These mark of distinction between themselves and those cruel oppressors. families were thirteen in number, viz. Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'Arcy, Ffont, Ffrench, Joyes, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris and Skerrett. They did not settle in the town at one time, or on the same occasion, as is generally supposed; but came hither, at different periods, and under various circumstances, as may appear from the following concise account of each of the families composing this peculiar community, which has been compiled from the most authentic documents. AN ALPHABETICAL LIST AND CONCISE ACCOUNT OF THE the. This family is of great antiquity in Galway; tradition relates that one of the name erected the first stone house or castle within the town. They were from the earliest times highly respectable, William de Athy was appointed treasurer of Connaught, 8th December, 1888, with the fee of £10 yearly— Rot. Pat. Canc.-the name was also of consequence in other parts of Ireland. John de Athy was sheriff of Kerry, 7th Edw. II.-Rot. Mem. Scac.-on 3d March, 17th of the same King, he was appointed marshall of Ireland-Eod. de an. 18°— and the 20th year, he was sheriff of the counties of Carrickfergus and Antrim.— Rot. Pat.-Philip Lynch Athy, Esq. of Renville, is the present representative of this family. Arms. Checky, argent and gules, on a chevron of the last, three etoiles, or. Crest. A demi lion rampant. Motto. Ductus non coactus. Blake. This family is of British extraction, and, though the name seems derived from the Saxon, Blac, a colour; yet, Debrett, in his Baronetage says, "they' are traditionally descended from Ap-lake, one of the knights of king Arthur's round table," and adds, "that in the reign of Henry II, one of this family ་ According to those who include the ancient name of Deane, there were fourteen families, it is accordingly inserted in the accounts above given, and is also found in the following verse: Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, Deane, Darcy, Lynch, W accompanied Strongbow, and after many exploits built himself a castle, at Menlo, near Galway."-Richard Caddell " surnamed Blake, (from whom, according to Lynch's MS. the Blakes of Galway are descended,) was sheriff of Connaught, Vicecomes Conacia, 32 and 33 Edw. I. * he was also sheriff in 1306, and in 7 Edw. II. the king's writ issued, for arrearages of his account.-Rot. Mem. The arms of this family were first borne by him and descended to his posterity. The family of Ardfry, descended from Sir Richard Blake, who was speaker, or chairman, of the assembly of the confederate catholics of Ireland, at Kilkenny, in 1647, was raised to the dignity of the peerage, in the year 1800, in the person of Joseph Henry Blake, Esq. who was then created Lord Baron of Wallscourt, in the kingdom of Ireland. This widely extended name is, at present, divided into the opulent and respectable families, of Ardfry, Ballyglunin, Belmont, Castlegrove, Corbally, Forbough, Frenchfort, Hollypark, Killeencastle, Mace, Menlo, Merlinpark, Moorfield, Orancastle, Rahara or Annbally, Renville, (formerly of Lehinch, in Mayo,) Tully, Waterdale and Windfield, in the County of Galway; and Ballinafad, Brookhill, Garracloone, Milltown and Towerhill, in the County of Mayo. Arms. Argent, a fret, gules. Crest. A cat passant, gardant, proper. Motto. Virtus sola Nobilitat. Bodkin. The Bodkins of Galway, and the Earls of Desmond and Kildare, were descended from the same common ancestor, Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Windsor, and one of the first invaders of Ireland, under Strongbow. His son, Thomas Fitz Maurice, acquired ample possessions in Munster, where his descendants became Earls of Desmond. Richard, the son of Thomas, about the year 1242, held considerable properties in Connaught, under Richard de Burgo, and Thomas, his son, was the ancestor of the Bodkin family. This family name originated, according to tradition, from a victory gained by their great progenitor, Thomas Fitz Richard (about the year 1300,) over a valiant Irish Caddell seems to have been the original name, and it continued indiscriminately in use with the other for many centuries. On 20th January, 1564, Nicholas Blake alias Caddell, of Ballymacro, died. Nicholas Caddell, alias Blake, of Galway, merchant, died in January, 1620, seized of Kilturroge, (mortgaged to David Bodkin,) Kiltullagh, and several houses and lands in and about Athenry. Walter Blake alias Caddell, of Ballymacroe, died in January, 1623; he vested his property in Thomas Lynch, M. D. Nicholas French and others as trustees, for the use of his son, John Blake alias Caddell.-Ing. Rolls Off-This name has since fallen into disuse in Galway; but has been retained by the family of Cadellstown in the County of Meath. Finglas Breviate-The following entry of his appointment has been lately found :—Mem. that on the 21st October, 31 Edw. I. Richard Blake was appointed Sheriff of Connaught, by letters patent of this exchequer, which the treasurer and barons delivered to Richard de Bermingham, late sheriff of the said County, to be brought to Connaught, and delivered to the said Richard Blake; afterwards on the 15th day of November, came here, the said Richard, and was duly sworn, &c.-Rot. de eod. anno. knight, whom he encountered in single combat, and having, in the conflict, made use of a short spear or weapon, in Irish called, a Baudekin, he was, from that circumstance, surnamed, Buaidh Baudekin, of the victory of the Bodkin, which name was afterwards retained by his descendants. Whatever doubt may attend this traditionary relation, none can exist as to the origin and descent of the family, which are fully ascertained by the testimony of antiquaries, by ancient stone sculptures and monuments, still remaining, and from the genealogies of the Geraldines, whose arms the Bodkin family bore for many generations, and whose motto, Crom aboo, they retain to this day. Henry Bodkin, the son of Thomas, was Clericus ville in the reign of Richard II. at which time, there was a street or lane in Galway, called Baudekyn's lane. They were then possessed of large properties in and about the town, particularly at Newcastle, near the river; and at Athenry, Toberskehine, Ballynameatagh, a In a curious MS. collection of genealogies, written principally in Irish, but, in some instances in English, transcribed in Irish character, and now in the possession of the author, there are a few interesting details of some of the Galway names, which have been abstracted for this work. Of the Bodkin family, it appears, that the name was originally Poiticin; but no clue is given, which might lead to its meaning or derivation. They are then stated to have descended, "from the true stock of Maurice FitzGerald, who was lineally descended from Otho, a noble prince of Italy.-That Leo, the first who took the surname of Poiticin, (which he did in consequence of a misunderstanding with his nephew, Maurice FitzGerald, who intermarried with Agnes, the daughter of Richard Mor, Prince of Wales, then Governor of the castle of Pembroke,) was son of Walter, who was great grandson of Otho, an Italian nobleman, from whom descended the the most honorable family of the FitzGeralds of Desmond and Kildare, and the Fitz Geralds of Ireland in general, as our ancient and authentic annals give account."-Augustinus Poiticin, the son of Leo, intermarried with Anne, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Robert Lawellin, alias Dewellin; (which family is originally descended from Diwillin, who was proprietor of Kiltullach, Doughase and medan, anno 1270,) whose son, John Poiticin, or Bodikin, intermarried with Caitilin, daughter of Maurice Lynch, the son of John, from whom descended, Sir Henry Lynch, and many other noblemen of that name.-Andrew Mor Bodkin, intermarried with Margaret, daughter of Sir William Burc of Anach-caoin, whose son, John Mor Bodkin, intermarried with Caitilin, daughter of John Mor Darcy of Partry, by Anne, daughter of O'Flaherty, whose son, Austin Bodkin, intermarried with Celia, daughter of Sir Geoffry Browne of Galway, whose son, John Mor Bodkin, intermarried with Mary, daughter of Gregory French, whose son, Leo Bodkin, intermarried with Caitilin, daughter of Thomas Lynche, Lord of Ballygarrain, whose son, Marcus Bodkin, intermarried with Caitilin, daughter of Robert Mor Blake of Ardfry, whose son, Andrew Bodkin, intermarried with Elis, daughter and co-heiress of John B Dathi, (Athy,) lineally descended of the true stock of Daithi mac Fiochrach, from whom are also sprung O'Seachnasy of Gort, and many other nobles, not here mentioned.— John Mor Bodkin, his son, had by Anna French, daughter of Geoffry French, Andrew Bodkin, who married Anastasia, daughter of John Mor Mearick, whose son, Leo Bodkin, intermarried with Caitilin, daughter of Richard Martin, whose son, Marcus Bodkin, intermarried with Celia, daughter of Peter French, whose son, Austin Bodkin, intermarried with Mary Blake, daughter of John, son of Walter Blake, whose son, James Bodkin, intermarried with Caitilin, daughter of Thomas reabhach Darcy, whose son, Marcus, intermarried with Sheela, daughter of James Lynch, Mayor of Galway in 1493, by whom he had issue, Leo, Marcus, John, Austin and Andrew Bodkin, with whom the account of the family cioses. The MS. from which the foregoing extract was taken, appears to have been written, at intervals, from some time previous to 1500, down to 1671, by the family of O'Luinin, Lynegar, or Linacre, who are frequently styled throughout, hereditary Ard-Ollamhs, chief doctors, or antiquaries of Ulster and of Ireland. In a certificate signed Patrick O'Luinin, alias Lynegar, and dated from his residence, at Ard O'Luinin, in Inismore, or the great Island, in Lough-Erne, 2d Oct. 1632, he states that he received, "these genealogies, from his ancestors, chief antiquaries of Ireland." The Irish descents, contained in this collection, have been found correct; but the authenticity of the Anglo-Norman pedigrees, (amongst which are those abstracted for this work,) is questioned by the present Deputy Ulster King of Arms, whose opinion is entitled to every attention, from his extensive knowledge on these subjects. A grant to "Walter, son and heir of Richard, Clerk of Galvy, otherwise called Richard Bawdekyn of Galvy, of the custody of the Islands called Bushe-yland and Gote-yland of the town of Galvy." Dated at Drogheda, 11th September, 1421.-Rot. 9 Hen. v. Richard Bodkin, Burgess of Galway, was Provost of Athenry, in 1454. Kilcornan and Parke. At present the principal families of the name, are those of Annagh, Carrowbeg, Castletown, Kilcloony and Thomastown. Arms. Ermine, on a saltire, gules, a leopard's face, or. Crest. A leopard's face, or. Motto. Crom aboo. с Browne. Philippus de Browne, is said to have come to Ireland in 1170, and, in 1172, was appointed Governor of Wexford. In 1178 he went to England, and soon after returned with 60 armed knights, and was a leader at the siege of Limerick. He had three sons, William, who settled in the territory of Clanmorris, in the County of Kerry, and Walter, who settled in the County of Galway, where his posterity still remain; the destination of the third son is not mentioned. Another account states, that "Sir David Browne, was cotemporary with Richard de Burgo, the Red Earl of Ulster, that he died in 1303, and had a son, named Stephen, who settled at Killpatricke, near Dublin, from whence, after a time, a branch of that house settled at Brownstown, near Loughrea, and thence branched forth to Athenry and Galway." The principal families of the name, at present in the province, are those of Ardskea, Gloves, Kilskeagh, Mounthazle, Moyne, Rockville and Tuam, in the County of Galway, and, Ballyhowly and Castlemagarret, in the County of Mayo. d Arms. Or. an eagle displayed, with two heads, sable. Crest. An eagle's head, erased. © Motto. Fortiter et fideliter. с The family of Carrowbeg, descended from the principal of the name, was deprived, in the time of Cromwell, of the greatest part of its extensive possessions, which were assigned to Lord Limerick, but afterwards reverted back, by purchase, to the ancient inheritors. The Skerrett family relate that the estate of Carrowbeg, formerly belonged to them, but passed into that of Bodkin, through a marriage with an heiress of their name. 6 Vol. Pedigrees, Office of Arms. 1 Vol. ditto.-The MS. collections of O'Luinin, before referred to, contain the following account of this family" The genealogies of the Brownes of Ely, or Ballyrancain, in the County of Wexford, and partly of the Brownes of Galway, Limerick and Waterford.". Christopher and Richard Browne, were the sons of Sir Mathew Browne, of Mullrancain, by his first wife, Anne, the daughter of Sir John Redmond, who resided near Bag and Bun in the County of Wexford.-By his second wife, Cardula, daughter of Sir John Hore of Shankill, near Dungarvan, he had issue, 6 sons.—1, Christopher2, John, who went for Connaught, and settled himself at the Neale, where he married Mor ny Maille, daughter and heiress of Donal O'Maille, Lord of Umhaille in the County of Mayo, whose issue still remain, and are called Brunach na heille.-3, Walter, who went to the County of Limerick, and settled in Kilpeacan, near Limerick; he married Catherine, daughter and co-heiress of Sir John |