This may have been the basis for Sean O'Naghten's strategy.
Perhaps because of the influence of "John Norton," we find other members of the
O'Neachtain/O'Naghten family receiving pardons from the English Crown authorites.
Those pardons also confirm that a fairly large number of O'Naghtens/O'Naughtons were
local "landed gentry" or considered "gentlemen" during those years.
Cronin lists the following Naughtons as receiving pardons on 24 November 1581 in Fiant
3778 for alleged offenses against the Crown (although Cronin points out that the issuance
of pardons may have simply been a means for local officials to obtain payment from people
under suspicion).
And in 1590, an additional 11 O'Naghtens were pardoned:
Sean O'Naghten died on May 19, 1587. At the time, according to an enquiry of October 26,
1587, he possessed two quarters (a quarter was equivalent to 120 acres) in the Faes (Fews):
one quarter in Moynewer (Moynure), with Carrigg-I-Naghten, and one quarter called
Carroncriggan, along with an annual income from each quarter. Although his son, Conor
(Cornellus) O'Naghten, occupied the two quarters after his father's death, technically the
land reverted to the disposition of the Queen of England. In another enquiry on October
23, 1604, the Faes was described as containing 30 quarters of land (3,600 acres). On
January 18, 1604, a grant was made to Jane Naghton (widow of Robert O'Naghton of
Moynure, who was killed in the wars) of the wardship of John O'Naghton, Robert's son
and heir.
O'Naughton Landowners in Athlone Barony in 1617
Cronin also identifies a total of 39 O'Naughtons (taken from the Coote Inquisition of
January 2, 1617) who were landowners in 1617 in the parishes of St. Peter's, Drum,
Kiltoom and Dysart. Their properties ranged in size from 15 to 365 acres. Those with
property of 30 acres or more have their acreage identified in parentheses.
What is particularly interesting about these lists is the genealogical data contained in them, especially since many O'Naughtons not only used their surname but included the "Mac"
[or "Mc"] identification, i.e., "son of." Thus, William Mac Donal Mac Rory O'Naughton
was William, the son of Donal, who was the son of Rory O'Naughton. With so many
O'Naughtons in the area, it was not only a matter of family pride but almost a necessity to
distinguish one O'Naughton family from another.
The Uprising of 1641 and the Cromwellian Settlement
Unfortunately, English efforts to conquer Ireland intensified. In 1610, a full-scale
plantation of Protestant English and Scottish settlers in the northern province of Ulster
aroused strong Irish opposition, and further anti-Catholic measures and fears of additional
"plantations" led to an Irish uprising in 1641 at the very time of a struggle for power
between King Charles I and the English Parliament. Charles I's execution and the rise to
power of Oliver Cromwell led to a devastating English war on Catholics in Ireland and the
wholesale forced transplantation of Catholic landowners from eastern Ireland to
Connaught Province, west of the Shannon River, replacing them with English settlers and
others who had fought with Cromwell or helped finance the conquest of Ireland. According to E. M. Johnston in Ireland in the Eighteenth Century, Catholic ownership of land was as high as 60 percent in before Cromwell, about 1640, but they held only some 20 percent after Cromwell--essentially in Connaught Province--and the percentage dropped even more as a result of the penal laws.
By 1657, only 13 O'Naughtons were listed as landowners in or near Drum Parish:
The Book of Survey and Distribution for County Roscommon goes into greater detail on the
actual O'Naughtons whose land was confiscated under Oliver Cromwell and who received
their land, and those O'Naughtons who were later able to prove their loyalty to the Crown
sufficiently to have land restored to them. Following is a list of land confiscated (also
indicated is land later restored to a Naughton):
John McRobert Naughton: 90 acres in Crannagh, 270 Acres in Clongawna, 440 acres in Moynure A number of Naughtons were also forcibly transplanted from their homeland in County
Roscommon to other parts of County Roscommon or to County Galway where they were
decreed new land:
Murtagh Boy O'Naughton, Flackane, decreed 103 acres in Ballymoe, County Galway During the mid-to-late 1650s, a number of O'Naughtons were able to prove their loyalty to
the English Crown and regain previously confiscated land. Following is a listing of
O'Naughtons who were restored to properties in Drum Parish:
Counsellor Norton, who was described as the great-grandson of Feredach O'Naghten (probably the Ferragh and Elinor O'Naughton who owned 454 acres in gornacloch, later served as Chief Justice of Antigua in the West Indies.
The "Thomastown" Naughtons
As previsouly mentioned, the head of the O'Naghten clan had lived in Lisdillure but later
moved to Clanrullagh. That estate was renamed in the late 18th Century "Thomastown,"
most likely by Thomas Mahon O'Naghten, and the entire estate became known as
Thomastown Park. During their most expansive time, the land controlled by the
O'Naghtens in the Barony of Athlone was bounded on the east and west by the rivers
Shannon and Suck, with its northern boundary apparently a line between the two rivers
beginning just south of Athlone and its southern boundary a line roughly parallel,
beginning north of Ballinasloe. It comprised Ardcarne, Beagh, Bealrean,
Carrig-I-Naghten, Carrron Creggan, Cartonferagh, Clanrullagh, Clonark, Clonellan,
Corrinroe, Cranagh, Ureagh, Drum, Feahill, Feature, Gortaphenna, Cortmore,
Infahfaddah, John's Land, Killine, Kiltoom, where there were ruins of an old O'Naghten
castle, Laughlinboole, Littleton, Lissadulure, Marymount, Moyntwer, Moynure, Shegan,
Taghduffe, Thormhill, West-park, Moycarnan, and other lands. In the late 19th Century,
the Naughton lands consisted of 4,800 acres. (The "old O'Naghten castle" apparently
referred to the fortified residence--including a moat and dike--of John McRobert
O'Naghten in Ballycreggan, Kiltoom, a kinsman of Thomas O'Naghten of Thomastown.
His land was confiscated in 1636.)
Mary Naughten wrote in her account of the Naughtons of Connacht that the Thomastown
Naughtons' surname was pronounced "Natton" locally. Those Naughtons included some
illustrious members. Following are some of the highlights of that family line as described
by Edmond O'Naghten and, more recently, by Juan Tomás O'Naghten (Edmond noting
that "all intermarried among themselves"]:
Aongus Neacta ne Cahadh Geamin O'Neachtain--in Gaelic "Aongus O'Neachtain, who
fought the battles with his cousins"--may have gained that description from a period about
1392, when Toirdhealbhach Og O'Conchobhair Donn fought against the Hy-Many and
seized and occupied the Fews, resulting in the Fews being divided between two rival
branches of the Neachtain family.
Aongus Teige Mor ne Cahadh O'Naghten, his second son, was particularly famous for
being the chief commander of his father's forces and for his bravery in battle. His name
means, in Gaelic, "Aongus Teige the Great of the Battle." According to Edmond
O'Naghten, during a particular battle between rival forces claiming a principality called
Clan Neacta Glen a Gainenwhomb, Aongus broke his sword while being attacked by two
warrior chiefs. Drawing his dagger, he rushed boldly between their long swords and killed
both. Such bravery routed the enemy forces and won the battle. Afterward, the local
princes and chiefs, with the approval of Aongus's father, declared that he and his
descendants should ever after rule that principality and that they should add to their Coat
of Arms two long swords and a dagger between them, with the motto: "Cum Parvo Gladio
Vici" ("I Conquer With a Small Sword"), in addition to using the traditional O'Naghten
crest. (More on the O'Naghten Coat of Arms later.) Aongus married the daughter of
O'Kelly, Prince of Aghrim.
Thomas Ban Baniere O'Naghten, the only son of Loughlin Og Fercantad O'Naghten,
married a daughter of O'Kelly, descended from the Prince of Hy-Many. He became head
of the family at the time of the Cromwellian Settlement and was said to have "lost a
considerable property by Oliver Cromwell." His son, Loughlin Mioll (Maule) O'Naghten,
played an important role in the future course of the O'Naghten family.
Loughlin Mioll (Maule) O'Naghten lived in Creagh and Clanrullagh. About 1636, he
obtained Tumsurra and other properties that had earlier belonged to Sean O'Naghten.
And after the 1641 rebellion, as we have seen, he obtained additional properties in Drum
Parish and elsewhere in the Barony of Athlone. He married Eleonor Dillon, daughter of
Gerald Dillon of the house of the Viscount Dillon of Lesine, County Roscommon. They had
two sons, Edmund and Thomas.
When the Catholic James II became King of England in 1685, he tried to reverse the
anti-Irish laws by allowing Irish Catholics to occupy important public offices, filling the
Irish Parliament in Dublin with Irish, and creating an Irish Army to support him. But he
was challenged in 1688, when the rebellious Parliament invited James' son-in-law, William
of Orange, to assume the English throne. James sought French aid and the help of his
Catholic Irish subjects, and moved his forces to Ireland in the hope of using his loyal Irish
Army and French supporters to regain the throne. The English civil war that resulted was
decided in a series of battles in Ireland, especially the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690
(after which James II fled to France) and the battles of Aughrim and Limerick in 1691.
Loughlin Mioll O'Naghten raised a regiment at his own expense to support King James II and fought actively as a Captain of his forces against William of Orange. Fighting with
him were his two sons, Thomas and Edmund (Edward), as part of that regiment, with the
ranks, respectively, of Captain and Ensign. The Irish and French fought valiantly in the
Battle of Aughrim, County Galway, in July 1691 but lost some 3,000-7,000 men and were
forced to retreat. Loughlin and his sons, along with some 100 officers and men from his
regiment, were able to make their way to Limerick where they joined the garrison to
defend the city against the siege by the Williamite forces. But it was the last battle of the
war, and a peace agreement was negotiated. As Edmond O'Naghten described it, the
garrison of Limerick so bravely defended the city that they obtained "the most honorable
conditions for themselves and their successors and thereby preserved their properties."
The final Treaty of Limerick was very generous in allowing those willing to accept the
supremacy of King William to retain their landholdings, while those who refused were
allowed to sail to France with their men and their families. Some 12,000 Irish went to
France, many joining the French Army to continue fighting the English on the continent.
They became known in Irish history as "the Wild Geese."
Thomas O'Naghten, Loughlin's elder son, succeeded his father at head of the House of O'Naghten. He lived at Creagh and Clanrullagh, and married Mary O'Dowling, the
daughter of Captain Thomas O'Dowling, of Rathpeak, County Roscommon, described as
"an ancient princely family possessed of a very ancient estate to which many royalties and
dignities were annexed." Thomas had been able to take advantage of the early liberal
policies of King James II and served as Governor of County Roscommon in 1688.
Following the Battle of Limerick, the English authorities extended to him the benefits of the
Treaty of Limerick. Thomas and his wife had seven children, the eldest being named
Laughlin O'Naghten. (Other children were John [who had two sons, Thomas, who served
on the "Boreas" in the English Navy in 1759, and Luke] and Catherine [who married
Frances Heverin in 1743], Mary [who married a Kelly], Eliner, Fergus [who married
Mable... and had three children: Thomas, Mary, who married a Fuller, and ...Naghten,
who married ... Brabazon] and John Dillon O'Naghten [also known as simply "Dillon"]
who married Margaret Lucy O'Kelly, daughter of Mathew O'Kelly of Killahan, County
Roscommon, and had three children: Juan O'Naghten y O'Kelly [more about below],
Thomas, Mathew and Mabella, who married Redmond O'Fallon, of Athlone, the son of John O'Fallon of Drummullin). Thomas died in 1740.
(Edward O'Naghten, Loughlin Mioll's second son, married the "niece of the illustrious family O'Neill of Shane's Castle, in County Antrim," and had one son, Laughlin, who married Anna O'Madden, of the princely family related to the O'Kellys. They had three sons: Thomas, Edward, and William "Kelly" O'Naghten. William emigrated to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and became Baron O'Naghten. See below.) Laughlin O'Naghten, Thomas's first son and heir, became an attorney and married
Catherine O'Kelly, of Cargins, County Roscommon, in 1728. Her family was descended
from the ruling family of Hy-Many. They had six children, the eldest son being Thomas
O'Naghten. (The other children were Edmond, Ignatius [who married Mary Burke in 1776
and had two children: Thomas and Catherine, who married Charles Campbell, Captain of
the 26th Regiment of Foot], Elizabeth, Mary [who married James Moore] and Elinor.)
Laughlin died in June, 1757. Laughlin's marriage to the daughter of a wealthy family
brought new prosperity to the family, and it may have been during this period that
construction began on a new O'Naghten residence--later known as Thomastown Park
House--which remained the principal home of the O'Naghten family until the family line
died out in 1944 and the house was eventually demolished by the Irish Government. The Thomastown Park House
The Drum Heritage Group's outstanding book, Drum and its Hinterland, gives us a detailed
description of the Thomastown Park House and grounds, calling it a "stately imposing
mansion." The house itself spanned 63 feet across and 37 feet deep, with a slated roof and
23 windows facing the front of the house. The spacious front hall and reception area was
surrounded by a huge dining room--the largest room in the house--and a spacious library
and an area later converted into an apartment for relatives. The central staircase ascended
to the family room, guest quarters, and the main bedroom. The basement included the
kitchen and servants quarters.
In front of the house were some 40
acres of open land, known as "the
lawn," while the stables, coach house
and forge stood to the right of the
house. Behind the house was a
spacious garden and orchard.
Entering the estate's main "Grand
Gate," one would travel a quarter
mile past the stables and farmland to
the house. Next to the large West
Gate, which dated from 1758, stood
a massive lodge house with a gable, a
12-foot-high stone parapet wall and battlement, and a large window facing the gate. (The
picture of Thomastown Park House is found at the entrance of the restored Drum
cemetery, courtesy of Edward Egan, who was the principal author of Drum and its
Hinterland. The photograph of the West Gate is courtesy of Michael Naughton. More on
Thomastown Park may be obtained from the Drum Heritage Group, The Villa, Kielty,
Athlone, Co. Roscommon, Ireland. Little remains today of the Thomastown Park House
and other structures.) Edmond O'Naghten, in 1769, married Ann MacMahon, daughter of Bartholomew
MacMahon and niece of Thomas MacMahon, of Strokestown, who was Representative and
Governor of County Roscommon. They had four children, the eldest being Thomas Mahon
O'Naghten. (The other children were Arabella Naghten [who married Charles Burke of
Tyaquin, County Galway], William Edward and Ann. William Edward married Margaret
Browne of Annaghmore, Co. Galway in 1804 and had 11 children: Thomas Browne
Naghten, Edmond [who married Catherine Sproule in Athlone in 1835], Marcus, Charles,
Maurice, Richard, Henry, Robert, Ellinor, Ann and Arrabella.) It was this Edmond who
wrote a history and pedigree of the O'Naghten family, dated January 20, 1788, and signed
"Edward O'Naghten." He died in 1817.
Thomas Mahon O'Naghten, born in Thomastown in 1773, succeeded his father. In
October, 1794, he married Ann Helena D'Arcy, grand-neice of the Earl of Clanrichard.
Thomas served as High Sheriff of Thomastown in 1801. He prepared an extract of the
origin and arms of the House of O'Naghten for the Barons O'Naghten of Hungary--to be
discussed below. Their only son was Edmond Henry Naghten. Ann Helena Naghten died
on January 7, 1797, at the age of 22 and is buried in the O'Naghten burial ground in
Thomastown Park, near an old church where there is a monument erected to her memory.
(Shown is a photograph of the O'Naghten mausoleum, courtesy of Michael Naughton.)
The vault is inscribed: "Extremely
lamented in the 22nd year of her age,
leaving issue Edmond Henry an infant
and their only child, with extreme
goodness of heart and sincerity. In
friendship, charitable without ostentation,
affable to the poor, a constant wish to
please united with the endearing wife and
affectionate sister made her a loss ever to
be regretted by her affectionate husband
who erected this monument as a small
tribute to her many virtues."
Also inscribed are memorials to John
Dillon, Esq., J.P. of Johnstown House,
who died May 24, 1871, and to the last of
the Thomastown Naghtens, John Dillon
Naghten, who died June 16, 1944, and his wife, Nora (nee Millar), who died in February,
1964.
Edmond Henry Naghten (also known as Edmund Mahon Naghten), married Ann
Arrabella Burke of Tyaquin, County Galway, in 1829. They had four children, of which
Thomas Mahon Naghten was the eldest. (Other children were Arrabella, Ann Helena [who
married John Henry Blake] and Elizabeth Naghten.) Edmond Henry served as Deputy
Lieutenant for County Roscommon in 1846 and as Ex-officio P.L.G. during 1849-51.
Edmond Henry Naghten--who also called himself Edward--became famous during the
famine years for sponsoring food distribution to the poor in Drum. He died in November
1851.
Thomas Mahon Naghten, born in 1834, served as one of the Magistrates for County
Roscommon. In December, 1869, he married Sophia Penelope Dillon, daughter of Colonel
John Dillon, of Kingstown, County Dublin, in the Church of Ireland. A listing of
landowners in 1876 identified the family of Thomas Mahon Naghten as possessing 4,829
acres in Thomastown Park. A map of the core Thomastown Desmense is shown below.
The Naghtens raised race horses,
and "Thomastown Steeplechases"
were famous at Thomastown. Drum
and Its Hinterland tells us that they
usually began in front of the "Big
House," continuing over the 40-acre
front lawn, making a semi-circle by
the Grand Gate, and returning to the
front steps of the residence. In 1862,
Thomas Mahon Naghten had five
horses in his stable, including a
famous one named "Thomastown. "
Horse racing remained popular, with
Thomastown horses winning many
trophies. Thomas Mahon Naghten
had five children, the eldest being
Thomas Mahon Naghten. That son
died a minor without issue in
England in May 1891, and the
second son, John Dillon Naghten,
succeeded as head of the house.
(Other children were Edmond Henry and two daughters, one of whom married a Kelly of
Johnstown House, Drum Parish, and the other married a Kilroy.)
John Dillon Naghten, born on March 12, 1875, in Thomastown Park, reconverted to the
Catholic Church and married Nora Millar, of Ballydangan, on 17 February 1914 in the
Moore Roman Catholic Church in Ballinasloe. He died without issue on June 16, 1944. He
was the last member of the Thomastown Park branch of the family. According to Mary
Naughten's account of "the Naughtons of Connacht," the Naughton's power as landlords
declined after Ireland gained its independence in 1922, and Thomastown Park was
eventually divided by the Land Commission, first in 1933 and, finally, in 1956, when the
land was subdivided among the local farmers, many of whose ancestors had been tenants of
the Naghten family. The house was demolished, and little remains.
O'Naghten "Flying Geese"
Like many other Irish families, the O'Naghtens had their share of "flying geese"--those
family members who fled Ireland rather than accept the English resettlement and demands
for religious conformance. Some who were not among the first sons also traveled abroad in
search of greater success. Some O'Naghtens distinguished themselves more in other
countries than they might have in Ireland under English rule. Three O'Naghten family lines
in particular have stood out for their achievements:
William "Kelly" O'Naghten, born in Ireland about 1755, descended through Loughlin
O'Naghten, emigrated to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where he began serving in the
Army in 1773. In 1802 he was made Imperial Chamberlin and ennobled as a Baron in
Hungary in 1816. He died in 1818. Baron O'Naghten had married Catherine, baroness
Spleny, daughter of Baron Jean Spleny and Francoise, Countess Klobusiezky. They had
five children: Johann von O'Naghten, Baron Joseph von O'Naghten, Baron Franz von
O'Naghten, Anna von O'Naghten, and Baron Wilhelm von O'Naghten. His oldest
surviving son, Baron Joseph von O'Naghten, was made Imperial Chamberlain in 1811 and
also ennobled, and he served as Captain of Hungarian Hussars. In 1818, he visited London
as Aide-de-Camp to Prince Hesse Homberg when he married Princess Elizabeth.
John the Baptist O'Naghten--better known as Juan O'Naghten y O'Kelly--was the eldest
son of John Dillon O'Naghten and Margaret Lucy O'Kelly, born on June 23, 1748 in
Athlone. He travelled to Spain and joined the Spanish Army's Irish Infantry Regiment,
rising to the rank of Brigadier General. His eldest son, Juan Tomás O'Naghten y Enríquez, followed in his footsteps, rising to the rank of Colonel and serving as Military and Political Governor of the Island of Ibiza between 1822 and 1826. His two sons also served in the
Spanish military service, as did many of their descendants, with service in both Spain and
Cuba.
One of those descendants, Tomás O'Naghten y Bachiller, born in La Havana, Cuba on April 2, 1886, technically succeeded as head of the House of O'Naghten when John Dillon
Naghten died in June 1944, but he himself died in December 1944 without issue. His
brother, Juan Tomás O'Naghten y Bachiller, who was born in La Havana on April 21,
1890, succeeded him as head of the house of O'Naghten. He was a Doctor of Law and
member of the Cuban House of Representatives. And he was succeeded by his son, Juan
Tomás O'Naghten y de Arango, born in November 1922. Juan Tomás was also a Doctor of Law and a diplomat, serving as Commercial Attache to the Cuban Embassy in London
and, between 1953 and 1959, as Economic Adviser of the Cuban mission to the United
Nations. With the communist takeover of Cuba in 1959, he moved his family to Miami. It
was this Juan Tomás O'Naghten who authored a history of the O'Naghten family. He died
in 1989. His elder son, Juan Tomás O'Naghten y Chacón, born in La Habana, Cuba, in 1955 and currently an attorney in Coral Gables, Florida, would be considered the "heir" to
the title of head of the House of O'Naghten.
A third O'Naghten "wild goose"--Richard O'Naghten--moved to France and joined the French Army. According to Juan Tomás O'Naghten y de Arango, Richard O'Naghten rose to the rank of colonel and fought in the battle of Ciudad Rodrigo, in Spain, during the Peninsular War, where he died of 56 saber wounds. (More research is being done on this family line.)
The O'Naghten Coat of Arms
There are several slightly different versions of the
"Naughton" Coat of Arms. This is not surprising since a
"coat of arms" was originally a means of recognition on the
battlefield and could be changed by the family chieftain.
According to both Edmond and Juan Tomás O'Naghten,
the oldest Coat of Arms of the senior branch of the family
was described as follows:
Three falcons on a red background, with wings folded, in
their natural color, placed in two rows: the top of two, the
second of one. The color red stood for bravery. The Crest
was a falcon on a wreath, with wings folded. The family
Motto was: "Audax et Sagax" (Translated variously as
"Daring and Wise" and "Bold and Shrewd").
According to Edmond O'Naghten, those were the arms cut
in stone over Latimor Castle and Gate in the town of
Loughrea until they were taken down sometime in the
second half of the 18th Century. They were also given by
Edmond O'Naghten in his pedigree of the family. Gerald
Slevin, Chief Herald of Ireland, told Juan Tomás
O'Naghten that he was inclined to believe the birds were
originally hawks and not falcons, since the hawk was a bird used by the Irish from very
olden times in their arms, often indicating heroic accomplishments, since the Gaelic word
for "hawk" also meant "hero." The three hawks in the arms could possibly stand for the
Three Collas, from whom the O'Neachtains descended as the senior line.
As already related, a modified version of the coat of arms was earned by Aongus Teige Mor
ne Cahadh O'Naghten in the 15th Century through his feat of arms. It could be described
as follows:
In addition to the three falcons on a red background, a second image, on a green background,
consisted of three silver swords, with golden handles, two crossed, pointed upward,surmounted by the third, shorter sword, pointing downward where the other two swords
crossed. (The coat of arms depicted above may be slightly incorrect in that the third sword does not appear shorter than the other two. The coat depicted in black and white to the right is more accurate in portraying the short sword.) The color green was symbolic of youth, appropriately combined with red to symbolize
the bravery of the youthful warrior. A second Motto, "Cum Parvo Gladio Vici" ("I Conquer
With a Small Sword"), was added to "Audax et Sagax": the first one over the Crest, the
second one under the Shield.
Those arms were cut in a 16th Century stone tablet in the old church of Drum burial
ground. They were also depicted in a parchment prepared by Thomas Mahon O'Naghten,
son of Edmond, for the Barons O'Naghten of Hungary.
Captain Thomas O'Naghten quartered the O'Naghten Coat of Arms following the battle of
Limerick to give a more anglicized appearance: the falcons on a red background in the top
left and lower right quarters, and the three crossed swords on a green background in the
other two quarters. These are the arms traditionally identified with the Naughton family
and which are shown in the depiction on this page, the original of which may be seen on
The Coats Of Arms of Ireland... Website.
O'Donovan, in describing the O'Naghten Coat of Arms,
mentions that the Crest has "A side helmet, over which
a hawk alighting." That description appears well
depicted in the more elaborate black and white drawing
above and the drawing of the Naughton Coat of Arms on
the left, courtesy of a Naughton family member with
Naughton contacts in both County Roscommon and County Galway.
The Barons O'Naghten of Hungary and their
descendants were granted a slightly different Coat of
Arms by King Francois I of Hungary on March 1,
1816, but based heavily on the Irish O'Naghten arms.
Other Naughton Families in the Drum Area
Although the Thomastown Naghtens were the most
famous of the Naughton families, information on that
line tends to be focused on the first born or principal heir to the Thomastown estate. Left
unmentioned were many other family members who were not direct heirs or who had not
accepted English rule and conformed to the Anglican Church. Most of them lost their
lands and were forced to flee or live as tenants on the lands of others. Fortunately, various
Irish records list some of their names, at least the heads of households. The book Drum and
its Hinterland compiled local names from various records, among them the 1795 List of
Freeholders, the 1833 Tithe Applotment, the 1855 Griffith's Valuation, the 1883-4 Voters
Register and the 1901 census. Following are the Naughtons from those lists,
organized by townland: In her 1891 book, Here and There Through Ireland,
Mary Banim describes a visit to Drum and to the
ruins of the old church and cemetery. In that book,
she published a drawing identified as "Doorway of
Old Chapel of the 'M'Naughtens.'" (See below.) She said that the chapel was in the old churchyard, where there were ruins of a chapel which was dedicated to St. Mary and where "a number of the once powerful clan of the M'Naughtens are buried."
The Old Drum Cemetery Among its many fine works, the Drum Heritage Group has beautifully restored that old Drum cemetery. (See photo, taken by the Drum Heritage Group, courtesy of Linda Harney MacDonald.) There, some 30 gravestones stand with inscriptions to Naghten/Naughton/etc. families. Following is an abbreviated listing (the complete inscriptions can be found in the book Drum and Its Hinterland]: Naghten Gravestones O'Naghten Gravestone: The inscription, in Latin, is the same as that described earlier.
Naughten Gravestones Naughton Gravestone Norton Gravestones Nocton Gravestone Natthin Gravestone Sean O'Neachtain
One of the most prestigious scions of the family was Sean O'Neachtain, the famous 18th
Century writer born in Drum Parish in the latter part of the 17th Century. He has been
described as "probably the most outstanding Irish poet and writer of prose since Geoffrey
Keating." John O'Hart called him "a learned and highly gifted poet." Sean's family,
along with other O'Neachtains, lost their landholdings during the Cromwellian forfeitures.
He lost 130 acres about 1663 and was forced to work as a traveling laborer in County
Meath. He later moved to Dublin and distinguished himself as a writer in prose and verse.
His son, Tadhg (or Teig), was also a prolific and famous writer, who was a schoolmaster in
Dublin and sponsored a well-known "Naughton School" of Gaelic poetry.
Expansion of Naughtons Elsewhere
Lines of the O'Naghten family settled in other parts of Roscommon, as well in Counties
Galway, Mayo, Limerick, Clare and elsewhere, while others moved abroad. By the 18th Century, the
Naughtons had branched from southern Roscommon to other sections of the county.
Early records, however, are hard to come by. Even after the Treaty of Limerick, the English continued their attacks on Irish Catholics by instituting so-called "penal laws" which restricted the political rights of Catholics and deprived them of owning land or leasing land for more than 31 years--at least until the Catholic Relief Act of 1778. The penal laws also abolished Catholic religious orders, expelled Catholic bishops and restricted Catholic education. The laws were not always enforced and were sometimes circumvented by having key members of a Catholic family, especially families that had owned land, to "conform" at least outwardly to the established Church of Ireland. But a few records do exist.
The 1749 Census of Elphin Parish
The 1749 census of Elphin Parish, which covered most of County Roscommon and parts of Counties Galway and Sligo, showed Naughtons, Naghtens, and other spellings of the name, including Norton, throughout the area. A total of 75 Naughton families, variously spelled, are listed, found mainly in parishes in the lower half of County Roscommon, centering on the Athlone-Ballinasloe corridor, with fewer Naughton families found in middle and northern parts of the county and in neighboring counties. Following is a listing of those families (many difficult to read). The census is available on microfilm through LDS Family History Centers.
The 1796 Spinning Wheel Survey
One record that provides some information about Naughtons in the last part of the 18th Century was The 1796 Spinning Wheel Survey, which contains a list of 53,900 persons throughout Ireland who
filed applications that year with the Linen and Hempen Manufacturers of Ireland for
awards for growing hemp and flax. Only Counties Dublin and Wicklow are missing.
Twenty one Naughtons are listed. Five are from County Roscommon, eight are from
County Mayo, three are from County Galway, two are from County Westmeath, and one,
each, from counties Clare, Sligo and King's (Offaly). This, of course, is not a thorough survey since it includes only those who filed applications for awards. Following is a list of those applicants by name, county and parish or barony.
Naughtons Elsewhere in
Ireland
Mary Naughten describes a
number of Naughton families
which fled Drum during the
Cromwellian settlement to the
area of Spiddal in western
County Galway. According to
Sean Uas. O Neachtain, who
provided her the information,
the Naughten families fled to the
bleak and barren land on the
northern shore of Galway Bay
to escape Cromwell's forces.
Those lines also produced Irish
writers, such as Seosamh
O'Neachtain and Eoghan
O'Naghten.
The dispersal of O'Naghtan
families intensified in the 19th
Century. In the 1834 Tithe
Applotment survey of all
landholdings to establish a 10
percent tax for the Church of
Ireland and local gentry, most
Naughton families were still
identified in the southern
regions of Athlone and Moycarn baronies. Within County Roscommon, the second largest
grouping was located in the middle baronies of Ballymoe, Castlereagh, Roscommon, and
Ballintober. And others had settled in the northwestern barony of Boyle and what was to
become Frenchpark Barony.
In the more detailed Griffith's Valuation of property "occupiers" and "lessors" taken
between 1848 and 1864 to establish a tax to support the local poor, we find some 769 Naughtons and other varied spellings: Naughtons (369), Naughtens (239), Naghtens (96),
Naughtins (58), Naghtans (4) and Naghtins (3). The largest concentrations were in
Connaught Province, specifically in Counties Roscommon (205), Galway (177) , Mayo (97)
and Sligo (24), followed by Munster Province counties of Limerick (66), Clare (39), Cork
(31) and Tipperary (17). The other listings are spread throughout other counties.
Following is a breakdown of the Naughtons listed inGriffith's Valuation, organized by
county and spelling: Naughtons in County Roscommon
Of the 205 Naughtons listed
within County Roscommon, we
find most in the southern
Athlone Barony and a
substantial number in Moycarn
Barony; fewer Naughtons in
the mid-Roscommon baronies of
Castlereagh, Ballymoe,
Roscommon and North
Ballintober; and only five
Naughton heads of household
listed in northern County
Roscommon. The Naughtons
listed are further broken down
by parish in the following chart,
moving from southern to
northern parishes--some
individuals may be listed more
than once (the map--slightly
modified--is from the
Roscommon and Leitrim map
collection at
http://www.leitrim-roscommon.com/LR_maps.html): Five Naughton/Naughten family listings are found in the northwestern baronies of Boyle
and Frenchpark. It was in that last group where I found my direct ancestors: my great
grandfather, John Naughton, was living in a house next to the National School in
Kilnamanagh Parish in the townland of Runnaroddan, adjacent to Kingsland. A history of
Kingsland indicates that he founded and was the Principal of the Kingsland National
School from 1848 to 1878. It was in that house that my grandfather and his nine siblings
were born and raised before emigrating to the United States in the 1880s. The second
family, in nearby Tonroe or Feenagh, was that--I believe--of his brother, Bartly
(Bartholomew) Naughton. The third Naughton family, headed by John Naughten and
living just a few miles to the south in Carrowreagh, may have been their father--my
great-great-grandfather. But more on that later.
The 1901 Census gives us a more recent
sense of where Naughton families lived in
County Roscommon. The Roscommon-Leitrim
Genealogy Website has developed a largely complete
listing of families in County Roscommon and some families in neighboring counties
from that census. Among those listed are 135
Naughton/Naughten/Naghten/Norton families living in
the following baronies of County Roscommon, as well as 10 Naughton/Naughten families in Counties Mayo, Westmeath and Leitrim, and one Naughtin family in County Mayo:
The names and ages of family members may be found by searching the 1901 Census by surname at the Roscommon Genealogy Site, by clicking here. (Two of the families in Frenchpark are those of my great-uncle Bartly Naughton and John Naughton, the son of Bartly's brother, Patrick.)
One intriguing discovery in northern County Roscommon is a townland in the
southwestern portion of Kilcolagh Parish (see map) called "Carrigeenynaghtan," which is
very similar to the "Carrickynaghtan" southwest of Athlone and presumably refers to a
"Rock of the Naughtons." So far we have not found any reference to a Naughton family
living in that specific area, although Naughtons did live in neighboring Killacumsey Parish
in 1796.
Scottish MacNaghtens in Ireland
In addition to the Irish Neachtain/Naghten/Naughton family line, I also discovered a
Scottish MacNaghten line in Antrim, Northern Ireland, 1580-1914--at least one of whom was
referred to in historical documents as "Naghten." Following is a listing of the principal names in the family line: Irish Naghtens in England
O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees provides a pedigree linking the descendants of Fiachra Finn and Connor Catha Brian of Battle of Clontarf fame to a distinguished Naghten family of
England. After listing Giolla (William) as Number 120 in the pedigree of the Hy-Many
line, as shown earlier in this narrative, O'Hart lists the following descendants:
121. Hugh, his son English records tell us that Thomas Naghten, Esq., was born about 1783 and died March 12, 1832. He married Maria Edith Jane Lang, the eldest daughter of Robert Lang, Esq., of
Moor-Park, Farnham, Surrey. The family lived at Crofton House, Tichfield, Hampshire
(Hants) and had 10 children: Edmund, Thomas, Charles, Frederick, Henry, Alfred,
Arthur, Emily Jane, Louisa and Maria. Four of the sons--Alfred, Henry, Charles and
Frederick--all died in the early 1840's while still young. The eldest, Edmund, died on May
1, 1838, when he fell off his horse while serving with the 88th Regiment (Connaught
Rangers) in the Haydock Lodge Barracks in Lancashire. Son Thomas died on June 18,
1865 at the age of 47. Arthur, the youngest son, died on August 7, 1881, at the age of five.
Arthur Robert Naghten was born in 1829 and educated at Eton and at Worcester College, Oxford, where he obtained a bachelor's and master's degree. He served as a magistrate
for Hampshire and as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Hampshire Artillery Militia, from which
he retired in 1875. He was a Conservative and represented the city of Winchester as a
Member of Parliament from 1874 until 1880, when he retired. He was married in 1859 to
Dora, the daughter of St. John Chiverton Charlton, Esq., of Apley Castle, Shropshire. The
Naghten family owned and lived at Blighmont, Millbrook, Southhampton--a home built by
Admiral William Bligh. Arthur died August 7, 1881.
No further information has been found on Thomas Naghten or his father, Edward, or other ancestors that enable us to trace them back directly to Naghtens in Ireland. His wife,
Maria, had a younger sister, Louisa, who was born at Moor-Park and who, on October 23,
1856, married Sir Robert Percy Douglas, a Baronet who was born to Sir Howard Douglas
and Anne Dundas on August 29, 1805, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England.
During his career, Sir Robert served as a General in the British Army and as
Lieutenant-Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. His father, Sir Howard Douglas, rose to
the rank of Major General in the British Artillery, served as Lieutenant-Governor and
commander in chief of New Brunswick, Canada, from 1823 to 1831 and as a Member of
Parliament for Liverpool from 1842 to 1847, and received a knighthood bestowed in 1821.
Linda Naghten of South Bretton, Peterborough, provided most of the above information.
We continue searching for more information on this Naghten family.
"The name of O'Neachtain is one of the most Celtick and Antient in Irish History. It retains the Expresisve Idyom of that renowned Language, the word (Neach) signifiying a particular greatness of Spirit or Soul, and the word (Tain) Powerfull and Brave."
107. Awly Oge, his son
108. Melachlin, his son
109. Teigh, of Loughrea, his son
110. Hugh, his son
111. Connor, his son
112. Melachlin, his son
113. Awly, his son
114. Donall, his son
115, Creachmhoill, his son
116. Cathal, his son
117. Awly, his son
118. Giollachrioad, his son
119. Roger, his son
120. Giolla (William), his son
(More below.)
On a wall inside an ancient church adjacent to Drum cemetery, southwest of Athlone, is a large inscription
in Latin which reads in translation:
O'Naughtons Who Owned Property in Athlone Barony in 1617
St. Peter's
Parish Drum Parish Kiltoom
Parish Conor O'Naughton Hugh Mac Mclaghlin
O'Naughton William O'Naughton Donogh Mac
Shane O'Naughton (30) Evelin O'Naughton Brian
O'Naughton (60) Conor Mac Donal O'Naughton Donnell O'Naughton Rory O'Naughton (30) Rory Mac Conor O'Naughton John O'Naughton Dermot Keogh O'Naughton (75) Moriertagh
O'Naughton Teig Mac Teig O'Naughton (30) Conor Mac
Mahowne O'Naughton Conor Roe O'Naughton Donogh Mac Dermot O'Naughton (30) Cormock
O'Naughton Rory O'Naughton Teig Og
O'Naughton (140) Dermot O'Naughton Rory
Mac Hugh O'Naughton (37) Moriertagh O'Naughton (105) Donal Mac William O'Naughton (105) Edmund Mac Hugh O'Naughton Hugh Mac Shane O'Naughton
(60) Dysart Parish Rory Mac Henry
O'Naughton John O'Naughton (195) Hugh Mac
Teig Roe O'Naughton Donogh Mac Robert O'Naughton Donogh Mac Dermot O'Naughton Conor Mac Teigh O'Naughton Teig Og
O'Naughton William Mac Donal Mac Rory
O'Naughton (60) Brian Mac Shane O'Naughton (30) Teigh Mac Hugh O'Naughton (30) Donal Carragh
O'Naughton Hugh Mac
Teigh O'Naughton Brian
Carragh O'Naughton Brian
Mac Brian O'Naughton (55) Conor Boy O'Naughton
Farriagh Mcteige Naughton: 454 acres in Killmaccollmocke (restored to Donogh Naughton)
Nine Naughtons (Thomas, Henry, Dermot, MacTadhg, Murtagh, Onora, Dermot Mac
Bryan, Daniel, Manus): 461 acres in Drum (restored to Laughlin Maule Naughton, Henry
and Tadhg Naughton, and other families)
Four Naughtons (John [103], Faragh [126], Daniel [58], and Faragh [221]): 568 acres in
Creagh and Shanvoy (restored to: Donnogh Naughton, Laughlin Maule Naughton, John
Naughton, and others)
Laughlin Maule Naughton received 35 acres confiscated from others in Sheen
Katherine Naughton: 38 acres in Feevaghmore (restored to John Naughton "et als" 48
acres)
William Mac Donal O'Naughton, Knocknenowle, decreed 100 acres in Balymoe, County Galway
Mutagh Boy Naghten, Flughane, decreed 103 acres in Ballintober, County Roscommon
Onora Naughton, alias Brannagh, decreed 77 acres in Moycarnan, County Roscommon
Bryan Mac Shane Naughton, Carrowkena, decreed 40 acres in Moycarnan, County Roscommon
Thomas O'Naughton, Lisdillure, decreed 358 acres in Moycarnan, County Roscommon
Mortagh Boy O'Naghton, Flughan, decreed 103 acres in Roscommon, County Roscommon
O'Naughtons Who Regained Property in Drum Parish, Athlone Barony
1654-1658
TRANSPLANTER LOCATION ACRES Thomas O'Naghten Lisdillure 558 acres Henry
O'Naughton Taghof 66 acres Dermot McTeige O'Naughton and Onora O'Naughton Kilmacormack 51 acres Murtagh
O'Naughton Carrowroe 52 acres Dermot McBryan O'Naughton Drum 9
acres Daniel McLaughlin O'Naughton Ardkennan 35 acres Daniel
O'Naughton Cappagh... 70 acres Ferragh and Elinor (wife) O'Naughton Gortnacloch 454 acres John O'Naughton Carrowmanagh 31 acres Catherine O'Naughton and son John Canymore
(Carrowmore?) 38 acres
Thomas O'Naghten succeeded his father as head of the House of O'Naghten, inheriting his
father's lands and possessions. He became an attorney and served as High Sheriff for
County Roscommon in 1762. He married twice but had no children from either marriage.
Upon his death in Paris in 1783, Thomas was succeeded by his brother, Edmond,
Ardnagowna:
-- 1833 Tithe List: 1 (Wm. Mac Naghten)
Ardkennan:
-- 1833 Tithe List: 6 (2 Denises, 2 Michaels, 2 Thomases)
-- 1855 Griffith's Valuation: 5 (2 Denises, John, Mary, Thomas)
-- 1883-4 Voter Register: 2 (Thomas, William)
-- 1901 Census: 2 (Thomas, William)
Belrea:
--1795 Freeholder List: 1 (Ignatius)
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (John)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (John)
Creggane:
--1833 Tithe List: 3 (2 Edwards, Peter)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Jeremiah)
Clonboley:
--1833 Tithe List: 3 (Edward, John, William)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Edward)
Cloonillan:
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Lawrence)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Lawrence)
--1901 Census: 1 (John)
Cornafulla:
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Bridget)
Clonark:
--Freeholder List: 5 (Denis, Peter, Thady, Thomas, William)
--1833 Tithe List: 10 (Denis, Michael, 3 Patricks, 2 Peters, Thady, Thomas, William)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 10 (4 Catherines, John, 2 Michaels, Patrick, Tim, Thomas)
--1901Census: 8 (Denis, 2 Johns, Luke, Malachy, Patrick, Thomas, William
Cloonrollagh:
--1833 Tithe List: 2 (Hugh, Tim)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 3 (Edmund, Hugh, Mary)
--1901 Census: 1 (Thomas)
Crannaghmore:
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Hugh)
Crancam:
--1833 Tithe List: 2 (John, Thomas)
Cuilleen:
--1795 Freeholder List: 1 (Bernard)
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Malachy)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Malachy)
Curraghaleen:
--1833 Tithe List: 2 (Pat, William)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Mary)
Curryroe:
--1833 Tithe List: 2 (John, Pat)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Peter)
Drivera:
--1833 Tithe List: 2 (Daniel, "Widow")
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 4 (Bridget, Catherine, Patrick, Thomas)
--1881 Kelly Estate Tenants: 1 (Mary)
--1901 Census: 1
Drum:
--Freeholder List: 3 (Bernard, Denis, Patrick)
--1833 Tithe List: 2 (Denis, Pat)
Doohan:
--1833 Tithe List: 5 (Dinnie, John, Margaret, Matt, Thomas)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 5 (John, Matthew, 2 Thomases, Timothy)
--1883-4 Voter Register: 1 (Thomas)
--1901 Census: 7 (Catherine, Mary, 3 Patricks, 2 Thomases)
Gorrynagowna:
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Edward)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Edward)
Keelogues
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Patrick)
Kielty:
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Thomas)
Kilmacormack:
--1793 Freeholder List: 1 (Patrick)
--1833 Tithe List: 3 (Edward, Peter, "Mrs.")
Lisdillure:
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Thomas)
Mihanaboy (Meehambee):
--Freeholder List: 1 (John)
--1833 Tithe List: 3 (2 Anthonys, John)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 2 (Anthony, Patrick)
Taduff East:
--Freeholders: 1 (Bernard)
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Pat)
Taduff West:
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Bryan)
Thomastown Demesne:
--Freeholders: 1 (Edmund)
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (Edmund)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Thomas)
--1901 Census: 1 (Sophie)
Monksland:
--1833 Tithe List: 5 (Bryan, Patrick, Thomas, "Widow," William)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 6 (Bryan, James, Malachy, 3 Patricks)
--1883-4 Voter Register: 1 (Malachy)
--1901 Census: 2 (John, Kath.)
Clongowna:
--1833 Tithe List: 4 (John, 2 Patricks, William)
--1855 Griffith's Valuation: 1 (Patrick)
--1901 Census: 1 (William)
Cloonakilla:
--1833 Tithe List: 1 (William)
Rooskey:
--1749 Synge's Census: 2 (Coner, Hugh)
--1901 Census: 2 (John,
Pat)
Esmy Naghten, died Sept 30, 1732
Edward Naghten, son of Edmond Naghten, Esq., died Aug 16, 1861, age 25
M. Mary Naghten (Burke), wife of Ignatius Naghten, Esq, died June 13, 1795, age 41
Henry Ignatius Naghten, died Nov 1, 1826, age 22
Margaret Naghten (Ward), died Dec 7, 1756, age 71
Denis Naghten, died March 1, 1870, age 81
Michael Naghten, died June 18, 189, age 52
Mary Naghten, died 1752, age 48
John Naghten, died 1735
Thady Naghten, died November, 1841, age 78, and his wife, Sally, died June 1841, age 65,
and Patt Naghten, died May 1830, age 9
Catherine Naghten, died December 4, 1841, age 70, wife of William Naghten
Malachy Naghten, died July 17, 1865, age 63, and his daughter, Catherine Fallon, died May
2, 1865, age 28
John Naghten, died December, 1753, age 27
Patrick Naghten, died April 7, 1840, age 45
____ Naghten (Gavin), died June 14, 1776
Dinnis Naghten, Feb 0, 1730. Age 74. And his grandson, John, died March 1758, age 25
Mary Naghten (Flinn), died August 17, 1823, age 26, wife of Denis Naghten
Thady Naghten, died May 17, 103, age 60, father of Patt Naghten
Bryan Naghten, died October 12, 1747, and his son Patrick, 1757
Darby Naghten, died Jan 7, 1814, age 69 and his wife Catherine Naghten (Harney), died
September 14, 1821, age 59
Mary Harney (Naghten), wife of Patrick Harney, died December 1, 1821, age 69 (photo of inscription taken by Mariae Tumelty of Walnut Creek, CA, courtesy of Linda Harney MacDonald; original may be seen at the Harney Genealogy Website).
Michael Naughten, died March 26, 1882, age 72
John Naughten, died May, 1732
John Naughten, died July 2, 1904, age 30, sister Catherine Naughten, died January 13,
1887, age 10, and their father, Thomas Naughten, died March 13, 1914, age 74
Thomas Naughton, died May 28, 1885, age 70 and his children: John, died February 18,
1882 age 27, Thomas, died January 6, 1903, age 40, Catherine, died November 26, 1888,
aged 35
Hugh Norton, died June 15, age 22
Winifred Norton (Berrigan), died April 22, 1881, age 59
Michael Nocton, died June 14, 1836, age 42, and his brother, Bryan Naghten, died July 18,
1838, age 36
Conor Natthin, died 1746
75 Naughton Families Found in 1749 Elphin Diocese Survey
5>
Parish
Name Occupation Spouse's Name Children Others Religion Orgulla Thomas Naughtn Cottier No Name 0 3 Catholic Orgulla Pat Naughten Tenant No Name 2 0 Catholic Kilglass Cormack Naughton Tenant No Name 4 1 Catholic Kiltrustan Pat Naughlen Cottier No Name 1 0 Catholic Roscommon Bar. Nauhton Villager No Name 4 0 Catholic Roscommon Pat Naichten Villager No Name 4 0 Catholic Roscommon Edmd Naighton Villager No Name 3 0 Catholic Roscommon Lough Naighton Cooper No Name 3 0 Catholic St. Johns William Naghten Farmer No Name 0 2 Catholic St. Johns
William Naghten Hefeller No Name 4 1 Catholic St. Johns John Naghten Farmer No Name 9 6 Protestant Tarmonbarry Fergus Norton Teacher No Name 0 0 Protestant Tarmonbarry Roger Naghten Laborer No Name 4 0 Catholic Taughboy Francis Naghten Laborer No Name 4 0 Catholic Taughboy Edmd. Naghten Laborer No Name 0 0 Catholic Taughboy Denis Naghten Tenant No Name 3 0 Catholic Taughboy Dom Naghten Tenant No Name 3 0 Catholic Taughboy Wm. Naghton Farmer No Name 2 0 Catholic Taughboy Denis Naghten Tenant No Name 0 0 Catholic Taughboy Dan Norton Tenant No Name 2 0 Catholic Dysart Dennis Norton Laborer No Name 2 0 Catholic Dysart Edm Noghton Shepherd No Name 2 0 Catholic Dysart Fran Norton Laborer No Name 2 0 Catholic Rahara John Norton Priest -- 5 3 Catholic St. Peters Denis Naughton Saddler No Name 0 7 Protestant St. Peters Dillon Naghin Merchant No Name 0 3 Catholic St. Peters Fergus Naghten Merchant No Name 4 3 Catholic St. Peters Lacky Naghten Uphold No Name 2 0 Catholic St. Peters John Naughten Baker No Name 4 0 Protestant St. Peters Dennis Naghten Broqueror? No Name 1 0 Catholic St. Peters Edmond Naghton Gent No Name 0 0 Catholic St. Peters Pat Naghton Laborer No Name 5 0 Catholic St. Peters Hugh Naghten Laborer No Name 5 0 Catholic St. Peters
Conor Naghten Carpenter No Name 1 0 Catholic Cam Joh Naughten Laborer No Name 5 0 Catholic Cam Lough Naughon Carman No Name 1 0 Catholic Cam John Naughon Laborer No Name 2 0 Catholic Cam John Naughton Shepherd No Name 1 0 Catholic Cam Tho Naugh Farmer No Name 0 0 Catholic Kiltoom Dennis Naughten Laborer No Name 5 0 Catholic Kiltoom Patt Naught Laborer No Name 3 0 Catholic Kiltoom Mic. Naught Laborer No Name 5 0 Catholic Kiltoom Dan Naughen Miller No Name 0 0 Catholic Kiltoom Mane Naught Miller No Name 3 0 Catholic Kiltoom Mic Naughton Miller No Name 2 0 Catholic Kiltoom Lough Naught Cottier No Name 2 0 Catholic Kiltoom Patr Naughn Laborer No Name 2 0 Catholic Ahascragh Bryan Naughten Butcher No Name 5 0 Catholic Ahascragh P. Naghton Laborer No Name 0 0 Catholic Ahascragh John Nagton Laborer No Name 1 0 Catholic Killian Mich Naghton Laborer No Name 3 1 Catholic Killeroran Pat Naghton Laborer No Name 8 0 Catholic Fuerty William Naughtin Laborer Winifred 2 1 Catholic Fuerty Matthew Naghton Laborer Mary 3 0 Catholic
Fuerty Bryan Naghten Laborer Cath 1 0 Catholic Fuerty Bryan Naghten Laborer Mary 0 0 Catholic Athleague Martin Naghten Laborer No Name 3 0 Catholic Athleague Laughlin Naghten Laborer Sarah 3 0 Catholic Athleague Thady? Naghten Laborer Onnor 8 0 Catholic Ballynakill Dom Naghten Laborer No Name 1 0 Catholic
Ballynakill Michael? Naughton Laborer No Name 1 0 Catholic Donamon Michael Naughton Laborer No Name 1 0 Catholic Donamon Dom Naughton Laborer No Name 1 0 Catholic Donamon Eleanor Naughlin Widow No Name 2 0 Catholic
Kilbegnet Patrick Naughlin Laborer Onnor 8 0 Catholic Kilbegnet Michael Naughtin Laborer Rose 2 0 Catholic Kilkeevin Michael Naughtin Cottier Elizabeth 3 0 Catholic Kilkeevin John Naughten Welder Bridget 2 1 Catholic Killukin B. Naghten Farmer No Name 0 0 Catholic Killukin Mich Naghten Laborer No Name 4 1 Protestant Kilcooley Mich Naghten Spine? No Name 0 0 Catholic Cloonygormican John Naghten Laborer No Name 1 2 Catholic Cloonygormican William Naughton Laborer No Name 3 0 Catholic Cloonygormican John Naghten Laborer No Name 1 0 Catholic Kilbryan? Michael Naughtin Cottier Elizabeth 3 0 Catholic
The Naughtons Who Participated in The 1796 Spinning Wheel Survey
NAME COUNTY PARISH OR
BARONY Naughten, Thady Galway Dunmore Naughtin, John, Esq. Clare Feakle Naughtin,
Michael Roscommon Tibohine Naughtin, Peter Roscommon Killacumsey Naughton, Daniel Kings Gallen Naughton,
Edmond Mayo Ballintober Naughton, James Mayo Adrigoole Naughton, James Mayo Drum Naughton,
James Roscommon Elphin Naughton, John Roscommon Fuerty Naughton, Mathew Sligo Kilmactige Naughton,
Matthew Galway Musickfield Naughton, Michael Roscommon Elphin Naughton, Morgan Mayo Elphin Naughton,
Patrick Westmeath Killare Naughton, Peter Mayo Adrigoole Naughton, Thady Galway Musickfield Naughton,
Thady Mayo Crosmolina Naughton, Walter Mayo Aughagover Naughton, Walter, Jr. Mayo Aughagover Naughton,
William Westmeath Drumredny
Naughton Families Found in Griffith's Valuation 1848-1864
County
(Total) Naughton Naughten Naughtan Naughtin Naghten Naghtan Roscommon
(205) 47 77 0 1 77 3 Mayo
(97) 45 16 1 26 9 0 Sligo
(26) 3 5 0 16 2 0 Galway
(177) 128 49 0 0 0 0 Clare
(39) 21 17 1 0 0 0 Limerick
(66) 50 14 0 1 1 0 Kerry (20) 6 0 0 14 0 0 Cork
(31) 13 16 0 0 2 0 Tipperary
(17) 12 3 0 0 2 0 Waterford
(1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Kilkenny
(11) 2 9 0 0 0 0 Wexford
(10) 8 1 1 0 0 0 Carlow
(2) 0 2 0 0 0 0 Wicklow
(1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 Kildare
(6) 1 5 0 0 0 0 Dublin
(5) 1 2 0 0 2 0 Laois/Queens
(1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 Offaly/Kings
(8) 6 2 0 0 0 0 Westmeath
(29) 18 9 1 0 1 0 Longford
(6) 5 1 0 0 0 0 Meath
(2) 2 0 0 0 0 0 Cavan
(7) 0 7 0 0 0 0 Monaghan
(2) 0 2 0 0 0 0 TOTAL
(769) 369 236 4 58 96 3 1. Ardcarn
2. Athleague
3. Aughrim
4. Ballintober
5. Ballynakill
6. Baslick
7. Boyle
8. Bumlin
9. Cam
10. Castlemore
11. Clooncraff
12. Cloonfinlough
13. Cloontuskert
14. Cloonygormican
15. Creagh
16. Creeve
17. Drum
18. Drumatemple
19. Dunamon
20. Dysart 21. Elphin
22. Estersnow
23. Fuerty
24. Kilbride
25. Kilbryan
26. Kilcolagh
27. Kilcolman
28. Kilcooley
29. Kilcorkey
30. Kilgefin
31. Kilglass
32. Kilkeevin
33. Killinvoy
34. Killukin
35. Killummod
36. Kilmacumsy
37. Kilmeane
38. Kilmore
39. Kilnamanagh
40. Kilronan 41. Kilteevan
42. Kiltoom
43. Kiltrustan
44. Kiltullagh
45. Lissonuffy
46. Moore
47. Ogulla
48. Oran
49. Rahara
50. Roscommon
51. St. John's
52. St. Peter's
53. Shankill
54. Taghboy
55. Taghmaconnell
56. Termonbarry
57. Tibohine
58. Tisrara
59. Tumna
County Roscommon Naughton Families Found in Griffith's Valuation
1848-1864
Civil
Parish
(Total) Naughton Naughten Naughtan Naughtin Naghten Naghtan Southern
Parishes 36 36 0 1 58 3 Drum
(55) 4 18 0 1 28 3 St. Peters
(9) 2 7 0 0 0 0 Moore (16) 16 0 0 0 0 0 Creagh
(5) 5 0 0 0 0 0 Taghmaconnell
(14) 1 1 0 0 12 0 Dysart
(8) 0 0 0 0 8 0 Taghboy (19) 0 0 0 0 19 0 Cam
(10) 0 10 0 0 0 0 Kiltoom
(15) 4 11 0 0 0 0 St.
Johns(8) 0 8 0 0 0 0 Rahara
(4) 0 4 0 0 0 0 Tisrara
(3) 0 3 0 0 0 0 Athleague
(14) 2 11 0 0 1 0 Kilmeane
(4) 2 2 0 0 0 0 Killinvoy
(4) 0 1 0 0 3 0 Middle Parishes 7 1 0 0 6 0 Fuerty
(5) 0 0 0 0 5 0 Cloonygormican
(2) 1 0 0 0 1 0 Kilcooley
(1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Drumatemple
(1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Kilkeevin
(3) 3 0 0 0 0 0 Kilglass
(2) 1 1 0 0 0 0 Northern Parishes 4 1 0 0 0 Kilnamanagh
(3) 2 1 0 0 0 0 Kilmacumsy
(1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Killumod
(1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 TOTAL
(205) 47 77 0 1 77 3
Naughtons/Naughtens/Naghtens/Nortons in 1901 County Roscommon Census
Barony Naughton Naughten Naghten Norton Athlone South 34 23 2 3 Athlone 25 8 0 3 Moycarn 7 5 1 2 Ballintober North 3 1 0 2 Ballintober South 2 0 0 0 Roscommon 1 0 0 0 Ballymoe 2 0 0 0 Castlerea 2 0 0 0 Frenchpark 4 0 0 0
You can view the MacNaghten line and find other Scottish MacNauchtans by clicking the following link: Scottish MacNaghtens, from which I obtained most of the above information. And for more on the Scottish MacNaughtons, click here: More on Scottish MacNaughtons, from which some additional details were obtained. The Scottish MacNaughtons descend from Nechtan Mor (The Great Pure One), a Pict of the tenth century. According to John O'Hart, there is no lineal connection between the Scottish MacNaughtons and the Irish Naghtens/Naughtons, but some Scottish MacNaughtons tell me they believe there is a connection back to Ireland.
122. Donogh, his son
123. Edward, his son
124. Thomas Naghten, of Crofton House, Hants, England, his son
125. Arthur R. Naghten, of Blighmont, Southampton, Member of Parliament for
Winchester, his son.
The above merely summarizes some of the enormous amount of information discovered so
far on O'Naghten/Naughton families in Ireland. This is a project that will continue to
expand as new information becomes available. Please check back for updated information. I would be delighted to receive comments and suggestions from readers, as well as leads which will help me in this endeavor. Just e-mail me at [email protected].