Charles MacCarthy was a resident of Rhode Island in 1677. When he came
to the colony is unknown. He resided on the island of St. Christopher,
otherwise known as St. Kitts, before arriving in Rhode Island, a fact
mentioned in his will. Some of the recording clerks of those days were
not particularly brilliant in writing proper names, Irish or otherwise.
They appear to have in a way adopted the phonetic idea of spelling, that
is, according to sound. But it frequently happened that some names
sounded differently to different clerks and thus, as in the case of
Charles MacCarthy, we have a variety of spelling. At the same time it
should be said, in justice to the clerks, that there were instances, no
doubt, when they should not be held responsible for variations that
appear. Orthography was not fixed then as now.
The Rhode Island pioneer of whom we are treating has had his name
rendered as Macarte, Macarta, Macarty, Mackarte, and Mecarty. In his
will it is “Macarte,” but whether that was the form authorized by him,
or whether it was the work of the clerk who drew up the will, cannot now
be determined. The same name applied to other early Rhode Island people
is also recorded as Maccartee and McCartie. The style “Mac Carthy,”
used, for the sake of uniformity, in the caption of this paper, and in
the text, is that common to the MacCarthys Mor, the MacCarthys Reagh,
the MacCarthys Glas, and other grand divisions of this great Irish clan.
Charles, the Rhode Island settler, had a brother who went from Ireland
to Spain. This brother had been exiled and may have been among the Irish
troops who, in 1652, after surrendering to Cromwell and Ireton, were
allowed to depart and enlist in the Spanish service. These troops
embarked for Spain at Kinsale, Waterford, Galway, Limerick, and Bantry.
With them also went many of the Irish nobility and gentry who had been
ruthlessly dispossessed of their estates. In more propitious times some
of these exiles returned from Spain. Charles’s brother did so and from
Kinsale wrote to Charles whom he supposed to be still in St.
Christopher, urging him to return to Ireland. But Charles had, in the
meantime, left St. Christopher and was probably then in Rhode Island.
Though long delayed, the letter finally reached its destination, but
Charles never went back nor, it is believed, did he and his brother ever
meet again.
In 1677, Charles was one of a party of forty-eight settlers to whom a
grant of five thousand acres, to be called East Greenwich, was made by
the general assembly of Rhode Island. The grant was awarded largely for
services rendered during King Philip’s War (1675–’76). This would seem
to indicate that Charles MacCarthy had been a participant in that war
and it is quite within the bounds of probability that he had seen
military service, too, in the Old Land. At a session of the general
assembly held at Newport, R. I., May, 1677, it was
ORDERED that a certain tract of land in some convenient place in the
Narragansett country, shall be laid forth into one hundred acre
shares, with the house lots, for the accommodation of so many of the
inhabitants of this Colony as stand in need of land, and the General
Assembly shall judge fit to be supplied.
It was likewise enacted that the said tract be laid forth to contain
5,000 acres. Of this, 500 were to be laid in some place near the sea, as
convenient as may be for a town, which said 500 acres “shall be divided
into 50 house lots and the remainder of the 5,000, being 4,500, shall be
divided into 50 equal shares or great divisions.”
It was further decreed that the persons to whom the grant was made have
the rights, liberties, and privileges of a town; also “that they, or so
many of them as shall be then present, not being fewer than twelve, on
the said land, [are] required and empowered to meet together upon the
second Wednesday in April next and constitute a town meeting, by
electing a Moderator and a Town Clerk, with such constables as to them
shall seem requisite; and also to choose two persons their Deputies to
sit in General Assembly, and two persons, one to serve on the Grand
Jury, and one on the Jury of Trials in the General Court of Trials.”
Thus was launched the town of East Greenwich. The founders, no doubt,
included “men from all parts,” and if names may be taken as a criterion
several of them, in addition to Charles MacCarthy, were from Ireland.
The date of the incorporation of the town was October 31, 1677, the year
following the close of King Philip’s War and the overthrow of the
Narragansetts. Later, the boundaries of the town were enlarged by the
addition of 35,000 acres on the western border. Facing a great bay, it
was hoped by the founders that the town might in time equal or surpass
Newport or Providence. In 1741, the town was divided and the western
part incorporated as West Greenwich. Both towns exist to-day, East
Greenwich with a population of about 3,000, and West Greenwich with a
population of between 600 and 700.
The most thickly settled part of East Greenwich is built mainly on a
hillside and fronts Greenwich Bay. The town is a favorite summer resort.
Some of the early settlers engaged in shipbuilding, and when the town
was laid out two locations were set apart for shipyards. The persons
named as incorporators of East Greenwich, including Charles MacCarthy,
were each required to build within a year, on his lot, a house suitable
for habitation, under pain of forfeiture. It was also required that
highways be provided “from the bay up into the country” convenient for
settlement. In addition to MacCarthy, the founders included Philip Long,
Thomas Dungin, and John Strainge—all three names typically Irish. Among
the proprietors in 1700 was Anthony Long. About 1732, the town possessed
stocks and whipping post, pillory, irons for mutilating ears, branding
faces, cropping, etc., and similar appliances rife at that period.
The records of the “General Assembly held at Newport, the 6th of May,
1679,” show that “Charles Mecarte” and two others “being freemen of the
towne of East Greenwich, are admitted freemen of the Collony.” It does
not appear that Charles ever married, at least the writer has met no
record to that effect. Neither wife nor child are mentioned in the copy
of the will extant. It is, of course, possible that he may have had both
wife and children in the Old Land and that he survived them, but of that
nothing definite is known. His will[13] is dated “the 18th day of
February, 1682,” and was witnessed by John Knight and Thomas Fry, Jr. It
was the first will to be recorded in the probate record book of East
Greenwich where it was entered by “John Spenser, Town Clark.” Written
over two hundred years ago, its quaint phraseology is a source of much
interest at the present time. The will thus begins:
Unto all Christian people unto whome these pents [presents] may com
know yee that I Charles Macarte now of the towne of Est grenwich in
the Colony of Rhod Island and providence planteteons Being in
parfact memory but weake in body doe meake this my lastt will and
testiment.
First, he requests that all his debts be paid. Then he makes John
Spencer, Jr., his lawful heir and bequeaths him “my house and Land or
Lands in this Towne.” He designates John Spencer, Sr., “father to the
aforesaid Spencer, Guardian to his sonn to teak cere that my will be
parformed.”
One Pasco Whitford owed Charles a debt. This debt the latter cancels
and, in addition, gives Whitford “halfe the sheepe of mine in his
keeping.” The other half he gives to Edward Carter, to whom he likewise
bequeaths his arms, _i. e._, two guns and a sword and also his chest
“with the lock and cea.” To Charles Heseltun, Jr., he bequeaths a young
horse “that will be two yere old next Spring branded with IS on the
shoulder.” To John Andrew is given “my biggest yron poot” [pot] and four
narrow axes. His pewter he bequeaths Susanna Spencer, the same to be
delivered to her when she is of age.
All his carpenter and joiner tools are given by testator to William
Spencer “which shall be resarved for him till hee is capable unto mak
youse of them,” or of age. After disposing of certain clothing and
household goods to Susanna Spencer, Sr., he mentions “one piece of brod
cloth that I had to make mee a wascoat”; this he gives to his heir. Unto
Hannah Long, the younger, is given “one heffer of three yere” old, to be
delivered her at his decease, and to “John Garard,[14] a poor Country
man of mine” he gives “three bushels of corne to be paid him presently
after my desese.” But one of the most striking passages of the entire
will is the following:
I have a letter that came from my Brother from Kingsile [Kinsale]
after his return from Spaine Being fersed from home in the war in
which Letter he sent for mee home; but the troubles in Cristifars at
that time fersed me from thence to New England and soe hee herd not
of mee nor I of him.... I will that that letter with another [which]
within it is, be sent unto him with a letter to signifie unto him
how it hath been with mee since and when and where I end my dayes.
Charles then provides that Richard Dunn[15] of Newport, R. I., be added
unto John Spencer, Sr., the first mentioned guardian, to carry out the
provisions of the will, and “if aither of these soo Before men’oned
betrusted should die before that my haire is of edge [age]; then he that
doth survive shall heve power; and my will is that hee chuse one to him
it being one that my haire doth approve of.” The will goes on to say
that “My ould mere [mare] I give to Samuel Bennett and hir foule [foal]
or my young mere I give unto Mychell Spenser ... and the rest of my
Chatle Goodes and catten [cattle] I give unto John Spenser Senior and
all the deapts dowe to mee.... As Concaning [concerning] the Land that I
Give unto my haire and the house my will is that the land and house [be]
unto him and his lawful haires forever ... and for the Conformation of
this my will and that it may apere unto all parsons [persons] unto whome
it may come I have sett to my hand and seale this psent 18th day of
February 1682.” Charles died soon after, his will being entered in the
town records in 1683–’84.
The orthography of Charles MacCarthy’s will must not be severely
criticised. It was as correct as that found in the average document of
the period in which he lived. Whether it was written by Charles or by
someone acting for him, due allowance must be made for the times and
conditions and for the fact that educational facilities were very meagre
then as compared with those available at the present day.
It is a source of deep regret that so little is known about this Rhode
Island pioneer. That he was a man of sturdy character, cannot be
questioned. That he was worthy to rank as a founder of a town or a state
must also be admitted. He plainly possessed traits and qualities
entitling him to a place in the front rank of Rhode Island settlers.
And here we may indulge briefly in a retrospective glance at the status
of the MacCarthys[16] in the land of Erin. For from these,
unquestionably, the Rhode Island pioneer was descended. Then we will
touch upon certain “troubles in Cristifars” which may have been the same
as those to which Charles MacCarthy alludes as having forced him to New
England.
Burke, Ulster King of Arms, the great authority on the British and Irish
peerages, declares that “few pedigrees in the British empire can be
traced to a more remote or exalted source than that of the Celtic house
of M’Carty.” The learned Dr. O’Brien says that it was “the most
illustrious of all those families whose names begin with Mac.” It has
also truthfully been declared that “The MacCarthys may proudly defy any
other family in Europe to compete with them in antiquity, or accurate
preservation of the records of their descent.” Their patrimony was
chiefly in Cork and Kerry, where they had strongholds for many
centuries. They built over twenty castles there, many of them
overlooking “the pleasant Bandon crowned with many a wood.”
These castles were massively constructed, the towers and battlements
being equal in grandeur and strength to those elsewhere in Europe. For
generation after generation they defied the attacks of time and the
elements and proudly reared aloft their stately walls. The ruins of some
of them still remain, crowned with ivy, and frequented by appreciative
tourists. The MacCarthys have been Princes of Carbery, Earls of
Clancarthy, Earls of Muskerry, Earls of Mountcashel, Viscounts of
Valentia, and have also held other titles. Their history has been
replete with chivalrous deeds, brave men, handsome women, noted clerics,
generous benefactors, whole-souled hospitality.
The MacCarthys were the dominant family in Desmond (South Munster), at
the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion. The MacCarthy Mor, lord of the
elder branch, was generally inaugurated in Kerry. The O’Sullivan Mor and
the O’Donoghoe Mor presided at the ceremony. The hereditary judges of
the McCarthy Mor were the MacEgans; his captains of war, the O’Rourkes;
and his poets and antiquaries, the O’Dalys and O’Quinns. His feudatories
also included the O’Donovans and O’Hurleys. Charles, who died in 1770,
was styled “the last MacCarthy Mor.” The arms of the family are thus
described: “Arg. a stag trippant, attired and unguled or.” One branch of
the family had as its motto: “_Forti et fideli nihil difficile_,” and
another: “_Ex arduis perpetuum nomen_.” The motto of the MacCarthy Reagh
was: “_Fortis ferox et celer_.” “The MacCarthys were a regal and
princely house,” observes Burke, and he states that at one period the
head of the clan could muster 3,000 men-at-arms. The MacCarthys Reagh
constituted the second sept of the clan in point of importance, while
the MacCarthys Glas were also a strong branch of the family.
Dermot MacCarthy, feudal lord and founder of the house of Muskerry, was
killed in 1367. Cormac MacCarthy, slain in 1494, had been lord of
Muskerry for 40 years. Donoch MacCarthy Mor was, in 1556, created Earl
of Clancare (Clancarthy), and Viscount Valentia. Cormac Oge MacCarthy
became a viscount in 1628. There was a Ceallachan MacCarthy who married
Elizabeth Fitzgerald, daughter of the Earl of Kildare, and died 1676. A
Charles MacCarthy, born about 1721, was a solicitor, seneschal of the
manor of Macroom, recorder of Clonakilty, and clerk of the crown for the
county of Cork. A Donoch MacCarthy, lord viscount Muskerry, was an Irish
officer exiled to the continent in 1641–’42. He had commanded the king’s
forces in Munster against Cromwell. At the restoration of Charles II,
Donoch returned to Ireland and contested the right of Florence and
Charles McCarthy to the title and dignity of “MacCarthy Mor.” He was
created Earl Clancarthy, and died in 1665.
It is to be regretted that we do not know the name of the brother of
Charles MacCarthy, the Rhode Island settler—the one to whom he refers in
his will as having written from Kinsale. Did we have access to that
letter which Charles of Rhode Island received, the desired knowledge
would, no doubt, be obtained. But at this distance of time, all efforts
to locate the letter have failed.
It seems reasonable to conclude that the brother of the Rhode Island
pioneer was a man of some prominence—possibly of much prominence. It has
been suggested that he was Donoch, Earl Clancarthy, just mentioned, but
this could hardly have been so, as the Earl died in 1665 and Charles of
Rhode Island, when he made his will in 1682, speaks of his brother as
still living.
There was another Donoch MacCarthy, descendant of the first named, who
was privately married when but sixteen years of age to Lady Elizabeth
Spencer, daughter of Robert Spencer, Earl of Sunderland. It may be
recalled, purely as a coincidence, that Charles MacCarthy of East
Greenwich, R. I., was an intimate friend of the Spencers of that town
and made one of them his heir. It is quite possible that John
Spenser,[17] the Rhode Island settler, and intimate friend of Charles
MacCarthy, was an Irish officer who, like many other chivalrous spirits
of his time, was obliged by the fortunes of war to leave Ireland and
reside in other parts. On the arrival of James II, in Ireland (1688),
this second Donoch MacCarthy was one of the Irish officers who received
him at Kinsale. At the fall of Cork in 1690, MacCarthy was captured and
imprisoned in the Tower of London. He had succeeded to the title of Earl
Clancarthy and was a man of immense estate. All this was forfeited owing
to his adhesion to the cause of James II. In 1694, he escaped from the
Tower and fled to France. Upon rashly going back to England in 1698 he
was rearrested and exiled. He died in 1704 at a locality in Hamburg. If
Charles MacCarthy of Rhode Island was “forced from home” at the same
time as his brother, it would be interesting to know why one went to
Spain and the other to the island of St. Christopher. The whole matter,
however, is wrapped in mystery. Charles tells us that his brother
returned “from Spaine,” which statement reminds us of a prominent fact.
King Charles II in a famous declaration mentions a large number of Irish
“restorees,” who were to be given back their former estates in Ireland
for having “Continued with Us or served faithfully under Our ensigns
beyond the Seas.” Among these Irish restorees is mentioned Col. Charles
MacCarthy of County Cork, and Capt. Charles MacCarthy, also of Cork. In
another place Charles II mentions Charles James MacCarthy, Viscount
Muskerry.
A fourth Charles MacCarthy is mentioned during the Cromwellian
settlement as a “Papist,” whose property was to be confiscated. These
four Charles MacCarthys were all Irish officers or leading gentlemen,
and the Rhode Island settler may have been one of them.
Yet another point: Charles of Rhode Island tells us that his brother,
who was again in Ireland, had written from Kinsale asking him to return.
Why? It may be that Charles and his brother were both “restorees,” as
defined in the King’s Declaration above mentioned.
At what period Charles MacCarthy left Ireland and located in St.
Christopher, or St. Kitts, is problematical. If we knew the time of his
coming to New England we might be able to approximate the St. Kitts
date. It is assumed, however, that he was in St. Kitts as early as 1650.
In an old French atlas by Sanson, published that year, Montserrat is
described as having been settled by Irish. Rev. Andrew White, S. J., who
accompanied the first colonists to Maryland, in 1634, makes a like
statement. He adds that these Irish Catholics had gone first to
Virginia, but being refused permission to land had taken possession of
Montserrat. Large numbers of Irish are heard from in St. Kitts in 1650.
They were visited by Father John Destriche (also written De Stritch)
disguised as a trader to protect him from persecution, or even death, at
the hands of the English officials who had no tolerance for a priest of
the Church of Rome.
In time he collected on that and the neighboring islands a flock of
3,000 Catholics for whom he conducted religious services in the depths
of the forest. Persecution at the hands of the English, however, soon
broke up this condition of affairs and dispersed the Irish to New
England and other parts along the coast. Were these the “troubles in
Cristifars” that obliged Charles MacCarthy to leave that place? It is
possible. Be that as it may, his coming was of benefit to Rhode Island,
it being at a time when stout hearts, strong arms, and vigorous
characters were especially desired in the colony.