The McCartans of Kinelarty

Before the Middle Ages (MacArtan) McCartan Country included the Baronies of Kinelarty, Dufferin and about one quarter of Castlereagh - all in the County of Down. Parts of another adjoining barony that of Iveagh, also came under their control for short periods. During the sixteenth century sections of these lands were lost to the colonists. In 1600 the (MacArtans) McCartans were still fairly strong and in control of Mid Down, with strongholds at Magheraknock, Ballynahinch, Magheratimpany, Loughinisland, Drumnaquoile, Drumaroad, Finnebrogue and Ardilea.

Defeat of the Irish at Kinsale in 1601 greatly weakened the influence of Gaelic septs throughout the entire island. Two great chieftains, Hugh O'Neill and Rory O'Donnell, the respective Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, were in the tradition of O'Rourke but before their defeat at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 there were many who saw that Ireland was destined for a period of rigorous repression and savagery based on religious bigotry. The flight of these two Earls marked the beginning of a new era of military emigration. They two were called the `Wild Geese'; the term had originated with the export of wool from Ireland and the illegal transactions, which resulted from the English attempt to suppress the wool trade. The illicit contraband was linked with the recruitment of the Irishmen for the European armies. The (MacArtan) McCartan stronghold of Kinelarty became conspicuously vulnerable. Government agents reported the (MacArtans) McCartans still practised the ancient Irish custom of tanistry.

This custom allowed the people to give the leadership to a man of the family esteemed strong, a brother or cousin or an uncle of the chief being preferred to a son physically or mentally weak. According to the custom of tanistry, the chieftainship of a tribe passed not by regular descent, nor by will, but by election, only relatives of the chief being eligible.

In 1605 Phelomy and Donnell Oge (MacArtan) McCartan were pressurised into parting with one-third of their lands to Edward Lord Cromwell. An agreement was entered into on 12th September 1605, with Edward Lord Cromwell, the governor of Lecale who was at the time the owner of the church lands, which had been formed into the Downpatrick estates: whereby (MacArtan) McCartan granted to Cromwell the third part of all his country called (Killinartie) Kinelarty or in Watertirrye (Kilmegan) or elsewhere, the chief seat of MacArtan (McCartan) excepted, to hold for ever, in consideration of a certain sum of money, and that Lord Cromwell should educate in a gentlemanlike manner his son, Patrick, then aged fourteen years of age.

Patrick who was to be educated by Lord Cromwell, seems to have died before 1641; at least his son, Patrick, headed his clan in the great war which broke out in that year, and assisted in taking Newry. When, however, the Scott's army and the English had retaken Newry in May, "they marched home through Magineses' and MacCarton's Country, and marched in three divisions, burning all the houses and corn before them, and brought away the spoyle of the country before them, and cattle in great abundance; there was much goods left behind and provisions, which they could neither destroy nor carry away, being hid underground in the backside of every house; the division that Collonell Chichester commanded, burnt McCartan's and Ever Maginnesse's house, . . . . there were at least 800 baggage horses loaded with the spoile of the countrey and I think I speak within compasses if 1 say 3,000 cowes. . . . .On Wednesday, the army marched through the rest of McCarton's woods, . . . spreading the foot broad in the woods to burn the cabins that were built there."

In 1860 J. W. Hanna states:

The 12th September 1605, an agreement was entered into between Phelomy MacArtan, of Killenarten, and Donell Oge MacArtan, of Killenarten, sons of Agholy MacArtan, who had joined Tyrone against the Crown, with Edward Lord Cromwell, Governor of Lecale, the Castle of Dundrum, and other parts adjoining, who was then owner of the Downpatrick Estate, whereby Phelomy granted to Lord Cromwell the third part of all his country called Killinartie, or in Watertirrye or elsewhere (the latter territory, which signifies "the upper land," extending from Clough to Maghera, and embracing the entire of Kilmegan, and part of Drumgooland parishes), to be allotted in such parts as Lord Cromwell deemed most convenient, the chief seat of MacArtan and the demesnes thereto adjoining excepted; to hold for ever, in consideration of a certain sum of money, and that Lord Cromwell should take into his keeping and bring up Patrick MacArtan, the eldest son of Phelomy, providing all necessities for his education in a gentleman like manner,with a provision that, as the division of the lands was not to be made until the feast of St. John the Baptist ensuing, Lord Cromwell might in the meantime cut timber on any of the lands, and make coals of the same. On 28th of September following, Phelomy (as chief of his name) and Cromwell surrendered to the Crown the entire territory, known as MacArtan's country, on condition of regrants being made to them, which grants were accordingly passed on the 4th October -the crown reserving thereout all abbeys, priories or religious houses, churches, appropriate rectories, and advosons-the premises to be held for ever in fee farm: Cromwell by service of a knight's fee, and MacArtan at a rent of 2L., by the like service.

In 1605 the Clanaboy O'Neill's also lost a third of their estates. Severe government pressure seems to have been levied on most of the native Irish at this time. Thomas Cromwell the forth baron Cromwell, sold Dundrum estate to Sir William Blundell, from whom the Downshire family inherit it; and in the year 1636, he sold his entire interest in the Kinelarty lands to Mathew Forde, Esq., of Coolegreany, Co. Wexford, for £8,000.

In 1645, Patrick MacArtan (McCartan) served under Owen Row O'Neill at the Battle of Benburb. In January 1647, Hugh MacArtan (McCartan) was a member of the General Assembly of Kilkenny. When the Irish were completely subjugated, the remainder of Kinelarty, comprising of the parishes of Magherahamlet, Magheradroll and Loughinisland was confiscated when Patrick and Owen McCartan, leaders of their name, were jailed in Carrickfergus for playing a prominent role in the insurrection.

However, John, son of Patrick MacArtan (McCartan) who fought during the 1641 war, was appointed by the parliament of James II a Commissioner for the County of Down, to raise money for the purpose of opposing the adherents of William III; but in 1691, he and many others of his name were attained in Bandbridge or in Downpatrick. He died 26th of September, 1736, aged 96 years, and was interred in MacArtan's (McCartan's) Chapel in Loughinisland. In the same tomb were interred the remains of his son Phelomy, who died the 27th June, 1751, aged 82 years; and of his grandson, Dominick of Clanvaraghan, who died March, 1772, at the age of 78 years.

After the 1680's with the strengthening influence of the Jacobites, hope of a native Irish land restoration was raised.

The defeat of James II by William III at the Boyne in 1690 dashed the possibility and marked the end of McCartan influence in mid Down. Many of their able-bodied were amongst the 40,000 Irishmen, known as 'The Wild Geese', who departed to join the armies of France, Spain and Austria.

In France the dispossessed Irish found themselves part of a social system, in which status and professional advancement depended to a great extent on the possession of a coat of arms and an attested pedigree. Descendants of these forced into exile returned to Ireland in later years to document their ancestry. Many did their research in the Genealogical Office in Dublin Castle. Formerly called the Office of the Ulster King at Arms, this department was established in the sixteenth century and contained a wealth of information on the ancestry of numerous families.

References:
McCartan, Sean, The McCartans of Kinelary, Co. Down, p2, Belfast 2002
Hennessy, Maurice N., The Wild Geese, p22, London 1973
Stephenson, John, Two Centuries of Life in Down 1600 - 1800, P20, Belfast 1920
O'Laverty, Rev. James, Diocese of Down & Connor Ancient & Modern, pp85-87, London 1878
Down Recorder, p4, 18 August 1860