McLoughlin of Leitrim

A sept in Co. Leitrim closely related to the O'Rourkes, Lords of Breffny, also assumed the suname MacLochlainn from an ancestor named Lochlan. This sept appears in the State Papers of 1591 as one of the chief fighting forces of the O'Rourke chieftains who "shared the lands of Ylaugh and Cleanlough in Co. Leitrim as their inheritance" with the MacMorrices and the MacTiernans of Clann Tiernan. That they were an important local sept is evidenced by the same document of 1591 which states "they had never bonnaught of O'Rourke but only their shares in the preys and spoils that were taken."

Four of the name appear in the 1609 pardon lists of King James I along with the O'Rourke chieftains. Two of the name received grants of land at about the same date in the Barony of Drumaheir in Leitrim County. The sept appears to have been fairly numerous: in the Census of 1659 the combined returns for the Baronies of Drumheir and Roscloger record the names of 32 MacLoughlin families.

1885 State Papers
Oct. 3 Dublin

The Compostition Book of the province of Connaught and
Thomond. This book contains the Commission, 15 July 1585. The
return of Byngham and the Commissioners, 3 Oct. 1585. The abstract
of the composition, which was retunred into the Court of Chancery
in Ireland. The names of 41 Mc's (Macks) and 26 O's (Oes) who
surrendered their Irish names and customs of inheritance, and
received their castles and lands by patent, to them and their heirs,
in English succession. The Macs are, M'William Eighter, M'Ne Marra Fynn,
M'Ne Marra Reoghe, M'Gilly Reoghe, M'Glaneghee,M'Everhin, M'Hubberte,
M'Oughe, M'William Roe, M'Cremon, M'Walter, M'Huighe, M'Edmonde,
M'Gyrraughe, M'Reamon, M'Thomas, M'Vavye, M'Walter, M'Dermott, M'Padyn,
M'Tybbott, M'Phillippen, M'connell, M'Glaughe, M'Tyernan, M'Keallye,
M'Gravell, M'Deirmotte Roe, M'Branan, M'Kehernye, M'Evillye, M'Costolowe,
M'Jordan, M'Murreye, M'Enawe, M'Loughlin, M'Granill, M'Donoghe encorren,
M'Donoghe cobea, M''Dermott Gall, and M'Manys. The Oes are, O'Rourk,
O'Connor Sligo, O'Connor Dunne, O'Connor roe, O'Kelly, O'Flaherty, O'Male,
O'Heyne, O'Maddyne, O'Dowdy, O'Harry Bwye, O'Harry Reoghe, O'Naughtyne,
O'Loughlin, O'Guffe, O'Neylan, O'Murrye, O'Mannyn, O'Cowchanon, O'Byrne,
O'Flynne, O'Hanlye, O'Hartye, O'Lorkan, O'Flanegane, and O'Mulrenyn.

1591-2 State Papers
Feb.

43. Names of the five baronies in O'Rourke's country, viz., in
Mynterolles, two baronies called Leitrim and Moyghell. The
M'Grannells enjoyed these two baronies as their proper lands, until
the late O'Rourke's father supplanted them by strong ahdn, and
since that time they have lived under the spending and tyranny of
O'Rourke. A third barony is called Carryg Allen and is occupied
by a sept of the O'Rourkes, called the O'Rourkes of Carryg Allen.
All these three baronies lie on this side the mountain Sleighoneron,
which divideth the whole country as it were into two parts, the
lands and grounds thereof are fruitful, though some bog and woods.
The other to baronies lie beyond the said mountain of sleighoneyron, viz.,
the barony of Dromaheare, in which is the country called Brenny O'Rourke,
O'Rourke's ancient castle having fifty or sixty quarters lying about it
called Canarvy. This barony is most champaign ground and the best land
in all the country. The barony of Roselougher, M'Glannough's country.
A fast country full of bogs and woods. And the Carrhy, Owen O'Rourke's
country, called the O'Rourkes of the Carrhy, a champaign and very fruitfull.
O'Rourke's house, called the newton, is in none of these baronies, but
standeth upon the border of his country, near to Sligo, and hath belonging
unto it eight quarters of land in demsne called Mooyghhellys.
The chief freeholders in the country of O'Rourke are the two MacGrannells,
in Mynterooles, McGlannough, in the Dartry, the O'Rourkes of Carryg Allen,
the O'Rourkes of the Carrhy, and the MacGawrains. The chief ordinary forces
and strength of men to serve O'Rourke in his wars are, the McLoughlins, the
McMorrices, and the Clantyernene. These had sixteen quarters of land amoungst
them as their inheritance, called Ylaugh, and the lands of Cleanlough.
These had never bonnaught of O'Rourke but only their shares of
preys and spoils that were taken."

44. Notes for O'Rourke's country. In O'Rourke's country there
two sorts of freeholders. As the M'Glannoughs, M'Grannells, who
were chieftains but subject to O'rourke's spending. These pretend that they
owe no service to her Majesty, but only to O'rourke. The others are persons
of inferior calling and made freeholders by the Commissioners at the establishment
of the late composition, with reservations of service and tentures to her Majesty.
Most of both sorts are chargeable with the forfeiture of their freeholds by
law, for, though some may stand clear of complicity with O'Rourke, they may be
called upon to prove their first grants, and, not being able to do so, Her
Majesty may either resume their lands or re-grant them with reservations of rent
in lieu of their former contributions to O'Rourke, as was done in the Brenny,
Annaley, and now in Monaghan.Or else Her Majesty may expel them all and plant
English there, which would be hardly taken. All O'Rourke's places of
strength in islands, loughs, &c., should be demolished or put into the hands
of the English. If the Earl of Kildare could be drawn to relinquish his claim
to the barony of Sligo and take in lieu of it lands in O'Rourke's country, it would tend
to the civilisation of the country, and John Newton and other suitors might by
recompensed from the same lands.

1659 Census Leitrim County

Baronies of Drumaheir and Rosclogeer

Principle Irish Names: McLoghlen 32
Gloghlen 05

1609 Pardon Lists
Patent Rolls of King James I

Pat. I IV-I Deirmot McLoghlin, yeoman
County of Le Trim, 17 June 1st.

Pat. I IX-10 Shane Oge McLoghlin, Teige Oge
McLoghlin, Uny McLoghlin, Leitrim Co.
22 July 1st.

Grants under the Commission for the Plantation
of Leitrim 1609
Patent Rolls of King James I

Pat. 19 XII-56

"To Owen McLaughlin - Leitrim County - Talteene,
11 acres pasture and 10 acres bog and wood;
Umroagh, 61 acres pasture and 15 acres bog and
wood; Teneclevane and Meneneagh, Dargvone,
Agherym and Cooleregreene, 8 acres pasture and 14
acres bog and wood, barony of Drumahare ...."

Pat. 19 XLV-39

"To Donogh McLaughlin, gent. - Leitrim Co. - 10
acres arable and 52 acres wood and bog, in
Conregillagh adjoining Derrenekeher;
Derrenekeher, parcel of Glaudagull, 60 acres
arable and 312 acres bog and wood - to hold by
fealty, in free and common socage....."
1666 A.D. State Papers

29 April
Whitehall

Proclamation of the Lord Lieutenant and
Council

"We are now informed that Kedagh Backagh O'Hart of
Co. Sligo, Patrick Cambell of Co. Mayo, Edmund
McGuare, Connor McLoughlin, James O'Farrell,
Carmoch O'Canane alis O'Cooneen, Randal McDaniel
of the county Leitrim and Oliver Brannagh and
Sheene McGrath are Tories that rob and spoil
good subjects."

Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland

1421 A.D. "Hugh, the son of Murray Roe MacLoughlin,
was drowned in the ford of Ballyshannon."

1430 A.D. "Donogh oge, the son of MacLoughlin, died."

1603 A.D. "Then ensued a great battle with the
O'Rourkes of Breifny. A few persons were
slain between them, amoung whom were
Owen, the son of Ferdorcha O'Gallagher
and Turlough, the son of MacLoughlin, who
fell by each other on that occasion."

It is also possible the following reference in the Annals of
the Kingdom of Ireland applies to this sept:

1510 A.D. "MacCabe of Breifny and Anthony [Uaithne]
MacLoughlin died."

History of Enniskillen

p. 262

"We thus have an eyesight into the relations between the owner of
Manor Hamilton and his neighbours of the Irish clans in this year of 1641,
during the October of which the Irish Rebellion and Massacre broke out.
The Diary already referred to begins with mention of the setting on fire and
burning of the "Iron Works called the Garrison," Co. Fermanagh, by the
MacLaughlins and MacMurrays of the County Leitrim, and that seven or eight
score of the sufferers, most of them English, wounded and robbed, fled to
Lady Hamilton for relief."

p. 263

"This day by our Colonell's command a gallowes was erected upon the
top ofan hill neare the castle, and having about 24 prisoners in the castle,
he caused eight of them to be hanged up which had been at the burning of
Ballyshannon, in the county of Donegall, and at the burning of the iron works
in the county of Fermanagh.

The gallows was kept busy, for we find that a number of men were tried
by and executed under martial law since the beginning of this Rebellion, whose
names are given as below:-

The names of such as have been Hanged at Manor Hamilton, by
Martial Law since the beginning of this Rebellion,

Jan 8. Connour Mac Shane Glasse
MacLoughlin, the chief
of his name.

Feb 11. Donnogh boy O'Bane
Mewe Mac Loughlin

Several different versions of the descent of this McLoughlin family can be found in Irish manuscripts including the O'Clery Book of Genealogies, the Leabhar Donn and the Linea Antiqua. Some of the versions differ slightly from each other. Presented here is the Linea Antiqua version which extends far enough to identify Connour Mac Shane Glasse, called the chief of his name in 1641

Linea Antiqua

113 Amhlaoibh O'Rourke
114 Lochlan O'Rourke
115. Donogh MacLochlainn
116. Donogh oge (alias Gillaboy)
117. William roe
118. Feragh
119. Anthony
120. Connor
121. John glas McLoughlin [last name in the Linea Antiqua]
122. Connor Mac Shane glas MacLoughlin,
chief of his name; Hung Jan. 8, 1642 at Manor Hamiltion.