Among the Christian names common to the Irish people, especially to
those of the Catholic faith, few were more numerous, a century ago, than
those mentioned in the caption to this article. They were rare among the
Scotch, English, or Welsh. None of them was of Gaelic or old Irish
origin. They came to the ancient Irish with their religion, and, like
their faith, have become nationalized.
According to Lecky, the conquest of Ireland by Cromwell’s soldiers was
not more complete than the conquest of the soldiers by their Irish
wives; their offspring assumed Irish given names, and were brought up in
the faith of their mothers. This was the subject of a complaint against
the Irish government to Henry Cromwell, the son of Oliver. How true this
may have been, it is needless to discuss, but the presence of so many in
New Hampshire before the Revolution bearing the names alluded to, is in
part evidence of the truth of what Lecky wrote, and Prendergast
commented on, for not a few of the surnames are English in appearance.
Darby Field came to New Hampshire in 1631. The date is so remote that no
attempt has thus far been made to denationalize him. Consequently, he
remains on the records as a plain “Irish soldier for discovery.” His
home was in Exeter. He is credited with being the first in the English
settlements to discover the White Mountains. That he was a useful
citizen is evident from the provincial papers. How many American Fields
are descended from him cannot be determined, but if there are any, there
isn’t much doubt that they will locate the birthplace of their ancestor
in Ulster. This fad extends even to some children of the modern Irish.
The illustrious “Tim” Campbell, ex-member of congress from New York, has
been classified as of “Scotch-Irish” descent, and recently a young man
named Quinn, of the first generation born here, said, “His father was a
Scotch-Irishman from Kilkenny, in the north of Ireland.” A little rough
on the city paved with marble, but such is fad.
A good, sturdy representative of the Fields to-day in New Hampshire, as
Irish in blood as Darby Field was, is the Hon. John H. Field, who was a
member of the state senate in 1899‒1900. His home is Nashua. He is of
the faith of his fathers.
Darby Kelly was the ancestor of many American Kellys. His descendants
are almost innumerable. Like Darby Field, he, too, was a soldier, as
well as a schoolmaster and farmer. Gen. Benjamin F. Kelly, of West
Virginia, was his grandson; the latter acquired distinction in the Civil
War. The name Darby Kelly appears on the muster rolls of company and
regiment from 1748 to the fall of Wolfe and Montcalm.
Of the Patricks, Patrick O’Flynn possessed a military record his
offspring may well take pride in. His name appears quite often in the
short wars preceding the struggle for independence. He represented the
town of Bedford at Bunker Hill and served through the long war which
ended at Yorktown. At its close he went West, dying in Illinois. His
name appears on the United States pension rolls for 1825, with his
company and regiment.
Another was Patrick Cogan. He was quartermaster of the First New
Hampshire regiment, serving in that capacity under Stark, Cilley and
Reid. He died in the service in 1778. His regiment was in Sullivan’s
brigade at Ticonderoga in 1777. He represented Sullivan’s town, Durham.
Stephen Cogan, possibly a relative, was a selectman in the same town in
1780, and with him were Joseph, William and Joseph Cogan, Jr.
A namesake, if not a relative of Darby Field, was Patrick Field, a
soldier in the Continental army. Patrick Guinlan was teaching school in
Concord before 1770. He is given mention in Bouton’s history of that
place.
A well-known town in the south of Ireland is Dungarvan, and a well-known
locality in Concord is “Garvin’s Falls,” just south of the city, on the
Merrimack. The falls are named for Patrick Garvin, one of the first
settlers. His name appears frequently as one of the defenders of the
garrison against the Indians.
New Hampshire furnished to Iowa one of her most distinguished sons, in
the person of the Hon. James W. Grimes, who acquired a national
reputation during the Civil War. One of the first, if not the very
first, of that name in New Hampshire was Patrick Grimes.
Patrick Gault was the ancestor of some of New Hampshire’s substantial
citizens. His name appears early in the provincial papers. As much can
be said of Patrick Taggart and his descendants.
Patrick White was the first of his line in the old Granite state. He
came to Peterborough before 1740. Gen. Daniel M. White, commander of the
New Hampshire National Guard in 1894, was one of his descendants.
Patrick Orr is a reminder of the slogan of 1798, “Remember William Orr.”
Many useful citizens of the Granite state bear this name. It is not now
so common as it was fifty or seventy-five years ago. John Orr served
seven terms in the state senate, his legislative career ending in 1804.
Patrick Griffin represented a name as common here now as it is in
Ireland. Simon G. Griffin, brevet major-general, was a New Hampshire
soldier with a fine record in the Civil War.
Cornelius Connor represented a name famous in Ireland’s annals and
familiar to the readers of New Hampshire state and provincial papers.
It is first mentioned in 1710. The occasion was the payment of a bill
presented by him for moccasins, so it is fair to presume he was a
shoemaker. The name Connor, or Conner, has been well known in the town
of Exeter for nearly 200 years. An Exeter man, possibly a descendant of
Cornelius, was Col. Freeman Conner, who commanded the Forty-fourth New
York regiment in the Civil War. He was also assistant postmaster of
Chicago under the late James A. Sexton, during the administration of
President Benjamin Harrison. J. M. Connor, of Hopkinton, is one of the
prominent grangers in New Hampshire, and an authority on agricultural
matters.
James O’Conner, a native of Ireland, and a surgeon in the Continental
army, was among the first settlers in the town of Sanbornton. One of his
descendants went to the East Indies and was traffic manager of the
Ganges canal in 1869. Cornelius Connor is the first of the name to
appear on the provincial records. The family has been prolific—for the
Connors are numerous—and is looked upon now as a distinctive New
Hampshire name.
Another of the “Cons” was Cornelius Driscoll. His name appears first in
1715, attached to a petition praying for the settlement of a minister in
Dover. The name is spelled Drisco, but there is no question about it
being Driscoll, for two reasons: first, the given name Cornelius, as
well as there also being a Teage Driscoll; “Tim” is the English of
Teage; and second, the word Bristol is spelled Bristo. The name is still
spelled Drisco by people bearing it. Later it appears spelled properly,
“Driscoll,” in the state papers, but an interrogation mark is placed
after the name, which is evidence of the mutilation of Irish names by
those not conversant with their character. Teage Drisco’s name appears
on the records of the town of Exeter in 1664, Cornelius Driscoe in 1725,
and John Drisco in 1710. “Driscoll Hill,” in Francestown, is a locality
spoken of in the _Granite Monthly_ for August, 1897. Cornelius Drisco
was one of the proprietors of the town of Gilmanton in 1727. Still
another “Con,” who appears often in the records, is Cornelius Lary. He
was in Exeter as early as 1674. Like other old Irish surnames, it was
twisted out of shape by the English scribes, so that in various places
it is spelled O’Leary, Lary, and Lear.
As is well-known, this is one of the great south of Ireland names. It
would be of great interest to “Con’s” countrymen had he kept a diary
relating his experience in those days. “The Curse of Crummill” was on
the lips of many at that time, perhaps on his. Thirty-six years later,
in 1710, the names of Daniel, Samuel, Thomas, and Cornelius Lary appear,
perhaps the sons of the emigrant. It is still common in Maine as well as
in New Hampshire as Lary. Col. Tobias Lear, of Portsmouth, was
Washington’s secretary. Whether his name was Leary originally, cannot be
determined. He married a daughter of Col. Pierse Long. The latter was
the son of Pierse Long who came to Portsmouth from Limerick, Ireland.
Colonel Long was with Sullivan at the capture of Newcastle, and
commanded a regiment in the Continental army.
McDuffee has been a well-known New Hampshire family name for one hundred
and fifty years. Col. John McDuffee commanded a regiment in the
Continental army and some of the most substantial business men in the
state are of the same clan. The “Cons” were also represented in this
family in the person of Cornelius Duffee, whose name appears in the
index of the provincial papers.
Of the Michaels, the most distinguished was Gen. Michael McClary. He was
the grandson of Andrew McClary, who came over in 1726, to Epsom, and the
nephew of Maj. Andrew McClary, who fell at Bunker Hill, and of Lieut.
John McClary, who was killed in action at Saratoga. He was an ensign at
Bunker Hill, and was appointed captain in the Continental army later. He
filled many positions in civil life. He was the first adjutant-general
of New Hampshire under the new constitution, and also served as United
States marshal. The family was prominent in state affairs. John McClary
was a member of the governor’s council five years before 1785, and of
the senate six years. Michael McClary served in the senate twelve years,
and James H. McClary, two years; Michael was elected, but resigned, and
James H. was chosen in convention to fill the vacancy.
The original emigrant, Andrew, came over on the same vessel with James
Harney. Their friendship was carried down to the third generation in the
name of James Harney McClary. There were others of the same name in the
state, but not of the same family. Whether as Cleary, Clary, or
Clery—with or without the Mac or the O—the name is as Irish as the
shamrock.
Another of the Michaels who, if not as distinguished as the one
mentioned, was a useful citizen, was Michael Dwyer, who was one of the
first settlers of Holderness, N. H. His name appears frequently in the
state records; he was selectman of his town, and represented it in the
state legislature, and it is evident that he was prominent in business
and political affairs in his section of the state.
A contemporary of his in Holderness was Capt. Bryan McSweeny, a veteran
of the old French, Indian, and Revolutionary wars.
Others of the name of Dwyer were in New Hampshire before Michael’s day,
for the name of Edward Dwyer appears on the Exeter town records in 1695,
also that of James Dwyer. Time has probably changed the name to Dyer.
Michael Johnston was one of the first two settlers of Haverhill, N. H.,
going there from Haverhill, Mass. His brother, Col. Charles Johnston, in
point of character, it is written, was the most prominent of Haverhill’s
first settlers. He also had a son Michael. Whether Irish or Scottish,
Johnston is the English for McShane or McIan.
The name Carroll, borne by Maryland’s “first citizen,” was represented
among the New Hampshire Michaels, in the person of Michael Carroll. A
county also bears his name, and it is quite common in New Hampshire. The
New Hampshire national bank examiner is the Hon. E. H. Carroll, and the
labor commissioner is Col. L. H. Carroll. A brother of the bank
commissioner is superintendent of schools in Worcester, Mass.
Michael Annis, perhaps Ennis, bore the name of the man who built the
first house in the town of Warner. His father came from Enniskillen “in
Great Britain,” so the history reads, but Ireland would be more correct
geographically. Adding the Mac and spelling the name properly it would
be McGuinis, McInnis, McGinnis, McGuinness, or Magenis.
Michael Chatterton was the first of the Michaels to appear on the New
Hampshire records. He was one of the servants sent over by Capt. John
Mason, coming at the same time as Darby Field, between 1631 and 1640.
With him was William Dermit. Albee, the historian of Newcastle, wrote
that Portsmouth’s first settlers were Celts from Devon and Cornwall.
There was more or less trade between the colony in its early days and
Limerick and Kilkenny, Ireland, Kilkenny rugs and Limerick bacon being
spoken of.
Michael Clark represented another widely known New Hampshire family
name, well represented at the bar, on the bench, and in the upper and
lower branches of congress.
Michael Fitzgerald was one of the great Norman Irish clan which in time
became more Irish than the Irish themselves. Edward Fitzgerald, one of
the first settlers of Boscawen, was reputed to be well educated and
prosperous. Col. John Fitzgerald was Washington’s favorite aid.
As a rule, the New Hampshire descendants of the Fitzgeralds have divided
the name. Some are known as Fitzes, others as Geralds.
Michael Kelly was a grandson of Darby Kelly mentioned, and the brother
of Gen. B. F. Kelly, of West Virginia, as well as the father of ex-Mayor
F. H. Kelly, of Worcester, and of Capt. Warren Michael Kelly, of
Donohoe’s Tenth N. H. regiment in the Civil War.
Michael Lyons was a namesake of the impulsive Matthew Lyons, of Vermont
and Kentucky (who thanked God, when in congress, that he was not one of
“Cromwell’s bastards”), and also of Gen. Nathaniel Lyons, one of the
gallant soldiers and martyrs of the Civil War.
Michael Metcalf bore the same surname as the only Knownothing
governor-elect of New Hampshire. The latter, maternally, was sprung from
a respectable Irish family named Montague, so the historian of the town
of Newport wrote, which perhaps accounts for the appearance of Michael
among the Metcalfs; and here was also a Michael Metcalf, Jr., which
showed that it took one generation to make the name unpopular.
Michael Smith bore a numerous family surname not confined to any one of
the British Isles, but common to all. He was in New Hampshire early, and
with him was Patrick Smith. No doubt both were Irish.
Michael Butler represented another great Irish family, whose most
distinguished member, produced in New Hampshire, was Gen. Benjamin F.
Butler. About the first to appear in the colony was John Butler, who was
in Dover in 1647. James Butler was in Woburn, Mass., in or before 1676;
his son, John Butler, came to Pelham, N. H., in 1721. They are the
ancestors of many of the name in the state.
The foregoing sketches have been written in order to show the kind of
men some of those New Hampshire Dennises, Corneliuses, Patricks and
Michaels were. A modern Irishman, bearing any of these names, would
never have his nationality questioned. All are appended here so as to
have them placed on record as another piece of evidence to illustrate
the presence of Irish in New Hampshire before the Revolution.
This is a pre-Revolutionary list:
Dennis Andrews, Dennis Bohonnon, Dennis Bickford, Dennis Callahan,
Dennis Loughlan, Dennis Hight, Dennis Haley, Dennis McLane, Dennis
Johnson, Dennis Sullivan, Dennis Pendergast, Dennis Stanley, Dennis
Wood, Dennis Burger, Dennis McLaughlan, Dennis Organ (O’Regan).
Cornelius Bean, Cornelius Brooks, Cornelius Boule (Boyle), Cornelius
Blunt, Cornelius Busiel, Cornelius Campbell, Cornelius Cuyler, Cornelius
Connor, Cornelius Cook, Cornelius Driscoll, Cornelius Clough, Cornelius
Denbow, Cornelius Dunsey, Cornelius Lary, Cornelius Duffee, Cornelius
Dinsmore, Cornelius Danley, Cornelius Goodell, Cornelius Innis,
Cornelius Kirby, Cornelius Laurence, Cornelius Roberts, Cornelius
Sturtevant, Cornelius Thompson, Cornelius Warren, Cornelius Wheeler,
Cornelius Johnson, Cornelius Cornell, Cornelius White, Cornelius Cady
(Cody), Cornelius Culnon, Cornelius Stowell, Cornelius Davoe, Cornelius
Dillingham, Cornelius Neall, Cornelius Uart (Hart?), Cornelius Ludlow,
Cornelius Lowe, Cornelius Stratton, Cornelius Osborne, Cornelius
Winslow.
Patrick Bourn, Patrick Burns, Patrick Bradshawe, Patrick Campbell,
Patrick Cogan, Patrick Clark, Patrick Bonner, Patrick Douglass, Patrick
Donnell, Patrick Field, Patrick Furness, Patrick O’Flynn, Patrick
Fisher, Patrick Fassett, Patrick Gault, Patrick Guinlon, Patrick Grimes,
Patrick Henry, Patrick Jameson, Patrick Kinelty, Patrick Larkin, Patrick
Lieless, Patrick McDonnell, Patrick Kennedy, Patrick McMurphy, Patrick
Cavanagh, Patrick Furlong, Patrick Madden, Patrick McGee, Patrick
McGrath, Patrick McLaughlin, Patrick McMitchell, Patrick Moore, Patrick
McCutchin, Patrick Murray, Patrick Murphy 1, Patrick Murphy 2, Patrick
Markham, Patrick Garvin, Patrick Tobin, Patrick Melvin, Patrick
Landrigal, Patrick Roach, Patrick Tobeyne, Patrick Greing, Patrick
Taggart, Patrick Straton, Patrick Jennison, Patrick Manning, Patrick
Smith, Patrick Farrell, Patrick Dougherty, Patrick White, Patrick Burt,
Patrick McKey, Patrick Pebbles, Patrick Thatcher, Patrick Orr, Patrick
Griffin.
Michael Anderson, Michael Bowdoin, Michael Bowler, Michael Barrus,
Michael Brown, Michael Arbuckle, Michael Archer, Michael Cook, Michael
Carroll, Michael Chapman, Michael Annis, Michael Coffin, Michael
Chatterton, Michael Cressy, Michael Carew, Michael Clark, Michael
Dalton, Michael Doherty, Michael Doulton, Michael Davis, Michael Dwyer,
Michael Doran, Michael Ames, Michael Dearborn, Michael Falker, Michael
Fitzgerald, Michael Field, Michael Gordon, Michael Gibson, Michael
Grant, Michael George, Michael Gilman, Michael Haley, Michael Hailstock,
Michael Heffron, Michael Hoyt, Michael Hilands, Michael Hayes, Michael
Hicks, Michael Flanders, Michael Jennings, Michael Keef, Michael Kelly,
Michael Lovell, Michael Lanning, Michael Lyons, Michael Lannon, Michael
Logan, Michael Ludden, Michael Looney, Michael Larney, Michael Keep,
Michael Martyn, Michael Metcalf, Michael Moulton, Michael McClary,
Michael Martin, Michael Mann, Michael Miles, Michael McClintock, Michael
Metcalf, Jr., Michael Mitchell, Michael Mosher, Michael Poor, Michael
Parke, Michael Perry, Michael Quinn, Michael Reade, Michael Ryan,
Michael Saunders, Michael Sutton, Michael Stocker, Michael Sargent,
Michael Smith, Michael Shalletoo, Michael Tamtor, Michael Thomas,
Michael Tebo, Michael Traynor, Michael Tilton, Michael Troy, Michael
Tinney, Michael Veal, Michael Salter, Michael Reed, Michael Verli,
Michael Wentworth, Michael Worthen, Michael Whidden, Michael Sudrick,
Michael Silk, Michael Ward, Michael Vincint, Michael Johnson, Michael
Woodcock, Michael Woodcock, Jr., Michael Johnston, Michael Scruton,
Michael Fowler, Michael French, Michael Mudge, Michael Herring, Michael
Warring, Michael Butler, Michael Burnham, Michael Colley, Michael
Dunning, Michael Duff, Michael Farley, Michael Huffuel.