Unknown (MacManus) McManus

Born [date unknown] in Ireland

Died about 2 Jan 1786 in Ahoghill, County Antrim, Ireland [uncertain]

Biography

Previous researchers determined the McManuses descended from ancient chieftains of various names and places in Ireland. In 1921 a fire destroyed many early documents, especially censuses. Most McManuses in America can trace their ancestors to the Famine of 1850 and no earlier except by ancient Irish historical records, traditions and lastely DNA.

The ancient story of the MacManus Sept of the Kings of Connaught began by AD 365. One of the earliest was Niall of the Nine Hostages and his brother Bryan who d in AD396. ^[1]

Niall and Science

DNA opend a new door into the ancient Mac-McManus lineages by separating them into two distinct DNA group patterns. One being from the Ui Neill clan having sprung from Niall of the Nine Hostages c400 AD.

Niall is an interesting and prolific character who supposedly ransacked Northern Ireland, the Hebrides Isles and Scotland, during which he left issue by as many as 20 wives. Niall's DNA is still being studied in depth for its value to genetic history. The first 12 markers and specific pattern at Loci #22-25 (DYS/464 a-b-c-d being 15-15-16-17) is the Niall "pattern." [2] [3] Numerous testers show the Naill results but so far, none match at all four loci.

From the Ui Neill clan came the O'Connor group from which arose various branches of 'MacManus.' At some point, Maguire also intermarried with MacManus and formed a new branches.

Early O'Neill area in the North~ Note McGuyre just soutwest of "O'Neal Kil'd by the wild Scots"

Maguyre Connection

The "Henry" branch is compared with a DNA project begun by the Maguire researchers; begun in 2007 and continuing in 2011 in an attempt to identify the McManus-Maguire mergings. At last look, it shows some mixture but without the full Niall pattern. The third pencilled in group of five was not part of the test but does show the full Niall match with the 4 loci.

UIDHIR Circa 850-900 AD and Donn Carragch Mag UIDHIR died AD1302 is the starting place for this study. Both Connaught and Fermanagh had their own Kings. The Roscommon of Connaught Province is column #1 on the chart; the #2 column was from Fermanagh Co., just North of Connaught Prov. The third is that of our subject, Henry, whose line is not part of the study but who shows all four loci of the Niall pattern. There are also other branches.

In Co. Fermanagh is a community that since the 12th century has been known as Ballymacmanus. which was owned by MacManus families. Two hundred years later, one Cathal Og MacManus-Maguire (resident, with McManus as a middle surname prior to Maguire. Cathol Og (aka Charles) wrote the Annals of Ulster. The footnote suggests Macmanus was a prior surname of this Maguire, how in unknown if at all. [4]

There are also different Coats of Arms for the varying groups. Henry's appears to be Cor et MacManus

Thus, by 1400 AD and no later than the death of the "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth 1, the surname MacManus-McManus appeared in Roscommon, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Armagh, Louth, Tyrone, Londonderry and Antrim. In general Roscommon, is in the Province of Connaught. The others are now considered Northern Ireland.

Henry MacManus

Henry was born around the time the rule of Elizabeth I who died in 1603. Afterwards, Protestant King James VI of Scotland ruled England as James 1 until his death in 1625. King James1 was adept at socio-political-economic machinations and developed a plan to improve relationships between Britain and Ireland by recruiting Scottish Protestants to remove to Northern Ireland.

The strong Scots and Irish peoples began to work together well. They improved commerce, manufacture, and agriculture. ^[2] There were two main waves of migration; the first abt 1717 spawned by the Protestant-Catholic-Episcopal discord. Just before the American Revolution; a second wave began including those tired of the taxes and exportation restrictions. ^[3]

Before and into the 1690s, our subject, his sons and grandsons began accepting the modified Episcopal faith ~ the outcome of the cultural merging with the Scottish. By 1700 migration to the New World began and McMANUS appears in in Maryland, now confirmed by documentation as part of the Northern Ireland group. It took until just prior to 1737 for the first identified McManus to take refuge in the New World, descedant John McManus

Some records for Henry in Co. Antrim

Henry is listed on the Hearth Money Rolls for three hearths in Ballybeg Co. Antrim, along with two McManus widows. Also listed was Bryan McManner [sic] of Ballykennedy townland for 2 hearths. Additionally are listed two widows.

• Widd McManus 3 hearths, Ballybeg townland;
• Bryan McManner 2 hearths of Kennedys (Ballykennedy) townland;
• Wid McManus, Sen., 2 hearths. She died and was buried after 1669 in Mount Davys, Cardonaghy, Ahoghill, Co. Antrim.

^[4]

1. Bryan MacManus was born in 1629 (date is specific) and died 16 Jan 1705. ^[5]
2. Thomas Edward McManus born about 1640. Died in Galgorm. One Thomas McManus was a corporation owner of Carrickfergus in 1585. From there they bought land in Ballybeg and Galgorm. They eventually obtained property in Mount Davys which they lost in 1690 but later was re-granted. Thomas came into good graces with the Earl of Leinster, and his son got lands (rents and distraints) in Maynooth. A complete look at the corporation (town) records of Carrickfergus around 1690 and later may answer some questions. They should be on LDS film.^[6]
3. John McManus "of Tullygowan," Co. Antrim, Ireland (Will 1785 Proved 1786) named his "sister Elizabeth" and other specific relatives in his Will, helping to clarify our lineage.
4. Henry McManus II, Esq. became Alderman for County Derry. PRONI seems to have a good amount of history on this man.^[7]
5. Elizabeth McManus "Sister of John of Tullygowan." ^[8]

Death and Legacy

Henry McManus was bur in Ballykennedy, Ahoghill, Co. Antrim, Ireland at the Ahoghill Church where his descendants remained until some determined to migrate to the New World. ^[9] [5]; [6]

Research Notes

Burke's Peerage and Heraldic Dynasties volumes do not show Henry MacManus, I or II, but primary evidence does support his children and their descendants and they are shown in the Burke's Heraldic Dynasties - including the updated one above by J. J. Howard in 1874, see image.

Sources

1. ↑ Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, Vol. 1 edited by Joseph Jackson Howard, LLD,., SSA, a New Series adding to the original Burke's Heraldica series, our best resource to date. [1] 6 pps.
2. ↑ Leyburn, James G., The Scotch-Irish A Social History; 1962 Univ. of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, Kindle ed. [No comments on "Scotch" necessary :)) ]
3. ↑ pp. 1-2; Gilmore, Parkhill & Roulston; Exiles of '98 [e.g. 1798] Pub: Ulster Historical Foundation 2018
4. ↑ Research of Phil Manus
5. ↑ Will: Diocese of Connor, District Registry of Belfast, Bay 1A, Tray 90)
6. ↑ ibid; Phil McManus, Images; and reviewed by James Dale McManus
7. ↑ McManus, Philip E., MacMaghnusa McManus A New Look at the History of an Old Irish Sept., 1994 privately published. 929.2
8. ↑ Will abstract of John of Tullygownan, her brother
9. ↑ Eull Dunlop & Sandy Kernohan. Ahoghill: Part Three. Around Ahoghill. Further Photographs and Other Items. About Folk from the Fourtowns and RoundAbout. Ballymena, Mid-Antrim Historical Group, 1990. ISBN 0-9509265-6-8

See also:

• Irish Records and Images online at Find My Past
• National Archives of Ireland
• Irish News Archives
• Geni
• Peter Gilmore, Trevor Parkhill, William Roulston (eds), Exiles of ’98: Ulster Presbyterians and the United States (Ulster Historical Foundation, 2018)
• References provided by Dr. Desmond McCabe, P.R.O.N.I; Interview with Rev. James Donald McManus of South Carolina, 2019. His comment is "Everyone thinks they are from the Antrim group."
• McManus, James Dale McManus-806 research of McManus in Ireland, England, Barbados, and early American Colonies since the 1990s; with a focus on the Military.
• Written by Barbara Breece Roesch Breece-42 research beginning in North Carolina 1993.