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Full Story of the Raphoe Knox’s (c) 1450 Part one

Cresent; Falcon Crest

Coat of Arms; Falcon Wings expanded within a bordure engrailed

on a canton or a fesse chequy, and a cresent surmounted of another for

difference.

(Motto) I proceed and am more prosperous

Knox Adamus (m) his cousin Sybilla, Daughter of Walter, High

Stewart of Scotland

Issue, Son Uchtred. (Circa) 1450.

Two sons

Uchtred B. (circa) 1490. ______ _________John De Cnoc. B. (Circa)

1485.

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Uchtred. B (circa, 1520) John the Reformer B. (circa, 1515)

Died 1575, end of line.

Uchtred De Cnoc, born, (circa) 1520 (m) Isabel Cunyngham, sister of Lord Cunyngham, Rathfurley.

1 1

Son Uchtred (b) 1554 their second son Son Andrew. (b) 1556.

1 1

Son, John (b) 1574 Sons, Thomas (b)1576, Claud, John, Andrew, James, George,,Marg, Mary. 1 More details about Rt..Rev.Andrew Knox ‘s Family. See Burkes Irish Family

Records

1 (under Knox)

Son William, Took the Title (b) 1599, John or James (b)1597, Uchtred (b) 1596,

1 Title Restored 1 1

1 1 1

Family to Lifford to Raphoe.early 1600’s. No male issue. End of the Line for Uchtred

1 With his Uncle &Aunt Sold his lands to Lord Cochrane To Mayo and Lord & Lady Cunyngham

then to elsewhere As a Soldier, (m) with issue

See Burkes Irish Family 1 see below

Records ( under Knox) 1

(Sons) 1 2 3 4 Daughter

James (b) 1620, Patrick, Andrew, Thomas, Katherine

. 1 1 1 1 1

William (b)1660 ---- ---- To Donegal. (m) J.Young

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James (b)1685 married with issue,

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James, (b)1720 married with issue

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Son William, (b) 1775, married Smyth., Convoy, Known Family, Two sons

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First Son William (b) 1790 , married Gardiner Sion Mills, Was formally from

Convoy.Co.Donegal.

Williams family of Fourteen Ten Daughters, and Four sons, for this family

see William Knox born 1795 in the Adam Tait & James Knox Book

And Second Son John (b)1785, married Herron from Donegal Town Co.Donegal with a family of Ten

Eight daughters and Two Sons. For this family ,see William Knox, 1755,and the descendants John &

Mrs Knox Castletottison, Convoy, Co.Donegal, Ireland. From 1780, in the Adam Tait and James Knox

Book.

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Knox Motto

This Scottish surname was brought to Ireland by settlers, principally in the 17 Th

centuries. And this number of prominent Knox families who acquired estates in

County Derry, County Mayo, Tipperary and Dublin, trace their lineage to settlers

from Ranfurly in Renfrewshire, who came to Donegal early in the 17th century.

In 1234 the land of Cnoc was held under the abbot of Paisley by Dun Gallus filius

Cristini, and his spouse Matilda.

Early records of the name mentioned John le Cnoc who witnessed the charter of

lands in 1260 and in the following year he witnessed a grant of lands to the Abbey

of Paisley.

George Knox was a sergeant in Edinburgh in 1467. John Knox (1514-1572 was a

great Scottish reformers, and remembered for his opposition to Mary Queen of

Scots, and her leanings towards Rome. When the sparce Irish population began to

increase it became necessary to broaden the base of personal identification by

moving from single names to a more definite nomenclature. The prefix MAC was

given to the father's Christian name or O to that of a grandfather or even earlier

ancestor.

At first the Coat of arms was a practical manner which served a function on the

battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face and armour

encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his

fellow followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his

surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armour.

They associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armoury.

Ulster King of Arms in 1884. Registered at Moyne and Rappa Castle, County

Mayo.

Arms; Gules a falcon wings expanded within a border engrailed or on a canton of

the same a fess chequy argent and azure.

Crest; a Falcon close on a perch all proper. The Motto; MOVEO. ET. PROFICIO

, I proceed and am more prosperous

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The meaning of the name De Cnoc. (Knox)

Uchter De Cnoc, (Knox) Lord of Ranfurly, and his wife Isabella

Cunyngham, of Craigs End, Scotland, (then shortened to Craigs.)

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The Name Knox or (De Cnoc, old spelling),

from the year (circa) 1450, A.D.

They could trace their descendants back to Adamus ,who married Sybilla (his

Cousin) who was daughter of Walter, High Stewart of Scotland, and obtained

from him the lands of Knoc ( anglicc, a Hill ), Ranfurley, and Griefe Castle,

in the County of Renfrew, from whence they obtained the Name and Title.

The De.Cnoc or Knox Family of that era had a known issue of two sons, one of

their son’s names I don’t know, but I do know that born in the years of (circa

1485) was the father of John (De. Cnoc) Knox who was born in the years of (circa

1515) and died in the year of 1572.

John (De.Cnoc) Knox was later in life to become best known as John Knox the

Great Reformer. He converted to Protestantism under the influence of George

Wishart. He was exiled in Geneva (1554) where he conferred with Calvin.

He was invited to lead the Reformation in Scotland (1559) and succeeded in that.

He proposed organization of the Church of Scotland in the first book (1560).

John (De Cnoc) Knox’s Uncle was named Uchter De Cnoc (Knox), born (circa

1490) and married, his wife is unknown, and they had one known son also named

Uchter born,

(Circa 1520).

Uchter De Cnoc, (Knox) born (1520) Lord of Ranfurley, married Isabella

Cunyngham, of Craig's, or Craigsend Scotland, were the descendants of a very

Ancient Scottish Family.

Uchter (De Cnoc) Knox was the eldest son of the above-named Uchter and Isabel

De. Cnoc (Knox) (nee) Cunyngham, born (circa) 1554) had one son named John.

Born (circa 1574).

John’s son named Uchter born (circa 1596) (named after his Grandfather Uchter.)

sold his lands to Lord Cochrane, and died without male issue.

John had also a son named James (born circa 1597) and a younger son named

William born (circa 1599). How many more sons of this family were I don’t

know?

Uchter and Isabel De Cnoc (Knox ) (nee) Cunyngham second son Andrew De

Cnoc (Knox ) born 1556 , and died in 1643.Andrew Knox graduated M.A.in the

University of Glasgow and 1579, 7 years after the death of John Knox; it can be

easily seen in his life that he was much influenced by the teachings of his kinsman

The next year he was Ordained Minister of Lochwinnoch in Ayrshire.

In 1585 he was transferred to the Abbey Church of Paisley.

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He built himself a house there and his initials are engraved on an oak panel in one

of the principal rooms.

While here he twice defeated invasions of the Spanish into Scotland.

First, in 1592, he, with a body of armed men, defeated the Spanish blank plot,

which was to try to re-establish the Roman faith, by seizing George Kerr just after

he got on board his ship in the Clyde. Kerr was secretly passing into Spain with

important letters.

Andrew Knox on that occasion received assurances from Queen Elizabeth that

good dispositions and regards should be had of his labours, charges, perils, and

services.

Again, in 1597 he defeated a desperate enterprise of Hew Barclay, a Roman

Catholic Baron, who seized and fortified the island of Ailsa, with the design of

delivering it to the Spaniards, who had promised to make a decent in that quarter.

He girded on his sword, and taking boat with a few daring assistance, attacked the

traitor on his rock, rather than be taken alive, rushed into the sea and perished.

In April, 1605 Andrew Knox was appointed Bishop of the Isles, and nominated

Abbot Icolmkill, by writ of Privy Seal.

In 1606 he attended Parliament in Perth.

In 1610 he was a member of the Court of High Commissions.

The diocese comprised 209 islands of various sizes, from Lewis, 36 miles long,

down to near specs upon the ocean. The people spoke Gaelic, but could also

speak, or at least understand, ENGLISH, and repeated prayers in it, to which were

joined the Creed and the Ten Commandments.

Bishop Knox exerted himself to compose differences and promote order, but his

pains were all bestowed; and, to escape personal violence, he had to beat as

summary retreat.

On June 26th, 1611, Bishop Knox was preferred by letters patent to the Bishopric

of Raphoe in Ireland. It is supposed that he continued to retain both Bishoprics

until 1619. He found his diocese in most deplorable state. It had been populated

and destroyed by internal wars between Hugh Roe O'Donnell and Shane O'Neill

for many years. These two had united to oppose the English, and, after a desperate

conflict were overcome.

The Cathedral of Raphoe was unroofed and in ruins. There is no record of this

work of destruction. In 1566 Armagh Cathedral was ‘’ruined, broken-down, and

defaced’’ by Shane O'Neill. The cause assigned for the outrage was ‘’that he did it

lest the English should lodge therein’’.

In 1576 another Irish Chief burned the town and church of Athenry, though his

mother was buried in that place; but he declared that’’ if his mother were alive,

he would sooner born her and the church together than any English Church should

fortify there.

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Before Raphoe Cathedral passed into the hands of the English a wooden cross

was built up in a recess in the chancel, where it appears to have stood. It entirely

escaped detection by the Protestants, and only a vague tradition was preserved of

this existence.

Bishop Leslie alleges that it was pretended that this cross was a part of the true

Cross of Calvary and had miraculous powers. He supposed that it was destroyed,

but three years after his book was printed, it was discovered by Mr Thomas Drew,

R.H.E.A.

On being exposed to the air it crumbled away. The remains were put back and

built up again.

Bishop Knox obtained his patent in 1611 and our present authorised version was

published.

On May 6th, 1610, King, to Sir Arthur Chichester-- An annuity of £100 by the

year for Andrew Knox, Bishop of the Isles of Scotland, and now a elected Bishop

of Raphoe, in Ireland. (This annuity determined May 19th 1620)

July 24 Th, 1610, King's letter for translation of George Montgomery to Meath

with Clogher.

April 10th, 1611, Andrew Knox Bishop of Isles to Lord Salisbury - Came to

Court last Easter to impart to his Lordship the misery of the Church in the north of

Ireland, but failed to obtain access.

On his return from Royston where he and the Lord Chancellor of Scotland were

commanded by the King to attend touching some affairs of Scotland, he was

directed presently to take journey to the Isles of Scotland towards Ireland, for

services in both kingdoms.

Sends bearer, his elected Deane of Raphoe to communicate to him his Majesty's

pleasure touching the reformation of the abuses of the Irish Churches—

July 4th, 1611 Andrew, Bishop

of the Isles, to become

Archbishop of Canterbury

(Abbot)- On leaving Court

hastened to the Isles of

Scotland, and, having settled

disturbances there, proceeded

to England ; thence, by King’s

order, to Dublin. Delivered

King's letters and articles to

Lord Deputy, who assembled

the four Archbishops, and their suffrages. Stayed in the City 15 days.

Within 10 days the matter was concluded.

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For help and Preaching and reasoning with the adversaries (numerous in Dublin),

took with him one very reverend and learned Scotchman, Mr James Dundas,

chancellor or (chantere) of Moray, well known to his Majesty and Mr Adair, Dean

of Raphoe.

October 13th, 1611, -- Sir Arthur Chichester, to Salisbury- the Bishop of Raphoe

is a good Bishop for that part of the kingdom, and zealously affected to correct

and reform the errors and abuses of the priests and people, and has done more

good in Church government in the short time of his being among them than his

predecessor George Montgomery in all his time.

February 5th for 1612, Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Salisbury, to Sir

Arthur Chichester,--

Recommend the Bishop of Raphoe as a Reverend person, honoured and esteemed

by the King and by their Lordships. He bears the King's warrant to be admitted to

the Privy Council, of which the doubt not he will be a worthy and Reverend

known member.

1612-- The King's direction in favour of the Bishop of Raphoe- that the Bishop

return to Ireland, take up his residence there, and follow forth his charge.

That a letter be drawn up and signed by the King, directed to the Lord Deputy,

signifying the favourable acceptance of the Bishop's service done last year, with

direction to grant a Commission to inquire what lands belonged to the House and

priory of Donegal, now annexed to the Bishopric of Raphoe, at the time of

suppressing the friars, and to give the Bishop possession of such Lands as

formally belong to the sayed friars.

And as the House of Donegal is in a ruinous state, and part of the materials were

carried away by Captain Brax for building of the Castle of Donegal, it behoves

the Bishop last year to borrow Sir Ralph Byngly’s house, upon Lough Swilley,

where he resides with his wife and family, and the garrison being 24 miles distant

the King's pleasure is that 25 horsemen, under the conduct of Sir Ralph Byngly,

should be appointed to wait upon the Bishop, and live near his residence.

Also those 15 soldiers be appointed under the absolute command of Sir Ralph

Bynly, with an entertainment of tens per diem.

Sir Ralph Bynly’s House was at Rathmullen

Bishop Knox restored the Chapel of the Monastery.

In his time, and for long after, it was used as the parish church of Rathmullen.

Within its walls is the buring place of the Knox family’s and of others.

Over the door can still be seen the remains of a stone bearing the Knox coat of

arms. Two crescents, and beneath a fish swimming (possibly indicative of his

having crossed the sea), and the letters AN. KN.SE. And the date 1619.

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In June 1619, the Bishop with his son Thomas, and the Reverend Thomas Bruce,

and others, were made free denizens of the Kingdom of Ireland, and in February,

1620, he was directed at by the King to ‘’surrender the house (castle) and five-

and-a-half quarters of land at Rathmullen, and to have a re-grant of same’’.

In because Bishop Knox was in Scotland that,

The Castle of Dunyveg was for a short time garrisoned by him for the

Government.

The Bishop himself was let into at trap in Isla by the sons of the old Chief Mc.

Donnell. The insurgents broke his boats, threaten to massacre him and his

company, and compelled him to deliver to them Thomas, his son and John, his

nephew of Ranfurley, as hostages for his performance of some conditions.*

Bishop Knox brought with him from Scotland a goodly number of sons, whom he

ordained and planted in different parts of his diocese

Thomas, (the eldest son of Bishop Andrew Knox), was appointed to the See of the

Isles in February, 1619; instituted to Clondavaddock, in the diocese of Raphoe,

3rd August 1622, and held that Parish for five years.

In 1620 a King's letter was issued to grant him all lands in Kilmacrennan in

possession of Sir Mulmury McSwiney.

Again in 1627 Charles the 1st. directed Lord Falkland, ‘’ in consideration of the

long and faithful service done unto our dear late father, and unto us and our

Crown, by the Right Rev. Thomas Knox, Lord Bishop of the Isles’’ to make a

legal grant of certain lands (almost all in the barony of Kilmacrennan), late in the

tenure of Sir Mulmurry Mc.Swiney, with covenants of life use for the latter.

It is doubtful whether this letter took effect, Bishop Thomas Knox died in 1628.

He married Prudence daughter of Peter Benson, Esq. of County Londonderry. The

left a daughter, but no son.

Claudius (second son of Bishop Andrew Knox) was ordained deacon and priest

on 2nd June 1615. He was first appointed to ‘’Aughinncion’’ a parish on the north

shore of Lough Swilly, a few miles from Letterkenny.

Afterwards he was rector and vicar of Inniskeel, so-called from a monastery

founded on an island with in its limits, of which St. Conal Coel was abbot in

about the year of 590, when he was killed by pirates.

It is on the North West Coast, and is about 24 miles in length and about eight

miles and breath, it is mountainous and barren. The island of Inniskeel is about

one mile from the shore. The parish contained the town of Narin, five-and-a-half

miles from Ardara. Through it flows the river Guibarra.

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John Knox, A.M., ( third son of Bishop Andrew Knox ) was ordained deacon and

priest 6th January 1619, collated to the Church of Kilbarron; inducted by

Reverend T Bruce, Archdeacon of Raphoe, to the prebend of Drumholm , on the

9th the March 1619. In the Visitation Book of 1622 -said to be ‘’an honest young

man, a good preacher and scholar’’. The parish of Kilbarron contains the town of

Ballyshannon.

John Knox purchased the lands on which he built his dwelling house of

Moneymore.

John Knox married Jane daughter of G Downham D.D., who was appointed

Bishop of Derry and 1616. They had a son named George.

On 31st May 1622 an inquiry was held by an Archbishop Ussher, under at a

Royal Commission, at Ramelton, to the Report of which the signature of Bishop

Knox is fixed.

In this Record it is stated, that ‘’the Cathedral Church of St Eunan of Raphoe is

ruynated, and all decayd saving the walls onto which has been two years passed

preparing a roof which, God willing this summer will we be put up at the Bishops

and Parishioners charges’’.

The inscription on the porch seems to point to a conclusion of this undertaking,

and that he came with this intention may be inferred from his bringing away two

bells from the ruined Church at Iona.

We have the names of many of those who may have assembled when the words

of the Holy Bible Reformed Prayer Book were for the first time, read within the

walls of St. Adamnan’s Cathedral.

It is not unlikely that Bishop Downham would come from Derry, a distance of 13

miles, considering his close connection with the Knox family.

Six miles on the other side of Raphoe is St. Johnston, then a place of some

importance.

It was expected by Government to become a large town owing to its convenient

situation on the River Foyle, and was made a Borough, and allowed to return two

Members of Parliament.

One of these was Sir James Galbraith. From family papers we learn he built a

house near St Johnston in 1630, called a Gentle Dowish, the name is still

preserved in a hill near that place.

His brother, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Galbraith, lived two miles distance.

He had married Jane, daughter of William Conyngham, of Castle Conyngham,

Esquire, two miles distant from Dowish.

In the same parish of Taughboyne lived the Sampson's of Castlereagh.

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As all these families where closely connected with that of Knox by marriage and

friendship.

The extensive Knox family are connected to many of the landed gentry of the

Country, A descendant Colonel Andrew Knox of Prehen, Londonderry was MP

for County Donegal for 27 years.

His daughter Marianne became romantically entangled with a dissolute, John

Mc.Naughton, There is no need to narrate here the of untold tragedy of her death,

accidentally, at the hands of her lover, and of his subsequent hanging at Lifford in

1761.

Andrew (4th son of Bishop Andrew Knox) on 25th April 1628 was ordained

deacon and priest, and appointed Rector of Killaghatee a parish not far from

Drumholm.

In 1630 he was collated to the ‘’Prebend of Invermilley’’.Inver is on the other

side of Donegal Bay from Moneymore. It means an entrance of the sea at the

mouth of a river. From thence it was but a short sail to his brother's house.

Andrew married Rebecca, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Galbraith by

whom he had two sons, namely Andrew and Robert Knox.

In Sixteen Thirty the King granted licences to Bishop Knox to hold a market at

the town of Raphoe every Saturday, and two fairs June 11th and October 24th

.

On the 27th March 1630, Bishop Knox died, it is said that he married his cousin

Elizabeth daughter of William Knox of Silveland, by whom he had

Thomas, James, George, and,

Margaret, who married John Cunningham of Camberkeithy, son of James, 7th

Earl of Glencairn, and,

Another Daughter who married John Hamilton of Wood Hall.

‘’Record and another account’’ ‘’ Bishop Andrew Knox married the daughter of

John Knox, merchant in Ayr’’.

Another one States that he married Elizabeth daughter of Sir Ralph Bingley,

Knight of Rossguil, County Donegal. The first and last of the statements are

probably both correct, and the Bishop was married twice.

Of Bishop Andrew Knox’s 5th son, James, we only know that he was

administrator to his father, as was also Claudius.

The only records of other Knox’s than those of Rathmullen that we can find are in

Law papers in the possession of Major Hamilton, of Brown Hall.

In 1702 there was a transfer of lands from John Knox to Alex Nesbitts and

Alexexander Knox.

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In the same year mention is made of William Knox of Aughmoyan. These lands

in the North-west of Donegal where Claudius Knox lived.

As to the youngest daughter of the Bishop Andrew Knox, called Mary or

Marjorie, she is said to have married Mr Nesbitt, of Wood Hill, a parishioner of

her brother Claudius, for it was only in late years that Ardara was cut off as a

separate perished from Inniskeel

Mr. Nesbitts father Alexander, was the first settler from Scotland.

He married his cousin Alice, daughter of the Reverend Alexander Conyngham, of

Tower, who succeeded Adair as Dean of Raphoe. His youngest daughter

Catherine Murray married Bishop Leslie.

Marjorie Knox (Andrew Knox Bishop of Raphoe) only daughter. Marjorie

appears to be a child off his second marriage and much younger than her brothers.

James Nesbitt, of Wood Hill, and Marjorie Knox, had a son named George in

Holy Orders, who became rector of Inniskeel.

He married Catherine Cunningham, of Ballydavit, and had two sons James and

Richard. James married Elizabeth Hamilton, and Richard married Marcia

Hamilton, of Brown Hall of which they were sisters. Of the first of these

marriages the Hamilton’s have confirmation, not of the second?

A narrative written by a Presbyterian minister from Scotland, named John

Livingston, in which he relates the particulars of his irregular at ordination by

Bishop Andrew Knox for Killinchy, in County Down.

Livingstone was afterwards deposed from the ministry, and the accuracy of the

details, which rest on his unsupported statement, is at least doubtful.

Like all men who have acted a prominent part in life the character of Bishop

Andrew Knox is differently viewed by his contemporaries.

By some he is commended for his ‘’moderation, piety, temper;’’ by others

condemned for ‘’intolerance, deceit, and avarice’’.

This certainly appears that in his youth he was impetuous and warm tempered.

Whatever he may have been, at least he and his sons were instruments in the

hands of God to bring back the Light from Iona, which Columba once took there

from Raphoe.

He had kindled there a beacon which shed its light over Scotland and the North of

England. Now, when the word of God in Ireland might be likened to the Cathach,

through the lapse of time becomes so decayed that it was as a sealed book, this

Bishop from Iona brought not a portion only, but the entire scriptures.

Set upon a candle stick, its light shone even among those who refused to accept

the messenger.

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That the Church of Rome in Ireland is less ignorant and Superstitious now than

then is because of the reflected rays of that light.

Bishop Knox was succeeded in Raphoe by Bishop John Leslie.

Two years after the death of Bishop Andrew Knox, in 1635, Bishop Leslie

received a letter from King Charles (given in ‘Bishop Reeves’ famous edition of

St. Adamnan’s life of Columba).

Stating that Andrew, late Bishop of Raphoe did without just cause, or any warrant

from our great royal father or us, carry with him two of the principal bells that

where an Icolmkill, and place them in some of the churches of Raphoe. He

reminds Leslie that he himself before demanded them, and says his successor had

petitioned him for their restoration.

Therefore, and in regard, we have given orders to the present Bishop of Yles, for

repairing the Cathedral Church of that Bishopric….. It is our pleasure that you

cause deliver unto the said Bishop these two bells for the use of the said Cathedral

Church.

A little piece of history regarding Bishop Lesslie.

The Leslie’s can trace their ancestry back to Attalla the Hun.

The first Leslie came from Scotland and was a Hungarian nobleman.

Bartholomew Leslie was the chamberlain and protector of Margaret Queen of

Scotland.

It is through him that the family motto GRIP FAST originated. While fleeing

enemies Queen Margaret rode pillion on the back of Bartholomew’s horse.

When fording a River the Queen fell off, Bartholomew threw her the end of his

belt and told her grip fast the buckle.

He saved the Queen's Life and from that day forward she bestowed the Motto

Grip Fast on the Leslies.

.

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The first Leslie’s to come to Ireland was Bishop John Leslie who was Bishop of

the Isles of Scotland.

In 16th June 1633 he was transferred (it seems that only Bishop and foreign

languages) can be transferred to Raphoe and County Donegal where he built the

first Castle.

At the age of 67 the Bishop married a young girl, Catherine Cunyngham, in her

eighteenth year, daughter of Alexander Cunyngham, Dean of Raphoe.

They had five children two of whom lived to adult. One of their sons became a

Bishop while the other son became a non Juring Presbyterian minister, by the

name of, The Rev.Charles Leslie who wrote the phamphlets ’’The Massacre of

Glencoe’’ in which he sought the wrath of King William in the outrage, and for

which he was for a time imprisoned.

Obliviously he was, like his father, a strong Stewart supporter.

Bishop John Leslie was known as the ‘Fighting Bishop’ and defeated Cromwell's

forces at the Battle of Raphoe.

On the Restoration Charles the 2nd

. the bishop then 90 rode on horseback from

Chester to London in 24 hours. As a reward for his loyalty the King granted him

£2,000.

In 1665 Glasslough Castle and Demesne was sold by Sir Thomas Ridgeway to the

Bishop of Clogher John Leslie.

The bishop died at the age of 100 in 1671. The original deed of the Castle is in

the family archives.

John Knox born 1515 ‘’ The Reformer ‘’

Ranfurley seems then to have passed out of the family, but the

title was afterwards restored in the line of John Knox or (De

Cnoc’s) younger son William Knox or (De Cnoc), it was

William’s brother Uchter Knox or (De Cnoc.) who previously

sold the lands to Lord Cochrane.

John Knox or (De Cnoc) the Reformer is said to have been

also of this house, but only a cousin to Uchter Knox or (De

Cnoc).

It is from the line of John Knox (born circa 1574) who was a

son of Uchter De Cnoc (Knox) (born circa 1554) who was a

full cousin of Andrew Knox Bishop of Raphoe, born (circa

1556 and died 27th

March 1643,) and a grandnephew of John

Knox ‘’ The Great Reformer’’ born 1515 and died 1575.

It is from the line of John Knox (De. Cnoc) born (circa 1574) that the Knox’s of

Castletorrison and their descendants of 2001 and onwards are descended from, but

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their forefathers can trace their descendants right back to Adamus who married

Sybilla his cousin.

Sybilla was the daughter of Walter High Stewart of Scotland and obtained from

him the lands of Knoc. (Angelic), a hill, Ranfurley, and Griefe Castle in the County

of Renfew in Scotland; from whence the obtained the name and title.

My Grandfather James Knox born 1863, told me as a boy,

when I asked him on of his relation to John Knox the Great

Reformer as he referred to him as, said that we were of the

same roots but not of the same branch, meaning that James

Knox’s forefathers, and

John Knox’s forefather, were of the same Knox family at one time.

My name is Ivan Knox born 1935, son of Joseph Knox born

1893, grandson of James Knox born 1863, great grandson

of Joseph Knox born 1821, great, great grandson of John

Knox born 1780, great, great, great grandson of William (No

Name) Knox born 1755, great, great, great, great grandson

of William Knox born 1680, great, great, great, great, great

grandson of William Knox born 1645, great, great, great,

great, great, great-grandson of James born 1620, great ,great,

great, great, great, great grandson, of James of 1597.

And also the same relationship with the Cunyngham’s of that era.

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The Knox’s of Castletorrison, (circa) 1580.

James Knox (Sen.) ( born circa 1597)

in Scotland and Served as a Soldier

with Lady Cunyngham, in Raphoe in the

early 1600’s, (her husband was Marquis

Cunyngham a brother of Isabel

Cunyngham who married Uchter De

Cnoc, (Knox ) she would have been a

Grand Aunt of James Knox’s by

marriage) in Raphoe, County Donegal,

his five son were,

James Knox, (born circa 1620 in Scotland)

(read all about his family in a few pages

further on)

Patrick Knox, (born circa 1621). I have no

further information on Patrick Knox (born

circa 1621) to date.

Thomas Knox (born circa 1623) married and was

living at Tommy’s Croft, address still known till

this present day of 2002.

Went to Donegal as a Rent Collector for the

Cunyngham Estate and for the Murray Estate, the

extended family of Thomas Knox, another

Thomas, and his will is dated 25th

September

1717 was granted the owner-ship of the old Castle

and lands of Lough Eske in the 1730.

George Knox (born circa 1625) rented lands from

the Bishop of Raphoe in 1656, then to Ballybofey,

in the name of George V. Knox R.N. . . . Then in

the Richard Griffith Valuations of 1854 in the name

of Charles N. Knox, Ballybofey, with an Estate of

One Hundred and Thirty Two Holdings.

Andrew Knox, born, (circa, 1626)

Raphoe Quarter. Then to Donoughmore

and later acquired an Estate in

Killygordon of some Fifty Five

Properties, Later to become known as

The Alexander Knox Estate, then to

Mansfield Estate, in the name of Rev.

17

George D. Mansfield and Francis Mansfield, and lastly according to Richard

Griffeth Valuations of 1854, John Craig Esq. jnr.

These five Knox men all served as a Soldiers with Lady Cunyngham in Raphoe in

the from the early 1630’s ---.

James Knox (Sen) `was a ranking Soldier, being a bearer of a sword and pike,

while his sons James, Patrick, Thomas, George, and Andrew held the rank of

‘‘five’’ less than their father, the bore no weapons at all.

In 1630 Lady Cunyngham was the widow of Sir James Cunyngham, who was a

brother to Isabel, and Uchter De Cnoc’s wife.

Lady Cunyngham at that time was the undertaker of 2000 acres of land in

Raphoe, and had a small partially armed force to defend the Estate, which

consisted of 66 Soldiers,

Ten men with sword and pike.

Ten men with sword and snaphance.

Two men with sword and Callever.

Two men with sword and halbert.

Fourteen men with sword only.

Twenty Nine men with no weapons of any kind.

The 1654 Civil Survey gives an account of lands in the Raphoe diocese, its rent

and to whom rented.

Archibald Sproule, 453 acres at Boggagh, £20, 12 shillings and no pence,

together with four muttons, two hogs, twelve capons (chickens), twelve hens, and

sixteen days service of a man and horse.

Robert Buchannan, 227 acres at Glenmaquin and Cullaghybeg, £26 ,12 shillings

and no pence, three muttons, twelve capons (chickens) and seven days service of

a man and horse.

‘’The Heirs of John Leslie, gent, British protestant, minors’’ had 270 acres at

Tullideveny, Ardkeragh, Muntertiny, Mongory, Gortneske, GortmcGlinn,

Gortneseleglan, Litroch, Magheraboy; along with their rent, there was delivered

on their behalf ‘’three muttons, six capons (chickens) seven or eight hens, and

sixteen days service of man and horse.

Alexander Cunningham 35 acres from the Bishop at Duncloch Parke, a tenement

house and garden and Orchard at Raphoe.

William and George Conningham had lands at Kiltoal, and

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Francis Guthrey had 136 acres Ferncanaghy, and together with his rent he delivers

twenty four hens, and six day’s service with man and horse.

Robert Barclay had 111 acres at Figart, on top of his rent he was obliged to supply

two muttons, one hog, 32 lbs of butter, 32 lbs of cheese, and eight days service of

man and horse.

The Bishop had but British Protestants as tenants, although some of them had

quite modest holdings,

John Fulton had but a house and garden,

John Smith had ‘’an house and garden plot, and three acres of land and three cows

grazing in the Common of Raphoe’’ at £ 2 , 2 shillings and six pence, with that

ofcourse was the customery service of man and horse .

Archibald Kyle, had a garden plot with five acres of land and four cows grazing.

The Civil Survey of 1654 lists thirty two tenants on church lands, other names

apart from those foregoing being;

George Knox, born 1625, he would have been just 29 years old by then and a

brother of James born 1620. ?.

John Nesbitt, Andrew Hamilton, James Kerr, and others , some of these lands

were designated as ‘’Unprofitable’.

For example Mr.Burnbery leased 334 acres at Ballyholey of which two hundred

acres were deemed as ‘’red bog’’.

It appears from Records that James born 1620 married and had a family of

Three known sons

In a book of records that I have, named Trace your relatives, for Reference reason

only, it refers to a meeting in the Raphoe Vestry Minutes,mic / 95 pg’s

41,42,43,44,it states that,

Pursuant to the Certificate of the High Constable of the Barony of Raphoe, in the

County of Donegal, Certifying that 450 trees were the number of trees subdivided

by the Grand Jury of the said County as the full proportion for the Parish of

Raphoe of the said trees to be planted in the said County by order of Parliament.

We the Minister, Churchwardens and Parishioners of the said Parish Pursuant to

the said act at a Vestry held on the 5th

of January Anno Dom 1702 have sub-

divided the said 450 trees in the respective Townlands in the said Parish to be

planted and raised by the processors and occupiers of the said lands yearly

according to the list hereafter mentioned., EG; on the lands in the said Parish

belonging to the

Lord Bishop of Raphoe the number of 196 as follows, and then it mentions a lot

of other landowners, before it comes to the Knox name, then the following

Knox’s are mentioned. the lands of

Apart from James, (b) 1620, and his son James, born 1660, mentioned in the

Hearth Money Role were living in Raphoe, there was Alexander and William

living in Donoughmore,in the 1640’s, but it is thought that there were more of

19

these families than has been recorded. These are the names that are mentioned in

the Tree Planting of 1702.

It is shown in records that James born 1660 and living at Raphoe Park, had a

family of at least three sons, but again there could have been more than these.

These three sons names were, William, of Ashmoyne, born (circa 1685,) Joseph,

of Mongorry , born (circa 1690), and John, born ( circa 1695-1700).

William Knox (born circa 1685) and living in Ashmoyne in 1702 and had land

partners, the above mentioned to plant on his lands at Ashmoyne quarter, 11 Trees

Yearly. William’s sister married Smyth front Finnadork, Convoy.

It is recorded that William was living in Castletorrison in 1745.

The lands of Joseph Knox, (born circa 1680) living at Mongorry, Raphoe, in 1702

to plant on his lands one Ballibow of land with three Trees Yearly.

The lands of John Knox (born circa) 1680 and living at Raphoe Park in 1702

along with Nine other Landowners to plant on their land 24 Trees Yearly.

William, (1680) Ashmore Quarter, Raphoe .He had another brother named

Thomas (b) circa 1680), that went to Lougheaske, Donegal town, his Will is dated

25th

September 1717, and leaves to Mr. William Conyngham ‘’and his heirs

forever’’ the office of Seneschal of ‘’Broughton’s Estate ‘’.

It is not known how many more of this family there was.

We know that William Knox, (born circa 1680.), and lived at a Ashmyne Quarter

of the Raphoe,which is situated between Convoy and Raphoe, convenient to the

Corby Glen, mention in the Tree planters of 1702.

20

John De Cnoc (Knox)

Born1515.

General Henry Knox born 1750.

Cresent; Falcon Crest

Coats of Arms; Falcon Wings expanded within a bordure engrailed on a canton or a

fesse chequy, and a cresent surmounted of another for difference.

(Motto) I proceed and am more prosperous

Notice the chequered blue and white at the top left side of the Coat of arms is exactly as that of the

Knox Coat of Arms of the Knox’s that came to Ireland in 1601.

The canton of the bird in flight represents the same Knox family, but of a different household.

As we know that the name Knox (De Cnoc) originated from Uchtred De Cnoc,

and Grief Castle in Ranfurley, Renfrewshire, Scotland as a gift from the High

Sheriff of Scotland in or around 1450, before that there was no such name as that

of ‘’Knox’’.

From there we can trace our descendants to here in the most Northerly County of

Ireland, ‘’County Donegal’’ sometimes referred to in American records as the

North of Ireland.

Londonderry was the Sea Port that all people’s that were going overseas

emigrated from in those years.

The first family of the Knox’s that came to Co.Donegal was the Reverend

Andrew Knox in the early sixteen hundreds, the records of that family is

extremely well documented.

Rev. Andrew Knox was soon to be followed by his cousin

William Knox of Silvyland in Renfrewshire; he came to

Ireland, in fact to near Lifford in 1601. And it from this

family that we are linked here in Donegal in the year of 2003.

and can be traced right back to then.

So in 1729 when William Knox Emigrated to Boston and the

record states that he came from the North of Ireland and as

the family name of Knox was so uncommon then, it is

reasonable to assume that William was a descendant of

21

William Knox that came from Silveland, Renfrewshire, Scotland in 1601.

I know that there was a William living at Castletorrison, Convoy in 1690, at that

time the townland of the Craigs did not exist; he was born around1675 and had a

family of one known son William.

It is thought that it was this William born 1712 at Castletorrison, Convoy, Co.

Donegal, Ireland. went to Boston and died in the year 1762 age 50 years. He was

the father of General Henry Knox born in Boston USA in 1750.

William married Mary Campbell from Strabane, County Tyrone, North Ireland

and had Ten children, They were better known as the pioneers from ‘’North

Ireland’’, meaning that North Ireland was in the Ulster Province of Ireland in the

1700’s, and under the Rule of the British Parliament and the British Crown, they

remained as such until 1922 when Britian handed back 26 counties of the 32

counties that made up the Island of Ireland to the Irish people for to be governed

by themselves and to be come known as the Republic of Ireland and retaining the

remaining 6 counties to be known as the six counties under British Rule. Thus

dividing Ireland into two different parts, Northern Ireland with six of the’’ most

North Eastern Counties,’’ and the Republic of Ireland known as the ‘’Twenty Six

remaining southern counties of Ireland ‘’.

William and Mary Knox (nee) Campbell went into the Boat Ferrying business; He

was a shipmaster, carrying on trade with the West Indies. Suffering from financial

difficulties and all the mental stress and burdens that go with money woes,

William died at the age of Fifty years.

HENRY KNOX was born in Boston,

Massachusetts, U.S.A. on the 5th

day of July

1750. He was the seventh child of the family of

ten and was only twelve years old at the time of

his father’s death; he gave up school and

became the sole support for his mother. He went

to work in a bookstore; he was a second

generation Ulster Scott, in that his father

William emigrated from Londonderry in Ulster

to Boston in 1729, as part of the flow across the

Atlantic; joined the Boston Grenadiers Corps in

1772; married Lucy Flucker in 1774; joined the

patriot cause and offered his services to General

Washington in 1775; was commissioned colonel

of Continental Regiment of Artillery; led the

expedition to transfer captured British guns from

Fort Ticonderoga to Boston in 1776, a move that

forced the British to evacuate the city; led the

Delaware River crossing and participated in the Battle of Trenton in 1776; was

promoted to brigadier general and Chief of Artillery of the Continental Army,

December 1776; participated in the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, and

Germantown in 1777 and Mamouth in 1778; sat on the court-martial of Major

John Andre in 1780; placed the American artillery at the Yorktown siege in 1781;

commanded the West Point post,1782-1783; organized the Society of the

22

Cincinnati, 1783; was commander in chief of the Army, 23rd

December 1783-20th

June 1784; served under the Confederation as Secretary at War, 8th

March 1785-

11th

September1789; served under the constriction as first Secretary of War, 8th

March1785-31st of December 1794; prepared a plan for a national militia,

advocated and presided over initial moves to establish a regular Navy, urged and

imitated the establishment of a chain of costal fortifications, and supervised

Indian policy; retired to Thomaston, Maine, U.S.A. 1796; engaged in lumbering,

shipbuilding, stock raising, and brick manufacturing; died in Thomaston on the

25th

of October 1806.

Henry Knox supported the American cause, he joined the patriot militia at 18, and

after witnessing the Boston ‘’massacre’’ in 1770, he got involved full-time in the

patriot struggle. As early as 1772, he became a member of the Boston Grenadier

Corps. He was a volunteer in June 1775 at the Battle of Bunker Hill and at the

Boston siege. He served under General Ward, in charge of the colonials around

Boston, in 1775, Washington arrived in Boston, taking command of the army.

There he met and developed a friendship with Knox, a friendship that would last a

lifetime.

Washington realized the need of artillery in the American forces and found Knox

to be well versed on the subject. Washington asked his opinion on what the army

should do.

The thought of Knox was to use the cannon from the captured Fort Ticonderoga.

Thus, Knox was commissioned a colonel, placed in charge of artillery, and given

the task to bring cannon from Ticonderoga to Boston. By way of ox sleds, Knox

successfully brought fifty cannon to the city.

In March 1776, Washington seized Dorchester Heights (the key to Boston) and

Knox placed the cannon in position there.

Howe realizing the danger of an impending American bombardment withdrew his

troops from the city. O n March 17th

, he embarked his troops for Halifax. Boston

was entered the following day by triumphant Americans.

After the capture of Boston, Knox helped Connecticut and Rhode Island in proper

defence, in preparation for the return of the British. Washington took his forces to

defend New York. Knox joined the army there, as the British fleet arrived in New

York, with men numbering 30,000. The American forces numbered 18,000 with

very little experience.

The American forces were so outnumbered; they were forced to retreat which did

not end until the crossing of the Delaware River at Trenton on December the 8th

,

1776. The Americans had seized all the boats along the Delaware, so the British

were unable to follow.

January 3rd

1777 Washington attacked the British Army. Knox rendered

aggressive service, earning him a commendation from the Commander-in-Chief.

Knox had a commission while the army was in winter quarters at Morristown,

New Jersey.

Knox was almost displaced of his position in charge of artillery by a Frenchman

named Duncondray, secured by Silas Deane, the American Minister to France,

Duncondray interviewed with Washington and then headed to lay his credentials

before Congress. Washington wrote to Congress on behalf of Knox on the May

23

31st 1777, General Green and Sullivan supported Washington, and Duncondray

was permitted to join the troops under Washington as a volunteer.

Knox was involved in the fighting at both the battles of Brandywine and

Germantown. He had a limited number of cannon. At Brandy well he placed them

near Chadds Ford, but the British forced a retreat. The Americans held them in

check at Birmingham Meeting House and were able to retreat to Chester.

At Valley Fordge Knox was invaluable in organizing and erecting forts to

safeguard the winter encampment from attack.

Eventually, the British army was forced in siege at Yorktown. Knox had placed

the artillery in fine strategic position. After the surrender of Cornwallis on

October 19th

1781 Knox was advanced to major-general, a homer well earned.

In 1782, Knox was stationed at WestPoint and remained there with the troops

until the agreement was made with the British to evacuate New York.

In the fall of 1783, Knox was able to leave as they followed the British out of

New York. On December the 4th

1783 the officers assembled at Fraunces Tavern

to take final of their Commander-in-Chief. Knox stood by Washington.

Washington withdrew and Knox returned to Boston, well-received.

Knox was elected Secretary of War by Congress in 1785, and in 1789, he was

appointed Secretary of War in President Washington’s new cabinet. Knox found

his service as Secretary of War to deal with growing unrest in the western frontier

of the little country. When a treaty was finally reached, the leadership of Knox

was manifested in his aid in promoting law and order.

Knox officially wrote to the President on Dec. 28th

1794,

‘’After having served my country nearly twenty years, the greatest portion of

which under your immediate auspices, it is with extreme reluctance, that I find

myself constrained to withdraw from so honourable a station. But the natural and

powerful claims of a numerous family will no longer permit me to neglect their

essential interest. In wherever situation I shall be, I shall recollect your confidence

and kindness with all the power and purity of affection, of which a grateful heart

is susceptible.

Washington accepted Knox’s resignation with regret.

General Knox and his family moved to Philadelphia, the Nation’s Capitol and

settled on an estate at Thomaston, in the district of Maine in 1794 as it was then

known.

Which he called ‘’Montpelier’’. He was engaged in various types of businesses

during the latter part of his life such as; brick-making, cattle-raising and ship-

building. He entertained numerous guests and gave some time in service to his

state in General Court and Governor’s Council. Washington desired to appoint

Knox as a Commissioner to St. Croix, but Knox declined.

Knox was born an inner city child, without formal education, who was destitute at

the age of 9 and worked to support his mother and brother.

But his natural intelligence would not be denied.

24

By the age 21 he met Lucy Fluker, his true love, as hundreds of letters between

them attest. She was daughter of the powerful Tory Secretary of the Province, and

from their elite company Knox gleaned manners, style, a greater measure of

acceptance and a devoted wife.

Throughout the War, Luck travelled with her husband whenever she could. The

family moved 14 times in 19 years of their marriage, and during that time she

gave birth to 13 children. Lucy’s mother was Hannah Waldo, the daughter of

Brigadier Samuel Waldo, Who had owned a 576,000 acre patent of land thirty

miles square, encompassing parts of Waldo and Lincoln and all of Knox Counties

along with the islands within 3 miles of its border.

With much difficulty, Knox cleared title to the Waldo Parent. On April17th ,

1794, Knox signed a building contract with J.Heearsey and H. Simpson stating ‘’ They will perform for him, he furnishing the materials, the requisite mason work

of a dwelling house to be built at Fort point on the St. Georges River in Thomas

Town, according to the plan furnished Messer’s Dunton and Cushing, master

carpenters’’

The house was to be well finished but

entirely plain…with everything in true

proportion…an oval room with

wingroom… staircases in the rear of the

oval room to be lighted from the top of the

house by a sky light or rather two sky

lights, or one pretty large. There will be a

basement, parlour, chamber and garret

stories and a cellar beneath one quarter of

the basement 30 ft square and 6 feet high ‘’done’’ according to the rules of work

laid down in Ye Town and County Builders Assistant engraved and printed in

Boston.

The house was painted white with a semi-circular front and contained nineteen

rooms with a ceiling height ranging from nine to thirteen feet. Some believed it to

be the most elegant house in all of New England.

Montpelier was the only home that Luck and Henry would ever own and, alas, the

joy of ownership was short-lived. In 1806, Henry Knox died after two days of

suffering of peritonitis, perhaps caused by a chicken bone perforating the

intestine.

At the age of 56, his political success had not translated into business success, his

finances were unsettled, and he had to sell off the Waldo Patent a piece at a time,

leaving very little but the acreage immediately surrounding the mansion. Henry

Knox left Lucy with little money and a large property to maintain.

When Lucy died, Montpelier was deeded to their younger daughter Caroline who

lived in the family home from the age of 6 to her death at 60. Upon Caroline’s

death, Lucy, Jr. returned to the family home in Thomaston where she lived until

her death in 1854.

25

The Knox connection ceased when Lucy’s children were forced to sell the house.

For 75 years it stood much as it had in 1796. The innovative skylight system

allowed slow but fatal water damage. The building was structurally beyond

saving.

The railroad purchased the property and in 1871 tore down everything except the

brick farm house, which they turned into the Thomaston railroad station.

The house that Henry Knox had

envisioned with such pride was gone!

Residence of Thomaston salvaged a few

artefacts such as pieces of the original

wallpaper and stair balusters that were

known fondly as ‘’Thomaston walking

sticks’’.

‘’This is the Bow Room at Montpelier

(Oval room) where they entertained

large gatherings.

Fire in our two matching marble

fireplaces make the room cosy in cold weather, the wind blowing off the river

chills one’s body right to the bone!

At night the firelight and the light from the whale oil Lamps make the crystal

chandelier sparkle!

Harry had these two large looking ‘’glasses’ hung on each side of the front door

to add reflected light and to make the room more cheerful. Harry’s portrait by

Gilbert Stuart of Boston hangs over the fireplace on the left. Notice the door –how

it is curved to fit the shape of the room .Henry had all doors and frames milled in

Boston and brought to Thomaston by boat.’’

The double flying staircase facing the door commands

the attention of the guests entering the hallway for the

first time. All marvel that a structure can be built without

the support that conventional stairways require. The huge

skylight above admits sunlight from all directions and

floods the upper and lower halls with natural lighting.

The long case clock that you see facing was built by

Daniel Monroe here in our new Country. Throne on the

opposite landing was imported from Dublin, Ireland

Benjamin Frothingham of Boston built these two

matching gaming tables on each side of the door to the

bow room. Ben was a Captain of the Artillery under

Harry’s command during the war and now makes his living as a cabinet maker.

We move the tables into the bow room or the drawing room and have some lively

games of whist.

This is one of the many bedrooms at

Montpelier, this one is the Master bedroom, and

it has just been re-papered with a French paper

with Chinoise motif.

The new bed canopy that picks up the red in the

paper was delivered by the Boston Schooner

26

and the matching coverlet will arrive by the same schooner.

This is the kitchen of the Montpelier mansion owned in 1795 by General Henry

and Mrs Lucy Knox.

Water in piped in from the outside through a wooden pipe. Imagine, running

water to the sinks in those years. The fireplace is of hearth.

This is a letter signed in 1794 by General Henry Knox; he always signed Knox as

his signature.

After the was Henry Knox acquired the 576,000 acres of the Waldo Patent at $5

per one hundred acres, And tried to sell it to the settlers that fought for it at $3 per

5 acres. The settlers refused to pay and Henry Knox went Bankrupt.

Please read more on this family as told by Martha Knox Blackburn born the

Craigs-Donegal County, Ireland, April 1815. Died November 1901,

Parents John (b) 1785 and Martha Knox, Craigs, Convoy, County Donegal

Ireland. See page 50

27

Thomas Knox and his families from the late 1600’s to the late 1800’s

By the year 1730 Thomas Knox the

Agent for the Murray Broughton Estate

and for the Cunyngham Estate, Donegal,

Co.Donegal. Thomas Knox was a direct

descendant of Lady Cunyngham; his

grandmother was Isabel Cunyngham a

sister of Lady Cunyngham Husband

.Marcus Cunyngham of 1500’s.

According to Thomas Addi of

Donnaghadee, on the 29th

day of April

1730. The following is from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland,

pursuant to several memorandums given unto him by the said Alexander Murray

at his house in Cally. Thomas Knox at that time in 1730 had gained the freehold

to Lough Eske Castle and Lands, it was a niece of his that married John Young

from Castlefinn, and around 100 years later a descendant called Thomas Young

took on the name Brooke in order to gain an inheritance from Thomas Grove, his

brother-in-law.

Thomas Knox was married but I don’t know who his wife was or how many

siblings there were. Thomas Knox also had a sister named Catherine.

In this way confusion arose over that Lough Eske had been granted to Basil

Brooke at the time of the plantation and that the Brooke family had resided at

Lough Eske in the nineteenth century were the direct descendants of Basil Brooke

who had been granted Donegal Castle.

28

Thomas, (hence Tommy’s Croft or now known as the Craiggs.), went to Donegal

Town area, was born sometime around 1700 as well. His father was William, and

lived at that time in Convoy including Raphoe in 1665 (Hearth Tax 1665)

Thomas Knox, and the Alexander Murray, of Broughtown Estate, Southwest

Donegal. Remarks made by Alexander Murray at his house in Cally, on the 29th

day of April 1730

Thomas and John Knox of Castletorrison, Convoy were of the same family of

Knox but of different generations, Thomas being of the earlier generation of 1700.

John Knox born 1785 married a lady from Donegal Town named Herron, and the

only family by that name within a Ten to Twelve mile radius, is actually living at

Main Street Donegal Town named, Isabella, Mary and Cassie around that time.