Phelim O'Neill (abt. 1604 - 1653)

Born about 1604 in Caledon, County Tyrone, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Jean (Gordon) O'Neill — married about 1649 in Kirk of Bellie, Elginshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 10 Mar 1653 at about age 49 in Dublin, Ireland

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Biography

"Sir Phelim O'Neill (c. 1603-1653), a kinsman and younger contemporary of the earl of Tyrone, took a prominent part in the rebellion of 1641. In that year he was elected member of the Irish parliament for Dungannon, and joined the earl of Antrim and other lords in concerting measures for supporting Charles I. in his struggle with the parliament. On the 22nd of October 1641 he surprised and captured Charlemont Castle; and having been chosen commander-in-chief of the Irish forces in the north, he forged and issued a pretended commission from Charles I. sanctioning his proceedings." ^[1]

Sir Phelim O'Neill was an Irish nobleman who led the Irish Rebellion of 1641 in Ulster which began on 22 October 1641.^[2]

His name appears in a number of depositions made after the 1641 Rebellion. One example is the deposition of John Parrie, dated 31 May 1642. ^[3]

And this deponent saith that during this deponents said restraint one William Doolin and George Smyth came in from Dungannon and told the deponent and others that Sir Phelim o Neile had produced a Comission vnder his Majesties hand to goe on in that action: Adviseing this deponent & others his men to fight in regard it was by his Majesties approbacion. And this deponent did observe, that the said Sir Phelim o Neiles Comission to his officers & oath to their Counsell comprehended theis words vizt: for vpholding of the kinges prerogative, the manteinance of the Catholique cawse, and the banishment of all dampned puritants...

The commission from King Charles I was subsequently revealed to be a forgery. When he was put on trial before the High Court of Justice in Dublin in 1653, the court offered to pardon him if he implicated Charles I in the Ulster rebellion of 1641, but O'Neill refused to comply. ^[4]

Marriages and Children:

Phelim was married three times and had at least 5 children

His first marriage was to the daughter of Sir Arthur Magennis, the 1st Viscount Lord Iveagh. They had a son, Henry and a daughter Griobha, who married Tieg O'Donoghue of co. Kerry. His first wife died in 1641

In 1642 he married his second wife, Louise Preston, daughter of Thomas Preston, the 1st Viscount Tara. They had one son, Phelim, born around 1646/7 he was a well known member of the Franciscan Order and was appointed guardian of Armagh in 1672.

Louise must have died before 1649 because in 1649 Phelim married Jean Gordon, daughter of the Scottish Noble, the 1st Marquis of Huntly, by whom he had a son Gordon O'Neill, who was member of parliament for Tyrone in 1689; fought for the king at the siege of Derry and at the battles of Aughrim and the Boyne; and afterwards commanded an Irish regiment in the French service, and died in 1704. they also had a daughter, Mary, who married Philip Maguire.

Phelim was executed for high treason on 10 March 1652/53 at Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/O%27Neill
2. ↑ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felim_O%27Neill_of_Kinard
3. ↑ Deposition of John Parrie, 31/5/1642, 1641 Depositions, Trinity College Dublin, MS 836, fols 062r-065v, http://1641.tcd.ie/index.php/deposition/?depID=836062r034. Accessed 30 October 2022.
4. ↑ Dictionary of Irish Biography - Sir Phelim O'Neill
5. ↑ http://www.thepeerage.com/p11026.htm#i110258

See also:

• Data for Marriages and Children taken from: "The O'Neillls of the Fews - New Findings" by Mark Henry, pblished in Vol. 24 No. 2 (2013) of Seanchas Ardhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society