RELEASE DATE: MARCH 7, 2010
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
The Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) will host “Let Freedom Ring – A Tribute to Czech Veterans” on Saturday, 27 March 2010, at the Caldwell Civic/Visitor Center in Caldwell, TX. The public is invited to attend this unique event. Featured speakers will be Emil Faltisek, Jr., Carroll Brincefield, Doug Kubicek, and Major General John Simek (Retired). Entertainment will be provided by the Dallas Czech Orchestra, which specializes in playing traditional music of Central Europe. Also on hand will be a World War II exhibit which will include a refurbished 1943 Willys MB Jeep.
A Wall of Honor will also be on display. Deadline to submit copies of your loved ones’ discharge papers and photographs for inclusion on the Wall is March 20. Information should be sent to Charlene Hurta, 1231 CR 201A, Angleton, TX 77515 (e-mail [email protected]).
Registration fees will be $16.00 per person if postmarked on or before 20 March. Fees postmarked after that date or at the door will be $21.00 per person. Checks may be mailed to Bennie Stasny, 8402 Shenandoah Dr., Austin, TX, 78753. More details about the tribute may be found on the society's website at www.txczgs.org.
Since wars have been a part of the history of mankind, all countries want to remember their veterans in some way. To mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Plantation of Ulster, Brian Mitchell has compiled DEFENDERS OF THE PLANTATION OF ULSTER, 1641 – 1691.
Mitchell begins his book with an informative introduction which tells about the Scottish and English families who settled in the 17th century in the northern part of Ireland during the so-called Plantation of Ulster. The counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone in Northern Ireland and the counties of Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland made up the Province of Ulster. Owing to its central location between the two most powerful Gaelic kingdoms of the O’Neills of Tyrone and the o’Donnells of Dongeal, the “island” of Derry (also called Londonderry) and its fortifications assumed a vital role in safeguarding the new settlers. (By 1715, it is estimated that 200,000 people, primarily Presbyterians of Scottish origin, resided in Ulster.) The introduction also explains the history of the military campaigns and their relationship to subsequent immigration as well as the sources used by the author.
Material in the volume is divided into two lists. The smaller of the two lists is the “Muster Roll of Garrison in the City of Londonderry, 1642-1643.” It identifies 905 men who served in nine companies of foot soldiers in the defense of Derry’s walls during the siege of 1641/1642. This roll tabulates men drawn from estates throughout County Londonderry and neighboring counties. Although most of the soldiers were of “Planter” origin, a few native Irish names appear in the record. For each person, the information states his name, rank, and foot company to which he belonged. A few recurring surnames are ANDROS/ANDROSS, BOYD/BOYDE, COOKE, CRAKSHANK/CROOKSHANK/CRUKSHANKS, DUNCAN/DUNKAN, ERWIN/ERWINE, GAMBLE, GRIFFIN, KNOWLES, MAGOWEN/MAGOWNE, MCKILTIRE, NEWBURGH, PATERSON, ROBINSON, SHARPE, TOMPSON/TOMSON, TURBETT, and WRIGHT.
By far the larger, the second list pertains to Ulstermen who defended Londonderry during the Williamite War of 1689 – 1691. Basically, this war was a struggle for the English crown between the deposed Catholic monarch James II, supported by Louis XIV of France, and William of Orange, backed by the English Parliament. In addition to the defense of Derry, the conflict included the harrying of Jacobite (supporters of James II) forces in Ulster and Connaught by locally-raised regiments operating out of Enniskillen throughout 1689, victories at the well-known Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690 and at the Battle of Aughrim (County Galway) on 12 July 1691, and the surrender of the Irish in Limerick on 12 September 1691. Many of these defenders were first, second, third, or even fourth generation descendants of Scottish, English, and some Welsh settlers. Since his main source for the data is William R. young’s FIGHTERS OF DERRY – THEIR DEEDS AND DESCENDANTS...1688 – 1691, Mitchell furnishes in a tabular format the name of the individual, place of residence, and Young’s ID number. Many entries also contain remarks, which may supply facts such as family relationships, occupation, or date and place of death. Because Mitchell furnishes the ID number, genealogists can use it to consult Young’s book for connections between the defenders and the original planters in Ireland. Some recurring surnames on this list are ARMSTRONG, BABINGTON, BEATTY, BROOKE/BROOKS, BROWNING, CATHCART, CLEMENTS, CORRY, CUNNINGHAM, DAWSON, DUNBAR, GALBRAITH, HAMILTON, HOUSTON, KNOX, LINDSAY, MANSON, MAXWELL, MONTGOMERY, MORRISON, NESBITT, SCOT/SCOTT, SHERARD, STEWART, and YOUNG.
Names of approximately 2,500 settlers who played a part in securing the Plantation of Ulster appear in this publication. Many of these men left descendants who became pioneers in the colonies in the New World. Mitchell’s DEFENDERS OF THE PLANTATION OF ULSTER, 1641 – 1691 will be of immense interest to North American family researchers with Scots-Irish roots.
The 64-page paperback has colorful pictures of the walls of Derry and the city of Londonderry’s coat of arms on its covers. Names of individuals on both lists are arranged alphabetically. To the book's price of $25.00, buyers should add the cost for postage and handling charges. For U. S. postal mail, the cost is $5.50 for one book and $2.50 for each additional copy; for FedEx ground service, the cost is $7.50 for one copy and $2.50 for each additional book. The volume (item order 9967) may be purchased by check, money order, MasterCard, or Visa from Clearfield Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Suite 260, Baltimore, Maryland 21211-1953 (For phone orders, call toll free 1-800-296-6687; fax 1-410-752-8492; website www.genealogical.com).